From: Brian Brokaw To: Mark and Marci Wasserman Subject: Re: does evolution stop tail wag Date: Monday, September 13, 1999 10:44 PM -----Original Message----- From: Mark and Marci Wasserman To: brokaw@thepojo.com Date: Sunday, September 12, 1999 2:50 PM Subject: does evolution stop tail wag Brian, Does evolution stop tail wag? I understand that a successful tail wag takes place between Eevee and the defending pokemon, which means that if either goes to the bench, the effect ends. What happens if the defending pokemon (now the attacking pokemon) evolves? I think that the tail wag would be nullified (just like poison, etc.). In a sense, the evolved form is a "different" pokemon from the previous defending pokemon, so it may attack at will. I try to treat tail wag (and other similar attacks like Rhyhorn's leer) as a very limited version of paralysis. What do you think? You are absolutely correct. Tail Wag's "effect" is exactly like a status ailment (confusion, paralysis, etc.) These "effects" go away when the pokemon is benched or evolved. A Full Heal Trainer will cure ailments, but will not cure other effects however (because it does not specifically allow it). Although I don't play pokemon much (except with my kids), I used to play a game called "Cosmic Encounter" many years ago. Based upon that experience, I have a comment regarding a thread I saw at the pojo a while back. I think the metronome attack is already extremely powerful, and should not be interpreted to be even more powerful than the attack which it copies. There was a question about whether a metronomed Haunter can be attacked via Dream Eater despite being awake. I would say that "sleep" is not a cost, but is actually a condition. I interpret Haunter's Dream Eater attack as doing 50 damage to a sleeping pokemon but 0 damage to an awake pokemon. It is actually a very weak attack (given the 25% odds). To allow the metronome to alter the nature of the attack that much just doesn't seem appropriate. I would rule that since Haunter is only able to perform the Dream Eater attack upon a sleeping pokemon, then Clefairy is only able to perform the Dream Eater attack upon a sleeping pokemon. I read "cost" as discarding an energy card . . . . You are dead-on Mark. Here is a conversation between myself and Robert Gutschera (head of the rules-team at WOTC for Pokemon): ---------------------- 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. ------------------------------- I have learned a great deal about pokemon at the pojo. Keep up the good work! regards, Mark jboys@gte.net Thanks for the email! Brian Brokaw