Giovanni's Team Rocket Headquarters 2001

OPENING ANNOUNCEMENTS:

master_trainer_mike says, "First, we wanted to tell you about the format of the upcoming 2002 Pokemon Challenge Series. It will be the Modified format as you now know it. This means you will be able to use cards from Team Rocket through any sets currently released. It is too early to rotate out any of the earlier sets (it hasn't even been 2 years since Rocket came out). Modified will change after the 2002 Pokemon Challenge series though, so look for that later this year."

master_trainer_mike says, "However, there are many opportunities coming up for you to explore this format. The Pokemon Challenge series will be starting in March of this year. The Neo 4 Destiny set will be out and legal by this time. There are many cards in that set that will fit into and may change the current Pokemon tournament environment. Also, any other sets released during the Challenge series will be legal the day they hit the street. Keep an eye out for new sets that will give you even more choices to play in the Challenge Series."

master_trainer_mike says, "There is also a new Pokemon rule change that will even FURTHER give the current environment some diversity. In working on keeping the Pokemon rules as close as possible to the Japanese rules of the game, there is a new term that will be introduced in a later set this year. This is "Special Conditions". Asleep, Confusion, Paralysis, POISON, and later on Burned are all defined as Special Conditions. All of these effects are removed form Active Pokemon if they Evolve, Devolve, Leave Play, or are
Benched. They ALSO shut of ALL Pokemon Powers on the Pokemon effected by a Special Condition."

master_trainer_mike says, "This means that Poison (and later on Burned) shut off Pokemon Powers on the Pokemon affected by them. This is a clarification of the rules for Pokemon and WILL take place in all of the upcoming Challenge series events and tournaments. This means that if you Poison a Feraligatr, its Downpour Pokemon Power is shut off! Think of what that can mean in the current environment."

master_trainer_pat says, "whoa.."

master_trainer_mike says, "Lastly I would like to talk about the concern that many people have expressed about the "apparent" dominance of the Feraligatr deck in the current Modified environment. With the inclusion of Neo Revelation and soon inclusion of Neo 4 Destiny as well as upcoming sets, you should spend a little time playing with this format. There is a lot more opportunity for exploration and game strategy than is currently being encompassed. The dreaded Feraligatr was included in less than 25% of the
decks played at the WSTS (down from 50%) at the ESTS. With the new card sets and the new Poison rule, I highly recommend you start thinking outside of the box, or you will find yourself falling behind the curve."

master_trainer_mike says, "As far as the Challenge Series and the Professor Program and events, details will be posted on our web site on Monday 1/21/02. Check them out then!"

*** NEW RULING ON POKEMON POWERS AND POISON & "BURN" (not Char) ***:

master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with question #1242 from darkpoinko:
holy cow, that's some fast typing!! that was hard to get! does this mean
poison and burned pokemon have their powers de-activated?
master_trainer_pat says, "Yes it does!"
master_trainer_pat says, "Yowza"
master_trainer_pat says, "That changes things a little"
master_trainer_mike says, "These rules will take effect at all Challenge
series events."
master_trainer_mike says, "Yeah my Crobat deck rules!!!"
master_trainer_mike says, "Ain't afraid of no Gator no more no more!!"
master_trainer_pat says, "no mo, no mo, no mo..."

master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with question #1280 from
the_maple_bar:
What is the reasoning behind this? How does Poison even affect it?
master_trainer_pat says, "TPC has told us that that is how it supposed to
work."

master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #1267 from
pokesensei:
Will these new effects and rules be in the updated Rulebook with the next
Neo set?
master_trainer_mike says, "No they won't make it into the Neo 4 rule book
but in the later rule book in the next set after that. Since these rules
would take place during the Challenge Series, we wanted them to start at the
beginning of the year, giving you more time to learn and get used to them."

master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with question #1252 from onederlnd:
I didn't quite catch it, when is the Poison/Burned changes going to be made
official?
master_trainer_pat says, "They are official 1.17.2002, though burn won't
show up for awhile"

master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #1283 from
toysruskid:
Do these new rules...Are they Effected Immediately?
master_trainer_mike says, "Immediately."
master_trainer_mike says, "Keep in mind though, that not everyone will have
heard of them yet. So don't be rude to someone that doesn't know yet. Rather
help them keep up with the game."

master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with question #1301 from
puritys_echidna:
so when the special conditions rule comes into effect later this year, will
it also effect older cards? master_trainer_pat says, "The rule is in effect
starting today. If you want to start calling them Special Conditions now
that is fine."

master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #1273 from
toysruskid:
Will the new Modified Rules be posted on the main page after the chat is
over?
master_trainer_mike says, "No, but they will be posted on Monday [1/21] in
the Challenge information."

master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #1333 from
pokesensei:
Hey Mike and Pat, with the new Poison ruling, how do you think it will
impact the challenge series, etc.. in the form of new people and some older
people that will participate but not knowing about the new ruling? What does
WotC plan on doing to get the i
master_trainer_mike says, "It will be posted online. We will grind this
topic into the ground here on the chat. It will be sent out to the Leagues
and to all the TO's."

master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #1368 from
steelixownzu:
Does that mean now poison can only be by itself instead of that and
something else, or is it still the same?
master_trainer_mike says, "Good question! We will find out but for now play
it as normal!"

master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with question #1278 from lizardotc:
Will the new cancellation of Powers ruling also include Char; I'm not sure
you mentioned it...
master_trainer_pat says, "We didn't mention it. It doesn't shut off powers"

master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #1257 from chrisbo:
Does "Char" and "Burn" count as the same thing or are they considered to be
different?
master_trainer_mike says, "While Burned acts similar to Char they are NOT
the same effect."

master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with question #1293 from lizardotc:
Can you tell us what burned does...or have we not been good enough? ;)
master_trainer_pat says, "It has nothing to do with that...we just can't
specifically talk about that upcoming set yet. At least specifics. Just
think of Burn as being very similar to Char."

master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #1288 from daytongl:
Is burned a new status effect coming out with Neo 4?
master_trainer_mike says, "Actually no, it is being introduced in the next
set after Neo 4. But since it will be coming out during the 2002 Pokemon
Challenge Series we wanted to start with the new rules now."
master_trainer_mike says, "It is the Poison shutting off Pokemon powers that
should get you thinking ."