Pokemon Catcher, Player Rewards Edition!
- Thread starter DarkStar20
- Start date
ArceusRules
New Member
NICE! Then catcher will also drop in price value! I'm really lacking in catchers. Only have 8, total. I want more! Making it promo is gonna be awesome!
LV18 Slowbro
New Member
Lol, price won't drop a dime.
I have 12 Catchers..so what?
It isn't selfish, I have my catchers. For me, my girlfriend, and my best friend.
My cousins, don't have money, no trade power, and they don't go to as many tournaments.
They would love catchers, but because I have 12 I have literary nothing to trade for them.
So they don't play as much because in a format ruled by EX pokemon, letting them build on the bench
becomes too much.
---------- Post added 04/28/2013 at 10:12 PM ----------
We aren't complaining on if they're free or not.
We're complaining about how players who have money are the ones with these cards, because they go to all the tournaments and how new players will never stand a chance because money becomes a big issue. If you didn't invest in a box or 2 then best believe you're not getting them because having a catcher gives you so much trade power, and yeah you could buy 4 catchers instead of 2 boxes. $100 to $200? Easy right? No. With the box you at least have some pokemon and trainers. I just want everyone to be on the same level on competing. Why insult us on complaining about this? Fear of new good players?
vaporeon
Moderator
@ King Piplup
There may have me a misunderstanding on either of our ends. I'm not saying you are against them adding catchers as league promos.
Look at it this way. The promo catchers that the worlds top players with the most PPs will get does not do anything to make catcher more accessible. If you have the 60 to 80 plus bucks for them, then good but to the rest of us and or new players, all forms of catcher are out of reach. They added 600 highly elusive cards to cards that are already elusive.
Maybe I'm not getting something but adding these catchers to the game does nothing to make them easier to get.
There may have me a misunderstanding on either of our ends. I'm not saying you are against them adding catchers as league promos.
Look at it this way. The promo catchers that the worlds top players with the most PPs will get does not do anything to make catcher more accessible. If you have the 60 to 80 plus bucks for them, then good but to the rest of us and or new players, all forms of catcher are out of reach. They added 600 highly elusive cards to cards that are already elusive.
Maybe I'm not getting something but adding these catchers to the game does nothing to make them easier to get.
Oh boy, this hurts my head. I'll make it simple.
If you're a new player and you want to be competitive then you're going to have to drop the $40 for a set of Catchers, there's no way around that. Luckily, Catchers are used in nearly every deck, so you're going to get a lot of value out of them.
If you're a new player and you're not going to play competitive and just play for fun, then you can make a deck that doesn't need to use Catcher. Something using Ninetales comes to mind.
If you're a new player and you want to be competitive then you're going to have to drop the $40 for a set of Catchers, there's no way around that. Luckily, Catchers are used in nearly every deck, so you're going to get a lot of value out of them.
If you're a new player and you're not going to play competitive and just play for fun, then you can make a deck that doesn't need to use Catcher. Something using Ninetales comes to mind.
Poke Trainer J
New Member
On the bright side at least Catcher will go down in price more due to the Player Reward reprints, the downside is while yes they should've been League Promos for easier access the fact of the matter is that P!P decided to stop distributing League Promos in favor of Unova Gym Badges and the Badge Case for the current Modified League Season. They realized they were losing money on League Promos so that's part of the reason why they wanted to change the League Season up a bit with the Gym Badges.
vaporeon
Moderator
That is true, I'm not going to debate that fact but not only solo players play the game. Most families that play competitively consist of 3-4 people on average. They need 12 to 16 catchers. With them being around 15 bucks each, its hard to get them.
Ninetales is a option but its not a replacement for catcher. It needs its own deck to function right.
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failtrainer
New Member
Aren't these top 100 cards pretty rare? It might be that the people who get them leave them in binders to preserve their value and keep on keeping on with the Catchers they already have, affecting Catcher circulation very little. Just my view of that particular angle.
Am I the only one that likes that it was catcher? personally I cant really afford to keep up with decks because I don't have a job (only 14) not everyone in the top 100 has all the expensive cards. Now i can actually have a complete deck and no longer have to borrow that fourth catcher before every tournament. Or more importantly be grateful Pokemon even bothers to send people player rewards? just my opinion
Why is it being a card thats playable being given out for free make a difference in your own ability to get a Catcher? Its not like more catcher = harder to get. Your acting like they just tripled the price on it with its promo release.
If you really care about being seriously competitive, buy up 4 Catchers for 60 dollars (the amounts you described is incredibly inaccurate) or trade for them, its not that expensive compared to things like Beach or previous money cards. So Pokemon decks don't cost 20 dollars to be competitive, this is still one of the cheapest TCG's that you can play competitively and plus in this game you dont even pay for tournaments, so I dont see why people have to act so cheap all the time. And its not like you can't trade or sell them if you start playing and cant afford your deck, they retain value for the remainder of the format. I've personally gotten Catchers pretty cheap via. buying decks off people quitting or trading, its not like there impossible to get.
