Mark your calendars! It's time for our

Rockford Spring Battle Road
Sat June 5th

at Top Cut Comics!
(here's a Google Map for you)

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Registration 9am - 9:45am

Thanks to Jimmy, there's now plenty of room for everyone in the new, once again upgraded game room area!

Top 4 Finals, prizes for 1st-4th place in each of the 3 age groups, exclusive Pikachu Trophy Card for 1st,
Side Events, Raffles, Door Prizes, Pokemon Hats, & cookies,
not to mention some of the best players in the Region...

Decklists will be required... I'll have them there for you to fill out, or you can print it out ahead of time.
(click here for pdf file)
OR better yet...
Click HERE to use SteveP's interactive Pokemon deck list program. (Just click on 'Blank Deck') This software was created to help make it much easier to correctly fill out tournament deck lists, helping avoid errors and costly penalties. Just fill in the blanks from the drop down menu, then when you're done, print it out! Very easy!

So, what time do you suggest we be there??
I suggest you come closer to 9, unless you already have your decklist all made out. Due to the large number of players we will likely have, (probably around 100, weather permitting) the cut-off for entrance into Round 1 will be 9:55. Decklists will be required, so allow time to fill them out. If you haven't turned in your decklist by 9:55am you can still be entered into the tournament, but you'll start in Round 2, you'll miss the first Round.. We will not delay the tourney for latecomers as it's just not fair to those who get there on time. Bring your DS and your Games to play while you wait! Once your decklist is turned in, you can participate in DS battles, art contests, or any other activities we might have while you wait.
Better too early than too late!

Who may enter in the Tournament? Anyone who knows how to play the game may enter, you do not need to be a resident of the City of Rockford ... All are welcome, of all ages, from far away, or right in Rockford! If you're new to the game and want to learn more about it, check out the Pokemon Organized Play website for instructions on how to play so you'll already know how when you get there, because for this particular event, you should at least already know the basics of how to play.

What do I need to bring with me? You'll need to bring your own 60 card legal deck, it's always good to bring your own damage counters or dice, you may want to bring a sack lunch or money to buy lunch, snacks, products for sale, or to enter in some of our Side Events after the Main Event, but no money is required for entry to this event. You should also know your POP ID number. Many of you are already in my computer from playing in past events of mine, but if you're new and don't have a POP ID number yet, no worries... I can get you set up with one right there.

Format: Modified Constructed - Bring your own best DP-on Modified decks to play in this tournament.
The sets legal in the Modified Format have been updated as of September 1, 2009. The New Modified format is Diamond & Pearl -on (Diamond & Pearl set through the Unleashed set.). Players may not use cards from Pokémon sets prior to Diamond & Pearl (except basic Energy cards and cards that were reprinted in Modified legal sets)
Please make sure you're ready with a legal deck. Modified Format includes all sets from DP to UL.

Remember, this is Battle Road Event... so keep in mind the following rules and restrictions:
Cards from the World's Championship Decks with the silver borders are NOT allowed in Tournaments.
Sleeves must be single color with no artwork or holographic design, exceptions being the Japanese Pokeball or Pikachu Sleeves, or any of the US Pokemon Sleeves from Prereleases.
Cards must be in uniform condition if unsleeved so as not to appear to be marked in any way.
Cheating will be dealt with severly, so don't do it! Always play honorably and fair!

Of course if you have any questions at all as to if your deck is Tourney ready or not, please feel free to stop in a little early and have us check over your deck for you.

If you arrive and find that your deck is not legal to play in this tourney, don't worry, you will still be able to play. Some starter decks will be available to purchase right there at Top Cut Comics.

This event will most likely will be Age Separated Swiss (everyone will play within their own age group in all the rounds, the number of rounds being determined by number of players in each age group) The Battle Road series will have a K-Value of 4. For more information on how the K-Value affects your Premier Rating, please see the Ratings and Rankings FAQ.

Age groups:
Junior Division: Born 1999 or later
Senior Division: Born in 1995, 1996, 1997, or 1998
Masters Division: Born in 1994 or earlier

Also after the Swiss Rounds, in each of the 3 age groups we will have a Top Cut,
with a Maximum of a cut to Top 4.
This means that after the main tournament, the top ranked players in each of the 3 age groups will continue on to play additional rounds (the number of additional rounds will depend on how many players were in each age group), the winner being determined by winning 2 out of 3 matches within an hour's time, and continuing on to another elimination round until one Battle Road winner in each age group remains..

Are there Prizes?
YES! Of course there are!

Top 4 finishers in each of the three age categories receive the following prizes:

1st Place
4 Pokémon Unleashed booster packs
A Pikachu Trophy Card

2nd Place
4 Pokémon Unleashed booster packs

3rd & 4th Place
2 Pokémon Unleashed booster packs

Are there Door Prizes? Sure! We'll have an assortment of various items for door prizes! All sorts of different items, including Booster Packs, posters, Deck boxes, Pokemon Beachballs, Pokemon stickers, as well as a Pokemon Hat made by yours truly (I'll post a pic soon!)...these and other various Pokemon items will be randomly given out at various times to random players.

Will there be side events?
Yes, most likely there will be after the Main Tournament is over, based on player interest, of course. We'll have a free Modified tourney for 3/2/1 pack prizes, or a 4 pack Booster Draft for $15. Bring your DS and battle other players before the tourney or between rounds too!

The number of players in each age group will determine how many rounds, as well as if it's a Top 2 or Top 4 finals.

Tentative Time Schedule

9am - Registration opens
9:55am - last call for inclusion in Round 1
10am - Opening introductions and announcements
10:15 - 11:00 Round 1
11:05 - 11:50 Round 2
Break for lunch until 12:30
12:30 - 1:15 Round 3
1:20 - 2:05 Round 4
2:10 - 2:55 Round 5

After the Main rounds, we'll post the standings and, depending on the number of players in the age group, the top 2 or 4 ranked players will turn in their Decks to be checked before continuing on to the Top Cuts. Those players will play best 2 of 3 matches in one hour. The winners of that round will advance to the Top 2 Finals to determine the winners, and those who didn't make it will receive 2 booster packs each for 3rd and 4th place..

Again, this is a tentative timetable. We'll try to stick to it as best we can, but of course times may vary due to the actual number of players attending and unforseen events that may delay things.

Keep in Mind
Top Cut has lots of great accessories to enhance your gaming experience, including dice, sleeves, deckboxes, binders and playmats, so be sure to browse the store before the tourney or between rounds! And as always, we ask that our Pokemon players refrain from parking in the store's prime parking spots, so that there's parking for their other patrons. Thank you!

Hope to see you there!