Hey, great chat this week! We got some more BattleZone details, and some info for those in the Professor program regarding "Master Professor" qualifications. There were also a lot of really good questions about sanctioning and running tournaments, so I made a separate section for those this week. Finally, we now have word about the next new (well, almost new) promo card that will be part of the first season of BattleZone.
Have fun everyone,
- CHRISBO
BATTLE ZONE:
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #27 from enik_the_sleestak:
does BattleZone begin on Nov.24, as I've heard, or
is it beginning of Dec.?
master_trainer_mike says, "The date that was
mentioned was a guessed at date when the
kits would start shipping. The EXACT date
is uncertain. Sorry gang, Pokemon is NOT an exact science."
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #81 from yoshi1001:
Will battlezone kits include DCI registration
cards?
master_trainer_mike says, "The kits will not. If
you sanction the events, you will receive the tournament organizer's kit which
DOES come with DCI cards."
master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with
question #9 from marril2000:
i know DMTM
already answered this question on wizpog but... will BattleZone kits contain
those crazy yet fun Green Star league stampers?
master_trainer_pat says, "Nope, sorry."
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #24 from marril2000:
so... BattleZone, if it is run as League style,
what will be the method of keeping track of the players points, or is that up
to the [insert name for person that runs a BattleZone]?
master_trainer_mike says, "The directions on how to do this come in the kit."
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #35 from yoshi1001:
Is there a different kit for league zones and
tournament zones or are the materials for both in the same kit?
master_trainer_mike says, "Same materials in the
kit, just different directions on how to use them.
HOPEFULLY 95+% are run as sanctioned tournaments.
The days of fluffy leagues is passing."
master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with
question #38 from marril2000:
DMTM already answered this but his answer slightly
confused me so... if you are running a BattleZone and want to run it
Tournament style, does this mean you have to be 18+ to run a BattleZone as a
Tournament?
master_trainer_pat says, "To be the Tournament Organizer you need to be 18, but you can head judge the event if you are younger"
master_trainer_mike says, "So have the store manager or an adult send in the sanctioning forms and you can do the rest."
master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with
question #7 from steelixownzu:
What is the Delegate Program?
master_trainer_pat says, "The Delegate program is
something open to Pokemon Professors. Information is being released through
the Professor List"
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #23 from jdgloom:
Will professors who attend stores for BZ
presentations in pairs both be able to submit reports based on a joint-effort
presentation?
master_trainer_mike says, "NO! Sorry guys"
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #63 from steve_p:
can professor points be earned by participating in
the BZ Delegate program?
master_trainer_mike says, "Nope, two different
beasts."
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #46 from enik_the_sleestak:
since you can have sanctioned tournaments at
locations other than game stores, could we run BattleZone at such places,
apart from any retail store?
master_trainer_mike says, "Nope. BattleZone, like the League is a marketing promotion. Only run through retail. An upcoming Akimbo article goes into more detail on this for you."
master_trainer_mike says, "I hope many of you get involved with BattleZone when it starts in a few weeks. I will hint to you that we are creating some Super BattleZone launch kits for early next year. We will look at BattleZone locations that have the largest numbers of players, most events, and especially locations that send in their sanctioning or reports on time! They will be pretty cool!"
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #92 from jdgloom:
What's Super Battlezone?
master_trainer_mike says, "Ahh, wait and see!!"
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #93 from tehairyclefairy:
Do we get normal or super kits in the UK in
January?
master_trainer_mike says, "That will be up to each
office and market as to whether they will run them or not."
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #95 from chrisbo:
Do you mean "Super BattleZone", or "Super Kit for
BattleZone"?
master_trainer_mike says, "ok, last one.....a
super special kit for one time launch events to be held at BattleZone
locations (Super BattleZones for the day)."
PROFESSOR PROGRAM:
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #77 from enik_the_sleestak:
the new expiration date on my professor card is a
couple of months away... If I get master prof status by earning 5
participation points do I need another 5 points to get back to master prof
after re-certifying as a professor?
master_trainer_mike says, "This first batch of expirations will just require you to verify that your contact information is correct. You will need to maintain 5 participation points each year of your master Professor membership in order to maintain it though. If at the end of your next year, you have not earned 5 points, you will be dropped."
[CHRISBO NOTE: Only your status as a "Master Professor" will be dropped; you will not be removed from the entire Professor program.]
