Pokémon TCG: Sword and Shield—Brilliant Stars

Massive use of foreign cards

OK, you've got me convinced that using Japanese cards might be okay if you prefer to collect Japanese cards because they're cheaper, AND you don't have enough available cards in English (because you spend most of your money on Japanese cards).

But, you've drawn attention to yourself, which might not always be a good thing.
 
I haven't read any of the posts in this thread other than the first, but I think the intention of that section of the tournament rules is that you shouldn't be using foreign language cards as an attempt to skew what the card actually does, so when your opponent is unfamiliar with the card asks what it does you tell them "X", when it really does "Y". I know some players that have bought boxes from Japan because they were cheaper or whatever. I don't think a player should be penalized for this.
 
If an opponent doesn't understand what a card does, and needs to read it, then the outside translations are called in.

Only against a very new player will the cards intimidate and gain an advantage, but using ANY cards outside of this person's game-knowledge would also do the same >_>

Are you guys saying using japanese cards disrupt the game because a translation must be read? So my reaching over to my opponent's translation card to understand what it does is more disruptive to me than reaching over to my opponent's in-play pokemon to do the same?

I think the argument against japanese cards is pretty bad. The idea of the unfair advantage is only applicalbe in very rare, difficult situations.

They simply aren't more disruptive. The only times they are disruptive, if you dont know what they do, they have the same amount of disruption to an opponent as an english card does seeing as both situations induce the same disruption but are relieved in the same manner with no added time or difficulty by having easy-access translations.

Back to back posts merged. The following information has been added:

Like Lia said, a small 4 slot/page binder with 4-16 translations for a deck would be REALLY easy to manage. Just as easy as the english ones. The opponent has to look in a binder to see the card instead of reaching over to my pokemon in play... not much different in my mind.
 
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time for me to chime in, as a player who does use Japanese cards, Ive never had a problem, EVEN AT US NATIONALS.

I ran Lucarilutions for my Nats, using about 50-60% Japanese.
I voluntarially did a deck check, and I did have 1 Japanese singleton with an outside card, I was asked why i didnt play the english one, and i said "Cause the Japanese looks cooler" There was no more comment, and my deck passed deck check, as I had all translations.

This year at NV states, we had a player whos deck was 100% Japanese, all outside cards in a small folder, easy to get and read.

As long as you have the translations via card-dex, or an outside reference card, I have no problem with it.

Side note - If they disallow foreign cards, then IMO, wherever worlds is at should be the language card text also, which would mean that worlds 08 everybody would be playing ENGLISH.

~Duke
 
You would have ruled it illegal? What? I mean come on, its still Pokemon TCG cards and I fail to see how using japanese cards grants any advantage to you.

Japanese cards are cheaper, but more importantly, way cooler to look at.
 
SteveP said:
OK, you've got me convinced that using Japanese cards might be okay if you prefer to collect Japanese cards because they're cheaper, AND you don't have enough available cards in English (because you spend most of your money on Japanese cards).

But, you've drawn attention to yourself, which might not always be a good thing.
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I'm glad you posted this Steve. There have been at least two or three threads on the Gym in the last month alone about how it is better to buy Japanese boxes. As long as those Japanese boxes have better stuff there will be folks who buy them and with the word of mouth spreading it seems entirely possible to me that there will be more and more decks with these cards in them.
 
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imho, the only thing that has stopped me from buying japanese cards is that I haven't boughten anything recently. Honestly, with how little lv.Xs you get in english boxes and how many foils/lv.Xs you get in japanese boxes, the translation/dex printout is worth the effort.

And they are cool :p
 
I 've agree with you prime.

1 japanense box cost us$ 79.90 + shipping cost and a english box cost us$ (85-110) + Shipping cost.

