Pokemon Umbral Theatre 14: Beloved Godlord Dracorion

[Dracorion]

Title has a nice ring to it, don't you think?

Now for the best part of these threads: pictures!

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d13/fjgca17/25072ad1ef8924a5ce8bfe68fabb6a4f.jpg
Best kind of crossover there is.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d13/fjgca17/962695e1d96a727c0af15d69d255938f.png

I don't know what's going on here, except that I will never sleep well again.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d13/fjgca17/5edaa51c0f8de89a30d4dd95945fbdf9.jpg

Grimdark pokemon!

Anyway, down to business:

I officially declare Geminex and Menarker to be silly dumbfucks.

Now, you kids wanna post your plans, or am I going to have to make you?

[Astral Harmony]

I see you guys are getting along so well, as usual.

I wish this computer was a lot faster because then I'd research and think up a good custom move for Mollesk.

Menarker does make a point, especially considering things that are going to happen in the near future, such as Pierce getting Enmekki and Charlotte getting two special plate hold items that'll allow Arceus to fight as an Almighty type or as a Shadow type, right at the end of Pierce's sidequest.

Yep, Shadow Pokemon are coming to Honmyr, courtesy of Team Rocket (even though it was an organization called Cipher that created them). And you thought the whole Evil Eevee Eight incident was the last time you'd hear about them. Those would be pretty cool for Geminex, considering that Shadow Pokemon are emotionless monsters that care little for anything other than decisive victory. And they're strong. Damn strong. Especially in Reverse Mode.

I would also agree that Impact really isn't a horrible monster. The worst that he has done so far was order a young woman to go punch a tank which incidentally lit her ass on fire because there was a wall of fire in the way.

Give me a little time and maybe even this afternoon I'll have some ideas for a good custom move for Mollesk.

[Menarker]

Well, I did propose a plan already Drac. Gem has yet to review it and accept/reject it. Reposting it here below.

Lola: Switch back to Lopunny form so to minimize her weaknesses. Heal herself twice, Whitney twice, and Mirror twice. (100 rage spent since the first two items are free but each additional item is 25 rage) This results in full healing of Lola, Whitney and Mirror and they'll be re-healed after the enemy phase for 50% of their max health.

Whitney: Paradigm Shift in her Froslass form. Double her base stats and no weakness. (60 rage spent) STAB Blizzard Killbot M and O, presumably knocking them out due to doubled power. Ninjask is sent out to attack Kill Bot P with X-Scissor for STAB damage. Immense high speed gives it a 25% maybe 33% chance of critting for double damage, but the foe should be weak enough to defeat without it. (I don't know what speed a killbot has, but it's probably not as high as a Ninjask.)

Impact: Switch in for Kurika. Sweep Killbot D and E. (25 rage)

Mirror: Centrigual Cannon on Killbot C and a random foe. Hopefully Kill bot F. (25 rage)

Fire Evolith: Heat Wave Killbot A and B


Nice pics btw.

That said, I'm not looking for anything drastically powerful for Mollesk at all. Just want a decent strong physical bug type move to give it a STAB attribute for bug type, which none of us PCs have (except for Matthias technically). Would have been fine with something like a Bug type Rock Smash, although I did hope for something a little bit better/personalized as a custom move.


Shadow pokemons sounds neat, but totally not Renny's thing. If anything, Renny would be trying to work with their owners to purify them. >_>

[Astral Harmony]

Bard, clean out your mailbox. But I'm going to post my answer in a mysterious way which will keep the message you sent me unknown to the others.

She can be from that group. The only requirement is that she must be sexy, or at least sexually appealing enough.

Hmmm...let's try this...

Intrusion ~ 90 Pwr, 100 Acc, Bug Phys, Removes one level of highest buff and transfer to Mollesk. Simple Ability applies. A bizarre attack that boldly goes where no man has gone before to the point of real life mosiacs appearing during the attack animation.

In other words, if fighting a Alakazam with +3 to SpAtt, +2 to Def, and...oh, +2 to Spd, Mollesk would reduce the SpAtt to +2 and increase its own by +2 because of the Simple ability. If the stats are the same, the stat buff level stolen is random.

EDIT: Correct me if I'm wrong, but that blonde chick in the black leather is from Yu-Gi-Oh GX, isn't she? I keep trying to remember how I recognize her.

EDIT 2: From looking at the third picture, the dude tried going to the Ruins of Alph to catch Unown at the wrong time. I see one H, two Ds, two Es, and an I, which means he only just barely entered the ruins. Yikes.

[Dracorion]

Wouldn't your proposal mean that Mollesk gets a +4 from Alakazam?

Otherwise, intriguing.

[Menarker]

Drac, you read AB's description wrong.
AB said "reduce the SpAtt TO +2" not BY. Basically, since Alakazam had +3 in Special Attack, Intrusion would reduce it BY 1 stage TO +2, and give Mollesk a USELESS buff to Special Attack.


AB: I appreciate the move. It sounds great. The name and description in particular sounds hilarious. However, I was trying to avoid making a custom move that combos with Mollesk's simple ability, since that is the one major factor that is making Gem's anger rise an extra stage each time, since he feels that every part of Mollesk already combos too much.

That's why I figured a move that was decently powered (like what you suggested), allows me to hit any 2 foes (Those tentacles are SO long and flexible!) and had a minor effect that didn't combo would be cool.


OOOH! I was just thinking if the move could change the opponent's ability (or one if there is more) to a purely negative version of Simple. (They take double debuffs)



Intrusion ~ 80 Pwr, 100 Acc, Bug Phys. Any 2 foes.
A bizarre attack that boldly goes where no man has gone before to the point of real life mosiacs appearing during the attack animation.
Effect: Pokemons, humans and any foe that can suffer morale loss have their ability temporaily changed to "Tentacle-Trauma" (If either target would normally not have an ability, they gain it). Tentacle Trauma doubles all debuffs that they would recieve.

Example: Mollesk uses Intrusion to clusterfucks two hapless souls in assorted orifices until they are all googly eyed and practically crazy. One being a Furret pokebrid and the other being a HoA acolyte. The Furret pokebrid gets her ability Keen Eye changed to Tentacle Trauma and the acolyte, not being a pokemon/pokebrid, suddenly gains the ability. If Impact hits the Furret with a Titanic Fist (Ground type slayer weapon that reduce accuracy on foe if it procs) and the weapon successfully procs, Furret pokebrid loses TWO accuracy stages instead of one. If Pierce had a pokemon with the move Scary Face (which reduces speed stat by 2 normally) and hit the Acolyte while it has that status, then it would lose FOUR speed stage.

