If I were to start collecting again...

[BenjiTheKid]

I was at the store the other day looking at the Pokemon cards. I've been thinking about refreshing my collection. I have several of the original 150 Pokemon and a few after that- but, I stopped collecting after the second generation- so, my collection is way behind. And, after seeing all the new Pokemon they've come out with- I realized that I know absolutely nothing about them. I didn't even know there was a Leafeon until I joined this site. And, yesterday when I was browsing through a Beckett Pokemon Collection book I realized that there's an ice one, too. (Glaceon? Something like that) I was looking at decks trying to figure out if I wanted to buy one... but, I'm not sure...

If I did happen to buy some cards- should I buy a deck or would packs be the better route to take? Back in the day (when the cards were only like 3 bucks a pack xD) I just got packs and traded with friends. But, I don't have friends to trade with anymore. XD If I did buy a deck... which one would be better to buy? Dang... they had three different ones... but I can't remember which ones. I also noticed packs only have 10 cards... I thought they had 11?? Am I thinking wrong? Or... did they change it from 11 to 10?

 

[Raikou Trainer]

If I did happen to buy some cards- should I buy a deck or would packs be the better route to take? Back in the day (when the cards were only like 3 bucks a pack xD) I just got packs and traded with friends. But, I don't have friends to trade with anymore. XD If I did buy a deck... which one would be better to buy? Dang... they had three different ones... but I can't remember which ones. I also noticed packs only have 10 cards... I thought they had 11?? Am I thinking wrong? Or... did they change it from 11 to 10?

The number of cards in packs were actually changed twice since you stopped playing. The packs were reduced to 9 cards from Expedition up until Power Keepers and went up to 10 cards starting with D/P.

If you're returning from back in the Neo days, I highly recommend buying a theme deck or two to get up-to-date with the latest rule changes and to start experimenting with the new cards. If you're lucky, you might still find some gift sets that come with both a theme deck and packs, which I recommend more than the theme decks themeselves. They're mainly found at places like Wal-Mart and Target.

As to which particular theme deck you want to buy, I'd recommend any of the ones from Majestic Dawn, Legends Awakened, Stormfront, and Platinum (released around the 11th)

 

[BenjiTheKid]

Thanks! I was thinking a theme deck was the way to go as they usually come with rules. And, if I happen to start playing again- I'm going to need to know any rule changes that have occurred since I stopped playing. And, my Wal Mart (luckily for me!) does have the gift sets from time to time and when I was looking today, I actually saw one that had a pack with it, too. Should I snatch that one up? Also, I saw both Stormfront and Platinum there. Out of the two- which would be better for someone just recently getting back into the Pokemon world?

 

[Raikou Trainer]

Thanks! I was thinking a theme deck was the way to go as they usually come with rules. And, if I happen to start playing again- I'm going to need to know any rule changes that have occurred since I stopped playing. And, my Wal Mart (luckily for me!) does have the gift sets from time to time and when I was looking today, I actually saw one that had a pack with it, too. Should I snatch that one up? Also, I saw both Stormfront and Platinum there. Out of the two- which would be better for someone just recently getting back into the Pokemon world?

Both Stormfront and Platinum have great cards, so focus on those two sets while you start up again. If possible, also get cards from Legends Awakened and Majestic Dawn, as they also have some awesome cards.

Regarding the gift set, grab it!

 

[BenjiTheKid]

My local Wal Mart JUST restocked on Pokemon cards and they have a Platnuim gift set. I want to get it so badly and almost did except it was more than I could afford at the time. I will be grabbing it, though. As of now, I got one of the Platinum decks. It's the Flourish theme deck. The look of the cards have changed a lot. I was actually shocked to see how different they look now. I also got a pack. Didn't get any good cards in it- but, I got some that I eagerly switched into my deck. Like, the Flourish deck has Lombre and Lotad. The pack has Ludicolo. So, I was like... awesome.

Next week, I'm snatching up the gift set.

