Pokémon TCG: Sword and Shield—Brilliant Stars

Eliminating scrubs from expert games

I don't think they meant for the term 'expert' to be taken that seriously. It's just a way of making people feel good about not being a beginner any more.

I'm pretty certain they don't want an elite category of players all just playing each other on there either. PTCGO is about getting more people playing the game, rather than providing a testing tool for top competitors.
 
When playing a video game on an equivalent to "expert" mode, does that mean that the person playing it is an expert?

No - just that the mode is a good place for experts, and that the less knowledgeable players probably won't take on the challenge (but can if they wish).
 
Playing people with starter decks is annoying but what is even worse is those who hate losing, as soon as they think they will lose they back out and forfeit. I'm huge for sending them a free card in trade with the title "stick to novice noob. :) "

Another is stallers, they need to put a shorter time limit for those people. one out of about 15 games is actually good, the rest are quiters and stallers....
 
baby mario said:
I don't think they meant for the term 'expert' to be taken that seriously. It's just a way of making people feel good about not being a beginner any more.
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Invalid point in this scenario, because the people I'm talking about are beginners. Thus, they have no reason to feel good about not being beginners... because they are.
 
Politoed666 said:
Invalid point in this scenario, because the people I'm talking about are beginners. Thus, they have no reason to feel good about not being beginners... because they are.
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Actually, I think you missed my point.

You're still taking the category more seriously than Pokemon does. You're insisting that 'Expert' has to have some kind of real meaning, that it should somehow reflect Pokemon TCG expertise.

But that's obviously not Pokemon's intention. They use 'expert' to mean 'someone who has played PTCGO quite a few times'. Except that would be a bit rubbish as a level description, so they use 'Expert' to save space and make the player feel good about themselves. You might think they 'don't deserve it', but it's intended to be just an online version of a children's card game, not a harsh lesson in life for those who can't make the grade.
 
SLOW DECK said:
The definition of Scrub in my mind didn't jive with that. Again, I saw this article before, and I do understand the point of people keeping themselves from winning by playing according to their own rules that others don't feel constrained with (which is a very true concept). But the word SCRUB isn't correct. Don't know what word it is, but let's not pollute the word Scrub.

Per the Urban Dictionary!

Definitions:
1,4,&6 all go about the same on the of someone who thinks they are better than they are: A dude who act like a playa or like he sumthin but really got nothin. A broke guy with no job, no car, no girl..etc

The more applicable definitions:

2. A scrub is a now generalized term used as a synonym for a "noob" or "newb," which is someone who is bad at a video game or activity in general.

3. Someone who is below your level.

5. Scrub, an otherwise inferior person in some what way. Most often refers to social standings, i.e. anyone who isn't The Big Jock or similar. Also refers to people who failed to make it onto whatever team/club/board/group, and also, in online gaming circles, refers to somebody who is not inexperienced but not very good at it. Also used in Magic the Gathering, as a derogatory term for a player who is inferior to you.

Thus a term for people who's mindset, not their abilities, keep them from winning needs to be coined. (example, I won't every play a BDIF) The word SCRUB won't be allowed, because that phrase SCRUB was already coined with different meaning. Chris Fulop had written on this subject before also.
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A word means a certain thing if the majority of people in a given circle use it to mean that thing. If my friends and I started to call fish 'cats,' that word would mean 'fish' when you're with us. If an entire online community started to call them 'cats,' if you joined the discussion you would be expected to accept the meaning of 'fish' for 'cats.' If the entire state of Wyoming started to call fish 'cats,' then in Wyoming a shark would be a type of cat. The word scrub 'won't be allowed'? What kind of foolishness is that? If you want to use 'scrub' to mean a certain thing, even if the majority isn't using it that way, if I understand what you are saying (say, if you had just explained what you meant by 'scrub') then I have no right to tell you that your definition of 'scrub' "won't be allowed." If Chris Fulop, or anyone else for that matter, tries to tell you what 'scrub' means and doesn't mean, they're wrong and a fool to try and tell you what you can and can't call a 'scrub.'
 
I don't think the system proposed it fair at all. I didn't start playing the game until I had enough cards to make one of my IRL decks--which can compete decently with the top tiers. I just got 100 wins a week ago, and some of you are saying that I wouldn't be able to play expert that entire time?

I read somewhere (either on the PTCGO forums, or in the little preloader text) that the game automatically tries to match you up with an opponent that has a similar ranking to you. However, it depends on who is online playing at the time, so you may get stuck with a starter deck player. I think that's a good enough system for me.
 
I think there are a few things they need to do to fix the problem.

1. As already stated, they need some requirements for the expert games. I really like the idea of only players with championship points (I would say in the past 2 seasons going forward) should be able to play in expert games. Once they have the online tournament system setup, doing well in online tournaments should be able to get you into expert games too.

2. They need to get friends list and private games working. If I can play against people I play the game with irl, and some of the people I test with on PlayTCG, I might not even want to bother entering into the expert room all that often.

3. Another option is to make the beginner decks not garbage. Give them decks like Blastoise/Floatzel or Zekrom/Eelektrik to start out with. Basically decks without any ultra rares (Primes, EX's, Legends, etc.) so there is at least some incentive for them to get booster codes. I think giving them decks like that with Pokemon Reversals, and a proper supporter count would do a lot to easing the problem.

