Pokémon TCG: Sword and Shield—Brilliant Stars

To renew or not to renew.

P

Prime

Content Developer<br>Blog Admin<br>Contest Host
Okay, so my professor membership will be expiring soon. I have just been given the chance to retake the test and renew my membership. I am sure I could pass the test, but the question is, do I want to renew my membership? This isn't really just a personal question, but it's also a thought directed towards many other people in the professor program.

How do I donate to the professor program? I used to run a league, but I don't anymore. I participate in a new league, but nothing more. I don't judge or hold tournaments. I do nothing to donate to the professor program. That really makes me wonder if I should be a professor at all. What does the Professor Program get out of someone being a professor but not donating to the Professor Program?

Is it right to be a professor yet not donate or contribute to the professor program? I'm starting to feel it's not right. The game doesn't need a large group of professors that do nothing to contribute to the professor program. I don't see any use of being a professor if I don't contribute to the professor program. I feel the professor program should be there for people that do run leagues, or help judge or run tournaments.

Although I doubt I'll ever do it, I could help run a league or a tournament without being a Professor. So there's no need for me to be a professor. Me being a professor helps or contributes to nothing at all.

I do remember hearing somewhere that there will be some requirements to be a professor, like having to hold a league or run a tournament atleast every now and then or your membership will be taken away. Anyone have any info on that?

What do you feel about professors that don't do anything to contribute to the professor program? Should they be in the professor program? Or should they just not renew their membership?
 
i am in a situation like u now but if i were u ,i will retake the test just in case something exciting pops up from no where.Take the test Prime,u can still be in the prof forum and contribute comments or ideas XD
 
See Prime I agree with you and i disagree on the same token...

See yes you could be doing nothing to help the program, but maybe to some people it isnt there choice...

Take Me for example... I ask every There is a Tourament to Judge But am Told No... Not Cause Of My Lack Of Knowledge... Just Cause They Like Either (A) Using The Same People or (B) Like Using People That They Have Used Forever...

Does It Make It Fair For Me To "Lose" Be A Professor?? No I Hope Not...

I may miss out on cool items but that is a small part... i want to judge to say i did it... But it wont happen... that is how i disagree...

But I Agree With Your Point Fully if A Professor isnt gonna Make an Effort to "Try" to Help People then they shouldnt be a professor...

Drew
 
Matt: Take the test once something pops up that you would be interested in helping out on. As you already said, you don't HAVE to be a Prof. to judge or help run a league. I dont think one needs to be a Prof. if you arent trying to do something to help Pokemon OP out. JMHO and glad to see you had the cahones to print and question what many people already think. A prof. ought to be doing something to assist OP, not just hold a title.

Keith
 
I've held the Professor title since the beginning and have not helped out with Organized Play (although I would like to think that I contribute to this game in other ways).

What is the downside of having Professors who aren't actively helping OP? (Just looking to hear the arguments)
 
I don't know if there is a downside. Is there any upside of having professors who aren't actively helping OP? None come to mind. You can do anything you normally could as a Professor without being a Professor. I just feel the professor program should be for those that constantly help OP. Those who run leagues, those who run or help run tournaments. Those people deserve thanks, and that is what the professor program is for IMHO.

I honestly feel many people became professors just for the title. And that right there is pretty dumb IMHO.

If there is no upside to having professors that do nothing to contribute to POP, why allow it?

Just my 2 cents.
 
Last edited:
One downside that comes to mind is that PUI/POP may look into a region and see X number of "professors" bc of the title they bear. When they want to set up an event, they normally look to PTOs, TOs and Prof.s in that area. (ie PRA) If an area shows 5 Profs, but only 1 is active, how is that helping that area?

Keith
 
I don't have any answers, but here's what I think just off the top of my head.

There are two sides to being a Professor - what you get as a Professor and what OP gets from you being a Professor.

As far as being a Professor, we get stuff and we get the opportunity to play in the Professor Challenge. Anything else? Not sure, looking for opinions and info.

What does OP get from us being Professors? At the highest level, you get people who are helping organize and run tournaments. There are many people who are Professors who rarely, if ever, play in a tournament. These people obviously get a lot of gratification from helping in this way. At the lowest level of participation, you still have people who are identified as Professors who can be turned to for ruling clarifications and (theorhetically) leading by example.

I guess it really boils down to what Nintendo is looking for Professors to bring to the game by being Professors. That's not clear to me.
 
If you are involved with a league, you could ask if you can judge one or more of their tournaments. Not that it is a big thing or anything, but you will be contributing, and ...... you will get points.
 
What about those who have opportunity to contribute to POP and are professors yet don't -- is that right?
 
Prime said:
The game doesn't need a large group of professors that do nothing to contribute to the professor program. I don't see any use of being a professor if I don't contribute to the professor program. I feel the professor program should be there for people that do run leagues, or help judge or run tournaments.
Click to expand...

While this is of course a personal choice, I agree with you 100%.

Except for participating in limited events I've gotten out of the game since Worlds. Therefore, I plan to let my professor status expire later this month.

If we get back into the game where I am again judging and hosting tournaments then I will retake the test at that time.

