Hello!
As some did know, i took kinda long break off pokemon this year. However, after finishing nats with regular stuff, we had some time to make up a nice metagame counter-list, that actually was fairly good. Unfortunately, our time was limited and the first goal, to make a deck that beats GG, became also the last goal. As pretty obviously can be seen from the list, the main purpose was to complitely lock the opponent, while still being able to setup fairly well yourself. Claydol is rather an emerengy setupper, mainly a wager counter though while format was so flip based this year, even if the list was perfect(which it wasn´t unfortunately), nothing could surely really counter everything.
I have to say though, even as i faced some unlucky things(like everyone most likely), first loss going down to a flip, second to ruling i had never heard about, last to baltoy being prized&top cut being only 3 spots away, i can´t really complain. Last year after all that playtesting i felt like i´m flowing through the games, this year i don´t even want to count the missplays i did. Also as mentioned, the lists purpose unfortunately remained in defeating just GG, even the trode tech came up in the last evening, when we noticed that empo matchup ain´t too good.
3*Jirachi ex
3*Ralts SW
3*Kirlia DF
3*Gallade
3*Absol
1*Voltorb
1*Electrode
1*Baltoy
1*Claydol
1*Absol ex
1*Rayquaza ex
6*Psychic
4*Electric
2*Multi
1*Fighting
1*Bdark
2*Warp Point
4*Crystal Beach
4*Cessation
4*Castaway
4*Bebe's
4*Roseanne
2*Celio's
1*Scott
Unfortunately, i didn´t catch the names of my opponents, and all the match information comes just from my memory, without any notes, so they might be unaccurate, even wrong at some spots.
1. GG
The matchup i´m most familiar with, good so far. I start with absol i think, he has a random selection of basics. I started with absol+cess if my memory serves me, and while he draws absolutely nothing and only threat is 2 energy ralts on the bench, i start hitting with jirachi. In case for a trap, i had absol ex+trode up for the gallade, but that never came. He showed his hand, and it was something like 4 evolutions, 4 scramble/dre.
1-0
2.Empozong
Whoever you were, props for the play. VS. empo you naturally can´t really go with absol too much, so i had to go for the kills too quickly. Unfortunately, i didn´t get to draw beaches. The game was pretty even till i was a turn late&had to take the changes for paralyzing his active bronzong, after which i would´ve been able to knock out what was on the table. Fair enough though, he won straight to that flip, and i guess it would´ve been close if it was heads.
1-1
3&4 GG
Another gg like in the fourth round also, i don´t remember order of these two games though. One of these games was pretty much a copy of the game one - i get my lock working from the start, and there´s nothing he can do really, while he draws just crap.
The other game was then easily the hardest GG game in the tournament i had. I think there was more or less pressure in both sides, since both of us made a horrific missplay in the start. I had my beach on, he attaches a castform to his 2 energy gardevoir&tries to attack. For some strange reason, i went&knocked it out with trode, while i just should´ve roseanned for jirach. This would´ve not been a problem if my setup was good, but it was quite horrific. While i saw he has pretty much nothing&i´m again one turn behind, i decide to just pass with 2 energy kirlia¬ to kill the (claydol?) in the front, since my cess locks it anyway&his benched gardy wouldn´t be able to knock my gallade next turn. Of course he draws a wager, and wins it. The game goes to a really close one in the end, but i manage to make it in the end, GG
3-1
5. Amphyzong
Neither of us really setup fast, so it ends up being one where i take the lead, and he´ll come back with the scrambles. Unfortunately, my draw was quite ****** in here for the beaches, and i didn´t manage to get one to replace the LB, that replaced my t1 beach that came with scott. It wasn´t a missplay though, i just couldn´t afford grabbing 2 beaches with that hand. The game goes down to 3-2 for my advantage, when this loveable ruling came up. I called to hit 80 with gallade, as i usually do(and he didn´t complain for this before) for the knock, and he calls a judge, and it was judged along these guidelines i didn´t know about, the minimum damage leaving the active bronzong 10 away from the KO. The ******* did go further than that though. For some reason, that most likely remains unknown to me, he suddenly calls a judge and blames me for unsportmanship, even though i did absolutely nothing like that. The judge wasn´t interested about that call really, though, i don´t know if the guy has done this kind of stuff regulary.Game goes on, and he then warp points, and i have to sack a voltorb front(i couldn´t get a cess active unfortunately), he absols 30 to jirachi that had already taken 50 and ko's the active voltorb. I could´ve KO'ed one poke if the bronzong wen´t down, but not 2 in 1 turn&i couldn´t help the fact that the jira would die to pain amplifier. It´s a shame that there are idiots like this one around.
At this point, i kinda lost my interest to the rest of the tournament, even though i had good changes of going on. Not only because of the above, but i heard that one Finnish senior, first timer in a big event, was banned for the tournament for the following:
As far as i know, our translator told harmlessly that a japanese guy used a funny trick in grinder and one that got through the grinder - he had a dusknoir translation, even though he didn´t have dusknoir in his deck. Ok, i agree that i wouldn´t do that either, but while all the guys that complete the grinder are deckchecked&translations should be checked at the same spot as well, even i thought it was complitely legal.
