This is a multi-layer issue.
- On the top layer, we have surprise decks. Decks like Medicham, T2 Muk, etc that were undisclosed to the community because of their effectiveness over the format and so they could surprise people and take advantage of the shock/people not knowing how to play against it.
- After we get past that layer, we move onto the "already discovered, but tweaked deck" middle layer. This is where someone releases a new big deck and although the deck idea is out in the public, the players tweak their deck and add in a few techs aren't known about from the overall public.
- Then we get to the bottom layer. This is just the pure idea of the deck. A basic list is sometimes given out. Look at the Archetype discussion for an example of this. Those lists are just basic lists. These are used just to get the idea across.
Currently in the game, we have a lot of players that feel their ideas are in the
top layer. They feel their deck has the ability to take Nationals and go undefeated with some surprise added in to help that along. What they don't realize is that only a very small percent of decks actually pull of the whole surprise thing and do well. Last years at Worlds, we saw some of the big players in this game play a deck that was made up of Banette ex and Medicham ex. It was supposedly the next big deck, and it flopped. Because so many players have their minds in the
top layer, many lists are kept secret and the game really loses out. People are scared to share ANY ideas with people because that idea might go on to win Worlds/Nats.
I can understand people with lists in the
medium layer keeping them a secret. Those lists were worked on by them and tweaked by them.
But people with lists in the
bottom layer that keep them a secret (a good majority of the lists IMHO) should not feel a need to keep them secret from the community. Alas they do because of a simple tactic people in this game have grown to know.
Abuse every advantage you have over the opponent to the maximum of your capability.
RyanVergel brings up an example of it. Players in this game are so concerned about winning that they won't tell anyone about any ideas they have. From there, they usually get in groups thinking they can tell their idea to the group members and the ideas will stay within the group only. But that leads to inner-egos and groups breaking into other mini-groups and can even lead to groups breaking up because of a single idea being communicated to someone outside of the group.
Why do people keep their ideas secret so much? The majority of the players feel they can get some kind of advantage over some small idea they have but in reality, they won't and don't. But they continue to do it because all the pro players do it.
I've tested out many other card games and you'd be surprised how many other games post their best strategies right to the community. Like Erik said, they understand that some unskilled player will not be able to play their idea as good as they can. And I think they know down low that if they can only win a game because they have a deck that nobody knows about, then
maybe they don't deserve to win tournaments at all.
Erik, you've gone ahead and shared many ideas of yours to the community, and I applaud you. Not only are you World-Championship material, but you aren't scared of people using your own ideas against you. You are the type of player that is needed for this game to grow. I wish many players were like you.
