NOTICE: This blog was originally written before X and Y were released, and henceforth, a lot of the information

here, as well as the writing style, is quite outdated !roduction ended right before "ay of #$%&, as the sheer si'e and tre( on to) of X and Y coming out made it too much for me to handle, so I*ll be rewor(ing a new blog +ery similar to this one, ,ust a bit more u)-to-date I*ll (ee) this blog ali+e for )ros)erity, but )lease note that this one is not to be ta(en too seriously, at least now .efore, maybe, but now, it*s a little late to fi/ this one, and it*s best to start o+er 0hen will that blog come1 2shrugs2 I don*t (now
-11/18/2013

Note: This was originally one big blog, but after some feedbac(, I*+e decided to cut it down into se)arate cha)ters 3owe+er, the blog is written as if it were one single blog, so )lease forgi+e me for that fact 4I5C67I"E8: This blog was made before X and Y were on store shel+es 7s such, some of the information may or may not be outdated by the time they or announcements relating to X and Y are released 7lso, this blog assumes that you are well-+ersed in the main !o(emon series 0hile I may e/)lain certain mechanics of other games and other )oints of interest, I will not hold bac( on any lingo or (now-how that may be e/clusi+e to this franchise 6astly, des)ite me co+ering many to)ics, there are certain areas where I am )ractically foreign to, and thus I may not be able to discuss them in de)th )ro)erly In other words, I don*t (now e+erything You ha+e been forewarned

Introduction
...well...crap. With at least TWO Pokemon blogs in regards to changes/impro ements! one m"st wonder wh# the#$re cropping "p all o% a s"dden. &n#how! a%ter reading those blogs! ' %ig"red that ' might as well come "p with m# own. '$ e tho"ght o% some changes and impro ements %or the main series! writing them down on doc"ments and s"ch! and '$ e posted some o% them be%ore as well (and some o% them were )"ite big in their own right*! b"t now it$s time to post them here. 'n this blog! ' will point o"t ario"s aspects o% the main series! whether ' liked them or not! and o%%er m# s"ggestions %or said parts o% the series. The# co"ld be impro ements to old mechanics! or introd"ction o% new ones. ' will also disc"ss some o% the more +technical+ s"b,ects in detail! and b# that ' mean either show step b# step or ,"st %lat o"t chat abo"t some o% the aspects that ' ma# %eel more strongl# abo"t. &s s"ch! this blog will be )"ite long! so '$ e broken it down into ario"s chapters %or #o"r reading pleas"re. ' wo"ld also like to point o"t that "nlike some pla#ers! ' act"all# do %eel a di%%erent ad ent"re with each generation! e en the newer ones. -eck! i% it weren$t %or the third ersion tradition! ' probabl# wo"ldn$t be able to pla# the %irst two generations again (and e en then! it$s )"ite hard %or me to do so*! and the third one is ,"st starting to show its age! despite still being er# %"n. .till! ' do belie e that there$s a TO/ that co"ld be done. 0"t '$ e kept #o" waiting %ar eno"gh! so...the act"al plans. '$m s"re

some o% #o" ha e ideas o% #o"r own! which gi es me a transitional idea1 (.orr#.*

The 8ules
-o-ka#! here$s a co"ple r"les '$ e made %or m#sel% to keep things! %or a lack o% better term! consistent! and %or #o" g"#s i% #o" want to s"ggest and/or add on to m# list2 (3"ick note4 r"les with an asterisk 5 are optional! b"t are recommended to %ollow.* 1. 6o" cannot change the battle s#stem. 7 er. Oka#! ma#be 1 or 2 changes along the lines o% the 2 stat splits and abilities and s"ch! b"t nothing like making it action-based. 8ore will be disc"ssed in a later chapter. 2. 6o" m"st keep the 8 g#ms and 7lite 9. Two reasons are that #o" can still do some :7&;;6 creati e st"%% with them! and i% #o"r disdain %or them is %or plot-reasons! co"ldn$t the same thing be applied to! sa#! 8ario %or instance< 3. :andom enco"nters m"st be present in some %ashion. &dmittedl#! this is perhaps the least logical r"le! b"t something doesn$t %eel right i% the# went awa#. '% #o"$re wondering how %ar '$ll go! to gi e an e=ample! >ragon 3"est '?$s enco"nters! %or the p"rposes o% this blog! are /OT random enco"nters. 9. @eep other a"diences in mind. This means that make s"re #o"r s"ggestions can be easil# applied to children as well as ad"lts. .o making things s"per di%%ic"lt isn$t recommended.5 A. 6o" ma# remo e the e il team i% necessar#! b"t it$s not recommended.5 With that! let$s go o er the table o% contents to see what '$m going to go o er. The +chapters+ will ha e a code that will make it easier to skip to ario"s chapters o% the blog.

Table of Contents
1. 2. 3. 9. A. F. H. 9ser Interface (To"chscreen men" and o erall con enience* BC'01D :eneral .attling (T#pes! battle mechanics! and di%%ic"lt#* BE002D O+erworld (;ocals! %ield obstacles and items! capt"ring! and world pacing* BOW03D 5idequests (0attling >istractions! non-combat acti ities! and other (new* side)"ests* B.309D !o(emon and You (:oles o% Pokemon! e ol"tion! and combat design* BP60AD 5tory and Conte/t (Eeneral premise(s*! themes and moti%s! and characters* B.G0FD Communication and "ulti)layer (;ocal %eat"res! ersion e=cl"si es! and online options* BG80HD 8. Com)le/ "echanics (-idden .tats! 0reeding! and Other -idden 8echanics** B-808D I. 6ittle .attle Twea(s (8o es and non-mo e e%%ects* B;T0ID 10."iscellaneous;Other changes B8G10D 11.Conclusion BGon11D &nd now! let$s go to o"r %irst order o% b"siness! and one that ' don$t see a whole lot o% talk abo"t2 The "ser 'nter%ace.

% 9ser Interface <9I$%=

What do ' mean when ' sa# +Cser 'nter%ace+< Well! %or this conte=t! ' ha e two de%initions2 1. The more ob io"s de%inition is the act"al men"s and how pla#ers interact with them! whether the#$re eas# to get thro"gh or a pain in the b"tt. This ma# be an#thing %rom the >. men"s o%

-eartgold and .o"lsil er or the man# men"s inside the traditional +.tart+ men"! or e en the Poketch %rom >iamond/Pearl/Platin"m. 2. The o erall con enience o% the game as a whole. 8ost e=amples come %rom 0lack and White (2*! with %eat"res s"ch as "nlimited T8s or allowing #o" to "se repels one a%ter another instead o% ha ing to open the men" to do so. This also incl"des the +last item "sed+ %eat"re that was present in the more recent games. 6o" ma# be asking this2 What do ' hope to achie e in this regard< Well! o%%er "se%"l %eat"res to enhance the e=perience and make the whole thing a breeJe to browse thro"gh. Tr# sa#ing those last %i e words %i e times %ast.

Touchscreen "enu
Kirst! let$s start with the to"chscreen. /ow! '$ e pre io"sl# bro"ght "p the Poketch and .tart 8en" in the To"chscreen. -owe er! with 0lack and White! this has changed to the G-Eear! which is "se%"l %or more instantaneo"s local comm"nication! %or a lack o% better words. /ow! ' %eel like the 9th generation "ses o% the to"ch screen were a nice addition to the o erall e=perience. .o! ' wo"ld like to s"ggest to bring those back. 6o" ma# be asking abo"t how we are able to %it the two i% we$re not going to choose one or the other. ' am glad #o" asked. Please take a look at the screen below.

This is the to"ch screen men" %or -eartgold and .o"lsil er (albeit in Lapanese4 please bare with me*. There are se eral changes that '$d like to make in order %or m# ision o% the to"ch screen men" to work. Kirst o% all! the H options are too widespread. 8aking them closer! b"t not too close! wo"ld be ideal %or this ision to work. &lso! the PokeEear ma# or ma# not make a reappearance. Kor now! we shall e=cl"de it. 'n m# ro"gh edit o% the to"ch screen! the F options are mo ed to the top while a big rectangle that$ll take its place in the bottom shall ass"me the role o% the Poketch. /e=t! we ha e to deal with @e# items and eas# access ia select registering. &s #o" can see! there are

two items that are registered. 0lack and White allowed 3. -owe er! #o" had to go thro"gh another men" in order to access them. There%ore! ' shall add in at least 2 more items to what is being presented. ' sa# at least beca"se depending on how we deal with the a"to-r"nning and the check b"tton in the bottom right! it ma# allow room %or more. -owe er! that leads into the act"al b"ttons! which '$ e sadl# neglected and %orgotten abo"t "ntil now. Kirst o%%! ' am bringing back ; M &. /o )"estions asked. .econd! ' am reassigning the +?+ "sed to open the men" back to +.tart+. 'nstead! ? shall ,oin 6! as well as : and .elect! %or the %irst 9 ke# items. &n#more will ha e to deal with not ha ing b"ttons to )"ickl# access them like the %ishing rod. /ow! ' can see people being reall# "ncom%ortable in accidentall# hitting the b"ttons. Th"s! ' shall make the b"ttons optional. 6o" can acti ate them to be ke# items! b"t otherwise! the#$ll be m"ch like the %ishing rod in the screen abo e. 't$s worth to note that this is ass"ming that the game is made %or the 3>.! which %eat"res similar b"ttons (b"t not necessairl# the la#o"t* o% the >.. There are other little things as well! most o% them graphical. /amel#! ' do en,o# the graphical st#le o% the men" in 0lack and White 2. 't is er# sleek! and ' %eel like the +neon+ colors "sed %or each indi id"al b"tton is portra#ed er# well. There is one problem with m# s"ggestion! tho"gh! and it$s %or those with big %ingers! who ma# accidentall# hit the b"tton the# didn$t want to click on d"e to the %ingers taking "p larger amo"nts o% the screen. This ma# be wh# the b"ttons in -eartgold and .o"lsil er are so widespread. With that wrapped "p! here is a ro"gh edit o% what the bottom screen wo"ld ro"ghl# look like. L"st imagine the %inal ersion being wa# more polished.

/ow! it$s not ,"st the main men" that '$m talking abo"t. There$s st"%% like the Pokede=! the Pokemon in%o! bags! #o"r trainer card! etc. '$ e tho"ght abo"t whether or not to disc"ss them or not! and the#$re still part o% the "ser inter%ace! b"t most o% them seem to be more appropriate %or other sections. Kor now! we$ll talk abo"t #o"r trainer card and options. P"ll o"t a trainer card4 an# card. 6o"$ll see basic in%o! like #o"r name! '>! how m"ch mone# #o" ha e! what g#m badges #o" ha e! and an# stars %or e=ceptional achie ements. There$s not m"ch to talk abo"t! reall#! e=cept it sho"ld show other in%o as well! like #o"r %riend-code. /ow Options! on the other hand! does re)"ire a look. There$s a decent selection o% options! tho"gh 0"tton 8ode is in need o% more! well! options. The st"%% ' talked abo"t pre io"sl# like ; M & sho"ld be applied here. &lso! we need to bring back the Krame option! and gi e plent# to choose %rom. Wh#< 0eca"se. 0"t it$s not ,"st the act"al men"s that we ha e to go o er. There$s other parts o% the whole e=perience

that we can make a less o% a hassle! as well. .o with that! let$s go o er to o erall con enience.

O+erall Con+enience
.o what$s o erall con enience in this instance! strictl# speaking< 't$s hard to pin down! b"t basicall# making ario"s mechanics less o% a hassle to deal with. 't$s best to gi e e=amples o% s"ch things rather than tr#ing to la# down a strict de%inition. ' alread# mentioned the "nlimited T8s and the :epels mechanic. -owe er! there are other con eniences '$d like to add in! as well. These are ,"st a %ew that '$d like to implement2 'n 0lack and White 2! #o" are allowed to mo e items %rom Pokemon to Pokemon witho"t ha ing to bag them %irst. Well! how abo"t we take it one step %"rther< 'mplement to"ch screen controls to allow seamless switching o% items. Kor that matter! let$s appl# to switching Pokemon! as well. We ,"st ha e to make s"re that the game recogniJes whether the Pokemon is being switched or the item is. :emember the +last item "sed+ %eat"re '$ e mentioned< Well! how abo"t one %or attacks< 't wo"ld sa e a precio"s tap or two! and while the di%%erence ma# seem minimal! the amo"nt o% time sa ed adds "p o er time. '% #o"$ e pla#ed an &nimal Grossing game! #o"$ll know that the shopping s#stem allows #o" to p"rchase and sell items like a cart. ' ha e not seen man# games that "tiliJe this s#stem! as it is er# "se%"l and %aster than man"all# b"# or sell items one (t#pe* at a time! so Pokemon wo"ld bene%it %rom s"ch a %eat"re. 6o" ma# p"t in m"ltiple items o% the same item! and with the p"rchases and sello"ts! #o"$ll obtain #o"r o erall pro%it! be it positi e or negati e. .o now we$ e made the game easier to pla# in terms o% act"all# getting thro"gh the more technical st"%%. 't$s time that we tackle one o% the most common areas o% disc"ssion! i% not the most2 Eeneral 0attling.

# :eneral .attling <:.$#=

&s stated! one o% the areas that people wo"ld like to add or change the most is how the battles work. '$ e alread# mentioned m# r"le on this! so #o" ma# think that there isn$t m"ch we ha e to work with. -owe er! there still plent# we can do.

Ty)es
One o% the most common s"b-topics are t#pes. Whether it$s adding new t#pes or rebalancing the t#pe chart! people are o%%ering s"ggestions on how to change or impro e on this. Kirst! let$s go o er the prospect o% a new t#pe. Kirst o% all! i% there were to be a new t#pe! there$d ha e to be an ample amo"nt o% Pokemon to make "p that new t#pe. .o a decent ch"nk o% a new generation that goes along the t#pe will ha e to be o% that t#pe! "nless pre io"s Pokemon are ad,"sted! like how the 8angemite %amil# went %rom p"re 7lectric to 7lectric/.teel. '% it were "p to me %or adding a new t#pe! '$d hate to be cliche$d! b"t hear me o"t %irst. /ow! there ha e been arg"ments abo"t being %or the new t#pe and against it! in that it$s a good co"nter against >ark! and it$s being co"ntered that it$s an misinterpretation o% what >ark act"all# is. '! howe er! ha e come "p with something. 6o" know how >ark is 7 il in Lapan< Well! how abo"t a similar thing in this instance< 'n other places! it co"ld be called ;ight or -ol# (b# the wa#! #es! it was the light-t#pe*! and in Lapan! something like +Eood+! or e en +-ol#+ or +P"re+! meaning all things good! basicall# opposite o% >ark or +7 il+.

