What is a Battle Road? - Battle Road is a Pokemon Organized Play Premier Event. They are held twice a year in the Spring and Fall.
I like the Battle Road Tournaments for beginning players because they are usually smaller tournaments. There is a link below that will let you find a Battle Road Tournament near you.
They are not part of the Championship series like Cities, States, Regionals, Nationals and Worlds, they have a lower point value and therefore attract fewer players and are not as pressure filled.
It is a great opportunity for a child or a beginning player to get used to the Pokemon Tournament format and all that goes with it.
The set up and play is the same as the larger tournaments so it is great for practice.
To play in a Battle Road tournament you will need.
1.A 60 Card Deck - Modified Format - That means the cards can only be from the Diamond & Pearl Booster Sets through the Rising Rival Booster Sets. Any cards printed before those sets are not eligible for a Modified Format Tournament.
2.A Deck list - You can print these out online (link below) or you can get one at the tournament.
3.Damage Counters and a coin for flipping or dice.
Good sportsmanship is key. Players are expected to play honestly and shake hands with their opponent before the game and after. See the link below for "Spirit of the Game."
Link to deck lists.
Link to information on Battle Road Tournaments.
Link to find a Battle Road Tournament near you.
Link to Spirit of the Game.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Friday, May 22, 2009
How to Pokemon Booster Drafts - How do I know what to draft?
As I mentioned there are several reasons to participate in a booster draft.
1.To acquire specific cards to complete a modified format deck or collection.
2.To win the draft.
Sometime these two things are compatible, sometimes they are not. You have to have a clear objective going in, then you will know what to take and what to pass.
Remember when you open your first pack you get to take 1 card, the rest gets passed to your neighbor on either the left or the right.
When you open your pack that is the time you will get the "best" card because there is a rare card in every pack.
If you are lucky enough to get a pack that contains a Level X just take that one and pass the rest immediately.
If you open your pack and there is nothing there that you want for yourself, but something that other players are looking for, TAKE IT, you can trade it after the draft for something you do want.
After the first or second pass, the rare cards will be gone and then drafting becomes more difficult. If there is still a really great Pokemon that you want to build your draft deck around and it is uncommon take it, if it is a common, let it go, they will keep coming around over and over. What I do is take any supporter or helpful trainer that might be in the pack because we always need them and in a draft they can win you a game.
If you are serious about playing Pokemon you need a good variety of Trainers, supporters, and stadiums. If you are a beginning player I would urge you to take all you can get your hands on. Once you have those, building decks is a whole lot easier.
When I am drafting I like to keep my Pokemon lines to no more than 1 or 2 types. Because there is limited searching capabilities in any draft deck and most sets do not provide a method for accelerating evolution I like to stick with strong basics or stage 1 Pokemon.
If you get a really good stage 2 and multiple basics and stage 1 evolutions of that Pokemon, I say go for it. As a rule don't count on getting a 1 - 1 - 1 line in play, it never turns out well.
There is no 4 card limit in a booster draft. If you draft 6 of one Pokemon you may use them all in a booster draft.
When I do a booster draft I like to have 14 to 16 Pokemon, 5 to 6 Trainers, Supporters, and Stadiums and 20 energy cards. That will usually work out well. You are building a 40 card deck.
I don't like to have too many different types of Pokemon in a booster draft deck. That makes it more difficult to get the right energy and Pokemon matched up. Keep an eye on the energy requirements of any Pokemon you put in your deck. If that Pokemon uses colorless energies but is a different type than the other Pokemon that you will be using that will work, but as I said stick with 1 or 2 specific types and fill in with Colorless Pokemon.
Don't forget - 40 card deck - 4 Prize cards. Rule of thumb 1 Prize cards for every 10 cards in a deck.
It's great to see that folks are following this blog. It gives me a good reason to continue, but I would love to hear from you. Please leave any questions or suggestions for future discussions.
