Pokémon TCG: Sword and Shield—Brilliant Stars

US Nationals is now registered for Origins

DaytonGymLeader I have been to many large MTG tournaments, but only a few Premiere Pokemon events.

I will bet you a Pikachu card that at the end of the fifth round at Nationals we will have no more than eight unbeaten players.

The age groups do throw a wrench into it, so you are right in that we will need more than five rounds. (I would hope that we would have more than five anyways.)

My son and I have traveled up and down the East Coast playing in various MTG and Pokemon tournaments. We have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly. (But mostly all were good.) Many, many tournaments ended in the wee hours of the morning. None stated on time.

One thing that we always discuss while in route to a tournament in a place that we have never played before is that we are guests at this event. Of course we have certain expectations, most of which have been confirmed before we make plans to attend the event. But as guests we agree to play by their (the TO’s) rules, on their schedule, and by their format.

Could POP have done a better job of scheduling these events for Origins? Maybe a better question is; would there be any fewer complaints no matter what the schedule looked like?

Phil has done a great job of coming up with a schedule here on this thread. I especially like the idea of Pickup drafts each day. I am tempted to bring a box or two of cards and run my own pickup drafts out of the hotel. (Assuming POP isn't going to have such events.) But what about those who can’t take off on Thursday? Or those who go to Church on Sunday? No team events for these people Phil? Just an example of not being able to please everyone Phil. Nothing personal. You did a great job of making a schedule and POP would do well to copy what you have done.

I am still puzzled about the reason for not letting children under eight participate. What’s the logic here?
 
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killa_project said:
thats how is was at Gencon last year remember. People weren't finishing until morning like at 3 am.

:eek: that is a little late to be playing a game till.
 
Adv1sor the idea of pick up drafts is not new. They have been a staple at the conventions. The deal with pick up drafts which I forgot to mention is most players seem to prefer them from 7PM on. Now I am not saying there is anything wrong with this I am just stating what we have seen. Steve and I are usually in the convention hall till midnight or later. Last year we didn't get out of there till 4:30 AM, Team Rochester was a blast but oh so long. We really wanted to play but the call of the judge duties never end.

I am guessing that origins will be your first convention, if I'm wrong sorry. You can not compare major events to the conventions. It's hard to explain but once you have been to a convention as a player or judge you totally understand they are different animals. Our first convention we prepared ourselves in that it wouldn't be like anything we had experienced, we were still blown away by everything.

The only reason that I can come up with for the age restriction is that the recommend age for the game according to the box is 8 years old and up. It's not a good idea to exclude the young players simply on age. If a 7 or younger player knows how to play and does without help (well maybe a little help with shuffling and such like some older players) I see no reason to exclude them. One of the big points was that this is a Childs game. The whole Pokémon Rocks was geared to the young kids only yet now they are being excluded.

Phil your schedule sounds like conventions of the past….HUM... the saying goes if ain't broke don't fix it. I think that we can all agree that no matter how you look at the schedule for Origins 2004 it's seriously broke and in need of more then a band aid.
 
I will bet you a Pikachu card that at the end of the fifth round at Nationals we will have no more than eight unbeaten players.

Good thing its only a Pikachu

My son and I have traveled up and down the East Coast playing in various MTG and Pokemon tournaments. We have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly. (But mostly all were good.) Many, many tournaments ended in the wee hours of the morning. None started on time.

Very good realization. Now think of it this way. You have a tournament 'starting' at 10AM. Now with your statement (absolutely true) in mind, it will start at rougly 12 (as did the Fan Appreciation tournament). Now say we have a tournament starting at 3 (nationals). Again, keeping the not starting on time thing in mind, this will mean that if lucky, it can get started at 4, but probably 4:30-5 (then again Fridays ARE slow so maybe if you get 100 people or so then it won't be so bad)


One thing that we always discuss while in route to a tournament in a place that we have never played before is that we are guests at this event. Of course we have certain expectations, most of which have been confirmed before we make plans to attend the event. But as guests we agree to play by their (the TO’s) rules, on their schedule, and by their format.

