Pokemon Umbral Theatre 11: Things That Make You Go Wuh?

[Astral Harmony]

http://i1038.photobucket.com/albums/a469/PokemonUmbral/PokemonUmbral110.jpg

Cut for the emo kids and Flash for the voluptuous ladies. Pokemon has got shit figured out.

http://i1038.photobucket.com/albums/a469/PokemonUmbral/PokemonUmbral128.png

I feel sad for Mijumaru, but I myself have always picked the Grass starter, and Generation Five is not going to change that...unless they offer a Dark type starter. Seriously, can't we get starters in one generation that aren't Water, Grass, or Fire? Or is that only possible in the Colosseum games for Gamecube and those mystery dungeon games?

http://i1038.photobucket.com/albums/a469/PokemonUmbral/PokemonUmbral146.png

At first Renny was like this...but then he Lola'd.

So I'm probably gonna post tonight. Apparently I can access this site from work, though I'll try to limit it because work always makes me so goddamn melancholy.

Actually, a question to Dracorian: did you want me to push the plot forward for you as well? I kinda left openings for you to run ahead like you wanted in the PMs, but so far you didn't bite, so I'm not sure how to proceed.

And could someone else post first? I don't like double-posting except for the reasons that the first post couldn't contain any more characters.

[Dracorion]

Actually, a question to Dracorian: did you want me to push the plot forward for you as well? I kinda left openings for you to run ahead like you wanted in the PMs, but so far you didn't bite, so I'm not sure how to proceed.

Well, I was hoping you'd answer Pierce's last question.

But since it was a long shot anyway, sure, I'll have Pierce run ahead.

It's already set up, anyway.

[Menarker]

Shizuka DID answer Pierce's questions, even if she was probably intentionally vague on two of them.

They knew about Burkmont funding Faynoc because Idolus made a temporary truce and thus provided information that came from Marionetta and Twiloch, both of whom were supposably working for Burkmont before he betrayed their agreement not to round up the rogue ruin generals for his own uses.

As for the message, Burkmont is sending out a special force unit (probably one led by a Gabriel Force) to retrieve some of the data and speciemens, so the Kimonos are going to wreck their shit, perhaps killing Faynoc while the Burkmont forces are inside. I mean, what better way to ensure that you didn't let any of the squad forces or any of the cultist escape than to blow the place up and all its content with them inside?

As for how they got in, that's really one of the most pointless questions. They are inside now regardless of how they got in. Maybe Idolus helped them out with his Destroyer status power. Maybe they were let in like Pierce was, due to Faynoc wanting to get rid of the Kimonos for attempted assassination. Maybe they have enough power of their own to get in or sneak in.


So really, you can go ahead and write your post unless there is something more that Pierce needed to know?

Either that, or someone else could write a post. I recall that Matthias might have a question for Irene or there might be a flashback for Impact.

[Dracorion]

The fourth question pretty much went unanswered.

Pierce was asking about the message Shizuka told the trainer to relay to Mika. About something that Chizuru says the whole facility to a crater.

Pierce is asking for details. Like, "what do you mean you're going to be hungry?" or something.

Even if the question wasn't clear, and it is, your answer is completely unsatisfactory.

As for how they got in, that was just curiosity. But it can be taken for granted.

[Menarker]

Well, its a guess, and Shizuka is pretty much operating under a "Need-to-know" basis at this time. There seems to be a sense of urgency in the mission and she's not going to stop and play 20 questions with Pierce when she won't even clarify what she said for Chizuru, her own partner from the very start.

And hungry could very well be meant literally, as she's probably thinking of going OVERDRIVE and burning up tons of her energy to practically nuke the place. Obviously a code-word since she would otherwise make that request to Chizuru, who is obviously the much better cook. As for what the codeword actually means for Mika, it might be something like "Don't come any closer. I'm going to blow the place up and I don't want you caught in the blast." or the opposite "Come back me up, I'll need help getting out after I cast Doom on the entire facility."

[Dracorion]

She didn't need to clarify to Chizuru because Chizuru already knows!

And it's obvious to me that Shizuka's planning to turn into a giant spider demon and swallow the facility whole. Pierce, on the other hand, isn't quite so genre-savvy, so he has a right to be curious. Not to mention, I imagine he'd be pretty miffed is Shizuka ate the building while Sam is still in it.

[Menarker]

"And you couldn't be bothered to maybe pass this on to the rest of us?" Chizuru asked.
"Quiet, you. We really don't have to sit around and drink tea."

Chizuru did not know these details in advance. She just knows enough about Shizuka to know that hunger in her case is a euphemism for carnage and destruction.

As for Sam being eaten by Shizuka...

"Shizuka, WHAT THE HELL? My sister was in there!"
"I'm sorrrrry, Pierce..."
"MY SISTER! I RUSHED HERE TO SAVE HER! Now she's GONE!"
"I said I'm sorry... Really I am... I was starved! Maybe we can just let this situation go with some reconciliatory sex...?"
*Eye arch in shock from inappropriate suggestion/excuse.*

And yet I see Pierce being tempted to go along with it. ^^: Sam's fault for joining a cult and what's done is done! ^^;

[Astral Harmony]

Chizuru knows exactly what Shizuka meant. Shizuka's just being mischievous about it for her own amusement. That girl's got issues.

Eh, screw it. I'll just edit my RP post.

[Bard The 5th LW]

Does PATCA even try to arrest people anymore?

Like, to even further all the problems I have with it, I can only complain about this stuff OOC because I have an evil-aligned character!

[Dracorion]

Well, I'm sure they'd try to arrest Faynoc if the fucker would surrender.

That said, it's AB's fault for making us kill all the villains.

There's going to be like, all of one arrest, maybe, in this whole mission.

[Astral Harmony]

Arresting people in RPGs is a stupid idea. It's always proven to never work because the incarcerated person usually escapes, like, ten minutes later. Especially if the character is the protagonist.

If you arrest a villain, you might as well have just let them get away, because the results would be the same. You'll fight 'em again, and they'll have a new weapon with which to fight you.

[Bard The 5th LW]

Like, I support offing the primary antagonists/leaders, but a random henchman isn't necessarily to be held entirely accountable for his actions. If his boss is dead, or he just obviously can't do much to fight back effectively, whats wrong with incapacitating them?

And as this sidequest indicates, they are not above mind controlling innocent people. Shizuka may very well eat brainwashed citizens.

And don't you dare give the excuse that Sam is the only one mind-controlled.

[Geminex]

Kay, I'll be makin' this quick:

Well, Gem, guessing Impact will be the group's leader for a while. Hopefully Impact won't ask anyone to do anything questionable, especially after the conversation that we sent on PM. Whitney will be fighting Renny's share.
Well, firstly, Impact still has to announce that he's no longer leader, secondly Charlotte needs to decide on deployment. That's her call now. We've arranged what call she'll make, but she hasn't yet. I would hope that in the course of making this call, she'll also decide who's in charge of which team.

I knew they were fake-banned. Dracorian, sure, but Geminex and Bard as well? No effin' way.
I like how you don't think I'm worse than both of them combined.


The Master of Electricity is here. Nothing gets past Pike as he evolves into Teslahound! Any time an attack that deals electric damage is issued by the enemy force, it is brought straight to Pike, who can then send it back out to deal 25% of the damage at a target of its own choice.
Eeeh. Nice, but... all targets? Naah. Pike and an ally to either side, at most. The redirection thing is nice, though.

Gotta think about the rest a bit more. It's more or less allright for now, I guess. I like Menarker's suggestion for kick the dog, not so much the one for Caught On Camera. I'm sure we can think of something better. Still, pretty good. And I like the way this is going. Let's kick some cultist ass.

[Astral Harmony]

Oh my god, will you people stop being fake banned? It irks me something awful. Do it or I'll keep reading erotic manga.

[Menarker]

Gem, was the issue with my version of CAUGHT ON TAPE an issue on too much or little power or some other factor? You didn't really go into any depth about that, so I can't exactly propose a new version without knowing how you felt it went wrong. I thought it was simple enough to grasp and use and not too powerful.

