Pokémon TCG: Sword and Shield—Brilliant Stars

Top Cut Central PRESENTS Side Events at Nationals ~ Thursday July 4th, 2013

Hello Everyone,

Top Cut Central has received confirmation that we will be one of the three vendors at the 2013 Pokemon National Championship!!!

We are really excited to provide all of you an additional option for product, supplies, and single cards of all types. We will also will provide an additional spot for people to sell their cards, or pokemon related items. We look forward to serving the needs of the community at this amazing event.

In addition to vending, Top Cut Central is pleased to announce our involvement in the 2013 Pokemon National Championships. On Thursday, July 4th, 2013 from 10am through 8pm, Top Cut Central will be hosting a wide variety of side events for all players to take advantage of. We greatly appreciate the opportunity given to us and look forward to serving all the players of this great game.

Below you will find everything a player needs to take advantage of this excellent opportunity to participate in events that are not typical of the Nationals experience. With these events we hope to provide you with an additional means of playing in multiple events, while enhancing your overall enjoyment of Nationals.

Timeframe of Events

Side Event Schedule
Thursday, July 4th, 2013

10am-8pm Mat Battles
10am-8pm Win-a-Box
10am-8pm Standard Draft
10am-8pm Mutant Draft
10am-8pm Tin Can Mutant Sealed
10am-8pm Theme Deck Challenge
10am-8pm Elite Trainer Box Event
10am-8pm Retro Tournament

9pm Side Event "Top 4 Showdown"
8:15pm Cut off to earn points toward "Top 4 Showdown"

All events will begin after 8 players register for any particular event.

Events will be kicking off every time we get 8 players signed up any single particular event. Judges will be supplied for all events. Random Pairing will be used at the beginning of every 8 player event. Standard pairing brackets will be used for every event.

Players are welcome to sign up multiple times, for multiple events. Top Cut Central will attempt to call a registered player up to 3 times prior to the start of any event. If a player isn’t available to play in that event, it will begin without them. No refunds or additional participation will be given to players who miss the beginning of the event they registered for. Players that miss the start of their event will still receive the participation product, AND only half of the participation points associated with the event they were registered in. No exceptions will be made in this policy. Top Cut Central has the full and final say in all issues that may arise in the day's events.

Mat Battles
$12 per player
8 players per pod
Modified Format
Single-Elimination
Participation Product: 3 Plasma Freeze Booster Packs
1st Place: Exclusive Advertising Incentivized Game Mat*

Win-a-Box
$15 per player
8 players per pod
Modified Format
Single-Elimination
Participation Product: None
1st Place: Full Sealed Booster Box Plasma Freeze

Standard Draft
$15 per player
8 players per pod
Draft Format
2 of 3 Single-Elimination
Participation Product: 4 Plasma Freeze Booster Packs
1st Place: 4 booster packs Plasma Freeze

Mutant Draft
$15 per player
8 players per pod
Draft Format
2 of 3 Single-Elimination
Participation Product: 4 Random Modified Legal Booster Packs
1st Place: 4 booster packs Plasma Freeze

Tin Can Mutant Sealed
$15 per player
8 players per pod
Sealed Format
Single Elimination
Participation Product: 1 Modified Legal Tin
1st Place: 4 booster packs Plasma Freeze

Theme Deck Challenge
$15 per player
8 players per pod
Sealed Format
Single Elimination
Participation Product: 1 Modified Legal Theme Deck, 1 Modified Legal Booster
1st Place: 4 booster packs Plasma Freeze

Elite Trainer Box Event
$30 per player
8 players per pod
Sealed Format
Single Elimination
Participation Product: 1 Plasma Storm Elite Trainer Box
1st Place: 4 booster packs Plasma Freeze

Retro Tournament
$12 per player
8 players per pod
Unlimited Format
Participation Product: 3 Plasma Freeze Booster Packs
1st Place: Exclusive Advertising Incentivized Game Mat*

Side Event "Top 4 Showdown"
Free
Top 4 Based on Side Event Ranking (see below)
Rock, Paper, Scissors
3 of 5 Single Elimination
1st Place: 4 Deoxys EX (Plasma Freeze 53/116), 4 Thundurus EX (Plasma Freeze 38/116), 1 English Tropical Beach
Top 4: Exclusive Top Cut Central Advertising Incentivized Game Mat.