Using the head judges own words, a judge asked if it was his translation, he said yes, though he didn´t really understand the complete meaning of this yes. A judge asked the question again with the same answer, went through his deck, and while he found out that there´s no dusknoir in there, his self payed trip ended right there. Strange thing was that no judge was really interested if he knew what exactly means translation(for example if you have copies from card dex, you have plenty of copies, that actually aren´t in your deck, even though those copies are translations) and according to this banned Fin, NO FINNISH TRANSLATOR was allowed to speak with him to clear up why the dusknoir was in there, or if this was cheating in purpose or not.
The head judge unpolitely cleared to me also that "these things happen" and "we didn´t catch the japanese guy then"...that was deckchecked? Also, i understand that head judge might be a busy man, but if he doesn´t have time to discuss about REMOVING A PLAYER FROM TOURNAMENT, something is wrong. I don´t know what bugs you really... you seemed like a fair person in 2007. "Fair and fun" pokemon indeed.
6. GG
I was pretty much down because of the above, and didn´t care at all about this game. I happened to meet a German guy i knew, and while he played gg, it went without too much thinking. Actually, i was almost eaten in this game because of 1 or 2 wagers, can´t remember, but i drew my beaches&i was lucky enough to absol one windstorm away, so he didn´t get his counters up at all.
4-2
7. Amphyzong
This guy was VERY nervous, since he made missplays almost every turn. Unfortunately, i didn´t have that tech chatot, and my opening hand was horrible for a game where baltoy is prized. I had 2 bebes, pokes+few energy, and i drew pretty much nothing. When it was down to 6-3, i started to get some setup finally&with the help of beach and his missplay's, i actually managed to pull it to 3-1. He didn´t have really energy up, and he was bumping up a rayquaza. Unfortunately, i didn´t get my topdecks even when i had clay working now(needed a topdeck celio/bebe within 2 turns), and i didn´t get my absol ex trap ready early enough.
4-3
and finishing spot of 35.
Don´t get the wrong impression of which i will say, my own tournament expect for round 5 was pretty coo l. However, with the attitude of judges and the behaviour of the staff members in there really makes me feel bad. This was my last tournament for pokemon in any case, but with actions like this year's , i´d consider quitting even if i didn´t plan it before.
Also, while i give BIG minus to the head judge, several others&few staff members, in the other hand we have to remember that most of those guys still were doing good job, that just tends to get shadowed by some other´s bad actions.
Also, big congrats to all the winners.
As some did know, i took kinda long break off pokemon this year. However, after finishing nats with regular stuff, we had some time to make up a nice metagame counter-list, that actually was fairly good. Unfortunately, our time was limited and the first goal, to make a deck that beats GG, became also the last goal. As pretty obviously can be seen from the list, the main purpose was to complitely lock the opponent, while still being able to setup fairly well yourself. Claydol is rather an emerengy setupper, mainly a wager counter though while format was so flip based this year, even if the list was perfect(which it wasn´t unfortunately), nothing could surely really counter everything.
I have to say though, even as i faced some unlucky things(like everyone most likely), first loss going down to a flip, second to ruling i had never heard about, last to baltoy being prized&top cut being only 3 spots away, i can´t really complain. Last year after all that playtesting i felt like i´m flowing through the games, this year i don´t even want to count the missplays i did. Also as mentioned, the lists purpose unfortunately remained in defeating just GG, even the trode tech came up in the last evening, when we noticed that empo matchup ain´t too good.
3*Jirachi ex
3*Ralts SW
3*Kirlia DF
3*Gallade
3*Absol
1*Voltorb
1*Electrode
1*Baltoy
1*Claydol
1*Absol ex
1*Rayquaza ex
6*Psychic
4*Electric
2*Multi
1*Fighting
1*Bdark
2*Warp Point
4*Crystal Beach
4*Cessation
4*Castaway
4*Bebe's
4*Roseanne
2*Celio's
1*Scott
Unfortunately, i didn´t catch the names of my opponents, and all the match information comes just from my memory, without any notes, so they might be unaccurate, even wrong at some spots.
1. GG
The matchup i´m most familiar with, good so far. I start with absol i think, he has a random selection of basics. I started with absol+cess if my memory serves me, and while he draws absolutely nothing and only threat is 2 energy ralts on the bench, i start hitting with jirachi. In case for a trap, i had absol ex+trode up for the gallade, but that never came. He showed his hand, and it was something like 4 evolutions, 4 scramble/dre.
1-0
2.Empozong
Whoever you were, props for the play. VS. empo you naturally can´t really go with absol too much, so i had to go for the kills too quickly. Unfortunately, i didn´t get to draw beaches. The game was pretty even till i was a turn late&had to take the changes for paralyzing his active bronzong, after which i would´ve been able to knock out what was on the table. Fair enough though, he won straight to that flip, and i guess it would´ve been close if it was heads.
1-1
3&4 GG
Another gg like in the fourth round also, i don´t remember order of these two games though. One of these games was pretty much a copy of the game one - i get my lock working from the start, and there´s nothing he can do really, while he draws just crap.
