are games always this one sided? or perhaps am I playing wrong?

[chucklepie]

Hello,
So, with two of the same starter decks it didn't go too well with my son

I ended up with Mr Mime active with three energy cards he didn't get enough energy cards so I wiped his active basic pokemon in one turn after getting the energy. His next pokemon got active and on my next turn I wiped that out, and then again on his third card, i.e. every turn I wiped out his card. After which he threw a wobbler, screamed a bit said it was the worse game ever and what's the point when all that happens is he dies every turn and I'd get all 6 specials in a few more turns.

I kind of agree, were we doing something wrong? basically took a card, attacked, killed his card. he took a card, didn't do much and ended his turn.

Cheers.

 

[PokePop]

Not really a rulings question, but I'll take it.

The bottom line is that theme decks are not built to be super good. It can also be a case of one player getting set up fast and the other one having a bad hand and not being able to get set up.
They have too many weak Pokemon, too much energy, and not enough Trainers in them.
Check out our deck forum for decks that make better use of cards and help their players get Pokemon out into the field that can be effective.

I would also strongly suggest going to a local League (found on Pokemon.com) and asking the League Leader for help in making your decks better.

Also, there is a strategy to surviving a bad start. Young players don't know how to do this without being taught.
For instance, they will always attach energy to their active, even if it will be Knocked Out before it can effectively attack.
Better to leave a Pokemon active as a "wall" and build up a Pokemon on the bench, protecting it until it has the energy it needs. Your son would need to be taught how to do this.

Hope that helps!
I'm also moving this to a discussion forum. If I leave it in the Ask the Rules Team forum, neither you or anyone else will be able to respond to it.

 

[Mekkah]

Just let him win next time. Nobody likes losing their first game(s).

 

[Gerik]

Yeah with theme decks a bad first hand is usually a loss unless you can get VERY lucky and top deck good stuff.
The decks don't really have a solid draw engine built into theme, and the Pokemon in them don't always have evolutions or are too energy-hungry.

 

[totoro]

On a similar note, you might want to look into the "World Championships" Decks that come out in the autumn after Worlds. The cards are not tournament legal (different card back), but will give you and your son a much better idea of the synergy that exists between good cards that theme decks just don't employ. At this time of year, you might have to hunt a bit to find them locally, but you might be able to find them online. When I was first starting to play with my kids, I remember the first time I played one of these decks, I finally "got it". Hope you do the same!