We are at an awkward time my friends.  Some people have already been able to

find Neo: Genesis boosters, but they have not been officially released yet.

There were several questions this week about "what does so-and-so's attack

do", but the MT's wouldn't answer specifics on most of the cards because

very few people actually have them yet and they "don't want to spoil the fun

of seeing these cards for the first time...".  Mostly just general gameplay

questions were allowed (like how to play baby pokemon, what happens when

they evolve, Darkness & Metal Energy, etc.).

However, the most significant news for collectors was right up front in the

opening announcements.  Read on and enjoy (or weep)!

LAST OF THE PRERELEASE & FOIL STAMPED PROMO CARDS:

master_trainer_mike says, "FYI gang, there will not be any more pre-release

or foil stamped promo cards manufactured by Wizards of the Coast."

master_trainer_mike says, "Only the standard black-star promo cards will

come out in the future."

master_trainer_mike says, "With one exception!!!!!"

master_trainer_mike says, "There is an english w-foil stamped Dark Arbok

coming out January in Hong Kong and other asian countries ONLY!"

master_trainer_mike says, "It is being released for the Year of the Snake

for Chinese New Year."

master_trainer_mike says, "Good luck tracking it down :)"

master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with question #36 from soslowpoke:

        why not anymore foil stamped/prerelease promos?

master_trainer_pat says, "There's just no plans to do them anymore...We'd

like the promos to be unique in their gameplay."

master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #37 from toledomedic:

        whys that...regarding holo prerelease's?

master_trainer_mike says, "Pre-releases have been found to be expensive to

make, and since they have been given out in such large numbers, they do not

seem very unique, also see above answer."

master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with question #57 from

flying_dragonair:

        Why aren't there going to be anymore prereleases?  Will black star

promos be given out at league for signing up etc.?

master_trainer_pat says, "We just want the Promos to all be 'black star'

unique cards."

master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with question #38 from soslowpoke:

        Is that foil stamped Dar Arbok holo?

master_trainer_pat says, "No, it's non-holo and the foil W is on the artwork

of the card."

master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #134 from soslowpoke:

        how will the Dark Arbok promo be distributed?

master_trainer_mike says, "given out in red envelopes for the Chinese New

Year at league locations in Asia."

NEO GENESIS:

master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with question #10 from paokkk:

        Will all Wizards store have Neo Genesis on sale Saturday?

master_trainer_pat says, "They should."

master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with question #122 from

unown_master:

        What will the art be on the Neo Boosters?

master_trainer_pat says, "OK, I've got them ready this time..."

master_trainer_pat says, "We have Typhlosion, Lugia, Megananium and

Feraligatr"

master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with question #109 from sharkdog61:

        are neo only in 1st edition?

master_trainer_pat says, "No, there's 1st and Unlimited like always."

master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #163 from

porygon_maniac17:

        Is the first Edition sign on Darkness Pokémon and Energy White?

master_trainer_mike says, "yup"

master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #203 from jdg6248:

        Will there be no-holo versions of holo cards in NEO?

master_trainer_mike says, "nope"

master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with question #18 from

crazy_nut_man:

        Is Neo going to be "one" of the best set??

master_trainer_mike says, "It rocks!!!"

master_trainer_mike says, "We are seeing new archetypes form around the

darkness and baby pokemon."

master_trainer_pat says, "It throws a lot of new things into the

environment."

master_trainer_pat says, "I'm excited to have it released."

master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with question #46 from a0030war:

        what is going to be the best neo genesis card that comes out

master_trainer_mike says, "Lots of good ones!"

master_trainer_mike says, "Cleffa, metal energy...."

master_trainer_pat says, "Dunno, Sneasel is really tough though."

master_trainer_pat says, "Gligar"

master_trainer_mike says, "Murkrow"

master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with question #64 from a0030war:

        whats the best trainer card thats coming out in neo

master_trainer_mike says, "Professor Elm is cool."

master_trainer_pat says, "Too early to say for sure.."

