From: Brian Brokaw <brokaw@pojo.com>
To: Karl Estes <chrisfer@cei.net>
Subject: Re: More Metronome
Date: Wednesday, October 20, 1999 10:19 PM

>In the latest Metronome question, you said Metronome could not be used to 
>discard cards for Wildfire, because it is not a cost to use the attack, and it is 
>not required of you to discard to use the attack.  I agree on that, but I don't agree 
>that costs must have the phrase "In order to use this attack."  I'm sure that a 
>Webster's dictionary would not say anything like that.  Until any official release is 
>made on what exactly "costs" and "requirements" are, we can't go by what any one 
>person says, but only what the card says.  So in conclusion, Clefairy should be able 
>to effectively use Drem Eater without the defending pokemon being asleep.  The 
>attack reads "You may not use this attack unless the defending Pokemon is asleep."  
>Since you CAN'T use it unless the defending Pokemon is asleep, then judging on 
>what you said about Wildfire, you can use Dream Eater.  The attack could also 
>easily be reworded as "In order to use this attack, the Defending Pokemon  must 
>be asleep." without changing the meaning.

-------------------------------------

Sorry for the slow reply.
I very specifically asked this question to Robert months ago and had that email
stashed on another computer... I wasn't sure how to transfer email files over
(except manually exporting each one to text and was too lazy to do that until
today ;-)

Here is Robert and my conversation:
(Robert has a nasty habit of not marking original text from his reply seperately.
He indents the original... His reply is not indented.)
-----------------------------------------------------
   Reply-To: "Brian Brokaw" <brokaw@teleport.com>
   From: "Brian Brokaw" <brokaw@teleport.com>
   Date: Mon, 9 Aug 1999 22:17:30 -0700

   Robert,

   The following is an email from Jason in custserv answering
   a question about Pokemon Trader. He MUST be mistaken?


You're right... you can trade a basic for an evolved if you want, or
vice-versa.


   Also, can Haunter's Dream Eater be Metronomed if Haunter is NOT asleep?
   (sleep is part of the cost of the attack and need not be copied?)
Being asleep is not a cost.  So it *does* get copied, and Haunter *does*
need to be asleep.  Costs on Pokemon attacks always use the words "in order
to" (in English... as far as I know, there's no pattern on the Japanese
cards).  Note Metronome never says "costs";  it also uses the words "in
order to".
   Also, Metronoming Blastoise's Hydro Pump: how is the "+" calculated?
   (who must have the extra water attached?)
Clefairy/Clefable would have to have the extra water energy attached in
order to do the extra damage.

   Brian Brokaw
--------------------------------------------------
ok, so that was the whole email to/from Robert Gutschera at WOTC.
(he is the head rules development member for Pokemon).

re-iterating what Robert described to me in August, and what I wrote
on the site: costs all use the words: In Order To
Dream Eater does NOT use these words, so Clefairy copies this
text, and the defender MUST be asleep.

You will NEVER get the level of detailed rulings on any WOTC publication
for Pokemon that I spend tracking these things. They do NOT believe that
their customer base warrants this level of attention... WE are in the minority
of intelligent gamers who enjoy this game.  Work with me here :-)
I promise to be completely honest and thorough.

Brian Brokaw


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