Next Time: Battle Roads are Coming - Good tournaments for starting Players.
1.To acquire specific cards to complete a modified format deck or collection.
2.To win the draft.
Sometime these two things are compatible, sometimes they are not. You have to have a clear objective going in, then you will know what to take and what to pass.
Remember when you open your first pack you get to take 1 card, the rest gets passed to your neighbor on either the left or the right.
When you open your pack that is the time you will get the "best" card because there is a rare card in every pack.
If you are lucky enough to get a pack that contains a Level X just take that one and pass the rest immediately.
If you open your pack and there is nothing there that you want for yourself, but something that other players are looking for, TAKE IT, you can trade it after the draft for something you do want.
After the first or second pass, the rare cards will be gone and then drafting becomes more difficult. If there is still a really great Pokemon that you want to build your draft deck around and it is uncommon take it, if it is a common, let it go, they will keep coming around over and over. What I do is take any supporter or helpful trainer that might be in the pack because we always need them and in a draft they can win you a game.
If you are serious about playing Pokemon you need a good variety of Trainers, supporters, and stadiums. If you are a beginning player I would urge you to take all you can get your hands on. Once you have those, building decks is a whole lot easier.
When I am drafting I like to keep my Pokemon lines to no more than 1 or 2 types. Because there is limited searching capabilities in any draft deck and most sets do not provide a method for accelerating evolution I like to stick with strong basics or stage 1 Pokemon.
If you get a really good stage 2 and multiple basics and stage 1 evolutions of that Pokemon, I say go for it. As a rule don't count on getting a 1 - 1 - 1 line in play, it never turns out well.
There is no 4 card limit in a booster draft. If you draft 6 of one Pokemon you may use them all in a booster draft.
When I do a booster draft I like to have 14 to 16 Pokemon, 5 to 6 Trainers, Supporters, and Stadiums and 20 energy cards. That will usually work out well. You are building a 40 card deck.
I don't like to have too many different types of Pokemon in a booster draft deck. That makes it more difficult to get the right energy and Pokemon matched up. Keep an eye on the energy requirements of any Pokemon you put in your deck. If that Pokemon uses colorless energies but is a different type than the other Pokemon that you will be using that will work, but as I said stick with 1 or 2 specific types and fill in with Colorless Pokemon.
Don't forget - 40 card deck - 4 Prize cards. Rule of thumb 1 Prize cards for every 10 cards in a deck.
It's great to see that folks are following this blog. It gives me a good reason to continue, but I would love to hear from you. Please leave any questions or suggestions for future discussions.
Next Time: Battle Roads are Coming - Good tournaments for starting Players.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Pokemon Booster Drafts - How they work
Pokemon Booster Drafts are a lot of fun. Everyone really seems to enjoy them. Booster Drafts are very low pressure events, and you get some valuable experience building a deck, with a very limited pool of cards to choose from plus very little time to do it. It is also a great way to get your feet wet in competitive play in a venue that isn't too competitive.
There are a couple of reasons I participate in a booster draft.
1.There are cards from the set I hope to get, to make decks or fill out my collection. Sometimes it works, sometimes not, but you will always get something good that you might be able to use or trade later.
2.It's a really great way to improve deck building and playing skills, and no matter who you are there is always room for improvement.
How they work:
There are different types of Booster Drafts, I am going to focus on the most common type of draft today.
Well, how it works is simple, you pay your money and then you are assigned a seat. Normally Booster Drafts are broken into "Pods" (small groups.) The people in your pod are the folks you are going to be "drafting with." A pod normally will consist of 8 players and if there is a large group the group will be split into several pods for drafting and then be combined for playing.
Each drafter will be given their packs of cards. Which will remain on the table until they are directed to open the first pack by the Judge or the "Pod Leader" (one person at the table that will give instructions as to when to open a pack or pass the cards.)
