This is something I've been working on for some time now. Even before we began discussing it here on CoG. Even before I joined the City of Gamers. It is something that is very near and dear to my heart. It is my vision of a new type of Team. One that is very different from the teams we currently have in the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG.
Something like this was attempted here on the forums a while back, and it never quite got off the ground. I respectfully bowed out of that project, not because of jealousy over the project, but due to the fact that I felt it was going in a completely different direction that I wanted to go. It's not that I felt it was the wrong direction, but it was very different from what I had been ruminating over all the years. I still encourage those who wished to try out to continue pursuing it if they feel they should. But I only felt it only fair that I should retain the right to pursue my own vision as I had been dreaming them.
The following is a rough draft of a the team charter and rules for, what I have named, The CookieSlayer Collective.
_____________________________________________
The CookieSlayer Collective
Tossin' cookies since 2006
Welcome to the CookieSlayer Collective.
We, the CookieSlayer Collective, are resolved to dissolve the myth that only one or a few deck types are competitive at the professional level. Our members are of the mind that creativity is lacking in the top tier decks, not due to effectiveness, but due to ignorance. Our mission is to dispel that illusion by perseverance and practical application. As a community of original thinkers, we will take our unique visions of the game and explore them in ways that have heretofore been uncultivated and overlooked. We will support and encourage our members in whatever direction their creativity takes them, offering them the unique perspectives of our individual experiences. We will take our ideas and refine them, improve upon them, adjust them to the unique changes of the world's metas. And then we will do the unthinkable. We will take our unique creations, our "fun" decks and "non-competitive" creations to every sanctioned and premiere event we can. And we will make uniqueness the new CC.
- The CookieSlayer Collective (My Anti-Cookie)
While we are most certainly here to "shake things up" in a way that has never been seen before, we ARE NOT here to create problems, promote hatred or disseminate misinformation. Our philosophy is simply that CC or "netdecking" are concepts borne out of fear and ignorance and a great deal of peer pressure to take the easiest and more readily available route to victory. We believe that the only reason you see the same decks over and over again is because players are generally afraid of the taunts and teases that are symptomatic of groups were many young people come together. In short, we believe "netdecking" is just another form of "fitting in".
We are NOT, however, a group of players who seek to obtain our goals by perpetuating the same behavior that created this atmosphere of ignorance. Our goal is to enlighten the TCG community. Not hammer them over the head with our ideals and goals. We intend to prove our point with actions and not retaliation of negative behavior. In short, our behavioral guidelines are so strict, that we will NOT allow anyone with an unsportsmanlike mentality representing us in a negative fashion. In fact, that would only hinder our collective endeavors, not support it.
As the founder of this team, I will personally see to it that no one individual besmirches our name. We do not hate the players of CC. We simply are tired of seeing the same things over and over again.
While you'll see many references expressing our disdain for all things CC, let's make one thing abundantly clear from the start. CookieSlayer is meant facetiously. A cool turning of phrase meant to make us stand out as unique and identifiable among the vast sea of teams out there who stick to only a few combos. It is not an excuse to act aggressively or immature towards players who don't see things our way. We intend to win these people over through example and fine conduct. One of the significant things wrong with the CC community is that they treat original thinkers with little or no respect. It serves no purpose to act this way in kind. We will always treat others with maturity and dignity, and in a way that we would want to be treated, regardless of the abrasiveness we will no doubt encounter.
If 90% of the duels you engage in result in abusive arguments and contests of "¿quien es mas macho?" then this is definitely not the team for you.
And here are a few simple, although not necessarily comprehensive, rules for being a member of The CookieSlayer Collective:
Applications for membership will be taken on as yet undetermined date, but it will be after the Team Charter and Member Rules and Guidelines are more fully fleshed out. I'm eager to get some feedback on this idea, and I'm sure you have questions that are not covered in this post. I know there were concerns about the last team of original thinkers dealing with the international falvor of an online team and the already existing membership of players in an existing team. Rest assured these are details that I am in the process of ironing out.
Something like this was attempted here on the forums a while back, and it never quite got off the ground. I respectfully bowed out of that project, not because of jealousy over the project, but due to the fact that I felt it was going in a completely different direction that I wanted to go. It's not that I felt it was the wrong direction, but it was very different from what I had been ruminating over all the years. I still encourage those who wished to try out to continue pursuing it if they feel they should. But I only felt it only fair that I should retain the right to pursue my own vision as I had been dreaming them.
The following is a rough draft of a the team charter and rules for, what I have named, The CookieSlayer Collective.
_____________________________________________
The CookieSlayer Collective
Tossin' cookies since 2006
Welcome to the CookieSlayer Collective.
Team Charter
We, the CookieSlayer Collective, are resolved to dissolve the myth that only one or a few deck types are competitive at the professional level. Our members are of the mind that creativity is lacking in the top tier decks, not due to effectiveness, but due to ignorance. Our mission is to dispel that illusion by perseverance and practical application. As a community of original thinkers, we will take our unique visions of the game and explore them in ways that have heretofore been uncultivated and overlooked. We will support and encourage our members in whatever direction their creativity takes them, offering them the unique perspectives of our individual experiences. We will take our ideas and refine them, improve upon them, adjust them to the unique changes of the world's metas. And then we will do the unthinkable. We will take our unique creations, our "fun" decks and "non-competitive" creations to every sanctioned and premiere event we can. And we will make uniqueness the new CC.
