Formats and tournaments without DCI

[Tego]

I haven't played much Pokémon during the summer, and on August 20th the League (yes, I still call it League, not BZ) I'm running will start again. EX:Ruby/Sapphire was released in Norway (or imported from the USA) in late July. Because I haven't played much with the Ruby/Sapphire-expansion yet, I'm not quite into Nintendo's new rules.

I know they have updated the rules with things like only one retreat per turn, increased confuse damage etc. And something about Double Battle, 2 active Pokémon. But can anyone give me a link to some place I can examine all these new rules?

And what kind of format should I run at the League now? Or better said: how are we supposed to run the Modified format now? My choices are between:

-Wizard's last version of Modified, with EX:R/S included and Nintendo's new rules
-Wizard's last version of Modified, with EX:R/S included and old rules
-Wizard's last version of Modified, without EX:R/S or new rules

I know most of the local players have bought some R/S boosters by now, so I think it would be fair to allow them to play with it. But I do doubt that everyone knows the rules inside out. So what would be a reasonable choice?

 

[P_A]

This page will answer most of your questions about new rulings: http://www.pokemon-tcg.com/p_strategy/rules_expert.jsp
In our gym we use unlimited (except sneasel- that's what everyone seems to want) and nintendo cards. We will use their rules when they sanction league tournaments or when we have 2 on 2 battles now. Really right now it's up to you. Pick one, if people don't like it, pick something else. Whatever keeps pokemon going near you.

 

[GymLeaderPhil]

Personally, if you include any Ruby and Sapphire Cards in any format, you should also have the new rules. It just does not make sense to confuse players, because the new rules will have to be played from this point on. There will never be a point, in sanctioned play, where the rules will be reversed.
-Phil

 

[Prof. Douglas Zuver]

This was discussed on the boards awhile back,
and many serious players decided that if you use
the Ruby Sapphire Cards you should use the
Ruby Sapphire Rulebook which come in the
Ruby Sapphire Theme Decks.

The new Ruby Sapphire Rule Changes as taken almost
directly from the Ruby Sapphire Theme Deck:

When an opponent defeats a Pokemon-ex they take two prizes instead
of one. Pokemon-ex cannot evolve into normal stage one or two Pokemon that
are not Pokemon-ex.

When you start the game without Basic Pokemon in your hand, show your
hand to your opponent, shuffle it back into your deck, and draw 7 new cards.
Your opponent can then choose to draw an extra card.

When you start a new game, the player who goes first skips his or her first
draw card step.

The special condition Confusion now only affects a Confused Pokemon when
it attacks. As it attacks, flip a coin as usual, but on tails, the Confused Pokemon
receives 3 damage counters, instead of the previous 20 damage.
Confused Pokemon can now retreat normally.

Retreating your Active Pokemon is now an action that can only be done once
per turn.

Darkness and Metal Energy are now easier to play. They still count as special
energy, giving their special effects only to Pokemon of the matching type. As
they give effects strictly to those Pokemon, the other drawbacks to those
energy types have been removed.

Players are now limited to playing one Stadium card per turn."

 

[Tego]

Thanks for your replies, everyone. I think I will go for Modified with R/S and the new rules. If the players don't like that, I'll use old Modified and the R/S cards (and rules) only in Unlimited.

 

[Prof. Douglas Zuver]

I personally think that your first choice is very wise.

Until we are given Official changes it is best to use
and adapt what we know and have.

The Modified Format has not been changed by anyone yet.
So, we should adapt to the new company and add
Ruby & Sapphire and any future Expansions to the current
Modified format. This is how the modified format is set up
to be continued. By adding the Nintendo Cards we are
transfering over to the new company, and the restriction
of "only cards printed by WotC" drops out.

Of course, as I mentioned earlier, we would shift over into
using the Ruby Sapphire rules at the same time which were
distributed in the new theme decks.

If someone is running a sanctioned WotC DCI tournament,
they should do everything the old way.