Power to you for saying that, its a shame very few others share that same belief. At Origins you'll see that people will be asking for judges/TOs to wipe their bottoms for them(as my mother would put it) and that they think that the particular TO/judge is in charge of the whole danged convention and that they have an answer to things. Delays are inevitable. But if there were more people like you attending then it wont be too terribly nervewracking for the people who are helping putting it together.

Could POP have done a better job of scheduling these events for Origins? Maybe a better question is; would there be any fewer complaints no matter what the schedule looked like?
YES.
1.) Nationals on a weekend (some wont get off work until 5PM Friday night)
2.) Events starting earlier (so they can perhaps go to sleep before midnight)
3.) Events spaced out (so they can participate in more than one event per day)

Phil has done a great job of coming up with a schedule here on this thread. I especially like the idea of Pickup drafts each day. I am tempted to bring a box or two of cards and run my own pickup drafts out of the hotel. (Assuming POP isn't going to have such events.) But what about those who can’t take off on Thursday? Or those who go to Church on Sunday? No team events for these people Phil?
Usually nothing big is on Thursday (maybe an above average tournament, but nothing that great). Friday and Saturday are the two big target days (with the absolute best thing being Saturday). Sunday is small things as we all want to get the heck out of there before 6.

I'm not gonna get on the topic of other religions beliefs. But I do know that some Jewish people can't do Saturdays (although we did have one at GenCon...he just couldn't sign his name on the report slip), some others do church on sunday morning (there was a family whose father was a pastor). Some people make small religious sacrifices for this game, some seem to make some big ones (and maybe should reconsider looking at actions of many people in the community). This is just how it is. Someones gonna lose out (think of the people who live overseas and just cant afford to come). However by scheduling big things on days that show the most 'openness' will lead to more success.
The key is to please the MOST people. Since ALL is not possible

I am still puzzled about the reason for not letting children under eight participate. What’s the logic here

There is no logic other than Origins staff not wanting to feel obligated as 'sitters' for young children (then again what should they be doing in there on there own anyway?)
 
Dayton_Pokémom said:
Phil your schedule sounds like conventions of the past….HUM... the saying goes if ain't broke don't fix it. I think that we can all agree that no matter how you look at the schedule for Origins 2004 it's seriously broke and in need of more then a band aid.

Heh :) I was looking for Origins 2003/2002's schedule books or transcripts of event listings on the WotC site's archives the night before I posted that, so I could find the average gaps on the peak and non-peak days. In the end I just estimated based on GenCon 2003's schedule. Steve and yourself know first hand what works, so I'm trusting your judgement. ;)

Adv1sor said:
But what about those who can’t take off on Thursday? Or those who go to Church on Sunday? No team events for these people Phil? Just an example of not being able to please everyone Phil. Nothing personal. You did a great job of making a schedule and POP would do well to copy what you have done.

The main thing I wanted to stress was the addition of gaps and perferred timing for large event(s). Modified could easily be replaced with Unlimited, Rochester instead of Standard Draft, Team Sealed in place of Team Constructed, etc.
-Phil
 
Dayton_Pokémom said:
I am guessing that origins will be your first convention, if I'm wrong sorry. You can not compare major events to the conventions. It's hard to explain but once you have been to a convention as a player or judge you totally understand they are different animals. Our first convention we prepared ourselves in that it wouldn't be like anything we had experienced, we were still blown away by everything.

You nailed me. This is my first convention. Although it is still months away I am already trying to calm my mind so that I wont be going nuts once we get there :)

I am sorry to see them exclude the younger players and I would like to see some official explanation for this rule.
 
So who do we start writing to to request they seriously reconsider the event schedule??? Not Origins, since they just post what the vendor sends.

NoA? PUI? PUSA? (is there a difference between the two?) Emails to tournaments@ don't seem very effective (at least they haven't been for my as yet). Is it time to try **shudder** "snail-mail"???
 
RainbowRichards said:
So who do we start writing to to request they seriously reconsider the event schedule??? Not Origins, since they just post what the vendor sends.

