I like the idea, I was replying to someone that said we should just post the badge holders on this thread instead of having concrete objects.
Why not both?
you have to beat not only the people who are likely to win the tournaments in your area, but you have to travel to other areas where the players might even be better? jeez. it'll be entertaining, but not very common. i'd rather win a tourney tbh.
Well these "battles" or whatever can take place
exclusively at tournaments held within the region. You don't have to travel to the tournaments to fight for a badge if you don't have to, but if you are a badge holder then you are encouraged to show at your regional events, to create more hype for the challengers.
Additionally, there can be a stipulation for badge holders to show to an event within a given time period if challenged, so badge holders aren't just claiming their prize then hiding out. Say, a month to two months after challenged, or something. I dunno.
Each person can hold only one badge at a time, so slowly, the TOP 8 that hold the badges will become stronger.
For example, if player A knows he can't beat gym leader 1 but he can beat gym leader 2, and
does, then this only strengthens the tiered system of the region, which, I assume, is the whole point in the first place.
These regional badges couldn't be won by players of other regions, cause, you know, they're not from the region. yadda yadda
Actually, this could hype nationals even more when, say, one gym leader from PacWest beats a gym leader from Midwest, and what have you.
Meh.
Just spit-balling.
A lot of this, if not all of it, is spit-balling.
Sounds like a really fun thing to do.
But you have to get enough people per region on board to do it.