PC

This guide will teach you how to set up and configure the Apprentice program for playing the Pokemon Trading Card Game over the internet on your PC.

Step 1 – Download Apprentice and Necessary Files

Save these three files into a folder you will be able to retrieve later on:

  1. Apprentice Program

  2. Pokemon Patch (updated through Pokemon Heart Gold / Soul Silver, contact jermy101@aol.com if you come across any errors)

  3. Hamachi (follow the instructions on this page in order to download and install Hamachi for the PC)

Step 2 – Install Apprentice

  1. Open the Apprentice.exe file you saved during step 1.

    1. Choose a destination folder for the files by clicking “Browse”.

    2. The default folder is C:\Program Files\Apprentice, but you can save the files to anywhere that is convenient for you. Just make sure to create a new folder to save everything into.

  2. Click install and the files will unload into the designated folder.

Step 3 – Preparing Apprentice for Play

  1. Open the Apprentice folder and then open the “Decks” folder. Delete all the files you find here.

  2. Go back to the main Apprentice folder and create a shortcut to place on your desktop for easy access to the program, if you wish and there is not already one there.

    1. You can do this by right clicking on “Appr.exe” and selecting “Create Shortcut”. Then move the newly created shortcut file onto your desktop.

Step 4 – Installing the Pokemon Patch

Apprentice was originally created for Magic: The Gathering, so that is why we need to install a Pokemon TCG patch.

  1. Open the Pokemon patch file downloaded in step 1.

  2. Extract all of its contents into your Apprentice folder.

  3. You will be asked if you would like to overwrite existing files. Select “Yes to All”.

Step 5 – Configuring Apprentice

  1. Open the actual Apprentice program by double clicking on “Appr.exe”, either in the Apprentice folder or on your desktop (if you created a shortcut).

  2. Click on “Options” at the top, then “Set Name”. Enter the name you would like to appear in chat during battle.

  3. Now click “Options” again, but this time select “Preferences”. You may want to tinker with these options to suit your needs.

Step 6 – Using Hamachi

HamachiHamachi is a necessary tool for using Apprentice, as it allows you to safely connect to your online opponents in order to play a game. It is very difficult and dangerous to connect to an opponent without Hamachi.

  1. Open the Hamachi file you downloaded in step one and follow the installation (it should be fairly straightforward).

  2. Read the first 3 pages of this guide in order to learn the basics of using Hamachi.

  3. Make a new network for you and your opponent to play on.

    1. You can arbitrarily choose a network name and password, just make sure both you and your opponent know what they are.

  4. Right click on a user within the network then select “Chat” in order to communicate with them.

  5. The number listed at the top of the Hamachi screen is considered your IP address. When both you and your opponent are connected to the same network, you will be able to use this number as your IP address for Apprentice.

That’s it! Now check this guide to learn how to actually use Apprentice for playing the Pokemon TCG and go here to find people to play.