Pokemon Chat Report - Thursday, July 11, 2002
by Team Compendium

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master_trainer_pat says, "Whoa!"
master_trainer_mike says, "Sorry!"
master_trainer_mike says, "Sorry!"
master_trainer_mike says, "We end up so busy we lost track of time!"
master_trainer_pat says, "I guess we're late for the chat again gang!"
master_trainer_mike says, "We are BAD toads!"
master_trainer_pat says, "It's been a rough day here in Customer Service"
master_trainer_mike says, "We are NOT very MINTY FRESH today I must say....."
master_trainer_pat says, "That's no excuse though..."
master_trainer_pat says, "sorry."
master_trainer_mike says, "OP has been crazy as well (getting ready for Worlds and Gen Con)."
master_trainer_pat smiles.
master_trainer_mike says, "Anyway, let's start with a few quick announcements."
master_trainer_pat says, "A quick summary of the main Origins events..."
master_trainer_pat says, "The Professor Challenge on Saturday was really sucessful, with over 80 Professors competing"
master_trainer_pat says, "the one complaint seemed to be that it went too long. We started at 10am and it went past midnight"
master_trainer_mike says, "Thank you all who came and especially Steve and Dan and Sensei and GymleaderPhil and all the others who helped us run these events and the Leagues."
master_trainer_pat says, "The first Team Multiplay event on Sunday also went really well from our standpoint"
master_trainer_mike says, "I need to learn to make my events a bit shorter......doh"
master_trainer_pat says, "40 teams signed up and we saw some really unique decks and strategy goin' on."
master_trainer_mike says, "We learned a lot from it. Enough so that the latest version of the rules 1.3 will be going out today."
master_trainer_pat says, "this event also suffered from being too long for most folks...especially since it was on Sunday the last day of the con."
master_trainer_mike says, "The biggest change in the new rules is that each round is now 50 minutes instead of an hour and each player will set out 2 prizes each (4 per team) instead of six."
master_trainer_pat says, "and people needed to drive home afterward."
master_trainer_mike says, "This is in an attempt to shorten the length of each round a bit."
master_trainer_mike says, "Also, for now Team Rocket's Meowth is still allowed."
master_trainer_pat says, "This was directly responsible for a couple changes we made to the Team Multiplay rules"
master_trainer_mike says, "With each team only having 4 prizes, this card won't be used quite so freely."
master_trainer_mike says, "Besides, this is still playtesting and we need some more data."
master_trainer_mike says, "The schedule of side events for Pokemon Worlds is being revised and will be updated later today."
master_trainer_mike says, "We are moving the 2 team events (we added one) to the morning (since they go longer)."
master_trainer_mike says, "We also have the sad duty to tell you that the Expedition PreRelease tournament had to be canceled."
master_trainer_pat says, "The Pokemon Arena event was again very popular with people who wanted something to do between tournaments or who just wanted to play for a chance at some cool promos and foils"
master_trainer_pat says, "we had over 130 people sign up"
master_trainer_mike says, "Very sorry to say this but due to production issues the cards just couldn't get done in time."
master_trainer_mike says, "We are offering some very cool prizes for one of the events though that is taking place in its place. The chance to win Expedition cards before anyone else in the world!"
master_trainer_pat says, "Whoa...how's that for some stuff to think about!"
master_trainer_mike says, "Again details will be posted soon."

master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with question #21 from lord_schweizer:can the player going second evolve on their first turn (if they put the basic down at the beginning of the game)
master_trainer_pat says, "No, it's still their first turn of play. They cannot evolve."

master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with question #23 from chrisbo:A few weeks ago you said that you cannot play a Mysterious Fossil as your starting pokemon. However, this is in contradiction to the Fossil FAQ (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=pokemon/fossilfaq). Which is currently correct? Thanks.
master_trainer_pat says, "I don't remember which one of us said that...but it doesn't matter. You _cannot_ start with Mysterious Fossil as one of your Pokemon. It creates too many problems."

master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #24 from monkeyman8889:IF someone from 11-14 age group turned 15 but they got top 8 at a STS still play?
master_trainer_mike says, "Not in the main tournaments. The invitations given out to Top 8 finishers form the 2001 STS's are simple courtesy invitations since we didn't have the Challenge series at that time. There will not be any grandfathering being done for these courtesy invitations."
master_trainer_mike says, "If a player is 15 or older by the time of Worlds, there will be plenty of other events they can play in."