And yeah, now that I Gem mentioned it, redirecting only up to 1 ally each side (and himself) sounds more balanced for Teslahound's new ability.

Anyhow, since it is night-time when Renny was released from the hospital, I guess that means Shaymin is in Land Form instead of Sky Form.

[Dracorion]

AB, just so you know, that fact that Sam is with the Harbingers isn't exactly a secret. Pierce said it over comms for all to hear last mission.

[Menarker]

Well, firstly, Impact still has to announce that he's no longer leader, secondly Charlotte needs to decide on deployment. That's her call now. We've arranged what call she'll make, but she hasn't yet. I would hope that in the course of making this call, she'll also decide who's in charge of which team.


Just also saying that Charlotte is definately more than likely going to make Impact leader of his group since he's the only PC present. Unless Charlotte chooses an NPC to be leader. Renny has been absent since before the meeting, and it would be pretty pointless to nominate a leader who is not present and can't be sure to come by at a certain point. Doesn't help that Renny is quite some distance and time away from the rest of the group (1 and a half hours if he was traveling at the same speed as the Rig). Yes, he will arrive faster than normal if he's flying on Togekiss or something faster and able to travel without roads as opposed to the slower Rig, but still...

So yeah, it should probably already be apparent that Impact is leading the group at the moment, unless Charlotte/Bard decide to make an NPC leader.

AB: When inside the facility, is communication with allies from the other side of the walls via the scouters sealed off or jammed to used the appropriate term? Like can the group contact Irene for orders, advice for instructions? For that matter, can the teams communicate when divided or can they only talk when they are in the same room or roughly so?

EDIT: Found something very interesting. ^^ It's a fanon based encyclopedia on various species of pokemons that might be worth reading. While not strictly canon, they seem very plausible and might be a good source of inspiration. ^^

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ThePokedexExtendedFanonEdition

[Astral Harmony]

AB: When inside the facility, is communication with allies from the other side of the walls via the scouters sealed off or jammed to used the appropriate term? Like can the group contact Irene for orders, advice for instructions? For that matter, can the teams communicate when divided or can they only talk when they are in the same room or roughly so?

At first, it's possible to communicate. As you descend, though...

[Menarker]

Drac, just out of curiousity, will Pierce have access to Enmakki at some point during the mission? Or will that be more of a reward at the end of your sidequest and you don't get to actually use it this mission?

[Dracorion]

Yes.

But also, no.

[Menarker]

Jackass. >_>

Ah well. Was just curious because one of Lola's techs (the AOE sleep effect) teams up quite nicely with it. But of course, if Enmakki doesn't get freed and captured in time, then that little detail won't matter.

Just brainstorming stuff in my head while waiting for everyone else. ^^;

[DanteFalcon]

Definitely passing on posting this round. No immediate questions I feel need to be asked.

[Menarker]

Passing on posting this round as well, if that needed to be said.

[Astral Harmony]

I pretty much have the scenes set up. Just need to work on the new Ruin Pokemon, or Charlotte won't know which attacks Mio has access to in each form, or even what dual type each is. I promise it'll be done tonight, even if I've got all this new hentai. And Corpse Princess. Schoolgirl with machine guns killing monsters? I daresay I had a joygasm the moment I beheld the front of the box.

EDIT: I added the character file to the first post of this thread. Additionally, I've added the Ruin Pokemon document there as well. Bard, that document will tell you which moves Mio can use in each of her Pokebrid forms. Take your time. Each form has a lotta moves.

[Dracorion]

AB, is the Beautifly Pokebrid going to be participating in Pierce's and Elizabeth's fight?

[Menarker]

AB: How does Almighty Type Attacks work against Wonderguard like Whitney's Shedninja? Does it fail to penetrate Wonderguard because it's not Super Effective or does it pierce regardless of the ability?

And are there any special combat rules about Evoliths that is worth mentioning? Aside from the fact that they don't die to Sniper OHKO shots (not that we can use them) and they don't have morale to lose? Or do they otherwise have all the same rules as fighting them? Also, do they have the element typing of their respective element, or are they all neutral type despite the element they use?

Also, your new Ruin type data shows that Ruin types only hit Fighting types for Super Effective instead of Quad effective damage like they used to. Mind you, I like it the new way and it makes it more balanced, I just want to make sure that wasn't a typo. Also, didn't Ruin types have an immunity to Fighting type moves? I don't mind at all that they lose the immunity, but I just want to make sure that was intentional and not just forgetting.
Also, the table didn't mention the Narcham's former ability to combine into Pulverots and then into Omnisroth. Is that intentional as well?

[Dracorion]

If I understand correctly, Evoliths don't have the typing of their attacking elements.

If so, it stands to reason they're mechanical enemies.

[Menarker]

I figured as much, but I wanted to make sure, in case of something like trying to hit a Lightning Evolith with an Electric type or a water evolith with a water move. Yes, mechanical foes are weak to electric and water moves, but would hitting evoliths that have a matching or "superior" type reduce its effects?

[Dracorion]

That would be rather unbalanced, don't you think?

[Menarker]

Yeah, but I'm just clarifying to make sure. Don't want any surprises.

EDIT: Looking back in my sidequest where Callisto and Moon were talking about Evoliths, apparently they have no type weaknesses and they are also immune to status effects.

AB, what are the Attack and Special Attack stats roughly for the Evoliths in terms of how powerful their attacks are? Or is that something we more or less got to guess on? They have a mix of physical and special attacks.

[Astral Harmony]

AB, is the Beautifly Pokebrid going to be participating in Pierce's and Elizabeth's fight?

Nope. The way I figured it, you had already planned on how you wanted the battle to end, so I figured I'd either let you handle the whole fight or have me do Elizabeth's actions, though it's rude for me to take control of someone else's NPC unless it's something that cannot be helped.

You don't even have to have the actual turn by turn play. You can freestyle the whole fight, if you like. Besides, I haven't figured out which other two Pokebrid forms that Violet (the Beautifly Pokebrid) would have (most likely cute ones), so we'll just leave her out of the action until Elizabeth does with you what she will.

AB: How does Almighty Type Attacks work against Wonderguard like Whitney's Shedninja? Does it fail to penetrate Wonderguard because it's not Super Effective or does it pierce regardless of the ability?

And are there any special combat rules about Evoliths that is worth mentioning? Aside from the fact that they don't die to Sniper OHKO shots (not that we can use them) and they don't have morale to lose? Or do they otherwise have all the same rules as fighting them? Also, do they have the element typing of their respective element, or are they all neutral type despite the element they use?

Also, your new Ruin type data shows that Ruin types only hit Fighting types for Super Effective instead of Quad effective damage like they used to. Mind you, I like it the new way and it makes it more balanced, I just want to make sure that wasn't a typo. Also, didn't Ruin types have an immunity to Fighting type moves? I don't mind at all that they lose the immunity, but I just want to make sure that was intentional and not just forgetting.
Also, the table didn't mention the Narcham's former ability to combine into Pulverots and then into Omnisroth. Is that intentional as well?

Almighty is sort of a trump card. Nothing can block it. Nothing can dodge it. Nothing can render it ineffective.
But, it also doesn't fall under the advantages of other moves such as STAB, criticals, or side effects.

Since they are constructs and not composed of real flesh, they're immune to things like status effects, morale, and any type that would have advantage over them. They're just like mechanical foes as Dracorian said, except without the circuitry that would make them vulnerable to Electric, Water, and hacking.

Ruin Pokemon document is fixed. Thank you.

AB, what are the Attack and Special Attack stats roughly for the Evoliths in terms of how powerful their attacks are? Or is that something we more or less got to guess on? They have a mix of physical and special attacks.

Roughly the same as Slayers. They pack some serious punch.

[Dracorion]

Nope. The way I figured it, you had already planned on how you wanted the battle to end, so I figured I'd either let you handle the whole fight or have me do Elizabeth's actions, though it's rude for me to take control of someone else's NPC unless it's something that cannot be helped.