* Once you win a TOP CUT CENTRAL EXCLUSIVE game mat, you simply need to play with the mat, every swiss round, at Nationals. If you make the TOP CUT at your National event, and continue using the TOP CUT CENTRAL mat you are eligible for an advertising incentive. The incentive will be paid by TOP CUT CENTRAL based on your final standing at the 2013 Pokemon Nationals and will only be available to players who participate in a 2013 Pokemon Nationals event that exceeds 512 players in their individual age group. All Rights Reserved - Top Cut Central

"How to Play" Guidelines

Mat Battles
• Players must bring their own 60 card Modified Legal Deck.
• Deck lists will be required to participate in this event.
• 8 Players will be randomly paired and will play their opponents in a 30 minute, best of 1 match.
• Tournament will be run as a single elimination event.
• All current modified rules will apply


Win-A-Box
• Players must bring their own preconstructed 60 card Modified Legal Deck.
• Deck lists will be required to participate in this event.
• 8 Players will be randomly paired and will play their first-round opponent in a 60 minute, best of 3 match.
• Tournament will be run as a single elimination event.
• All current modified rules will apply


Standard Draft
• Players will be given 4 Plasma Freeze Booster Packs
• 8 Players are seated in a random order at a table.
• Each Player will open one pack and count the cards face down to ensure there are 10 cards in the pack
• Each Player will then pick up the cards from that pack and select one card to keep, placing it face down in front of them; and then passing the remaining cards in the pack face down to the Player on their left.
• Players should count out the cards face down after each pick to ensure that the appropriate number of cards remain in the packs.
• The previous two steps continue until each Player has 10 cards in front of them.
• Each Player will then open their next pack and count the cards face down to ensure there are 10 cards in each pack.
• Each Player will then pick up the cards from those pack and select one card to keep, placing it face down in front of them, and then passing the remaining cards in the pack face down to the Player on their right.
• The previous two steps continue until each Player has 20 cards in front of them.
• Each Player will be required to repeat the previous steps until all 4 packs are opened and distributed equally.
• All Players will then be given 30 minutes to look over their cards, build and sleeve their Deck (should they choose to sleeve their Deck, they must do so with tournament-legal sleeves).
• Players then will play against their first-round opponent in a 30 minute, best 2-out of-3 match.
• Tournament will be run as a single elimination event.
• All current modified rules will apply


Mutant Draft
• Players will be given 4 Random Modified Legal Booster Packs
• Decks in this format do not have to follow the standard evolution patterns. While regular pokemon may evolve as normal, players may also evolve and basic pokemon into a stage one pokemon, or a stage 1 pokemon into a stage 2 pokemon, as long as these pokemon share the same type.
• 8 Players are seated in a random order at a table.
• Each Player will open one pack and count the cards face down to ensure there are 10 cards in the pack
• Each Player will then pick up the cards from that pack and select one card to keep, placing it face down in front of them; and then passing the remaining cards in the pack face down to the Player on their left.
• Players should count out the cards face down after each pick to ensure that the appropriate number of cards remain in the packs.
• The previous two steps continue until each Player has 10 cards in front of them.
• Each Player will then open their next pack and count the cards face down to ensure there are 10 cards in each pack.
• Each Player will then pick up the cards from those pack and select one card to keep, placing it face down in front of them, and then passing the remaining cards in the pack face down to the Player on their right.
• The previous two steps continue until each Player has 20 cards in front of them.
• Each Player will be required to repeat the previous steps until all 4 packs are opened and distributed equally.
• All Players will then be given 30 minutes to look over their cards, build and sleeve their Deck (should they choose to sleeve their Deck, they must do so with tournament-legal sleeves).
• Players then will play against their first-round opponent in a 30 minute, best 2-out of-3 match.
• Tournament will be run as a single elimination event.
• All current modified rules will apply.


