How To Use It

This guide will explain how to use the Apprentice program for playing the Pokemon Trading Card Game online.

Using the Deck Editor

Apprentice Deck Editor

  1. Open Apprentice by double clicking on Appr.exe on your desktop or in the Apprentice folder.

  2. Open the Deck Editor by clicking on “File” and selecting “Deck Editor”.

    1. Alternatively, you can use the shortcode CTRL + K or click on the icon that looks like a deck of cards, which is the second icon from the left on the top of the program directly under the “A” of “Action”.

  3. On the lower left hand side of the Deck Editor you should see a list all the Pokemon cards released in alphabetical order. If you do not see Pokemon cards listed there, then you installed the Pokemon patch incorrectly.

  4. On the lower right hand side is the current deck you are building. It should be blank right now. In order to add a card to your list, simply select the card you want to add on the list from the left hand side, and click “Add”.

    1. You can also press enter to add a card to your deck.

  5. In order to remove a card from your deck, simply select the card you wish to remove on the right hand side and click “Delete”.

  6. Directly above the list of Pokemon cards on the left, there is a search box. Type in the name of the card you are looking for and it will come up. This can save you a lot of time rather than rummaging through all the cards listed.

  7. In order to view what a card does, select the card you wish to view and click “View Card”.

    1. Alternatively, you can right-click on the card.

  8. On the very bottom of the deck editor, it tells you how many cards are in your deck. Once you have made a 60 card deck, you can save it by clicking the save button at the top, which is shaped like a diskette. You will be able to name and save the deck file wherever you would like (usually the “Decks” folder contained within the Apprentice folder).

  9. Be sure to make use of the filters listed on the top half of the Deck Editor. The only variables you should worry about are “Card Color”, “Expansion”, “Format”, and “Card Type”.

    1. Card Color refers to the type of Pokemon (Grass, Fire, Water, etc…), but lists Magic: The Gathering Colors rather than Pokemon types. You should be able to figure out which color corresponds to each Pokemon type.

    2. Expansion refers the different expansions or sets of cards that have been released (Base Set, Jungle, Fossil, etc…).

    3. Format refers to the different Pokemon card formats that have been used for tournament play (unlimited, all the different modified formats).

    4. Card Type is where you can type in Trainer, Supporter, Basic, Stage 1, etc…all those different card attributes.

  10. Once you set the specifications for the filter you would like to see, click the green check mark at the top right corner to run the filter.

  11. The cards that meet the descriptions you specified will now be the only cards that appear in the card pool on the bottom left side of the Deck Editor.

    1. Normally you will want to at least set “Format” to whatever the current modified format is when you are working on a deck.

  12. Once you have completed and saved a deck, you can make a new one by clicking the icon that looks like a sheet of paper on the top left corner. This will give you a clean slate to build another deck.

  13. You now know how to use the deck editor. :)

Starting a Game

Apprentice New Game

  1. Open Apprentice by double clicking on Appr.exe on your desktop or in the Apprentice folder.

  2. Click on “File” and select “New Game”.

    1. Alternatively, you can use the shortcode CTRL + N or click on the icon that looks like a magnifying glass, which is the first icon on the top left of the program directly under the “Game”.

  3. Click on “Load Deck” on the bottom left corner of the window, then select one of your previously saved deck files you wish to use for battle.

    1. You can edit your deck by clicking “Deck Editor”. Just make sure to save the changes because they will not be saved on their own.

  4. Edit “Starting Cards in Hand” to be 7.

    1. You can also edit “Starting Life” and “Starting Message” if you wish, but they are trivial attributes for Pokemon.

  5. Under “Game Type”, you can either select “Connect via the Internet” or “Play a Solitaire Game” then click “Ok”.

  6. “Play a Solitaire Game” will allow you to play around with your deck and learn how to use Apprentice. You will not be connected an an opponent; it’s just you.

  7. If you select “Connect via the Internet”, another window will open up.

    1. Either select “Calling my Opponent at” or “Waiting for a Call”. You and your opponent will have to decide who will do which option. One person must call their opponent and one person must wait for the call.

    2. In the field for “Calling my Opponent at”, you will put in the IP address given by Hamachi for your opponent. Do not use the IP address given by Apprentice, it will not work. Leave the port number as is.

    3. Both players must click “Ok”, and with a little luck, you will be connected to your opponent!

    4. If you are ever disconnected from your opponent during battle, click on “Communications” at the top and select “Disconnect” and/or “Reconnect” (it is the last option). If both players do this, you may be able to reconnect and resume play.

In Game Functions

  • Your Hand

    1. Apprentice Hand and FieldThe left hand side of the program shows your hand.

      1. I like to adjust the width of the card “Name” to be larger and totally cover up “Cost”; no Pokemon cards have a “Cost”.

    2. Right click on a card in your hand to view it.

    3. To play a card on the field, simply click and drag it from your hand to the field.

    4. In order to play a card face down (which is needed to placing your prizes and starting a game), hold “shift” while you are dragging it onto the field.

    5. In order to move a card from you hand to the bottom of your deck (which is needed for certain cards like Claydol GE’s “Cosmic Power”), hold shift and drag the card to the icon shaped like a deck of cards directly above your hand. It is the icon on the far left in the row of three.

    6. In order to draw a card, click on the fourth icon from the left at the top of the program. It looks like a hand holding a card.

      1. Alternatively, use the shortcode CTRL + D or click “Action” then select “Draw Card”.

    7. If you need to move your hand into your deck, click “Action”, then “Hand”, and select “Move Hand to Library.
  • In Game Functions

    1. Right-click is your friend. Right-clicking on a card will give you options to:

      1. Add damage

      2. Flip the card over

      3. Discard (“Bury”) by card

      4. Return the card to your hand or deck (“library”)

      5. View the card

      6. And more…

    2. Click and drag across the field to highlight and select multiple cards to perform a bulk action.

    3. Right-click on a barren spot in the field to receive the option to “End your Turn”.

    4. Double-click on a card to “Tap” it. This can be useful for denoting when you are using a Pokemon Power or attacking.

    5. Here are a few useful shortcodes:

      1. Flip a coin: CTRL + F

      2. Roll a die: CTRL + I

      3. Draw a card: CTRL + D

      4. Shuffle your deck: CTRL + S

    6. “Action”, “View”, and “Show” at the top will contain any other functions you need for playing Pokemon.
  • Using the Chat

    1. Apprentice Chat WindowThere is a chat window at the bottom of the screen. Simply type a message and press enter to send it to your opponent.

    2. All game actions are also listed here so you can follow what your opponent is doing.

    3. If your chat window disappears, click “Communications”, then “Chat”, and mess with the options listed there until you can see the chat window again.

Awesome, now you can find some new people play against in our online Pokemon TCG League!