Example 2: Mollesk uses Intrusion to clusterfucks two targets. One being a pokemon Granbull, and another being a Mech type foes. The Granbull would get its Intimidate ability (which already triggered since it came on the field) changed to Tentacle Trauma as normal. The Mech however, being a type that doesn't suffer from morale issues, only suffers damage, but no additional effects.

Mollesk doesn't have any moves that debuffs that I can remember (aside from a few that uses special attack stat), but it would be a great support ability for the party.

[Dracorion]

Why does it always have to be two stupid fucking foes with you?

It's not even like Rock Slide! Rock Slide at least hits two adjacent foes fuck you.

Also, I did misunderstand AB's description, but not the way you think.

The way I had it pegged, Alakazam's +3 buff was downgraded to +2, and then that +2 was copied to Mollesk, whose Simple ability made it +4. Now I realize that it's actually the +1 that you're taking away is what you're transferring to Mollesk and turning to +2.

[Menarker]

So, you thought in a different example, that if Alakazam had 6 in special attack and Mollesk used the move, it would reduce it to 5, and Mollesk would copy and double it, making it an impossible +10 boost?

Heh.


As for it hitting two targets, I just really like AOE. Doesn't everyone? Flexible targetting would be even better. ^^ Normally, projectile attacks don't split into two different directions and home onto a target. In a similar vein, most characters do not have arms long enough to attack foes far apart in that regards and sweep implies they muster enough burst of speed to hit two foes in a row, but going from one end to another is a... stretch. :3: Seperate tentacles though long enough to reach any foes and yet can control where they go unlike projectiles kinda justifies it on a thematic point.

Although if it gets to be an issue, we could start editting it by merely extending the range of targets. Like say, "Choose 2 targets with 6 slots of each other".

Other than that, do you think the move is plausible on a mechanic balance standpoint?

Keep in mind, that since it would only effect foes that would effectively suffer from morale loss, bosses would be uneffected by the effect. Unless we had a boss that could be scared like other living creatures. Hell, would be nice if we would get the fat ass Burkmont all tentacled up until he's drenched on the floor with his own drool practically comatose with fear and humiliation! ^_^

[Dracorion]

Make it two adjacent foes and then we'll talk.

[Bard The 5th LW]

She can be from that group. The only requirement is that she must be sexy, or at least sexually appealing enough.

Figured as much.

We'll do it your way then.

[Dracorion]

I won't even dignify that by feigning interest.




...
Screw it, I can't resist.

Hexagon Harem, Charlotte, Charlotte's twin sister.

Something.

[Bard The 5th LW]

You are wrong.

I award you no points. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAOxY_nHdew)

[Dracorion]

The Kimonos.

Either AB's Kimonos or the Kimonos from the games.

[Bard The 5th LW]

See above.

[Menarker]

Make it two adjacent foes and then we'll talk.

Ok, let's assume that we did make it two adjacent foe, which I would probably be willing to consider. What then? Are there any particular issues that should be worked over?

[Astral Harmony]

Ok, let's assume that we did make it two adjacent foe, which I would probably be willing to consider. What then? Are there any particular issues that should be worked over?

I think you'd better just say yes, Menarker. Because Dracorion and Geminex are going to keep saying no until you do.

What I wanna say is 50% accuracy for second target and then let Mollesk be able to hit any two targets, even the same target if he wanted.

[Dracorion]

Another possibility.

See, Menarker, now why can't you be as smart as AB?

[Menarker]

Sounds interesting the effect you wanted to propose. Especially being able to target the same foe twice. I like that. ^^

But sure. I'll agree to making the AOE limited to adjacent targets if its really needed. That'll keep discussions flowing and it's not a a horrible request.

But AB suggestion is awesome, so if that is ok, I'll be happy to take that option.


Anyhow, how about the Tentacle Trauma aspect itself? Is that ok, or is there a problem somewhere?

So far the move sounds like...


Intrusion ~ 80 Pwr, Bug Phys. Choose 2 slots to attack, which can be the same target twice. First target has 100% accuracy. Second target has 50% accuracy.
A bizarre attack that boldly goes where no man has gone before to the point of real life mosiacs appearing during the attack animation.
Effect: Pokemons, humans and any foe that can suffer morale loss have their ability temporaily changed to "Tentacle-Trauma" (If either target would normally not have an ability, they gain it). Tentacle Trauma doubles all debuffs that they would recieve.

In case it's not obvious, I'm willing to accept the move like this if everyone else is fine with it on the basis of balance compared to other custom moves.

[Dracorion]

Tentative yes.

We may have to apply a turn-duration to the ability change, but sure.

[Astral Harmony]

I don't think that'll be a problem. I mean, how often do you guys debuff the foe anyways?

Actually, scratch that. Debuffing the foe will be more important in the future.

[Menarker]

The chance of debuffs might be more frequent later on as more PCs have the option of becoming slayers and have access to Slayer weapons or other features that grant debuffs.

And the tentative duration limit on Tentacle Trauma is acceptable if it becomes required. How long do you think? 2 turns? 1?

In fact, how about we put a duration limit right now, but make it 2 turns and keep it that way?


Of course, I would want to hear input from Gem, whom we're all eagerly waiting for his input for the battle plan I reposted above, as well as my most recent post redirected to him in the previous thread. Heck, I'll link it here for his convenience.
http://www.nuklearforums.com/showpost.php?p=1084400&postcount=126


Bard, had you any luck with your battle plan?



Intrusion ~ 80 Pwr, Bug Phys. Choose any 2 slots to attack, which can be the same target twice. First target has 100% accuracy. Second target has 50% accuracy.
A bizarre attack that boldly goes where no man has gone before to the point of real life mosiacs appearing during the attack animation.
Effect: Pokemons, humans and any foe that can suffer morale loss have their ability temporaily changed to "Tentacle-Trauma" (If either target would normally not have an ability, they gain it). Tentacle Trauma doubles all debuffs that they would recieve. This ability stays on for 2 turns. If the foe has multiple abilities, like Poke-Mercs, choose which one is replaced.

[Dracorion]

If by "make it two turns and keep it that way" you mean "nerf it again if it becomes necessary later" then sure!

[Astral Harmony]

Two turns is good. Excellent, even.

Hentai Attack Intrusion is approved as far as I'm concerned.

Now run, Menarker! Post it in your bio before Geminex catches you!

