Its the end of March and we can finally announce some of the things we've been working on in the rules team, some real revolutionary rulings have come out of Pokemon USA and also Pokemon Organized Play.
I'll give a short summary and some commentary here, but check out the rulings in the Compendium EX.
Pokemon USA
It turns out, that some time back in Japan, specific energy discards in attacks implicitly became requirements to perform the attack. This came to light in the discussion of Skill Hack v. Mudslide (and other attack copying effects like Skill Hack, e.g. Metronome). I say, "it turns out", but confirming the change wasn't quite so cut and dried as that phrase implies. A lot of checking had to be done, and then we had to figure out how to state it so that it didn't become an over broad metarule and cancel other valid ruling guidelines like "do as much as you can".
The rule is covered from several angles, first under the Skill Hack section, and then, elaborated under General Gameplay: Attacks. Be sure to read both sections.
One situation that didn't make it into the rulings was copying a "discard all energy attached to this Pokemon" attack. In that case, one energy will do for Skill Hack to copy that attack. We felt that was obvious. The less obvious case, "discard all :lightning energy attached to this Pokemon" attack, is covered under the Attacks area of the General Game Play section.
Organized Play
Illegal Attack. Recently there was a lot of discussion about whether a judge could/should allow a player who declared an illegal attack to "take it back" and perform the actions that would make it legal.
There are 4 steps to your turn in Pokemon:
If you have a required game action and you forgot to take it, you must take it regardless of your opponent's permission. Examples include: taking a prize, placing damage counters, etc. It was recommended you call a judge if this happens to make sure "things don't get muddled". Muddling might include breaking the game state and causing a penalty, so my advice is be cool and call a judge if you forget a required game action.
If you have an optional game action you forgot to take, or wish to reverse, you must ask your opponent's permission. If your opponent declines to permit the forgotten/mistaken action, you can not change it. Example would be attaching the wrong energy, discarding the wrong card, forgetting to use a Poke-POWER before you take another game action, etc.
It was also noted by OP that it is not a violation of the Spirit of the Game to politely refuse permission to rewind the optional actions or the attack step. It is permitted, but not required, by the Spirit of the Game.
March...
...comes in like a lion and out like a lamb, they say. But that's weather, in Pokemon, the storm of rulings came late in the month.
Enjoy REGIONALS!
I'll give a short summary and some commentary here, but check out the rulings in the Compendium EX.
Pokemon USA
It turns out, that some time back in Japan, specific energy discards in attacks implicitly became requirements to perform the attack. This came to light in the discussion of Skill Hack v. Mudslide (and other attack copying effects like Skill Hack, e.g. Metronome). I say, "it turns out", but confirming the change wasn't quite so cut and dried as that phrase implies. A lot of checking had to be done, and then we had to figure out how to state it so that it didn't become an over broad metarule and cancel other valid ruling guidelines like "do as much as you can".
The rule is covered from several angles, first under the Skill Hack section, and then, elaborated under General Gameplay: Attacks. Be sure to read both sections.
One situation that didn't make it into the rulings was copying a "discard all energy attached to this Pokemon" attack. In that case, one energy will do for Skill Hack to copy that attack. We felt that was obvious. The less obvious case, "discard all :lightning energy attached to this Pokemon" attack, is covered under the Attacks area of the General Game Play section.
Organized Play
Illegal Attack. Recently there was a lot of discussion about whether a judge could/should allow a player who declared an illegal attack to "take it back" and perform the actions that would make it legal.
There are 4 steps to your turn in Pokemon:
- Draw Your Card
- Do any of the following: (optional game actions like evolving, playing a trainer, attaching an energy, etc.)
- Attack! (check energy requirments, place damage, check for KO, take a prize, etc.)
- Your turn is over.
- declare a legal attack, or
- pass
If you have a required game action and you forgot to take it, you must take it regardless of your opponent's permission. Examples include: taking a prize, placing damage counters, etc. It was recommended you call a judge if this happens to make sure "things don't get muddled". Muddling might include breaking the game state and causing a penalty, so my advice is be cool and call a judge if you forget a required game action.
If you have an optional game action you forgot to take, or wish to reverse, you must ask your opponent's permission. If your opponent declines to permit the forgotten/mistaken action, you can not change it. Example would be attaching the wrong energy, discarding the wrong card, forgetting to use a Poke-POWER before you take another game action, etc.
It was also noted by OP that it is not a violation of the Spirit of the Game to politely refuse permission to rewind the optional actions or the attack step. It is permitted, but not required, by the Spirit of the Game.
March...
...comes in like a lion and out like a lamb, they say. But that's weather, in Pokemon, the storm of rulings came late in the month.
Enjoy REGIONALS!