Kor those o% #o" wondering what$ll happen to t#pes like Kighting or Ps#chic! otherwise tho"ght to be +co"nters+ %or >ark! well! Kighting-t#pe attacks aren$t "s"all# heroic in nat"re! and Ps#chic! well...'$m g"essing that 7speon pla#ed a ke# role in that mindset! b"t regardless! ;ight/P"re wo"ld be a more ideal co"nter to dark! and not in the stereot#pical wa#s that$s been s"ggested so man# times. &s %or its .trengths and weaknesses< That$s "p to #o"! b"t s"%%ice to sa#! it$s relationship with >ark wo"ld be special4 '$ll lea e it at that. .econd is the act"al t#pe chart! and whether some balancing is necessar#. '$ll come o"t and sa# that it does need some balancing! tho"gh its not witho"t a drawback. 0"t %irst! let$s look at the act"al t#pe chart that we got so %ar2

Gertain t#pes are...shall we sa#! less e%%ecti e than others. Kor e=ample! take a look at Poison. 6o"$ll notice that Poison is onl# s"per e%%ecti e against one t#pe! Erass! a t#pe that$s alread# ri%e with weaknesses. .o let$s gi e Poison at least one more t#pe to be s"per-e%%ecti e against. -owe er! we m"st make s"re that the t#pe ad antage makes at least a little bit o% sense. The change we$ll make is a common one! b"t is a good one to make2 8ake Poison s"per-e%%ecti e against Water. 'gnoring the realistic/logical e%%ects! %rom a gamepla# standpoint! not onl# does it gi e Poison one more ad antage! b"t said ad antage is an important one4 Water c"rrentl# onl# has two weaknesses2 Erass and 7lectric. /either t#pes are that common! and while Poison is e en less common than the two t#pes! it$ll gi e Poison a bigger importance. 0"t it$s not o%%ense that we ha e to take a look at. Take a look at what t#pes 'ce resist. 6"p4 O/;6 'T.7;K. .o we ha e to gi e it more resistances. 0"t what< This is going to be harder than Poison! tho"gh! so let me think %or a moment. 6o" ma# ha e #o"r own s"ggestions %or impro ing 'ce! b"t %or me< -mm....%or now! let$s gi e it 0"g. 't$s not m"ch! b"t it$ll do. This one co"ld be changed at an#time! so don$t take this one with a grain o% salt. /ow! is there a problem with changing the t#pe chart< 6es there is. 't ma# r"in pre io"s t#pe combos that were made er# special. The prime e=ample in m# mind is Water/>ragon! and @ingdra and Palkia won$t appreciate the %act that the#$re now s"sceptible to Poison that kindl#. There ma# be other t#pe combos that might be +r"ined+ depending on other changes that are made! as well.

.attle "echanics
With t#pes o"t o% the wa#! let$s mo e on to other areas. :emember changes like hold items! abilities! nat"res! the two stat splits that occ"rred< Well! how abo"t another change or two that$s along those lines. To be honest! when >iamond and Pearl came o"t! ' tho"ght that the battle s#stem has reached its peak. (5:emembers 8t. Goronet5 /o p"n intended.* -owe er! there ma# be one or two changes that ma# be added in witho"t drasticall# %lipping the s#stem "pside down and o er! and we$ll get to those kind o% s"ggestions in a min"te. Kor now! tho"gh! what can we add or change "p< '$ e seen a co"ple s"ggestions! like terrain (not weather*! or the %ront/back s#stem present in some other :PEs. Terrain is basicall# taking into acco"nt things like %ields! mo"ntains and s"ch! which '$m not too sold on. On the other hand! let$s go o er the %ront/back s#stem %or a min"te.

.ome :PEs (;ike Kinal Kantas# ''! as shown in the pict"re abo e* "se a %ront/back s#stem. Kor those o% #o" "n%amiliar with the mechanic! it determines #o"r damage inp"t and o"tp"t depending on where #o"$re placed in battle. 7ssentiall#! being in the %ront means #o"$ll deal more damage! b"t #o"$ll recei e more damage! while being in the back red"ces the damage #o" take! b"t also the damage #o"$ll dish o"t. '$m not 100N certain that this bene%it will be 100N bene%icial to Pokemon! b"t it$s one o% the best we got. O% co"rse! this makes the most sense in do"ble and triple battles! since there$s m"ltiple Pokemon present per side to show some di%%erence! tho"gh that$s not to sa# that single battles can$t "tiliJe this s#stem at all. :otation battles are another stor#! tho"gh! and one that '$d pre%er not to get into toda#. -owe er! the problem ' see is that...which one is going to be the de%a"lt one< '$d s"ggest adding in a 3rd +ne"tral+ state! b"t that ma# ,"st needlessl# complicate things. Otherwise! '$d imagine that the +%ront+ wo"ld be the de%a"lt! an#wa#. '$ e seen a s"ggestion where Pokemon wo"ld ha e to learn mo es b# learning them! acc"m"lating points "ntil the#$ e +mastered+ them! o% sorts. '$m not s"re it co"ld be applied to mo es! b"t ' do think it$ll work %or something else. 0asicall#! there$s an assortment o% +b"%%s+! which we$ll call %oc"s b"%%s to gi e to a Pokemon. .t"%% like AN increase to ph#sical attack! a )"ick-claw like b"%%! a weaker am"let coin! etc. 7ach +b"%%+ will re)"ire a certain amo"nt o%...KP (We$ll call them %oc"s points* "ntil the#$ e mastered them. There$s an assortment o% items that can teach these b"%%s! b"t i% the#$re "ne)"ipped be%ore the#$re mastered! the b"%% will simpl# go awa#. Once the b"%% is mastered! the Pokemon can "se it howe er he or she wishes while e)"ipping another! separate item. The real worr# is whether or not to allow %or m"ltiple b"%%s or ,"st ha e it one at a time. .ho"ld we go %or ha ing m"ltiple b"%%s! we$ll ha e to ha e them e)"ip one b"%% at a time %or balance reasons. :egardless! there$ll ha e to be a limit somewhere! and when that is reached! the Pokemon will ha e to

%orget a b"%% in order to relearn a new one. Personall#! '$m gonna go with ,"st one! beca"se the#$re animals! not machines (well! most o% them! an#wa#*! so ha ing them +choose+ a b"%% wo"ldn$t make m"ch sense. /ow as %or the s"ggestions that '$m not %ond o%! the main problem is that the# all in ol e re%le=es in some %orm. /ow! while that$s "s"all# a good thing (look at &T0 in the ./7./P.1 Kinal Kantas# games and the 8ario and ;"igi games %or proo%*! it$s not s"itable %or all L:PEs. 0esides! it$s nice to ha e at least one L:PE (series* that$s p"rel# t"rn-based. There$s another reason that '$ll get to in a bit. .till! not all o% them are totall# bad! so let$s go o er them one b# one. 8aking it totall# action-based. This is the onl# s"ggestion where '$d (begr"dgingl#* be like +6eah...no+. The onl# +proper+ wa# ' co"ld see this working wo"ld be making it similar to 8onster -"nter! b"t e en then! "nless it$s %or a spin-o%%! ' m"st point to m# +/eat to ha e ,"st O/7 p"re t"rn-based :PE+ point pre io"sl# made. Pl"s! it essentiall# gi es the pre io"s games one giant! nast# middle %inger4 it$s like i%! sa#! /ew ."per 8ario 0ros. A (or the Ath installment! rather* went %rom 2> plat%ormer to W:PE in the same s"bseries. 't ma# be a %ine game on its own! b"t like ' said! lest it$s a spin-o%%! people are going to be pissed o%%. &lso! '$m not s"re how it$d work o"t properl# witho"t making it con ol"ted d"e to controlling another Pokemon! let alone in battles with m"ltiple Pokemon per side. &dding in action commands ia 8ario and ;"igi. These ne=t two s"ggestions wo"ld be neat additions! b"t there$s one reason to not do so2 ;ag. 'n competiti e pla#! tr#ing to add in action commands wo"ld screw "p the whole ordeal! since #o"$d need a :7&;;6 e=cellent connection (better than it alread# demands* to e en ha e a chance o% doing so. 't$d ha e to be constant to gi e a %air chance to both sides. Pl"s! how wo"ld #o" time each attack< 8oreo er! how wo"ld the 7/786 &' react< &dding in an &T0 s#stem ala Kinal Kantas# 'O (where it was %irst introd"ced*. &gain! it$d be neat! i% not %or the pre io"sl# mentioned lag problem. /ot onl# that! b"t how wo"ld #o" base the &T0 s#stem on< .peed< Then #o"$re creating a similar problem to what the 1st gen had! where critical hits were determined b#! #o" g"essed it! speed. 7 en ignoring the big ones! like an 7lectrode ha ing two to three t"rns (ma#be %o"r depending on how its raised* compared to a .norla=! the minimal di%%erence reall# adds "p! especiall# i% the battle itsel% goes long.

4ifficulty
/ow that '$ e chewed that bit o%% (and bo#! was it nast#*! there$s one more area that$s hotl# debated abo"t! and one that some pla#ers are most concerned abo"t2 >i%%ic"lt#. Pokemon games ha e generall# been on the eas# side. .ome entries are harder than others! b"t it$s still not eno"gh %or some people. One thing to keep in mind! tho"gh! that the primar# target a"dience is children! and the# ma# not be read# %or s"ch to"gh battles. 0esides! the battles that ma# be eas# to "s ma# not be so eas# to them. K"n %act2 The reason Cno a was more linear and easier was beca"se kids act"all# complained to Eame Kreak that the .innoh games were too hard! so make o% that what #o" will. .o how can we %i= this while still keeping the kiddies intact< & common s"ggestion made was the incl"sion o% di%%ic"lt# modes. 0lack and White 2 sort o% introd"ced this! b"t the wa# the# handled it was...not the best o% wa#s. 8ake it straight-"p a ailable %rom the start. >i%%ic"lties like .tarter! Oeteran! and 8aster wo"ld be appropriate! with .tarter being the de%a"lt. -ow wo"ld the settings a%%ects the game< G"rrentl#! the# alter the le els! and the# add in one more Pokemon to rosters o% important battles! like E#m leaders. ' heard that the &' is changed! too! b"t ' can$t pro e that. 7ither wa#! more co"ld be done. 'n addition to the le els and rosters increasing with increasing di%%ic"lt#! ma#be alter the &' in some wa#! i% it hasn$t alread#. Or heck!

ma#be alter their mo esets to be more specialiJed and sophisticated in higher di%%ic"lties. L"st don$t p"ll a >e il 8a# Gr# 3 i% possible! please. O% co"rse! there are other wa#s to tr# and %i= the di%%ic"lt#. One s"ggestion in ol es d#namic le eling! which is scaling the opponents$ le els to match #o"rs. '$ e seen this in place be%ore! b"t '$m don$t think it$ll work o"t %or Pokemon. The reason is that there$s m"ltiple part# members! and ' don$t know how the# wo"ld be able to implement that. >o #o" take the a erage le el o% all the Pokemon< '% so! how wo"ld #o" then s#nc it to the opponent! making s"re that their le els match accordingl#< 0esides! '$d imagine it being )"ite di%%ic"lt to code and test properl#! probabl# more e%%ort than its worth. &nother s"ggestion in ol es limiting the teams to ha e e)"al amo"nts o% members %or at least ke# battles. '$m not too s"re abo"t this! since it wo"ld limit certain pla#st#les (like "sing additional members as %odder*! b"t '$m not 100N opposed to this! either. This is implemented in places like the 0attle ."bwa#! b"t some people wo"ld like to see this appl# to the main ,o"rne#! as well. '% this were to be implemented! '$d like to pla# o"t like this2 0oth .tarter and Oeteran ha e it as an optional challenge. 0"t! .tarter wo"ld ha e it o%% b# de%a"lt! while Oeteran wo"ld t"rn it on b# de%a"lt. 'n 8aster! howe er! it$s mandator#. 'n the e ent that there$s onl# one di%%ic"lt# setting! tho"gh! ma#be ask the pla#er in ke# battles %or a chance o% greater rewards< '$m not s"re. '$ e seen a s"ggestion that in ol es a le el cap! b"t reall#< /ot onl# will this limit pla#-st#les e en more (one thing #o" co"ld kinda take com%ort in! %or a lack o% better phrase! is that grinding is still a %easible option! i% necessar#*! b"t it doesn$t e en make sense %rom a stor# standpoint4 how are #o" going to e=plain this in-game<1 &lso! this ma# "nintentionall# p"t in place roadblocks that ma# halt certain pla#ers entirel#! making the whole thing %eel more like an old .ierra ad ent"re game! th"s ha ing waste so m"ch time %ig"ring o"t what the# did wrong. &t worst! the#$d ha e to start the game o er %rom the er# beginning. Kinall#! this isn$t e en a remotel# common %eat"re in the %irst place1 >o #o" see Kinal Kantas# and >ragon 3"est ha ing s"ch a thing< NO>>> /ot in the main entries! at least1 Onl# reall# niche :PEs ma# ha e it! b"t Pokemon is an#thing b"t niche. This is one o% those s"ggestions that wo"ld iolate the +take all a"diences in mind+ r"le reall# %ast. 0"t! since it '. optional! i% #o" m"st ha e it! ma#be make it onl# a ailable in the highest di%%ic"lt# setting< 0"t #o" ma# ask what i% there$s onl# one< Well! ' am reli ed to sa# that there is a sol"tion.

:emember in ."per .mash 0rothers 0rawl (or 8elee i% #o" pre%erred that game* there$s a +.pecial mode+ where #o" can acti e certain conditions and r"lesets< '% not! there$s a screen abo e %or re%erence. Well! how abo"t ha ing a similar %"nction in the Pokemon games< 'n the beginning! ha e a list o% options to alter the gamepla#! be it the team limit! or the le el cap. The#$d all be o%% b# de%a"lt! tho"gh! %or ob io"s reasons. Which leads me to a pop"lar thing some pla#ers like to do2 /"Jlockes1

0asicall#! ha e another screen that$s the same thing! e=cept c"stomiJed %or a n"Jlocke r"n. 8ake the 3 golden r"les mandator#! b"t e er#thing else can be t"rned on. The point o% this one is to en%orce the r"les! and red"ce con%"sion on certain r"les! like d"pes cla"se. There$s o% co"rse other areas o% di%%ic"lt#! like act"al trainers or g#ms and the pacing thereo%! b"t '$ll sa e those %or the ne=t chapter. Which! %rom the look o% things! is right now1 We shall now talk abo"t the Pokemon o erworld.

