Battle Zone is finally here!!! True, there are a lot of places that have suspended TCG play for the holidays, but for those stores who haven't check to see if they're running BattleZone yet. Here's a list of stores currently running BattleZone already:
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=pokemon/league/battlezonestores
We also got a lot of new information this week about running BattleZone, the Delegate Program, and other Professor information. Also, it looks like the dot-codes aren't quite dry on Aquapolis yet, so it's been pushed back to January now :-(. But first, an announcement from DMTM regarding deck submissions for him to rate & review.
Enjoy,
- CHRISBO
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
darkmt_mike says, "Hey if you go here you can submit your decks now for possible posting! http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=pokemon/decksubmit I will be looking through them and posting them to the web. I will probably comment on them as well! MTM and I will maybe even do point/counterpoint on them! Though I know his points won't be as good!"
master_trainer_mike says, "Careful, he might smear maple bar sauce on them too...................."
darkmt_mike presents the speaker with question
#22 from purity1:
do you only want modified decks sent in, or
unlimited as well?
darkmt_mike says, "I prefer Modified or Team decks
(both Team). I will occasionally look at
unlimited."
master_trainer_mike says, "Or feel free to write
about a deck you ended up drafting in limited play and why."
darkmt_mike says, "Draft is good as well!"
AQUAPOLIS:
darkmt_mike says, "Aquapolis has been bummed
back. It is now coming out some time in
January "
master_trainer_mike says, "he meant bumped"
darkmt_mike says, "No I meant bummed!"
darkmt_mike says, "Or not!"
master_trainer_mike says, "sometimes I think he
has no idea what he means......."
darkmt_mike smirks.
darkmt_mike presents the speaker with question
#16 from purity1:
well, I for one
am bummed about Aquapolis....
darkmt_mike says, "Yup.
That is the way it goes with the world of
Printing!"
master_trainer_mike says, "Those dot codes are
very complicated. This is also why Expedition was delayed."
BATTLE ZONE / DELEGATE PROGRAM:
master_trainer_mike says, "Also Delegate kits will be shipping out tomorrow. Info on the Delegate program is on the Professor email list. All Master Professors will have their own BattleZone kits sent out soon as well."
darkmt_mike presents the speaker with question
#25 from yoshi1001:
How many delegates do we have so far (roughly)?
darkmt_mike says, "about 65."
darkmt_mike says, "BILLION!"
darkmt_mike says, "Okay just 65"
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #27 from wizo_pokemom:
Will all who meet the requirements for Delegate
(MP, 18+) become one, or would there be any reason to be excluded from the
program?
master_trainer_mike says, "You don't have to be a Master Professor, just an 18 year old or older Professor and you MUST provide a unique store location in your area that you plan to visit. If you can't list a unique store in your area, then you won't be accepted. That has not been much of an issue as of yet. Also, we reserve the right to refuse service if need be. This is explained in the Delegate form."
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #14 from farbsman:
Will we receive an email when you receive our
Delegate program sheet?
master_trainer_mike says, "Nope. I will only email
you if there is a problem with it. I will
submit a list of received Delegates to the Professor list tomorrow so you can
see that yours came in or not."
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #7 from mysterioustrainer:
You said a while back in a Professor E-mail, that
WotC is discussing plans with Target Stores, Hastings Stores, and
Books-a-Million Stores about getting Pokémon Battlezone Started. Has there be
any new news since that?
master_trainer_mike says, "Well, Books-a Million, Hastings, Gamekeeprs, and Wizards of the Coast stores are all running BattleZone starting in January. Target has chosen not to at this time."
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #23 from mysterioustrainer:
Since you said that Target overall has not chosen
to run...can delegates try Target locally? (No not for me...for my city)
master_trainer_mike says, "Do NOT bother any Target stores. They have specifically requested to not be approached about BattleZone."
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #42 from yoshi1001:
Do you know if the chain stores you mentioned will
be running BZ as a league or a tournament?
master_trainer_mike says, "That is up to the
individual stores. You can certainly offer to help them out."
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #11 from farbsman:
MTM, have you considered changing the requirement
for a classic promo from 100 to 200 points? With a 2-3 hour league you can go
through a lot of promos.
master_trainer_mike says, "So it all comes down to how often and how long you run your league. Most leagues do not run 2-3 hours anymore. If you run yours for that long, then feel free to adjust the numbers accordingly. You basically need to spread out those cards for the month. You should know your players better than I will."
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #12 from farbsman:
Will January include the Jumbo promo cards for the
league?
master_trainer_mike says, "Yes it will!"
darkmt_mike presents the speaker with question
#57 from pokesensei:
Oh, just to
clarify an answer you gave to Farbs about the Jumbo card.
We won't get them in the first kits but will get
them in the January kits?
darkmt_mike says, "Correct."
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #24 from marril2000:
well some good news is
I convinced the
store owner to see about letting BattleZone have a shot, and he is checking
into a January time slot to run it,
I am
considering league style, but do we have to use the score sheets provided?
I was
considering cr
master_trainer_mike says, "First of all, I would really much rather that BattleZone was run as sanctioned events. It is better for the players and for the long term health of the brand. However, I recognize that some areas can't handle tournaments easily so basic league play rules are provided. You can certainly modify them or improve them as long as you have your player's best interests in mind."
master_trainer_mike smiles.
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #33 from pokesensei:
Mike, I know
that you feel that BZ should be run as a tourney,
but some places have a
lot of younger kids that don't/can't do tourneys.