...Oh, fucking finally! My Dunsparce learned another attack move. It was such a bitch to train the little bastard when the only attack move it had was Rage. Rage isn't a bad move, but with only 20 PP, I have to haul his ass back to the Pokemon Center after every 10 or less battles. Now with Rollout, the number of wild Pokemon he can faint more than doubles! That'll help my sanity somewhat.

[Dracorion]

HGSS or what?

Also, run Menarker! Run! Be free as a bird! Geminex can't hurt you anymore!

[Menarker]

^_^

*Bio edited and starts frolicking in freedom, wandering candy and ice cream stores, headphones pumping with music (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9P7XVeZ7no), playing games and have a jolly good time.*

^^

[Astral Harmony]

HeartGold. It kinda annoys me about the difference in level between the wild Pokemon and the major battles against gym leaders, Team Rocket and my rival. I mean, seriously? I ground up hundreds of Hoppips. The only Pokemon of considerable level in the wilds are the ones I find by fishing, and it's not very convenient given the sheer number of Magikarps I'm yanking up.

[Dracorion]

Probably figured they needed to do something to ramp up the difficulty.

I stalled out somewhere around Kanto. Think I got around half the badges.

Shame, I was looking forward to Red and the Clair and Lance double battle.

[Menarker]

What team of pokemon are you aiming for ultimately in the game, AB?

[Geminex]

Okay, I was actually gonan wait until tomorrow to post this and go to sleep now, but then I saw you all being happy and carefree and I was all like 'NOT ON MY WATCH'. So I'm gonna finish this now and then be sleep-deprived again tomorrow.
Thanks a lot, assholes.

In regards to Mollesk's attack...
For the love of god, allright. Have your little attack. I'm even gonna ignore the fact that it's way stronger than it should be.
BUT.
That is the last time you will customize Mollesk. Both in this and the next RP. That means no x-th level Mollesk, no ability switch, nothing. First, because you'd be neglecting your other pokemon otherwise. Second, because enough is enough. Give your author-avatar a rest, he's min-maxed more than enough. I am really weary.
Also, bear with me for a moment... My author-avatar is after world domination. Pierce's author-avatar is a great big bubble of testosterone and wanna-be-badass (wanna-be cause we're not letting him). It's been pointed out that this does NOT REFLECT PARTICULARLY WELL on the two of us. But has anyone ever realized that Renny's author-avatar molests people? How has nobody mentioned that before? And if it's been mentioned, how did I miss the opportunity to accuse Menarker of wanting to molest people?

In regards to the effectiveness of defense:
A) This point... what? What're you saying here? Sure, the enemies have more units. But so do we. If they gang up on a defender, the defender dies. But they spend three or four attacks, the trainer gains corresponding rage, and once the Defender is dead, they only have 1 or 2 attacks to hit the rest of our team with, which can then strike back much more powerfully. The defender won't have done much damage, but the team will have benefited greatly. Hell, since offensive pokemon take less hits to kill, this is actually a point in favor of defensive pokemon! Since they're more likely to survive for longer, they're also more likely to get in a few buffs.
B) Naaah. Status moves are totally valuable. I mean, even if you sleep an enemy, they're gonna be out of combat for 2-3 turns at least. Have your defender constantly sleep, and they can on average tie up two enemies constantly, without even needing an attack stat. How's that weak? If you disagree, just ask matt. Count the number of times he's used a sleep move. And this doesn't just apply to sleep, it works with confusion, burn (for the attack decrease) even paralysis if you do some damage beforehand. Status is totally a viable method of support. You just aren't using it.
c) What's with all the points about buffs? Even if these were valid, they'd apply to offensive types as well. Sure, buffing is harder than it used to be, but it's not just hard for defensive types. Easier, in fact, than for offensive types. You seem to be less focused on listing reasons 'why defensive tactics aren't good' and more reasons 'why mollesk doesn't work as well as I'd like'.
D) Depends. If we have high-HP opponents, these can be quite valuable. Toxic isn't great, but if we incpacitate and DOT an individual opponent, we can take out a potentially pretty powerful enemy without investing too many attacks.
E) I think your problem is that you're still trying to fight battles like you'd fight them in the games. Sure, you can't stall the enemy unless everyone suddenly deploys a Mollesk. But just because your old tactics don't work doesn't mean that the pokemon are useless! They're pretty hard to kill. Meaning that, usually, we can count on enemies not eliminating them too quickly. Which, in turn, means they're reliable, and usually have some time on the battlefield. If they do get dangerous enough for the enemy to want to eliminate them, the enemy's gonna need quite a lot of firepower to take one down. They're an investment, of sorts. Not to mention that if it looks like shit is about to start getting real, you can deploy defensive types to take the hits until you've gagued the enemy's strength. And that can be pretty damn valuable. Plus, they take more hits, means they give more rage and healing items work better. Defensive types have lots of uses, both in-combat (status, buffing, generally supporting) and 'tactically'. They're just as valuable as offensive builds!
F) See D. Sure, DOT might not be useful all the time, but it can be pretty good. Though it could use a buff. Not a buff to the effect itself... but if a attack poisoned two targets instead of just one, it'd be a lot more viable. Your guys' thoughts?
G) Once again, I'm thinking status moves can be really effective, if used right. Still, might be worth a buff... Let's observe this. We can decide during the course of this mission.

Whenever Umbreon got knocked out, it was taking hits which would've hurt other members of your team a lot more. I'm pretty sure it did its job just by forcing the opponent to knock it out. 'Valuable' doesn't directly translate to 'deals lots of damge'. Just getting attacked is often plenty. I don't think it needs a major 'role-change'. And what custom move are you thinking about?

And Mollesk contributes a lot more to combat than he should, because he combines the defensive qualities with the ability to deal damage like an offensive build. That's not how it's supposed to work, and it's one of the reasons I'm so pissed at you for making it. Defensive types have their strengths. Offensive types have their strengths. Mollesk has both, and the weaknesses of neither. If it is your response to why excessive customization should be justifed, then I can respond in only one way:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAOxY_nHdew
Bard, totally love you for introducing me to that. I will never stop using it.

