Interview: Jacob and Ryan with SRQ Poke Vets PodcastInterview: Jacob and Ryan with SRQ Poke Vets Podcast
The Payoff with Pete
Corey chats with Jacob and Ryan from SRQ PokeVets about their journeys in Pokémon TCG, running a team, and working events. They also share candid views on NAIC registration debates and how upcoming sets could reshape the competitive scene.
52:17•7 May 2024
Cardboard, Comrades and Controversy with SRQ PokeVets
Episode Overview
- Jacob and Ryan share how they got into Pokémon TCG as adults and how community support pulled them in.
- They explain how a poorly run event pushed them to start the SRQ PokeVets podcast as an outlet for honest commentary.
- Their Orlando Regionals stories highlight realistic expectations, last‑minute deck choices, and playing mainly for fun and friendships.
- They discuss the NAIC registration controversy, arguing that priority for top performers is earned while acknowledging system flaws and venue issues.
- Looking to Twilight Masquerade, they expect a major meta shift, with Dragapult ex and new strategies likely to shake up established decks.
“"For SRQ PokeVets, the vets part isn't more about military. It's more about we're veterans towards playing Pokémon."”
What can we learn from those who have battled addiction? Here, the focus is cardboard, camaraderie, and competitive fire, as Corey chats with Jacob and Ryan from the SRQ PokeVets podcast. This conversation has an easy, hang-out-with-your-mates feel. You’ll hear how Jacob, a CGC card grader and Army reservist, and Ryan, an Air Force veteran and long-time league organiser, fell back in love with Pokémon TCG as adults and then decided to start their own show and team in Florida.
Their origin story is wonderfully honest: SRQ PokeVets was born because they were so frustrated with a badly run tournament that they needed somewhere to rant. Fans of competitive play get plenty of detail. Jacob and Ryan break down their runs at Orlando Regionals, including last‑minute deck-choice jitters, tough matchups, and a teammate’s impressive Top 32 finish.
They chat about starting a local team of around ten players, how sponsors help with discounts, and why the only real team rule is to have fun, even when results are rough. The trio also wade into the hot-topic "elitism" debate around NAIC registration. Drawing on experience with other card games and as judges, they argue that priority slots for top performers are earned, while pointing out that registration systems and venue caps still need serious work.
Looking ahead to the Twilight Masquerade set, they predict a major shake-up to the meta, with Dragapult ex tipped as the next big threat and Greninja decks exciting more creative players. Whether you’re a casual fan, a local-league grinder, or someone wondering if it’s "okay" to stay passionate about a hobby as life gets busier, this chat offers reassurance, plenty of laughs, and a reminder that games are meant to be fun.
Which part of Jacob and Ryan’s journey sounds most like your own story at the table?
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