2015 Season TCG Regionals Day 2 will use Extended Format (BW-on)

[bulbasnore]

The format for the 2014-2015 North American Regional Championships will use the EXTENDED (BW-on) format on DAY 2. League Challenges will be sanctionable in either Standard or Extended.

Play! Pokemon has used the STANDARD format for premiere events for the 2014 Organized Play season. Before that, they used the analogous MODIFIED format for premiere events. These formats have changed yearly and include only the most recent sets of cards.

In a few weeks the yearly format rotation for STANDARD will be announced. Premiere events for next season will be using STANDARD format. Some premiere event series next season might also use another format - EXTENDED.

Which ones will use EXTENDED? We only can say for sure about one event series at this time.

Starting in the "2015" season, with Fall 2014, the EXTENDED format (BW-on) will be used for the 2nd day of North American Regional Championships. This means that portions of the Regional Championships main event that fall on the second day will use the EXTENDED format. What parts of the event? The Top8 for sure. If the event qualifies for added rounds of swiss on day 2, those rounds will also use the EXTENDED format.

Do you have to change your deck between Day 1 Swiss and Day 2 Swiss/Top 8? NO! All STANDARD decks are automatically EXTENDED decks. However, there will be the option to change your deck between the STANDARD part and the EXTENDED part of the event. If you do, you will need to submit a new decklist.

There will NOT be the opportunity to change your deck between Day 2 Swiss and Top 8.

This opens up all kinds of strategic possibilities in regional championship play! Also, this changes the value of many key cards in EXTENDED format (e.g. potentially Tropical Beach if it rotates). The EXTENDED format was annouced at the beginning of the last season.

 

[espeon200]

Hmm... Does this mean you could potentially play a completely different deck on day two? For example, you play Speed Yveltal day 1 and see a lot of Virizion so you decide to switch it into Yveltal/Garbodor? It should make for some interesting new strategic possibilities if that's the case.

 

[yoshi1001]

My gut instinct tells me this is a bad idea. Not nearly as bad as 50+3 or some other decisions seem to have worked out, but overall I think it hurts the game. I'll admit part of it is probably my strong distaste for the BW generation, but it doesn't seem like a good idea to force people to have additional cards to play in a second format for the same tournament. Yes, in theory you can use the exact same deck, but in practice virtually all decks will want to make some sort of change to include or adjust for the additional cards. It may add some strategic elements, but on the whole I feel it's a net loss, if only a small one.

 

[LOLZ]

If someone from Pokemon OP reads this thread, please lowering the bar for events with regards to qualifying for Extra Swiss Rounds. Playing Standard for 4-8 Rounds of an event and only given the chance to play Extended for up to 3 Rounds (T8/T4/T2) is kind of lame especally if you are one of the 4 players who only gets to play (and lose) in 1 Match in Top 8.

My Suggestion-
http://s1368.photobucket.com/user/acaspanello/media/opinion_zps18d306d5.jpg.html

I have had the chance to staff two regionals this season that had extra Swiss rounds. 9 Rounds + 5 Rounds + T8 is very doable in a 2 day time frame, anything less as suggested on the chart above is equally possible.

 

[Krusiv]

This change is interesting to say the least. I think I would prefer if BW-On was its own separate tournament, but that might be too hectic for TOs and staff. Another unfortunate side effect is it would split the playerbase into two groups so I can kinda see where they are going with this.

I'll remain cautiously optimistic until we see how this turns out.

 

[kbs021]

Wow

This is a shocking announcement.. I was way off on my guess... I thought this would be a side event at large events or possible BW-on events that could earn extra CP or prizes.. I definately thought this would be for day 2 at regs for those who didn't top cut

 

[gradientraptor]

Very disappointed by this announcement. I was really excited to play BW-ON as it's own format, from swiss to Top Cut. This just seems really odd.

 

[kbs021]

Totally agree with the oddity... Like if this was announced tomorrow that this was a typo or something I wouldn't be surprised which is saying alot. I am not quite disappointed.. but I do wish it was its own thing..

 

[Pokealjovin]

Where is the official announcement? I was hoping that the new format would be for everything more or less the new "standard".

 

[treyh37]

while it's interesting gameplay wise, I can see this being a bit of a headache for event staff, practically makes it so they have a second day of registration, and can make deck checks a pain trying to find the right list

 

[LOLZ]

while it's interesting gameplay wise, I can see this being a bit of a headache for event staff, practically makes it so they have a second day of registration, and can make deck checks a pain trying to find the right list

No, No, No!!! Lets not use Event Operations and stress on staff as an excuse today. In actuality, events now are getting too large to realistically deck check the entire field pre-tournament.

Day 1- Player Meeting + Scoop 'Em Up + Scan for Errors Method for Standard Decklists (Random Deck Checks done through out the day)
Day 2- The players who make Day 2, turns in Extended Decklists for Day 2, on Day 2. These are not given full service deck check. Once again, Collect + Scan. (Random Deck Checks done through out the day)

Pre-Tournament, and now, start of Day 2 Deck Checks are, and will always be a courtesy, not a requirement

 

[JandPDS]

This is such a stupid idea I can hardly believe it. NO WAY players should be allowed to change decks once the tourney starts. It is making a mockery of the game. Side decks would be a much better idea. Either play the entire event B&W on or don't. Half and half is moronic. Dealing with a bad matchup in top cut is just part of the game, being allowed to play a brand new deck is insane. You should never be allowed to change deck mid event. So one player like Ross C did in worlds a few years ago makes a super surprise deck that no one sees coming and has a huge success with it day one in Swiss play, so its fair that his opponents can now have a night to add in techs against it? How is that fair. All this will do is stifle creativity as players wont try new ideas as it wont work as a valid surprise deck for the entire event.