You don't even have to have the actual turn by turn play. You can freestyle the whole fight, if you like. Besides, I haven't figured out which other two Pokebrid forms that Violet (the Beautifly Pokebrid) would have (most likely cute ones), so we'll just leave her out of the action until Elizabeth does with you what she will.

Cool. Just making sure.

I'll probably do it turn-by-turn. Gotta stretch it out for everyone to finish their fights, after all.

Might have to skip some posting rounds.

[Geminex]

Okay...
This is... interesting. In many, many ways.
Nice posts, AB.

Let's see...

I'll go over Dante's and Bard's upgrades again tomorrow. That'll probably also be when I finish up the conversations between Impact and Menarker and Impact and Charlotte respectively.
Tomorrow is likely also the date I'll look at the upgrade sheet again. Sorta late, but I need time, people. I'm extremely busy.
Not busy enough to prevent me from posting in the zombie RP, but, in my defence, that invovled me being half-zombified, almost going mad with bloodlust, getting myself under control and then ordering Bard to cut Zombie-Menarker's sinews with a box cutter.

Mind you, that last bit does seem rather grotesque. But in my defense, this is half-turned me.

...

Anyway, wow. That's a lot of killdolls.

[Menarker]

Almighty is sort of a trump card. Nothing can block it. Nothing can dodge it. Nothing can render it ineffective.
But, it also doesn't fall under the advantages of other moves such as STAB, criticals, or side effects.


Uhh, that doesn't help in this case. Was hoping that Whitney's Shedninja would come in handy for once and be able to attack once we got rid of the Fire and dark Evolith first. Guess not.

But a pokemon that dies in one hit of any type that is super effective... is not exactly a valuable pokemon in a setting where there are multiple foes on the field at a time, each with multiple types of attacks. I mean, Shedninja literally has 1 hitpoint. He'll die to a level 1 Spearow with Peck or to leech seed or sandstorm.
Then again, a pokemon with 236 base stat is crappy to begin with. It got 1 hitpoint and its defense stat and special defense stat don't mean anything if it dies in one hit. Technically, Shedninja is nothing more than a single turn Protect, and if he's revived, Whitney gets 25 rage because he's a leader pokemon. (Why anyone would make it a leader is mind-boggling! The Dark sure had a bowl of stupid for breakfast)

I guess what could be done with such a pokemon is that Whitney sends out Shedninja, and every turn it gets knocked out, a medic can revive it and thus have the effect of a Rage Rocket on Whitney. Stock up rage until she can spam higher Pokebrid techniques or Pokesync and attack with boosted power.

Anyhow, I got to leave for work now. Will try to make suggestions for Gem for combat when I get back.

[Dracorion]

See, this is why I didn't join the zombie RP. It was going to devolve into a retarded PVP-fest pretty much starting from the first post.

Guest starring: THE ZOMBIES!

Sure, I missed out on disemboweling Geminex, but I stand by my decision.

On the plus side, if Impact and Lola get knocked out (or maybe just Impact) I hope it means Impact dies fo'realz. I mean, you've got two people down. You gonna take care of the medic, or the creepy guy no one likes? And then he bleeds to death.

It's okay though, he can still come back as a half-zombie for the sequel.

His Demon powers can actually be zombie powers!

[Astral Harmony]

Impact is crucial to this RP's plot and even more so in the sequel to the point that even if Geminex went "Fuck you, AB, you piece of shit! I hope a maniac beats you to death with the Sunday New York Times! I quit your RP because I'm spending far too much time trying to cause your death with my will!", I'd still be inclined to keep Impact around just because of all this Eldys and Knomere nonsense.

I...suppose Pierce could take his place, which is probably the main reason Dracorian wants Pierce to toss Impact off a runaway train into a woodchipper in the first place.

And the woodchipper explodes, too. Not enough action, otherwise.

[Dracorion]

Then everything in the radius of the explosion gets doused in acid.

And then nuked.

And then it gets exploded again.

Just to make sure.

[Astral Harmony]

And finally, a slidewhistle.

You can't end a good ridiculously overdone boss kill without a slidewhistle.

[Dracorion]

Mostly, though, it's less about getting Pierce promoted and more pissing of Geminex.

EDIT: Well, I'm not entirely happy with the post.

That said, who knew Elizabeth Irons had a heart?

[Bard The 5th LW]

Sorry, been busy (and a bit lazy) today. I'll try to have some stuff tomorrow once school's over.

[Menarker]

Gem, just out of curiousity, what sort of weapons and armor is Impact packing? I don't recall if Debuffs work against mechanical foes. Although I would say your flying type weapon would come in handy because of increased crit chance. Unless you think you can drain health out of them using the Grass type weapon. Otherwise, I guess stick with water cannon for dealing with mechanical foes.

Either way, I would suggest this plan:

Mirror: Build +2 defense machine to reduce the damage of all those attacks to the party. I mean seriously, that's a shit load of attacks!
Lola: Buffing Impact and herself with X Defense.
Whitney: Attack a Killdoll with Ninjask with Aerial Ace, for unmissable STAB damage. Ninjask has crazy speed and should have a significant crit chance and it has a pretty fairly good attack too. Volbeat should use Helping Hand on Impact.
Impact: Attack Fire Evolith with enhanced power. Try to knock it out before it does super effective heavy damage to Whitney's bug types, at least knowing that Evoliths don't have increased evasion.


I didn't suggest Ledian attacking with Aerial Ace, because both its attack stats are CRAP.




AB, can the pokemons of NPCs use HM moves? Like if we wanted to use Defog to lower the foe's evasion?

Oh, and can you repost the list of items that are available for medics after the nerf? I looked and I can't seem to find it. It doesn't help it's late for me and I'm feeling groggy.



EDIT: And I just realized that the plan I proposed to Gem is flawed in the fact that Almighty Type would ignore the defense boost of X Defense and Mirror's Defense enhancement machine.

AB: Do Signature Techniques typically have 100% accuracy or do they have a chance of missing if they try to target a foe with increased evasion?

[Dracorion]

Suddenly Tsujimi doesn't seem all that powerful.

[Astral Harmony]

AB, can the pokemons of NPCs use HM moves? Like if we wanted to use Defog to lower the foe's evasion?

Oh, and can you repost the list of items that are available for medics after the nerf? I looked and I can't seem to find it. It doesn't help it's late for me and I'm feeling groggy.

AB: Do Signature Techniques typically have 100% accuracy or do they have a chance of missing if they try to target a foe with increased evasion?

No.

Just Restores, Revives, single status cures and X buff items.

They should work almost all the time.

[Dracorion]

Unless Gardenoir is being a tele-whoring bitch or enemies decide NOT to get taunted by Chizuru.

[Geminex]

Okay. That plan doesn't look bad, but I'll have to check what else we could do, first. Nice idea with the defog. Pity it won't work...

Also, Drac, glad you took care of that. I hate when you leave the whole 'propose that Impact dies' thing until the end of the thread, I always feel like I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop. Good of you to take care of it early.

Ruin pokemon look nice. Not gonna bother going over the pokebrid moves now.

Dante... upgrades so far are cool, I guess.

Bard... yeah. The version of Kick the Dog that Menarker proposed is god, with buffs for attack, special attack and speed, in return for reductions in def and special defense. I don't really like Menarker's version of Caught on Tape that much, though it's up to you, as I think it'd be more or less balanced. I gave you my two cents on lighting absorb... that's it, no? I hope so.

Oh, and Menarker, just tell us what your pokeshift is already.

And those convos are gonna get finished tomorrow. Just too late for now.

[Dracorion]

Yeah, well, see, some of us get actually get our trivial RP-related stuff done on time.

[Menarker]

Well, Gem, while I was working, I realized something that would be potentially better.

The move Swift is not only unmissable, but it also hits 2 targets. (3 if you're using Black and White rules).

So what could be done is Lola can use X Attack on Mirror and X Special Attack on Whitney. Whitney uses Swift with her extremely High Special Attack stat which will be boosted by X special. Ninjask uses Aerial Ace which has STAB and won't miss as well as high power and great crit chance. Mirror attacks with her cheap special technique Centrifugal Cannon which supposably won't miss and will be boosted by X attack and will hit two targets, one of them random. Impact... I don't know what he should do... Actually, he should switch with Kurika. If Lola gets knocked out, he can switch back to the front, while still having full health and revive Lola with a revive, and get switched back to the back next turn.

