Turbo Blastoise
New Member
I've been with this game since the days of Jungle. I've seen many things take place throughout the history of this great game--The various sets, the Prof. Program, the commisioning of Modified, and much more. For the past 3 years or so, there has been a division of formats in constructed tourneys between the traditional Unlimited format (anything goes except Ancient Mew and B-Day Pikachu) and the Modified (we've had TR-on, Neon, and now Eon). Also, we've had as of next month a total of 16 sets (excluding SI and reprint sets) in the Pokemon TCG. I've found and a number of people on the boards have also found that 16 sets and only 2 constructed formats is not enough. So that's why I put forth the proposal of an "extended" format. Note that this format should only be implemented when we have OFFICIAL OP getting started. Here is the basic proposal: We need a 3rd format that we should name "extended" (subject to name change) due to the fact that the current Unlimited and Modified formats are no longer adequate. Adequate means that Unlimited and Modified are such diverse formats in terms of deckbuilding and gameplay that they don't satisfy the tastes of many people in the Pokemon TCG community and as a result a 3rd constructed format is necessary as a sort of "in between". This format could simply be the last 3 block sets (ex: if implemented now it would be Neo- soon to be Dragon set)
Now why do we need "extended"? I'll give some of my thoughts and perhaps everyone here can give their thoughts as to why or why not (just keep it clean!).
First of all, an extended format would be a complement to both unlimited and modified. Just face it. The current Modified has what 5 sets. I've done some play testing in this format and it holds a lot of promise don't get me wrong especially with the various powerful Pokemon in RS (Blaziken, Gardevoir, Mewtwo ex and many more), however it just doesn't have the amount of firepower especially in terms of trainer cards that I've come to expect from my many years of playing this game. So what's my alternative right now? Well, if I want to play with lots of strong trainers, then I'm playing Unlimited. Well, with Unlimited while it too is enjoyable, many archetypes and trainers that would be otherwise very good in a more "restricted" format are just simply washed out of the competititon by sheer colossal giants (ex. Prof. Oak, Elm, trader, breeder, RSA, Lass). So as a result, even a cursory look at my options leaves me wanted something more. However, I appreciate elements from both unlimited and the modified formats and I feel that creating a "hybrid" format would be in our best interests. Why?
1) Get to use a # of our older trainers without dealing with the "powerhouse" cards from base set.
2) No more nasty and sometimes boring combos of ER/SER, Lass, the infamous IOR, RSA, and Rocket Trap and many others
3) Many Pokemon card combos that relie on Base Set- Gym2 such as Haymaker, Sneasel, and even Slowking would limit those cards paving the way for less "well-known" cards to have their time
4) A fresh new format to play and the best of both worlds with awesome pokemon from the newer sets and different interesting combos plus some of the more decent trainers from the Neo sets.
Note: I'm not trying to bring back Neon. Notice that Neon was just Neo Genesis- Skyridge. The format that I'm proposing would be NG- Dragon. A net total of 3 extra sets (might not seem so much but just look at what you get). New sets would automatically be tacked on to the format the moment they would be released. So what do you guys think? Is it worth it? I think so, the facts speak for themselves. Perhaps I've convinced some of you to take more of a serious look at this issue because it seems (at least to me) to pop up every so often. Case in point: Modified and Unlimited used to be enough but with the size of the game growing, it isn't anymore. So we need EXTENDED!!!
Now why do we need "extended"? I'll give some of my thoughts and perhaps everyone here can give their thoughts as to why or why not (just keep it clean!).
First of all, an extended format would be a complement to both unlimited and modified. Just face it. The current Modified has what 5 sets. I've done some play testing in this format and it holds a lot of promise don't get me wrong especially with the various powerful Pokemon in RS (Blaziken, Gardevoir, Mewtwo ex and many more), however it just doesn't have the amount of firepower especially in terms of trainer cards that I've come to expect from my many years of playing this game. So what's my alternative right now? Well, if I want to play with lots of strong trainers, then I'm playing Unlimited. Well, with Unlimited while it too is enjoyable, many archetypes and trainers that would be otherwise very good in a more "restricted" format are just simply washed out of the competititon by sheer colossal giants (ex. Prof. Oak, Elm, trader, breeder, RSA, Lass). So as a result, even a cursory look at my options leaves me wanted something more. However, I appreciate elements from both unlimited and the modified formats and I feel that creating a "hybrid" format would be in our best interests. Why?
1) Get to use a # of our older trainers without dealing with the "powerhouse" cards from base set.
2) No more nasty and sometimes boring combos of ER/SER, Lass, the infamous IOR, RSA, and Rocket Trap and many others
3) Many Pokemon card combos that relie on Base Set- Gym2 such as Haymaker, Sneasel, and even Slowking would limit those cards paving the way for less "well-known" cards to have their time
4) A fresh new format to play and the best of both worlds with awesome pokemon from the newer sets and different interesting combos plus some of the more decent trainers from the Neo sets.
Note: I'm not trying to bring back Neon. Notice that Neon was just Neo Genesis- Skyridge. The format that I'm proposing would be NG- Dragon. A net total of 3 extra sets (might not seem so much but just look at what you get). New sets would automatically be tacked on to the format the moment they would be released. So what do you guys think? Is it worth it? I think so, the facts speak for themselves. Perhaps I've convinced some of you to take more of a serious look at this issue because it seems (at least to me) to pop up every so often. Case in point: Modified and Unlimited used to be enough but with the size of the game growing, it isn't anymore. So we need EXTENDED!!!
