Through The Tall Grass
I’m new to the Pokemon TCG. Like, REALLY new. I’m in my 40s and never played growing up, as by the time Pokemon TCG came out I was well into my teen MtG days (mono-blue for life), and therefore missed the initial hype. So why am I playing now? One, and probably the biggest reason, I have ADHD, so I collect hobbies. Second, I’m new to the New York Capital Region and thought it would be a good way to see the area. And real talk? Those vendors and influencers make this look downright wholesome and appealing. All of this combines with me having an idea to write a series of articles that I wish I had been able to find when I started down my metaphorical Route 1.
Find your Pallet Town
Find a FLGS that has a league night, or a cafe that has open play on a weekend afternoon. Finding a place to go out and play with real people in a real room offers something that the online versions of the game don’t.
There’s someone across the table who can answer your question.
Starting with the free Pokemon TCG Live app is great. It has clear tutorials and starter decks, and it’s easy to get into. What it doesn’t offer is a way to ask questions of who you’re playing with.
“Why are there all these decks with Dragapult?”
“When do you switch from attack to defense?”
“What’s prize mapping?”
“What did I ever do to you to deserve you playing Unfair Stamp on me?”
I ask a LOT of questions when learning something new. Knock on Sudowoodo, I’ve yet to ask a question that someone wasn’t willing to take time and answer. Whoever you’re playing against has had to ask the same questions you’re asking, or even better, they’re currently asking those questions as well. What seems like a simple question now builds on the fundamentals of the game. Also, needing to manually do everything absolutely helps you learn the deck. Though let’s be real, the app taking care of shuffling is great.
So we’ve found a league night that passes the vibe check. We’re asking questions and learning the ropes. What shouldn’t you do?
A piece of advice, don’t be a Gary. Always dap up or shake hands before the match. Don’t gloat to your friend sitting at the other table. Be the type of good-natured contender you’d want to go up against. Don’t storm off if you lose. You know, don’t be that guy.
Next time, we’ll go over the trials and tribulations I went through once I had my first deck in hand, so you don’t have to do the same.
Let’s have fun,
Josh H.
