I would like to know when they are gonig to get serious about having their ratings work the way they should - aka the +1 C value per judge level + 1 per player management level. The Player management test isn't even available yet.

Added to the fact that the Sydney 10k event was only 10C value seems a bit wierd.

UDE needs to sort it out before making them count for something.

I am a little antsy to see who is getting invited to soCal on rating. I am on the cusp, and if I want to attend I need to know pretty soon. I am sure there are other people in this situation as well. IF I want to go I need time off plane tickets ETC. If it comes too late going wont be an option even if I am qualified.

If you get a "ratings invite", it isn't really just for SoCal.

They raise your point total to 10 so you may attend a Pro Circuit of your choosing.

As far as the threshold for invite, I obviously hope it's 2600 or 2625 this time and that as time goes on they raise it.

I also have 2 tournaments that haven't been reported and the TO is on vacation until the 26th. Those 2 would put me above 2650 which could be a possible threshold.

It really depends how many people they want to be able to attend ANY pro circuit event.

A lot of the people rated 2700 and up already have 10 or more points.

Also as of this morning their are 26 constructed and 8 sealed ratings of 2700 or higher. So that would only be 34 possible invites.

They seem to be giving out a whole lot of invites. Also, it seems relatively easy to get invites. Good information. One thing they need to do is eliminate the draft portion of the Pro Tour. I think they would see alot more interest then. Not everyone wants to learn every set for drafting, and as a casual player, I wouldnt want to draft.

One more comment, they need to spice the game up real fast. I hope the Superman set does just that. I am worried though if they dont make this game more exciting that it is not going to last much longer. Just my 2 cents (not even worth that much).

If they are going to have PTQs that are both limited and constructed, both formats need to be represented on the pro tour. There are other ways to run the PTs certainly, but I really like the current format, if you want to win the PT you have to know the game inside and out.

(edited for spelling)

Plus the statement "as a casual player" automaticly eliminates you as a "serious player". The PC is for the "serious player". If you are not, then you do not belong on the PC.

No offense but it is the truth. If you want to play casually, no problem. But, if you want to come up to the next level, you need to learn all that is involved with being a high level tournement player.

:trying not to take offense:

I've got $1,900 reasons you are wrong. I did not need to learn anything more than I got from playing on my kitchen table with my lovely wife. Sure, I could have won more if I knew how to mentally defend myself against dirty tricks... but that has nothing to do with draft and constructed.

I have no plans to ever become a "serious" player, but I plan to play on the Pro Circuit as long as I am able.

But you are not here complaining about the system you choose to compeate in. My point was that the PC is made for a serious player, not the casual. You are lucky enough to be both. But you are also not taking up advocation for eliminating the draft portion because you are a "casual" player.

This game is in its infancy. At first lesser players will be able to succeed with little to no effort. As time goes by those players, and all players, will need to practice more at all the playable formatts to maintian thier current level of success, or to break into the higher level of play.

Jeff never mentioned how often ratings-based PC points will be awarded. Is it annually? Quarterly? That could make a big difference.

Here's a random thought: what if they let you cash in your PC points? Trade it for product or just cold, hard cash? Would the be an incentive for more people to play (especially those that can't travel to PCs) or would it just heap more reward on those already blessed?

You haven't tried Aunt May's pie. Chock full of cinnamon and nutmeg.

This is an interesting point, in all seriousness. Here we were thinking they were bringing out sets too fast. I personally couldn't handle more spice, but maybe that's just me.

and the casual/competitive conundrum rears its ugly head again!

viciousbomber: being casual or not has NOTHING to do with how serious you are as a player.

That aside, and no offense to stu, but I did raise my eyebrow at gottr's comment. Because that seems contradictory to me - which is what I think vicious meant in his post.

The PC is not about the casual player, and what the casual player wants should have little bearing, if any, on the PC.

By saying this, I separate people like stu, who are primarily a casual player in their STYLE of play, but still make the trek to every PCQ in their neighborhood, every $10K within reach and will be at every PC.

Remember, it is called the Professionl Circuit for a reason - that being that you are not taking part purely as a casual player - but as a Professional player.

and if you want to be a pro player, you should definitely be prepared for anything as much as possible - and that includes draft practice.

And stu, don't tell me that you didn't work your butt off to get that $1900 - and that you didn't carry yourself as a Pro during and leading up to the tourney, because I wouldn't believe it. I think you can play in a casual manner but still be a consummate Pro and you're living proof of that.

Mike

I hope I get invited via my rating.

I would be the first to say that my rating has come from beating up on inferior competition at my local store.

I have +155 points from my local store and -14 from my trip to Origins. I also have two unreported tournaments that would raise my rating an additional 24 points.

I think the PCC's should only be used for taking a trip to a PC.

Stu you have been to way too many tourneys to define yourself as 'casual'. You spend more time talking, reading and playing the game then most. Don't try to deny it, I have post after post to back me up. You maintain an excellent casual air, and are not a 'dick'... as demanded by UDE, but by going to the Pro Tour you kinda turned in you casual wings. This reminds me of Happy Gilmore, "Hi I'm a hockey player but I'm playing golf today."

Saying draft should be taken out of the PC to help out casual players is like saying the pole vault should be taking out of the decathalon cause the "casual decathletes" don't have enough time to practice it. Somewhat ridiculous if you ask me. Casual players can play on the PC, they can maybe even do well, but it shouldn't be designed for them. It should be designed to test who is the best VS player.

As for rating invites, they kinda scare me, I dunno. The 1st year of LotR:TCG World Cup, invites were done based on rating (the top 3 players from each country, based on rating, would respresent their team). It turned pretty ugly, fake tournaments were entered, people ducking major tournaments to get the invite, etc. I like that it rewards people for doing good in tournaments, I like that it rewards people for playing in tournaments. I don't like that it rewards people for just beating on newbies over and over again. I guess it's more a flaw in the ratings system more than anything. But UDE has taken a stance of allowing as many people on the PC as they can, and that's fine, everyone should get a shot I guess.

Kerg I think you may be right. Replace "Serious" with "Competitive". Now a casual player can play competitivly, but they mostly stick to the kitchen table. A competitive player mostly plays in tournements, and is rarly seen at the kitchen table, unless he is testing for the next event.