So hopefully that will be...

*NEW IDEA* DING! GRAVITY!

Lola, when she is in Chimecho form, can activate the pokebrid move Gravity which reduces the evasion of all combatants on the field by 2 stages . It's a weather type effect of sort even though weather like Sunny Day won't remove it, so it'll effect all the kill dolls, bringing their evasion back down to normal levels. As a bonus, it'll also weaken the power of Punishment from the Dark type Evolith since that move gets weaker against a target with more debuffs than buffs.

Thus we can focus on using attacks that have high power instead of accuracy. The kill dolls have low hitpoints, so we should probably spread the attacks out and try to kill as many as we can in one hit.

Revised plan:

Lola: Chimecho form. Use Gravity. X attack on Kurika? (X defense items would be useless against Almighty Type attacks)
Whitney: Shedninja and Armaldo both use X-Scissor on Kill dolls A and B for STAB damage, while keeping herself out of combat for the time being.
Kurika: Nerve Strike (Electric type despite kill dolls not having any nerves) for super effective damage on Kill Doll C.
Mirror: Build Fire Evolith.
Fire Evolith: Casts Heat Wave, hitting kill dolls D and E with slayer-ish power.

I don't suppose Kurika can use Sweep? That would be the best thing for her to do with her current rage if she could and thus attack twice. If she can, best she attack kill doll B and C and Armaldo attacks Kill Doll F.

[Dracorion]

Oh.

Oh! Is that what you meant with your Tailwind bullshit before? That it should affect three targets because of Black and White rules?

No, fuck that shit. Let's leave those for the sequel.

[Menarker]

I wasn't talking about Black and White rules when I was referring to Tailwind. I was just referencing Swift as an offensive move that would hit all foes, similar to how Explosion would hit all foes or how Surf would do the same. In the older games, Swift hits 2 foes. With Black and White, it's three. ^^: Don't ask me why I decided to mention that. I just looked it up, saw that it could hit 3 foes, and I thought "oh, cool".

Tailwind is specifically a move that targets the entire party in the game generation we're using, just like Safeguard, Light Screen and Reflect does. And in this RP, AB said that those moves would effect 3 alligned targets. Hence why I said that Tailwind should operate the same way. Otherwise, we're doing a double standard.

[Dracorion]

... Huh.

He must've said that forever ago. I guess Tailwind is fine.

Though, I still say we should leave Black and White rules for the sequel.

[Menarker]

Yeah, agreed. I just mentioned it because I thought it was kinda cool.

[Dracorion]

Three for two isn't nearly as nice a payoff as two for one, though.

[Geminex]

Nah. Plus 2 to 3 allies' speed for 3 turns is utterly OP. Hell, two is pretty strong already. Sure, it has a time limit. But agility loses its effect when the user dies, and that happens way sooner. I'd like to amend it to give just plus 1 to speed

And yeah, uni started for me. I really haven't had time to consider plans. Gimme one more day. PMs should start trickling in, though.

[Dracorion]

You're a goober.

Also, I was talking about Surf and moves like that.

[Menarker]

Technically, Tailwind doesn't give +2 to your speed stat. It doubles the speed stat. It is a bonus that stacks on top of stat bonuses, in the same manner that a rock pokemon in a sandstorm can have +6 to special defense and have it improve even higher. Or the ability Pure Power or the item Thick Club. It's not a standard stage buff like Agility which could be dispelled. Tailwind isn't technically dispellable. (And yet, it's not a barrier that can be broken like the other two I mentioned which could be broken by Brick Break.)

An example would be a Ninjask who lives long enough to get +6 speed boost. If he gets effected by Tailwind, his incredibly absurd speed would get DOUBLED.

[Dracorion]

I swear to God, I'm going to make your plans for you if you girls don't hurry up and post.

I'm bored!

[Geminex]

Okay, okay, geez.

Sorry, though. Uni is buuuuusy. I mean fuck. Next week's gonna be worse as well. But anyway, plans.

Menarker, once again: Attacks that affect 'all targets on the field' are balanced for two combatants per side. But for battles of this scale? Not so much.

I'm fine with weather effects, for now, but I don't think that gravity should have that kind of effect. Mind you, if it does, using it is a pretty good idea. But like I said, it's pretty powerful, if situational. I don't think it should affect more than 3 units on either side.

And while we're balancing, we should probably reduce tailwind to give +1, if it'll be affecting 3 targets. +2... yeah, not so good, I think. Fine for one target, debatable for 2. Not for 3.

Impact's carrying:
5 rage rockets
1 full restore

Flamethrower
LH thrower

Titan's Fist (or whichever one does ground damage)
Ruin Rifle

Electric Rod
Gothic claws

That'll make me super-effective against everything but Dark types, and I can use Kurika for those.
Armor gonna be Ruin, Ground, one other I'm not sure of.

Accessories... Hmm, gotta think about that. Probably one active, one passive.

The plan itself... Impact should be attacking, rather than Kurika. He can do more with his rage. I don't think that'll endanger us very much at all.

Moon shouldn't be contructing. We need that rage for later. This battle isn't gonna be easy, but let's not use too many resources just yet.

I don't quite see why you want Whitney out of combat? She does more damage than her pokemon, certainly. And she's not gonna get attacked, after all! If she gets knocked out, her pokemon go rogue!

...

Y'know, I'm half-suspecting you're being overprotective of your love interests. With this suspicion comes a realization that the only thing more annoying than Menarker-Determined-To-Min-Max is Menarker-With-A-Libido.
And trust me, if my suspicion turns out to be true?
I'll be eliminating that problem.
...
At the source.

[Dracorion]

Pffft.

You can't kill Renny.

That'd open the door for killing PCs, and you know Impact would be the first one to go.

Believe me, it's already planned out.

Or if you mean, kicking Menarker himself out, well, same problem for you.

On Battle Masters. Just because they can't technically be killed doesn't mean they can't be riddled with status effects. This is just one of those rare situations where the enemies we're facing don't actually have statuses to inflict with surety. Except for Burn, I guess.

[Geminex]

I never said I wanted to kill him.

And do you really think that if I struck against an NPC, any of you would have the chance to strike back? Naaah. I don't like revenge unless I'm dealing it out.

[Dracorion]

I hate to break this to you, Gem, but you're not nearly as smart as you think you are.

I'm perfectly comfortable letting you keep on believing that most of the time because I can take advantage of your mind-boggling arrogance.

But sometimes, like right now, even I just don't have the heart.

[Geminex]

Oh yeah, I'm perfectly aware. But it's a fun little charade. And you all seem to play along astoundingly well.
And besides, it's not like I do it constantly.

Also, calling bullshit on the whole 'taking advantage' front. I'm not that bad, even when I am in full-blown cartoon villain mode.

Edit: Hell, come to think of it, we role-play as much in the discussion threads as we do in the actual RP threads. Very little of my manner is actually to be taken seriously.

[Dracorion]

Sure, why not.

Anyway, what do you all think about Elizabeth so far? Specifically, what do you think is wrong with her?

[Geminex]

You're writing her.
:dance:
Okay, sorry. She's not bad. And we haven't seen too much of her. But obviously there was something between her and Pierce. How old are they both again?

And do elaborate on your post before that, please. You can't tell me 'I'm taking advantage of your mind-boggling arrogance' and then just drop it. I'm fine with implied insults as long as they're actually supported with evidence. So come on, out with it.

[Dracorion]

That'd be rather silly, wouldn't it?

Getting you to be paranoid is one thing. Actually telling you is another. After all, you don't even know if I really am trying to make you paranoid and in actuality there's nothing.

She's 22 and he's 24.

Also, I'm surprised you didn't figure it out.

It was a reasonable guess that she was working for Horace, after all. Sure, you didn't know much about her, so she could've been working for Faynoc as far as you knew. But those were the only two possibilities.