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #80 from wizo_pokemom:
re#77 so, is this a "rolling" year...as in, from
when you became an MP?
master_trainer_mike says, "Your yearly expiration
date is based upon when you first joined the Professor program.
If you become a Master Professor 1 week before
your expiration date for example, you will then have the following year to
earn 5 more points to keep your Master level.
During that time while you are earning them you
are still a Master Professor, but if you haven't earned the 5 points by your
NEXT expiration date then you slip back to Professor."
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #84 from chrisbo:
So the "5 points per year" Master Prof.
requirement is based on your expiration date, not a calendar year, right?
master_trainer_mike says, "It will now be based
upon your expiration date (now that we can track that)."
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #88 from enik_the_sleestak:
suggestion: for the new professor cards, print the
barcode for the DCI number like they have on the
DCI cards so we can scan them into
DCI reporter...
master_trainer_mike says, "That may happen in the future but the whole scanner thing isn't used much."
SANCTIONING EVENTS:
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #19 from enik_the_sleestak:
how many days prior to the event is the minimum
when sanctioning a tournament ?
master_trainer_mike says, "The DCI asks that you
we receive the sanctioning application no less than 1 week prior to the event,
preferably longer."
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #44 from yoshi1001:
When do you recommend that a tournament have more
than 1 judge (# players).
master_trainer_mike says, "If you have more than
16 players or a lot of brand new players that may have a lot of questions."
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #58 from m_p_douglas:
If a head judge has assistance and everyone
receives ample attention, can someone be a head judge of more than one event
at a time?
master_trainer_mike says, "That happens sometimes at larger events. If someone else wants the opportunity to be a head judge you should give them that chance. If you only have 1 person capable of being the head judge, they can head judge more than one event if necessary, though that isn't ideal."
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #64 from m_p_douglas:
If I don't know how many events I might run on a
certain tournament day, should I sanction a minimum amount and run more if
people want more and time allows?
master_trainer_mike says, "You should try to pre-sanction the number of events you think you will need (or even more as you can cancel them if not enough players show up). In the worst case, contact Linda Roberts and talk with her (she can make some exceptions if need be)."
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #82 from enik_the_sleestak:
if a DCI-certified level 3 judge is the head judge
of a pokemon tournament, would there be enhanced K-value similar to having a
Master Prof Head judge?
master_trainer_mike says, "Nope. They must still become a Master Professor. I have a lot of respect for LVL 3 DCI Judges. I sat through a few grueling interviews for them in Houston. While they certainly have proven that they can run an event, and have people handling skills. They have not shown that they are Masters of Pokemon knowledge, which as you know, isn't always as smooth as it is for Magic."
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #30 from steve_p:
{what's the minimum number of teams to have a TMP
sanctioned (4, I assume)?}
master_trainer_mike says, "4 teams."
PROMO CARDS:
master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with
question #12 from enik_the_sleestak:
is base electabuzz being reissued as a promo this
month?
master_trainer_pat says, "Yes."
[CHRISBO NOTE: This promo will be part of the
first BattleZone season late 2002. See
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=pokemon/league/whyrunbattlezone
for more info.]
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #20 from tehairyclefairy:
Following up my previous Q, will Base Electabuzz
be legal globally in Modified this month?
master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with
question #21 from yoshi1001:
When will Electabuzz be modified legal?
master_trainer_mike says, "As far as promos go,
they are legal once they are released in North America. This also means they
are legal globally. Product works differently of course."
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #34 from steve_p:
{the electabuzz is somewhat unusual in that it's a
re-release of a previous card. therefore, is the legal date for using base
electabuzz the same date as BZ is released?}
master_trainer_mike says, "Yes!"
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #37 from soslowpoke:
what number is the new Electabuzz promos?
master_trainer_mike says, "There is a new Promo
series starting and the Electabuzz is the first one. The days of the black
star promos is ending!"
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #39 from soslowpoke:
New promo series? o_O New symbol?
master_trainer_mike says, "Yup"
master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with
question #40 from soslowpoke:
Are Rapidash/Ho-oh the last 2 Black star promos?
master_trainer_pat says, "As far as we know...."
master_trainer_pat grins evilly.
master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with
question #41 from marril2000:
ooh! any hints of what the new Promo symbol will
be? ;)
master_trainer_mike says, "Nope, the days of
leaking information early is ending!"