Hey fellow Pojo fans, it's Max B. again. But this time it's a serious subject
and not a deck report. Yes, I'm talking about Prop 15. Now you're probably
either thinking, "Hey, I don't have to read this, it's gonna bash my precious
15-trainer rule" or "Oh no, he's gonna talk about how great a 15-trainer rule
is going to be...", stop saying it. In fact, that's part of what this article
is about. Now all I'm seing on the TCG Tips section are articles from people
complaining about the fact that Wizards is going to make a major change to
the game and limit trainers in a deck to 15. Well they aren't. It's not a
rule change, it's not a League change, it's not a rule. It's a tournament
format. Hold on a sec...What's that again?
IT'S A TOURNAMENT FORMAT.
I'll repeat that again: TOURNAMENT FORMAT.
And again: TOURNAMENT FORMAT.
Tee oh you arr enn ay emm ee enn tee eff oh arr emm aay tee. It's NOT a rule
to change the game. It's a tournament format, a type of tournament people can
participate in if they're sick of boring, unoriginal decks, just like Magic
has Type 1 and Type 2 to seperate people who love broken decks and the
fast-paced action of classic Magic from people who love originality, fun, and
more complicated strategy, which you find in current Magic. It's NOT, I
repeat, NOT the "15-trainer rule." Many, many people have the misconception
that Wizards is making a change to the game. Why do people believe this, and
how did it start? Mostly from believing rumors from Internet sites. For
example, I think it was in that Mews News section in the Pojo news, I saw
"Rumor has it Wizards is going to limit trainers to 15 per deck", then later
"Wizards is definetely going to limit trainers to 15 per deck" and so on. And
it caught on. Like wildfire, the rumors spread. Thanks to Wizards's site
having LOTS of great, up-to-date news on the topic (NOT!) people believed it.
Mews News specifically says that none of the news you read there is 100%
confirmed, but nevertheless people believe that it IS true. A lot of the
rumors also started on the Pokegym's popular "TCG Gossip, Etc." message
board. People started taking political sides on the subject (a Prop 15 Party
and an Anti-Prop15 Party, I'm not kidding) and now it's becoming the most
talked-about event in Pokemon history, no matter where you go. Even the
rumor-free Pojo (except the Mews News which is intended for rumors) had and
still has articles from fans about how Prop15 is going to ruin the game. And
there's another thing- Prop15, even if it was passed as an official rule
change, would help the game more than hurt it. People are saying it hurts
evolution decks because they need trainers too. Who ever said you can't use
trainers? It doesn't take away trainers! It simply prevents you from using an
insane (or should I say InSaNe- InSaNiTy is a popular Haymaker variant using
45 trainers and so few Pokemon you literally can't ever fill the Bench)
number of Trainer cards.You've got room for Computer Search, some card
drawing, and some Breeders, and still enough room for other Trainers like
Goop Gas Attack to combat Mr. Mime (who will gain popularity due to the
return of big Evolutions). Okay, enough ranting. :-)  I think I got the point
across. So now that you know what it really is (oh, and in case you were
wondering, the Master Trainers, or MT's, did announce that Prop15 is not a
rule but a possible tournament format at a Wizards Chat) will you all please
stop worrying that Prop15 is taking away your precious Haymaker? (Of course,
if enough people start playing in Prop15 tournaments, your Haymaker will not
have much if any, competition and you'll end up switching decks
anyway...hehehe) If you're like me, you'll understand how Prop15 tournaments
will open up a new gate for players to play original decks (I can see
Blaine's Magmar decks taking over now....). Thanks for your time.

~Max B. (creator of Mind Over Matter, a Hay/Sponge variant with 2 each of
several great basics, and 35 trainers (not 40 or 45, thank you ;-) ) My
choice for Prop15 format decks? Vileplumania or Blaine's Charmeleon Burndown
all the way! :-)
~All free card offers, and constructive criticism, e-mail me at
Maxtendo64@aol.com

PS. It's rumored that the East Coast STS finals in New Jersey will be in
Prop15 format, to try it out for the first time in a big way. I don't want to
start any rumors on that though, so I'll say it again- it's rumored not
confirmed. :-)