Competitive Battling Discussion Of The Week 11

PG24

PG24

<Pride> I'm my wildest fantasy
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lol last week was a failure. Let's get back to basics.

Team Preview (or a Wi-Fi battle) -- do you love it or hate it? Do you think it would be better with or without it? Basically, what are your opinions on Team Preview.
 
A lot of people don't like it, but IMO that's just because it's a change to last generation. To me, it's an added level of strategy that just comes before the battle. It changes the way you have to play the game, and in some ways I like having to figure out the opponent's team, but eh. I don't really see the problem with it.
 
I don't like it, I feel that it removed an extremely high level of prediction. In Gen 4 it was nearly impossible to predict switches early game due to having no clue what the opponent has, but now that everyone knows their opponent's entire team its quite easy to send in a sweeper at the beginning and instantly predict the switch to their wall because you know what it is. It also reduced originality, making stuff like Dugtrio not work very well because the opponent knows it. That and the power creep means there is next to know original sets/pokemon that can be used well, imo, which I really dislike.
 
Sorry I couldn't post last week, busy and stuffs.
I agree with DV, I really liked Gen 4 prediction better. I hardly ever glance at team preview just to challenge myself. It really adds a lot to the game to be surprised by your opponent's Pokemon or team in general. It also completely ruins the fun you can have with Zoroark. Just ruins it. I really don't have anymore to say. :/
 
I actually don't mind Team Preview, probably because Gen 4 was my first time playing competitive, and I never understood anything that was going on, and I'd find myself getting swept, though I suppose I deserved it if I was clueless about it.

Team Preview just basically slightly reduces the amount of prediction needed, which I think is a great idea.
 
Prediction is just educated luck. I like how we have team preview, it means I can strategically sacrifice walls that aren't needed and not die to a sweeper just because I didn't see it earlier in the game.

I also think that what with the absurd power boosts given to all out offence teams (more dragons, more rain, etc), being able to pick a lead that doesn't automatically put you at a disadvantage is crucial. I honestly think that without team preview, much of the 5th generation would be based on coin flips.
 
I have to agree with the above post. I think that the Preview adds more strategy, but makes it a little less interesting because you know what to expect.
 
I love it! Its because I, being a relatively novice battler, can use it as an advantage when it comes to predicting switches. If its an important battle, I usually type all of the opponents pokes beforehand so I can check them for switches.

Also, for my sun team, it is vital. When I see a Toed or Ttar on the opponent's team, I can use a different lead to counter it.
 
Basically we are all agreeing that it makes it much easier for less experienced players to make predictions, therefore making the game easier. That's why some people like it and some don't. Seems like that to me, anyway.
 
I don't care for team preview. I don't like that it takes the element of surprise on what Pokemon a player is using away. It also gives away your team's style unless the person you are playing is new to competitive battling. I don't like that it renders Zoroark almost useless. If the opponent knows you have it, they may choose to do a different move instead that would hit for neutral instead of trying to predict.

I really feel players should have to learn how to predict better instead of immediately knowing the opponent's team. I feel it makes the game too easy for new players. When I first started out competitive battling a couple years ago, I had to learn everything. I didn't even really have any tutoring either. Why should new players be spoiled with that gift already? They should be forced to learn the metagame so they know more of what the best choice to make in each scenario is.
 
I personally like it because, like bacon said, this generation would be basically coin flips without it. I like knowing what my opponent has so I know what I should keep alive. For example, if I see my opponent has Excadrill, I know I should keep my Gliscor alive.
 
It is good, for me because I'm a novice, I can see the other teams pokes, then it makes it easier to predict. The downside is that your opponent can see your zoroark.
 
I've got mixed feelings about it. It is annoying sometimes that your opponent knows what your team is and can predict better, but you can also predict against them. However, I enjoyed the metagame much more when there wasn't team preview (4th gen). I believe the PO server took out Team Preview in Dream World OU (last time I played, at least. maybe it's back?), and I really enjoyed playing much more. It actually brought back the necessity for a lead role on your team.

But with that said, I do like it sometimes so I can predict more easily and can start with a lead that might be good against my opponent. I agree with dragonexpert that the 5th gen team preview helps a lot of newer players predict. So yeah, I'm not really sure if I like it. It's has pros and cons, but if I had to choose, I would prefer a metagame without team preview.
 
BeserkMagikarp said:
It is good, for me because I'm a novice, I can see the other teams pokes, then it makes it easier to predict. The downside is that your opponent can see your zoroark.
Click to expand...

Zoroark has many more problems other than team preview. It has horrible defenses, weakness to Mach Punch, along with priority in general (I think Scizor's Bullet Punch ohko's after SR damage), and it's hard to switch in. Team preview is like the ninth thing wrong with Zoroark. Even without team preview, Zoroark still needs to be use correct. I can't count the number of times I've seen someone disguise Zoroark as a Pokemon that takes 6.25% or 25% from SR.

Leads aren't entirely dead. There are still some dedicated leads, but they're rare (lolaerodactyl).
 
I really hate Team Preview. The element of surprise is gone and the playing style is revealed to the opponent. It is so much harder to prepare your Excadrill for a sweep when your opponent knows that he must keep his Skarmory or Gliscor healthy. For offensive teams in general Team Preview is a bad thing IMO.
 
TDL said:
Leads aren't entirely dead. There are still some dedicated leads, but they're rare (lolaerodactyl).
Click to expand...

Actually, leads are pretty much a thing of the past, imo. Seeing your opponent's team just encourages random Pokes to start off matches, trying to counter the opponent's first Pokemon. Stealth Rockers, Spikers, Screeners, and Baton Passers are all pretty much turned into late game support due to the counters many teams are running for them. But you are right in a sense; things with Focus Sash, Fake Out, and Prankster priority are still used as leads, but their effectiveness is highly diminished. So no, I don't think there are "dedicated" leads anymore, thanks to Team Preview.
 
Team preview doesn't really change anything. Sure, you can see your foe's team, but they can see yours as well. Having spent many hours on pokemon battle revolution (where there is team preview before every fight), I believe it only enhances the experience.
 
In a way,it makes it harder to play weather teams.If the VGC rules come to a point where we can use non-5th Gen. ubers,the second your opponent sees a Kyogre along with something like Kingdra and Toxicroak,they'll just choose pokemon that can take the team down fast.The rules say you can't change the six pokemon in your team that you start with,but they don't say anything about the four you use in battle.
 
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