The Inside Scoop on Gaming

Pokemon....yes it is that show that your 10 year old sister watches, but still when it comes to CCG's, pokemon is one of the most user friendly. If you've ever played RPG's [why would you be on this site if you hadn't], the less complicated and very simplistic CCG's were always a thing to laugh at. Even though i now enjoy a good game of "Star Wars CCG" now and then, find willing opponets has always been a BIG problem [same with magic]. But now with Pokemon we have a true "universal" medium. EVERYBODY can play this, and it's even sold in 7-11's!!!!

The system it's self is extremly easy to understand; Players mix and match decks of 60 cards but.. There are three kinds of cards.... POKEMON, TRAINERS, and ENERGY. POKEMON being fighters themselves, TRAINERS act like "wild cards" or powerups, and the ENERGY cards are used to fuel the pokemon attacks.

Each POKEMON is, from the sickenly cute Pikachu to the nasty looking Nidoking,are unique in their own way. Some are quick, needing only 1 FLAME ENERGY to attack, and others need 4 COLORLESS ENERGY to even use a defensive move[ colorless in pokemon means ANY energy card will do].

For example: i'm playing a GROWLITHE POKEMON [fire]and my opponet is playing a ODDISH [plant]. PLANT is weak aganst FIRE so all of my damage is doubled:).here are the two cards stats: GROWLITHE/60 hit points/ FLARE for 1 flame and 1 colorless; ODDISH/50 hit points/ STUN SPORE for 1 plant, and SPROUT for 2 plant. FIRST ROUND: [we both draw 7 cards and draw another at each round]I put a fire energy on growlith [only one more for flare], Enemy puts on plant energy on oddish and attacks with stun spore for 10 damage [but the paralize attempt failed]. SECOND ROUND: [draw] I put another fire energy and a "PLUS POWER" trainer card on growlithe. PLUS POWER GIVEs himan extra 10 points of damage. Making a total of 30+weakness....that's 60 points of damage...so oddish is dead [well KNOCKED OUT:(

OVERALL pokemon does the trick for a quick fix....but don't expect it to fill in for a good Role playing game [ALA gurps and WOD]. But if you NEED a CCG, and have never played them before, pokemon is a great thing to start with.

Style: 2 (Needs Work)
Substance: 4 (Meaty)

Poke'mon: The CCG
Author: Wizards of the Coast Category: CCG [collectable card game] Company/Publisher: Wizards of the Coast Line: Pokemon Cost: around $3 a pack, $10 for a starter deck Page count: n/a Playtest Review by Deathpunk on 09/01/99. Genre tags: Fantasy Anime Diceless	Pokemon....yes it is that show that your 10 year old sister watches, but still when it comes to CCG's, pokemon is one of the most user friendly. If you've ever played RPG's [why would you be on this site if you hadn't], the less complicated and very simplistic CCG's were always a thing to laugh at. Even though i now enjoy a good game of "Star Wars CCG" now and then, find willing opponets has always been a BIG problem [same with magic]. But now with Pokemon we have a true "universal" medium. EVERYBODY can play this, and it's even sold in 7-11's!!!! The system it's self is extremly easy to understand; Players mix and match decks of 60 cards but.. There are three kinds of cards.... POKEMON, TRAINERS, and ENERGY. POKEMON being fighters themselves, TRAINERS act like "wild cards" or powerups, and the ENERGY cards are used to fuel the pokemon attacks. Each POKEMON is, from the sickenly cute Pikachu to the nasty looking Nidoking,are unique in their own way. Some are quick, needing only 1 FLAME ENERGY to attack, and others need 4 COLORLESS ENERGY to even use a defensive move[ colorless in pokemon means ANY energy card will do]. For example: i'm playing a GROWLITHE POKEMON [fire]and my opponet is playing a ODDISH [plant]. PLANT is weak aganst FIRE so all of my damage is doubled:).here are the two cards stats: GROWLITHE/60 hit points/ FLARE for 1 flame and 1 colorless; ODDISH/50 hit points/ STUN SPORE for 1 plant, and SPROUT for 2 plant. FIRST ROUND: [we both draw 7 cards and draw another at each round]I put a fire energy on growlith [only one more for flare], Enemy puts on plant energy on oddish and attacks with stun spore for 10 damage [but the paralize attempt failed]. SECOND ROUND: [draw] I put another fire energy and a "PLUS POWER" trainer card on growlithe. PLUS POWER GIVEs himan extra 10 points of damage. Making a total of 30+weakness....that's 60 points of damage...so oddish is dead [well KNOCKED OUT:( OVERALL pokemon does the trick for a quick fix....but don't expect it to fill in for a good Role playing game [ALA gurps and WOD]. But if you NEED a CCG, and have never played them before, pokemon is a great thing to start with. Style: 2 (Needs Work) Substance: 4 (Meaty)

Poke'mon: The CCG