Oke I am asked to review the Team Play rules, I judged many of them in the past and recently at Worlds.
Set Up
3. Each player draws 7 cards. Each player places their active and up to 4 bench Pokémon face-down in front of them and places their 3 prize cards face down.
I don't see a reason to restrict the bench. I would not restrict thise because it differs to much from "normal" gameplay. If there is a significant reason for this restriction I would like to know it.
The 3 prize cards is oke, more prizes will take to much time to finish a game.
I would like to add
6. Cards will always stay on your side of the table, so in case of a tool you can only attach it to your own Pokemon.
Card References
1. Cards that say "you" or "your" refer to the player or his/her partner as that player designates; effects may be split.
2. Cards that refer to "your opponent's Pokémon" refer to:
- the opponent that you are attacking, if you are attacking.
- your choice of opponent, if you are not attacking; you may alter your choice once during your turn, before the effect is applied.
3. Two vs. Two language on cards is applied to each partner in the team, for example:
- Cards that refer to "each Defending Pokémon" will affect both opponents' Active Pokémon.
- Cards that refer to "your other Active Pokémon" refer to your partner's Active Pokémon.
4. Pokémon Cards that refer to "all Pokémon in play" refer to all Pokémon in play for both teams.
1. I would like to have some examples on which cards you can split the effects.
Overall I am not to happy with this rule. We always ruled at the moment you assigned who is "you/your" that player will have to perform all effects regardless if the card will mention another you/your.
This to prevent long discussions and confusion.
We ruled if a Pokemon with a power/body comes in play, and it has a body/power who can be used by each player, there need to be assigned directly who is going to use that body/power (and this cannot be chanced anymore)
We developed a game "mechanic" called "player markers" which I will try to explain, for us the best improvement for team play, to deal with who uses which power and when.
We provided at each table 5 of 4 different colored "player markers" (we used casino coins for this).
So 5 red, 5 blue, 5 green, 5 yellow. Each player when seated had it's own color of markers (which would stay at the table after the game is over).
Example: Player A1 (who has the red marker) plays a Nidoqueen d (DF) from it's hand, at that moment he assigns who is going to use that power for the rest of the game. If he/she wants to use that power him/herself no marker placed, but if he/she assigns that power (of that Nidoqueen) to his "mate" , a player marker from his mate (A2 has green in this example) will be put on that Nidoqueen. For the rest of the game that power can only be used by player A2 who's marker is on it at player A2 it's turn.
another Example: Flygon EX d body Sand Damage.
If this card is played from the hand you immediate assign the opponent Sand Damage will apply to.
You take a player marker of that opponent and put it on Flygon EX d. For the rest of the game, sand damage from that flygon Ex d (if active) will be done to the player who's player marker is on it. NOT to both opponents and you cannot chance your "target".
Not each power/body needs to be "assigned", but for those who do this is working great. Also for the judges it's very clear to see what is happening.
So part 2 bolded is not going to happen.
- your choice of opponent, if you are not attacking; you may alter your choice once during your turn, before the effect is applied.
The choice of opponent is most times in regards of powers/bodies and we found out that assigning a power/body at the moment such card is played works very clear even for young players.
point 3
3. Two vs. Two language on cards is applied to each partner in the team, for example:
- Cards that refer to "each Defending Pokémon" will affect both opponents' Active Pokémon.
- Cards that refer to "your other Active Pokémon" refer to your partner's Active Pokémon.
I strongly disagree with this rulings. An Active Pokemon is not always the Defending pokemon and therefor you cannot rule this. The Defending Pokemon is the Active Pokemon of the OPPONENT you have choosen. The same for "your other Active Pokemon" you don't have another Active pokemon so (just like in 1-1) nothing will happen with your team mate's pokemon.
I simply don't like it this way, it's confusing for the correct understanding of Active Pokemon, Defending Pokemon, Attacking Pokemon.
Two vs Two language is when you play with 2 active pokemon each player, this is not happening in Team Play and therefor this ruling is in my opinion subject to removal. Just like in normal play you forget that part of the card.
Well shoot.
Li@
