I guess I'll post this since there seems to be one interested in it. To start this of I would like to say I am a competitive player and my views on such a topic comes from wanting a balanced format; one that all players can enjoy alongside Standard and Expanded. For the record, I dont like Expanded. They should just let the BW series die.
The goal of a alternative or the one I propose is to simply bring balance to the Pokemon TCG. Unlike Smogon, I don't want to create a community where people think they have to use certain cards or decks to do well, but have a more "competitive" environment where skill matters more than luck and overwhelming an opponent. In this format, we will attempt to balance the format by removing cards from the format in attempt to break overpowered combos or cards that give too much advantage.
Rather than just banning a card, I want all cards that will be banned or "suspected" in Smogon terms to have a clear reason as to why they are banned and the reason they are or aren't banned. These questions will be;
1. Is this card deserving of a ban in Standard/Expanded?
If so, then why?
If not, then why?
2. If this card isn't worthy of a ban, can it be restricted to X amount in Standard/Expanded?
If so, then why?
If not, then why?
3. This card isn't worth of a ban in Standard/Expanded.
Why?
I feel these three questions can create a balance format if those for vote do so in good faith. Unlike Smogon, we will consider the votes of those who aren't "top tier" players since these decisions affect all players. If any card does come up for any testing, all players have the option to vote. All I would ask is that the player who votes post their skill level and or rankings on any testing threads for the cards.
Doing the votes this way lets all players speak for cards rather than those who are top level players.
For example, I don't like decks you can't practice for or have no options against. An example of this is Night March. No matter how good you are, you simply have no options to deal with this deck. The ban on Trump Card took that option away from us so the only way left to deal with the deck is to hope you're opponent doesn't draw well and you can take an early lead. This simply isn't the best way to have a balance format for in this format, Trump Card won't be banned but we will hit the cards the deck uses.
I feel the best way to do this is to take the Yu-gi-oh approach to this. Cards in Pokemon are too powerful and the draw cards allow for such combo so perhaps we hits things like Juniper and the new Shaymin EX. When deciding bans, we should ask is a card too good at a limit or is a ban appropriate. I'll use Toad EX as an example.
User one
Is Seismitoad EX ban worthy? Yes it is because it can lock an opponent out of the game as early as turn 1, making the game boring for the player under the lock since most of their options are taken away without any way to defend.
User two
Is Seismitoad EX ban worth? No its not worthy of a ban. While I do feel the card is too good at 4 per deck, I think the card is more or less balance at 1 or 2 copies per deck. The damage output if 30 or 50 is not threatening enough and can give the opponent chance of counter play. In Standard, I believe 2 per deck is balance enough in the Standard format but could be put at 1 per deck in Expanded because of HTL, though I won't be opposed to a ban
User three
Is Seismitoad EX ban worthy? This card isn't worthy of a ban because I believe its a needed card to help decks against the powerful item cards players use. Players should just look for ways of dealing with Seismitoad EX since there are options to beat it. The player can break the lock if they use the right cards.
These are just some example arguments as to why the card is banned.
When deciding if a card is banable or not, we should consider other card interactions. Perhaps Night March isn't broken with only 1 Battle Compressor allowed in the deck. An example of cards I would have on a list would be;
Standard Format
Banned
Crushing Hammer
1 Per Deck
Battle Compressor
Seismitoad EX
Shaymin EX
Professor Juniper
2 Per Deck
Lysandre Trump Card
Vs Seeker
Vileplume AO
3 Per Deck
???
Expanded Format
Banned
Crushing Hammer
Seismitoad EX
1 Per Deck
Lysandre Trump Card
Vs Seeker
Battle Compressor
Shaymin EX
Professor Juniper
2 Per Deck
Vileplume AO
3 Per Deck
???
Of course this is a test list but are some cards I would consider for it. When I think of cards that should be considered for the list, I ask myself;
1. Does this card punish normal game mechanics too hard? Things like Item Lock and Crushing Hammer
2. Is a decks strategy too dominant? Low risk High Reward decks likes Night March or others that go from "0 to 100" instantly
3. Does this card offer too much advantage? Cards like Battle Compressor, Shaymin EX RS, Professor Juniper, ect
I feel those questions are good enough ask when deciding whether or not a card should be tested and if a card(s) meets any of these, post a thread and let the community decide. The thing to remember here is this is an unofficial format to be played along side standard for those looking for more. This list will be completely community driven and decided on my the player of all skill levels. If a card does meet the required percentage to be banned or restricted, it will be placed on the list and taken into effect immediately.
The voting process should be be something like;
ban voting (If users vote X percent for vote, its banned right then and there, no further voting needed)
Restriction voting (If users vote percent is lower than the threshold for a ban, it goes into a restriction vote)
If players decide that the card should not be banned or restricted, its left as is.
When voting, players should post and evidence to support their case for whether or not they are for a card. Something like "I've played X amount of games with this card or without this card and here are my findings" or "I feel like this card isn't as strong at 1 or is too weak at 1".
Another thing this format would allow is a side deck of 15 cards to allow the player more options against different matchups, further adding more skill to the game. The side deck has all the standard rules that a normal side deck would have. Just with Expanded or if Ace Specs ever come to Standard again, the side deck will be allowed to have 1 Ace Spec as well. If needed, we can decide a new time limit for rounds to allow time for siding in and out cards.
Of course 1 man can't make a format so, like Smogon, if this is to be considered, we really need help of the community to make such a thing happen. This will require a lot of testing but I believe that together, we can create a balance metagame for the TCG and perhaps TPC will take note and do something with it or its card designs.
