GAME SYSTEM This entry is to allow for discussion/rating of the game system as a whole. It is not for a specific product or release. Versions will appear on the individual item pages. Pok mon is a Collectible Card Games based upon Japanese anime that have found success internationally, and is one of the longest surviving CCGs currently available. Pok mon was one of the first Collectible Card Games to offer any competition to the market dominance of Magic: The Gathering. Many people who buy the product often do not play the game, choosing instead to collect their favorite characters from the franchise the game is based upon. Each player plays the role of a Pok mon trainer that use their Pok mon creatures to battle the Pok mon creatures of the other Pok mon trainer. The object of the game is to play your Pok mon cards, that represent different creatures, and be the first player to "knock out" (defeat) six opposing Pok mon. You play the game with a deck of sixty cards that include your Pok mon, as well as Trainer cards and Energy cards. Trainer cards affect the game, players, or Pok mon in different ways, most of them temporary, while Energy cards act as the resources in the game. You start the game by drawing seven cards to your hand. Each player picks a Basic Pok mon from their hand and places it in front of them to start. This is called the Active Pok mon and is the one currently dueling. Players can also place other Basic Pok mon to fill up the five slots on their "Bench". Six cards are then set aside to act as Prize cards. Each time you defeat one of your opponent's Pok mon, you get to draw one of these Prize cards. Players take alternating turns during which they can: Draw a card from their deck to their hand Play Actions: Put Basic Pok mon in play from their hand to their Bench Evolve their Pok mon Attach an Energy card to one of their Pok mon (once per turn) Play Trainer cards (Only 1 Stadium card and 1 Supporter card per turn) Retreat their Active Pok mon (once per turn - trade places with one on the Bench (usually at the cost of Energy cards)) Use Abilities Attack In addition to Basic Pok mon cards, there are also Evolution cards, which depict evolved forms of Basic Pok mon (or sometimes other Evolved Pok mon). A player can evolve a Pok mon by laying a corresponding Evolution card onto another Pok mon card in play. This can only be done once per turn per Pok mon, and only if the Pok mon has been in play at least one entire turn. The Evolved Pok mon retains any damage and Energy cards, but loses any Special Conditions affecting it, and the card text completely replaces the previous card. The last action a player takes during their turn, if they choose, is to have their Active Pok mon use one of its abilities to attack the other player's Active Pok mon. Attacks can only be used if the Pok mon has enough Energy cards of the right type attached to it to meet the requirements for the attack; each attack has different requirements and effects that are listed on the card. Most attacks will do some amount of damage to the Defending Pok mon; if defeated, the Defending Pok mon is replaced with another Pok mon from the Bench, and the attacker draws a Prize card. If either the attacker draws their last Prize card or the Defender cannot replace the Active Pok mon (due to an empty Bench), the attacker has won the game. There are many different varieties of Pok mon available and several different forms of each one, each with different attacks, abilities and characteristics, allowing for many different possible outcomes. Gotta collect 'em all!

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