master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with question #26 from articjedi:if I use static electricity on my marreep, do any evolved marreeps count toward the total ex. a amphy on top of a marreep
master_trainer_pat says, "No, it's asking only for the number of Mareeps in play."

master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #25 from bubbi_guru:I see that Steve Sperling of New York recieved a plane ticket to worlds for being top20 DCI ranked in the 15- catagory. Does this mean the top8 of prior STS's will also recieve Plane tickets?
master_trainer_mike says, "Nope. Some of the top ranked DCI players in the world earned trips. Only a few of them. Once again, the STS finishes are given invitations as a courtesy. Not the same thing."

master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #27 from yoshi1001:Under section 18 of the UTR, will this chat be issued a time extension for starting late?
master_trainer_mike says, "bwa"
master_trainer_mike says, "ha"
master_trainer_mike says, "ha"
master_trainer_pat shakes her/his head.

master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with question #28 from mt_icecold:Whats the official ruling on comming into play powers, are they unstoppable? Unstopable meaning no cards in play can affect them like Sputter, Goop Gas Attack, and the power Toxic Gas from Fossil/Leagends Muk.
master_trainer_pat says, "We've learned our lesson(or we have) about never saying never in Pokemon, but in general, that is correct."

master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with question #29 from yoshi1001:if Magby uses sputter and retreats the next turn, what happens if the other player has a A. Foretress B. D. Dugtrio?
master_trainer_pat says, "The Magby effect doesn't 'turn off' until it hits the bench. So both those effects which trigger on a Pokemon retreating, don't function."

master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with question #30 from mt_icecold:Master Trainer In training Will will be at worlds right, I wanna get him in a battle
master_trainer_pat says, "Yea, Will is going to be there as a reporter for Wizards of the Coast. It's been awhile since we've seen Will, it'll be good to hang out again."

master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with question #31 from mt_icecold:Is Dark Apprentice Steve gunna be at worlds too?
master_trainer_pat says, "Yes, he's gonna be there too."

master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with question #32 from mt_icecold:Whats with GenCon, I heard theres a card E prerelease at GenCon but theres nothing posted about it onm the tournament scedule?
master_trainer_pat says, "We're still hoping to make it happen, but we didn't want to put it on the schedule if we didn't know for absolute sure that we would have the cards by then."
master_trainer_pat says, "We are planning to add another Sept. 1st Modified Team Multiplay event at Gen Con when we are there."
master_trainer_pat says, "It is a recent addition so we're going to have to post flyers around the convention and rely on all of you to spread the word."
master_trainer_pat says, "We don't know the date yet, but you'll be the first to know...or the second."
master_trainer_pat says, "The first one was such a sucess that we want to try it again."

master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with question #33 from lucky_cal:For Porygon2's Energy Converter, you can't invent new energy types, right? Like "Ice Energy" or "Scooby-Treat Energy"?
master_trainer_pat says, "Nope."

master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with question #38 from mt_icecold:Any of the Master Trainers upset about what happend at the All Star Game?
master_trainer_pat says, "It was certainly unfortunate the way that it was handled. The Tie I can live with, but don't announce it during the middle of an inning."

master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with question #37 from lucky_cal:Would the Giovanni trainer card allow a just-devolved Pok�mon to evolve again?
master_trainer_pat says, "Yes."

master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with question #39 from lucky_cal:Is the 10 damage from Darkness Energy added before or after Weakness/Resistance when it's discarded for Dark Houndoom's Dark Fire?
master_trainer_pat says, "After Weakness and REsistance. THis card is so poorly writen, it remindes me of Blaine's Charizard"

master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #40 from lucky_cal:Unown Q's Pok�mon Power (Quicken) says, "If you have more than 1 Unown [Q] in play, use only 1 [Quicken] each turn." What, if anything, could be done to remove this effect?
master_trainer_mike says, "Nothing really."

