Ness
Member
Jason, I see where you are coming from, but it's a bit unfair to always have the top players always getting first. It really makes a kids day when they finally beat that player, the one that always snatches first place. And I can relate to this (because unlike someone I am not the eat player in the world). If I beat someone I really look up to it's really exciting. If there was no luck in the game it may never have happened. But I can also attest to being really P.O'd when I get donors or draw pass locked etc.
I think their needs to be a balance that is not currently being acheived in the current format.
Posted with Mobile style...
You do not understand the luck in the Pokémon TCG if you think Best of 5 will guarantee the best player will win every time (or even anything close to that). We have dozens of different Nationals & Worlds champions. Simply going from Best 2 of 3 to Best 3 of 5 isn't going to change that.
Additionally, keep in mind my suggestions for Best of 5 are only for Nationals & Worlds. I think these tournaments should reward the players who played and practiced more. If you disagree, perhaps a game like Bingo would better appease you.
Lastly, a 2 hours Best of 5 series will realistically become a Best of 3 series sometimes, simply because games take long. That is the reality of the Pokemon TCG. However, at least these players would get a chance to play 3 full, legitimate games, whereas 60 minutes often makes for a one game series, or a 1-1 going to Sudden Death.
Last year, Jason tried to get me to play him in a best of 9 series Gengar vs Gyarados. I don't think the general Pokemon player (let alone kids) can sit down and play a 2 hour, best of 5 series. But I definitely agree that playing more is the way to go. 90+3 for top cut, perhaps? Double Elimination top cut games?
I think that's complete nonsense that a kid can't sit down and play Pokémon for two hours. I actually think the kids would enjoy playing rather than restlessly wandering around in between rounds. These tournaments are broken up into multiple days. Juniors, Seniors and Masters all have the same passion for the same game. My suggested schedule does not suggest extending these days much further than they already would be. I would definitely support a 90+3 for Top Cut (as well as a 40+3 for Swiss), but I think those implementations belong at States & Regionals. At Nationals & Worlds, I believe we should be playing Best 3 of 5 with a 120 minute+3 limit.
I'd like to close with the fact that I wish Pokémon games only took 20 minutes. That is the only thing I miss about the Base Set days. The reality is: They don't. We can't change that. We can either play with unsuitable time limits that turn the game into a random luckfest of arbitrary sudden death and "4 prize" rules, or we can extend the limits to allow for a skillful and enjoyable game!
---------- Post added 08/29/2011 at 05:59 PM ----------
Looking at the suggested timeframes I've posted, I realize the days are a bit lengthy. It's been brought to my attention too that 10-11 hour days wouldn't work with only a one hour break for staff.
However, I don't think we are out of reach. So instead of 14 rounds, I think 12 would probably be more realistic. Instead of 40+3, maybe we could get 35+3. (Pokemon TCGO allows each player 20 minutes of time on a "chess clock," that switches whenever one player has to perform an action. This 35+3 would closely mimic that.)
Here is another proposed schedule based on 12 Rounds and 35+3 for Swiss:
Day 1 (35 minutes + 3 turns)
8:30 AM: Be seated, etc.
9 AM: Round 1
10 AM: Round 2
11 AM: Round 3
Lunch Break After Round 3
1 PM: Round 4
2 PM: Round 5
3 PM: Round 6
4 PM: Round 7
5 PM: Round 8
Finish @ 6 PM.
Day 2 (35 minutes +3 turns, 2 hours+3 turns)
8:30 AM: Be seated, etc.
9 AM: Round 9
10 AM: Round 10
11 AM: Round 11
12 PM: Round 12
Lunch Break / Deck Check After Round 12
2 PM: Top 32
4:15: Top 16
Finish @ 6:30 PM
Day 3 (Best 3 of 5, 2 hours+3 turns)
8:30 AM: Be seated, etc.
9 AM: Top 8
11:15 AM: Top 4
1:30: Lunch Break/ Final Tables Prepared
3 PM: Finals
5:30 PM Awards
Finish @ 6 PM.
Last edited: