PokeThoughts By Dave II: Professor Tournament Series

[SteveP]

If something like this gets more people involved in helping the game grow and prosper, then what is the exact down side? Why does a persons motivations to do what is an ultimately good thing come under scrutiny? What is exactly the down side of bribing a person to contribute to the community?

Apples and oranges. Here's an analogy. Should pro-sports team managers, recruiters, trainers, and water-boys be allowed to play with the pros because of their enormous side-line efforts? I think not.

You have a choice. Help or play. You can switch back-n-forth during the season. If you want to get the great rewards of being on the Nationals staff (shirts, promos, boosters, etc.), then you must sacrifice the competition. You can't have it both ways.

I think that using a system like this to decide/appoint staff members would far less desirable to the current system because staff positions are supremely more limited than potential player spots.

I'm not necessarily talking about those few top judging spots, though I don't see a problem with a couple assistant judges be earned this way. POP still needs to hand-pick those important top positions. I'm talking mostly about such positions as crowd control, result slip gophers, side-event workers, etc. I for one would certainly desire to help where ever I was needed if my trip/hotel expenses were paid for.

"Buying" your way into the main event is not the way to go. You have to earn that spot by competing.

 

[DarthPika]

Points for invites would be a bad idea, as I have a hard time earning ANY points. All the tourneys in my area have plenty of judges for all tourneys. I want to start a league, but since I have college this year, I'm not sure if I would have the time. As of now I have no idea how I'm ever going to get enough points to get in the prof cup. I really would love it for there to be another way to earn prof. points that didn't requier you to either judge or run a league, as this is just not posible for some of us. Maybe just make it so you can earn prof points for playing in a tourney?

 

[Venjamin]

Darth Pika - Unfortunately, I don't particularly feel that would be a good idea. How are you contributing the the whole Professor philosophy, or the community as a whole just getting -extra- rewards for playing in tournaments? I sacrifice my playing time to judge, and still find ways to increase my regular rating, by going out of town and playing in larger scale tournaments. All while leading a full time job and going to college. It's wholly based on how much you're willing to put in.

I missed the Prof. Cup this year because of a few mishaps with the trip. No big deal. It's all about what you get in to it for. I joined the professorship so that I would have additional resources for the game, and to be able to get a stronger sense of the behind-the-scenes community. I fell really hard, though, and now I'm HJ, LL, TO, and all that crazy stuff. It's a lot of fun working behind the scenes, even if I don't make it to worlds. -Shrug-

Regardless - The concept of a chain of Professor Cups [ Even at a smaller scale ] is nice, but it would be rather difficult to deal with.

All in all, a well written article.

 

[ShadowCard]

On the main topic, I don't see where there would be room for a Professor series of tournaments. The Battle Road series already messes with my league schedule horribly. To make another series between the "downtime" of States and Regionals that pulls me away from league (resulting in another week's cancellation) is not an idea that I like.

However, I'm all for hearing ideas for ways to get points for the professor program since it means more things that professors can be involved in. I'd also like to see more items in the professor store.

Even with a point requirement (low, I must say), there would be many players playing in the tournament just for the invite. Seriously, if you write 5 articles for the Pokemon website, you have enough points for the tournament. If you host league for 2 gyms, you have enough. If you help out at a few tournaments, you have enough. It's not hard at all to get into it.

Articles: Isn't that only if you're article is accepted?
Leagues: way too little, IMO. In the perspective of the price of the professor items though, it is fine. I'd hate to see the price of professor items go up if professor points for league were raised.
Tournaments: Depending on how TO comps the judges, 10 points for 1 tournament is too little, IMO. Maybe if the tournament is small, it is fair. 10 points for judging a 130-player tournament? Professor points here should be evaluated on the size of the event, not a blanket 10 points for all tournaments.

Points for invites would be a bad idea, as I have a hard time earning ANY points. ... As of now I have no idea how I'm ever going to get enough points to get in the prof cup.

You'll have to explain that to me. Maybe over PM or in person.

All the tourneys in my area have plenty of judges for all tourneys.

I'm not going to go into details over our area's judges on this forum, but this statement is not so correct.

I want to start a league, but since I have college this year, I'm not sure if I would have the time.

I started league in my senior year of high school and have continued it through 3 years of college. If you want to run league, you'll make the time. But yes, you do end up giving uo a lot of your free time.