master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #41 from lucky_cal:Also, can I use Quicken, put another Unown Q in play, and use Quicken again?
master_trainer_mike says, "Nope, as that would be more than one Unown Q. You could however, use Unown Q, then removbe it from play (perhaps with a Scvoop Up), then play it again and use its power again."
master_trainer_mike says, "The power only works if there is only one Unown Q in play on your side at the time."

master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #42 from mt_icecold:What do you mean Tr' Meowth is still allowed, you cant ban it, thatll kill my TR meowth Dark Ursaring deck!?!?!?!

master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with question #43 from matthewssandslash:Isn't TR's Meowth WAY too powerful in TMP?
master_trainer_mike says, "One event is not enough to get full data from."
master_trainer_mike says, "While we saw several people playing it, and it it is good, it also makes you lose a prize, AND it didn't seem to win any games for any teams."
master_trainer_pat says, "Many player at the event wanted to ban TR Meowth due to it's power. I feel that it is powerful but noone has shown that they can win with it every time and that it belongs in every deck."
master_trainer_mike says, "If it is just a strong tech card it will stay, much like Cleffa."
master_trainer_mike says, "If we find that it wins games too often it will go , like Sneasel."
master_trainer_mike says, "Now that each team only has 4 prizes, giving up a prize card with TR Meowth is something players will be a bit more cautious about."
master_trainer_mike says, "However, we are running more events so that we can get more data and see."
master_trainer_mike says, "Banning a card is a big deal and not done arbitrarily."
master_trainer_pat says, "Especially now that you only have 4 prizes, if you want to trade, go for it. If you get stuck at the beginning of the game with TR MEowth as your only Pokemon against Tyrogue(who is great in this format) you are going to be cat dust in no time."

master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #45 from articjedi:is there going to be an erika's challenge like at the WCSTS2?
master_trainer_mike says, "Nope, but there will be numerous side events and activities to do."

master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #46 from mt_icecold:Will there ever be a 3 Person team battle, where one person will be rotated out at each battle but only 2 decks will be used?
master_trainer_mike says, "No plans at this time."

master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #47 from lucky_cal:Yanma's Shockwave switches the Defending Pok�mon even if the coin flip is tails, right?
master_trainer_mike says, "Yes. Suddenly that seems like a very cool Team PLay card...hmmmmmm."

master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #48 from marril2000:sorry to hear how the Expedition prerelease was canceled, but by any chance will they be on display kind of like Neo Genesis with the ECSTS2?
master_trainer_mike says, "Yes there will definitaley be a display about Expedition so you can see some of it before anyone else."

master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with question #52 from matthewssandslash:Does a Metal Energy on a Team Rocket's Meowth eliminate all damage done by it (whether 10 or 120): is it done 10 by 10 or all at once?
master_trainer_pat says, "It only eliminates 10 of the total damage"

master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #50 from articjedi:there was a supposed virus that was sent to the professor list, is this true. I got a strange e-mail today, and accidently opened the attachment
master_trainer_mike says, "No idea, but you shoudl NEVER open attachemnts in an email if you don;t know where it came form or what it is."

master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #49 from pigdeon_of_death:Can you tell us the sort of planned side events for Worlds, and any possibility of unplanned side events?
master_trainer_mike says, "The new schedule will go up tomorrow."

master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with question #53 from matthewssandslash:Re: #23: what sort of problems? I can't think of any, can you guys?

master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #51 from yoshi1001:any news on GenCon?
master_trainer_pat says, "Basically, cheating. There were a couple accusations made at one of this last weekends events."
master_trainer_mike says, "We have a schedule Team Multiplay sealed event on Saturday. We will try to have a Team Multiplay Consructed event and hopefully an expedition pre-release as well."
master_trainer_mike says, "There are also scheduled modified and unlimited constructed events too."

master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #54 from bubbi_guru:"Nope. Some of the top ranked DCI players in the world earned trips. Only a few of them. Once again, the STS finishes are given invitations as a courtesy. Not the same thing." How was this decided upon? what factors?
master_trainer_mike says, "Guys, first of all, this is internal stuff, kay?"
master_trainer_mike says, "A small number of top rated players from DCI were given trips and a larger number were given invitations."

master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #55 from lord_schweizer:is the challenge series another name for the legendary collection
master_trainer_mike says, "No, that is the name of the qualifier series that leads up to Pokemon Worlds."

