Jig

Pokemon: Opal Version

Yeah, that's the balance we're aiming for.

If you look a few posts up, Imperfectionist and I discuss a sort of character involved in reverse-engineering of the NeonDex. If you're not interested they can be an NPC, but if you like the sound of the character, feel free to gobble them up. :)

Pokemon: Opal Version

You're both kind of right. Yes, the tone of the battles is like dogfighting and they're probably mostly physical for a lot of Pokemon, and yes, elemental powers are an element (and presumably, a key part of strategy as the biggest variable), but not in crazy "Exploding a volcano in your face" proportions.

It's a bit tricky trying to realistify (definitely a word) the world of Pokemon, but as I said to the Imperfectionist, it's more about getting the tone right rather than obeying strict rules we're laying out now. If you don't pull anything out of your ass, you'll do fine. :)

Pokemon: Opal Version

Sweet. I'll probably put up an OoC tomorrow and flag that up as a character that somebody should make if they fancy it, because that would be very handy.

Pokemon: Opal Version

Imperfectionist said
Funnily enough, it does!Professor Baobab's the name, a very outspoken critic who came to the region from Hoenn when its last Professor was killed by a Pokemon that broke free in the lab (a rather suspicious event, if you ask her). As a member of the International Pokemon Professor Corps, her original job was simply to act as an expert, giving scientific and cultural advise relating to Pokemon to the government and the people. When they didn't need her for anything specific, which was often, she was free to continue her own experiments. Very quickly, though, she realized just how much influence NeonCorp had, and became one of the most outspoken and influential critics on the Islands (as an official Professor, a position that requires a certain amount of excellence and proven integrity and the like, a lot of the average population were inclined to listen to her).Of course, it didn't take long for Neon to retaliate, and she was swiftly discredited, removed from her position, and told to take her ass back to Hoenn; it was very clear that she wasn't welcome anymore. All this did, however, was make her angrier, and she defiantly remained in the Islands to continue campaigning (this time much more quietly) against NeonCorp and its allies. Her specialty would be in testing and training Pokemon intelligence, especially in the more ambiguous and human-like species, but beyond a few Pokemon she considers personal friends (those that she's studied and worked with for years), she's had to give up most of her research due to a lack of funds. The majority of the Pokemon she was training have been shipped back to Hoenn, where her colleagues and students will be continuing them as best they can.Baobab battles as something she can't do much to get rid of, and there are many trainers among the Corporation's critics, but she attempts to only associate with those who treat their Pokemon with respect and affection. Fair warning, even if you're supposedly her ally in opposing NeonCorp, if you're cruel to your Pokemon in her presence you're liable to get .She's had contact with Lin and Samuel, and a little with Lissa, but she doesn't exactly trust the other Gym leaders, especially Tomtom (of course), Bryson and Maria, the latter of whom make oodles of money for Neon. Ray and Marius seem more ambivalent, so Baobab doesn't know how to classify them, nor whether they should be trusted...What do you think?

I think yes. You definitely get what this is about.

She probably gets on well with Lin, who is all about forging a bond with Pokemon, so of all the leaders she's probably the favourite. Obviously when I work out more detail about the Gym Leaders, her relationships with them may be a little different, but based on what I've given you, that's exactly what I'd have pitched for. :)

I know she's a biologist rather than a techhead, but the NeonDex, as basically a trainer-surveillance, is clearly a major inhibitor to any Critic's movements, so if we don't get a techhead character, perhaps Baobab could at least commission somebody to try to reverse engineer them as well

Pokemon: Opal Version

I'd say so.

Pokemon: Opal Version

I'd already be coordinating most of the villainous stuff and plottery through NPCs, so if you want to be villainous, that's fine, but I'd avoid being involved in NeonCorp.

Brb, just removing NeonCorp from the Character Sheet Allegiance field ;)

Pokemon: Opal Version

It's generally easier to coordinate heroes rather than villains in an RP, but you should do what you want.

Pokemon: Opal Version

I'd be well up for that. In my head, there was always going to be one, also probably the unofficial head of the NeonCorp critics, if that fits in with what you had in mind.

They would require a tree for a surname, though... :P

Pokemon: Opal Version

Certainly on the ones that I plan on being directly involved in the plot. Tomtom (ahem, Thomas Kiros) is Leon Kiros' son, and so one of the heirs to NeonCorp and probably my main PC. However, he's a bit of a playboy and waster and was shunted into the Gym path rather than actually being involved in NeonCorp directly. Marius and Maria are basically convenient demographic-pleasing pinups that have bought into the system quite happily.

Lin is outspoken against NeonCorp, but they're still courting her to get on-side because she polls well. Samuel was previously also a critic, but NeonCorp put a stop to that. Lissa is more privately opposed.

Ray and Bryson, I haven't decided about yet, but I'm sure Bryson will play a role.

Other than what I've said above, I'm leaving it open because I don't think they'll all directly be involved in the plot, so the openness can be afforded. Tomtom, Bryson, Lin and Samuel are probably going to be the most important but I'm working on them.

Pokemon: Opal Version

Imperfectionist said
Hmm. Making Pokemon battles realistic in a satisfying manner is... very problematic, now that I think about it.Mostly, what it seems to me that would do is make types of Pokemon completely unbalanced. Psychics have already been mentioned and the nerf discussed, but what about Electric, or Fighting, or (god forbid) something like Onix or Steelix? How superpowerful do we make them? If they're all completely nerfed, it, ironically, makes the setting less realistic...So, are we more married to realism, or to "fairness" in Pokemon battles?

I'd say a balance of the both, but the most powerful moves are simply impossible in this, which might make nerfs kind of natural. Non-legendary Pokemon aren't really capable of creating Earthquakes, nor can they summon thunderbolts from the sky. As far as elemental attacks go, we're talking about the elemental power equivalent of perhaps a Charizard breathing a plume of flame, generally speaking, as an upper-middle level of what they can do. Yes, the fire would suck, but they won't completely incapacitate battle ready Pokemans, and so we could say the same for most elemental moves. I imagine elements will primarily be used as augments to physical combat, on the whole. Fightings are therefore balanced by not having an elemental boost (generally) and are forced to outmanoeuvre or simply overpower the opposition. Flying Pokemon will generally be fragile but have the advantage of being airborne, forcing the opponent to defend and counter well. A lot of this stuff balances itself to my mind.

To be honest, the main reason for sorting this out beforehand is just to guarantee that nobody dickstorms in with a Pikachu and brings Ragnarok down upon us being all "But he learns thunder though". Fortunately, I trust that players in this won't just dickstorm and so balance and fairness will reign anyway. The idea isn't to prescribe every possible action and let the players choose: it's to make sure the players know roughly how this will work and let them be creative with it.

Imagine Onyx and Steelix would, indeed, but horrifying monsters to battle. On the plus side, their enormousness will probably make them rare in the wild, and so they hopefully won't turn up. If worst comes to worst, go for the eyes. :P

Not all Manz are made equal. Onyx and Steelix would be a solid choice for a Trainer if they could train one (doubtful, but hey) and probably steamroller untactical opponents while Sunkern doesn't really have anything to fight with, limbwise. Some Pokemon will be more suited to the battle aspects of this RP than others.