So pokemon wants us to build two decks for every big event we go to now? Why to keep the secondary card market at higher prices? Really the organized play seems increasingly disorganized all of the time. Please start the event in one of the two formats and end it in the same format, this hybrid makes zero logical sense.

 

[Scizor]

This is such a stupid idea I can hardly believe it. NO WAY players should be allowed to change decks once the tourney starts. It is making a mockery of the game. Side decks would be a much better idea. Either play the entire event B&W on or don't. Half and half is moronic. Dealing with a bad matchup in top cut is just part of the game, being allowed to play a brand new deck is insane. You should never be allowed to change deck mid event. So one player like Ross C did in worlds a few years ago makes a super surprise deck that no one sees coming and has a huge success with it day one in Swiss play, so its fair that his opponents can now have a night to add in techs against it? How is that fair. All this will do is stifle creativity as players wont try new ideas as it wont work as a valid surprise deck for the entire event.

So pokemon wants us to build two decks for every big event we go to now? Why to keep the secondary card market at higher prices? Really the organized play seems increasingly disorganized all of the time. Please start the event in one of the two formats and end it in the same format, this hybrid makes zero logical sense.

Magic does draft for many Top 8s, I don't see what the big deal is here. This is actually a good decision by TPCi. Sideboards would not work for this game. It's not going to happen and I'm tired of it being "debated" every single week, give me a break. As for decklists, the players are going to have their decks figured out prior to the top cut anyways. The judges shouldn't have any problems deck checking 8 whole decks. This is a refreshing change to a game that has needed a new format for a long time.

 

[sdrawkcab]

This is such a stupid idea I can hardly believe it. NO WAY players should be allowed to change decks once the tourney starts. It is making a mockery of the game. Side decks would be a much better idea. Either play the entire event B&W on or don't. Half and half is moronic. Dealing with a bad matchup in top cut is just part of the game, being allowed to play a brand new deck is insane. You should never be allowed to change deck mid event. So one player like Ross C did in worlds a few years ago makes a super surprise deck that no one sees coming and has a huge success with it day one in Swiss play, so its fair that his opponents can now have a night to add in techs against it? How is that fair. All this will do is stifle creativity as players wont try new ideas as it wont work as a valid surprise deck for the entire event.

So pokemon wants us to build two decks for every big event we go to now? Why to keep the secondary card market at higher prices? Really the organized play seems increasingly disorganized all of the time. Please start the event in one of the two formats and end it in the same format, this hybrid makes zero logical sense.

You haven't read up on many of the japanese tournaments have you.

 

[raxl]

Magic does draft for many Top 8s, I don't see what the big deal is here. ... This is a refreshing change to a game that has needed a new format for a long time.

Draft does not require preparing a second deck in advance. This is much more like having a GP where day 1 is standard and day 2 or top 8 is modern. I'm not sure that's _bad_, but from a Magic perspective, or a non-Japanese Pokemon perspective, it's quite _odd._ It's awesome to get to prepare and deckbuild in two different metagames in Pokemon overall and I look forward to it. It will take some wrapping my head around preparing for two metagames for the same event. If I'll naturally be prepared for both metagames anyway just by playing through the tournament season, it may not be a big deal. If these are effectively the only Extended events that get a lot of participation... oof.

Either way, I'm glad I saved my Eels.

 

[vaporeon]

Why can't Nintendo just let BW die. They are trying very hard to keep it around. I look forward to next standard format but why make such a high level tournament have 2 formats. This opens the grounds for a number of negative. Guess we'll have to wait and see how this plays out.

 

[NoPoke]

Day one of regionals is now a qualifier for day 2. Think of them as two separate tournaments. Those that can adapt should do well. How is that a bad thing?

 

[yoshi1001]

Day one of regionals is now a qualifier for day 2. Think of them as two separate tournaments. Those that can adapt should do well. How is that a bad thing?

It's really a question of do you get more out of it than you put in. Does the addition of extra complexity result in a better experience? Some players will probably see it as a positive, others as an inconvenience. I also get the feeling that newer players will be the most negatively affected. Again, I don't think this is a horrible decision or anything (I think it's really designed to showcase BW-on more than inject a greater skill element), but I don't really think it helps the game.

- - - Updated - - -

Day one of regionals is now a qualifier for day 2. Think of them as two separate tournaments. Those that can adapt should do well. How is that a bad thing?

It's really a question of do you get more out of it than you put in. Does the addition of extra complexity result in a better experience? Some players will probably see it as a positive, others as an inconvenience. I also get the feeling that newer players will be the most negatively affected. Again, I don't think this is a horrible decision or anything (I think it's really designed to showcase BW-on more than inject a greater skill element), but I don't really think it helps the game.

 

[losjackal]

So one player like Ross C did in worlds a few years ago makes a super surprise deck that no one sees coming and has a huge success with it day one in Swiss play, so its fair that his opponents can now have a night to add in techs against it? How is that fair.

Players often misuse the word "fair". (People do it in life too, when it suits them.) So let's list the ways it is fair:

1. There's no promise that if you build a rogue deck, you have some kind of right to win the whole thing. In fact, the tournament rules were relaxed so that deck lists aren't as confidential anymore.
2. An opponent who chooses to tech counters for Ross' deck for the Single Elimination Finals does so at their own risk. They would be sacrificing consistency, and may not even get matched up against him.
3. Ross also has the opportunity to makes changes to his deck, or even switch decks entirely too. So the efforts of #2 could go to waste!

It's fair because everyone is playing by the same rules.

 

[Shen]

Besides that, the two days are completely different metas. A rogue deck designed to counter the meta day 1 may not be able to have the same success in day 2's meta.