Tin Can Mutant Sealed
• 8 players are seated at a table in random order
• Players will be given a modified legal Pokemon tin to begin
• Each player will open their tin and use the contents to create a 40-card deck (including energies)
• Decks in this format do not have to follow the standard evolution patterns. While regular pokemon may evolve as normal, players may also evolve and basic pokemon into a stage one pokemon, or a stage 1 pokemon into a stage 2 pokemon, as long as these pokemon share the same type.
• All Players will then be given 30 minutes to look over their cards, build and sleeve their Deck (should they choose to sleeve their Deck, they must do so with tournament-legal sleeves).
• Players then will play against their first-round opponent in a 30 minute, best 2 out of 3 match.
• Tournament will be run as a single elimination event.
• All current modified rules will apply.


Theme Deck Challenge
• 8 players are seated at a table in Random order
• Players will be given a modified legal Pokemon Theme Deck and Booster Pack.
• Players will open their theme deck and booster pack and use the contents to make a legal 60 card deck (including energy).
• All Players will then be given 10 minutes to look over their cards, build and sleeve their Deck (should they choose to sleeve their Deck, they must do so with tournament-legal sleeves).
• Players then will play against their first-round opponent in a 30 minute, best of 1 match.
• Tournament will be run as a single elimination event.


Elite Trainer Box Event
• 8 players are seated at a table in random order
• Players will be given a Plasma Storm Elite Trainer Box to begin
• Each player will open the box and use the contents to create a 40-card deck (including energies)
• Decks in this format do not have to follow the standard evolution patterns. While regular pokemon may evolve as normal, players may also evolve and basic pokemon into a stage one pokemon, or a stage 1 pokemon into a stage 2 pokemon, as long as these pokemon share the same type.
• All Players will then be given 30 minutes to look over their cards, build and sleeve their Deck (should they choose to sleeve their Deck, they must do so with tournament-legal sleeves).
• Players then will play against their first-round opponent in a 30 minute, best 2 out of 3 match.
• Tournament will be run as a single elimination event.
• All current modified rules will apply.


Retro Tournament
• Players must bring their own 60 card Legal Deck.
• Legal Sets for this event will include… Expedition EX, Aquapolis AQ, Skyridge SK, WotC Best Promos WB, Ruby Sapphire RS, Sandstorm SS, Dragon DR
• Deck lists will be required to participate in this event.
• 8 Players will be randomly paired and will play their opponents in a 30 minute, (no plus 3) best of 1 match.
• Tournament will be run as a single elimination event.
• All modified rules in the EX Dragon, released in November 2003, rule book will apply.


Side Event "Top 4 Showdown"
• Only the top 4 players in points earned may participate in this FREE event.
• Top players must be present at 9pm to take part in this event. Winners will be posted at 8:45pm
• The top 4 players will be randomly paired against an opponent
• These 4 players will participate in a best 3 out of 5 match of Rock, Paper, Scissors
• All choices will be thrown on… Rock, Paper, Scissors, CHUTE!
• This event will be a single elimination format

Side Event "Top 4 Showdown"

As players participate in the side events throughout the day, they will be earning participation points for playing in the days various events. these points will be accumulated throughout the day and tabulated at the end of the night to determine the Top 4 players/participants of the day. The point schedule is as shown below….

Side Event Point Values

Event---------Participation Points---------Additional Points for Winning

Mat Battle----------------3-----------------------3
Win a Box-----------------1-----------------------1
Newest Set Draft----------2-----------------------2
Mutant Draft--------------2-----------------------2
Tin Can Mutant-----------2-----------------------2
Plasma Deck Challenge----2-----------------------2
Elite Trainer Box Event----2-----------------------2
Retro Tournament---------3-----------------------3

Players will be awarded these points after each event. Players have until 8:30pm to qualify for points. If events are not completed by that time, winning points will not count towards a players total for the day. Top Cut Central will post a final Point total for all players at 8:45pm for all players. The Top 4 players/participants will begin a finals match of Rock Paper Scissors.