The japanense cards are more cool because the english cards are a little colorless than japanense cards.
reverse foils american cards sucks and you may lose an oportunity of obtain a 2 rare card because of this system (it's not funny open a pack and obtain a magikarp foil for example)

SteveP: If the players who uses foreign cards have the card dex, his deck is legal, and your speculations of cheating must be monitored by the judges, it's his job do that without protest unless POP changes the rules about playing with foreign cards.
 
Curiously the use of foreign language cards is much less likely to cause a problem at the higher tier events. There is a presumption that both staff and players will know more at the big events.

That said I would not look kindly on singles supported by local language translations outside the deck. Just because something is allowed does not mean it is to be rules-lawyered or abused. To behave in any way that disrupts the tournament can result in a penalty. Ryanvergel is correct that looking at a translation/external reference is no more disruptive than looking at the actual card. However if the deck is mostly or all foreign then the external reference may amount to 30 cards. Now that is likely to be disruptive as the translation has to be located or spread out over the play area.

POP allows the use of foreign language cards. POP don't have to do this. So don't abuse the priveledge and trigger a change in the rules that none of us want to see.
 
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All of you who are saying "there's no difference between using Japanese and English cards" are experienced players. You've played the cards thousands of times and card images alone tells you what the card does. But for novices, that's not always the case. Your experience alone with probably give you victory over novices. Using Japanese cards against novices may not significantly increase your odds (though IMO I think it does), but it will certainly make it more difficult for your opponent.

Bottom line:

I think I'll go try a few boxes of Japanese cards and compare the costs and quantities. I'm curious. In the past, I've never really had to spend much to get the cards I wanted because of all the staff support I've received. Next season, that will change when I concentrate more on playing. From a player's perspective, I can see the argument FOR using "cheaper" cards, regardless of their language.

Good reponses everyone! I've learned lots, and will soften my opinion a bit.
 
I've agree with you StevenP about novice players. That is a topic that can generate a debate about how fix this problem.

I think that Nintendo must get balance beetwen japanense and english packs. If they do that, the foreign cards in decks are reduced significally.
 
When you get 11 Holos, 24 Rares and 1 Lv.X from an english booster box and 17 Holos, 40 Rares and 3 Lv.X from a japanase booster box for less money, do you really need to ask why people buy japanese cards?
 
The only time one would NEED a translation, aka one needs to read or confirm something on the card, is also the same exact situation where one would need an english translation/reference.

If I use *** cards in my deck my reference cards are in a binder instead of across the table from my opponent. Japanese cards, even if there were 60 in a 60 card deck, would pose no more disruptive potential than any other card.

It's just completely and utterly illogical to think a foreign card would disrupt. It disrupts if the opponent doesnt know what the card does, but even then the player would need to reference an outside card. there is no time where a player would be disrupted from foreign cards and also not have been disrupted by english cards also.
 
Translation cards in the play area is a disruption. I know. I was there judging. Judges rely on the ability to quickly scan the playing areas as they roam. Maybe for you it doesn't cause disruptions, but for some, it does - both players AND judges.

The problem in life is that sometimes what affects one person might not directly affect others.

Finally, the "only time one would NEED a translation" is EVERYTIME a player plays a unique foreign-language card. Technically, the player MUST provide a translation, regardless of whether it's asked for or not, unless the opponent declines. So, everytime you play a foreign-language card, if the translation is not visible, you MUST provide it, or let your opponent decline. A dubious tactic would be saying something like, "You know what this card does, right? Good." After which you DON'T provide the translation, assuming your opponent doesn't want to see. That could be construed as an intimidation factor against novice and/or younger players.
 
Okay, I actually didnt bother to read the last 2 pages, but I got the bottom line.

At one States last year, i used a 58 Japanese, 2 English card deck. No problem for me, the judge or my opponents
I live in Norway, so the closest country where they have other language cards is Germany.