 

[a_shy_girl_1999]

Nice article, but I don't really agree with it. I don't believe that you can just 'buy' your way into a tournament that you have to 'play' to earn a spot into. I think if this ever was to go into action ... you would see a flood of new professors signing up just to be able to play in them for a possible invite to worlds to play and thats it. ... Even if the invite was to be for staff at worlds I don't see it. I just don't like the idea of earning points to buy your way into positions ...

 

[SLOW DECK]

As an Adult / Parent / Player / Non-Judge / Non-League (for the most part)....
I don't think Pokemon can reward the Professor Core enough.... I know I can't thank you guys enough for what you guys do. I fully agree that the Professor Cup should be for folks that go the distance for the game.

Invites to play in Worlds for Professors, Why Not. Performance based.... Na, why not just lottory with the lottory system earned by service or something. One US based, one International based or something. Who cares if a Professor get's overmatched at Worlds or not, they deserve the opportunity.

 

[ShadowCard]

Maybe not an invite to play in the main event, but a paid invite to be there. This could be used for the earning professor to have a chance in the grinder or experience Worlds. It is a great opportunity to meet the international community. The invite could even be to be on staff. Since the person is a professor, a staff position invite would be appropriate.

As for people rushing to sign up as professors in an attempt to buy their way into Worlds, these half-hearted professors would be earning points like the rest of us: running leagues, judging at tournaments, writing articles. All three contribute to growing the game. If a professor wants to get an invite through professor points and he/she starts a league, this is +1 league. I wouldn't mind seeing a few more leagues pop up in some areas.

 

[SD PokeMom]

Points for invites would be a bad idea, as I have a hard time earning ANY points. All the tourneys in my area have plenty of judges for all tourneys. I want to start a league, but since I have college this year, I'm not sure if I would have the time. As of now I have no idea how I'm ever going to get enough points to get in the prof cup. I really would love it for there to be another way to earn prof. points that didn't requier you to either judge or run a league, as this is just not posible for some of us. Maybe just make it so you can earn prof points for playing in a tourney?

The Pokémon Professor Cup is a non-sanctioned event that is held annually to thank Professors for their hard work and dedication to the growth of Pokémon Organized Play. This is a casual and fun event where those who usually work as judges and organizers have a chance to play instead.

so where does it say that the professor cup is a reward for just passing the test?

it's for those who actually do the day-in, day-out work of promoting organized play locally via judging or running a league. why should playing in a tourney earn you (general 'you') the right to play in the cup? how would that motivate anyone to WORK the events rather than play, if they'd still get the same reward at the end of the year?

certainly, people can be both players and professors. but there comes the time when a choice must be made: one is either a professor/judge first, or a player first. and if one considers themselves first and foremost a player working towards worlds, then why should they be able to reap the same reward...entry into the professor cup...as those who do the work of putting on those events as judges/LLs all through the year?

you want your cake, but want to eat it too...sorry, but it's one or the other.

jmho.
'mom

 

[a_shy_girl_1999]

^ Yes, very well said. *agrees with SD PokeMom*

 

[meganium45]

Call me a minority, but I really believe the bar is too low to get into the cup.

50 points is easy. 100 points, tougher.

I would set the bar at 150 points to get in.

That is really rewarding the players who help the game week in and week out, run a league (6 sessions at least) and not just get 5 events to get in.

What is entertaining is I do not think the pool of people would shrink THAT much!

Vince

 

[dld4a]

I mentioned this to someonebo over the weekend at Worlds and his first thought was, "Who'd run them (if the professors are playing in them)?" At first I thought, "Oh, uh, yea?! Hmm." Since then it has occurred to me that the Professor Tournament Series would also have a point requirement to get into. The tournaments themselves would provide more ways for Professors to earn enough points to play in them. Set an escalating point cost corresponding to the level of tournament. The World Championship then becomes analogous to the MLB World Series. The Professors are the National League and everyone else are the American League.

 

[ShadowCard]

Yes, Meganium, you are (hopefully) in the extreme minority. A bar set so high is sometimes more of a deterant than encouragement.

I think the problem would then turn to rotation of judges. BRs and small and don't require many judges, and PRs don't call for many judges either. The attendance would shrink not because people would be unable to do it on their own, but because PTOs wouldn't be able to meet the demand of the professors who want to judge all the events to be able to earn the necessary points. Or, then you've got LLs who aren't going to take on extra professors because they don't need the help. To make the point requirement so high, you'd have to require LLs to rotate professors as LLs each season like a PTO rotates judges each tournament (Hopefully the PTO doesn't use the same judges at each tournament).