& O+erworld <O0$&=

What is the o erworld< 0asicall# an#thing that #o" don$t do in battle with other trainers while in the %ield. /ow! ' don$t mean side acti ities like contests or the 0attle Krontier. Those are %or the ne=t chapter. ' am talking abo"t s"b,ects like towns! g#ms! capt"ring! and so %orth.

6ocals
The %irst case to go o er is the locals! like towns and g#ms. 6o" might "nderstand the g#ms being bro"ght "p! b"t wh# bring "p the towns< To be honest! there isn$t m"ch to talk abo"t the towns! b"t the# bring conte=t to the world! and shape not onl# the game! b"t also the g#ms! and how the# ma# %"nction. /ot onl# sho"ld the# pro ide what the world has to o%%er! b"t pla# a large role in make the world %eel more nat"ral. ' belie e that the Cno a games ha e done an e=cellent ,ob on this! at least as %ar as the towns with act"al g#ms in them. The# are also "se%"l %or other areas! like side)"ests and other %"nctions! which we$ll get to in later chapters. 0"t its not ,"st act"al points o% ci iliJation that we ha e to worr# abo"t. There$s also ro"tes and d"ngeons to worr# abo"t. We$ll get to those later! b"t to disc"ss them brie%l# %or this moment... :o"tes and >"ngeons sho"ld be b"ilding "p to the g#ms! and be relatable in some wa#. Kor e=ample! i% a g#m were to specialiJe in a %ire t#pe (tho"gh we$ll get to that in a min"te*! ma#be add in a Oolcano be%ore the town with the g#m. This ma# not appl# to earlier g#ms! as we do need st"%% like %orests and ca es o"t o% the wa#. 0"t we$ll get to them later4 %or now! let$s talk abo"t g#ms. One o% the biggest targets o% the +.ame-# torpedo+ are the g#ms. '$ e said wh# remo ing them wo"ld be detrimental! b"t ' do belie e that there$s still some creati it# with them. ' ha e two changes in mind4 one relati el# minor! and another )"ite ma,or. The minor change is to not make them based solel# on t#pes. 8a#be the %irst g#m or so! b"t how abo"t one that spams items to no end! or another that "ses abilities to their %"llest< O% co"rse! there$d ha e to be a pacing %or this! and '$ e %o"nd one %or...A g#ms2 T#pes -P .tats -P .tat"s Gonditions -P 'tems -P &bilities That lea es 3 g#ms to work with. Kor the 7lite 9! '$ll ,"st add in weather teams. 0"t what abo"t the last 3 g#ms< 8a#be add in some %orm o% common strateg#! like one that "tiliJes the team as a whole (i.e. 0aton Pass and 7ntr# -aJards*. Kor the ma,or change...t"rn them into d"ngeons. .peci%icall#! d"ngeons %rom the ;egend o% Qelda series. 6es! #o"$ e read that right. Trainers! wild Pokemon and p"JJles thro"gho"t! -8 in the middle! "se the -8 to get thro"gh the second hal%! and beat the leader at the end. The trick is making them cle er and not hand-wa ed! or at least not ob io"s. 6o" co"ld also do both the minor and ma,or change! i% #o"$re "p to the task. Kor other locations! like ro"tes and d"ngeons and how the# sho"ld work! ' see two kinds o% d"ngeons2 8ain ones and side ones. 0"t %irst! %or ro"tes! the# probabl# won$t ha e m"ch in terms o% act"al

p"JJles4 probabl# some obstacles that an -8 co"ld %i= that co"ld lead to items at best. The#$ll probabl# be pop"lated b# wild Pokemon and trainers. Kor d"ngeons! tho"gh! ' think the main d"ngeons (the ones re)"ired %or the stor#* sho"ld be more %oc"sed on p"JJles than battling! b"t not too m"ch4 ma#be a F0N-90N ratio. The#$re re)"ired! and adding in s"ch p"JJles co"ld break "p the monoton# o% battling o er and o er. Kor .ide d"ngeons! tho"gh! it co"ld be an#thing. &ll battle! all p"JJle! a mi=! whate er. The#$re optional4 the#$re there %or e=tra content %or pla#ers to cons"me sho"ld the# choose. L"st make s"re to make the rewards worth it! and make the p"JJles and the "tiliJation o% -8s cle er. &nd speaking o% which...

?ield Obstacles and Items

There are man# non-battling obstacles that sho"ld be in #o"r wa#. The ma,orit# o% them are sol ed ia -8s that #o" collect on #o"r ,o"rne#. /ow! m"st people dread these segments! beca"se onl# a co"ple mo es are worth "sing in battle! the rest are ,"st taking "p space. 0"t %irst! let$s check on what the act"al p"JJles are. The best place to look %or p"JJles is the Trick ho"se in the -oenn games (:"b#! .apphire! and 7merald*! tho"gh p"JJles do e=ist in other places. One o% the most common t#pes o% p"JJles is the strength p"JJle (as shown in the pict"re abo e*! b"t there$s others like ha ing to "se G"t! :ock .mash! and so %orth. 0"t there are other t#pes o% p"JJles that don$t in ol e -8s. Kor e=ample! in Kortree Git# E#m! the p"JJles in ol e passing thro"gh the...mills in the proper order in order to proceed. ' belie e there sho"ld be more "ni)"e p"JJles like the a%orementioned mill p"JJle! tho"gh o% co"rse #o"$ e got to make s"re that the# %it the area in )"estion. &s %or the act"al -8s themsel es! most ha e o%%ered s"ggestions on how to %i= them. .ome s"ggested an e=tra mo eslot that can onl# be "sed in the %ield! or otherwise switch between mo es on the %l#. This will be disc"ssed more in chapter A! b"t %or this instance! it ma# make more sense %or more mechanical t#pes like steel! b"t e en then! it$s a stretch to think that the# simpl# can$t "se the mo e whene er the# want. Others ha e s"ggested the "se o% tools to get thro"gh the game! tho"gh this does "ndermine the "se o% Pokemon in the %irst place. 8# s"ggestion %or tools is to either limit them to the a%ter game! allow %or d"rabilit#! so the# can$t be "sed %ore er! or make them one-"se! and #o" ha e to b"# them in b"lk. 6o" co"ld also "se a combination o% the three mentioned! tho"gh this ma# ca"se some compatibilit# iss"es. 0"t we don$t ha e to limit it to act"al -8s or -8-like items! don$t we< /o! we co"ld other items! as well. There are ke# items that co"ld come into pla#! s"ch as the %amo"s +card ke#+ %rom .ilph Go.! b"t we sho"ld talk abo"t other items! as well. Kirst o%% are berries. 0erries were %or some reason absent in the Cno a games! so we sho"ld bring them back! beca"se the#$re "se%"l as heck. There isn$t too m"ch

talk abo"t in terms o% act"al items in general! tho"gh! e=cept to make s"re that each items ser es its p"rpose. ' wo"ld like to see more hold items that are more specialiJed! like a less-broken .wimming Eoggles that ne er saw the light o% da#. There is a problem with price points! howe er. This mainl# a%%ects the healing items! and #o" know what '$m talking abo"t4 once #o" %ind a ending machine! what goes thro"gh #o"r mind< ' don$t know abo"t #o"! b"t ' ha e a polic# in that once ' %ind one! ' ne er b"# s"per potions or lower e er again. (-ell! e en h#per potions are )"estionable.* Kor one (co"nt it* s"per potion! #o" co"ld get TWO lemonades1 Pl"s! ;emonades are act"all# 07TT7: than s"per potions (80 -P as opposed to A0*! so what gi es< 8# g"ess is that Eame Kreak tried to balance it b# %orcing #o" to b"# lemonades one at a time! and making s"per potions a ailable as %ield items. 't kind o% works! b"t it %eels %orced. &lso! we sho"ld brie%l# disc"ss T8s and -8s reall# )"ickl#. ' wo"ld like to see more care%"l options when it comes to choosing what mo es are going to obtain T8 stat"s (3"ash< :eall#<*. &lso! it wo"ld be nice to make -8s deleteable ! instead o% ha ing to rel# on a mo e deleter. There! that wasn$t so bad! was it< There$s other items to disc"ss! as well. 0attle items! like ? &ttack and s"ch! are not too "se%"l. Perhaps gi e more incenti e to "se them! somehow< 0"t one reall# mind-boggling area o% items is mail. To )"ote a %amo"s let$s pla#er2 +8&'; '. C.7;7..1+ .o how can we %i= them< Well! ' get what Eame Kreak wanted to do with mail! b"t it$s nowhere near eno"gh. 8a#be add in stamps or something< Or ma#be ha e an in-game %eat"re< We$ll get to that in the ne=t chapter! act"all#. .ince ' promised it! let$s talk abo"t #o"r bag %or a moment. 6o"r bag is separated into di%%erent sections (e=cept in the %irst generation*. Cs"all#! the minim"m is a reg"lar items! ke# items! and Pokeballs. Other slots ma# be inserted depending on the game. The most we had was 8! with the .innoh$s 8isc.! -ealing! Pokeballs! 0erries! T8s/-8s! 8ail! 0attle 'tems! and @e# 'tems. There sho"ld also be more options in regards to organiJation. Ei e "s more options %or a"tomatic ordering! like alphabetical! t#pe! or a combo thereo%. &lso! allow "s to "se the to"chscreen to man"all# organiJe o"r items more )"ickl#. ;astl#! we sho"ld talk abo"t pokeballs. /ot too m"ch sa#! reall#! e=cept gi e "s a bigger ariet#! and balance the pokeballs! as well. Kor e=ample! #o" co"ld make a da# ersion o% the d"sk balls! and/or make the m"ltipliers o% other balls! like )"ick balls and timer balls! higher than 9=! like A or e en F. Talking abo"t pokeballs leads per%ectl# into...

Ca)turing

One o% the core pillars o% Pokemon is! o% co"rse! the art o% capt"ring Pokemon %or "se. Kor the most part! it works well. 6o" weaken a Pokemon! and tr# to capt"re it "ntil either #o" or the Pokemon gi e "p. 0"t there$s still other tweaks that '$d like to see. There$s a %orm"la %or capt"ring Pokemon! and it in ol es the catch rate o% the pre# in )"estion! the s"ccess rate o% the ball itsel%! the pre#$s state o% health! etc.! etc. 0"t! ' think we can e=pand on that %orm"la more to a"gment the whole e=perience. 6o" know the mo es that increase or decrease stats! like Erowl or ;eer< 6"p! take that into acco"nt. /ow! this won$t change the de%a"lt st"%%4 it$ll ,"st make capt"ring e en easier! especiall# on Pokemon with low catch rates. &lso! we sho"ld b"%% %roJen in terms o% capt"ring. G"rrentl#! sleep and %roJen ha e a 2= capt"re rate. Well! since %roJen is so rare! how abo"t we increase it to 9=< L"st sa#ing. O% co"rse! it$s not limited to literal catching! isn$t it< There$s in-game trades and gi%t Pokemon all o er. Kor in-game trades! the# "s"all# worth it! b"t sometimes the#$re not! and in one case! the trade-ie in )"estion was essentiall# singing this little piece. 5ahem5 .o how did the# pan o"t< Well! in the @anto games! at least! it was T-7 O/;6 W&6 to obtain certain Pokemon! like ;ickit"ng! L#n=! and 8r. 8ime. .o the %irst lesson in order4 don$t make them trade-e=cl"si es. Wh#< Well! aside %rom being "nable to nickname them! it doesn$t lea e a whole lot o% %reedom in what kind #o" want. '% #o" reall# want to! make the trades a ailable earl# on! while ha ing a place to catch them wa# later. .o what wo"ld make a good in-game trade< Well! it sho"ld bene%it witho"t being e=cl"ding. Kor e=ample! the Eigalith trade in 0lack and White 2 was brilliant. /ot onl# did it allow #o" to obtain a rare Pokemon! it was a Pokemon that co"ld normall# onl# be gotten b# trading. This didn$t matter too m"ch since 0oldores (and :oggenrolas* co"ld be %o"nd! tho"gh ' can "nderstand wh# some people wo"ld place them in the same boat as the trade e=cl"si es that '$ e mentioned. &s %or gi%ts! again! don$t make them gi%t-e=cl"si e4 allow %or a place to catch them %reel#. &lso! '$m not s"re i% an# gi%ts that c"rrentl# e=ist do this! i% #o"$re going to make the gi%ts special! gi e the gi%t Pokemon something special! like a hold item or a special mo e. Kor e=ample! let$s sa# that there$s a Togepi as a gi%t4 ' ,"st remembered that the egg in -eartgold and .o"lsil er gi es Togepi 7=trasensor# (which is reall# good*! b"t how abo"t gi e it! sa#! Gon%"se :a#< Tho"ght Para-%linch was bad eno"gh< 5la"ghs e ill#5 O% co"rse! there$s other wa#s to capt"re Pokemon! like the >ream World and the Pokewalker. These will be talked abo"t in Gomm"nication and 8"ltipla#er! b"t there are other wa#s to capt"re Pokemon. One o% the most ,erkish is....Keebas! b"t that$s not the answer '$m looking %or in this instance. /o! it$s

.piritomb. &gain! don$t make these hard to e en %ind. ;a# it down somewhere in a post game area i% #o"$re reall# bent on p"shing this partic"lar method o% %inding it. ' g"ess the point is to make at least one member o% the %amil# a ailable somewhere in the wild. 0"t how abo"t! #$know! act"all# %inding the Pokemon< &gain! ' am glad #o" asked.

0orld !acing
Two kinds o% pacing will be disc"ssed in this blog. One is o% co"rse related to stor# p"rposes! b"t that$s reser ed %or the appropriate chapter. This one will disc"ss pacing in terms o% power! s"ch as where to place wild Pokemon and their le els! and how to pace the opponents$ le els accordingl#. This also incl"des making as m"ch "se o% the le el spectr"m (;e el 1/A to 100* as possible. &n e=ample o% poor world pacing are the Lohto games! at least in the %irst hal%. While all Pokemon games s"%%er %rom wild Pokemon not keeping "p with the trainers$ le els in some %orm! Lohto is perhaps the worst. The problem isn$t so m"ch as the wild Pokemon in Oictor# :oad not matching the 7lite 9$s le els! b"t the le els are ,"st so low. A0 is perhaps the lowest highest le el th"s %ar! and "sing onl# LC.T hal% o% the spectr"m is...not impressi e! to sa# the least. &lso! there$s a %ork in the road in the middle o% the game that basicall# acts like #o"$re onl# going to take one road %or the entire ,o"rne#! beca"se once #o" take the other path! it somehow restarts all o er again. 5%acepalm5 Thank%"ll#! it$s Pokemon placement is %ar K&: %rom bad ('':G! it$s second onl# to Cno a*! something that ' can$t e=actl# sa# %or when talking abo"t some other regions. ;ooking at @anto! %or e=ample! how m"ch can #o" take o% the Pidge# and :attata %amil#! h"h< -ell! the entire .ilence 0ridge! despite containing 3 to 9 ro"tes! holds little ariation between each ro"tes1 & similar thing co"ld be said %or G#cling :oad (and a O7:6 missed opport"nit# to place Pon#tas in! not co"nting 6ellow*! e=cept replace the Pidge# %amil# with the .pearow %amil#. Eranted! the Pokede= at the time was limited! b"t co"ldn$t #o" come "p with a slightl# better ariet#! or at least ga e the new Pokemon (the Oenonat and >od"o %amilies! respecti el#* some more spotlight< &s #o" might g"ess! Pokemon placement is placing Pokemon in "ni)"e locations and not to o er"se certain %amiles all aro"nd. Cno a did a %antastic ,ob! especiall# in 0lack and White 1! where it %elt like each new area had something "ni)"e and new. 7 en tho"gh it wasn$t entirel# %ree o% the plag"es o% pre io"s generations (Patrats were a tad bit too common in the earl# ro"tes! and where the hell did all these ;iepards came %rom<*! it was downpla#ed. We$ll talk abo"t more on the act"al Pokemon when we get to them.

