From: Brian Brokaw To: Ernie Barrett Subject: Re: rules questions/ clarifications Date: Monday, October 04, 1999 10:29 PM From: Ernie Barrett To: Sent: Monday, October 04, 1999 9:12 PM Subject: rules questions/ clarifications > Hey Brian, > > I have a couple of questions for ya.First... everyone i run in to plays > ditto differently. When exactly does he transform? when i switch pokemon > or on his turn? And does he get the "new" pokemons weakness and > resistances? He transforms IMMEDIATELY. His pokemon power is "continuous". This means that it is always "on" and will take effect whenever it notices that Ditto is NOT copying the current defender. As soon as your opponent changes defenders, Ditto changes right along with them. It states pretty clearly on the card that Ditto DOES get Weakness, etc. copied exactly. Use Ditto's Weakness and Resistance ONLY when Ditto is NOT copying another Pokemon (when it is on the Bench or when it is Asleep, Confused, or Paralyzed). > And my second Questions is about Poison...... > Ok heres the 2 pieces of "evidence". first all theme decks come with 2 > types of counters... blue(damage) and yellow(poison) (as noted in the > rulebooklet). Second in the rules under poison it states.."if a pokemon > is poisoned, place a poison marker on it to show that its poisoned. As > long as its poisoned the pokemon will take 10 dam after each players > turn ignoring weak and res. If an attack would poison a pokemon already > poisoned it doesnt get doubly poisoned..blah blah blah" then under how > they work it states " these things dont happen to a benched pokemon in > fact if a pokemon goes to the bench these things are removed from it and > evolving also means its no longer poisoned."So this leads me to believe > that if you can get back to the bench then "the poison will be removed" > just like it says) hence getting rid of the poison markers and reducing > overall damage. Tell me what you think of this interpretation. I think you are confusing "markers" and "damage". They were just trying to be helpful by describing a way for people to easily remember that their Pokemon is Poisoned by using a Poison "marker". In Japan they have these REALLY COOL "skull" pogs that kids use. They place one on their Poisoned Pokemon to remember that it is Poisoned. The damage dealt by Poison is just plain old damage. You don't get to remove it, even if the Poison condition (and "marker") is removed. Hope this helps, Brian Brokaw