Subject: Some tentative advice - READ this if you are upset I recommend
URs/Ubers

Note to Pojo: this is a response to the email about Goku/Saiyans/Vegito

---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
From: "Monjoni Osso"
Date: Thu, 21 Aug 2003 15:28:23 -0400

Thanks for the help. Unfortunately, I've got no shot at getting SSJ3 Goku
or I'd use him as his lvl 5 power is much better than Gohan's. However, i'm
not really focusing on winning tourneys until I can get that lvl 5, so I'm
just building fun decks at the moment. I was planning on using MBS 1-3 (no
HT) and the FuS lvl 4-5 until I could get more Power Smacks.

Now, I don't want to sound unappreciative or anything, and I understand that
you have a lot of cards that others simply don't have, but one thing that
irritates me is that you often recommend cards that are really hard for
people e-mailing you to get. I understand that just about every top-tier
player doesn't have to worry about rarity, but I've got no shot at getting
Confrontations or many other staples. E-bay's an option, but many DBZ
players don't have that option, being underage/not owning a credit card, for
example.

I understand that your tips are helpful, and they really are, but I think it
would really help more if you considered the fact that the vast majority of
DBZ players have 0-1 URs. I consider myself exceptionally lucky to have 3
URs and about 30 promos. Now i understand that to the best palyers, money
is no object, and they can get bascialyl whatever they want. What I've
noticed a lot is that those people aren't (usually) the ones e-mailng you.
I just wish that more players of your caliber would be willing to help out
kids who don't have the same options the top tier players do. IMO, it would
make the game a lot better if things were more on an even tier, so we don't
have a small group of people dominating the tournament scene.

_________________________________________________________________
Well, you've caught me. Unfortunately I work on a top tier level.

I don't always mention the staple URs, but I will always mention anything lower. Confrontation - pick up some Trunks Reforged, seeing that it comes 1 in 5. Android 18's Stare Down - rare from Androids Saga, try and try to get 3. Trunks Energy Sphere - buy 3 Trunks Reforged, already got 3 now. Time is A Warriors Tool - buy a CCPP. I mention the higher cards, but not the impossible cards. Here, let me explain:

I used to be like all of you guys out there who don't know what it is like to even have 3 copies of Android 18's Stare Down. That was way back when I started, when I was 14/15. I know that anyone who is under 16 probably doesn't have what they want for the cards for their deck, and, well, there's nothing I can really do except a) recommend how to get them or b) give it to them, which I cannot do since I already do that enough to the people I play with. I lose money on a daily basis when I play, trying to please everyone. But as long as people are happy then cool. But if I did that for the world... I can't, seeing that I've got to keep my own decks together as well. I honestly am still looking for more Confrontations. Why? I have what, 5 or 6 or so hero decks? And by no means do I have 18 Confrontations. My sister is a Trunks collector, and I am a collector period, so I keep a copy of it in my binder, and her likewise. I KNOW that Confrontation isn't easy to come by. See, the problem doesn't lie in the money, it lies in the game. Score placed many of the staples in the game into the "hard to get/buy a ton of cards" area. I'm not trying to be cruel, but if you ask to have your deck made better, I will. No, I won't guarantee that you'll be able to get the cards, but what I will guarantee is that your deck (hopefully) will be a whole lot better if you take my advice. See, a tournament player makes a deck's blueprints, and then gathers the cards they need to make it work. Or at least that's what I do. If you work with what you own, that will severely limit the cards that can go in the deck, and likewise it will severely limit how good the deck can be. See, the people now know that they need 3 copies of Confrontation. So now they can go to their local league or shop and trade for three copies. But, if they never knew that that card existed, then... well, then they'll never improve. See what I mean?

Score once said that when they playtest cards, they don't know the rarity of the card. I remember a rep saying that it doesn't matter the rarity (well, for the most part). If a player needs a card for his deck, he will get it. That's how the game works.

It doesn't matter if you are under age. I go to Fanatics Network (fanaticsnetwork.com) to do my trading and find cards I need for my decks. Honestly, finding Master Roshi Sensei was a big pain. Now finding a copy of Confrontation might be just as hard as my Roshi was, but with a ton of people to trade with, you never know what you'll be able to find. The only think about under age I see as a major problem is work. As soon as I got a job, I was able to buy boxes and get what I want. If it weren't for my job, I wouldn't have anywhere close to the amount of cards I have.

I also allow anyone I play with to borrow my cards. I know I have over 9 Confrontations. At least 2 other people who don't have it can run a set them in their Regional deck. I do what I can to help people get the cards for their Regional/big tourney deck. You should see some of the sacrifices I have made. Some of them are pretty significant (loss of major URs, I've traded countless ones away to help my friends). I went out of my way to pick up a WTLTH and FA for one guy. I just traded my Champion Aura I earned at Worlds to get two Champion Drills to give to two of my close friends. Now why? Because I can. Now if everyone did this, maybe things would be on an even tier. But unfortunately, that's not the case.

The problem lies in Score. There are just so many staples in the game. To start this game, I would first collect a set of the staples. Hard, but honestly, that's what you kind of have to do to survive in this game against the big boys.

I do consider that people don't have some cards, and I'm sorry I can't magically create one like I can on Apprentice and give it to you. But what you can do is work hard, trade hard, make the deck, and find the cards, one by one. Ignore the URs. Go for the easy prey and work up. It took me a long time to get a Champion Drill myself. But if you want tech, be prepared to have me help you on a World Championship basis. That's how I work. Try, try, and try again. I did that when I was younger (attacked one deck, found the cards little by little), and that routine has followed me until even now.

Let me leave you with this piece of advice: If you truly, truly want to be a great player and want to have a great deck, you will find the deck you want to have and go after the cards you want. Trust me.

"The will to win is nothing, without the will to prepare to win." - Vince Lombardi

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matthewlow@franceslow.com
"You will not be allowed to do this to anyone else!" - Gohan
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