Once everyone is ready all the players will open their first pack, pick a card from that pack and pass the rest. It is important to wait until everyone has chosen their card and is ready to move on. This is done until all the cards are passed out. First pack will pass in one direction and the second will pass in the other. This will continue until all of the packs are opened and all the cards passed out.
After that, each player will build a 40 card deck (including basic energies) which will be provided by whomever is organizing the draft. The standard time for building a deck is 30 minutes. After everyone is done building their decks players will be paired for playing and the tournament will continue to conclusion. Number of rounds will be determined by the number of players.
As a rule booster drafts are not age separated so juniors can end up playing masters or seniors.
Next: Building a Draft Deck - How do I pick cards.
There are a couple of reasons I participate in a booster draft.
1.There are cards from the set I hope to get, to make decks or fill out my collection. Sometimes it works, sometimes not, but you will always get something good that you might be able to use or trade later.
2.It's a really great way to improve deck building and playing skills, and no matter who you are there is always room for improvement.
How they work:
There are different types of Booster Drafts, I am going to focus on the most common type of draft today.
Well, how it works is simple, you pay your money and then you are assigned a seat. Normally Booster Drafts are broken into "Pods" (small groups.) The people in your pod are the folks you are going to be "drafting with." A pod normally will consist of 8 players and if there is a large group the group will be split into several pods for drafting and then be combined for playing.
Each drafter will be given their packs of cards. Which will remain on the table until they are directed to open the first pack by the Judge or the "Pod Leader" (one person at the table that will give instructions as to when to open a pack or pass the cards.)
Once everyone is ready all the players will open their first pack, pick a card from that pack and pass the rest. It is important to wait until everyone has chosen their card and is ready to move on. This is done until all the cards are passed out. First pack will pass in one direction and the second will pass in the other. This will continue until all of the packs are opened and all the cards passed out.
After that, each player will build a 40 card deck (including basic energies) which will be provided by whomever is organizing the draft. The standard time for building a deck is 30 minutes. After everyone is done building their decks players will be paired for playing and the tournament will continue to conclusion. Number of rounds will be determined by the number of players.
As a rule booster drafts are not age separated so juniors can end up playing masters or seniors.
Next: Building a Draft Deck - How do I pick cards.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
What is a Pokemon Booster Draft ?
When a new booster set of Pokemon Cards comes out, as well as Pre-Release events there will be accompanying "Booster Drafts."
While Pre-Release events will only be held on the two weekends before the store release of the booster sets, Booster drafts will be held a different times throughout the season.
Booster Drafts serve several purposes, one is to get experience building decks and playing with cards that you may not be familiar with, but they are very helpful in allowing you to pick cards that you need to complete a deck or a collection.
It is important that you be a little familiar with the cards that you will be drafting. Of course, with brand new sets this is more difficult, but there are web sites that scan and post translations of the Japanese sets that the American set will be based on.
Not all the cards in the Japanese sets will be released in the same set in the U.S. but you get an idea of what is coming out.
The site I like to look at Japanese card scans is called "Pokebeach." They also post the scans of the American cards, usually right after the first Pre-Release.
I find that speaking to the teens at league is helpful because they usually have a pretty good idea of what is coming out and what the "word on the street" is about it. I find that to be a great way to find out about new cards and decks.
The cost for booster drafts in my area is $20.00. Most stores give each player 5 booster packs and have a prize pool for either the first and second place winner or if it is a bigger event sometimes there will be prizes for 3rd and 4th as well.
Other venues will just draft with 6 packs and not provide a prize pool, but everyone gets 6 packs.
Next time, how to draft.
While Pre-Release events will only be held on the two weekends before the store release of the booster sets, Booster drafts will be held a different times throughout the season.
Booster Drafts serve several purposes, one is to get experience building decks and playing with cards that you may not be familiar with, but they are very helpful in allowing you to pick cards that you need to complete a deck or a collection.
It is important that you be a little familiar with the cards that you will be drafting. Of course, with brand new sets this is more difficult, but there are web sites that scan and post translations of the Japanese sets that the American set will be based on.