- The CookieSlayer Collective (My Anti-Cookie)
What the CookieSlayer Collective IS NOT
While we are most certainly here to "shake things up" in a way that has never been seen before, we ARE NOT here to create problems, promote hatred or disseminate misinformation. Our philosophy is simply that CC or "netdecking" are concepts borne out of fear and ignorance and a great deal of peer pressure to take the easiest and more readily available route to victory. We believe that the only reason you see the same decks over and over again is because players are generally afraid of the taunts and teases that are symptomatic of groups were many young people come together. In short, we believe "netdecking" is just another form of "fitting in".
We are NOT, however, a group of players who seek to obtain our goals by perpetuating the same behavior that created this atmosphere of ignorance. Our goal is to enlighten the TCG community. Not hammer them over the head with our ideals and goals. We intend to prove our point with actions and not retaliation of negative behavior. In short, our behavioral guidelines are so strict, that we will NOT allow anyone with an unsportsmanlike mentality representing us in a negative fashion. In fact, that would only hinder our collective endeavors, not support it.
As the founder of this team, I will personally see to it that no one individual besmirches our name. We do not hate the players of CC. We simply are tired of seeing the same things over and over again.
Member Guidelines
While you'll see many references expressing our disdain for all things CC, let's make one thing abundantly clear from the start. CookieSlayer is meant facetiously. A cool turning of phrase meant to make us stand out as unique and identifiable among the vast sea of teams out there who stick to only a few combos. It is not an excuse to act aggressively or immature towards players who don't see things our way. We intend to win these people over through example and fine conduct. One of the significant things wrong with the CC community is that they treat original thinkers with little or no respect. It serves no purpose to act this way in kind. We will always treat others with maturity and dignity, and in a way that we would want to be treated, regardless of the abrasiveness we will no doubt encounter.
If 90% of the duels you engage in result in abusive arguments and contests of "¿quien es mas macho?" then this is definitely not the team for you.
Member Rules
And here are a few simple, although not necessarily comprehensive, rules for being a member of The CookieSlayer Collective:
- Disrespect, rudeness or just generally disruptive behavior will NOT be tolerated. This is our number 1 rule and one that we take more seriously then any other. If you're going to an event representing our team, we expect you to adhere to a higher standard of conduct. This rule of conduct applies to any interaction that carries our CookieSlayer icon, whether it be in your signature on another forum or on a article of clothing worn at an event, if you're somehow making known to people that you are a member of The CookieSlayer Collective, you will be expected to represent us with class and dignity, win or loose.
- In order to be considered an active CookieSlayer, you must make SOME effort to post on our forums on a semi-regular basis. This will include participation in strategy discussions, posting deck ideas and helping other members to tweak their decks through the benefit of your experience. While concessions will, of course, be made for special circumstances (e.g. internet connection gets cut off, school work taking priority, etc.), the intention of this group is to perpetuate as much interaction as we possibly can and to get to constructing those original winning decks as soon as possible, so please bear that in mind when joining.
- In addition to posting regularly, you must also make an effort to propagate the charter of this team in some way. This means that we need you to actually play your original decks regularly, whether that be at your local venues or through an online dueling program. Even though this is listed as the 3rd rule, it is possibly the most fundamental rule of the CSC. This concept won't work if you're not willing to take your ideas and put them to the test. If you're not willing to actually try your deck out, then you're not going to benefit yourself or the Collective in any way.
- This rule is mainly for those in a position to do so. I full well understand the limitations and opportunities of individuals can be severely lacking (as I suffer from those limitations myself). So this rule will only apply to those who have the means and the opportunity to do so.
The charter of this team is to take originality where no one has gone before. This means that you MUST take your original ideas to competitive tournaments and venues after a reasonable length of play testing. This does not mean that you have to play your original deck each and every time you attend an event. This simply means that once we've helped you come to a point where the deck is at its most competitive, that you must now take it into the trenches. This portion of our charter will require the more steely of nerves and the most patience, as the reactions you get to your odd-ball decks will no doubt be met with scorn or derogation, especially when the early stages of this endeavor results in many losses. But it will only be through this kind of play-testing and perseverance that the true strengths and weaknesses of your deck will be made evident. And if you have the right attitude, it can also be one of the most enjoyable experiences of your TCG playing career.
Applications for membership will be taken on as yet undetermined date, but it will be after the Team Charter and Member Rules and Guidelines are more fully fleshed out. I'm eager to get some feedback on this idea, and I'm sure you have questions that are not covered in this post. I know there were concerns about the last team of original thinkers dealing with the international falvor of an online team and the already existing membership of players in an existing team. Rest assured these are details that I am in the process of ironing out.