Should mention that the testing we did was in the BEST situation when Renny was beside Harliette. The one who doubles rage? In other situations with other allies, the rage that he would have actually gotten would have been lower.
Okay that... just stop. That's just... no. NO.
That is not how the experimental method works. It just isn't.
There's tons of factors influencing the effectiveness of that fucking item. Just because one factor (Renny next to Harliette) does not, NOT, mean that the entire situation was favorable. Looking at just one factor just... bluh. Is so not-valid, you would not believe. Especially since most of the other factors (not-so-frequent use of togekiss, significant alternate source of rage, stuff like that) weren't favorable. At all. We can analyze the battle, and draw conclusions from it. But to use it as your sole justification why the item in question is balanced? That's like... I don't even know. Like something very stupid.

I don't care about proving you right or wrong. This really is in no way personal. I just don't want Renny to get double rage!

In that vein, I like the '+1 stat when serene grace activates' thing. That can work.

I won't defend my item other than to say that I disagree, that it's thematic and really overcomplicated as long as you know your side's formation. I really don't see how it doesn't work.

As for this:
You shout out that my item sucks because it's too powerful. Double Rage is no good.

Okay, first? Stop it with the tone. You're really making me sound like some sort of whiney bitch (Dracorion? That joke you just thought of? We're all thinking it. No need to make it. You too, Bard.) I don't shout, I don't complain. I suggest improvements. All I do, all I ever will. Implying otherwise is actually really insulting. So.. don't do that, will you?

And yeah. That was the entirety of my point. Too powerful. Double rage is no good. I threw in an explanation as to why it gained double rage. What more do you want? Shall I elaborate why double rage is no good? Considering that we all agreed that double rage (or rather 2.5x, but still) counts as a massive upgrade, I didn't think that was necessary. And like I said, you're looking for alternatives? I'll propose more alternatives once you seem willing to accept or discuss them! A good way to indicate that you're willing to accept or discuss them would be to start by suggesting your own.

And really, I didn't operate any differently during the upgrade customization. My pattern is always:
Identify problem
Agree that it is indeed a problem (I don't even need a 'yes you are right' from you, just an indication that you're considering my points)
Suggest nerfs
Finalize nerfs

We're still at the second point. The only difference to the customization thing, seems to me, is that you're showing yourself a lot less willing to compromise. You've just gone back to just refusing the possibility that a nerf could be necessary. And that's honestly not a personal attack, it's just what I observe. You're just arguing when you don't really have any points left to argue. I really think that you're taking this one personally. Though I was probably also more dismissive of your points than I would have been otherwise. ALso, it's usually past midnight when I write up these posts, so my problem-solving skills are pretty low. Y'know what, let's both, let's all resolve to compromise more frequently. We're all moderately intelligent, with the obvious exception of [INSERT LEAST LIKABLE PLAYER HERE], if we assume good faith on each other's parts, with that assumption should come the realization that they've probably thought of something we haven't. They may not be right, but they probably aren't absolutely wrong.
Mind you, this one's only gone on for, like, 3 posts each. We just write too much.

[Dracorion]

Every time you yell at us for depriving you of sleep, like we give a Pikachu's furry ass, you sound like a whiny bitch.

I call unfairness in the treatment of my author-avatar in comparison to Geminex's.

I mean, sure, I get to shag some bitches. Not as many as I'd like, but okay. But I wanna be the designated badass hero and nooooo. I get shit-all.

And Geminex goes and says he wants to rule the world? You roll the red fucking carpet, design a whole sequel and a truckload of plot points to keep him happy.

[Bard The 5th LW]

I hate to admit it, but he does sort of have a point. Impact has things falling pretty well in place for him.

However, its not like Pierce really has ambitions.

[Dracorion]

Sure, Impact has ambitions.

However, Geminex has gone out of his way repeatedly to tell us that Impact's current ambitions are not "TAKE OVER THE WORLD, LAUGH EVILLY".

So Impact somehow becoming that has nothing to do with his ambitions, it has to do with Geminex's ambitions for his character.

[Menarker]

Okay, I was actually gonan wait until tomorrow to post this and go to sleep now, but then I saw you all being happy and carefree and I was all like 'NOT ON MY WATCH'.

Ok, I'll admit that is one of the scarier and yet funnier reactions I seen from you. Seriously. You mentally conjured the voice of Xykon from Order of the Stick during the book of "Start of Darkness" which has something almost exactly like this situation.


In regards to Mollesk's attack...
For the love of god, allright. Have your little attack. I'm even gonna ignore the fact that it's way stronger than it should be.
BUT.
That is the last time you will customize Mollesk. Both in this and the next RP. That means no x-th level Mollesk, no ability switch, nothing. Because you'd be neglecting your other pokemon otherwise.


Agreed. Promise. Quote it and save it for later if you want to. I just wanted a decent STAB move for the bug type it had which is effectively justified by how Enmakki and Revenard have their own custom moves. I already got upgrades for Swampert and Umbreon on the way and in the future, Togekiss and Magnezone might be good targets for upgrades too. Shaymin is pretty balanced/solid although maybe a little one in the future would be neat.

As for the fact that my "Author Avatar" wants to molest people? Actually, I'm intending for Mollesk to kinda do that on the fly without Renny expecting it. Seriously, you think Renny would have thought to train Mollesk to molest people? I kinda have TWO Author States. One for Renny specifically as the Author Avatar... and the other is more me using all my pokemons, Renny and the NPCs to paint a certain ... side of the story we're all sharing.



