(Note: Don't post this part, but I send regualr articles here right?) Chipmunk: Hello pokemon trainers of the world. If you don't already know me, I am Chipmunk, one of the mechanics in The Pojo's deck garage. I have written many articles, besides just deck reviews, but I am mainly known for THRASHFEST '99(which I am hopefully getting other mechanics in on). If you have read ANY of the THRASHFEST '99, you know my guest in this article, the great Bob. Thanks for being here. Bob: Your welcome, Chipmunk. Chipmunk: We are here to get some questions answered, one way or another. Many new questions became aroused, and many of us trainers want to know. You are willing to answer our questions, aren't you Bob? Bob: Isn't it cloudy when it rains? Chipmunk: I won't take your no for an answer. I just hope you'll give in and answer my questions. Ready? Bob: As ready as a TWA flight is for a crash. Chipmunk: Ok. My first question is about the merger of Hasbro and WotC. Many people are worried about the game enviroment, and how this will effect them. What's going on? Bob: Oh, don't worry. It's all for the money. They will keep printing cards until a new fad pushes out pokemon, but that won't happen for years. Chipmunk: They are in it for they money? I thought the merger was supposed to be helping everyone, or that is what I was told. I can't believe WotC would sell out. Why would they? Bob: $325 million is alot of money. Wouldn't you sell for that much? That's more than $32.5 million a year for you if you did that. Chipmunk: That's right....wait. That's 10 years. You know something I don't? Am I going to die? Bob: I am not at liberty to tell. Just make sure you get everything you want done before you go to a 7-11. Chipmunk: I guess I won't being seeing Abuk anymore. How will the merger effect the game? Are we actually going to see boosters? Bob: Yes, you will. Hasbro will be able to print mush more pokemon. You'll start ot see plenty of pokemon boosters. Unfortunately, they'll stay at the same price. That, and farther down the road, they are going to make expansions that just plain, in your terms, "suck". They will do it just because people will buy them. Chipmunk: Ah so. Is there anything else? Bob: Yes, there is more. You won't see Hasbro on any boosters. You will see things like D&D and pokemon in Toys R Us. High prices, but they will still be there. That, and you'll have fun playing D&D monopoly and "Weedles in My Pants". Chipmunk: Here's my second question. What is up with the sanctioned reports on many of the trainers out there. I know at least 20 people that have DCI numbers, but when we check them at WotC, they say that none of us are even in the database. Bob: Oh, that's just because they don't like you, Chipmunk. It is because of all of your DCI bashing. Actually, it is because there are too many reports to do. There are so many kids playing in sanctioned tourniments that it is hard to cover every number. You just lucked out. Also, with Hasbro taking over WotC, there is alot of confusion going on. Chipmunk: Isn't there always alot of confusion going on when it comes to the DCI? Bob: When I say there is more confusion, I mean there is more confusion than there normally is. Chipmunk: Oh. Will there still be sanctioned tournies if Hasbro acquires WotC? Bob: Yes, because kids will keep coming to the tournies because they are sanctioned. It helps the flow of money, if you really look at it. Chipmunk: Here's my next question. Will we see the first errata of major change in pokemon from WotC? I few people have found loopholes, including myself, and it might change the tourny scene. Will there actually be a banned pokemon card? Bob: The errata will actually come out in instruction booklets. If they see a real big threat to the enviroment, then they will actually look the rule up and see if they can slightly change it so there is no real fuss. They actually don't want a book that is about 5000 pages about card errata in pokemon like they do in Magic. Chipmunk: What about restrictments? Will we see "unique" cards that allow you to only have one of them in your deck? Bob: This is where destiny divides. It really matters on if WotC/Hasbro will do a U.S. national tourny in pokemon. If they don't, there won't be any restrictments, or even bannings, because they won't really see the power of the cards. And I mean a national tourny where people of all ages can play, not just 12 and under. If they do have a nationals, they will see which cards really effect the enviroment. They really just have to see cards in action. That's what Gamefreak, the owners of pokemon in Japan, had to do, and then they restricted Item Finder, Computer Search, and Super Energy Removal. Chipmunk: So everyone's whining about how certain cards should be banned, like removal, is just for nothing? Bob: You have to fill some pokemon sites with something. Chipmunk: Here's my personal big question. WILL PEOPLE STOP USING GASTLY AND HAUNTER FROM THE BASIC SET?!?!?! I mean, they're more dead than disco, in more than one way. I get sick of seeing people put them in their decks over and over, thinking he is great. Bob: No, people will still use them. There will be a few cards that are coming out that will help Haunter, and the fact that they are popular in the cartridge game makes them played. People will still think some cards are great because of the cartridge until the end of time. Chipmunk: BUT THEY SUCK! I WOULD RATHER USE MAGIKARP! AT LEAST MAGIKARP CAN ATTACK FOR DECENT DAMAGE, FOR 1 COLORLESS, EVEN! Bob: Calm down. You're acting like how you are going to act when those pokemon actually beat you in a game. Chipmunk: I'M GOING TO LOSE TO GASTLY AND HAUNTER!!! NOOOOOO!!! Announcer: We are sorry, but we are undergoing some technical difficulties. Appearently, one of the staff is going crazy. Do not worry, the riot control squad with tear gas will take care of it. TO BE CONTINUED......... --------------------------------------------------------------------- Chipmunk keeps a weapon next to himself so that he can die if he ever loses to Gastly or Haunter. ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com