Pokémon TCG: Sword and Shield—Brilliant Stars

Deck Checks (or, rather lack of)

S

Scorpidad

New Member
Every premier tournament I have ever been to (about 20-25 total, 13 this season) have always done deck checks. Some before the event (optional for everyone and/or mandatory for younger divisions), some during swiss rounds (OK, only Nats for this), but, every single premier tournament that I was around during top-cut (judging, playing or watching) has done deck checks before top-cut started.

That is until this year's SPTs. I kept thinking it was weird. But, maybe it isn't, maybe all the events I have been to prior to this one were run by PTOs/Head Judges that perform deck checks and others do not. I am not asking for a poll, just want to know peoples experience with the lack of deck checks at premier events, especially at the SPT and higher level.
 
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I am a firm believer of List Checks of all decks before every premiere event, from Battle Roads to Cities, to States and Regionals (the highest events that I run).

We then do full deck checks before the top cut, and will do random deck checks during an event for the larger events.

I can't see doing an event without checking lists.

Vince
 
I will always have a minimum list check every single player that plays in my constructed events.

I like to have full registration deck checks for my Jrs and Srs to try and weed out fakes and Championship cards, though I know that might be unfeasible for larger events.

Top cuts for every age group will always get the full workup at my events.

Haven't had the need for random deck checks yet. Then again, my largest event was a 53 person Cities...
 
My very first P!P experience was the Battle Roads of this season in California, the one on Sept. 18 in Modesto. We had something like 40ish players, and there was an entire deck check for every single person, juniors, seniors, and masters alike. Then there was a random deck check after every round for six players selected at random. I was informed later that some of the players at that event had been previously reported as possible cheaters. It took an extra half an hour, but I was still very pleased that the TO valued integrity, even if it made the day a bit longer. It was quite a smooth event, and I was pleased to see that I was right that the people who played Pokemon valued fairness and honesty above all.

So, to respond to your post, I find that deck checks, while a hassle, are something that as a player, I would like to see happen at the start of every event.
 
This bothers me now that you mention it. My area (New England) does virtually none. And at our states last Saturday we had a top 16 in masters, deck checks were never performed. I have never been deck checked in any event for 3 years.

For me, I think that it should be done yet never is. In the minds of organizers, perhaps it is sometimes perceived as a chore.
 
Thanks for feedback Vince and Ryan, I was glad to hear from PTOs that are outside my area that deck checks are the norm and handled the same as they are in my area. Since this was the first time (except Nats) going to an event outside my area (with a different PTO than I normally see), I just wanted to check that this was abnormal.

Victory Bell said:
In the minds of organizers, perhaps it is sometimes perceived as a chore.
Click to expand...

Coming from the other side, as a judge, deck checks are not the funnest part of a tournament for sure. But, I never thought of them as a chore, rather as a necessary part of running a smooth and fair tournament.
 
I went to a regional in Delaware where Masters were not required to undergo deck-checks. It was all voluntary. That just leaves the door open for bad practices. The checks are for accountability. Take that away and you make it easier for a dishonest person to cheat. You can only keep an honest person honest, but checks at least impede cheating.
 
PokeMedic said:
I went to a regional in Delaware where Masters were not required to undergo deck-checks.
Click to expand...

Did you mean States in Delaware? If so, then even though I wasn't there, I can safely say they did deck checks at top-cut. That would be in addition to whatever pre-tournament checks they performed, either optional or mandatory.
 
FL States had 100 percent deck checks for Jrs and Srs.
Masters could 'opt out' but had a mandatory card count and sleeve check.

Randoms were not done to allow for faster turn arounds.

All Top cut decks where checked again.
 
At my BRs and CCs (which are smaller than many), I do full deck checks at the start. I also do a full deck check prior to top cuts. At States and Reg's I have worked over the years, we have typically done full deck checks at the start and again at topcuts.

I personally feel like a deck check at regis helps in limiting deck problems (and penalties) later in the day. I can live with opt outs, usually reserved for the MAs. They are the "big boys" and should be able to handle a stiff penalty later, if they screwed up their list and/or deck.