Not all the cards in the Japanese sets will be released in the same set in the U.S. but you get an idea of what is coming out.
The site I like to look at Japanese card scans is called "Pokebeach." They also post the scans of the American cards, usually right after the first Pre-Release.
I find that speaking to the teens at league is helpful because they usually have a pretty good idea of what is coming out and what the "word on the street" is about it. I find that to be a great way to find out about new cards and decks.
The cost for booster drafts in my area is $20.00. Most stores give each player 5 booster packs and have a prize pool for either the first and second place winner or if it is a bigger event sometimes there will be prizes for 3rd and 4th as well.
Other venues will just draft with 6 packs and not provide a prize pool, but everyone gets 6 packs.
Next time, how to draft.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Pokemon Organized Play for Parents
POP for short
When your child first convinces you to go to an Pokemon Organized Play event, it can be a rough ride. It seems as though the biggest events attract the most new players. Parents can get completely overwhelmed by the experience.
I think there are a couple of reasons for this. Honestly it is a shock how many participants this game attracts and it is surprising to walk in expecting to see small children and coming face to face with far more adults and teens than 7 to 10 year olds. It can give a parent pause.
Have no fear. The players are separated into age divisions almost all events are age separated.
The POP age divisions are as follows:
Juniors - 10 and under
Seniors - 11 - 15
Masters 16 and up
This is the general rule. Sometimes a player will age up a little earlier because POP breaks up the ages based on a calender year. The season for Pokemon starts in September and if you were born later in the year sometimes you will age up sooner rather than later.
Pokemon Organized Play or POP is the organization that runs all the official Pokemon events and the leagues. You can read all about it here. Pokemon Orgaized play creates a fun, safe environment for your child to learn how to build decks and play the game, it also gives them the opportunity to get ready to participate in tournaments and other Pokemon events.
The first thing your child will need to play in a POP sanctioned event or league is a POP I.D. These can be gotten on-line here or you can get one at any league or tournament location.
There are Pokemon Leagues in many locations around the world. Within 25 miles of my house there are 4 or 5. You can find a Pokemon League near you here My boys and I play regularly at two different leagues and every now and then we will go to a third. I cannot stress enough that POKEMON LEAGUE IS THE BEST PLACE for your child to get their feet wet. League is free, and you child earns promo cards and Pokemon League Badges (just like on TV and in the video game.)
There is always a League Leader present and you can ask all the questions you want. They will happily help your child acclimate to the league experience. If your first event is a big tournament or pre-release the Professor may not have the time to walk you through it as thoroughly.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Pokemon Types
When you flip through any pile of Pokémon Trading Cards one thing will be immediately noticeable. They come in different colors. Now, this is not just for aesthetic purposes, although the colors are really vibrant and pretty. There is actually a reason for it.
The first thing you need to know is that Pokémon come in different “types.” The colors help to indicate what types of Pokémon they are. I am going to focus on the card game because that is what this book is about. On TV and in the video game there are many more types of Pokémon than are present in the card game but I will let your children confuse you about that themselves.
The Pokémon Types are as follows:
Electric
Fighting / Ground / Rock
Psychic / Ghost / Poison
Normal or Colorless
Dark
Steel
Water
Grass
Fire
Can you guess which colors go with which type? You probably won't be very surprised when
Electric = Yellow
Fighting /Ground / Rock = Brown or Dark Orange
Psychic = Purple
Colorless = White
Dark = Black
Metal = Silver
Water = Blue
Grass = Green
Fire = Red
So, far so good, this makes sense. Everything matches up. Consistency is a good thing. Color coding is very smart. This way as soon as you see the card you know what type you are dealing with.
Each Pokémon type has a corresponding symbol to go with the color. The different symbols are:
Electric = Yellow w/ a thunderbolt
Fighting/ Ground / Rock = Brown w/ a fist
Psychic / Poison / Ghost = Purple w/ an eye
Colorless = White w/ a star
Dark = Black w/ a crescent moon
Metal = Silver w/ a hazardous materials sign (???)