O% co"rse! #o"$ e got to ha e the areas to %it these Pokemon! something that 0lack and White 2...sort o% had a problem with. '% #o" ha e too man# "ni)"e Pokemon in one area! the percentages will ha e to be spread %"rther and %"rther ('n m# mind! the absol"te lowest #o" sho"ld go is AN! and e en then it$s onl# %or one species*. O% co"rse! #o" co"ld balance it b# ha ing more rare Pokemon or e ol ed %orms o%

common Pokemon as rare enco"nters! b"t there$s onl# so m"ch #o" can do be%ore it get crowded. 'n :o"te F o% 0lack and White 2 (shown abo e*! in the reg"lar grass alone we ha e H di%%erent %amilies! three o% which ha e %eat"red pre io"s members in pre io"s ro"tes1 Klocces# :anch s"%%ered %rom this! too! b"t it$s an earl# area! so it has )"ite a bit o% new %amilies to introd"ce. -owe er! wo"ldn$t it ha e h"rt to at least remo e the Patrats %rom the area< Eranted! depending on how man# areas #o" ha e and how big #o"r Pokede= is! this ma# be "na oidable %or at least one instance. .o the important thing to keep in mind is to minimiJe it. ...which leads me into random enco"nters1 ;ong time L:PE %ans ma# remember dreading these! especiall# with games like 7arthbo"nd and e en 8#stic 3"est (#es! gotta gi e it .O87 credit* dropping random enco"nters in %a or o% being able to see the enemies on the battle%ield. While '$ll admit that this ma# work %or Pokemon too! certain mechanics o% later games throw more than a %ew c"r eballs at the whole idea. &nd no! the#$re not real pokeballs. ...#et. One earl# mechanic introd"ced in >iamond and Pearl was the Pokeradar. This seeks o"t rare Pokemon b# highlighting certain patches o% grass %or a chance o% obtaining said Pokemon. The wa# random enco"nters c"rrentl# work (%or the most part* is that there$s patches o% grass that when #o" sh"%%le thro"gh them! #o" ma# enco"nter a wild Pokemon. Ghanging this +grass+ mechanic messes with a lot o% mechanics that are designed aro"nd them! some more than others. The pokeradar ma# s"r i e the trip sho"ld the grass be remo ed! b"t i% it hasn$t tackled the notion that grass sho"ld be remo ed o"t o% the table! the ne=t co"ple introd"ced in 0lack and White de%initel# bring a -ammer &rm to its head. The %irst is r"stling grass! which takes a random patch o% grass and has it shake to indicate a rare Pokemon. Cs"all#! it$s &"dinos (m"ch to o"r delight*! b"t other Pokemon co"ld be %o"nd! as well! with the most common candidate o"tside o% &"dino being 7molga. The second is dark grass! which allows %or a chance o% two wild Pokemon in a do"ble battle! and allows %or di%%erent set o% Pokemon and le els. Tr#ing to remo e grass wo"ld not onl# set grinding back A #ears! b"t it also makes ro"tes like Cno a :o"te 20 near impossible to make! i% not o"tright! lea ing ro"tes to be less ersatile. We also got to brie%l# talk abo"t the %re)"enc# thereo%. Gertain areas ha e more enco"nter than others. While ' am in %a or o% ,"st making the enco"nter rate the same %or all areas! i% we$re gonna di ersi%# the rates! make s"re that the#...make sense. ;ike d"ngeons that are "s"all# tho"ght o% as more genreall# dangero"s! like ca es and %orest! sho"ld ha e a higher rate! while the opposite! like a Gemeter#! sho"ldn$t be as high. /e=t! we sho"ld talk abo"t le el pacing! as in how %ar sho"ld the trainers be %rom ke# boss battles< Well! "s"all#! it sho"ld be a stead# pace! with a spike %or each battle! so! %or e=ample! i% the trainers be%ore the g#m leader were le el 11 on a erage! then the leader wo"ld be le el 1A! and then it$d go to 12. 6o" also ha e to take into acco"nt what #o"r %inal le el o% the %inal boss$ (8# reasons %or not sa#ing Ghampion in ol es spoilers.* Pokemon will be! and make the c"r e leading "p to that %inal point e)"al and balanced. >epending on how #o" want the whole stor# to pla# o"t! some parts ma# be more thick in terms o% le el range than others. Kor instance! i% a gap between two g#ms had one d"ngeon! and another gap had two d"ngeons! the le el range in the 2nd gap sho"ld be larger than the 1st. Kinall#! we got to talk abo"t the world pacing in terms o% mechanics and comple=it#. The act"al combat design o% the Pokemon will be talked abo"t later! b"t essentiall#! in order to %"ll# demonstrate the whole bea"t# o% the man# comple=ities o% the battle s#stem! the pacing o% said concepts will ha e to be introd"ced in a wa# that slowl# b"t s"rel# b"ilds the pla#er$s knowledge and skills! testing the ario"s aspects o% the game! while adding in more and more comple= mechanics o% the game. Kor e=ample! #o"$re probabl# going to star b# introd"cing the concept o% t#pes! and how the#$re "sed against one another. O er time! tho"gh! other important ariables come into the spotlight! like stats!

stat"s conditions! items! abilities! and etc. '% #o" want to re"se a concept! then it sho"ld be a more comple= ersion o% said concept. Kor instance! when #o" %irst introd"ce t#pes! #o" ma# %oc"s on the basics! like Erass-Kire-Water. The ne=t time the concept is reintrod"ced! howe er! some o% the more "northodo= t#pes like Ehost and >ragon sho"ld be the stars o% the show. O% co"rse! this is ass"ming that #o"$re separating them into two di%%erent parts. 0"t it$s not ,"st the base mechanics that we ha e to worr# abo"t. There$s also the man# strategies and st#les that sho"ld be thrown at #o" %rom ario"s trainers in #o"r ,o"rne#. ;ike with the base mechanics! these sho"ld be paced accordingl#! raising %rom basic strategies to more ad anced ones that ma# or ma# not in ol e the entire team. /ow! ' speak that in relati e terms! beca"se what ma# be Rcomple=S to less e=perienced pla#ers ma# R,"st be another battleS %or seasoned eterans. To gi e an anecdote! ' had a Kirered/;ea%green strateg# g"ide that stated s"ch strategies like the Rre ersal comboS and "sing berries strategicall# as Rcomple=S strategies. While the re ersal combo co"ld be %airl# arg"ed! berries are not that hard to warp #o"r mind aro"nd! especiall# i% #o"$ e dealt with the whole s#stem %or )"ite a while. To show a more smaller-scale e=ample o% what ' was talking abo"t! one strateg# that was later considered a RnoobS strateg# was sending o"t a E#arados! and as soon as #o" think the opponent is going to "se an 7lectric attack! #o" switch to an 7lecti ire! who will absorb and "se the electricit# to its ad antage! no thanks to its abilit# 8otor >ri e. While this isn$t the most elaborate o% strategies! it does in ol e more than one Pokemon! and a little bit o% prediction! so '$m going to p"t this in the lowmoderate $tier$ o% strategies. ;ater on! there ma# be a R0aton PassS team! which is basic in concept! b"t widel# more grand in terms o% e=ec"tion! depending on how man# Pokemon are in ol ed. O% co"rse! i% #o" reall# want to s"rprise pla#ers! #o" co"ld "se either the top ersions o% strategies! like "sing the Pokemon that we$ e made earlier! or "sing more obsc"re strategies that ma# throw o%% the pla#er. There are e en certain mo es and items that aren$t e=actl# meant to be "sed b# lesser pla#ers! s"ch as Trick :oom. .peaking o% which! an e=ample wo"ld be to take an &moong"ss! who is c"rrentl# the slowest "ser o% .pore. This is o% co"rse ass"ming that Parasect is ,"st a little bit %aster than it. 8ake the room more trick#! tho"gh! and &moong"ss becomes )"ite a threat all o% a s"dden. Phew. That was )"ite a bit to take in. /ow! tired o% battling< Or at least battling normall#< Kear not! %or there ha e been distractions and side acti ities to dissect in the ne=t chapter1

@ 5idequests <5A$@=
8an# :PEs %eat"re .ide)"ests to break "p the monoton# o% tra eling the world and %ighting monsters! and Pokemon is no di%%erent! e en in the :ed and 0l"e da#s (or Ereen i% #o" li ed in Lapan*. There has been some e%%ort to %oc"s on the acti ities! b"t either it$s not eno"gh (which wo"ld be "nderstandable*! or it %eels too %orced. -ow can we highlight these e ents nat"rall#< Well! %irst! let$s go o er the act"al side)"ests in )"estion. Please note that ' did not partake in e er# single side)"est o"t there4 as s"ch! ' ma# not be able to pro ide impro ements or changes to e er# single one. ' will comment on them! s"re! b"t '$ll gi e greater %oc"s to those that ' do ha e e=perience in. Kirst! let$s go o er side)"ests that do in ol e to core battling o% the main series! since it$s onl# %itting to start there.

.attling 4istractions

The title ma# con%"se #o" at %irst4 what are battling distractions< One de%inition that ma# come to #o"r mind is an#thing that doesn$t in ol e the main stor# that in ol es battling. 6o" ma# bring "p optional areas and d"ngeons! b"t '$m not talking abo"t those. '$m talking abo"t areas where the r"les o% battling are...di%%erent. There ma# be slight tweaks to the battle s#stem %or the e ent in )"estion. Probabl# the de %acto e=ample o% this is the 0attle Krontier. Kirst making an appearance in 7merald! then ret"rning in Platin"m in a di%%erent %orm! the 0attle Krontier has o%%ered a ariet# o% challenges to test #o"r skills in. 't$s worth to note that the 7merald and Platin"m 0attle Krontiers are act"all# )"ite di%%erent. The most ob io"s is that 7merald had more %acilities than Platin"m does! with H %acilities as opposed to A. -owe er! the challenges themsel es are di%%erent! as well. &side %rom the +0attle Tower+ (changed to 0attle ."bwa# in 0lack and White 1*! there are little to no %acilities that are shared or e en similar. .ome ma# arg"e that one 0attle Krontier is more creati e than the other! and so %orth. 6o" ma# ha e noticed that ' ha e not been talking abo"t speci%ic %acilities. Well! ' regret to in%orm #o" that ' ha e #et to partake in one that$s not the 0attle Tower or ."bwa#. -ow abo"t %or a new 0attle Krontier that we combine all o% them! and add in new ones< What are the new ones< Well! '$ e tho"ght abo"t a new one that$s like the 0attle Tower! e=cept there$s no +streaks+ to speak o%4 it$s battle a%ter battle "ntil #o" either )"it or lose. There$s also another +%acilit#+ that ' %o"nd which ' act"all# )"ite like. .ome :PEs ha e an area where #o" start at le el 1 and work #o"r wa# "p. This incl"des the &ncient Ga e %rom ;"%ia ''! or P"rit# Korest in Pokemon 8#ster# >"ngeon 1. & similar thing applies! e=cept adapted to mai Pokemon mechanics. This ma# be similar to one o% the e=isting tents! tho"gh. '$ e also tho"ght o% a %acilit# where #o" can take on a challenge "sing Pokemon o% a single t#pe. 't$s essentiall# similar to the 0attle Tower! e=cept e er#one "ses Pokemon o% that chosen t#pe. 0"t o% co"rse! it isn$t the 0attle Krontier that$s a battling distraction. 'n 7merald! there were battle tents scattered aro"nd -oenn. These were er# similar to the %acilities in 7merald$s 0attle Krontier! ,"st simpli%ied a little more! or so ' hear. '$ e also got to talk abo"t the .a%ari Qone and Lohto$s 0"g Gatching Gontest. The .a%ari Qone is! well! a Jone where #o" can capt"re rare and/or e=otic Pokemon normall# not %o"nd elsewhere. The basic .a%ari Qone had special balls to "se! bait and some %orm o% anno#ance to help #o" how #o" want to catch #o"r Pokemon. O% co"rse! that didn$t stop certain Pokemon %rom ,"st taking the bait and r"n (-ello! Parasect.*! b"t it was a neat take on how to capt"re some o% the more rare Pokemon that is there to be %o"nd. ;ater .a%ari Qones added in tweaks and ad,"stments to the o erall ordeal! most notabl# with -eartgold and .o"lsil er$s +8ake #o"r own .a%ari Qone+ ordeal as well as an assortment o% items to place to in%l"ence what Pokemon will appear. 0e%ore we mo e on to the act"al impro ement side o% things! let$s re iew the 0"g Gatching Gontest %or a moment. The premise was similar! tho"gh it had its di%%erences2 6o" co"ld take one Pokemon with