Soon to be ex-professor Adv1sor
​
 
I would say no because, from what I understand, they're going to have stricter requirements this time. Meaning you will have to judge so many tournaments or be ejected from the program,
 
Wow i gues POP is getting tougher on professors and cracking down on requirements. For some its unfortunite but i like the idea that they will make a professor a person who really will be doing something to help nintendo.
 
I never did have the intention of helping out with leagues and tournaments. Some of you may remember that back in... 2001 or 2002, I believe (?), Wizards removed the 15+ age group. They wouldn't recognize any older players as official and therefore, they couldn't officially take part in sanctioned tournaments. So, quite a number of people signed up to be a Professor. While Professors weren't counted like the 10- and 11-14, they were at least recognized as legal players for tournaments. I, like many other people, wanted the opportunity to legitimately play should I get the opportunity. So, back in 2002, I took and passed the test. To this day, I have yet to actually use the title. This is mainly due to the fact that there is absolutely no league around and I have only been to a few tournaments.
Anyway, the only reason I am a Professor at this moment is that nothing has prevented me from retaining that status as of yet, and it's a good thing to have should a situation arise where I could use it. I do feel a bit guilty about having the title, but it's not costing POP anything (that I know of) to keep my name on the list. If they were sending free stuff without any actual participation, then I would definitely feel guilty. But as it stands, I'm not really milking the system for anything at all, so there's no incentive to opt out at the moment.
 
TheDarkTwins said:
Take Me for example... I ask every There is a Tourament to Judge But am Told No... Not Cause Of My Lack Of Knowledge... Just Cause They Like Either (A) Using The Same People or (B) Like Using People That They Have Used Forever...

Does It Make It Fair For Me To "Lose" Be A Professor?? No I Hope Not...

I may miss out on cool items but that is a small part... i want to judge to say i did it... But it wont happen... that is how i disagree...

But I Agree With Your Point Fully if A Professor isnt gonna Make an Effort to "Try" to Help People then they shouldnt be a professor...

Drew
Click to expand...

Wow Drew!...I hope you dont give up and you keep asking to Judge.

I have made it a point here in Arizona to make sure we rotate all those interested in Judging...we start them out at League tourneys, then they can move on to the bigger ones, we even have head judges in 'training' and T.O's in training. This is only one of the ways Pokemon grows!

Next time ask what the reason is? Ask if there is something that maybe you need to improve on?
Dont give up.
Just my 5 cents (inflation)
 
Prime said:
What do you feel about professors that don't do anything to contribute to the professor program? Should they be in the professor program? Or should they just not renew their membership?
Click to expand...
Here's how I feel about professors that don't do anything to contribute to the program: I don't think they deserve the title to be a professor. Let me put it this way, contributing to the program doesn't necessarily mean you have to run a league or help run tournaments. A professor can do a lot as a player to help new players grow and educate them on the game. It's the contribution to volunteering your time in helping the people in your league/events that is the true meaning of the program, IMO.

I, including POP I'm sure, realize that not every professor can run a league or help judge an event. Here in Denver, we only have 2 leagues but there are 9 professors. Whenever we run a pre release, it's usually just one event and only certain professors with "seniority" get the 2 judging slots, which leaves out the other 7 professors. In reality, it's up to the PTO to pick the staff, but that's generally how it works around here. If our other 7 professors would contribute to opening up another league and help our player base expand and grow to other heights, then I'm sure we can run multiple events to give all professors the opportunity to fill a judging slot.

At my league, I have a couple professors that I KNOW signed up for the wrong reasons. Such reasons include only wanting to help judge a pre release for the prize support, but won't help out in other activities when called upon. Sure, running a league is a lot of fun and is a way I "officially" contribute to the program, but I don't think that is the whole picture.

I honestly wish these certain professors would do their part to contribute to my league by helping out with simple tasks such as helping out the newer players by making sure they have the right deck contents (60 cards, etc) and teaching them if need be. At my league, it is expected of me to do these tasks, which I do, but these tasks can get overwhelming when I have to stamp points constantly, and if I get a new group of players.

It seems like I have to literally BEG these certain professors to even help me out with simple tasks when I get overwhelmed, and the only professor at my league who ever helps me out when I'm in need of help happens to be my PTO who is also a league leader at the other league here in Denver. If I can't get someone with the "professor" title to help out with simple tasks at a league, then I feel that they don't deserve the title. :nonono:
 
I agree with you Coldfire. Being a professor doesn't mean judging all the time. They have many hats so to speak. Help and participation are necessary, and if you don't think you can help, then you're probably better off to drop out of the program, but if there's a league nearby, and you can offer to help, then there's no reason why you can't stay a professor, and in the end ..... get rewarded.
 
It would probably help if we need PUI's defintion of Professor.

Also, I heard something about a higher level professor. I can't remember the name of it. Maybe with this higher level professor, that would be for those who constantly run tournaments and leagues and the regular professors would be for those who don't run leagues or tournaments constantly but try to help out wherever they can by helping kids, giving advice, rulings, etc.

But I do think there are too many professors that signed up just for the free swag. But that's just my opinion.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top