Flaming_Spinach
Feature Editor
Please read this whole post before you respond.
Thank You.
I’ve been thinking over the past 4 days (and trust me, when you’re painting a house 10 hours a day, you have a lot of time to think) about the various shortfalls of this game, and how we might be able to solve as many of them as possible with a few changes to the game.
If I could, I’d discuss this directly with Mike and Dave, but I don’t think they’d appreciate an unsolicited phone call from me. So I’m doing the next best thing and bringing this to the community.
What follows may border on listcruft, but with so many different ideas I’ve had over the past few days, I don’t see any other way to get them all down in an organized fashion.
Please remember these are ONLY ideas, and nothing definitive.
THE PROBLEMS
The last one is the biggest problem in my opinion, but I think that what I’m about to suggest can help solve ALL 4 of these problems to some degree.
MY SUGGESTION is this:
[del]Expand the professor program. It should have a beginning level (what we call professors right now), and an advanced level, which is for only those who give the most possible to the game.
You could (maybe should) have several levels in-between as well.
Which brings me to what I would expect for someone to qualify for the highest level of professor:.[/del] (Stricken to avoid confusion. -FS)
A mentor program where the best players are rewarded for giving back to the lowest levels of the game (league and such).
REQUIREMENTS
Bold are those things I think are absolutely required, normal type are things I think would be a good idea.
That’s what I have as far as requirements go. It may seem like incredibly steep standards, but I figure a person should be able to accomplish all that in about 16 weeks. The other 36 weeks of the year can be spent however they want; as a LL, TO, judge, tourney player, on vacation, etc.
Still, those are some pretty steep standards, and the rewards for those willing to help so much should be well worth it. The below are only brainstorms, and are in no way a definitive list.
BENEFITS
Once again, Bold are those things I think would be hugely popular, normal type are things I think would be a good idea.
That’s my idea in a nutshell. Basically, we want the best players in the game helping the newest players in the game, and getting something worthwhile in return. That’s what it all boils down to.
THE MORE PLAYERS WE GET INTO THIS GAME, THE BETTER OFF WE ALL ARE.
Thank You.
I’ve been thinking over the past 4 days (and trust me, when you’re painting a house 10 hours a day, you have a lot of time to think) about the various shortfalls of this game, and how we might be able to solve as many of them as possible with a few changes to the game.
If I could, I’d discuss this directly with Mike and Dave, but I don’t think they’d appreciate an unsolicited phone call from me. So I’m doing the next best thing and bringing this to the community.
What follows may border on listcruft, but with so many different ideas I’ve had over the past few days, I don’t see any other way to get them all down in an organized fashion.
Please remember these are ONLY ideas, and nothing definitive.
THE PROBLEMS
- The players have very little say in the operations and development of OP. POP does run forums for the PTOs and professors of this game, but those who are primarily players have little or no contact with POP whatsoever.
- There are very few benefits for joining this game in comparison to other games. Think about this. If someone decides to quit Yugioh, and start another TCG, the only real TCGs they have to choose from are Pokemon and Magic: The Gathering. Why would anyone choose Pokemon over Magic as far as OP is concerned?
- The professor program is almost meaningless. Being a professor does not guarantee that you know how to make rulings or judge an event (especially since it is possible to cheat on the test). And, not being a professor is not evidence that you do not know certain rulings. So, what exactly does a professorship mean?
- Fair play and helpful attitudes seem to be at an all-time low. Anything that would encourage top-level players to help new players would certainly be beneficial in hooking those new players for a long time.
The last one is the biggest problem in my opinion, but I think that what I’m about to suggest can help solve ALL 4 of these problems to some degree.
MY SUGGESTION is this:
[del]Expand the professor program. It should have a beginning level (what we call professors right now), and an advanced level, which is for only those who give the most possible to the game.
You could (maybe should) have several levels in-between as well.
Which brings me to what I would expect for someone to qualify for the highest level of professor:.[/del] (Stricken to avoid confusion. -FS)
A mentor program where the best players are rewarded for giving back to the lowest levels of the game (league and such).
REQUIREMENTS
Bold are those things I think are absolutely required, normal type are things I think would be a good idea.
- The candidate should have and maintain a 1800 or better rating. I believe that one of the keys to knowing rulings, and gaining a better understanding of the game, is to play at a competitive level. 1800 should be wholely reachable for anyone of a moderate skill-level.
- The candidate should help to run a league at least 6 times a year. Basically, forcing good players to help new players. The good players gain more experience in helping people and sharing the game, and the little kids just may become better players. Everyone wins.
- The candidate judges 3 or more premier events per year. A professorship is most of all a certificate to judge events (that’s really the only thing it is ATM). This one comes as just obvious to me.
- The candidate acts as a Tournament Organizer at least once per year. Again, just adds more experience to a persons repertoire of skills. Not quite as important as the ones above.
- The candidate helps demo the game (at a major gaming convention or something similar) at least once per year. Building on the ‘good players helping new players’ ideal, but in a slightly different context.
- The candidate submits letters of recommendation to re-affirm their intentions are only good. If someone helps in league, but is a complete jerk about it, then that shouldn’t count towards their requirements. This is pretty simple to understand.
That’s what I have as far as requirements go. It may seem like incredibly steep standards, but I figure a person should be able to accomplish all that in about 16 weeks. The other 36 weeks of the year can be spent however they want; as a LL, TO, judge, tourney player, on vacation, etc.
Still, those are some pretty steep standards, and the rewards for those willing to help so much should be well worth it. The below are only brainstorms, and are in no way a definitive list.
BENEFITS
Once again, Bold are those things I think would be hugely popular, normal type are things I think would be a good idea.
- Extra POP packs each quarter. Probably the lamest (from my perspective at least) thing on the list, but it’s a possibility none-the-less.
- Optional Round 1 bye at any premier event. This has never been discussed before (to my knowledge), but I think it would be an awesome idea. A Round 1 bye is a free win, and pads your resistance slightly. Any competitive player would LOVE this, and be more than willing to help in League a few times in order to get this power. BTW, this costs POP no money to implement, so that is a major positive.
- Access to forums on the same (or close to same) level as the PTO forums. Or maybe just an extra board on the professor forums. As long as there is a theatre where the best players and POP officials can discuss the game frankly, it can only be of benefit to all involved.
- Special items in the professor store. A distinct possibility. It would cost POP more money, but the option is always there.
- Ability to judge matches in a tournament you’re participating in. I think this one is hugely important, probably the second most important on the list. Judges can be terribly overworked at small events. I think finding a way to allow high-caliber players to both play AND judge an event would be beneficial to almost everyone. Of course, any questionable rulings can still be appealed to the HJ. And, there would need to be some restriction on ‘scouting’ the competition; but that is done very easily. Again, this is one that costs POP no money to implement.
- Special promos, either given out at the end of the year, or when certain milestones are reached. People like promo cards. And, the higher the resale value, the more people like them. :wink:
- Rating Protection. Many possible ways this one could work. This one is very easy to understand, and again, costs POP no money.
- Possible Worlds Invites. The most important one. People like Worlds. They will do almost anything to guarantee an invite for themselves. This would be a very effective way of drawing the best players into this program. And don’t tell me that this is impossible because Worlds can’t be of undefined size. There are many possible ways to decide who can and who can’t play in Worlds. As long as the possibility is there, people will go for it.
That’s my idea in a nutshell. Basically, we want the best players in the game helping the newest players in the game, and getting something worthwhile in return. That’s what it all boils down to.
THE MORE PLAYERS WE GET INTO THIS GAME, THE BETTER OFF WE ALL ARE.
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