LegendCallerL's Fix-A-Card Contest

[LegendCallerL]

Hi everyone. I’m here with a Create-a-Card Contest. With me judging will be Human Destroyer and Otaku. Let’s cover some of the rules and concepts.

Purpose
The idea behind this contest is not to come up with brand new cards or bring back a Pokemon not in our cardpool. Instead, the idea is to fix cards in our current sets and make them, well, playable. Just take some card or evolution line deemed unplayable competitively and make them good. You don’t have to edit the entire evolution line if you feel it’s not necessary. If a stage 2 would be playable if only the basic or stage 1 was better, feel free to just change the lower stages. Same goes for the lower stages. If it works, you can keep it.

Format
This contest is designed with BW-on in mind. This includes Dragons Exalted.

Recommended Avoid List
This is a list of cards that may be playable or powerful taking into account BW-on. It is recommended to avoid these but by no means does that mean that you cannot use them. If you can rebalance these, improve them slightly, reimagine them, or fix up other cards in their lines, go ahead.

BLW: Ability Serperior, Emboar (both), Reshiram, Reuniclus, Zekrom, Zoroark, Klinklang, Cinccino, Bouffalant 91
EPO: Beartic 30, Emolga, Thundurus, Tornadus, Gothitelle

NVI: Virizion, Victini (V-Create), Victini (Victory Star), Seismitoad, Vanilluxe, Kyurem, Eelektrik, Cofagrigus, Victini (Victory Blast), Chandelure, Conkledurr, Terrakion, Landorus, Conkledurr (Ability), Hydregion, Bisharp (Metal), Durant, Cobalion, Audino, Haxorus, Druddigon

NEX: Amoongus, Moltres, Chandelure, Reshiram, Reshiram EX, Lapras (Call for Family), Articuno, Vanilluxe, Kyurem EX, Zapdos, Zebstrika, Zekrom, Zekrom EX, Mewtwo EX, Gardevoir, Musharna, Darmanitan, Hippowdon, Regigigas EX, Cinccino

DEX: Venusaur, Scyther, Carnivine, Accelgor, Entei EX, Blaziken, Volcarona, Slowbro, Empoleon, Raikou EX, Plusle, Eelektross, Espeon, Cofagrigus, Groudon EX, Excadrill 56, Umbreon 61,Sableye, Darkrai EX, Krookodile, Zorua 69, Zoroark, Chansey (both), Tornadus EX

Entry Format
Entries should follow this format.

Entrant:
Number of Cards:
__________________________________________________ ________________________________
Name:
Type:
Stage:
HP:
Weakness:
Resistance:
Retreat:

Illustration:

Ability/Attack:

Attack Cost/Name/Damage

Lore:
__________________________________________________ ________________________________

For example…
Entrant: Otaku
Number of Cards: 3 (Stage 2 Evolution Line)
__________________________________________________ ________________________________
Name: Slaking
Type: (C)
Stage: 2 (Evolves from Vigoroth)
HP: 160
Weakness: (F)
Resistance: None
Retreat: CCCC

Illustration: We see Slaking from behind and to the right. It has just driven its fist into the ground,
and in the upper-right-hand corner, we can vaguely make out the shape of another Slaking that was
sent flying! Around the attacking Slaking are large piles of fruit.

Ability: Large And In Charge
For every each Energy attached to this Pokémon, this Pokémon gains +20 HP (This increase affects
both current and maximum HP).

Attack:
(CCCC) Critical Move [200]
Discard two Energy attached to this Pokémon or this attack does nothing. This Pokémon
cannot attack during your opponent’s next turn.

Lore: Slaking are capable of dealing powerful blows, but will rest afterwards.
__________________________________________________ ________________________________
Name: Vigoroth
Type: (C)
Stage: 1 (Evolves from Slakoth)
HP: 110
Weakness: (F)
Resistance: None
Retreat: (C)

Illustration: We a Vigoroth leaping toward the face of the card, with a bemused looking Slaking behind it.
You can just make out enough to see that they are in a sanctioned, “generic” stadium based battle.

Ability: Overeager
When this Pokémon is played from hand to Evolve a Pokémon on your Bench, you must switch this Pokémon
with your Active Pokémon.

Attack:
(CC) Exuberant Slash [40]
If this Pokémon Evolved this turn, this attack does 40 damage plus 40 more points of damage.