In regards to the effectiveness of defense:
A) This point... what? What're you saying here? Sure, the enemies have more units. But so do we. If they gang up on a defender, the defender dies. But they spend three or four attacks, the trainer gains corresponding rage, and once the Defender is dead, they only have 1 or 2 attacks to hit the rest of our team with, which can then strike back much more powerfully. The defender won't have done much damage, but the team will have benefited greatly. Hell, since offensive pokemon take less hits to kill, this is actually a point in favor of defensive pokemon! Since they're more likely to survive for longer, they're also more likely to get in a few buffs.
B) Naaah. Status moves are totally valuable. I mean, even if you sleep an enemy, they're gonna be out of combat for 2-3 turns at least. Have your defender constantly sleep, and they can on average tie up two enemies constantly, without even needing an attack stat. How's that weak? If you disagree, just ask matt. Count the number of times he's used a sleep move. And this doesn't just apply to sleep, it works with confusion, burn (for the attack decrease) even paralysis if you do some damage beforehand. Status is totally a viable method of support. You just aren't using it.
c) What's with all the points about buffs? Even if these were valid, they'd apply to offensive types as well. Sure, buffing is harder than it used to be, but it's not just hard for defensive types. Easier, in fact, than for offensive types. You seem to be less focused on listing reasons 'why defensive tactics aren't good' and more reasons 'why mollesk doesn't work as well as I'd like'.
D) Depends. If we have high-HP opponents, these can be quite valuable. Toxic isn't great, but if we incapacitate and DOT an individual opponent, we can take out a potentially pretty powerful enemy without investing too many attacks.
E) I think your problem is that you're still trying to fight battles like you'd fight them in the games. Sure, you can't stall the enemy unless everyone suddenly deploys a Mollesk. But just because your old tactics don't work doesn't mean that the pokemon are useless! They're pretty hard to kill. Meaning that, usually, we can count on enemies not eliminating them too quickly. Which, in turn, means they're reliable, and usually have some time on the battlefield. If they do get dangerous enough for the enemy to want to eliminate them, the enemy's gonna need quite a lot of firepower to take one down. They're an investment, of sorts. Not to mention that if it looks like shit is about to start getting real, you can deploy defensive types to take the hits until you've gagued the enemy's strength. And that can be pretty damn valuable. Plus, they take more hits, means they give more rage and healing items work better. Defensive types have lots of uses, both in-combat (status, buffing, generally supporting) and 'tactically'. They're just as valuable as offensive builds!
F) See D. Sure, DOT might not be useful all the time, but it can be pretty good. Though it could use a buff. Not a buff to the effect itself... but if a attack poisoned two targets instead of just one, it'd be a lot more viable. Your guys' thoughts?
G) Once again, I'm thinking status moves can be really effective, if used right. Still, might be worth a buff... Let's observe this. We can decide during the course of this mission.


First, in regards to first part I colored in red, I said in my last post that I felt that due to the customization, Mollesk IS working as well as I hoped he would from a defensive stand-point because the points that I listed were adverted in his case. The points I listed above was more what I thought other defensive pokemons in general have problems with, including what I felt Umbreon was having problems with, since she seems to faint too easily. Swampert lasts longer than she does and while he has just a smidge more stamina, his defenses are both significantly lower than hers.

As for buffing status affliction moves, I think that would be a nice idea. Especially for moves like Confuse Ray, Toxic, Thunder Wave and potentially Will o Wisp that specifically only do status and nothing else and don't stop foes from actually attacking. Sleep and Frozen do usually stop foes from attacking 100% when they hit the foe though and thus are probably powerful enough to leave alone. Of course, would like to hear what the others think.




In that vein, I like the '+1 stat when serene grace activates' thing. That can work.



Skipping on quoting the rest of the things that you typed and I have read because you find this suggestion potentially viable and this was what I aiming for when I suggested a different custom item. Being able to bypass a lengthy and tedious argument by compromising in a different fashion with something more agreeable for both sides. If we can work on an item like this being approved, then we can nip most of the argument and a remove a big source of frustration in the bud.

So... for the proposed new item.

Effect: Whenever a secondary effect triggers on a target from a move that could benefit from Serene Grace, choose any stat that can be boosted (including accuracy and evasion) and add +1 to it stage.

Yay? Nay? Concerns or changes? Keep in mind that secondary effects also have their success rate doubled when hitting targets that are weak to said attack. So Ancient Power would have a 40% chance of success when hitting a fire type. Air Slash be 100% proc on anything weak to flying. That sort of thing.

[Dracorion]

So... for the proposed new item.

Effect: Whenever a secondary effect triggers on a target from a move that could benefit from Serene Grace, choose any stat that can be boosted (including accuracy and evasion) and add +1 to it stage.

Yay? Nay? Concerns or changes? Keep in mind that secondary effects also have their success rate doubled when hitting targets that are weak to said attack. So Ancient Power would have a 40% chance of success when hitting a fire type. Air Slash be 100% proc on anything weak to flying. That sort of thing.

... What?

It's late and I don't wanna have to figure out what you just said.

[Menarker]

Here is a completely abbreviated version of the conversation, so you may be able to contribute.

- Gem doesn't like my custom item that Togekiss currently has, due to balance issues and what not.
- Cue heated debate which is also stoked up by other arguments stemming from other topics.
- Somewhere down the line, I proposed that we could end some of the painful parts by me replacing the item with a different one that is more acceptable to me and everyone else and thus just hand-waving the existence of the current one.
- First attempt to propose it failed on account of it being seen as too powerful and the delivered tone accidently being seen a insult/mocking gesture to him.
- Second attempt to propose a different item leaves him potentially interested in considering one of the variants, thinking it could be viable option.



Since there is now an item that he's willing to consider as an acceptable replacement item, I typed up a more formal description of the effect of said item, for his and everyone else' discussion. If it succeeds, the old item is removed and this one put in its place. No more rage generation arguments in regard to the item.


Staunch Supporter's Bandanna
Effect: Whenever a secondary effect triggers on a target from a move that could benefit from Serene Grace, choose any stat that can be boosted (including accuracy and evasion) and add 1 stage boost to it.


Example: Togekiss hits a Raticate with Air Slash. Due to Serene Grace, Togekiss has 60% chance of flinching the foe. It succeeds and Raticate is flinched. The item triggers and Togekiss gains +1 stage boost to any stat that can be boosted.

Example 2: Togekiss attacks two slayers with Heat Wave. Due to a total fluke of luck, the 20% chance of burning procs on both of them and Togekiss can apply 2 stat boosts any way he want.

Example 3: Togekiss attacks two foes again with Heat Wave. One is a grass type and the other is a water type. Heat Wave has a 40% chance of proccing on the grass type and a 10% chance of proccing on the water type. It only procs on the grass type, and thus Togekiss only gets +1 boost to a stat.

Example 4: Togekiss hits a Charizard with AncientPower. Since the move is quad effective, the chance of the move activating is HUGE. Base chance of it activating is 10%. Doubled with Serene Grace is 20%. Quad that is 80%. So Togekiss has a huge chance of getting +1 to the 5 primary stats (Ancientpower) and +1 to any stats on top of that (the item).

Example 5: Same as Example 1, but this time, Togekiss uses Divide on Air Slash and manages to flinch both foes. Two +1 stage boosts are awarded.


EDIT: Gem, you also kinda need to comment on the battle plan posted early in this thread, since Drac is kinda hoping for a response.

EDIT: I realize I forgot to answer Gem's question about what was the custom move I was going to give Umbreon as my "Pokemon Trainer 5 upgrade". I know I posted it repeatably though and it has been discussed already. Ah well. Here it is again.