#o"! and #o" had to catch the Pokemon that wo"ld be worth the most points. -owe er! #o" co"ld onl# ha e one Pokemon ca"ght at a time! and #o" had 20 park balls! so #o" had to "se them wisel#. .o how can we impro e or change all o% this< Well! m# sol"tion is what '$d like to call .a%ari Park. 't$s s"b,ect to change at a %"t"re date! b"t %or now! it$s a big park where #o" can partake in s"ch acti ities. There$s 8 areas with di%%erent themes. G"rrentl#! the# are Plains! Korest! 8o"ntains! Pond! .ea! ;a a! Power Plant! and .k#. &s %or how the#$re going to be arranged< '$m not s"re. 't co"ld be one Jone per side! b"t how are #o" going to enter< Krom the top/bottom< 5shr"gs5 When ' %irst tho"ght o% this! as this was one o% those ideas that ' tho"ght "p back in the da#! there was going to be A at the bottom! and 3 at the top. There will be a +pillar+ o% sorts where #o" can insert certain %oods like pokeblocks or po%%ins to attract certain Pokemon with certain nat"res! m"ch like in the -oenn games. The +m"d+ aspect o% the Ereat 8arsh won$t ret"rn! b"t the items %rom 0abao$s .a%ari Qone will! tho"gh on a m"ch smaller scale! and a slightl# di%%erent p"rpose. When an item is inserted! it changes the percentages o% the Pokemon that la# in the area. Kor e=ample! take a pond that ho"ses Poliwags and Eoldeens (ob io"sl#! the selection will be m"ch larger*. '% #o" added in some lil# pads! there$s going to be more Poliwags than Eoldeens. &lternati el#! a la a-based Jone holding .l"gmas and /"mels ma# dri e the percentages in .l"gma$s %a or sho"ld #o" add in more pools o% la a. >on$t ask me how that works. Oh #eah! since the .a%ari Park is )"ite h"ge! the step co"nt will ha e to be increased! as well as the amo"nt o% sa%ari balls #o" can "se. This brings me to two new mechanics! both o% which can be applied to catching contests! as well2 Kirst o%%! there$s a spot in each area where #o" can sacri%ice one or two balls! pl"s a speci%ic item to obtain a new ball. The catch rate c"rrentl# is 1.A=. Well! '$m going to increase the de%a"lt to 2=! and the "pgrades will increase it to 9=. 0"t! the ball in )"estion onl# works %or that partic"lar area! so i% #o" traded in 3 sa%ari balls %or 3 dash balls %or the Plains! those 3 balls will onl# work in the Plains. Otherwise! the#$re no better than reg"lar sa%ari balls. The second is the introd"ction o% nets. 6o"$ll recei e a set amo"nt! and once #o" throw one! the Pokemon will be trapped! "nable to escape %or...let$s sa# A t"rns. This will allow #o" to catch the Pokemon or throw! sa#! rocks at it to ha e a better chance at capt"ring #o"r pre#. The tradeo%% is that once the Pokemon is %reed! it$ll immediatel# %lee! so #o" ha e got to make those balls co"nt. &s %or the contest aspect< .imple2 &ppl# the same mechanics as be%ore! e=cept con%ine it to one Jone. The contests happen once a da#! or once a week at most. The selection will be the same! b"t the point is to o%%er an alternati e to capt"ring .a%ari-e=cl"si e Pokemon. &gain! these are ,"st the basic concepts4 ' don$t ha e it 7/T':7;6 planned o"t! #et! especiall# with regards to the act"al selections o% each Jone. ' also ha e to bring "p the Pokemon World To"rnament. 6o" battle ario"s trainers in a knock-o"t st#le to"rne# and reach the top %or ario"s priJes. The real draw! tho"gh! is that #o" co"ld %ace nearl# all o% the old g#m leaders and champions (b"t strangel# no 7lite 9* o% pre io"s regions. ' did not participate in the PWT m"ch! b"t it$s a good basis %or a new side)"est (or rather! an old one coming back* later on. There is one more acti it# that ' ha e got to mention2 Pokestar .t"dios. When this was %irst being heard o%! it was the obligator# side )"est along the lines o% contests and m"sicals be%ore it. When 0lack and White 2 act"all# came o"t! tho"gh! it was act"all# )"ite di%%erent than what we were e=pecting. .ome ma# call it a battle/non-battle h#brid! b"t '$d consider it closer to a battling distraction. 0asicall#! think reg"lar battling! b"t instead o% act"al battles! the# pla# more like p"JJles.

6es! a p"JJle side)"est. Krom what ' hear! the reception to this was pleasant s"rprise. '$ e onl# partaken it in the one instance it was necessar# %or stor# p"rposes... ...which leads me per%ectl# to act"all# presenting these side)"ests. 0e%ore we mo e on! let$s talk abo"t act"all# introd"cing them. 0"t %irst! an anecdote. While ' was strolling thro"gh Pokestar .t"dios %or the %irst time! ' was taken aback b# the grand design o% the whole place. 6et! ' can$t help b"t %eel like this whole thing was er# "nnat"ral! like ' sho"ldn$t be here or something. .o how can we make the whole thing %eel nat"ral< The wa# 0lack and White 2 tried to do it was to incorporate the distraction in )"estion into the backstor# o% a ke# character. 'n this case! it was the %ather o% a g#m leader. &re there other wa#s o% showcasing the e ents witho"t anno#ing pandering< ;et$s look at another e=ample. 'n the @anto games! the :ocket -ideo"t was hidden in the Eame Gorner. Th"s! it wo"ld be impossible to notice the +OO- KC/ &/> .-'/61+ atmosphere that the Eame Gorner ga e o"t! and that alone ma# entice #o" to insert a %ew coins here and there. &nd then it keeps on going and going and going and #o" get the pict"re. 0"t will this work %or all side)"ests< ' don$t know. ;et$s go o er the non-combat acti ities and see what$s going "p o er there! and bo#! is it going to be %"n to talk abo"t.

Non-combat 7cti+ities
This one is more sel% e=planator#. &n# speci%ic e ent that #o" do that is not strictl# battling. The Eame Gorner was the earliest e=ample! b"t there$s also contests! the Pokethelon! 8"sicals! all the works. ;et$s start with the Eame Gorner. ...act"all#! let$s not. ;et$s lea e that %or last. ...i% ' can remember it. .o where do we begin< Well! starting with :"b# and .apphire! each generation had the +premier side)"est+ that$s a neat distraction that$s almost as big as the E#m challenge itsel%. The %irst o% these was contests. Gontests were essentiall# +show o%%+ spectacles. 6o"$d make #o"r Pokemon more appealing b# %eeding it certain poke%ood like blocks or po%%ins! and then show o% a ariet# o% mo es that show whate er #o" are in %i e categories. The contests in -oenn and .innoh were act"all# )"ite di%%erent. &ct"all#! that$s not acc"rate4 .innoh mostl# kept the appeal and show o%% part intact. The# added in new additions like a dress-"p portion that wo"ld carr# o er to the 8"sicals! and a dance competition. There$s not m"ch to sa# in terms o% act"all# impro ing them4 ma#be add in both kinds o% options4 '$d call them the +simple+ contests and +s"per+ contests! as the .innoh games wo"ld call them. 'n -eartgold and .o"lsil er! instead o% contests! there was the Pokethelon! an Ol#mpic-like stadi"m where #o"r Pokemon co"ld compete in ten di%%erent to"chscreen-based e ents! testing them in A di%%erent categories! with each e ent testing in at least 2. &gain! ' did not participate in one! b"t %rom what ' hear! it can be an en,o#able e=perience. ' also %o"nd o"t that the Pokemon with the lowest 0.T (."nkern* is also one o% the best Pokemon to "se at the Pokethelon. Prett# %"nn#! i% #o" ask me. /e=t "p are 8"sicals! which o"t o% the premier side)"ests introd"ced! is probabl# the least liked o% the b"nch. 6et again! ' ha e not partaken in s"ch an e ent! b"t %rom what ' can brie%l# gather! it$s not so m"ch a simpli%ied contest so m"ch as a d"mb-downed contest! i% that makes an# sense. ' co"ld be inacc"rate in this assessment! tho"gh! so take that statement with a grain o% salt. ' alread# talked abo"t Pokestar .t"dios! so there$s no need to go o er it again. 0"t ah! it$s not limited to premier side)"ests! isn$t there< There$s still plent# o% other things to do. ' know what #o"$re thinking! b"t it$s still not time. Kor now! let$s go o er other non-battle acti ities.

The %irst one '$d like to bring "p is the .innoh "ndergro"nd. 'n it! #o" dig "p ario"s spheres and treas"res to spend on %"rnit"re %or #o"r secret base (which we$ll get to later* and to help #o" o"t in #o"r ,o"rne# abo e! respecti el#. ' act"all# reall# like this aspect! mostl# %or the treas"res. 't$s a reall# great place to grab some nice goodies witho"t ha ing to worr# abo"t limited items i% the# were all abo egro"nd. &s %or the act"al digging in )"estion! ' think it$s near-per%ect as it is. ' ,"st ask that it is a little less ,erkish when it comes to "nbreakable metals. There isn$t m"ch else to impro e on this area! e=cept make all o% the areas connected! so act"all# obtaining %lags %eels less cheap. '$ll talk abo"t some o% the more m"ltipla#er aspects o% the Cndergro"nd at a later chapter. '$d also like to talk abo"t traps %or a moment. To be honest! ' didn$t see m"ch o% a p"rpose %or them! e=cept to halt pla#ers %rom stealing #o"r %lags. '$ll lea e them in! e=cept the# can onl# be bo"ght b# merchants4 the# can no longer be %o"nd o"t in the open "nless alread# planted b# another pla#er. There are also secret bases! something that originated with :"b# and .apphire! and contin"ed in 7merald and the .innoh games. The#$re basicall# mini-homes! as #o" can place %"rnit"re and dolls where er #o" like. -owe er! there$s a %ew di%%erences2 The base la#o"ts in the -oenn games are di%%erent %rom each potential location. &dditionall#! there were 2 (technicall# 3* di%%erent kinds o% places #o" co"ld make #o"r secret base in. 'n the .innoh games! it$s ,"st a ca e! and is a )"adrilateral. .innoh bases also has rocks that #o"$ll need to remo e! and also alwa#s has a comp"ter to hold #o"r %lag. The onl# wa# to remo e these rocks is to capt"re a %riend$s %lags to remo e them. &s a side note! '':G! the#$re also the onl# wa# to obtain a .piritomb. The wa# #o" p"rchase %"rnit"re is also a little di%%erent. The#$re ,"st reg"lar merchandise in the -oenn games! b"t in .innoh! #o" "se the spheres to b"# the goods needed to %"rnish #o"r new home. .ecret bases in -oenn allowed #o" to insert a trainer o% sort to challenge other pla#ers with. ' ha e not partaken in this e ent! b"t ' heard it was :7&;;6 "se%"l %or 7O training. 6o" "sed .ecret Power to $"nlock$ secret bases in -oenn! while in .innoh! #o" needed a special digger to open one "p. .o how can we take the best o% both worlds< Well! the#$d still be "ndergro"nd! b"t the spheres will be gone. 'nstead! a new c"rrenc# will be in place! or at the er# least allow %or onl# one kind o% sphere so that we$re not %"mbling o er A di%%erent kinds o% c"rrenc#. ' wo"ld also bring back the trainer ordeal! e=cept make the concept more clearer! and with the ad ent o% Wi-%i! allow pla#ers to download them %rom the internet.

One ad antage o% the .innoh "ndergro"nd being the base o% operations is that #o" co"ld make a secret base nearl# an#where #o" want. The downside is that the# all look the same. &s s"ch! ' shall pro ide di%%erent wallpaper and %looring plans to spice "p the look. &lso! there wo"ld be base la#o"t plans! so #o" co"ld ha e di%%erent rooms o% di%%erent shapes and siJes. &s %or the treas"re! there sho"ld be a log o% what treas"re #o"$ e disco ered so %ar! so #o" know what #o"$re looking %or in %"t"re isits. ' wo"ld also like special medals that can be bo"ght %rom the same "ndergro"nd merchants that wo"ld increase the chance o% %inding treas"res as opposed to ,"st gold or spheres per digging session. Oka#! that$s eno"gh o% the "ndergro"nd %or now. What else is there<

4un dun 4999999999999999999999N>>> .....5headdesk5 Oka#! Loin & en"e. ' ha e not "sed Loin & en"e e=tensi el#! b"t %rom what ' hear! it is O7:6 "se%"l! and ma#be similar to what ' might be disc"ssing in the Gomm"nications and 8"ltipla#er portion. ' literall# know ne=t to nothing abo"t Loin & en"e! so ' ma# talk abo"t it at a later date! b"t not witho"t more e=tensi e research &/> e=perience (beca"se '$ll be honest! research is not the main problem here*. The onl# reason '$m bringing it "p is beca"se it$s there and is )"ite notable. Oka#! can we please mo e on to something that ' perhaps ha e a little more e=perience in< 5hears gambling noises5 ...well! it$s time. ;et$s %inall# talk abo"t the Eame Gorner. The Eame Gorner is a neat side)"est that$s been aro"nd since the beginning. 't was e ent"all# remo ed d"e to new laws cropping "p in 7"rope aro"nd 2008! which apparentl# a%%ected the rest o% the world.....ahem. &n#wa#! the main minigame was the slots! and it$s simple eno"gh. 6o" bet 1-3 coins! and tr# to line "p 3 o% the same icons. There were also other minigames! as well. There was a card %lip game in Eold! .il er! and Gr#stal and a :o"lette-t#pe s#stem in the -oenn games. 'n non-Lapan releases o% -eartgold and .o"lsil er! instead o% slots! we got something called Ooltorb Klip! a cross between 8inesweeper and Picross. ...' think. 0"t! with that came the remo al o% the abilit# to 0C6 coins! and that pissed more than a %ew pla#ers o%%! m#sel% incl"ded. 0"t going back to slots4 e en the slots were slightl# di%%erent. The @anto games were normal slots! Eold and .il er introd"ced di%%erent e ents that co"ld alter the res"lts! -oenn had this weird lightning reel that ' co"ldn$t )"ite %ig"re o"t! and .innoh had a Gle%air# t#pe mini-game within the slots! where #o" had to grab as m"ch coins as #o" co"ld and go as %ar as #o" co"ld.

.o what wo"ld an ideal Eame Gorner ha e< Well! %irst o% all! the#$d all be in one single game corner! o% co"rse. The abilit# to b"# coins wo"ld be bro"ght back! and all o% the slots are present. The#$ll be coded in some wa# to show which slots are which. 6o" ma# be asking abo"t an# new minigames that ma# be incl"ded. That$s when ' go +5555 'T111+! and ,"st re eal this glorio"s new +Eame Gorner+. ;adies and Eentlemen! ' gi e #o" the /eon .park1

Not +isually re)resentati+e of what I had in mind 2loo(s at it2 maybe &hem. 'n this new +game corner+! which is more like an indoor am"sement park! b# the wa#! there are A di%%erent areas! and the# are the &rcade! .hare &rea! Gasino! :e%reshments &rea! and the PriJe Gorner. To p"t things in brie%! the &rcade is where #o"$ll %ind a lot o% the minigames %or the %"n Jone! the .hare &rea is where #o" can share "ser-created content! as certain minigames do allow %or s"ch %eat"res to bloom. The Gasino contains di%%erent minigames! and are more l"ck-based! b"t o%%er bigger pa#o"ts. The :e%reshments area is where #o" can +b"#+ %ood and drinks! and ideo chat with "p to three other people. This is also where #o" can b"# coins. Kinall#! the PriJe Gorner contains! well! priJes in e=change %or coins. ' wo"ld e=plain the minigames! b"t honestl#! it wo"ld take abo"t 10 more pages (ro"ghl#* to do so! and '$ e created a doc"ment that details all o% that. 't$s "ploaded to .cribd! and '$ll post the link! b"t be warned. /ot onl# is it$s long in its own right! b"t it is )"ite o"tdated. This was "ploaded in the middle o% 2010! and was written be%ore 0lack and White were released in &merica (or e en in Lapan*. .o here$s the link below2 The /eon .park Eame Gorner Phew. That was a ;OT to go thro"gh! in terms o% old content. ' can onl# hope that it$s not going to be that long again. ...oh that$s a lie and we all know it. Kor now! let$s go talk abo"t new side)"ests and other kinds that ' ma# bring to the table.

