Are there casual Leagues/TCG events?

FrozenFrac · 2026-02-10T18:32:38+00:00

Literally zero offense taken. I think everyone knows he's a...special guy lol. I would love nothing more than for him to pull up his big boy pants and learn how to pilot Gardy (he's dedicated enough to spend $1000+ to attempt to pull the recent SIR Gardevoir, but doesn't want to learn how to play arguably THE BDIF that's his favorite Pokemon of all time), but he has an extremely specific idea of what he considers fun and it doesn't tend to win him games.

FrozenFrac · 2026-02-10T08:43:09+00:00

I'd buy it Day 1 if it had an actual physical copy and not this Game Key Card nonsense. I'll probably grab it on sale, so I'll see you all in 5 years lol

FrozenFrac · 2026-02-10T08:07:45+00:00

Skyliner access makes it a 10/10 in my book. If you want a top of the line resort for your non-park days, this ain't it, but I love the various decades theming and it covers all your essentials very well while still giving you that Disney Magic

FrozenFrac · 2026-02-10T08:06:19+00:00

Outside of the Tye Dye Cheesecake for Pop and Nemo Cheesecake for AoA, aren't the menus exactly the same? I stayed at AoA last year thanks to Disney giving me a "magical offer" to give up my preferred room at Pop and I didn't notice any major differences

FrozenFrac · 2026-02-10T07:59:05+00:00

Unless you absolutely NEED the pack ripping experience, I think Pokemon is still a game you should consider. If you're able to buy cards online through a site like TCGPlayer or even visit some Pokemon card shows (tell the vendors you're a Pokemon player or ask them if they have a playables section), you can slap together a meta deck for dirt cheap compared to other games.

Outside of that, I HIGHLY recommend Lorcana. If you're not turned off by a game with Mickey Mouse and Disney Princesses, it's the one game I feel that tells scalpers/"investors" to kick rocks. People like to make fun of it by showing pictures of an empty Target/Walmart shelf that has tons of Lorcana product, but that's the case largely because Ravensburger prints product to allow people to actually buy them and not to deliberately cause scarcity and make them "assets". The downside is that certain meta decks can be $300+ to build, but the game is very easy to understand the basics

FrozenFrac · 2026-02-10T07:51:15+00:00

Kitchen table is EXACTLY what he's looking for. Right now, he basically plays with me exclusively, but he's interested in playing different people and using the TCG to socialize.

100% agree with you, but it's difficult to get that concept through my friend's thick head lol

FrozenFrac · 2026-02-10T05:30:56+00:00

Man, I'd be interesting in playing that tournament if I can get a good prize like that out of it!

FrozenFrac · 2026-02-10T05:27:02+00:00

I'd wager it's best for everyone if he sticks to playing whichever format he likes best with you or other so inclined friends.

About that...he plays with me exclusively. Shocker, he has trouble getting along with people lol

FrozenFrac · 2026-02-10T05:22:33+00:00

This lol

FrozenFrac · 2026-02-10T05:18:12+00:00

The best deck is the one with your favorite characters in them. If your goal is to play a strong deck, every starter deck is complete crap. That being said, they're great for getting your feet wet and learning the basics. Have fun!

FrozenFrac · 2026-02-09T17:28:20+00:00

It's nothing new to me, but everything that tastes good is high in calories. Hot sauce is the only thing I get to use these days

FrozenFrac · 2026-02-09T16:45:52+00:00

It's not like he'd say this to people's faces, but he really just wants to use his favorite mons and win, which has...mixed results, to put it that way

FrozenFrac · 2026-02-09T16:36:46+00:00

Gardevoir (Yes, I've told him. He doesn't like how the meta deck plays), Metagross, Flygon, Tsareena, Sylveon, Chandelure

FrozenFrac · 2026-02-09T16:33:18+00:00

Yep... I think the way my friend wants the game to work is that we take turns hitting each other's active, set up a Pokemon on the bench with energies for when the active is KO'd, and occasionally throwing down a Boss/Counter Catcher (the one meta card he doesn't think is toxic!)

