I’m not unhappy with things, but availability has put a damper on things.
It goes to show how spoiled we are with great artwork, but I find myself asking “What’s next?”. Special arts have been the “chase” for over four years now (even longer, but the main focus).
This is the reason that I put that I’m unsatisfied in the direction of the artworks, it feels like they haven’t left room to grown and that it will stall at some point, playing always can have more powerscaling but there’s only so much artwork you can do on a small piece paper, it feels like they haven’t done anything original artwork wise since SM it feels like they are reusing their old methods, even the tera types are just delta species with hats,
They have used up the entire card for artwork and have even added more cards to create a full artwork (v unions and legend cards) it just feels like all they can do is make more art styles
(also there is a very nice appeal to older artworks and the simplicity of them)
Ideally I just want to collect, and talk Pokemon. I want to say technology has made it very difficult these days to collect with everyone wanting to be the very best no one ever was, in different aspects. Pokemon just so happened to be available for people to utilize in the way it wasnt intended, and it worked out. Im happy with my goals though, and try not to take it super serious.
I would actually love for them to go back to the BW formula, where you have full art EX’s, but also textured half art cards as Gold Star-tier secret rares. They’ve done similar things with Amazing Rares and baby shinies, but never with the same level of rarity or art style.
Every pack is a holo and even if you pull a double star ex it’s not considered a good pull unless if you get something that is worth more than the pack, I liked it more when we had a roughly 1/3 chance to get a holo and most exs were rare, made things more fun when you would pull one
Are you satisfied with collecting modern Pokémon TCG? Neutral: Modern is fine and collecting it is fine. Not being attached to getting things quickly helps.
Are you satisfied with the art direction in modern Pokémon TCG? Less satisfied: I like a lot of the art. I don’t like the general lack of set cohesion compared to older sets, and I miss seeing more of the classic artists that are tied to the TCG. Nowadays I cannot keep up with all the new artists because there are too many introduced too quickly.
Are you satisfied with playing modern Pokémon TCG? Less satisfied: The game designer is on record saying he’s steering the game towards being more luck based. That is not rewarding.
Are you satisfied with the recent changes in modern Pokémon TCG? (e.g. Pocket, events, new languages, exclusives) Unsatisfied: Pocket is fun, but feels like a distraction from the actual TCG that gives such good art that I feel frustrated not getting to have it physically. Events are too big and grueling just to participate in these days. New languages are fine but don’t impact me. English exclusives have been lacking for what, the whole time?
Are you satisfied with Pokémon’s direction of modern TCG? Less satisfied: In the big chair, I’d really want to ask why they’re doing what they’re doing. I’m just a dumb consumer right now so maybe I just don’t see the vision.
Id say I’m very satisfied with everything other than releases…
Why does Korea, Indonesia, and China get Victini ex SAR and TCG/Japan doesnt?
Why does china get all of the unique artwork pikachus and other stuff?
Why did they reprint prize cards, alolan friends, etc in Chinese? Lowkey ruined the cards for me.
I’m pretty satisfied with the art and direction, I just hate language exclusivity unless it’s like a trophy or whatever for that language.
Also opening modern is sooooo boring, maybe my perspective is tainted from the rip and shippers but it just feels like you’re opening 100 packs of bulk till you finally get that one hit
Are you satisfied with collecting modern Pokémon TCG? Satisfied: It’s the best it has ever been with the amount of great artwork being put out compared to previous eras where it was only higher rarities or non-existent. Having said that, I am not really collecting at the moment because of how the whole space seems to have been taken over by cryptobros and influencers trying to get rich quick.
Are you satisfied with the art direction in modern Pokémon TCG? Less satisfied: I think this has become clearer in focus because we have a now direct comparison with TCG Pocket. Whilst I love the amount and variety of art we get in normal cards of each set, there is no real cohesion to the overall set. Set structures and bias seem to impact what’s in it rather than what could be.
With Pocket there is a need to create themed collections so there are more connections, whether by theme or by artist. The ARs and SARs also seem to be almost universally strong and better than the haphazard ones in physical which also suffer from zero cohesion.