Water = Blue with a dew drop
Grass = Green w/ a leaf
Fire = Red w/ a flame
That is the first thing you need to know about Pokémon. They have different types that correspond with basic energy cards. The basic energy cards will be the same color and have the same symbol as their corresponding Pokemon.
Colorless Pokemon have no corresponding energy. You can use any energy for them UNLESS there is a type of energy specified on the attack.
It is very easy to match up that way. You could say it's child proof.
The first thing you need to know is that Pokémon come in different “types.” The colors help to indicate what types of Pokémon they are. I am going to focus on the card game because that is what this book is about. On TV and in the video game there are many more types of Pokémon than are present in the card game but I will let your children confuse you about that themselves.
The Pokémon Types are as follows:
Electric
Fighting / Ground / Rock
Psychic / Ghost / Poison
Normal or Colorless
Dark
Steel
Water
Grass
Fire
Can you guess which colors go with which type? You probably won't be very surprised when
Electric = Yellow
Fighting /Ground / Rock = Brown or Dark Orange
Psychic = Purple
Colorless = White
Dark = Black
Metal = Silver
Water = Blue
Grass = Green
Fire = Red
So, far so good, this makes sense. Everything matches up. Consistency is a good thing. Color coding is very smart. This way as soon as you see the card you know what type you are dealing with.
Each Pokémon type has a corresponding symbol to go with the color. The different symbols are:
Electric = Yellow w/ a thunderbolt
Fighting/ Ground / Rock = Brown w/ a fist
Psychic / Poison / Ghost = Purple w/ an eye
Colorless = White w/ a star
Dark = Black w/ a crescent moon
Metal = Silver w/ a hazardous materials sign (???)
Water = Blue with a dew drop
Grass = Green w/ a leaf
Fire = Red w/ a flame
That is the first thing you need to know about Pokémon. They have different types that correspond with basic energy cards. The basic energy cards will be the same color and have the same symbol as their corresponding Pokemon.
Colorless Pokemon have no corresponding energy. You can use any energy for them UNLESS there is a type of energy specified on the attack.
It is very easy to match up that way. You could say it's child proof.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Rising Rivals PreRelease - Things to know for Beginners
If you are taking your child to a Pokemon Platinum Rising Rivals Pre Release event there are a few things you should know:
1. Trading during the event is NOT allowed. You must play with the cards you were given. If they would like to trade they may do so AFTER they are done playing.
2. They need to hang on to, or have you hang on to their cards, one pile of cards looks much like any other and it is easy to lose them.
3. Tell them not to be afraid to ask for help, that is why there are Pokemon Professors.
4. Whether they do the main event or the Theme Deck Challenge they will receive the sleeves, the promo card and Packs of the new set. With the Theme deck challenge they will receive 4 Packs of the Rising Rivals Booster set. If they do the Pre-Release they will get 6 packs to make a deck and 2 Packs after they are done playing and turn in their energy cardss.
5. If they are competing in the Pre Release event they will have to build their own deck of 40 cards from scratch using only the cards they were given there.
Discuss trading with your child. If it is OK with you than it is fine, if you want them to talk with you before they make any trades make that clear. If you are unsure ask a Professor, they will know if a trade is fair all around. Trading cards is a big part of the game but it's not manditory.
1. Trading during the event is NOT allowed. You must play with the cards you were given. If they would like to trade they may do so AFTER they are done playing.
2. They need to hang on to, or have you hang on to their cards, one pile of cards looks much like any other and it is easy to lose them.
3. Tell them not to be afraid to ask for help, that is why there are Pokemon Professors.
4. Whether they do the main event or the Theme Deck Challenge they will receive the sleeves, the promo card and Packs of the new set. With the Theme deck challenge they will receive 4 Packs of the Rising Rivals Booster set. If they do the Pre-Release they will get 6 packs to make a deck and 2 Packs after they are done playing and turn in their energy cardss.