 

[SteveP]

For once, I completely agree with everything SD'mom posted. Very well stated!

Vince, I agree that the cup is too easy. Our regionals champ, also a professor, is a really great player who works too hard to attend league and local tournaments. He tried to figure out a way to get 50 points before the Cup simply because he got the regionals trip package. But, my PTO explained to him that it would be impossible to earn 50 points in so short a time.

100 points is as high as I'd go, but I'm all for a first and second round bye based on points. For example, 200+ points gets you 1 bye; 300+ points gets you another bye.

 

[ShadowCard]

Vince, I agree that the cup is too easy. Our regionals champ, also a professor, is a really great player who works too hard to attend league and local tournaments. He tried to figure out a way to get 50 points before the Cup simply because he got the regionals trip package. But, my PTO explained to him that it would be impossible to earn 50 points in so short a time.

How is that an example of it being too easy to earn 50 points? He was told it was impossible for him to get the necessary 50 points. That shows that the point bar is high enough because, come regional, those who want to rush their way in can't do it.

but I'm all for a first and second round bye based on points. For example, 200+ points gets you 1 bye; 300+ points gets you another bye.

Giving professors byes in tournaments based on their professor points? Why?

 

[meganium45]

50 points too high?

Maybe for someone trying to get in in the last two months!

50 points is judging one tournament (including local tournaments, not even premiere point events) every other month for a year.

50 points, in my opinion is a joke. For those having trouble with 50 points, you aren't really trying.

What I am VERY happy to see is someone like Bullados, who works events, and runs a league, winning the cup, and not just a pro player who managed to get exactly 50 points.

The professor cup is, in my mind, supposed to reward those who help the game week in and week out, month in and month out.

You have competitive players at your league (or ones you want to train to be), run a tourney, EVEN EVERY MONTH, to get them used to playing.

That will get you more than enough points.

I get a bit frustrated every year when I look around the 'cup and see players who are just players, who scraped in their 50 points to play in the event.

I know I am the minority, but I wish the event would serve to recognize those who give month in and month out, and not just the 2 months before the cup.

(Steve, I like your bye proposal, although me and Terry Kamm would be playing Tiddly Winks until the finals with our 700-800 points earning us 7 to 8 byes!!!)

Vince

 

[DarthPika]

so where does it say that the professor cup is a reward for just passing the test?

it's for those who actually do the day-in, day-out work of promoting organized play locally via judging or running a league. why should playing in a tourney earn you (general 'you') the right to play in the cup? how would that motivate anyone to WORK the events rather than play, if they'd still get the same reward at the end of the year?

certainly, people can be both players and professors. but there comes the time when a choice must be made: one is either a professor/judge first, or a player first. and if one considers themselves first and foremost a player working towards worlds, then why should they be able to reap the same reward...entry into the professor cup...as those who do the work of putting on those events as judges/LLs all through the year?

you want your cake, but want to eat it too...sorry, but it's one or the other.

jmho.
'mom

Maybe you didn't understand. I want to help out, but I just wish there was another way to help out other then judging or running a league. Like if you could get prof points by writing up stuff on cards, or helping out with decks, that would be wonderful for me. I actually help a lot of people out with stuff, help new players, help with decks, and it all counts for NOTHING. Thats right, I could give HOURS of my time helping out, but since its not at a league or tourney, I don't get any credit for it.

 

[ShadowCard]

Wait, we get points for judging/TOing non-premier tournaments?

50 points too high?

I don't know about it being too high (if that comment was directed at me, you're going to have to point out where I said that), but it seems to be "high enough" to me. (keep in mind, if the above is true, I didn't know that.)

Like if you could get prof points by writing up stuff on cards, or helping out with decks, that would be wonderful for me

You get 10 points per card articles you write that is accepted for each new set. There is a whole list of cards. Check out the Prof boards.

I actually help a lot of people out with stuff, help new players, help with decks, and it all counts for NOTHING. Thats right, I could give HOURS of my time helping out, but since its not at a league or tourney, I don't get any credit for it.