And if she was working for Horace, who said to Harliette he ran his own business (which presumably involved more people than Pierce, or he'd be bankrupt by now), and knowing that she humps anything with a pulse, and that I'm a sick bastard, well...

It was a definite possibility that they had something together. You may not have had enough evidence in-RP to know, but you could've considered the possibility, and the fact that, again, I'm a sick bastard should've pointed you in that direction.

...
But I can see why you wouldn't dedicate a lot of effort into figuring it out, even though I'm making it look more complicated than it is in this post.

Anyway, I guess I was worried you all thought I had second thoughts about making her such a bland character (WHORE) and decided to give her depth in the most horrible way possible.

Because seriously, that conversation between her and Pierce? Horrible.

[Geminex]

Getting you to be paranoid is one thing. Actually telling you is another. After all, you don't even know if I really am trying to make you paranoid and in actuality there's nothing.

BLUH BLUH
...
Yeah, I know, eloquent. Sue me. And what do you mean, Paranoia? Worst-case, I'm gonna be a little more careful in the future and consider my general strategy (GRAB ALL OF THE POWER) and our past agreements again. In fact, I've done so already. And if I hadn't, I might well have made a mistake some time in the future!
Thanks, man. Thanks.

Also, It's 3 AM. I should have been in bed an hour ago. Fuck your NPC's backstory and fuck you.
Also, fuck Liz. In a slightly different way (WHORE).

See ya.

Edit:
And I don't think she's bland. You can do a lot with her over-sexualness, if you do it right.

[Dracorion]

Thanks, man. Thanks.

You're quite welcome.

Mwa. Ha. Ha.

Edit:
And I don't think she's bland. You can do a lot with her over-sexualness, if you do it right.

... She hasn't had an abortion.

[Menarker]

The plan itself... Impact should be attacking, rather than Kurika. He can do more with his rage. I don't think that'll endanger us very much at all.

Moon shouldn't be contructing. We need that rage for later. This battle isn't gonna be easy, but let's not use too many resources just yet.

I don't quite see why you want Whitney out of combat? She does more damage than her pokemon, certainly. And she's not gonna get attacked, after all! If she gets knocked out, her pokemon go rogue!

...

Y'know, I'm half-suspecting you're being overprotective of your love interests. With this suspicion comes a realization that the only thing more annoying than Menarker-Determined-To-Min-Max is Menarker-With-A-Libido.
And trust me, if my suspicion turns out to be true?
I'll be eliminating that problem.
...
At the source.

No, there is no libido involved in the plan whatsoever.

The thing about the plan was to protect at least one person capable of reviving at any one time. Since you're the only PC at the moment in the group and thus the only person who could revive Lola if she was knocked out, it would have been wise for Impact to stay at the back until she was knocked out, then Impact could switch back in, revive Lola and switch out when he could.

>_> Or at least that was the idea. However, since Impact has NO revival items whatsoever, if Lola gets knocked out, that's it for your medic. >_> Your choice of items are questionable.

Also, we're using Mirror, not Moon.

As for Whitney, the longer she stays alive, the longer she can generate more rage for her to use Paradigm Shift or one of her Poke-sync techniques. She can't do that if she gets knocked out and that's spending lola's actions on reviving that could be spent on buffing people's attack or keeping those ones active. Basically, send out her bug pokemons, don't bother healing the first couple that gets knocked out, but focus on keeping Impact, Lola and Mirror in good shape, so they can use all their special abilities.

Also, for your Tailwind argument, there is already a counter for it if anyone tries to abuse it.
Trick Room, which practically reverses speed stats. For the purpose of this RP, we can make it so speed benefits are reversed for crit. So if Ninjask would have a +3 crit bonus for attacking a Baltoy or something, but Trick Room becomes activated, then not only does Ninjask not get the bonus, but Baltoy would get the +3 bonus instead.

And what attack are you talking about when you telling me that attacks are to scale? If you're referring to Gravity, that doesn't scale because it's a weather type ability as per Bulbapedia. It effects everyone on the field just like Sunny Day or Rain Dance does when someone uses it.

[Bard The 5th LW]

Sorry. Its been a busier week than I anticipated. May have some time tomorrow, but I'm tired for right now.

Here is a very small, incomplete thing. It is insignificant and uninspiring. I will edit onto it gradually tomorrow.

Matt: Psychic on Pulverot A
Charlotte: Spits to use Super Fang on Pulverot A. Hammond to use Dragon Claw on Narcham B
Cassus: Dragonite to use Dragon Rush on Pulverot A. Scizorto use x-scissor on Narcham B.
Kirie: Morphstrike (dragon) on Pulverot A. Entei to use fire blast on Narcham B.

[Dracorion]

No Trainer Actions for Charlotte?

[Menarker]

At least this gives AB plenty of time to do whatever he wants, including the sprite comic. ^^

[Dracorion]

Hahahahaha oh wow.

[Geminex]

ALLRIGHT PEOPLE, MOVE IT, MOVE IT, MOVE IT! WE HAVE A SIDEQUEST TO COMPLETE, EVEN IF IT'S HORRIBLE. WHICH IT IS. I MEAN DAMN.
Bard, you have a plan to complete.
Dante, you have a post to make elaborating a little on what you've found, sharing it with us! Or at least dropping some cryptic hints. Come on, give us something!
Dracorion, insult Menarker. Not like I needed to tell you, but hey, now I can at least pretend you're doing what I tell you. Also, insult me. Insult me good. Oh yeah.
Menarker, you and me have a discussion to finish.

No, there is no libido involved in the plan whatsoever.
That's what they all say, and next thing you know, BAM, they're pregnant.

The thing about the plan was to protect at least one person capable of reviving at any one time. Since you're the only PC at the moment in the group and thus the only person who could revive Lola if she was knocked out, it would have been wise for Impact to stay at the back until she was knocked out, then Impact could switch back in, revive Lola and switch out when he could.

>_> Or at least that was the idea. However, since Impact has NO revival items whatsoever, if Lola gets knocked out, that's it for your medic. >_> Your choice of items are questionable.
Huh. Point.
But I would hope we won't need items for the early battle. One or two max revives between us should suffice, for the duration the the mission I hope. True, I should probably carry one of those. But I don't think we should expect Lola to get KO'd first turn. Potential to revive is nice, but I don't think it'll be necessary. And Impact does have more damage potential than Kurika. He can certainly do more with that rage.

Besides, Renny's gonna be back fairly soon, isn't he?

Also, we're using Mirror, not Moon.
YES, THAT IS WHAT I SAID.
NO I TOTALLY DIDNT MAKE ANY SORT OF MISTAKE.
NOPE.

As for Whitney, the longer she stays alive, the longer she can generate more rage for her to use Paradigm Shift or one of her Poke-sync techniques. She can't do that if she gets knocked out and that's spending lola's actions on reviving that could be spent on buffing people's attack or keeping those ones active. Basically, send out her bug pokemons, don't bother healing the first couple that gets knocked out, but focus on keeping Impact, Lola and Mirror in good shape, so they can use all their special abilities.
Well, we wouldn't have to revive the first few pokemon regardless. And hey, Whitney's a battle master. She can't get knocked out. Unless our opponents want to get punched in the face by all of her pokemon simultaneously. I think Whitney's safe dealing damage.

Also, for your Tailwind argument, there is already a counter for it if anyone tries to abuse it.
True. But that counter isn't common, and when you do use it, you sorta have to base your entire strategy around it. Devastating when it works, but takes a lot of preparation. Not really a fair pay-off.

And what attack are you talking about when you telling me that attacks are to scale? If you're referring to Gravity, that doesn't scale because it's a weather type ability as per Bulbapedia. It effects everyone on the field just like Sunny Day or Rain Dance does when someone uses it.
Yeah, but I'm already iffy about weather effects doing that. I mean, you exert a pretty huge amount of influence on the battle. And even then, weather effects are limited and can be cancelled out. Gravity? Can't be cancelled, can be used anywhere.

Like I said, 3 targets on either side would be plenty, I think.