Scapegoat (Dark Status move)
Select any friendly target (yourself included). All moves that would target that ally/yourself is redirected to a different ally/yourself of the user's choice. If the pokemon is attacked with a move that hit multiple opponent, reduce its power by 50% but the attack is not prevented. If the scapegoated pokemon is knocked out, all moves still get redirected and is wasted.

You saw it way way back in discussion thread 20. You thought it was ok although you were confused for a bit. I answered your question clarifying the bit you were confused on and you never said anything about the move since.
http://www.nuklearforums.com/showpost.php?p=1040851&postcount=83

It got re-discussed again during the time we talked about Ascended Classes later on because this move is basically the grandfather to the Mock technique that Pierce is to have for his demon upgrade.

[DanteFalcon]

Any and all buffs to my main tactics, a.k.a. status effects, is greatly appreciated. So long as I don't have to figure them all out.

Cause then you know, it'd never get done.

[Astral Harmony]

For me, it's always the Grass starter. Bulbasaur, Chikorita, Treecko, Turtwig, and whatever that fifth gen one'll be called.

My team is much too large than it necessarily has to be. In addition to the starter, I tend to train seventeen other Pokemon, one of each type, including a Grass type even though I always pick that for my starter. I train only Pokemon in the current generation of the game I play, so, for HeartGold, I've got Spinarak (Bug), Flaafy (Electric), Skiploom (Grass), Dunsparce (Normal), Pineco (Steel when it evolves), and Furret (the Pokemon I'm training for my Pokewalker).

I also train Pokemon I get in eggs as plot points, so there's Togetic.

And then throw in the Pokemon I get from trades by NPCs, so I'm working on an Onix and Machoke as well (which reminds me, I should trade that sometime to evolve it).

And, of course, Legendaries. So, near the end, I'm training no less than...oh, maybe around thirty or more Pokemon. Pokemon games take a long time for me to complete, but I'm a devoted Trainer.

I try to keep it at ten levels per gym, so level 10 for the first gym, level 20 for the second one, blah-blah-blah. Having a large, diverse team like that really helps in not screwing up certain Pokemon with those goddamn HMs and necessary TMs like Flash and Headbutt.

Given the lower level wild Pokemon in HeartGold, it can be a real pain to keep up to my own way of playing these games.

Come to think of it, I should pick up Hoothoot as my Flying. I always thought Noctowl was badass.

And for those of you who think I pick shitty Pokemon for my team, I really only play Pokemon for fun. I train particular Pokemon because I like 'em, not because I think they'll make a unstoppable dream team, even though a lot of them are surprisingly tough.

-----

Speaking about Pierce being the sequel's protagonist, I suppose he could very well be. However, I won't explain why, but Arceus plays an immense role in the sequel, and guess which of you has that Legendary in "her" kung fu grip?

[Geminex]

Speaking about Pierce being the sequel's protagonist, I suppose he could very well be. However, I won't explain why, but Arceus plays an immense role in the sequel, and guess which of you has that Legendary in "her" kung fu grip?

Why are we making certain characters more important than others at all? I mean, what justification is there to go 'Yep, this is the main character'? We all contribute to the RP.
And even if some characters are more important than others, I'd say it's pretty unfair of the DM to decide who should be imporant and who not. Let that develop by itself, through inter-character interactions. The DM should remain neutral when it comes to this.

And Menarker, the item...
Hmm...
One point I'd add is that it can only activate once per attack. Meaning that attacks that hit two targets can still only give a +1 boost. This is probably fairly minor, but eh.
Also, why is it suddenly any attribute? Your initial proposal was one specific attribute (you used attack), and I liked that. Any attribute of your choice, particularly that you can pick crit and evasion as well... eeeh. If we make it random, yes. But I don't like that you get to pick out of everything. Unless it's thematic in some way I missed?
I'd be happy if you could pick either defensive stat.

[Astral Harmony]

Actually, it's more like you guys are stumbling into important plot points. Bard picked Arceus. Arceus is important to the plot. So by having it, Charlotte is important.

Now, if we're talking about the actual people behind the characters, then I am indeed neutral. I happen to like all of you and your characters very much, and I'm trying to not show favoritism, but a DM and the story's plot are two entirely different beasts. Some of the time, even I can't control certain things that happens, like what's going to happen with Moera...hee hee hee...

[Menarker]

Why are we making certain characters more important than others at all? I mean, what justification is there to go 'Yep, this is the main character'? We all contribute to the RP.
And even if some characters are more important than others, I'd say it's pretty unfair of the DM to decide who should be imporant and who not. Let that develop by itself, through inter-character interactions. The DM should remain neutral when it comes to this.


Yeah, I pretty much agree that we shouldn't make a specific character THE main character, although technically there could be quite a few of those. But I can understand what's going on. It's not that we're TRYING to make any specific character the main character. Most of us are pretty genre savvy, AB included, so when we see characters leaning toward certain plot devices, it only seems natural to percieve someone as a particularly influencial character. Drac has many of the tropes of the hero in some aspects (the more masculine and badass tropes) and thus has been referred to as a potential hero in AB's eyes, as well as in the eyes of some NPCs (like Shizuka who called him among other Watchmen as the eye of the storm). Renny has other aspects of the hero including a sort of indiscriminate charity, shining personality, an almost magnetic pull for allies and his own source of courage and frustrations of sort. Once again, AB has frequently referred to Renny as a likely hero character, especially in the eyes of NPCs like Rayleen who tried to make him group leader and those like Lola who see him as someone trying to make the best in life for himself and others in very testing times.

We should probably all assume that every one of us is going to be PLOT-CRUCIAL at some point. We're all PCs! Impact is just more obvious about it, since he's designated as a sort of antagonist catalyst to help spur the next half of the plot with world-changing influence. Charlotte, aside from whatever is being discussed behind PMs, is going to have access to a very powerful Mac-Guffin. Renny and Pierce are kinda sharing the Hero pedestal although with some varying different traits to them. Matthias however? He's a wild card at the moment... and I get the feeling he likes it that way. :3:



And Menarker, the item...
Hmm...
One point I'd add is that it can only activate once per attack. Meaning that attacks that hit two targets can still only give a +1 boost. This is probably fairly minor, but eh.
Also, why is it suddenly any attribute? Your initial proposal was one specific attribute (you used attack), and I liked that. Any attribute of your choice, particularly that you can pick crit and evasion as well... eeeh. If we make it random, yes. But I don't like that you get to pick out of everything. Unless it's thematic in some way I missed?
I'd be happy if you could pick either defensive stat.