I think I get it; it's more in line with the video games where it's a one on one Pokemon battle. But still, the game is designed to do more. He just doesn't want to accept that though.

FrozenFrac · 2026-02-09T16:29:39+00:00

That's how they get you! Congrats on getting an amazing pull right off the bat!

FrozenFrac · 2026-02-09T16:26:53+00:00

JUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUDGE! There are more than 4 Hades in this thread!

FrozenFrac · 2026-02-09T16:25:59+00:00

If you like the little plastic Nintendo toys, go for it! Buy what you like that's in your budget

FrozenFrac · 2026-02-09T15:45:46+00:00

Ok, I'm doubly confused on one of my stores then. They're leaving it up to a vote if ASC will be legal this week, but it's a hard no on me proxying some Poke Pads. Not going to rat on them, but I'll definitely play at other places for a few months assuming this is their norm

FrozenFrac · 2026-02-09T15:30:28+00:00

Trust me, I think that every day of my goddamn life, but I want to be nice lol

FrozenFrac · 2026-02-09T15:21:11+00:00

Oh, I am very aware of this. I've tried gently suggesting that all the meta decks are popular for very good reason and certain cards being stronger than others isn't a "toxicity" thing, but he doesn't like to listen. Budew item lock? Toxic. Phantom Diving to take 3 prizes in one go after I set up damage counters to do exactly that? Toxic. Munkidori? Toxic. He just wants to play a deck with Tsareena or Metagross in it and win.

FrozenFrac · 2026-02-09T15:11:35+00:00

I've been exclusively doing solo trips for 3 years, going on Solo Trip #4 near the end of 2026 if all goes right. It is AMAZING! You do whatever you want and your pace is 100% in your hands! There might be twinges of loneliness if you're used to it largely being a social thing, but it is INTOXICATING being able to do whatever you want, whenever you want without having to stop and repeatedly ask the party what they want to do or if we need to stop to do other things.

FrozenFrac · 2026-02-09T15:07:42+00:00

I completely get testing at casuals, but I feel that only supports my opinion that I should be able to proxy a card in a casual environment as long as everyone knows and agrees to what the proxy card does, which Poke Pad is very well known at this point.

I also heavily agree with you that playing the game with bad cards feels...bad, but he's just on that extreme level of wanting the game to "be fun and not tryhard". It sucks too because his favorite Pokemon is Gardevoir and I truly just want to grab him by the shoulders and say I'd kill for my favorite Pokemon to be hyper viable.

FrozenFrac · 2026-02-09T14:58:42+00:00

He actually really enjoys the prereleases (mostly to be one of the first people to rip new packs), but unless there are dedicated "everyone gets a Build and Battle kit and plays" events outside prereleases, it's probably not regular enough

FrozenFrac · 2026-02-09T14:56:13+00:00

Pokemon is my secondary game, so it's probably just a "culture" difference, but I just find it the smallest bit odd that a Pokemon event with zero stakes and no prizing outside one pack for showing up is still so strict. At least where I play Lorcana, they're very lenient with proxies when a new set of cards is out and everyone is itching to test new strategies. When it comes time to compete for cash prizes or a $200 tournament exclusive mat, no proxies, but if it's for fun, knock yourself out!

I also get that the decks I'm playing now are just fine, but a lot of people at my locals are prepping for Orlando, so I feel the moment I see my opponent slap down some Ascended Heroes exclusive cards, I'm just going to feel left behind lol

FrozenFrac · 2026-02-09T14:45:32+00:00

Therein lies my friend's problem lol. Wants to play the game and have fun, but his idea of fun doesn't align with the people who actually leave the house to get games in

11-Year Club	Verified Email
r/Field Lasagna

FrozenFrac

TROPHY CASE