I was intentionally going to use a 100% Japanese deck at worlds to, but then I changed my deckchoice overall. But when I asked Eskil about if it was a problem(When I was considering using the japanese) he didnt say anuthing AFAIK

So I actually dont see the problem of the threadstarter :/
 
It is illogical to assert that a foreign language card causes identical disruption to that caused when a native language card is checked. Foreign language cards most definately increase the workload on staff/judges. Players too. As a player if I'm faced with an all Japanese deck used by one of my opponents then all I have to go on is the artwork, this most certainly does increase my mental workload compared to playing against an English deck where I can read the card name and much of the text even when it is upside down. I only have so much brain and don't want to waste it on non-game related activities. :D
 
SteveP said:
Translation cards in the play area is a disruption. I know. I was there judging. Judges rely on the ability to quickly scan the playing areas as they roam. Maybe for you it doesn't cause disruptions, but for some, it does - both players AND judges.

The problem in life is that sometimes what affects one person might not directly affect others.

Finally, the "only time one would NEED a translation" is EVERYTIME a player plays a unique foreign-language card. Technically, the player MUST provide a translation, regardless of whether it's asked for or not, unless the opponent declines. So, everytime you play a foreign-language card, if the translation is not visible, you MUST provide it, or let your opponent decline. A dubious tactic would be saying something like, "You know what this card does, right? Good." After which you DON'T provide the translation, assuming your opponent doesn't want to see. That could be construed as an intimidation factor against novice and/or younger players.
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I really fail to see were translation/reference cards are disruptive. simply put them in sleeves (or small binder) on the table. Sleeved single reference cards are even easier to use, but they need to be in different sleeves as the original deck.
Each time you play a "foreign" card, you simple pull the reference card from a stock you keep on your side and put them on a stock on the table. That way both your opponent and judges can have access to them whenever they need.
They don't need to be spread out all over the table (at least I couldn't find a ruling who says you must, you only have to provide a reference card)
Player who are not providing a reference card (or act the way as discribed above) can expect a penalty.


The single sleeved option is used here most time, because if you keep them in a binder you have to pull them out at the first times it's played. And because players don't want to reveal all their contents (by putting the binder on table at once) of the deck it's more handy to have the singles available.

If we are talking about disadvantages I can give a much better example.
Go play in France/Germany/Italy. Players of those countries can use their LOCAL language cards and don't need an English reference card.
 
Rainbowgym said:
I really fail to see were translation/reference cards are disruptive. simply put them in sleeves (or small binder) on the table. Sleeved single reference cards are even easier to use, but they need to be in different sleeves as the original deck.
Each time you play a "foreign" card, you simple pull the reference card from a stock you keep on your side and put them on a stock on the table. That way both your opponent and judges can have access to them whenever they need.
They don't need to be spread out all over the table (at least I couldn't find a ruling who says you must, you only have to provide a reference card)
Player who are not providing a reference card (or act the way as discribed above) can expect a penalty.


The single sleeved option is used here most time, because if you keep them in a binder you have to pull them out at the first times it's played. And because players don't want to reveal all their contents (by putting the binder on table at once) of the deck it's more handy to have the singles available.

If we are talking about disadvantages I can give a much better example.
Go play in France/Germany/Italy. Players of those countries can use their LOCAL language cards and don't need an English reference card.
Click to expand...
The disruption occurs because (as I stated in a previous post) with lots of translation cards in the play area, it can become confusing what's in play and what's a translation. Try it, you'll see. Play about 3-4 evolutions and 6-8 trainers. With dozens cards in the playing area, half will be translations. Where do you put all those cards? Plus, if you choose to only show players the translation when your first put the card into play, then put it back into your binder, your opponent doesn't have "easy" access to all the cards in play, unless of course you want to let your opponent hold your binder, allowing them to see most everything that's in your deck.

Too many people wear "blinders." If it doesn't disrupt "their" world, it won't disrupt "any" world.
 
I believe that Japenese cards are thinner and lighter.
Does that mean that there marked?

But, yes. I've seen people who have all of the English cards, but they prefer to use the Japenese cards because they think that they look, "cool".
 
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