Keith

---------- Post added 03/23/2011 at 08:46 PM ----------
Victory Bell said:
This bothers me now that you mention it. My area (New England) does virtually none. And at our states last Saturday we had a top 16 in masters, deck checks were never performed. I have never been deck checked in any event for 3 years.

For me, I think that it should be done yet never is. In the minds of organizers, perhaps it is sometimes perceived as a chore.
Click to expand...

Are you sure the staff didnt do a deck check before topcuts? Usually, a small dinner/food break is given and the players often dont see the checks occur. I guess if you never turned in your deck, then a check couldnt be done. I'd fear an issue w/ sleeves and/or marked cards. Better to be safe than sorry.

The integrity of the event is more important than saving a few minutes. We need to be timely, but not so fast as to let players get away/potentially get away with things. In fact, the tourney rules call for a minimum of a 10% deck check during the day. Pre-reg and topcut deck checks can account for this number.

Keith
 
PokeMedic said:
I went to a regional in Delaware where Masters were not required to undergo deck-checks. It was all voluntary. That just leaves the door open for bad practices. The checks are for accountability. Take that away and you make it easier for a dishonest person to cheat. You can only keep an honest person honest, but checks at least impede cheating.
Click to expand...

PokeMedic said:
I actually meant the regional in Penn. Whoops.
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Do you mean pre-tournament deck checks? That is understandable, just like Keith (Lawman) mentioned above.

If you mean at top-cut than I am very surprised, as I know most of the staff there, and have staffed events with the majority of them at one time or another. During that time I have never seen top-cut not get deck-checked for all divisions.
 
Sometimes Dorian (PA/DE PTO) doesn't run deck checks until the prize rounds. Meaning Top 16 no check, Top 8 check. She runs great events that go smoothly and usually end early without silly top cut time problems. Deck checks are always available for people requesting them or junior division players.
 
Martian said:
FL States had 100 percent deck checks for Jrs and Srs.
Masters could 'opt out' but had a mandatory card count and sleeve check.

Randoms were not done to allow for faster turn arounds.

All Top cut decks where checked again.
Click to expand...


This and ALL late players had to complete a full deck check.

No opt out was available to late players.
 
Victory Bell said:
This bothers me now that you mention it. My area (New England) does virtually none. And at our states last Saturday we had a top 16 in masters, deck checks were never performed. I have never been deck checked in any event for 3 years.

For me, I think that it should be done yet never is. In the minds of organizers, perhaps it is sometimes perceived as a chore.
Click to expand...

Woah. Now THAT'S messed up. Normal swiss is one thing, but top cut? :nonono:
You could alter your techs and such based on a KNOWN field.

Interesting considering the NE is PokePop's jurisdiction... do his events not run deck checks? You think they would.

Here in the mid-atlantic (VA, MD, Carolinas), I've never NOT had my deck checked through my 3.5 years of play. We simply make registration and checking one clean action. They check your deck, take your list, and that's your registration ticket. It's really not that hard given an hour registration time and actually cleans up registration imo. We never have issues with improper cards.
 
yoyofsho16 said:
Woah. Now THAT'S messed up. Normal swiss is one thing, but top cut? :nonono:
You could alter your techs and such based on a KNOWN field.

Interesting considering the NE is PokePop's jurisdiction... do his events not run deck checks? You think they would.
Click to expand...
'pop does not run events in NE, but NJ/NY...

'mom
 
in california i believe we have too many deck checks during tournaments that extend the time of the tournament which sucks for players
 
Pop also runs great events for the record.

NE can mean:
North East (which NJ/NY are often considered part of)
New England (Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine)
Nebraska (NE is their postal abbreviation)
^I feel like the confusion between the first two has actually tripped people up ITT.
 
Victory Bell said:
This bothers me now that you mention it. My area (New England) does virtually none. And at our states last Saturday we had a top 16 in masters, deck checks were never performed. I have never been deck checked in any event for 3 years.

For me, I think that it should be done yet never is. In the minds of organizers, perhaps it is sometimes perceived as a chore.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, this is very true. I top cutted at my first Cities ever and found out I didnt need a deck check. I found this weird. Also, am I the only one from New England that found it mega crazy we had to pass down each other decklist? I mean, I could have found out what 20 people were playing if I was sly enough. 'Pop runns NY/NJ events, usually Steve Arena is our Head Judge.
 
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