5. If they are competing in the Pre Release event they will have to build their own deck of 40 cards from scratch using only the cards they were given there.
Discuss trading with your child. If it is OK with you than it is fine, if you want them to talk with you before they make any trades make that clear. If you are unsure ask a Professor, they will know if a trade is fair all around. Trading cards is a big part of the game but it's not manditory.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Pokemon TCG: Platinum Rising Rivals Pre-Release Starting This Saturday
Here is a link where you can view some information about this exciting new set and find a Pokemon TCG Rising Rivals Pre-Release event near you:
Everything you need to know about the Rising Rivals Pre-Release.
If your child is very young or a new player I would recommend the Theme Deck Challenge.
The two events usually run at the same time.
Everything you need to know about the Rising Rivals Pre-Release.
If your child is very young or a new player I would recommend the Theme Deck Challenge.
The two events usually run at the same time.
The Game of Pokemon - Pokémon Theme Decks
When you first start out playing Pokemon the best thing to do is to purchase a Theme or Starter Deck. The best way to pick a Theme Deck is to buy the one that has your childs favorite Pokmon.
If, like many new players, you start out with a “Starter” or “Theme” deck (two different terms that describe exactly the same thing) you will notice that Pokemon has included several different kids of cards, these are:
Pokémon - short for “Pocket Monster”. These are the often cute and sometimes scary creatures that you "train" to carry out your objectives. Theme decks come with a wide variety of Pokemon, often in several types. You will have 4 of each basic, usually a couple of Stage 1 Pokemon and (if your Pokemon has a stage 2 evolution) 1 stage 2 evolution will be included in the set.
I guess they are pocket monsters because you carry them in “Poke Balls” that you carry around in your pocket. (This seems a bit hard to believe because some of these creatures weigh hundreds of pounds and can be 6 feet tall but it’s best to just not think about the physics of it, we are talking about a card game after all.) When the video game first came out it was called “Pocket Monsters” (in Japan) after it caught on the name was shortened to Pokémon and the rest is history.
Energy Cards – these are the price your Pokémon pays for the privilege of attacking the Pokémon of your opponent. Starter decks have lots of energy cards in them.
Trainers – They say Trainer in the top left corner of the card. They do really great things for a deck. Most have some element of chance involved for example a coin flip.
A good tip to remember, when it comes to trainers is to think of them as instructions that you give your Pokemon. You may give your Pokemon multiple instructions per turn. Some examples of trainers are: "switch", "energy pick-up" or "search".
There often is an element of random chance with trainers because some require a coin flip, or only allow you to look at a limited number of cards, like the top 2 or the bottom seven cards in your deck.
Supporter – You will know these by the title Supporter on the top left corner of the card. They are usually named after a character in the video game. Don't worry if you are not familiar with the video game, a name is a name is a name.
Think of a supporter as the one person you can ask for help during your turn. That is an easy way for you and your child to remember to play a supporter. A very important thing to remember about supporters, which is probably why you only get to play one per turn is that there is no "random chance" involved. You are more likely to get exactly what you want with a supporter, as long as the card you want is in your deck.
Stadium cards – They affect game play for both players no matter who put the card into play. Think of Stadiums as the place you are playing. It can either be friendly to you or very inhospitable.
These are the cards that a person needs to play a game.
I personally encourage new players to use starter decks. Once you have the basics of a deck it is easier to modify it and improve it. It is much easier than starting from zero.
Miscellaneous and Sundry Items:
When you play a game of Pokémon you also need a few additional items. Luckily they are included in a Theme deck and these are:
Damage Counters
Status Indicators
Coin
Most experienced players buy a set of dice to use as damage counters and to flip instead of a coin. Some Pokémon attacks as well as trainer cards require a coin flip and it is easy to substitute a roll of the dice. Evens are heads and odds are tails. They are also easier to deal with than damage counters. When you have 100 damage points on a Pokémon it is easier to use 2 dice than it is to use 10 individual pieces of cardboard.