master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with question #57 from bubbi_guru:will there be a Card-E pre-release at worlds?
master_trainer_pat says, "No, that was in the announcements"

master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #56 from marril2000:which week and season will it be on saturday according to the official wizards league schedule?
master_trainer_mike says, "I think you should still be in the Season 6 - Psychic Season."

master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #58 from yoshi1001:Will the place where worlds is being held have a way for people attending to connect to the web (i.e. are there ethernet ports in the walls?)
master_trainer_mike says, "Not that I'm aware of."

master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #60 from chrisbo:Since the new TMP v1.3 Rules provide for only 4 prizes per team, does that mean you're going to shorten the deck size to 40 cards also?
master_trainer_mike says, "Nope, for now it will still be 60 cards for constructed and 40 cards for sealed."

master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #61 from puritys_echidna:are all the team events at worlds going to be sealed deck?
master_trainer_mike says, "Nope, there will be a scheduled constructed event and a scheduled sealed."

master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #62 from yoshi1001:since colorless is not a type, I assume you cannot Buzzap an an electrod into colorless energy. Am I correct?
master_trainer_mike says, "Correct."

master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with question #59 from matthewssandslash:I have a question about Jungle Electrode and Mysterious Fossil/Clefairy Doll, if you attack them with Electrode's bench-zapping attack (forgot the name =/), what type would you count Mysterious Fossil/Clefairy Doll to be?
master_trainer_pat says, "It has no type."

master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #68 from mysticzapdos_x:Can people who've already won trips, invites, etc. to Worlds still play in the meat grinder if they feel like it?
master_trainer_mike says, "No they can not, sorry."

master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #63 from lord_schweizer:you said you can't play mysterious fossil on the first turn because it creates too many problems - can you be more specific
master_trainer_mike says, "It is a trainer card. You can't play trainers during your setup. That's what Pat meant."

master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #64 from monkeyman8889:Im pretty sure this is a no but can you discard more then one darkness energy on dark houndoom to do more damage?
master_trainer_mike says, "No you can't."

master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #65 from lord_schweizer:so you can't use sneasel?
master_trainer_mike says, "Correct, Sneasel is still banned in all Modified play."

master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #66 from pigdeon_of_death:Re: 43: Hold it, TR's Meowth ends pretty much any possibility of a comeback. You could have a 2-Metal Steelix and it would, on average, get KO'd by a TR's Meowth with a Darkness.
master_trainer_mike says, "Yes, but the player using the Meowth would also lose a prize."
master_trainer_mike says, "Like we said, we do not ban lighly."
master_trainer_mike says, "We need more data before we make any decsions."
master_trainer_mike says, "Moewth seems to be a good tech card but it doesn't seem to win you the game either."
master_trainer_pat says, "That's not what we saw at the event itself...I saw comebacks from it...I saw it sit in players' hands, I saw it fail to KO several Pokemon.."
master_trainer_mike says, "I would rather ban Cleffa given my druthers, EVRYONE plays with that :)"

master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #67 from gym_leader_blaine:I know that if you are a head judge in a DCI tournament it counts for your Master Professorship, but what if you are just a judge at one of the Challenge tournaments?
master_trainer_mike says, "If you are the head judge then it counts."
master_trainer_pat says, "Realize that you still have to flip heads for damage...with an average of 12 pokemon in play and an average of 6 heads out of those flips that's 40 damage to a Steelix with 2 metal"

master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #69 from yoshi1001:If you mange the Exped. event at gencon, will the cards not be legal in Modified until the set comes out since they are still prerelease?
master_trainer_pat says, "That's for TR Meowth"
master_trainer_mike says, "Correct."
master_trainer_mike says, "They would not be legal in MOdified."

master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #70 from monkeyman8889:Do you guys play favorites on giving the airline tickets out? If so can I be a favorite? because my mommy says im special
master_trainer_mike says, "no we do not."
master_trainer_mike says, "Guys I have to go to another Pokemon meeting."
master_trainer_mike says, "Sorry we were late. Watch our web site for updated info on worlds tomorrow."
master_trainer_mike says, "Bye!"
master_trainer_pat says, "Sorry, We've got to get going early. See you next week."
master_trainer_pat says, "Later."