Just tell TPCi next time you want a pack of Cyndaquils instead so they dont taunt you by giving people who show up to tournaments (doesnt mean they are good just because they show up) some good cards that are already fairly obtainable.
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losjackal
Technical Administrator
Speaking as a Pokédad who traveled to participate in enough tournaments for my son to be in Top 100 but me unfortunately missing the Top 100 cutoff (#127)...
I have spent far, far more money on hotel rooms, gas, and meals going to these out-of-town events than I would affording a playset of Catchers ($60). If a family is spending money to travel (and hopefully win) but not on Catchers, they are doing it wrong.
funmonkey54
Active Member
People are confusing arguments by implying causation where only correlation exists.
We know that these promos are new.
We know that league promos are no longer provided.
We DO NOT know that these promos are being given out BECAUSE league promos are no longer in place as they once were.
I recognize that it seems like this is a replacement rewards system, and I will agree with as much. However, I am not so quick to say that these promos being given out is in place of the league promos from the former system. I think that these are a wonderful idea and should stay in place just as they are. Give the real go-getters a little something flashy for their decks.
But I would also like to see my beloved league promos back in place. Maybe it would rekindle the younger age division that has dwindled since they disappeared. It used to be that kids would come in and bring their brothers and sisters to play so that they could all have new cards just for participating. Now, the incentive is in staying home. Why come to the card shop when you can stay and play at home?
Also, please note this much: League Promos and these reward Catchers (and similarly any other participation-based rewards such as this system has to offer) produce different results. Whereas League Promos primarily enticed younger age groups to local leagues, these promos entice already participating groups to go to more events, regardless of age.
Is this a good thing or a bad thing?
My opinion is that younger groups are the future of Pokemon and that local leagues and small town events are the gateway through which the average Pokemon player steps into the competitive scene. I welcome anyone and everyone to observe the attendance results and the response from the community abroad over the remaining time in this cycle and produce their own educated opinions with which to answer this same question.
We know that these promos are new.
We know that league promos are no longer provided.
We DO NOT know that these promos are being given out BECAUSE league promos are no longer in place as they once were.
I recognize that it seems like this is a replacement rewards system, and I will agree with as much. However, I am not so quick to say that these promos being given out is in place of the league promos from the former system. I think that these are a wonderful idea and should stay in place just as they are. Give the real go-getters a little something flashy for their decks.
But I would also like to see my beloved league promos back in place. Maybe it would rekindle the younger age division that has dwindled since they disappeared. It used to be that kids would come in and bring their brothers and sisters to play so that they could all have new cards just for participating. Now, the incentive is in staying home. Why come to the card shop when you can stay and play at home?
Also, please note this much: League Promos and these reward Catchers (and similarly any other participation-based rewards such as this system has to offer) produce different results. Whereas League Promos primarily enticed younger age groups to local leagues, these promos entice already participating groups to go to more events, regardless of age.
Is this a good thing or a bad thing?
My opinion is that younger groups are the future of Pokemon and that local leagues and small town events are the gateway through which the average Pokemon player steps into the competitive scene. I welcome anyone and everyone to observe the attendance results and the response from the community abroad over the remaining time in this cycle and produce their own educated opinions with which to answer this same question.
losjackal
Technical Administrator
funmonkey, you are mixing two semi-unrelated things as well:
Player Rewards existed before this, and there were different Tiers based on participation. The cutoffs for those tiers were not previously disclosed, so some people got the normal rewards (energy and/or trainer cards) and some people got higher rewards (Rare Candy). I think there was a middle ground too. So in my opinion, the structure today isn't different than before, just more transparent.
And given the discontent from the players who are miffed at Pokémon Catchers, I shudder to think of what if these turned out to be Tropical Beaches as we all originally guessed!
League promotional cards were replaced by the badges and the badge cases. I don't know which is more cost effective, but it's clear they couldn't afford to do both. Lots of people (including myself) said "wouldn't it be cool if Leagues gave away badges like in the TV series?" Well, here we have it. The people in charge are seeing how it goes this year. We don't know yet what will happen next year, but I'm sure constructive feedback is always welcome.
That's the way it has always been, and thus we have the level of attendance (good) that we have today.
I'd ask you to also open your eyes to PTCGO and the company's efforts to develop that to further inform your opinion of how new people are possibly getting into the game too (competitively or otherwise).
- Player Rewards
- League promotional items
Player Rewards existed before this, and there were different Tiers based on participation. The cutoffs for those tiers were not previously disclosed, so some people got the normal rewards (energy and/or trainer cards) and some people got higher rewards (Rare Candy). I think there was a middle ground too. So in my opinion, the structure today isn't different than before, just more transparent.
And given the discontent from the players who are miffed at Pokémon Catchers, I shudder to think of what if these turned out to be Tropical Beaches as we all originally guessed!
