2011-2012 Modified format announced: HGSS-on change to possibly happen early

[BulbaBot]

2011-2012 Modified format announced: HGSS-on change to possibly happen early

Pokémon.com has revealed information about the 2011-2012 Modified format, including the sets rotated out. The new format will include all sets from HeartGold & SoulSilver on, rotating out seven sets. Due to rule changes in the Black & White set, The Pokémon Company International is considering the implementation of this new format on July 1, 2011, earlier than the usual September 1; final decisions will be made in June. Some minor details on upcoming UK events were also revealed.

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[Gligar13]

Wait, so what are those rule changes?

EDIT: Looks like yet another wording change.

I wish I could play the TCG more, I have the cards but no one plays where I live.

 

[hurristat]

I don't think they're released yet.

It's good that the TCG is getting a change. It separates the wheat from the chaff in terms of playing ability.

 

[immewnity]

Wait, so what are those rule changes?

EDIT: Looks like yet another wording change.

I wish I could play the TCG more, I have the cards but no one plays where I live.

I don't think they're released yet.

It's good that the TCG is getting a change. It separates the wheat from the chaff in terms of playing ability.

Umm... they have done this every year except for 2009-2010. They always rotate sets. There aren't any new rule changes other than the Black & White ones, which are viewable in the theme decks or on Pokemon.com.

 

[Bug Catcher Wade]

It would be really nice if the article would say Card Game on it somewhere. I got through the whole thing and clicked the link before realizing thats what it was talking about.

 

[Joshawott]

While browsing the internets, I noticed that Pokébeach has suggested that this early rotation could be due to some cards being too powerful under the new rules, such as Sableye. Changing it in July would also mean Worlds would have to follow these new rules.

 

[Miar]

I can't play the TCG anymore.

I never understood the reason behind rotating sets. Can anyone explain a reason other than "money"?
I mean, Yu-Gi-Oh shifts a few cards around in its ban list based on new cards, but Pokémon doesn't have very many purposely overpowered cards. So what's the reason?

 

[hurristat]

Umm... they have done this every year except for 2009-2010. They always rotate sets. There aren't any new rule changes other than the Black & White ones, which are viewable in the theme decks or on Pokemon.com.

Suddenly, everyone is very aware of the fact that I don't play TCG competitively.

I didn't know that they did it annually. That's good, then. :3

 

[Gligar13]

I can't play the TCG anymore.

I never understood the reason behind rotating sets. Can anyone explain a reason other than "money"?
I mean, Yu-Gi-Oh shifts a few cards around in its ban list based on new cards, but Pokémon doesn't have very many purposely overpowered cards. So what's the reason?

Money. WotC used to have a few overpowered cards banned before TPCi came in and rotated stuff while changing rules every year or two. They also have rules about how all cards must be the normal TCG US or JP backs, not the championship decks or cards from them.

There is an alternate format for all cards, though, but the only people who play those are certain leagues and random people playing against each other.

 

[Palbert6393]

Money. WotC used to have a few overpowered cards banned before TPCi came in and rotated stuff while changing rules every year or two. They also have rules about how all cards must be the normal TCG US or JP backs, not the championship decks or cards from them.

There is an alternate format for all cards, though, but the only people who play those are certain leagues and random people playing against each other.

I believe that the main reason for the rotation, is actually attempting to keep the game fresh. No one wants to be repeatedly killed by Luxchomp, and rotating the cards outprevents that. It forces players to come up with new strategies, and prevents the game from becoming stagnant, or boring. While money may be a bonus for TCPi, as people have to buy more and more new cards, their main goal is to make sure that the TCG continually allows for a fresh, enjoyable enviornment, so as to insure the return of players year after year. I for one have no problem with rotation, and actually welcome it, since it forces everyone to come up with something new, bringing new challenges and keeping the game alive.

 

[Miar]

I believe that the main reason for the rotation, is actually attempting to keep the game fresh. No one wants to be repeatedly killed by Luxchomp, and rotating the cards outprevents that. It forces players to come up with new strategies, and prevents the game from becoming stagnant, or boring.

So does creating new cards that can counter or out-perform them like other games do every year, which Pokémon actually seems to do at the start of every gen. Black/White cards seem quite strong compared to the Platinum sets. (I said the same about early DP cards when comparing to the Holon sets)

Then again, Yu-Gi-Oh is geared at slightly older players (in Japan) and reprints cards a lot. (Oddly, Magic rotates too in some formats, and it's for even older players. May have to do with both being by Wizards)

Either way, I had to drop out of the card game because I stopped collecting and couldn't participate with more than a Torterra starter deck in the rare opportunity of actually being able to play in a league. I've also stopped the other game, but my old Yu-Gi-Oh cards still have some value even today.

Back on topic, you're right about the "new challenges" thing, though. The game got some rule changes with the new BW set (Abilities replacing Poké-Powers, for one). That sorta gives a reason to rotate as new cards can get around older rulings (for example, Cessation Crystal wouldn't affect Serperior (BW 6) unless it was updated because it doesn't have a Poké-Power or Body, but an "Ability")

 

[Palbert6393]

They get more powerful so that they can compete with the cards that stay in the rotation from last year, I believe. Th B&W cards may seem stronger, but you also have to remember that they have discarded ex/lvx/prime/legend type cards. I believe that this allows them to bring more variety into the strongest class of Pokemon cards, making the game have a wider range of quality decks. As to get back to previous question, a SP could easily contend with a B&W deck. Making the new cards a tad more powerful also encourages players to think of new strategies, as opposed to just using the same deck with cards that haven't been rotated (such as Jumpluff and Donphan Prime both HGSS)

 

[Transfinite]

(for example, Cessation Crystal wouldn't affect Serperior (BW 6) unless it was updated because it doesn't have a Poké-Power or Body, but an "Ability")

Isn't that easy enough to fix with a ruling that would count any mentions of "Poke-Powers" or "Poke-Bodies" the same as "Abilities", and vice versa?

 

[Palbert6393]

Isn't that easy enough to fix with a ruling that would count any mentions of "Poke-Powers" or "Poke-Bodies" the same as "Abilities", and vice versa?

You could, but eventually it could start getting confusing... besides, I believe ablities were created to be intentionally different from poke power/body. Over time, this would cause the reduction of effectiveness of Cessation Crystal