The Rock, Paper, Scissors portion of this event will be held as a best 3 out of 5 match. Players will be paired as follows, 1 vs. 4, 2 vs. 3. The winners will play in the finals using the same 3 out of 5 format. A winner will be awarded the Top player/participation prize of the day. Prizes will be awarded for the "Top 4 Showdown" as indicated below…

1st Place: 4 Team Plasma Deoxys, 4 Team Plasma Thunderus, 1 English Tropical Beach
Top 4: Exclusive Top Cut Central Advertising Incentivized Game Mat.


A printable FAQ with a complete rules can be found at.... http://www.topcutcentral.com/

We have a FAQ posted for everyone. If you have any questions please feel free to contact us at [email protected]

Thanks and see you all soon....
Jimmy and Team
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This event, and the operation and prizing thereof is the sole responsibility of Top Cut Central, L.L.C. Top Cut Central, L.L.C. is solely responsible for all aspects of the event including but not limited to the pairings, prizing, organization, rulings and standings in the event. All decisions made by Top Cut Central, L.L.C or any employee thereof with respect to the event are final and binding on all participants therein. Top Cut Central, L.L.C is in no way affiliated with Pokémon®, Pokémon® Company International or Nintendo of America Inc. Pokémon® is a registered trademark of Nintendo of America Inc.
 
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Having a 3rd vendor will be great and hopefully keep prices down a little bit, and these side events are really great! I appreciate that, for the most part, the price of entry is equal to the price of participation product (or slightly cheaper!).

I'm going to be way too tempted to blow all my money trying to make Top 4, but I probably will have to show some self control and just play in 1 or 2 events.
 
I really hope I am able to get out of working on Independence Day so I can get there in time for these events(I'm sure I'm not the only one who is a little disappointed that Nationals overlaps with a big holiday). Always enjoy your events Jimmy, excited to see some more things going down at Nats!
 
Amazing Jimmy!

The events definitely have a convention style flavor to their set-up!

Raising the bar again.

Vince

Are there going to be any Video Game Events? Look, opportunity for thread link here!!!
 
wow! I agree witih meganium45, you're really raising the bar here! Mutant, Retro, play for mats and elite trainer boxes. Very nice! :cool:

For the events requiring deck lists, because you can enter multiple events, can the deck lists be returned to the players? If not, that means that a player would have to print multiple copies of the same lists or rewrite the deck list each time.

For the Retro tournament, World Championship cards are not allowed, correct? Can a copy of the ex Dragon rulebook be linked? Because errata work backwards through the sets, will current errata apply or will only errata dated before a certain time be used (for example, will Potion remove 2 or 3 damage counters?)? Do you already have judges on-board for this event?
 
Answers Below in BOLD


wow! I agree witih meganium45, you're really raising the bar here! Mutant, Retro, play for mats and elite trainer boxes. Very nice! :cool: Thanks!

For the events requiring deck lists, because you can enter multiple events, can the deck lists be returned to the players? If not, that means that a player would have to print multiple copies of the same lists or rewrite the deck list each time. If an individual knows he/she will be playing in another event they are welcome to ask for their list at the conclusion of their event. They will not be saved once an event is over.

For the Retro tournament, World Championship cards are not allowed, correct? Sure, why not? Keep in mind they will all have to be sleeved to the point where we can't see through to the card. Since this is not a sanctioned event, I want to give as many people opportunities to play as possible.

Can a copy of the ex Dragon rulebook be linked? EXpert Rules

Because errata work backwards through the sets, will current errata apply or will only errata dated before a certain time be used (for example, will Potion remove 2 or 3 damage counters?)? Cards will be played as they were meant to be played at that time. Potion will only remove 2 counters, Rare candy will work as intended, etc...

Do you already have judges on-board for this event?We do have a few people interested. If you would like to PM me your email address I can send you out the solicitation.
 