Also, I have a question regarding the gameplay that I hope you or someone else can answer: Okay, the book said something about Lv X (leveling up) and the book explained it... but, I'm confused. So, basically, can you explain what it is? And, is it anything like evolving? It has me really, really confused. Also... the mat I got was only for one person... they used to give the ones that were double sided... when'd they stop doing that?

 

[Raikou Trainer]

This explanation will be a bit long, but should somewhat clarify what's in the rulebook.

Leveling up a Pokemon is very similar to evolving, except the Pokemon has to be Active in order to level it up. And just like evolving, you can't level up a Pokemon the same turn you evolve it and it removes Special Conditions and other effects of attacks on that Pokemon. For example, if you evolve a Pikachu into Raichu, you can't play a Raichu lv. X on the Raichu you just evolved. On top of that, you can use attacks, Poke-Powers and Poke-Bodies of the previous form. You also have to remember to use the HP, Weakness, Resistance, Retreat Cost, and even the type of the Lv. X card. The final thing, a Leveled up Pokemon still counts as the Stage of the original Pokemon (example: Raichu lv. X is still considered a Stage 1 Pokemon, likewise Shaymin lv. X is still treated as a Basic)

As for the mats, I actually really don't know much about that. Sorry.

 

[matt561]

Im shocked about the price of the new cards in the shops they are about 10 dollars for 10


i prfer to buy them at carboot sales for like a quid for 50

 

[BenjiTheKid]

Raikou: Ah, the way you explained it makes more sense. I hate reading rule books because they beat around the bush... but, hearing it from other card players always helps me to understand better. After all, that's how I learned to play Yu-Gi-Oh! (seriously, have you ever read THEIR rulebook??? like 5x's as confusing as Pokemon!) The Lv X thing sounds like it could be pretty handy. :]

And, it's okay. I hope you don't think I'm crazy. XD I know I have a double-sided mat somewhere... it was from one of the earlier decks. And, by earlier... I mean when Pokemon cards were first introduced to the states. *nods*

I noticed something yesterday that I didn't catch right away, though. The "weakness" method's been changed. In the old cards, weakness just took off a certain amount (I can't remember) that was the same for EVERY card. On the new cards, each Pokemon loses a different amount of HP with the new "weakness" system. That could be handy, though. But, when mixing old cards with new cards to build a deck- do you follow the old system for the cards? I'd assume so, right?

Matt: A quid for 50?? I don't know much about English/British money... but that sounds fairly cheap?? (10 for 10 sounds expensive. O_O)

I paid around $4.00 (USD, of course) for 10. It's nowhere near as cheap as they were back in the day- but, it's the cheapest I can find around here. The game shops were wanting like five.

 

[X-626]

You're definitely not crazy about the mats. I remember at one time they were two-sided. I have no idea when that changed, though. I haven't had a mat in many years.
For the weakness thing, that is correct. If I remember correctly, I believe that the old weakness system was double damage. I also believe there are only certain cards from older sets that you will be able to use for tournaments, but I'll leave that to someone who knows what they are talking about.
I've also just got back into collecting (and eventually, playing), so I was looking at the tournament rules on the TCG site.

 

[BenjiTheKid]

Okay. xD Glad to know that I'm not!
Yeah, double! That's it. :3 And I don't plan on entering tournaments any time soon. But, I do (maybe) when I finally get the hang of it again. I'll have to look into which older cards can't be used.

 

[Exiled~Shadow]

Well i have never realy gotten into cards but i would say they now only have single mats so you have to buy two packs to be able to play with some one.. 2 packs for 2 mats equals 2x the cash...

 

[matt561]

Matt: A quid for 50?? I don't know much about English/British money... but that sounds fairly cheap?? (10 for 10 sounds expensive. O_O)

Well i buy them off Garage sales (sorry for my english english if that makes sense)

Last time i brought some i got oh say 150 card for 2 GBP thas about 3.50$



I love going to carboots.