[Menarker]

First regarding Trick Room and Tailwind. You're wrong about Trick Room not being that common. Trick Room is available for just about every Psychic pokemon that exists as well as a few others including ghosts types. Tailwind also is specific only to flying types normally with very few exceptions. The only reason why Tailwind and Trick Room are not found in the NPC's skill list except for pokebrids is because for a long time, Speed was a Dump stat and AB just didn't think to use speed influencing moves on NPC pokemon trainers. That is different now.

Also, Trick Room has the advantage that it can be turned on and off. Tailwind on the other hand, cannot. Let's say I was to try to use Tailwind to boost my team's speed so they could take advantage of crit. My foes decide to use Trick Room. Now my team ends up slower than them and thus more likely to be hit for crit. If they change their mind or if I try to send out another pokemon that work better with Trick Room, they can switch Trick Room back.


Now for the weather...
You are selling all the other weather type moves TERRIBLY short and thus nerfing Gravity too much. In fact it shouldn't be nerfed at all because all the other weather type moves are much more powerful.

Rain Dance actually boosts water moves, so it has the effect of Helping Hand for all water types. In addition, it cuts the power of all fire moves as well as weakening Solar Beam and making Thunder Unmissable. And that's before any other pokemon specific abilities like Swift Swim or Rain Dish.

Sunny Day does the same thing in a way. It becomes a field wide Helping Hand on all fire type moves, while also weakening water types. It doubles the firing rate of Solarbeam and reduces the accuracy of Thunder. Once again, pokemon specific abilities also make it more potent for some.

I mean look at the last mission. That was the sole basis of one or two battle plan. Summoning a weather condition and then using only attacks or allies who had the matching element to get a weather bonus to damage.

Gravity on the other hand does NOT have this function. Except for One hit KO moves which are not only exceedingly rare, but still not certain to hit even with Gravity. Moves become no more powerful than normal under the effect of Gravity. So basically, all the group does is help ensure the normal rate of combat. Assuming almost all attacks that the group uses is 80-100% accuracy (since slayer attacks are all 100% base accuracy), Gravity does nothing to improve combat under most circumstances.
The only other benefits, removing flight and leviation and bounce type moves are strictly very specific and don't contribute to improving combat.

So Gravity should NOT be changed at all and should remain the all target weather that it is. If we allow Rain Dance and Sunny Day which have a MUCH stronger effect with a bigger party remain capable of effecting all foes and allies, then naturally Gravity which does not boost combat capabilities above the normal level SHOULD be granted the same right.

But I would hope we won't need items for the early battle. One or two max revives between us should suffice, for the duration the the mission I hope.

As for the current mission, you should probably get out of the mindset that AB will be giving us "warm-up battles" from now on. Yes, AB will give us different types of battles. Many weak mooks with Zerg tendencies. A massive foe of immense power, a few foes with significantly high power blending the benefits of both. But yeah, we should expect all battles to be tough from now on, even from the start.

Although you saying you should probably grab a revive item or two is a good idea.

[Bard The 5th LW]

Plan being worked on.

Matt: Psychic on Pulverot A
Charlotte: Spits to use Super Fang on Pulverot A. Hammond to use Dragon Claw on Narcham B
Cassus: Dragonite to use Dragon Rush on Pulverot A. Scizorto use x-scissor on Narcham B.
Kirie: Morphstrike (dragon) on Pulverot A. Entei to use fire blast on Narcham B.

As you can see. I fucking hate Pulverot A and Narcham B.

If either one of these foes perish, direct remaining forces to Pulverot I.

Sort of considering an action for Rachel.

[Menarker]

Hmmm, Ruins types resist Fire types moves like Entei's Fire Blast.

And what about Melanie?

[Geminex]

So Gravity should NOT be changed at all and should remain the all target weather that it is. If we allow Rain Dance and Sunny Day which have a MUCH stronger effect with a bigger party remain capable of effecting all foes and allies, then naturally Gravity which does not boost combat capabilities above the normal level SHOULD be granted the same right.
Y'know what, you're right. The weather moves are all overpowered, we need to nerf them.

Let's keep the whole 'target entire battlefield' going, but I'd say we make it so that each time a weather move is used, it modifies the weather slightly, and weather moves stack. Like, use Sunny Day several times will eventually get you the degree of power you get with one use now.

Although you saying you should probably grab a revive item or two is a good idea.
I said 'between us'. Translate: 'I carry one at most, if I don't just have you take both of them'
...
Okay, I'll take one. You get the other.

[Dracorion]

I would like to point out that the sheer amounts of enemies both teams are facing right now should clue Gem to the fact that battles are not going to be easy from now on.

I mean, seriously. Thirteen Killdolls? Like ten freakin' Narcham? Both are easily fighting forces on par with our fight against Phantomere, maybe Cerulean Wildfire before Grant and Discord and Crownlegs and Lucian showed up.

Also Bard, you're dumb. And you take forever to come up with a plan.

[Geminex]

Yeah, I'm not saying that they'll be easy!
Just that, to begin with, we hopefully won't need to use our precious items. We're on full health, we've got 50 rage. We can survive for a while, save the items for the boss battle.

[Menarker]

How exactly are you possibly going to make that nerf work mechanically? Sunny's Day Solarbeam effect and Rain Dance Thunder 100% accuracy is either there or it isn't. There isn't any stacking possible. Plus the weathers are meant to be like that because they also serve as supporting moves for the pokemons to protect them on the turn they use it.

Take any fire pokemon like Charizard for example. Normally, if it spends a turn using a support move, it's going to give the foe a chance for a free hit. If said move is a water type move, that's terrible! The reducing the water effect is a partial way to protect them somewhat during the turn they use it. Same with grass types using rain dance to protect against fire. Although, the opposite is also true as a balancing feature. Rain Dance powers up water moves, but it also makes Thunder more likely to screw them over. Same with Sunny day boosting grass types Solar beam firing rate, but also screwing them over with improved fire attacks from the foe.

Weather serve as powerful benefits, but are double edged in that they can effect others postively or negatively depending on the circumstances.

I really don't feel the need to change the mechanics so much and make everything more complicated when you can just accept Gravity and Trick Room as full on weather type moves, and keep the rest as is. Basically, keep everything exactly like Bulbapedia rules, aka default.

All of that aside, do you have any problem with the plan as I proposed it (ignoring balance)? Or do you have an alternative in mind?

[Bard The 5th LW]

Sort of forgot I replaced Rachel and that Ruin resisted fire.

I'll revise it.

[Dracorion]

Personally, I think weather effects are fine as is. The only one that stands a chance of being overpowered is Adamantistorm that deals double Sandstorm damage, gives the benefits to allies and detriments to the enemies (except it still doesn't damage Rock, Ground and Steel types), and gives 50% Defense to Rock-types on top of the 50% Special Defense it already gives.

Mwa. Ha. Ha.

If we do have to nerf weather effects, I'd say actually implement the "weather affects morale system". Like, give a damage penalty to units in weather detrimental to their type, and/or apply a morale penalty. Like, a Fire-type that takes damage during Sandstorm would take a bigger chunk out of that side's morale than, say, a Ground-type taking damage.

Alternatively, I could nerf Adamantistorm so it deals regular Sandstorm damage.

But I'm rather inclined to only go either-or on this one.

[Menarker]

Well, Adamantistorm is the exception in that only you can use it. If anything had to be nerfed, it would be that. But that is the result of your upgrade for Stage X pokemon boost. I wouldn't touch that at all.

I don't think any of the weathers or moves that count as weather need to be nerfed, including Adamantistorm. (Of course, this does mean I feel that Gravity and Trick Room should count as weather conditions with all the rights and abilities they do in the actual games.)

As for Drac's morale suggestion, that was what AB did at first. But it was dropped, mainly because of conflictions. Let's say that Sunny Day was up and a steel type was out. Normally, under that custom rule, they would take increased morale damage. But some steel types can use fire moves, which otherwise helps them. Logically, a pokemon that can benefit from a weather probably has been trained enough to not be effected morale wise for it.
And not counting the simple one like how Sunny Day boosts fire types and thus would be bad for grass, except that it also boosts several grass types moves.