By cutting this segment out,
you would be harming some of the future growth.
In other words,
keep it for everyone, not just
master_trainer_mike says, "The long term health of the brand is based upon these kids learning about the next level of game play. Of course you can run a league if that is what type of players you have. However, Magic, Yogi-go, and many other TCG's have been doing this for years."
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #34 from marril2000:
RE 24: I would
have liked to also do BattleZone as a tournament, but they way the store is
set up (as in scheduling) the owner preferred league... but said he could
check with the store TO about setting up a pokemon event during games weekend
(a fun co
master_trainer_mike says, "Right. Again, we recognize that there will be circumstances that make league play work better for your location. That is why we created the flexibility to do either in this program :)"
darkmt_mike presents the speaker with question
#32 from lizardotc:
Re: #24; I am running 2 Battlezones league style,
AND also offering at least 2 separate DCI-sanctioned tourneys per month. This
is to allow for both casual play and tough competitive play under the same
roof....
darkmt_mike says, "Excellent!"
master_trainer_mike says, "Great!"
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #36 from mysterioustrainer:
In my league that I attend in Northern Colorado,
my GL is finally setting up for BZ. Now if I remember right, we can hold it on
a weekly basis, and then have a DCI sanctioned tournament if we want. If that
being the case can you tell me how to do that? Also can one store hold two BZs
(at different times)?
master_trainer_mike says, "It is all explained in the BattleZone kits. Normally a store can order a maximum of 4 of these kits per month. Exceptions can be made but only with proof of need. Have the store talk with our Direct Sales department."
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #29 from farbsman:
Can you explain how we need to sanction
tournaments for battlezone? How will we receive the sanction #? I believe you
said in the mail, does that mean snail mail?
master_trainer_mike says, "Correct. You send in the sanctioning form and you will be mailed a cover sheet for your event (along with the sanctioning #). I realize that during this first month that makes it a bit tight, but you can run the event while you are still waiting for your sanctioning number and edit DCI reporter later. This is why you need to pre-sanction the following month's events by the 20th of this month."
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #38 from pokesensei:
RE:29 So we can't get them approved online
(which takes an hour) like any other tourney?
master_trainer_mike says, "Correct. Friday Night
Magic, Jedi Nights, and BattleZone must all be mailed in.
While there are certainly some of you that could
handle it in other ways, keep in mind that the majority of these events will
be run by relative newbies."
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #45 from steve_p:
RE: #38 But, we can still report the BZ tournament
results online, right?
master_trainer_mike says, "Right."
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #37 from steve_p:
Will sanctioned BZ tournaments be listed on the
DCI Tournament Locator?
master_trainer_mike says, "Yes."
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #31 from daytongl:
Since BZ Tourneys are run under the same
guidelines as Friday Night Magic, will BZ Tournaments still get the K boost
for a MP Head Judging?
master_trainer_mike says, "Yes. They are normally 16k events, but if the head judge is a Master Professor, they will elevate the K rating to 24."
PROFESSOR PROGRAM:
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #5 from indigomaster33:
can you give us an explanation of how the new
wipeout system for master professor points will work?
master_trainer_mike says, "Sure, it's quite
simple. You must head judge or be the TO
for 5 sanctioned events in a calendar year
to become a Master professor. On Jan 1,
2003, all of these numbers start back at zero.
Then you have all of 2003 to earn 5 points to
become a Master Professors, or earn 5 to maintain an existing Master Professor
status."
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #6 from steve_p:
I have a 15-year old kid in my area who became a
professor in late October. He's already judged one tournament. Are you going
to reset his MP points on Jan 1 to zero? Or maybe give a few-month grace
period for new professors?
master_trainer_mike says, "Sorry, but no. There are only a few of us doing a lot of work for Pokemon here. That isn't feasible. Also it has been stated the entire time that it is 5 points in a calendar year. If he wants to become a Master Professor, working on 5 events in an entire calendar year is pretty easy."
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #9 from marril2000:
hey mike, any snow over there? anyways, i was
wondering about switching my professor email address, should
I just send an email to the list or give you the
info here?
master_trainer_mike says, "Email the list please :) Also you should always update your changed contact information in the DCI (go to www.thedci.com)."
[CHRISBO NOTE: This sounds a bit confusing. Basically, if you change your e-mail address, send it to the list. If you change where you live, send it to the DCI.]
PROMO CARDS:
darkmt_mike presents the speaker with question
#30 from steve_p:
Just to make it official. Can you make a statement
that Base Set (and Base2) Buzz is now legal for modified?
darkmt_mike says, "Yes he is legal for Modified."
[CHRISBO NOTE: This is because Base Set Electabuzz
is now a reverse-holofoil BattleZone promo card.]
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #60 from marril2000:
so, since the
Electabuzz is available in holo form in
January, that means it's the same through
February correct? so that would mean they are available as a basic promo
March?
master_trainer_mike says, "The Electabuzz is the December card. So the non-winner stamped version of this card will be the participation card in the February kits."
darkmt_mike presents the speaker with question
#62 from marril2000:
since the BattleZone kits are out, can you tell us
what the new promotional symbol is? :P
darkmt_mike says, "It is the "Best" promo card"
[CHRISBO NOTE: I have not seen an actual card
(only a blurry scan), but I believe the word "Best" has replaced the classic
black star.]
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #70 from lepi1962:
Will RH basic energy cards from Expedition, and
with Expedition symbol be available in any form in the future?
master_trainer_mike says, "Reverse holo energy
cards form the card-e sets are not planned
(as of this time)."