League promotional cards were replaced by the badges and the badge cases. I don't know which is more cost effective, but it's clear they couldn't afford to do both. Lots of people (including myself) said "wouldn't it be cool if Leagues gave away badges like in the TV series?" Well, here we have it. The people in charge are seeing how it goes this year. We don't know yet what will happen next year, but I'm sure constructive feedback is always welcome.
That's the way it has always been, and thus we have the level of attendance (good) that we have today.
I'd ask you to also open your eyes to PTCGO and the company's efforts to develop that to further inform your opinion of how new people are possibly getting into the game too (competitively or otherwise).
funmonkey54
Active Member
I'm going to guess that you misinterpreted what I posted.
I very clearly stated that I didn't believe the player rewards system to be a replacement of the League Promos system. I said it seems that way right now, and that I agree that it does look that way, but that I am not ready to make any sort of statement that it is a replacement.
Furthermore, the badges/cases don't feel like a replacement of the league promo cards. They feel like a continuation of the badge pins which people were already getting.
I don't feel at all that Pokemon Catchers are out of place, as I stated, so I'll asume that comment was not directed at me, but rather just haphazardly sandwiched within the response.
Additionally, I'll ask for more information on the codes. Is the cost in printing and distributing them, or creating the strand of information? I personally don't see why the league promo cards would have to be replaced by the code cards, as codes could be emailed. Have players register an email address, similar to how they had to register for a badge case, and have them emailed. Allow them to print out the webcam compatible section if they prefer to use that to the code itself.
losjackal
Technical Administrator
Indeed my comments about Pokemon Catcher were directed at earlier "miffed" posters, not you.
Yes, the badges and cases are a continuation of the badge pins which were a continuation of the patches the year before. It's the reward given for completing the league card.
The league promos were replaced by code cards, I suspect for two combined reasons:
I hope you can see the budgetary reason above. But your suggestion of virtual fulfillment wouldn't go over well either. It's difficult enough to have League players create and link their Trainer account in the first place. It was only needed to justify league supplies. Now they need to do it if they want to order their own badge case. But to force registration just to receive emailed codes? That won't end well, not to mention the extra effort coordinating central fulfillment of said emailed codes with checkmarks on our physical league cards. League Owners have enough time invested simply keeping track and reporting our league roster every six weeks. It wouldn't be pragmatic to start to require reporting of the progress of the league cards just to have codes emailed.
Yes, the badges and cases are a continuation of the badge pins which were a continuation of the patches the year before. It's the reward given for completing the league card.
The league promos were replaced by code cards, I suspect for two combined reasons:
- Reduced cost of manufacturing and distribution (to free up funds to produce the cases and badges)
- Wanting to take the opportunity to direct more players to PTCGO
I hope you can see the budgetary reason above. But your suggestion of virtual fulfillment wouldn't go over well either. It's difficult enough to have League players create and link their Trainer account in the first place. It was only needed to justify league supplies. Now they need to do it if they want to order their own badge case. But to force registration just to receive emailed codes? That won't end well, not to mention the extra effort coordinating central fulfillment of said emailed codes with checkmarks on our physical league cards. League Owners have enough time invested simply keeping track and reporting our league roster every six weeks. It wouldn't be pragmatic to start to require reporting of the progress of the league cards just to have codes emailed.
funmonkey54
Active Member
Does the difficulty come with the insertion of information into the system itself, or in that you personally have trouble keeping up with plugging in numbers?
We've never had any trouble keeping up with attendance reporting. Ever. And we do our fair share of participation, having two traveling masters teams. I think that such a system as I suggested could certainly be made easy online. Have the emails connected to the trainer pages of the individual, so there is no extra effort on your behalf there. Then have the reporting page offer, in an easy to use, gri-dlike structure, the following:
POP ID | Name of Player | Attendance Y/N | Drop-down list of prizes qualified for
Then continue down the list. A point and click, simple to report structure that keeps most of the burden off of you. There will always be a little extra effort for importing new members, but as you said you agree that they are the future of Pokemon and worth working to keep included, I'm sure you see that tiny bit of extra information as trivial like I do.
And if you wanted to avoid the email portion altogether AND draw people to the Pokemon website, make the codes available on the trainer page itself. After the league leader uses the reporting feature to qualify the individuals for their respective prizes, have the codes auto-delivered to the inboxes of the user when they log into Pokemon's website. I personally like this idea even more than the emails.
how did you get 20?
funmonkey54
Active Member
First, calm down.
Second, I don't want to make it more difficult at all. I don't see how the process I mentioned makes it more difficult for LOs and LLs. If they are already screwing it up, I don't see how it gets any worse than it is. The competent ones will do it right, as they are, and the incompetent ones will continue to mess up.
I think people are being far too aggressive and defensive when I'm just trying to discuss ideas and understand more. I'm asking questions for the things I don't know about and throwing out suggestions for the things I know to be, at least through my own experience, an issue.
This is a forum. I am discussing. Not launching a physical attack on Pokemon and all that support it.