Hence that morale suggestion is just needless complications on top of a already complex system.

[Geminex]

We'll see about adamanistorm.

As for the weather, I just think it's too much. Sure, everyone can use them, and sure, it's a double-edged sword...
But considering the power of weather effects, when applied to all combatants, and the fact that the user will benefit most from it, or he wouldn't be using it...
Considering all that, I really do think weather moves have more power than they should be. Because, once again, these battles are much, much larger than what's usual in the games. One weather-changing attack has much more of an effect on the battle than a normal attack.

I'm not sure how I'd change it exactly, but there's got to be some simple way. This game is just getting increasingly complex, I guess. But that's the trade-off.

[Menarker]

Why do you think it's too much? It wasn't a problem for you yesturday and anytime before. But now that I brought up why Gravity is not as strong as the other others and should not be nerfed but rather allowed to remain in the same power level of the others, you suggest that all the other weathers that were perfectly fine before should be nerfed for the sake of balance, despite it seemingly being quite ok before today.

[Geminex]

I was thinking about it, and some other stuff as well (like engineer amplifiers), but I just never had the time or patience to bring it up. It wasn't super-important, since we were between missions. But now that a new mission has begun, and it looks like weather effects are gonna play a significant role, and you already brought up that most weather effects were really strong, I thought I might as well mention it. I mean, it seemed like you agreed with me. You think a pokemon being able to deal out that many helping hands, for several turns at that, you think that's balanced?

[Dracorion]

Yes.

It's not like they're Helping Hands for everything.

Also, goddammit Menarker you stinky dummyface.

[Menarker]

Keep in mind that it only becomes helping hands for Fire types during Sunny Day and Water types during Rain Dance which means that either there are a bunch of pokemons of the same type on the field, slayer users, or the pokemons/brids using the moves are using the moves without gaining STAB. This means a lot of pokemons of the same type are being open to the same type of attacks such as an AOE element of that type. A boss using an AOE rock type attack against a bunch of fire types side by side for example. Also, the foe could attack with the same elements right back for helping hand benefits (unless it got dispelled before they got their turn).

Besides, AB could easily build a group that focuses on the weather conditions and use it against us. Maybe instead of us always ambushing the foes and getting the first strike, the evoliths will have precast a weather condition (they are like sentries) before we have arrived and thus the evolith's allies could try to take advantage of the benefits.
IE: When battle starts, some conditions are already preset as a result of foes tinkering with the battlefield. Maybe there are Stealth Rocks already placed. Spikes. Weather of different types being applied. That sort of stuff. AB could easily make things more balanced just by having the things that were our benefits now become the foe's benefits.

And I still don't know how you can possibly come up with a plausible way to effect weathers because they all operate differently. Hail doesn't have the same helping hand effect and neither does Sandstorm.

I think the best thing to do might be to just limit the number of turns that weather lasts in general. Unless the pokemons have an ability to improve the weather (like Abomasnow, Tyranitar, Groudon and Kyogure who can all summon their own respective weather), someone equipping an item that increases the length of the weather, or if someone like Matthias who might specialize in weather control gains buffs in some way like this, make it so weather only lasts 2 maybe 3 turns at most instead of the standard 5.

But I don't feel the weathers are unbalanced otherwise. AB just hasn't made them a huge focus in his battle plans just yet.

[Astral Harmony]

Honestly, I thought of using logic to determine when certain weather and moves weren't possible, but I decided against it. There are times when logic never worked in the Pokemon world (Apricorns into special Pokeballs? Seriously?) but it'd get really stupid to enforce certain bits of logic in Pokemon Umbral.

Here's a list of logical things that apply to Pokemon Umbral:

- You wouldn't be able to use certain weather under certain conditions. For example, Hail would fail when you're inside a smoking volcano. It's just too hot.
- These temperature and environmental extremes also effect Pokemon. Water type Pokemon would suffer Exhaustion and Apathy a lot faster in a dry, parched desert. Fire Pokemon would not leave Pokeballs when submerged in water. Ice Pokemon would not leave Pokeballs when in a volcano or in a desert. Legendary Pokemon would be exempt. In fact, I have some ideas where if you need Water Pokemon, have Jeanette deploy Kyogre to make the environment a lot less hellish to Water types.
- These conditions can also affect Pokemon in positive ways. Poison Pokemon love fighting in toxic areas like garbage dumps and polluted marshlands. Water Pokemon love underwater combat. Fire Pokemon are right at home in the desert and volcanos. Make sure to take your Ice types into the mountains. Bring the Flying types with you when you hit some really high altitudes. Electric types love thunderstorms and Rock types feel strong inside caverns.
- Environmental conditions will also affect your characters. Drawn out combat can inflict Exhaustion after a good number of turns, and foul weather, like being out in a hot, dry desert will tire you out more quickly and can also affect morale. Bitter cold and the deep seas are similar in their ability to wear out people who don't stay in those kinds of environments for very long. Be mindful when engaging the Water Ruin General. That'll be your first real battle where the surrounded environment is just as detrimental as the general itself.

And here's a list of logical things that do not apply to Pokemon Umbral out of sheer ridiculousness:

- You wouldn't be able to use Sunny Day, Rain Dance, or Hail when indoors. After all, where's the sun for sunshine or the clouds for rain or hail?
- If the floor was really solid or really thin with dangerous areas beneath, Dig would be impossible.
- If there's no water nearby, you cannot use Dive.
- If there's no water nearby, you cannot deploy certain Water Pokemon, particularly fish that are not Flying types as well such as Seaking, Lumineon, or Sharpedo.
- If there's a low ceiling, your Pokemon can still be targeted during their preparation turns for moves like Bounce and Fly. I mean, with a ceiling in the way, they wouldn't be going really high up, would they? Hell, those moves would probably suffer power penalties as well.
- Environmental conditions lockdown certain moves. For example, if there's no sand or rocks to break down into sand, you couldn't use Sand Attack and Sandstorm wouldn't be available.
- Weather effects are not available in outer space. In fact, a huge amount of moves would not be available in outer space, like Gust. How can you use Gust when there's no air to create it?

Anyways, don't ask about logical effects that do not follow standard Pokemon rules. I'll warn you about them as they come so that you're well prepared for them ahead of time.

[Dracorion]

We're going in outer space?

Dibs, fucking dibs, on the "why are you upside down?" line.

[Menarker]

I wonder how our pokemons will be able to breathe, nevermind fight. Pierce got Metagross and Renny got Magnezone, both of whom are robotic in nature. The rest... are kinda out of luck...


*Charlotte and Buck are with the rest of the group in space and she and the rest of her breathing pokemons are wearing astronaut suits customized for their build. Buck in particular is wearing a funny doggy astrosuit.

Charlotte:Buck! Incinerate that piece of shit with Flamethrower!
Buck: Arf Arf Ooooh ARF!! *If I do that, I'll melt my breathing helmet off from the inside! I'll die!*
Charlotte: Nevermind, that was a stupid idea. No air for fire and all that... Burn an eternal impression in their soft flesh with FIRE FANG!
Buck: Arf Arf! *Yes master!*
(Arcanine zooms through the reaches of space, gravity holiding no restraint on his incredible speed as he raises his head with jaws wide open as if victorious before swinging the jaw down for a bite.) BOINK! *ARF ARF* BOINK BOINK BOINK (The helmet acts like a dog muzzle as Arcanine repeatably tries to bite but the helmet getting in the way every time)
Charlotte: AUUUUGH! SPACE TRAVEL SUCKS ASS!

[Dracorion]

You'd better hope we don't start fucking around with time travel.

[Astral Harmony]

I wouldn't actually put you in outer space. Well, I would, but the combat would carry out in an environment that supports life.

Time travel sounds cool, but I always hated the concept of it, and I don't think it'll make it into any part of the RP or its sequel. Besides, time travel is so blah. Fucking with reality is where it's at.