Other BNewC 5idequests

When #o" think o% side)"ests in :PEs! what do #o" think abo"t< '% #o"$ e pla#ed an 88O! ma#be it co"ld be to kill 20 bears or collect 20 bear %angs or something. Kor an# other :PE! it co"ld be an#thing! tho"gh ' can$t imagine it being too di%%erent. Wh# do ' bring this "p< Well! Pokemon doesn$t reall# ha e side)"ests in the traditional sense. ' mean! there$s a co"ple e=amples! s"ch as /ew

8a" ille! b"t there isn$t m"ch. .o this section will talk abo"t whate er new side)"ests ' want to bring to the main series. Kirst o%%! there are going to be lots and lots o% side)"ests. 8an# /PGs ma# ha e re)"ests %or #o" that can range and ar# in terms o% ob,ecti es. -owe er! the side)"ests aren$t e=actl# like other side)"ests. >"e to the wa# the whole series is designed! there can$t simpl# be +@'ll ? amo"nt o% Q"bats+ d"e to how Pokemon are so "bi)"ito"s and signi%icant to the world. Pokemon also don$t drop items! either. .o how can we go abo"t this< Well! remember the little trip in the Lohto games where #o" had to trans%er a .pearow holding a mail< Well! dropping #o" a whole $other Pokemon holding a mail might be a bit m"ch! so let$s break it down to ,"st an item. There are certain mails holding speci%ic messages that #o" can$t open that are to be sent to another person. 6o" can simpl# hold the mail! deli er it! and be on #o"r merr# wa#! b"t a %ew people ma# want to send in a speci%ic Pokemon to hold that mail. Those kind o% errands! %or ob io"s reasons are going to be %ew and %ar between. 0"t nah! deli ering mail< P%%t. That$s reall# m"ndane i% we e er saw one. -ow abo"t something a little more e=citing< 7=citing being a relati e term. &n#wa#! '$ e mentioned how we can$t do the normal +kill ? amo"nt o% bears+ d"e to how the world works. Well! how abo"t instead o% that! we ha e something like +Gapt"re A Tentacools+. 6es! instead o% +@ill ? amo"nt+! we got +Gapt"re ? amo"nt+! be%itting the whole %ranchise. ' don$t know what to do with items! tho"gh. 5shr"gs5 8a#be ha e #o" catch Pokemon or steal items that commonl# hold items like tin#m"shrooms or something. Or rawst berries. Or something that can$t easil# be bo"ght at shops. /ow how abo"t the rewards< Well! the#$d ob io"sl# will ha e to be worth more than the RlootS that #o"$ll ha e to gi e them! b"t '$d pre%er i% it were items that #o"$d normall# not get! like some n"ggets or e en rare candies %or the more di%%ic"lt side)"ests. 0"t perhaps #o" grow tired o% them< Well! there$s a co"ple other new side acti ities that ' ha e come "p with. One is the trainer %actor#. The trainer %actor#! as #o" might g"ess! is where #o" can create #o"r own trainers. 6o" co"ld choose %rom a n"mber o% a atars! their teams! and their general &'. ' am debating on how m"ch control to gi e to their beha ior! b"t ' g"ess the best wa# to do this is to ha e the options "nlock themsel es more and more as time goes on. /ow! ' gotta ask #o" a )"estion2 Kor those o% #o" that ha e pla#ed Pokemon .tadi"m (or 2*! remember E#m ;eader Gastle< 6es< Well! i% so! #o"$re in l"ck! beca"se ' am bringing it back1 There are going to be two di%%erent kinds o% castles. E68 ;7&>7: G&.T;7 P-OTO 1. The %irst is the one we all know and lo e! e=cept one castle %or each region. There will be 3 trainers! pl"s a g#m leader at the end %or each Rro"ndS. The trick is that #o" ha e to rent certain Pokemon! and "nlike last time! d"ring each ro"nd! #o" can switch #o"r Pokemon "p one at a time between battles. O% co"rse! #o" can totall# change "p #o"r team to s"it each indi id"al ro"nd. 2. The second combines all o% the pre io"s generations into one! b"t organiJes them into each %loor. 6o" pick a leader %rom each %loor and work #o"r wa# "p "ntil the champion le el. Kor e=ample! in the %irst %loor! #o" can pick %rom 0rock! Kalkner! :o=anne! :oark! an# o% the three .traitan leaders! or Gheren. 'n the second %loor! it$s 8ist#! 0"gs#! 0rawl#! Eardenia! ;enora! or :o=ie. &nd so %orth. &n# other new side)"ests that ' ma# think o%< Well! the thing is that the ma,orit# o% s"ggestions that ' ma# think o% can easil# be p"t in either the 0attle Krontier or the Pokethelon! respecti el#. .o here$s a

co"ple more RminorS ones that ' ha e tho"ght o%2 0attle 0oard This is a chess-like game! with the same board! same amo"nt o% members %or each pla#er! with a %ew di%%erences. Kirst o% all! each t#pe has it$s own step %ield. The step %ield is determined b# their primary t#pe. '% the primar# t#pe is %l#ing! then it gets normal. Witho"t %"rther ado! here are the t#pes and their mo ements2 /ormal T 2 steps! 8 directions Kire T Gross Water T >iagonal 7lectric T >iagonal Erass T Gross 'ce T .lanted line (hard to e=plain* Kighting T ;-.hape (i.e. 2 "p! 2 le%t* Poison T C shape (7?2 "p2! right2! down2* Ero"nd T 1 step! 8 directions (i% it hits! 9 pla#ers in a cross o% the ictim gets hit! too* Kl#ing T same as normal Ps#chic T 1 step! 8 directions! (can attack %rom 2 s)"ares* 0"g T Gross (can go "nder pla#ers! passing them! b"t not taking them* :ock T 1 step! 8 directions (takes 2 hits to kill4 %irst pla#er shares spot* Ehost T 1 step! diagonal (chance to e ade* >ragon T cross or diagonal (can onl# ha e 1* >ark T triangle ( i.e. i% %acing "p! it can go "pperle%t! "p! or "pperright* .teel T 1 step! cross (takes 2 hits to kill4 can neglect attack* /ow that #o" know what each t#pe does! here$s how it works. 6o" p"t "p to 1F pla#ers! with each t#pe limited to 2 (e=cept %or dragon! which is 1*. The positions #o" p"t are all "p to #o". &%ter #o" place #o"r pieces! it$s time to pla#. Eamepla# is m"ch like Ghess! e=cept it has a little bit o% checkers to it! in that there$s no RkingS to protect. Whoe er takes all o% the other pieces %irst wins.

There$s a )"iJ show that #o" can partake in dail# to win ario"s priJes. 3"estions can be abo"t an#thing that$s not-hidden! so no )"estions regarding 7Os! 'Os! %orm"las! and so on. &s %or the )"estions themsel es! most o% them are m"ltiple choice! asking #o" to pick o"t o% 9 answers. .ome )"estions! howe er! are going to be a tr"e-%alse statement! and #o" m"st %ig"re o"t whether it$s! well! tr"e or not. Kor the %ormat! #o" compete with 2 other participants! and d"ke it o"t with 20 random )"estions. 6o"$ll ha e to pick an answer! and whoe er gets it right earns a point. 0# the end! whoe er has the most points is the winner. 'n the e ent o% a tie! a tie-breaker )"estion will be presented! and these are "s"all# the hardest )"estions! s"ch as asking what le el a certain Pokemon ma# learn! or how man# mo es a certain Pokemon can learn. The Pokemon Trading Gard Eame is still e=tremel# pop"lar a%ter all these #ears. >espite an online ersion e=isting! ' %eel like it wo"ld be neat to ha e one as a side-)"est %or the main series. The onl# thing ' ask %or! aside %rom being it relati el# balanced! is to make the cards "ni)"e! so the# don$t %eel o"tdated whene er new packs in real li%e come along. Well! ' g"ess that$s it %or side)"ests. 8an! that$s a lot o% distractions. ' wonder how that wo"ld all pla# o"t in real li%e. Oh wait. Well! an#how! it$s time to talk abo"t the core o% the %ranchise4 the Pokemon themsel es.

D !o(emon and You <!Y$D=

.o abo"t the Pokemon themsel es. '% it weren$t %or them! this wo"ld be a completel# di%%erent %ranchise at best! and non-e=istent at worst. /ow! #o" might be wondering what are we going to talk abo"t i% the brie% s"b-topics in the table o% contents weren$t eno"gh. Well! let$s not waste an#more time and c"t to the chase.

8oles of !o(emon
There are se eral de%initions that co"ld be applied to the phrase R:oles o% PokemonS. -ow their designs wo"ld %it whate er habitats the# are to be placed in! how the# wo"ld de%end themsel es in battle! what RrolesS the# %it in the grand scheme o% the game (i.e. starters! legendaries! earl# bird! earl# rodent! etc. 'n other words! how do the Pokemon themsel es %it into the world and what p"rposes the# ma# ser e! and i% said p"rposes are still e=istent in %"t"re generations. One thing that ' will need to get o"t o% the wa# is that there will be little! i% an#! disc"ssion in regards to the artistic design o% the act"al Pocket 8onsters. 't is s"b,ecti e as all hell! and we co"ld be spending so man# ho"rs disc"ssing that when we sho"ld be talking abo"t how the# act"all# work in this world that the %ranchise has created. http2//%c0I.de iantart.net/%sH1/i/2013/0H8/A/3/pokemonUstartersUb#U,elliechan-dArrrgH.png With that! let$s begin b# talking abo"t how the Pokemon are b"ilt to %it the game$s needs. &nd what$s a better role to talk abo"t than the starters< The %irst thing to note is that %rom the beginning! the starter t#pes ha e alwa#s been Erass! Kire! and Water. .ome people ha e been tired o% this d"e to it being "sed so man# times! while others insist that it sta#s %or newcomer$s sake. We co"ld either stick to the triangle and %ind more creati e and new wa#s to "tiliJe them! or tr# to come "p with new triangles and see where we go %rom there. '% we$re going to stick to the good old triangle! the best thing we can do is to be e en more creati e with their t#pings! and more importantl#! make them at least ser iceable. This is wh# the .innoh starters are m# %a orite starter set. /ot onl# were there were )"ite "ni)"e combos (despite 'n%ernape$s Kire/Kighting being repeated*! b"t the# were all :7&;;6 "se%"l in battle. Tr"e! the# ma# not be topclass! b"t the# more than get the ,ob done. .o i% we are going to be going with the %ormer! more %amiliar ro"te! then we need to look at how their t#pings are going to interact with each other in the end. One wa# to accomplish this is to gi e a t#pe that allows each starter to de%eat each other. Kor e=ample! Torterra gains a gro"nd t#pe to de%eat 'n%ernape. 7mpoleon co"ld alread# potentiall# de%eat 'n%ernape ia 'ce attacks! so whate er secondar# t#ping the# were going to gi e to 7mpoleon! it m"st be weak to 'n%ernape$s secondar# t#ping. Th"s! the# ga e 'n%ernape part-%ighting (again*! and made 7mpoleon...part .teel< Oka#! it co"ld$ e been :ock! /ormal! or e en 'ce! b"t .teel< This is act"all# )"ite brilliant! since while 7mpoleon ma# lack the .T&0 to co"nteract 'n%ernape! "nlike the other two starters! the second t#pe it gains is one o% the most "se%"l it co"ld ha e de%ensi el#. &lso! .teel is resistant to Erass! so gi ing Torterra the Ero"nd s"bt#pe is another geni"s mo e. Their stats don$t disappoint (too m"ch*! either. We$ll get into more into act"all# creating a Pokemon that$s at least competent in battle in Gombat >esign! b"t essentiall#! the# sho"ld be able to hold their own when

the#$re sent o"t! whether the#$re "sing the old triangle or a new one. &nother wa# is to make s"re that their second t#pings are as "nimportant as possible. What do ' mean b# this< 't$s basicall# making s"re that one starter line isn$t screwed beca"se o% some 9= combo to one o% the 3 starter t#pes or something. We co"ld make the# all mono-t#pes! b"t that wo"ld be boring! so let$s mi= it "p a bit. ;et$s take a look at the -oenn starters %or a moment! please< L"st a note2 be%ore we go on! the#$re m# second %a orite starter set so %ar! so what$s coming "p is ,"st %or anal#sis. The t#pings are Erass! Kire/Kighting! and Water/Ero"nd. >oes an#one see a problem here< ...oka#! ma#be a co"ple problems! b"t the one '$m thinking o% is that .wampert being Water/Ero"nd :7&;;6 screws it o er whene er .ceptile wo"ld p"ll a %ast one (literall#* and ,"st ;ea% 0lade the li ing crap o"t o% that poor m"d %ish. Water/Ero"nd isn$t a bad t#ping! b"t man! poor .wampert %or being tossed aro"nd e en more than other Water starters. One thing that sho"ld be kept in mind (at least mine* is that the triangle is %air all-aro"nd. Tr"e! #o"$re not s"pposed to pit a Kire t#pe against a Water t#pe ("nless said Kire t#pe$s second t#pe is s"pere%%ecti e against the Water t#pe*! b"t e en d"ring the %inal e ol"tions! #o" sho"ld tr# to make s"re that the e%%ecti eness is e)"al whene er #o" go aro"nd and aro"nd and aro"nd and-oka#! '$ll stop. Kor a more basic e=ample! let$s bring "p the Lhoto starters! since! well! the#$re all mono-t#pes. /o matter which direction #o" go! one t#pe will be 2= s"per-e%%ecti e against one t#pe and 0.A= not er# e%%ecti e at another. 't$s a simple e=ample! #es! b"t it does e%%ecti el# ill"strate the %air directions that the triangle sets "p. Eoing back to the -oenn starters %or a min"te! Kighting %ollows the pathwa#s in one wa#! and to be %air! on its own! Ero"nd %ollows a similar path to Kighting. 0"t what i% #o" combined the t#pings< Well! %or Ero"nd b# itsel%! it$s re ersed! b"t Kire wo"ld now be normal against Ero"nd! b"t not when it$s paired with water1 0"t oh! Erass comes b# and ,"st p"ts the Water/Ero"nd to shame. &gain! ' lo e the -oenn starters! b"t this reall# b"gs me now that ' think abo"t it. &n#how! eno"gh with the old triangle4 perhaps #o"$ e gotten e en more tired o% it b# me ,"st talking abo"t it. -ow abo"t we come "p with a new one< Oka#! when coming "p with a new triangle! we m"st keep a co"ple points in mind2 1. Ob io"sl#! the# all m"st be s"per e%%ecti e against one another in one direction! b"t the# also m"st all be e)"all# not-e%%ecti e in the other. 2. 6o"$ll ha e to take into acco"nt their other resistances! especiall# i% one o% them is /ormal! beca"se the#$re not going to start o"t with their .T&0 attacks %or ob io"s reasons. There are two pop"lar triangles that ' am going to talk abo"t One iolates the %irst r"le! while another! e en tho"gh '$m totall# behind it! wo"ld iolate the second. &nd #es! ' ,"st realiJed that. The %irst triangle is Kighting-Ps#chic->ark! one that$s been s"ggested %or practicall#! tho"gh not realisticall#! eons. The reason is doesn$t work is that Ps#chic attacks are imm"ne to >ark-t#pes! not ,"st merel# not-e%%ecti e. The second is Kighting-Kl#ing-:ock! and that partic"lar triangle %ails beca"se :ock has a resistance to /ormal attacks! and starters "s"all# start o"t with /ormal-t#pe attacks. .o the )"estion here is this2 which one is the lesser e il< Personall#! ' do belie e that #o" can work aro"nd :ock$s resistances! b"t >ark$s Ps#chic imm"nit# is more static. This is one o% those s"ggestions that more personal! so there$s that to deal with.