Lore: Vigoroth are so excitable that they will fight about which one gets to fight first
__________________________________________________ ________________________________
Name: Slakoth
Type: (C)
Stage: Basic
HP: 70
Weakness: (F)
Resistance: None
Retreat: (C)(C)

Illustration: We see a Slakoth tumbling through the air with fruit flying around it. The Slakoth seems
surprisingly relaxed, almost sleepy.

Ability: Just Go With It
When this Pokémon would be damaged by an attack from an opponent’s Pokémon, you may discard as
many cards from your hand as you like. For each card discarded in this manner, reduce the damage done
to this Pokémon by 30 (Before Applying Weakness and Resistance).

Attack:
(C) Fatiguing Foraging
Draw four cards. This Pokémon is now Asleep.

Lore: Slakoth are so mellow that it can reduce injuries from attacks.
__________________________________________________ ________________________________

Participants:
1.cabd
2.Shino Bug Master
3.vaporeon
4.GoldenSwablu
5.ThePokePlayer
6. AlmightyGoldenGarchomp
7.
8.

A few lines or paragraphs explaining strategy would be appreciated, as well as the set and number of the card before editing.
As scans of Dragons Exalted have appeared, the deadline is now set at August 6. Cards already submitted can be altered until the deadline. Feel free to post your questions and comments. Good luck, let’s get started.

[cabd]

I'm in. I even have a few good ideas.

[Shino Bug Master]

I'm in, but with one small complaint/request. Anything after Dragon Selection and Dragon Blade/Dragon Blast shouldn't be included. We have only a few cards revealed (Ether, Kyruem exs, etc) but the majority of the format that will arise from those cards being realized we cannot possibly imagine. Additionally, things may be released as this competiton goes on from the same set, and the remainder of the cards could take these cards to new hieghts that we would be missuing them towards. If we cut it to the Dragon sets, we at least know that the cards were released in a way that they were a complete unit. Partial formats don't make any sense and i would motion to have the tourney operating BLW-Dragon Sets instead.

[LegendCallerL]

Alternately, would it make sense to you if I change BLW-Dragons to the standard, with any additional future cards as an option to fit into strategy? I'llneed to talk to the other judges about this, get their thoughts.

[cabd]

I think BLW-DRE is a fair format. Nothing farther than that.

[Human Destroyer]

I'd say either:

a) BLW-DEX, no Dragons Exalted cards can be modified.

or

b) BLW-DRX, Dragons Exalted cards can be modified.

In the case of b), recommend to avoid AT LEAST the EXs (except possibly Giratina and Ho-Oh), Hydreigon, Garchomp, Altaria, and possibly Sigilyph.

[Otaku]

TPC does not design cards in a vacuum, nor do they wait until the last second to design the set they are about to release. While cards that have been revealed are still largely unknown, why should you not be responsible for researching them? This kind of contest would have to use a past, dead format if you need to concretely know what cards are coming and how well they performed... and as you all should know even then the specifics are hotly debated.

Some very rational, seemingly balanced card designs proved anything but thanks to Junk Arm. Imagine if it were to be revealed it was being reprinted in Plasma Gale! I'd certainly want you to all take that into account in your card designs. Even something that may be great or may be fail like Ether still shouldn't be ignored. Obviously any effect that let you top deck a basic Energy is "okay" on its own but quite potent in a format with Ether.

[cabd]

The thing is, it would be unfair to players if something is released once some people have submitted. I think in the spriti of fairness, I'd like to request the game mods (you guys) to provide us a list of cards (excluding the ones in the dragon sets) that must be factored into our designs.

[vaporeon]

Sure, why now I'm in. Would I be able to use my Pidgeot card or not?

[LegendCallerL]

You feel the need to edit your Pidgeot card and enter it here? This contest is about editing current cards and making them playable.

[cabd]

Entry sent. It assumes the format is BLW-Dragons.

[vaporeon]

Originally Posted by LegendCallerL

You feel the need to edit your Pidgeot card and enter it here? This contest is about editing current cards and making them playable.

Oh, guess i'll pick one then.

[GoldenSwablu]

I'll enter. Another awesome contest

[Shino Bug Master]

Another question: The idea is to fix a card right? The example doesn't really fix any card, rather making a new one. Is the idea to just make a currently released unplayable Pokemon playable, or try and fix one up so it's just better?

[LegendCallerL]

The example was just for formatting. The idea is to make an unplayable card/line in BW-Dragons Exalted so it is playable BW-Dragons Exalted.

[Shino Bug Master]

Ok. Just wanted to be sure.

[cabd]

Huh. Only 4 people wanted to play? Come on guys.