master_trainer_mike says, "or Super Energy retrieval"

master_trainer_pat says, "Focus Energy is pretty good."

master_trainer_mike says, "some cool stadium cards too"

master_trainer_pat says, "Eco Gym"

master_trainer_pat says, "Sprout Tower"

master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with question #170 from hyper__x:

        what will be the worst card in Neo?

master_trainer_pat says, "Arcade game Trainer?"

master_trainer_mike says, "Quagsire isn't worth it either"

master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #136 from

toledomedic:

        Are there any "lists" of the new/pending release's of cards for this

saturday's release date...If so where can I find them...Looked on web site

and didn't see it listed yet..

master_trainer_mike says, "It was sneak-leaked to the pokegym and the pojo,

check there."

master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with question #185 from

flying_dragonair:

        When will the card list for Neo:  Genesis be posted on the official

TCG page?

master_trainer_pat says, "Hopefully sometime next week."

master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with question #62 from char_e_zard:

        can i download a text copy of the neo rules and where from?

master_trainer_pat says, "You can't get the whole rulebook til this

weekend...the Neo rules addition document can be downloaded from our

website"

master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with question #169 from soslowpoke:

        how can you get the rulebook this weekend?

master_trainer_pat says, "Theme Decks if you can find them."

master_trainer_mike says, "theme decks aren't out yet!!!"

master_trainer_mike says, "you can get a neo rules sheet with the free promo

marril card this weekend"

master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with question #233 from soslowpoke:

        how will we get to see the rulebook this weekend?

master_trainer_pat says, "Mike has told me that the Theme Decks are not

coming out this weekend, so you won't be able to."

master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with question #79 from

porygon_maniac17:

        If you attacked a baby Pokémon on the bench, would you still apply

the baby Pokémon rule? ex. Hitmonlee used Stretch Kick on a Benched Magby.

master_trainer_pat says, "It will say on the baby Pokemon how to handle

this."

master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #92 from sharkdog61:

        can NEO pokemon evolve into regular?

master_trainer_mike says, "yup, the babies do."

PROMOS & OTHER NEWS:

master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #12 from paokkk:

        More Neo promo???

master_trainer_mike says, "There will be some for the next movie."

master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with question #83 from paokkk:

        any idea on what the movie  promo are??

master_trainer_mike says, "Yeah, but can't say :)"

master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #126 from soslowpoke:

        how many promos will there be for the 3rd Pokemon movie

master_trainer_mike says, "can't say yet."

master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #14 from

unown_master:

        Any more info on the Promo 9-card set?

master_trainer_mike says, "Which set? The first neo set is included in the

Neo Genesis set."

master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with question #111 from sharkdog61:

        when do you get the marril card?

master_trainer_mike says, "It should be out this weekend at all old league

locations."

master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #115 from ikendall:

        is there a foil and a nonfoil B-Day Pikachu? is so, how are the

different versions distributed?

master_trainer_mike says, "Yes, the foil we've already explained, the

nonfoil was only available in the Pikachu world set released at this

summer's olympics."

master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #113 from soslowpoke:

        will you have to earn B-Day Pika at the league by keeping points on

the little grid?

master_trainer_mike says, "No there will be a special activity for it."

master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with question #146 from nekkyo:

        Will cards just be given in the new league or earned with 250 pts.?

master_trainer_pat says, "Cards need to be earned during the first season of

year 2"

master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #21 from

unown_master:

        Any news on promo cards above No. 29?

master_trainer_mike says, "Nope."

master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with question #121 from soslowpoke:

        what promos beyond 29 do you know of?(IOW, they have been

planned/printed but you can't tell us what POkemon they are)

master_trainer_pat says, "We know, we just can't say right now."

master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #158 from ikendall:

        I know you cant be specific, but is the release of the Vending cards

looking optomistic, mediocre, or really, really bad?

master_trainer_mike says, "it is not on the radar at this time"

master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #175 from

haymakermaker:

        Will wizards release vending sets?

master_trainer_mike says, "No plans at this time"

Happy hunting (for Neo),

 - CHRISBO