Warp Point (or Trainers in general) Question

[Team Cook]

This issue came up earlier in League.

A player plays a warp point. After the opponent switches, the original player decides to put down a Pokemon from his hand and switch that. I ruled that he can't do that. My though process here is that once you announce and lay down a trainer card, no other actions may be performed until the trainer action is completed.

Right or wrong? Should the player have been allowed to do that?

Another player did the same thing with a switch. He put his Switch card down, then put down a Pokemon and switched that one. It's not exactly the same as the first incident because it didn't really affect anything else (unlike in the Warp Point issue), however, should the Switch player be able to lay down a new Pokemon and then switch that one after announcing and laying down the Swtich card?

Technically, this question should apply to ALL trainers. Once you've called it and put it down, are you bound by it and should you perform that action immediately before doing anything else?

Obviously, it is more of an issue with some trainers (like the Warp Point) then with others.....

 

[PokePop]

It comes down to how "friendly" the game is.
By the rules, you are right, they can't do that and would have to play out the Trainer with the cards already in play.
If the opponent were willing, the player could be allowed to "rewind" and play the Pokemon in their hand and then play the Trainer, but I wouldn't blame the opponent for not allowing it.

 

[Team Cook]

It comes down to how "friendly" the game is.
By the rules, you are right, they can't do that and would have to play out the Trainer with the cards already in play.
If the opponent were willing, the player could be allowed to "rewind" and play the Pokemon in their hand and then play the Trainer, but I wouldn't blame the opponent for not allowing it.

Thanks, PokePop.

Well it was just a friendly league game, but the other kid raised his hand about it, and I figured if we're teaching kids to play the game, we might as well teach them the right way. Like I said it was a league game -- no prizes on the line -- that seems to be the perfect time to teach them to play the cards properly and in the correct order.

If the kid does this at a Premiere tournament, it could become a bigger issue (like the supporter thing), so I think we should try to nip it in the bud.

So thanks again!

 

[Lawman]

Cook:
That is the perfect way to handle it. Teach at the local level. If it "bites" the player in a league game, I betcha he/she never does it again in a tourney! Plus, if the player raises his hand to ask for a ruling, then make the proper ruling, not ask the players if they are willing to "unwind" it. That puts the player asking for the ruling into a difficult spot...should they be a "good sport" and allow the rewind or be the "bad sport" and insist on the proper play. The Judge makes it much easier to just rule on it, teach and then move on. The players will learn faster if they don't get the "re-do", IMHO.

Keith

 

[Postdog2Gengar]

Well, wouldn't that be illegal anyway, since the card from his/her hand wouldn't be in play for 1 turn? Or does switch get around that?

 

[jesschow12]

well for the 1st one,i wouldnt allow a rewind or watsoever

for the 2nd,i allow the player to use switch first then lay down cos it doesnt really affecting

 

[PokePop]

Well, wouldn't that be illegal anyway, since the card from his/her hand wouldn't be in play for 1 turn? Or does switch get around that?

I'm totally confused by your question. A Pokemon doesn't have to be in Play for a turn before it can retreat or be brought up to Active from the Bench.
This isn't Magic or YGO and there is no "summoning sickness" or anything like that. Once a Pokemon is in play, it's ready to go. The only thing that has to wait for a turn to pass is Evolving.

 

[PokePop]

well for the 1st one,i wouldnt allow a rewind or watsoever

for the 2nd,i allow the player to use switch first then lay down cos it doesnt really affecting

Lawman pretty much is right that the players need to be instructed on the proper way to play.

Now, even if you do go the way of "friendly game rewinding allowed", the players still need to know that they are making a misplay and that it's not "OK" because eventually it will bite them when they are made to use the proper order of play.

 

[SteveP]

In tournament, this is obviously not allowed. You MUST complete the ENTIRE action of the trainer card before being allowed to play another action like playing a Pokemon on the bench.

If I were playing this "friendly" game and my opponent played a Pokemon in the middle of the Warp/Switch, I say, "OK. Unwind. Put the Warp/Switch back in your hand and I'll re-activate my original Defending Pokemon." That way, my opponent doesn't gain an unfair advantage. If my opponent complains, I obviously assume he's trying to cheat (or plain just doesn't know how to play).