Also, the should have made the World Championship decks redeemable decks for the online game. Giving new players decks they would have been able to play online would have made for them to probably purchase some of these decks, while introducing them to some more advanced game mechanics.
 
acktacky said:
I don't think the system proposed it fair at all. I didn't start playing the game until I had enough cards to make one of my IRL decks--which can compete decently with the top tiers. I just got 100 wins a week ago, and some of you are saying that I wouldn't be able to play expert that entire time?

I read somewhere (either on the PTCGO forums, or in the little preloader text) that the game automatically tries to match you up with an opponent that has a similar ranking to you. However, it depends on who is online playing at the time, so you may get stuck with a starter deck player. I think that's a good enough system for me.
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Feel free to criticize several other aspects of what I suggested (assuming that's what you're referencing), but you really have no reason to believe that it is "unfair." Even if someone people reach the 100 win threshold faster, everyone still has the same chance: you aren't held back by ELO, CP, P!P, or any other measure of activity outside of the game.

Is that 100 win idea imperfect? Probably, but so's having to get paired against basic green at any point.

Are either scenarios unfair, though? No.
 
I think they should ditch "expert matches" and introduce "ranked matches". They should also scrap "beginner matches" and introduce "practice matches". The results of practice matches don't count towards your win/loss ratio or your ranking, while ranked matches do. You are paired in ranked matches against people that are of a similar ranking. Maybe have ELO be the factor for determining who you are paired up with. People with an ELO of 1600-1700 are paired with each other, people with a rating below 1600 are paired up, etc.
 
IMO, the best way to do this is solely based on collection and have three levels:

1) Novice: Unlocked by everyone, only mode for people with starter decks and no extras in their collection

2) Medium: Unlocked by anyone that has a set amount of cards (121+, for example) in their collection

3) Advanced: Unlocked by anyone that has a set amount of cards (1000+?) in their collection

This would allow players that have taken time to build interesting or competitive decks to play against cards that they might actually see in tournaments.

I cringe every time I see someone flip a Togepi.

Ogremarauder, I think you've made your points very clear - posting them more frequently doesn't make them any more valid. My recommendation doesn't belittle players, it just allows them to play within their own collection range. If someone just has basic yellow, chances are they're learning the game, so exposing them to a wider pool of cards is a bad idea.

Also, I don't want a 1-21 record because I've had to concede to 21 basic yellow decks before I got a real game in the EXPERT game lobby of all places.
 
What i don't like is getting hate from people because i was able to get a decent deck, I've stopped using my darkrai/hydreigon because of the number of time outs when they see Darkrai, had one chap tell me I'm " A 40yo stay at home mother" while he was using basic yellow deck in expert. If the opponent isn't having fun then I might be inadvertently causing them to stop playing which i don't want to do, but at same time they selected expert before they were ready, I'm going to finish the game and prey its quick.

I want to play a fair game but i don't feel that playing with basic yellow will teach me very much, so i run with as good decks as i know how, I'm still pretty new and I'm not an "expert" but I'm no novice. I played one game of novice with a theme deck, and although opponent was an appropriate deck, it was way better than the basic yellow that I'm used to on expert mode.

I'm against the championship points, because unless Pokemon allows us to start a league in our state(not American) only way I'd get a championship point is to fly, if they had more modes like a "champion mode" then i think that is fine, what I'd like personally like is these modes: theme deck, novice, intermediate, advanced decks and for ranked matches to be out.

I kinda like the card requirement, but at same time when trading comes out some people might just get the cards they want for their deck, forcing some one with an uber deck to play novice and ranked only is a little cruel.
 
I concede a lot, so my record will be bad.
Sometimes I don't mind to play a few games against Togechu, but enough is enough.

Not sure how this could be "fair". but players with pure starterdecks should indeed not play expert games.
 
I get your point but is almost impossible, Pokemon TCGO staff dont care about good or bad players they care about selling boosters they want more costumers dont care if they are pros or geeks.
 
I'll chime in as one of the "Less Experienced Players".

A few things to consider:
What is PTCGO trying to accomplish? Trying to set up a testing arena for their TCG market to play around with? That may be part of it but they have put a lot of money and resources into it and expect a return on investment. They are setting up the building blocks of on online version of TCG that will generate income, allow for league/tourney/events (basically everything they do with the TCG but in addition reach the entire market of people on the internet).

Next: What are players trying to get out of playing online? Someone else to test their deck against? That's what the friend feature is for, problem solved.
For players like myself, I want someone to play against. I consider myself competitive, make the best decks I can with the limited amount of cards I have and like to play in Expert mode because I learn better/quicker playing against an 'Elite deck' then just reading about it on the internet. It also opens up other ideas which are outside the box. Matchups or combinations which don't normally occur when everyone is just playing a cookie cutter 'elite deck'.

Does playing a starter Togechu deck really not allow you to test your deck? You can test for consistency, draws, effectiveness, all kinds of stuff even if it isn't a 'challenging' matchup.

I was playing the other night and using a noobish deck in Expert mode and I got matched up against a Mewtwo EX (Eels,Zekrom) 4 games back to back. And yes, I don't think I took a single prize in all 4 matches. Did I enjoy it, yes, did I get some good experience, yes.

Honestly (and this coming from a noob) if the game is so broken that there are only a few 'elite' decks and everyone just uses variations of those decks, then they really need to do something about the formats. If they are going to move PTCGO in a separate path they have an excellent arena for testing other format before introducing them to their TCG players/system.

I've rambled enough. The other benefit I find of playing against elite deck is gleaning information off the player using the deck via in game chat.

Oh, and how do you say 'Thanks for sharing this post', I can't seem to figure out how to do that. (Noob to this forum as well!)
 
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