[StormFront]

I'd prefer a contest to make broken cards more balanced than trying to up the power of cards that should be playable.

EDIT:

Here's how Reshiram and Zekrom could have been more balanced

Zekrom - 100hp

CC Outrage 20+ - Does 10 damage more damage for each damage counter on this pokemon
LLC Bolt Strke 90 - This Pokemon does 30 damage to itself
Weakness = Fighting
Retreat = 2

Reshiram 100hp

CC Claw Swipe 30
RRR Blue Flare 100 - Discard all R energy attached to this pokemon
Weakness = Water
Retreat = 2

[Shino Bug Master]

The problem with making cards more "balanced" is that we have no metagame to compare them too. Maybe those would've been easier on the initial metagame when BLW came out, but look at it now. There are cards more broken than Reshiram and Zekrom by far, and the way you edited the cards, they could completely fail and fall out of the meta completely. What does that acommplish? Unless you intend to make a completely corrective set of cards, the only way to go is up, bringing mitreated cards to a new, hypothetical light with minimal tweaks.

But yeah. still waiting for their to be a real base and a deadline. I do like the idea of the tourney and hope it takes off a bit more. Can't find the line i really want to make good yet.

[cabd]

I tossed in my entry a while ago. Good luck to you other three.

[ThePokePlayer]

I'll jump in (Xbox advertisement FTW).

[Otaku]

Originally Posted by StormFront

I'd prefer a contest to make broken cards more balanced than trying to up the power of cards that should be playable.

The problem is that is pretty subjective as well. Most cards aren't inherently broken, but broken for their format. Easy Energy acceleration, presence of Catcher, Junk Arm, etc. all exaggerate problems from "big Basic Pokemon". If there was no Energy acceleration, Zekrom donk doesn't happen; it can't do anything first turn, and second turn can only hit hard if it was hit hard before.

No Eviolite makes all Basic Pokemon less durable, and no Pokemon Catcher means set-up decks aren't completely neutered by a low Energy/high damage format. Though Pokemon Catcher would need to be replaced by something - the Bench can't be completely safe or then we have the opposite problem, and we've had times when it was true so this is experience and not Theorymon speaking.

Something I've learned is that if you have a task in a deck, and it is to be done by a fully Evolved Pokemon (whether that is a Basic Pokemon that doesn't Evolve, a Stage 1 that doesn't Evolve further, or a Stage 2), those Pokemon should all be on more or less even footing in terms of stats and things that won't ruin game balance. Then you avoid generic Evolution and Energy acceleration, and design attacks according to when a Pokemon is entering play.

The aggressive Big Basic Pokemon still needs other Pokemon to support it; at best it should have an "adequate" filler attack to open with, so that it needs another Pokemon to support it, even if it is just another Basic Pokemon with a good set-up attack but not as good of a "big" attack. As for Pokemon that will be Evolving, they need to be designed from the 'top down'. Look at the Stage 2 and subtract a reasonable amount from its HP, instead of thinking "Basic Pokemon should have X HP". Have the Pokemon who can further Evolve set up for the final Stage of Evolution.

In both cases, make the format one where nothing has a damaging attack available on a players first turn; you can't donk if you can't attack, and after first turn PlusPower (and similar cards) become strategic tools and not big clubs. This means set-up attacks can't be overwhelmed by raw offense. Constructive set-up (building up your field) versus disruptive set-up (sabotaging your opponent) becomes the early game.

When you do these things, a mono-basic deck just ends up with extra space... but to have the same strong set-up it just invests that space into generic set-up cards. If it chooses to be disruptive, it has room for that, but again the deck built around an Evolution (or Evolutions) has so much synergy within a single Evolution line that it all ends up on even footing in the end. Just remember that effects that are broken by coming into play too early (the vast majority of Abilities as well as low Energy, damaging attacks) need to be restricted to Pokemon that can't get into play early.

So I bring this up because of how you tried to "fix" those two Unova Dragons, StormFront. Had that Zekrom released, it would have been weaker and by now probably replaced by something else, but ZPS would sill have worked (90 first turn is still good for donking, and the main reason you needed 120 was to hit other Zekrom/Reshiram), and once we got Thundurus and Tornadus, ZPS would become SPTT, using the two weather genies for the offensive.

[AlmightyGoldenGarchomp]

sign-ups still open? If so, I'll give it a shot.

[LegendCallerL]

The deadline has been set at August 6 and as reminders,

1. Edits are allowed
2. BLW formatting for cards: Up to 2 attacks/an attack and an ability
3. PM entries to any judge.