.o we$ e chosen a new triangle. -oora#. Kor the p"rposes o% this blog! we ha e chosen KightingKl#ing-:ock. 0"t "nless we$re p"lling a gen 2! we$re going to ha e to spice things "p b# gi ing them second t#pings. .o what sho"ld we gi e them< &gain! going back to the .innoh starters! let$s look at the second t#pes as their own triangle %or a moment2 Ero"nd-Kighting-.teel. On its own! it$s er# %lawed! especiall# since .teel is getting the short end o% the stick. 0"t when p"t in con,"nction with the e=isting Erass/Kire/Water! the whole triangle pla#s o"t bea"ti%"ll#. 6o"r s"ggestions ma# be di%%erent %orm mine! b"t the t#pings '$ e come "p with are 0"g! Ero"nd! and 'ce. 0# gi ing them those partic"lar t#pes! the#$re all 9= s"per-e%%ecti e against one another. 0"t how abo"t the other wa# aro"nd< '$ll admit that it$s not the best s"b-t#pings to gi e them! partic"larl# Ero"nd being s"per-e%%ecti e against :ock! b"t at least it$s not a 9= weakness this time aro"nd! right< '/.7:T ;7E7/>&:'7. P'GTC:7 -7:7 Well! that$s probabl# more talk abo"t starters than #o" probabl# want! so let$s mo e awa# %rom them and go with another important set o% Pokemon2 ;egendaries1 6es! these power%"l or m#stic beings that awe and inspire "s. 0"t how do we go abo"t making a ;egendar#! at least in conte=t< This will be disc"ssed more later on in the section %or Pokemon in general! b"t the main )"estion here is that how do we make a legendar#! well! legendar#! and be s"re that not e er# Pokemon can become Rlegendar#S< 't$s become increasingl# more common to gi e legendaries a speci%ic backstor#! s"ch as protectors o% wild Pokemon %or the 8"sketeer trio! or the original dragon ia the Tao trio. &nother wa# is to base them on a speci%ic theme! moti%! or an# other &esop or aspect o% li%e. Kor e=ample! the ;ake trio are based on @nowledge! 7motions! and Willpower! respecti el#! and the reperc"ssions %or messing with them are...%itting! and )"ite dist"rbing! to sa# the least! especiall# i% it$s with two o% them! or worse! all three. There are also two time-themed legendaries! b"t both are prett# di%%erent2 Gelebi can merel# tra el thro"gh time! while >ialga! despite probabl# not being able to act"all# pass thro"gh time itsel%! can control it. O% co"rse! probabl# the biggest thing that makes legendaries...well! legendar#! again! is that the#$re er# m"ch e=cl"si e and spawns n"mero"s r"mors and m#ths abo"t them! "s"all# lea ing the p"blic in awe or intrig"e. The# don$t ha e to be one o% a kind! b"t the# sho"ld be rare eno"gh that the# spark some con ersation. This is probabl# what made the original bird trio so special4 the# didn$t ha e an# %anc# backstories or themes to be based o%% o%4 the# were ,"st reall# reall# rare birds! and their designs and $stories$ lea e people in partic"lar special awe. This ma# also be wh# the RmewS clones are also legendar#4 despite not being awe-inspiring! the#$re so min"te and el"si e that the# spark m#ths! an#wa#. 0"t what abo"t other Pokemon< Great"res like the earl# rodents! birds! b"gs! and so %orth! among other Pokemon that ma# be l#ing aro"nd. Well! let$s talk abo"t the earl# monsters! and ask o"rsel es this2 Wh# those animals< Wh# don$t the# pick other animals to be seen earl# on< -ere is m# theor#2 The#$re the animals most commonl# seen b# "rban societ#. .ee! when #o" step o"t o% town! or #o"r ho"se e en! what kinds o% animals do #o" see< >omestic pets! anno#ing b"gs! ma#be some chirping birds in the morning! and rodents r"ining the trash cans or something. .ince the#$re the most %amiliar animals beca"se o% their relati el# common appearances in h"man societ#! it wo"ld make sense %or them to be the %irst RPokemonS to appear in the wild. /ow how abo"t the others< -ow sho"ld #o" design them so that the# appear nat"ral when #o"

enco"nter them< 8an# areas host a ariet# o% Pokemon! and "s"all#! the# %it the area in )"estion. Kor e=ample! desert-themed Pokemon are going to appear in a desert! and %ish are ob io"sl# going to be in the sea. The ma,orit# o% t#pes are ob io"s to %ig"re o"t where to p"t them2 0"gs in a %orest! Kire t#pes in a olcano! 7lectric at a Power Plant! etc. 0"t some t#pes are not as ob io"s as others. >ragon comes to mind4 where do #o" p"t them< Well! whate er the >ragon is designed sho"ld dictate where it sho"ld be. O% co"rse! er# %ew people care abo"t that4 most people ,"st want to know how the# wo"ld pla# o"t in battle. 't doesn$t matter too m"ch! b"t proper battle design matching their en ironments can go a long wa# in adding in an e=tra la#er o% immersion on the pla#er. Eoing back to the desert %or a moment! since it$s a er# harsh place! the Pokemon there ma# be more de%ensi e in nat"re. 0# contrast! an area like a %orest or an abandoned %actor# where #o" ma# be attacked at an# moment ma# %orce the inhabitants to adapt b# reacting more swi%tl# in order to co"nter their predators. We$ll get into more o% this when we get into Gombat >esign (man! ' reall# need to h"rr# "p and act"all# get there &.&P*. There$s one more area that ' need to address! and that$s the call %or more "ni)"e t#pings. This sho"ld go witho"t sa#ing! b"t e ent"all#! Eame Kreak is going to r"n o"t. Cnless the# add in new t#pes contin"o"sl#! the# are going to ha e to repeat t#pings no matter what. What ' think is e en more important is how their t#pings a%%ect how the# are! and where the# are! and wh# the# are what the# are. '/.7:T PO@7>7? P'GTC:7 -7:7 Oh! b"t ' %orgot abo"t another aspect that ' promised2 The Pokede=. The Pokede= organiJes the Pokemon #o" meet into a nice n"merical order! with bits o% in%ormation to go with each o% them. Kor the Pokede= ' ha e in mind! all o% the entries! %"nctions! and search engines %rom pre io"s games will be incl"ded. -owe er! there will be more. ' wo"ld like the Pokede= to be more "se%"l! partic"lar %or more ad anced pla#ers. Kor one thing! the Pokede= co"ld list what mo es the Pokemon co"ld learn b# le el-"p. That sho"ld be prett# simple to implement! b"t the not-so-simple wa# is how to R"nlockS it grad"all# so it doesn$t come o%% too )"ickl#. .ome pla#ers ma# not like that it$s not readil# a ailable! b"t then again! so is other in%o when #o" onl# see the Pokemon in )"estion. 0"t sho"ld this in%o (and more* come as soon as its capt"red< Well...ma#be! b"t ' think there$s gotta be a more RrewardingS wa#. -ere$s another one2 7 ol"tionar# methods. This will be disc"ssed more shortl#! b"t it$s rather simple4 .tate how the Pokemon e ol es. That$s prett# m"ch it. ' wo"ld also like it i% the# had some wa# to show stats! b"t not necessaril# in n"mbers. ' sa# that beca"se it might break the immersion in an :PE. 6eah! to some people! that$s totall# b"llcrap! b"t he#! e er# e%%ort helps. 't ma# not be that detrimental in this case beca"se it '. the Pokede=! something that ' can$t e=actl# sa# %or a %"t"re chapter! b"t ass"ming that we can$t "se n"mbers! how can we show them< Well! one wa# is to rank them as s"ch2 2nd! 1st! 2nd! Ath! 9th! Fth! %or e=ample. -owe er! this ma# not be eno"gh! so certain o%%icial Pokede= apps act"all# do show stats as bars. 8a#be it$ll help to show benchmarks (like e er# A0 stat! there$s a mark abo e*. Kinall#! there sho"ld be other little in%o as well! like egg gro"p! gender ratio! and ma#be capt"re rate! b"t i% not that! then perhaps an e=planation o% what abilities it can potentiall# ha e. 't$d also be ncie to access the Pokede= in battle. Phew! that took long eno"gh. Kor those o% #o" screaming abo"t e ol"tion! don$t worr#4 that$s coming

"p ne=t.

E+olution
&nother core concept in Pokemon is that the tit"lar creat"res e ol e to become stronger. /ot e er# Pokemon ma# e ol e! b"t the ma,orit# do. .o here! we disc"ss a co"ple (not all* methods o% e ol ing! and how to make the more obsc"re ones more easier to %ig"re o"t. The %irst method o% e ol"tion was ,"st b# simpl# le eling it "p to the necessar# le el or higher. The trick is to make s"re that the le els are spaced o"t e enl#! both %or the in-game stor#! and %or an# other p"rposes. The >eino %amil# (and reall#! most %amilies %rom the last parts o% the Cno a de=* reall# s"%%ers %rom this! as while the# do appear at the end o% the game! what$s the magic le el when #o" %inall# obtain a -#dreigon< /'/T7/>O .'?T6-KOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOC-oka#! in all serio"sness! F9 is wa# too high! especiall# %or post-game p"rposes. -ell! e en d"ring the in-game! the highest le els o% the %inal bosses in both 0lack and White 1 and 2 don$t e=ceed F0 i% ' recall! so what gi es< ' sa# that the highest sho"ld be AA! tho"gh it$s likel# lower. The second is e ol"tionar# stones. Gertain Pokemon a"tomaticall# e ol e when #o" "se certain stones on them. The downside was that the#$d "s"all# stop learning new mo es! or learn er# little! at all. This is pla#ed with a little! making #o" choose what le el #o" want #o"r Pokemon to e ol e. Kor e=ample! be%ore the 9th generation games! #o" co"ld prett# m"ch %eel sa%e abo"t e ol ing Erowlithe once it learned Klame Wheel. Once >iamond and Pearl arri ed! tho"gh! 0&81 7ither wait "ntil le el 98 to learn Klare 0litJ! missing o"t on 7=tremespeed in the process witho"t a mo e relearner! or ,"st e ol e it and be oka# with Klamethrower or Kire Kang. The third is trading! and this is prett# anno#ing %or those that onl# ha e one game. 't$s what it so"nds like2 6o" trade a Pokemon! and it e ol es. There are certain twists later on down the line! s"ch as the whole @arrablast/.helmet relationship. ' do recall their Pokede= entries hinting at s"ch a thing! b"t something like R-mm! what happens i% the two were traded<S wo"ld$ e been nice. There$s a common twist later on that re)"ires the e ol e-ie in )"estion to hold an item in order to e ol e. &nd this is something that '$ e got to bring "p. '/.7:T 7OO;CT'O/ GO/T'/C'T6 P'GTC:7 -7:7 Whene er certain e ol"tions (and pre-e ol"tions! %or that matter* come "p that logicall# co"ld$ e been per%ormed pre io"sl#! b"t instead recei ed a new method o% e ol ing! there$s bo"nd to be debate on wh# this is. 7=amples incl"de some 7e eel"tions not e ol ing ia certain stones! certain mo es that the Pokemon co"ldn$t learn are now s"ddenl# learnable %or e ol"tion! and certain items are re)"ired to obtain the new Pokemon. Wh# is this< .imple2 Gontin"it#. '% the# went ahead! and! sa#! allowed ;ea%eon to e ol e %rom an 7e ee ia a lea% stone! the contin"it# problems it wo"ld ca"se wo"ld be...news-worth#! let$s lea e it at that. 0"t there$s more obsc"re e ol"tions to look at. One o"tdated one is Keebas. Oh good lord! Keebas. Tr#ing to e en K'/> #o" was hard eno"gh! b"t catching it and then e ol ing it< ' might as well ha e pla#ed in the lotter# i% ' didn$t had a g"ide. Thank%"ll#! this got "pdated in 0lack and White! b"t it still needs some more hints. There are also some rocks to e ol e #o"r 7e ee into either a ;ea%eon or a Elaceon. Tr# %ig"ring that o"t witho"t someone telling #o".