If you're not doing it at a league or tourney, where are you doing this helping? Is there someone to vouch for you on this? Do you ever donate any cards to leagues/tournaments (if not to those, then where)? I couldn't help but notice the parts of your sentence which I quoted. This bothers me. Mary, the Gainesville, VA LL is not a Professor. However, she is an asset to Pokemon in Northern Virginia running leagues, arranging equipment, and even helped save our state championships last year. Despite all she does, she does not get to reap any benefit such as have access to additional POP packs, professor items, or participation in the professor cup because she is not--and has never been--a professor. She DOES give hours of her time helping out and gets LITTLE credit for it. It isn't fair.

DarthPika, that takes me back to asking about your references. These people you help out, if at a school or park, is there someone who can say you did it? Someone associated with Pokemon who was there? While you complain that it isn't fair that you aren't getting points because your volunteering isn't happening at leagues/tournaments, if your goal is to be in the Prof Cup, doesn't it atleast seem like a smart idea to do the helping in the presence of a LL/TO?

DarthPika, I'd have to check up on some things, but if an opportunity to run a league presented itself by the end of October (its times would probably be Friday evening or weekends), would you take it?

 

[DarthPika]

Wait, we get points for judging/TOing non-premier tournaments?


I don't know about it being too high (if that comment was directed at me, you're going to have to point out where I said that), but it seems to be "high enough" to me. (keep in mind, if the above is true, I didn't know that.)


You get 10 points per card articles you write that is accepted for each new set. There is a whole list of cards. Check out the Prof boards.


If you're not doing it at a league or tourney, where are you doing this helping? Is there someone to vouch for you on this? Do you ever donate any cards to leagues/tournaments (if not to those, then where)? I couldn't help but notice the parts of your sentence which I quoted. This bothers me. Mary, the Gainesville, VA LL is not a Professor. However, she is an asset to Pokemon in Northern Virginia running leagues, arranging equipment, and even helped save our state championships last year. Despite all she does, she does not get to reap any benefit such as have access to additional POP packs, professor items, or participation in the professor cup because she is not--and has never been--a professor. She DOES give hours of her time helping out and gets LITTLE credit for it. It isn't fair.

DarthPika, that takes me back to asking about your references. These people you help out, if at a school or park, is there someone who can say you did it? Someone associated with Pokemon who was there? While you complain that it isn't fair that you aren't getting points because your volunteering isn't happening at leagues/tournaments, if your goal is to be in the Prof Cup, doesn't it atleast seem like a smart idea to do the helping in the presence of a LL/TO?

DarthPika, I'd have to check up on some things, but if an opportunity to run a league presented itself by the end of October (its times would probably be Friday evening or weekends), would you take it?

Most of the stuff I do is over the internet, as I don't have any form of league/place to talk to people about pokemon near me, the closest being lusby. (cant afford to go there just for league as its a hour drive)


I help a lot of people just over the internet, spending a lot of time helping out with deck lists, advice for what decks to use, telling them what cards are good to get. I lend cards if anyone needs them, all they need do is let me know and I'll try my best to help out. I can get the refs of several people I have helped but I don't have the time to do that now, I'll post them once I go check there SN.

For the league, as long as it was close by (10-15min drive from annaopois) I would LOVE to run it, given it didn't clash with my college schedule.

If you have AIM just IM me some time, or if you go to a Lusby BRd, I'll be there.

 

[ShadowCard]

Yeah, internet help doesn't really count :/

For the league, as long as it was close by (10-15min drive from annaopois) I would

That made me chuckle a bit. Mapquest is putting the times to 25 minutes but you should be openminded to anything under 45 minutes. If there was a place 15 minutes from Annapolis, I think you could locate it on your own.

Perhaps shoot me a PM, where are you going to college? College schedules are somewhat flexible. Atleast in the first two years, I don't see you having a problem scheduling around one weekday evening or weekend. If it does become a problem, one of your brothers may be able to fill in for you from time to time.

Like I said, I have to shoot some e-mails around and I have school starting so it may be a week or two before I find anything out.

 

[bullados]

Yep, we do get points for Judging and TO-ing non-Premier tourneys. That's how I've gotten my co-LL her good amount of points this past year.

I also agree that 50 points can tend to be too low. The Prof Cup is IMO for people who have worked all year to make this game better, for those who go out of their way, go above and beyond the call of duty. Not for those who judge a single tourney every other month. This is not as a way to "lessen" the competition at the Cup. It's more a way to promote people to step up and work. Start a League. Run weekly/bi-weekly tourneys. Work with your local PTO to get more stuff in your area. The Prof Cup is something that you have to work towards, not something that's entitled to you just b/c you can pass a test.