By the way, here's a bizarre question that may have relevance in the sequel. Y'know how if you got two identical children, they're twins and if you got three, they're triplets and if you got four, they're quadruplets?

What would having fifty-two identical children be called?

[Dracorion]

The Quintessence?

Also, time travel is fucking with reality. That said, I don't suggest messing around with it. It takes nothing short of three geniouses working around the clock to do one instance of time travel right.

Who has fifty-two identical children? Actually, it doesn't matter. Whoever it is, Pierce is going to have to top them.

So thanks.

Quintiduoplets?

[Menarker]

^^; I'm just imagining each of the PCs under the circumstances of having 52 identical children. Assuming the main traits of said kids are passed down from the PC's side of genetics.

Matthias: A bunch of quiet kids.

Impact: A bunch of Stewie Griffin imitators.

Pierce: A bunch of reckless but otherwise normal kids.

Renny: A chorus of angelic souls with enough love and bliss to cause diabetes. Super easy to raise as they would be gentle children that play well together. ^^

Charlotte: A madhouse. A total psycho madhouse of roughhousing and brutal brats. No babysitter would accept taking care of these mutually destructive siblings. >_<


Also, Drac, you realize AB said IDENTICAL children. Meaning, not 52 children from 52 ladies like it could be for Burkmont. But 52 from a single wife/girlfriend/hostage/*Insert other progeny producing companion title here.*

That said, I would not like Time Travel in this setting.

[Dracorion]

Hey, there's nothing stopping Burkmont from having 52 identical kids on top of all the bastards he already has.

And yes, Pierce is getting some of his own even if he has to genetically engineer his own mountain-sized woman and keep boinking her until she becomes pregnant with 52 brats.

[Menarker]

And yes, Pierce is getting some of his own even if he has to genetically engineer his own mountain-sized woman and keep boinking her until she becomes pregnant with 52 brats.

Welp, you all heard of here folks. Pierce likes big butts and cannot lie.

I would say more but the challenge is gone. ^^;

[Dracorion]

Hey, you try fitting 52 fetuses in a regular-sized woman.

[Menarker]

Actually? That bit where I said there was no challenge anymore? I change my mind. Pierce would end up in a situation much like THIS. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0kJHQpvgB8)

[Dracorion]

Goddammit, Menarker.

Just once, I would like to go an entire thread without having to say that.

[Astral Harmony]

I've got an itinerary. Headin' off to a different island for three months starting Tuesday. It's a bitch of a plane flight and I heard the connectivity is quite shitty, not that I really need much of it for NPF, so I should be able to maintain the RP throughout this absurd trip. I hear everyone who goes there ends up doing a whole lotta not a goddamn thing, which makes me wonder why I'm being sent there in the first place.

Anywho, I was thinking about something rather bizarre. Party buffs by having unselected units participate as a band doing the background music. Just like all the other upgrades, I'd need to work out on assigning various roles to various characters such as vocalist, keyboardist, lead guitarist, rhythm guitarist, bassist, and drummer.

There's gonna be some interesting effects.

Suggestions couldn't hurt, but I think I'll take some liberties. I mean, how badass would Lola be rockin' out as a lead guitarist?

[Menarker]

You thought of this band stuff instead of working on the sprite comic? You're crazy! =P

Mind you, it sounds awesome! But it sounds like something quite needlessly complicated at the moment. That's like another 5 or 6 characters in the formation providing buffs in the form of music. It's pretty much extra work for you and more things for us to argue about. And that's before stuff like morale, fumble chance, what sort of effects they can do, how they work (is it multiple buffs like one per musician or is it one buff that grows more potent per musician?), if foes can interfere or even have their own band... god, this is sounding more like Brutal Legends every passing second.

Anyhow, I hope your flight and trip goes well.

I'm just surprised at how slow things have gotten. Would have figured that breaking the party into more manageable chunks would make it easier. ^^;
Ah well, everyone got their thing to do. Currently studying at the moment. After class tomorrow, I'll see if I can't come up with some suggestions for Bard/Dante and hopefully finalize a battle plan with Gem. I'm sure some of the stuff we've been discussing on PMs can be dealt with in the form of a flashback at a more convenient time.

EDIT: Bard, your plan looks ok for the most part. Entei can use Extrasensory, which Ruin types are weak against (Best to target Pulverot with Entei's Extrasensory since they are Ruin/Fighting type and thus quad weak to psychic moves). And Melanie can give Kyrie some X Attacks to boost Kirie's power. Do that enough times perhaps and Kirie can go ballistic with her multiple attack signature technique once she reaches 80 rage. Which is after 2 turns of attacking if neither Entei or Kirie gets hit. Sooner if they do. Anyhow, the Gendom is quad weak to Steel, so you could attack with that after the guards protecting it are dealt with. Too bad the Narchams aren't quad weak to anything. Dark types are only weak to bug and fighting and ruin types are neutral to bug and immune to fighting.

[Dracorion]

Brutal Legend?

... Nah, I'm thinking more like this RP is turning into Ar Tonelico.

Which makes more sense, considering AB.

[Bard The 5th LW]

I was going to change it to exrasensory, but I was much too lazy too edit it at all with all the free time I have had.

Like, if you measured my laziness in sleep, then I would have enough to knock out all of nuklear power, but instead, I used it on myself.

And I believe we have jumped too many sharks to stop now. Band buff thing sounds wacky enough to be possible.

[Bard The 5th LW]

Plan being worked on.

Matt: Psychic on Pulverot A
Charlotte: Spits to use Super Fang on Pulverot A. Hammond to use Dragon Claw on Narcham B
Cassus: Dragonite to use Dragon Rush on Pulverot A. Scizorto use x-scissor on Narcham B.
Kirie: Morphstrike (dragon) on Pulverot A. Entei to use extrsensory on Pulverot A.
Melanie: X-attack on Kirie

As you can see. I fucking hate Pulverot A and Narcham B.

If either one of these foes perish, direct remaining forces to Pulverot I.

There, edited plan.

Double posting just because. http://www.mspaintadventures.com/storyfiles/hs2/scraps/trollcool.gif

[Dracorion]

And I believe we have jumped too many sharks to stop now. Band buff thing sounds wacky enough to be possible.

Whoa, whoa.

Let's not get hasty here.

Do we really want to see the bottom of the barrel? I mean, I'm usually the first one to go for something like that, but in this case it has the potential to go disasterous. And not fun disaster, either.

[Menarker]

Just a little reminder Bard that Medics can use two items a turn. So she could put both X Attack on Kyrie. Also, you might want to have Kyrie buffed before she attacks. That and you'd want Super Fang to hit first so to take out the biggest chuck as possible.

Proposed revision of your plan, changing nothing but the order and giving Kirie an extra X attack.


Melanie: Two X-attack on Kirie
Charlotte: Spits to use Super Fang on Pulverot A. Hammond to use Dragon Claw on Narcham B
Kirie: Morphstrike (dragon) on Pulverot A. Entei to use extrsensory on Pulverot A.
Matt: Psychic on Pulverot A
Cassus: Dragonite to use Dragon Rush on Pulverot A. Scizorto use x-scissor on Narcham B.

Gem, reposting the battle plan for our side here. Also, I edited it slightly because I did a little rereading the past discussions and apparently Engineer constructions count as free actions according to AB.

Lola: Chimecho form. Use Gravity. X attack on Kurika? (X defense items would be useless against Almighty Type attacks)
Whitney: Shedninja and Armaldo both use X-Scissor on Kill dolls A and B for STAB damage, while keeping herself out of combat for the time being.
Kurika: Nerve Strike (Electric type despite kill dolls not having any nerves) for super effective damage on Kill Doll C.
Mirror: Build Fire Evolith. Bone Breaker on Kill Doll F
Fire Evolith: Casts Heat Wave, hitting kill dolls D and E with slayer-ish power.

Alternatively, if you want to risk getting knocked out, Impact is out instead of Kurika and Sweeps 2 side by side Kill dolls with water or electric weapon and Lola uses either X Attack or Special Attack (depending on what attack stat you're attacking with). Accuracy won't be an issue, courtesy of Gravity.