0"t eno"gh abo"t that! the point is that tr#ing to %ig"re o"t how Pokemon e ol e and whether or not the# e ol e in the %irst place sho"ldn$t be a chore to %ig"re o"t. 0"t that brings me to another point2 What Pokemon sho"ld e ol e< Well! ob io"sl#! their design wo"ld pla# a big role in determining that %act! b"t e en then! it$s split between a 2-stage line or a 3-stage line. Which one sho"ld #o" go with< Well! there isn$t a whole lot o% 3-liners o"tside o% starters! so what does that sa# abo"t the whole ordeal< ' realiJe that ' ma# be wasting #o"r time with 7 ol"tions! as admittedl#! it$s probabl# an area that$s one o% the least disc"ssed! and probabl# one least needing some changes! i% necessar#. On the bright side! this was relati el# )"ick. .o with that! let$s talk abo"t how Pokemon are designed to battle! i.e. Gombat >esign1

Combat 4esign
'/.7:T GO80&T >7.'E/ P'GTC:7 -7:7. When ' sa# RGombat >esignS! ' am speci%icall# talking abo"t how a partic"lar Pokemon per%orms in battle. /ot e er# Pokemon is designed %or battling! (clearl#!* b"t when it is! it sho"ld be designed as competent as possible! and #et as balanced as possible. We$ll go one step at a time! going o er each step o% act"all# creating the monster in )"estion! and along the wa# there will be an e=ample that$ll be %"ll# described at the end. Kor the p"rposes o% this section! please make the %ollowing ass"mptions2 1. One thing to note is whether or not to in ol e /K7s4 %or now! ass"me that the e=ample that shall be created is either a %"ll#-e ol ed Pokemon or a .ingle-.tage Pokemon. 2. The e=ample in )"estion is made %or single battles. 3. Onl# mo es! abilities! and t#pes that c"rrentl# e=ist at the time o% this writing are a ailable %or "se. .tep 12 >e%ine its role. -ow do #o" want #o"r Pokemon to %ight< O%%ensi el#< >e%ensi el#< ;et$s break it down e en %"rther2 .ho"ld it be a swi%t attacker! or a st"rd#! #et power%"l de%ender< -ow abo"t making it the wall to end all walls! or s"pport other Pokemon in battle< What kind o% niche do #o" want to gi e it< &ct"all#! gi ing it a "ni)"e niche ma# be more important! beca"se #o" co"ld make a %airl# awesome sweeper! b"t it$s ine itabl# going to be compared to other sweepers o% its kind! and people generall# want the best o% the best! or at least the top 3 at most genero"s. While e er# sweeper will ha e something to make it stand o"t! the )"estion is whether or not it$s eno"gh. This goes %or nearl# e er# other battle st#le! b"t the wa#4 s"bseeding! baton passing! resttalk! etc.! etc.! etc. 6o" don$t ha e to go o"t o% #o"r wa# to %ind a new niche (Oka#! who am ' kidding< 6o" do.*! b"t chances are that #o"$re going to be "sing a RtemplateS to draw %rom. The important thing to note is how to t"rn that template in its head! and more importantl#! make it work. '% #o" can$t e en do that! at the er# least tr# to make it so that it "ses all o% the tools that are a ailable to their %"llest4 in other words! make it the best o% the best. ...witho"t it being o erpowered! o% co"rse. This does e ent"all# lead to power creep! tho"gh! so proceed with ca"tion. /ot onl# that! b"t #o" don$t ha e to limit it to one niche4 it can %ill m"ltiple roles i% needed. Kor e=ample! a choice sweeper ma# occasionall# be a set-"p sweeper! or e en throw stat"s aliments at one another.

'n this e=ample! ' want to create a stalling Pokemon that$s essentiall# ;"dicolo! b"t better. While the statement o% those two Pokemon ma# make m# %inal res"lt a little predictable! it$s still important to go o er it thoro"ghl# to be s"re that e er#thing is done right. '% #o" don$t get it! don$t worr#4 '$ll e=plain it at the end. Wh#< There$s simpl# so man# other ariables that come into pla#. &s o% this moment! tho"gh! now that we ha e de%ined o"r role! let$s mo e on to what is perhaps the most recogniJable aspect to the cas"al a"dience2 'ts t#ping. .tep 22 Greate its t#ping. The %irst thing to note right o%% the Q"bat is that some t#pes are more s"it to either o%%ensi e! or de%ense. Kor e=ample! Kire and 'ce are more seen as o%%ensi e t#pes! while Poison and .teel are more "se%"l as de%ensi e t#pings. The most important thing is that #o"$ e got to make s"re that the role %its the t#ping2 6o" don$t want a Kire/'ce wall or a Poison/.teel sweeper! don$t #o"< Well! oka#! some other aspects like stat distrib"tion ma# help! b"t t#ping is still er# signi%icant. '% #o"$re still "ns"re! generall# t#pings are seen as more de%ensi e than o%%ensi e! b"t #o" will still want the Kire/'ce .weeper %or an# .T&0s on more than one occasion! %or instance. Kor o"r e=ample! there$s se eral t#pes that we can choose %rom. :ecalling m# pre io"s statements! it$s going to be at least part Erass. What abo"t the second t#ping< '$ll sa# Water. 6eah! ;"dicolo is probabl# going to be more o"tclassed than Tepig to its Cno a breather-en (Q'/E1*! b"t what can #o" do< 0"t there$s still man# others to disc"ss! so let$s mo e on to stats. .tep 32 &llocate its stats. Kirst o%%! #o" need to de%ine it$s bast stat total. While this ma# be moot depending on what other ariables #o" gi e it! in general! #o"$ll need a reall# good! tho"gh not o erpowered base state total. /ow! what 0.T is considered balanced is "p %or debate! b"t ' personall# like going %or A90. /e=t! something arg"abl# e en more important is stat distrib"tion. & Pokemon can$t do its ,obs i% it doesn$t ha e the right stats to back it "p4 ,"st ask @linklang! or Klareon. What ' like to do is start o% b# di iding them "p e enl#2 -P T I0 V &tk T I0 V >e% T I0 V ..&tk T I0 V ..>e% T I0 V .peed T I0 Then! add and s"btract points %rom ario"s stats into more %itting stats. 6o" got to make s"re that #o" don$t go o erboard! as it$s er# eas# to do this2 -P T 1A0 V &tk T A V >e% T 190 V ..&tk T 100 V ..>e% T 190 V .peed T A Or this2 -P T F0 V &tk T A V >e% T F0 V ..&tk T 180 V ..>e% T F0 V .peed T 1HA .o! '$d generall# limit it to 12A (or 13A i% the 0.T was F00*! and e en then! it$d be onl# %or one stat. ' also don$t want a stat to go too low! again! %or balance reasons. With that in mind! the %inal stat distrib"tion looks something like this2 -P T 12A V &tk T F0 V >e% T 8A V ..&tk T I0 V ..>e% T 100 V .peed T 80

/ow that we got all that settled o"t! it$s time we mo e on to abilities. .tep 92 Ghoose its abilities. &bilities are passi e...well...abilities that a%%ect how a certain Pokemon ma# pla#. The# don$t matter all the time! b"t when the# do! the# matter a lot. .ome Pokemon onl# ha e one abilit# to "se4 others ha e two to choose %rom. 8ost ha e also recei ed a hidden abilit# ia the >ream World! which is o%ten the most "se%"l o% the b"nch. O"r Pokemon will ha e two abilities to choose %rom! with an additional hidden abilit#. /ow comes to act"all# choose what abilities it will ha e. &gain! make s"re that the abilities %it the Pokemon #o"$re tr#ing to create. There are a co"ple o% abilities that are act"all# bad %or balance reasons! b"t these abilities tend to do their ,ob too well. &lso worth to note that some abilities are essentiall# the same! with the onl# di%%erences being cosmetic or conte=t"al. &n#wa#s! o"r Pokemon shall ha e a choice between :ain >ish and :egenerater! with a hidden abilit# o% either 0attle or .hell &rmor! tho"gh it doesn$t matter too m"ch. ('$ll probabl# go with 0attle &rmor! tho"gh.* Wonder wh# ' picked those abilities! partic"larl# 0attle &rmor< '$ll e=plain in a little bit. Kor now! let$s mo e on to %ill "p its mo epool. .tep A2 Kill its mo epool. Ob io"sl#! it can$t do its ,ob i% it doesn$t ha e the act"al tools to per%orm it. /ow! when ' sa# Rmo epoolS! ' don$t mean e er# single indi id"al mo e it co"ld possibl# learn. ' am more so talking abo"t an# important mo es that it ma# "se in battle. Gonsider all possible roles that the Pokemon ma# partake in! and pro ide the tools necessar# to do so. One r"le that ' %eel e er# Pokemon sho"ld ha e! tho"gh! is that all Pokemon! regardless o% role! m"st ha e at least 1 attacking mo e that$s their t#pe! and a /ormal t#pe attack! i% it$s not /ormal. -ow strong sho"ld the# be< :ight now! it seems to be 80! hich is decent! tho"gh ' do wish it was a bit higher. ' will admit that ' am not h"rt )"ite as bad i% it was Ro erdoneS in this instance! beca"se while it$s still not the best o% wa#s to go abo"t it! there is one big limit on the whole mo epool2 The 9-slot s#ndrome. 't$s e=actl# what it sa#s on the tin2 & Pokemon can onl# "se 9 mo es at a time. This! o% co"rse! ma# change sho"ld the limit be increased! which has gotten a co"ple pleas %rom some %ans to do so. O% co"rse! this co"ld make the game more biased to Pokemon with bigger mo epools! so some %ans s"ggested a RstoreS o% mo es that the Pokemon co"ld swap o"t mo es at an# time. ' highl# disagree on this beca"se! again! Pokemon are animals! not machines. Well! most o% them! an#wa#. 't doesn$t e en make sense %rom a stor# standpoint2 -ow co"ld a Pokemon nat"rall# onl# can "se a mo e when it$s RassignedS to them< .o i% there were to be an# changes to the mo e limit! '$d sa# ma#be one or two more slots! b"t that$s it. Kor o"r Pokemon! there$s plent# o% mo es that it co"ld "se. O% co"rse! it$s gotta ha e to %ollow m# r"le! so ."r%! 7nerg# 0all! and Cproar sho"ld do the trick. Ob io"sl#! it$s not going to s"r i e with onl# those three mo es! so let$s spice it "p a bit. The %ollowing mo es ha e been added to its arsenal2 -#dro P"mp! :ain >ance! &)"a :ing! ;eech .eed! ."bstit"te! Eiga >rain! :est! .leep Talk! 'ce 0eam! 0liJJard! -eal P"lse! &romatherap#! :e%resh! :eco er! &)"a Let! &mnesia! &cid &rmor! .cald! and Protect. ' ma# be missing a %ew notable mo es! b"t let$s go o er what we got! and b# that ' mean the lessob io"s ones2 &)"a :ing and ;eech .eed are ob io"sl# %or healing p"rposes! b"t on their own! the# do seem like a waste o% time! beca"se &* The#$re "sing "p precio"s t"rns! and 0* 7speciall# %or &)"a

:ing! their healing rates aren$t too spectac"lar. 0"t when combined with! sa#! ."bstit"te and :ain >ish! it makes %or a de astating combo that$s s"re to wear its opponents thin. Kor other options with similar p"rposes! Eiga >rain is the t#pical RhealingS mo e! not the best! b"t ' can see its "ses in certain sets! and then there$s the t#pical :estTalk combo. 0"t what i% we don$t want o"r Pokemon to ,"st stall< We got 'ce 0eam and 0liJJard %or co erage! b"t #o" ma# be wondering wh# ' ha e -eal P"lse. There$s at least two reasons2 One is %or do"ble battles! b"t another is %or more conte=t"al p"rposes. We$ll get to that in a min"te. &romatherap# and :e%resh are "se%"l to heal stat"s aliments! and :eco er$s alwa#s "se%"l. &)"a Let %or little co erage! and &mnesia and &cid &rmor are %or increasing its de%enses. 0"t wo"ldn$t! sa#! critical hits neglect all o% that< Well! that$s what 0attle &rmor is %or. /ow! the Pokemon is read# %or combat! right< Technicall# #es! b"t we still ha e to add other in%ormation to make it complete. .o let$s go do ,"st that. F T Gomplete other in%ormation. What other in%ormation is there< Well! there$s its name! o% co"rse! b"t also other things like height and weight. While height won$t matter m"ch ("nless the# added in a new mo e that$s determined b# height*! there are certain mo es that are a%%ected b# weight! gi ing some Pokemon like Oaporeon an ad antage. Then there$s other in%ormation like catch rate! egg %ields! classi%ication! etc.! mostl# %or ingame p"rposes. /ow we ha e to act"all# draw the Pokemon. While the act"al design doesn$t matter too m"ch in terms o% )"alit#! it sho"ld look what it sho"ld. &ct"all#! in this instance! the design o% the Pokemon! sho"ld it be drawn %irst! ma# act"all# a%%ect certain $mechanical$ (b# that! ' mean gamepla#related* elements! like mo epool and abilities. &%ter all! it wo"ldn$t make m"ch sense i% a 9-legged Pokemon with no sharp %ingers can learn .lash! wo"ldn$t it< /ow we ha e o"r er# own Pokemon in place. /ow to show it o%% in battle1 H - >emonstrate it in battle. 't$s eas# to demonstrate it in a hotl# competiti e en ironment! and e en in post-game areas like the 0attle Tower/."bwa#! b"t what abo"t in-game< &gain! eas# to demonstrate in an 7lite 9 member! b"t what abo"t in the middle< Or e en the beginning< This goes back to m# pacing segment in the O erworld chapter4 #o" ha e to space the concepts and comple=it# o"t properl# in order to allow the pla#er to %"ll# %eel the growth o% the whole s#stem witho"t %eeling alienated. Kor e=ample! o"r Pokemon is probabl# the best o% the best at what it does! so it$ll probabl# be somewhere in the later-end on the game. '% it m"st be introd"ced earlier on! then either a pre-e o o% it or itsel% will "se a lesser %orm o% the st#le that it$s going %or. ' g"ess that$s it %or now. 0"t! Pokemon is an :PE! and :PEs (especiall# L:PEs* are "s"all# known %or their elaborate stories! or at the er# least! more detailed worlds and characters than #o"r a erage action game! so let$s take a closer look at .tor# and Gonte=t.

E 5tory and Conte/t <5C$E=

-ere$s another er# common criticism o% the main Pokemon %ranchise2 the stor# in these games are er# er# simplistic! or ,"st...not reall# good. Tr"th be told! with the possible e=ception o% 0lack and White 1! Pokemon generall# doesn$t ha e er# good stories. ' can "nderstand where its coming %rom!

b"t %or some people! an :PE witho"t a plot is blasphem#! so how can we %i= this< We$ll go o er not ,"st the act"al stor#line! b"t also other areas o% conte=t and lore! in order to add in some spices and s"gar to the games. Eeneral Premise(s* The general premise has alwa#s been to take the E#m ;eader Ghallenge and e ent"all# take on the Pokemon ;eag"e in order to become the champion. 't$s been done %or at least %i e generations! now and Eeneral premise(s*! themes and moti%s! and characters