How difficult is it to get into the side events since it's only 8 people per event? Do they generally fill up very quickly? I live pretty close so I am driving down to check out the scene anyway, I'm just curious! And excited of course ;)
 
For the Retro tournament, World Championship cards are not allowed, correct? Sure, why not? Keep in mind they will all have to be sleeved to the point where we can't see through to the card. Since this is not a sanctioned event, I want to give as many people opportunities to play as possible.

Two questions:

  • If WC-deck cards are allowed, will cards that were reprinted in later sets (Power Keepers has a bunch of the Pokemon as reprints) be legal?
  • What, exactly, are the first turn rules? The linked rulebook says "first person doesn't draw", but I'm getting conflicting information about whether the first person can play a supporter -- and the rules on pojo don't offer any clarification.

Thanks for running this -- I hope there's still interest a bit later in the day when I get to Indy!
 
How difficult is it to get into the side events since it's only 8 people per event? Do they generally fill up very quickly? I live pretty close so I am driving down to check out the scene anyway, I'm just curious! And excited of course ;)

I believe how Jimmy will run them is that unlimited amounts of each event will run, so once 8 people sign up for one, it will start and signups will immediately begin again for the next 8 people.
 
Just out of curiosity why are decklist needed? At regionals during fall I did a win a box W/O them and it was fine. The only reason i ask is its the day before nats and if you deckcheck then your killing time and it seems a little over protective. If a player plays an illegal card give them the loss and no packs.
 
Two questions:

  • If WC-deck cards are allowed, will cards that were reprinted in later sets (Power Keepers has a bunch of the Pokemon as reprints) be legal?
    Yes as long as the wording is the same as the one during those sets. EX. potion from the black and white series would not be legal.
  • What, exactly, are the first turn rules? The linked rulebook says "first person doesn't draw", but I'm getting conflicting information about whether the first person can play a supporter -- and the rules on pojo don't offer any clarification. We had this discussion on Heyfonte and agreed that supporters turn 1 were in fact allowed. They were disallowed the following season. for this event they will be allowed, however player 1 does not draw.

Thanks for running this -- I hope there's still interest a bit later in the day when I get to Indy! It is truely going to be my pleasure!

How difficult is it to get into the side events since it's only 8 people per event? Do they generally fill up very quickly? I live pretty close so I am driving down to check out the scene anyway, I'm just curious! And excited of course ;)
As answered above, we fully intend on hosting these events all day. Sit and go style. As soon as we get 8 players to fill an event we will start it.

Just out of curiosity why are decklist needed? We will require decklist to preserve the integrity of the event. Players will not be allowed to enter without one.At regionals during fall I did a win a box W/O them and it was fine. This is a much larger event that will require more checks. The only reason i ask is its the day before nats and if you deckcheck then your killing time and it seems a little over protective.Understood. If a player plays an illegal card give them the loss and no packs.Thus the reason for deck checks. We do not want to kick anyone out once the event has started. Players come to have fun and this is a small thing to ask to ensure no one leaves feeling cheated.

Regarding decklists.... If a player determines that they are going to play in win a boxes all day. That player may ask the judge for their decklist back once they have lost and want to join another pod. We will make no attempt to hunt down players to return decklists. After a winner is determined, all decklists from that pod will be destroyed. So, in short, if you want your decklist back, ask right when you lose, not later in the day.


Coming quickly.... Printing all the reg forms and decklists to prepare for an awesome series. Hopefully this goes well. I would like to support this type of additionl participation every year for the players.

See you all very soon...
Jimmy
 
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Quick question: Will you be able to take credit/debit cards for these events, or am I going to need to bring some cash? I ask simply because I never carry cash with me, but I want to be sure I can play in a few of these.
 
Will you be charging an extra fee for people who use credit card or not? I know that the vendor is often charged a fee by one of those companies that gives out the card swiping phone devices and they put that extra charge into their price and I was just wondering if you will have to do that or not. Thanks.
 
Just so everyone knows there is NO way to pay with a card at this event. They are accepting cash only and didn't even acknowledge this thread. Just a heads up.
 
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