NoA? PUI? PUSA? (is there a difference between the two?) Emails to tournaments@ don't seem very effective (at least they haven't been for my as yet). Is it time to try **shudder** "snail-mail"???
Universal emergency contact via email: [email protected]
 
i really hope information for other countries Nationals is on the way, or else i really hope State gives trips to Nationals :) i would love to play up there rather than down here but oh well.

-MuD
 
Okay - GREAT news that the schedule will change for the better - now just one more item to address.

It dawned on me this afternoon (on the long train commute home) that out of all the 10- winners at all the CCs and SCs, at least 1/2 are bound to be under 8 years old. Will the <8 year-old SC winners be refused to participate in the Nationals @ Origins??? How would THAT be fair?

So, if the <8 year-old SC winners are allowed to play @ Origins/Nationals, how is that fair to the hundreds of their peers who would like to play but aren't "old enough"?

I say, let 10- mean 10-.
 
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Sorry guys but I'm missing something....

Are there a Team Tournament?
Is it POP-sanctioned?
Is it run by PUI?
From when TMP is allowed as format by PUI?

:confused: :confused: :confused:
 
Marcello-Milord said:
Are there a Team Tournament?
Is it POP-sanctioned?
Is it run by PUI?
From when TMP is allowed as format by PUI?

Yes, there are Team Tournament events listed for the Origins in June - and as was posted earlier, this is new, new, NEW, with no published rules as yet!


So, since NOW, but no RULES.

You're not missing something, we ALL are missing something ;)!
 
I am sorry, but I do not think that there will be many 7 year old champions coming out of state tourneys. At least in our area, there is way too much competition by the 10 and under group.

heck, last time I checked, a 10 year old from our gym was the number 2 player in the world!!!

And he has gone 7-0 the last 2 weeks.....

Last year, at the FAT, which said 8 and older, my 7 year old was let in with no questions, no worries.

I have a feeling PUSA will do the same thing. I hope so, my 2 and a half year old knows the name of all his energies and half the pokemon, now if I can just teach him to shuffle and cut!!!!

Talk to you all soon!

Meganium45
 
RainbowRichards said:
Okay - GREAT news that the schedule will change for the better - now just one more item to address.

It dawned on me this afternoon (on the long train commute home) that out of all the 10- winners at all the CCs and SCs, at least 1/2 are bound to be under 8 years old. Will the <8 year-old SC winners be refused to participate in the Nationals @ Origins??? How would THAT be fair?

So, if the <8 year-old SC winners are allowed to play @ Origins/Nationals, how is that fair to the hundreds of their peers who would like to play but aren't "old enough"?

I say, let 10- mean 10-.

I had that questionn running thorugh my mind as the buses going home were running slow and i figure this. When a company as big as nintendo has an event this big there is no question they will reserve seats for all the winners because if you dont let him in its like saying the guy/kid who faced him and lost can get ina nd screw him at the end. I think nintendo will have reserved seats for all state championship winners at origins. I thought of this,with 268 seats avaliable they must have 32 seats reserved for the winners because its make sense to have a 100 person per age gorup limit. :D :thumb:

Plus rainbow look at this. Only winners of the SC go on to origins so nomatter what, CC winners get SC 1st round byes.;)
 
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FireFighter095ReBorn - I don't get it - why "32 seats reserved for the winners " - since there will be three winners (ine in each age group) from every State Championship, that number (32) would presume only 10 2/3 SCs :confused:

What I meant by my reference to the CCs is that those winners go on to compete in SCs, not that all the CC winners would necessarily be present at the Nationals. On the other hand, Nationals is open, not invitation, so presumeably anyone who is/was eligible to play in any CC or SC should not suddenly be excluded from Nationals simply due to age IMHO...

TeHGodlyRaY - huh? :confused: One would suppose that everyone from every state would "apply themselves" at every event they participate - "just because" (I don't get the significance of Ohio in your question - I mean, I know Origins is in Ohio). The 1st/2nd round "byes" to be given at CCs (and SCs???) are certainly a nice way to start off the next higher event, but not the be-all.

meganium45 - Well, I would hope, if in the event that a 6- or 7-year-old were to win the 10- at States, that they (and their peers) would be allowed to participate @ Nationals. BTW, you were at the Professor Championship last year, right? Looking forward to seeing you and family again(?).
 
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