A Pokémon starter deck also comes with a play mat so you lay out your cards correctly, and an instruction book which will guide you through basic game play. The go-pokemon web site also has the rule book online so you can see it there.
The first rule of playing Pokémon is READ THE CARDS! Read your cards, read your opponents cards. Read the card-dex on the Pokémon website. It is the best way to become a really good player. Make sure your kids read the cards too. I don't know how many times I have said this as a Professor.
If, like many new players, you start out with a “Starter” or “Theme” deck (two different terms that describe exactly the same thing) you will notice that Pokemon has included several different kids of cards, these are:
Pokémon - short for “Pocket Monster”. These are the often cute and sometimes scary creatures that you "train" to carry out your objectives. Theme decks come with a wide variety of Pokemon, often in several types. You will have 4 of each basic, usually a couple of Stage 1 Pokemon and (if your Pokemon has a stage 2 evolution) 1 stage 2 evolution will be included in the set.
I guess they are pocket monsters because you carry them in “Poke Balls” that you carry around in your pocket. (This seems a bit hard to believe because some of these creatures weigh hundreds of pounds and can be 6 feet tall but it’s best to just not think about the physics of it, we are talking about a card game after all.) When the video game first came out it was called “Pocket Monsters” (in Japan) after it caught on the name was shortened to Pokémon and the rest is history.
Energy Cards – these are the price your Pokémon pays for the privilege of attacking the Pokémon of your opponent. Starter decks have lots of energy cards in them.
Trainers – They say Trainer in the top left corner of the card. They do really great things for a deck. Most have some element of chance involved for example a coin flip.
A good tip to remember, when it comes to trainers is to think of them as instructions that you give your Pokemon. You may give your Pokemon multiple instructions per turn. Some examples of trainers are: "switch", "energy pick-up" or "search".
There often is an element of random chance with trainers because some require a coin flip, or only allow you to look at a limited number of cards, like the top 2 or the bottom seven cards in your deck.
Supporter – You will know these by the title Supporter on the top left corner of the card. They are usually named after a character in the video game. Don't worry if you are not familiar with the video game, a name is a name is a name.
Think of a supporter as the one person you can ask for help during your turn. That is an easy way for you and your child to remember to play a supporter. A very important thing to remember about supporters, which is probably why you only get to play one per turn is that there is no "random chance" involved. You are more likely to get exactly what you want with a supporter, as long as the card you want is in your deck.
Stadium cards – They affect game play for both players no matter who put the card into play. Think of Stadiums as the place you are playing. It can either be friendly to you or very inhospitable.
These are the cards that a person needs to play a game.
I personally encourage new players to use starter decks. Once you have the basics of a deck it is easier to modify it and improve it. It is much easier than starting from zero.
Miscellaneous and Sundry Items:
When you play a game of Pokémon you also need a few additional items. Luckily they are included in a Theme deck and these are:
Damage Counters
Status Indicators
Coin
Most experienced players buy a set of dice to use as damage counters and to flip instead of a coin. Some Pokémon attacks as well as trainer cards require a coin flip and it is easy to substitute a roll of the dice. Evens are heads and odds are tails. They are also easier to deal with than damage counters. When you have 100 damage points on a Pokémon it is easier to use 2 dice than it is to use 10 individual pieces of cardboard.
A Pokémon starter deck also comes with a play mat so you lay out your cards correctly, and an instruction book which will guide you through basic game play. The go-pokemon web site also has the rule book online so you can see it there.
The first rule of playing Pokémon is READ THE CARDS! Read your cards, read your opponents cards. Read the card-dex on the Pokémon website. It is the best way to become a really good player. Make sure your kids read the cards too. I don't know how many times I have said this as a Professor.
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