Are you satisfied with collecting value in modern Pokémon TCG? Unsatisfied: As I mentioned earlier, I don’t even collect atm because the value is not there. Everything is way too expensive even though they are printing more than they ever have. And I only buy singles. When you can’t see a collection being complete, the motivation to collect any of it evaporates.
Are you satisfied with the recent changes in modern Pokémon TCG? (e.g. Pocket, events, new languages, exclusives) Neutral: I changed from satisfied to neutral because although I think Pocket has been a great avenue for more art, I have nowhere else to complain about the nerfing of exclusive art physically. These include JP Gym Promos, CoroCoro Promos, Sealed Battle Promos, Pokemon Centre Promos and other exclusives. Recently ENG Build&Battle pre-release promos were nerfed as well.
Are you satisfied with Pokémon’s direction of modern TCG? Less satisfied: I appreciate that Pocket being digital is more flexible and adaptable, but physical is way too constrained. From unsatisfactory pull rates, regional exclusives (that cause speculation), no set cohesion, incomplete sets of characters that infuriate the OCD, they just seem to take way too long and learn the wrong lessons.
TPCi additionally has an awful suite of products that is extremely wasteful and seem to be led by executives who do nothing but rest on their laurels.
Satisfied
Collecting modern TCG is what I’ve mostly been doing for the past year, since almost every older card I wanted I got by now for my collection goals (minus 9 Pikachu cards). So it’s mostly just keeping up with new Pikachu, Seviper, and FA Supporter/CHR releases.
Especially the last one got a lot of amazing artworks, which I really enjoy. Both FA Supporter cards and full art alt cards in general have been amazing these last two eras, and I feel like we also see a lot of amazing non-holo artworks and new talented illustrators.
One thing I’m less satisified about are the still increasing prices for modern cards.. (Mostly talking about the 300+ USD cards on release, which even seem to increase in value in the long run instead of decreasing.. )
Very satisfied
Already answered above, but I feel like the last few eras have a lot of amazing artworks, both for full art cards and regular non-holos.
Less satisfied
Also already partially answered in the first question, but I kinda hate how expensive new releases in particular have become.. I have no problem with cards increasing in value over decades of time, but it’s very annoying to have cards worth hundreds or even over a thousand USD when they’ve only just been released.
Although I’m definitely not complaining about the value (increase) of three specific modern cards in general, haha. IYKYK.
Unanswered
I don’t play the Pokémon TCG.
Neutral
I absolutely detest Pocket tbh, since so many amazing artworks are put into it we’ll likely never see as physical cards. Right now it seems like a waste of TPC resources and hard work of illustrators. This opinion of mine would only change if we start seeing physical releases of those artworks.
As for new languages, like the Latin American Spanish, and perhaps also Simplified Chinese since 2022, I’m pretty happy. As someone who collects all TCG languages, it’s always cool to see new languages emerge and collect aspects of those.
As for the exclusive artworks for certain languages, especially Simplified Chinese, I can understand why people might dislike it a bit. Then again, it might be a good opportunity to also collect other languages, instead of just English and/or Japanese. If only the prices would help (looking at you S. Chinese Pikachu FAs)..
Satisifed
Overall I’m satisfied. Sets might have less cohesive themes than during the WotC era, but that’s been the case for decades now, so I’ve grown pretty numb to it by now. As long as the artworks that are being released keep being great, I’m satisfied.
And if it weren’t for Pocket (and the high prices), I would have been very satisfied instead..
I’d just like different pokemon to be featured in sets….. like what’s a man got to do to get a new munchlax art around here when your pumping out snorlax cards
I really enjoy the new direction of the art for Pokémon and anticipate that there will be a crossover of some art from Pocket to physical cards. Better set cohesion has been a pipe dream for a long time so I don’t even expect it anymore. The thing that is least satisfying with modern is the crazy price point and lack of availability on release. I had been enjoining creating a modern special arts binder. With most modern sets being very large this was my way to re-engage in set collecting. Current conditions make this less fun and appealing. I am aware this too shall pass. My question is why does it even occur? Surely TPCI can do better at anticipate demand, especially around special events and new releases of things like Pocket.
)
IYKYK.
If only the prices would help (looking at you S. Chinese Pikachu FAs)..