The other game was then easily the hardest GG game in the tournament i had. I think there was more or less pressure in both sides, since both of us made a horrific missplay in the start. I had my beach on, he attaches a castform to his 2 energy gardevoir&tries to attack. For some strange reason, i went&knocked it out with trode, while i just should´ve roseanned for jirach. This would´ve not been a problem if my setup was good, but it was quite horrific. While i saw he has pretty much nothing&i´m again one turn behind, i decide to just pass with 2 energy kirlia¬ to kill the (claydol?) in the front, since my cess locks it anyway&his benched gardy wouldn´t be able to knock my gallade next turn. Of course he draws a wager, and wins it. The game goes to a really close one in the end, but i manage to make it in the end, GG
3-1
5. Amphyzong
Neither of us really setup fast, so it ends up being one where i take the lead, and he´ll come back with the scrambles. Unfortunately, my draw was quite ****** in here for the beaches, and i didn´t manage to get one to replace the LB, that replaced my t1 beach that came with scott. It wasn´t a missplay though, i just couldn´t afford grabbing 2 beaches with that hand. The game goes down to 3-2 for my advantage, when this loveable ruling came up. I called to hit 80 with gallade, as i usually do(and he didn´t complain for this before) for the knock, and he calls a judge, and it was judged along these guidelines i didn´t know about, the minimum damage leaving the active bronzong 10 away from the KO. The ******* did go further than that though. For some reason, that most likely remains unknown to me, he suddenly calls a judge and blames me for unsportmanship, even though i did absolutely nothing like that. The judge wasn´t interested about that call really, though, i don´t know if the guy has done this kind of stuff regulary.Game goes on, and he then warp points, and i have to sack a voltorb front(i couldn´t get a cess active unfortunately), he absols 30 to jirachi that had already taken 50 and ko's the active voltorb. I could´ve KO'ed one poke if the bronzong wen´t down, but not 2 in 1 turn&i couldn´t help the fact that the jira would die to pain amplifier. It´s a shame that there are idiots like this one around.
At this point, i kinda lost my interest to the rest of the tournament, even though i had good changes of going on. Not only because of the above, but i heard that one Finnish senior, first timer in a big event, was banned for the tournament for the following:
As far as i know, our translator told harmlessly that a japanese guy used a funny trick in grinder and one that got through the grinder - he had a dusknoir translation, even though he didn´t have dusknoir in his deck. Ok, i agree that i wouldn´t do that either, but while all the guys that complete the grinder are deckchecked&translations should be checked at the same spot as well, even i thought it was complitely legal.
Using the head judges own words, a judge asked if it was his translation, he said yes, though he didn´t really understand the complete meaning of this yes. A judge asked the question again with the same answer, went through his deck, and while he found out that there´s no dusknoir in there, his self payed trip ended right there. Strange thing was that no judge was really interested if he knew what exactly means translation(for example if you have copies from card dex, you have plenty of copies, that actually aren´t in your deck, even though those copies are translations) and according to this banned Fin, NO FINNISH TRANSLATOR was allowed to speak with him to clear up why the dusknoir was in there, or if this was cheating in purpose or not.
The head judge unpolitely cleared to me also that "these things happen" and "we didn´t catch the japanese guy then"...that was deckchecked? Also, i understand that head judge might be a busy man, but if he doesn´t have time to discuss about REMOVING A PLAYER FROM TOURNAMENT, something is wrong. I don´t know what bugs you really... you seemed like a fair person in 2007. "Fair and fun" pokemon indeed.
6. GG
I was pretty much down because of the above, and didn´t care at all about this game. I happened to meet a German guy i knew, and while he played gg, it went without too much thinking. Actually, i was almost eaten in this game because of 1 or 2 wagers, can´t remember, but i drew my beaches&i was lucky enough to absol one windstorm away, so he didn´t get his counters up at all.
4-2
7. Amphyzong
This guy was VERY nervous, since he made missplays almost every turn. Unfortunately, i didn´t have that tech chatot, and my opening hand was horrible for a game where baltoy is prized. I had 2 bebes, pokes+few energy, and i drew pretty much nothing. When it was down to 6-3, i started to get some setup finally&with the help of beach and his missplay's, i actually managed to pull it to 3-1. He didn´t have really energy up, and he was bumping up a rayquaza. Unfortunately, i didn´t get my topdecks even when i had clay working now(needed a topdeck celio/bebe within 2 turns), and i didn´t get my absol ex trap ready early enough.
4-3
and finishing spot of 35.
Don´t get the wrong impression of which i will say, my own tournament expect for round 5 was pretty coo l. However, with the attitude of judges and the behaviour of the staff members in there really makes me feel bad. This was my last tournament for pokemon in any case, but with actions like this year's , i´d consider quitting even if i didn´t plan it before.
Also, while i give BIG minus to the head judge, several others&few staff members, in the other hand we have to remember that most of those guys still were doing good job, that just tends to get shadowed by some other´s bad actions.
Also, big congrats to all the winners.
