Discussion Local League

O

osmyth

Aspiring Trainer
Member
I am wanting to canvass opinions on whether the following situation is catered for by your local League, and if not whether it should/could be.

At my local League the normal weekly event is advertised on Pokemon Events, but obviously isn't a Challenge event. It is played as a tournament (so isn't 'friendly' casual play) and is advertised as the Standard format.

I assume most Leagues play like this.

There is a period after a new expansion is released where the cards are not valid until 2/3 weeks later, i.e. when they become Tournament Legal.

At my League, this is the case for the normal weekly events - Standard means Tournament Legal.

Therefore, there is no opportunity to practice with, say Gardevoir GX or other 'future' decks, in a tournament situation, UNTIL the cards are Tournament Legal.
So, in the case where there is a Challenge or Cup event very soon after the Legal date, then you may be going 'blind', aside from 'friendly' testing. At the top end of play it probably doesn't matter but at the lower end it may be good for players to be able to do this.

Is this the case at your League and, if so, would it be beneficial to have 'Future Standard' events during that interim period? These are all 'unofficial' or Pokemon sanctioned anyway so would be up to each League to introduce?
 
Here in Zoetermeer, The Netherlands, we actually had a 'Standard' tournament but with Burning Shadows included last Friday (August 11), indeed to practice already how that would work out. I think it is a good way, especially since we have such a short period now that Burning Shadows becomes legal but before rotation 2018, but there are some tournaments in this short time with Burning shadows before rotation.
 
Actually, most leagues AREN'T like this. Most leagues are just casual play and trading. Playtesting and relaxing are a major part of League, and to treat such a minor event so seriously is kind of defeating the point. And keep in mind this is coming from a serious player. I also think that basically holding a league challenge that doesn't hold any kind of reward(not any that you mentioned, anyway)is honestly appearing as a waste of time. That's the primary reason a lot of players don't go to ARG events, and those DO have rewards.
 
The difference between the normal weeks and the Challenge is that the former is £4 (in the UK) instead of £5, you don't need a deck list and you, obviously, don't get championship points. It's the same best of 3 swiss, but no knockout at the end for the normal week. For both there is a pack for entering, and some for how far/many wins you get. Most of the time all ages are in together as there aren't enough for separate tournaments.
But the players seem to enjoy it.

I'm a pokedad, so I don't mind the 4 hours or so, but maybe it would be good to have a best of 1 for the juniors/seniors as a round-robin.
Plus the 'Future-Standard' format as discussed.

We're fairly new to that League so don't want to rock the boat too much!
 
I moved to Las Vegas at the beginning of June and there's League 6 days a week here (everyday except Wednesday, I believe). All of them are casual play where players go to practice and relax except on Thursdays, which are when tournaments are held. It's not an official tournament though so the new expansions are allowed as soon as they're released, and they give either store credit or a booster box as a prize. It sounds like your League is not the norm. I'd maybe talk to the organizers and see if they could either do tournaments every other week or maybe hold a second League during the week that's more casual, depending on if your League gets enough traffic.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top