Also i am feeling stupid i have about 8 origional Charizards and i've just seen on Wikipedia how much they were worth.

 

[Forci Stikane]

And, it's okay. I hope you don't think I'm crazy. XD I know I have a double-sided mat somewhere... it was from one of the earlier decks. And, by earlier... I mean when Pokemon cards were first introduced to the states. *nods*

I remember those, as well...and I might even still have some. I believe that they were switched out some time ago.

I noticed something yesterday that I didn't catch right away, though. The "weakness" method's been changed. In the old cards, weakness just took off a certain amount (I can't remember) that was the same for EVERY card. On the new cards, each Pokemon loses a different amount of HP with the new "weakness" system. That could be handy, though. But, when mixing old cards with new cards to build a deck- do you follow the old system for the cards? I'd assume so, right?

In official tournaments, older sets are unfortunately banned as time moves on, so mixing the two weakness formats should not be a problem at competitions. However, in casual playing where the old cards can still be used, the Weakness on older cards is still treated as double damage, as the option does still exist with the new cards, mostly showing up on Lv. X.

 

[BenjiTheKid]

JJ: Haha. Makes sense. xD Especially with the suffering economy nowadays. =/

Matt: XD Ah! That's how. ;] I used to buy some of my from garage sells. Maybe I should start again?

And, it made a lot of sense, actually. (LOL) No worries, though. I used to speak to this English kid online for like 3+ hours a day- so, I've learned to make sense of English English. (as he learned to make sense of American English XD!)

And you have EIGHT of those suckers??? You.... lucky.... Dx I had one. I think I sold him to a game shop ages ago. He wasn't in the /best/ condition, though. So I only got like 50 bucks. *shrugs* It was worth it, though. Since I was young and all. ;]

Forci: XD Another person confirmed that I'm NOT crazy!

Anyway, thanks!

In fact, thanks everyone for helping. :3

 

[matt561]

Matt: XD Ah! That's how. ;] I used to buy some of my from garage sells. Maybe I should start again?

In my opinion this is the best way to get most of the rare cards..;what a businessman am i? ^_^

And, it made a lot of sense, actually. (LOL) No worries, though. I used to speak to this English kid online for like 3+ hours a day- so, I've learned to make sense of English English. (as he learned to make sense of American English XD!)

Well 90% of thing in england revolve around america anyway so i for one am used to it(also I lived 2 miles away from a USAF base so i know lots of americans :P)

And you have EIGHT of those suckers??? You.... lucky.... Dx I had one. I think I sold him to a game shop ages ago. He wasn't in the /best/ condition, though. So I only got like 50 bucks. *shrugs* It was worth it, though. Since I was young and all. ;]

i do i was devasted to find out that i could have got money for them i eithen have a shiney *ooooohhhhh,aaaahhhh*
I dont want to give them up though

If you want i could give you a few french cards that i have.... could be an origional addition to your new collection

 

[BenjiTheKid]

Haha. Yeah, because some people don't know the worth of the cards they're selling; and just throw them in a plastic baggie and put a price on them. xD

I don't blame you for not wanting to give them up. They're a nice addition to a deck. And... I'm not sure. xD I might take you up on that french card thing. It's something to consider.

I used to have some German ones because I dated someone in Germany and she gave them to me. :3 (I wonder what happened to them...)

 

[ScaldingHotSoup]

Just jumping in - What you get depends a lot on what you want to do with the cards. If you're looking at maybe competing, you're probably best off buying decks that complement your strategy and then supplementing that with individual cards you buy from game stores and booster packs. If you're looking to collect, I've always found that buying individual boosters is the most fun for me. When I was a little squirt I probably spent 6-700 bucks on them over the course of 3-4 years. Fun times!

On the foreign card front, I have four dittos in four different languages. All by accident, too. :3 And Holo 'Zard in Engrish and Japanese, among other goodies. Pigeotto in German is fun, because whirlwind is wirbelwind. Just something that made me smile.

 

[MackLL]

Old ones are better,beleive me.lool