Actually, I was just giving a simple example to make a baseline for the item. It's not set in stone anyhow. Also, keep in mind that while crit isn't technically a stat that can be improved directly, it's now directly related to speed. But you probably were thinking of that.

How about we keep it limited to Special Attack (the attack stat that Togekiss use) and both defenses? Three viable options without going into stats that are useless (Attack) or the more unusual ones like Evasion and accuracy.

As for it not triggering twice... This is me just bargaining here, but how about allowing it to trigger both times, but they can't both be applied to the same stat in the same round? Like if it triggers both times on Heat Wave (chances of success is less than half on merely super effective foes for ONE), it can only go to Special Attack and one of the defenses or both defenses and not Special Attack.

Pretty much the only attack that Togekiss has that hits for more than 50% success rate without a quad effectiveness boost is the single target Air Slash anyhow. The rest are not that reliable with 40% success rate at best with a super effective hit.

[Astral Harmony]

That's right, you're all the main characters, and I'm going to make sure no one steals the ultimate spotlight right up until the very end.

Mainly because I'll be stealing the spotlight at that time.

[Menarker]

Hehe, yeah.

Anyhow, AB, I know you're playing the pokemon games for fun, but wouldn't it be easier to choose 6 that you like and beat the game with them? You could always replay the game with a new team of 6 (or 5 if you like playing the same starter over and over. =P ) and make each of them their own spotlight for an entire gameplay. ^^

^^ I remember way back in Generation 1 when I would choose a brand new team of 5 pokemons to go with my starters despite how much I may have veered away from certain pokemons like Slowpoke. In time, I grew to really admire their strengths. ^^

Up to you entirely of course. :3 But it's a bit more practical I would suppose. I always seemed to insist on playing the game as if I was playing through a narrative with each of the pokemons have their own personality ala 7 dwarfs. Harder to do that if I have to stuff the characters in a virtual box in "Someone's PC".


Oh geez, I just imagined what it would be like if someone could hack Bill/Lanette/Bridgette/Bebe/Shouro's PC and thus stealing all the storage pokemons or mixing them all up and what not. :3

Just glad that Renny doesn't store any of his pokemons on PC. ^^ They either are free-ranged within his home or he takes them with him. The above hacking wouldn't effect him directly.

EDIT: ... Although I realize that the anime DID try to do that plot about hacking the computers and stealing pokemons... that was the same Porygon episode in which the animation style triggered seizures and gave pokemon the negative attention it got.

[Geminex]

I'm surprised you're the one saying this, considering all the requests you've made of me and the way Impact likes to hog the spotlight on the battlefield and the way you cry foul whenever something doesn't go the way you want it to, like Impact not being picked the leader first and like when the scythetip was considered to be useless for the sake of character development.
I've never said 'make my character more important'. I've never asked you to interfere on my behalf in those matters. I occasionally ask/suggest something to make the plot seem more believable, but that's pretty much it.

When I got pissed back then, it wasn't because my character wasn't the most important. Of course not! That'd just be... eh. Douchebag.
I got pissed because you had interfered, and acted unfairly in my opinion. I didn't want Impact to be leader! I wanted it to be left to ourselves to decide who's leader. If I had failed in my quest to persuade everyone else, that would have been that. I would've accepted that. But as it is, my character didn't really get much of a chance before you had picked Menarker, and that choice seemed pretty fucking arbitrary.

The point I made back then is pretty much the point I'm making now. If we're talking about leadership, or importance to the plot, or pretty much anything concerning character hierarchy let us regulate that ourselves. There's not need to interfere, really, and doing so will only piss off some people and reward others unfairly.

The scythetip thing had nothing to do with importance or lack thereof. It had to do with the fact that a lot of effort and planning on my part were ignored, while charlotte got pretty much an incubus ex machina, and there was really no reason for that.

Both those matters and off the table now, and I really don't wanna reopen them. I'm just... clarifying that, even in those situatons, I was never asking you to make Impact more important.

And if there's nothing else, it seems like-
Hmm?
What's that?
Elephant?
What ele-
Oh! That elephant! I had missed that!
Ladies and gentelemen, it seems like we have an elephant in the room!
Namely the fact that Impact's gonna be villain in the sequel.
But I really don't think that's such a big deal. I mean firstly, it doesn't make him that much more important than the other characters. We're still all PCs, and that means we're the only people capable of actually getting anything done. Impact may have more resources to get said things done, but those resources are pretty much gonna be tied up in so many places, you would not believe. His actions and decisions aren't gonna be much more important than, say, Renny's.

And even if he is more relevant to the plot, I worked for that. I'm doing, and will do, tons of development, planning, negotiations. I'm earning this. And okay, AB's giving me a bit of a leg-up. But that's more 'letting me switch sides' and less 'making me more important'.
And honestly... I don't think any of you have moral high ground when it comes to the matter of 'switching sides'.
^^
Also, what Menarker said. I agree with that. Including the bit at the end regarding the item. Let's try it that way.
Except for this bit:
an almost magnetic pull for allies
: /
Why do you insist on the misconception that Renny is somehow uber-duber likable? Sure, he makes friends and he's open. But Impact's ambitious and pretty good at manipulating people, while Pierce is himself fairly charismatic. We all gain allies easily, it's not just Renny.

[Menarker]

Also, what Menarker said. I agree with that. Including the bit at the end regarding the item. Let's try it that way.

So, this sums it up correctly?

Staunch Supporter's Bandanna
Effect: Whenever a secondary effect triggers on a target from a move that could benefit from Serene Grace, choose either Special Attack, Defense or Special Defense and add 1 stage boost to it. The same stat cannot be boosted twice in the same round with AOE attacks by the effect of this item.


: /
Why do you insist on the misconception that Renny is somehow uber-duber likable? Sure, he makes friends and he's open. But Impact's ambitious and pretty good at manipulating people, while Pierce is himself fairly charismatic. We all gain allies easily, it's not just Renny.

I know Pierce is pretty charismatic in his own right, mainly sexual in nature. And Impact can spin a pretty convincing argument and get people to follow orders. But for Renny, it mainly shows in how Renny has managed to earn the sincere trust of those around him especially those who used to be their enemies. I'm talking mainly about Shannon during the second mission. Yes, I know we haven't had NPCs that rejected a PC or disobeyed an order yet on the basis of charisma and we don't exactly have many examples. But Shannon was very much untamed when she first arrived. Same with Harliette. Now, the two of them are downright buddy buddy with Renny. Also, Rayleen didn't even know him that well and despite the factors like lack of experience and the young age factor, trusted him enough to try to make him leader.
I understand if you're somewhat skeptical about Renny having a magnetic charisma. That's fine. That's just what I felt might be a trait of his.
Of course, if Renny ever manages to tame the man-hating egoist Discord, or at least partially so, then this would be undisputed... If Renny could handle her abrasive presence for more than a few seconds without fleeing or being emotionally crushed...

