New to competitve Pokemon TCG... Need League help

B

BGamer18

Aspiring Trainer
Member
Hello there PokeBeach. While I've been collecting cards and playing since Base Set, I've never done so competitively. I've come here looking for advice when it comes to leagues. Right now, I am living in Eastern Iowa and it looks like there are no leagues for well over 150 Miles according to the Pokemon website. I met some a few people a few weeks ago at a wal-mart that were buying Pokemon cards, and we might play together casually. I do have a modified Legal deck at the moment, and I am pretty well informed in the rules, just no formal training.

I guess my question is How do I start from scratch? I have no way to get any farther in the main Pokemon webpage without a Trainer ID and PIN. I cannot get one either since the nearest place is well out of driving distance away.


I'm not exactly sure where to start. I know there is a Game/Hobby store in town that is doing well, but doesn't do anything with Pokemon. It is all board games and MtG. I think that one of the problems I am going to run into is that this is Magic country. We have a pretty big Magic community (Myself included) in the area, and most of them aren't as enthusiastic about other TCG's as I am. I'd be willing to play Pokemon TCG instead, since it is what I started with. Any advice would be great, especially from somebody who had to go through an experience like this. If you need more details, feel free to ask.
 
I know exactly where you are coming from, as i was once in your situation.

I live in the middle of nowhere in Idaho and its a 4+ hour drive in any given direction to find another league, especially one with a PTO.

I am not 100% on the rules, but i believe you can contact your nearest PTO and they can grant you a P!P ID. If it is allowed, i could probably get you an ID myself.

My first advice is get a group together, especially at a game store, and just play once a week casually for a few hours. Try to find a time that works for all of your players, but try to make it constant and consistent. Being able to guarantee time in your week will be one of the biggest requirements as a league owner.

See if your game store can start carrying pokemon cards, especially if they can sell them for less then your local retail like walmart. Being able to tell people where the cheapest cards in town are will get more business for your game store as well as direct people to return often.

Believe it or not, but we have converted many magic players into pokemon. There are alot of similarities, so magic players catch on easily, but at the same time pokemon can be alot more creative and casual. Magic players love that.

The requirements for a league are pretty simple. You are going to need a healthy and public environment in which kids can feel safe. You will need to be over 18, and pokemon will require a background check on you. Also, you need to be mature enough to handle kids and the issues that accure with them (theft, un-sportsmanship, foul language, fake cards, older kids ripping little kids off, etc.)

:") Just run it the way you feel is right. Make it fun for you and fun for your players. Have contests and give a little to keep players interested.
Pokemon looks at numbers when it comes to leagues. Just remember, you will have to be committed. It will be challenging.

If you have any other questions, feel free to PM me.

/End text wall~​
 
Thanks for the info. I am not sure how I am going to get an ID. I guess I'll just work on trying to get a group together. My worries is that there isn't really going to be any others out there looking. I've only found a few players so far, like my girlfriend and a few of my friends. I guess we could meet at the game store and play for a few hours instead of my house. Maybe this will get him to get a few boxes to sell.

I am just not sure of the best way to find other people willing to start playing. I know they are out there somewhere.
 
BGamer18 said:
Thanks for the info. I am not sure how I am going to get an ID. I guess I'll just work on trying to get a group together. My worries is that there isn't really going to be any others out there looking. I've only found a few players so far, like my girlfriend and a few of my friends. I guess we could meet at the game store and play for a few hours instead of my house. Maybe this will get him to get a few boxes to sell.

I am just not sure of the best way to find other people willing to start playing. I know they are out there somewhere.
Click to expand...

We had 3 players for 3 months....we are reaching our first year of league in the next few weeks and now we have over 47 registered players and 28 of them come on a regular basis.

You don't have to find people who already know how to play. Build several decks and offer to teach new players. Once you make it fun, things will just click.

Also, i once got coupons for free ice cream cones at the local soft serve. They were like a buck a peice. Every time someone brought a new friend they got a coupon for free ice cream.

:"> You may not know a ton of people, but word of mouth can be very powerful (and so can food) :">
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top