That would make a interesting topic for an omake or a sprite comic...

[Geminex]

That's summed up correctly.

And sure, Shannon and Harliette have mellowed up.
But why would you attribute that to Renny? He's been nice to them two or three times. That usually really doesn't have that much of an impact.

Edit: And Renny being made leader was an out-of-character decision entirely. For the purpose of character interaction, I'm pretty sure we should disregard it.

[Dracorion]

Why are we making certain characters more important than others at all? I mean, what justification is there to go 'Yep, this is the main character'? We all contribute to the RP.
And even if some characters are more important than others, I'd say it's pretty unfair of the DM to decide who should be imporant and who not. Let that develop by itself, through inter-character interactions. The DM should remain neutral when it comes to this.

I-

You-

I don't-

I'm going to punch you in the dick.

ALL YOU DID WAS SAY "HEY, I WANNA RULE THE WORLD" AND POOF! YOU'RE THE MAIN VILLAIN AND NOW YOU'RE COCKBLOCKING ME?!

Rage at Geminex for being a motherfucker aside, Charlotte can't be the main character because she's already on Team Evil.

EDIT: Gem, I remember back when Renny was picked leader, you held your breath and practically said that you'd bitch and whine if anyone but Impact was picked leader.

[Menarker]

Ok. Editted the item in. Custom Item Problem solved.

Well, Shannon hated Drac and Impact at the time given how they treated her during debriefing, nevermind that the Watchmen arrested her and Charlotte shot Moon who was trying to protect her. However, during the mission, Renny have been overall supportive to the point that she even go "I love you Renny! I love you Lola!" for helping her out in combat.

Harliette IS a surprise factor since I didn't even expect that myself so soon. Although Renny did put out the plasma fire she suffered from Wildfire in the last mission. But anyhow, that's kinda the point of "magnetic". Renny does treat her kindly, but it happened regardless of what Renny expected. It might very well stem from how Renny treats her. It might stem from how he treats her best friend Whitney. Or a combination of such circumstances and any unrelated ones.

But like I said, that's what I feel is a trait of Renny since I felt it consistantly happened enough to be a possible trait. Like other subjective traits, it's open to interpretation and while I defend my viewpoint, I'm not adamant about it. Since I could be very wrong about how AB's NPCs view Renny and all.

[Geminex]

ALL YOU DID WAS SAY "HEY, I WANNA RULE THE WORLD" AND POOF! YOU'RE THE MAIN VILLAIN AND NOW YOU'RE COCKBLOCKING ME?!
Oh wow
Man.
You have got me. YOU GOT ME GOOD.
Like, man!
I have no defense against that. I am defenseless. Your points are impeccable. I guess there is nothing left for me other than to curl up and hide because there is no way I can recover from that I mean how would that even work and its not like I've already responded to this same exact point alreadyOH WAIT YES IT IS
Namely the fact that Impact's gonna be villain in the sequel.
But I really don't think that's such a big deal. I mean firstly, it doesn't make him that much more important than the other characters. We're still all PCs, and that means we're the only people capable of actually getting anything done. Impact may have more resources to get said things done, but those resources are pretty much gonna be tied up in so many places, you would not believe. His actions and decisions aren't gonna be much more important than, say, Renny's.
I mean honestly
DO YOU EVEN READ THESE WORDS THAT WE POST
Wait a second, stupid question. OF COURSE YOU DON'T.
Your must absorb the meaning my osmosis or something. That is honestly the only possible explanation for the degree of stupid that is present in your posts. Or maybe you're entirely illiterate and your posts are just a series of unfortunate events, probability being defied again and again as you flail at your keyboard and randomly generate an array of letters that, against all hope and decency and casualty, comes together each and every fucking time to make the most horrible post possible in this situation. I mean dammit, man. Bullcrap like that is unreal. It doesn't even happen!

Please, man! Punch me in the dick! With any luck the pain will distract me from the massive ache deep within me that is caused by the last vestige of hope I have for humanity leaving me every time I read another word you write.

[Dracorion]

Oh man.

It's like you didn't spend an inordinate amount of time telling me that Impact ruling the world was gonna be so sweet and dude your rebellion is going to get soooooooo squashed.

I suppose I could chalk that up to your bullshit.

After all, it's not like the PRESIDENT OF THE WORLD has all that much authority, amirite? I mean come on.

And while Pierce may have one billionaire backing him, that doesn't compare to Impact's resources in the least. Sure, they're going to be spread out around THE FREAKING WORLD, except they're like that already.

Not only will you at least have the amount of resources dedicated to Honmyr in particular, I'm sure that with IMPACT'S TOTALLY AWESOME ECONOMIC SKILLS BECAUSE OH MAN WOW PRESIDENT OF THE WORLD HE IS SO SMART, he can reallocate some more resources from other regions.

So his overall budget for squashing the rebellion should make Pierce's budget look like chump change in comparison.

And hey, obviously the decisions Renny makes will be as important as Impact's! I mean, Renny's going to be deciding the fate of entire countries every two seconds, obviously.

Because he's God. Yeah, Renny is secretly God. AWESOME PLOT TWIST.

[Geminex]

I feel compelled to congratulate you.
Because that just yet?
That almost wasn't retarded. Almost.

But come on, are you really basing this on budget? You can't be. Because I'm pretty sure I've said before that even if I could (which I can't, obviously=Impact won't be getting excessive amounts of resources.
And even if he did, this isn't about resources. It's not about going 'which character is more important IC'. It's about AB making an OOC decision and going 'This or that character will be treated as more important by me'. That's the problem I have. Impact's gonna get world domination, yeah. But he'll still be treated exactly the same as the other characters, the story won't focus on him any more than it does on you guys, and his grip on world domination is gonna be so tenous that, no matter how much authority he has, it's gonna be very difficult for him to exercise it correctly.

It's like you didn't spend an inordinate amount of time telling me that Impact ruling the world was gonna be so sweet and dude your rebellion is going to get soooooooo squashed.
Well, that's less due to Impact's inherent power and/or importance and more due to the fact that Impact is being played by me as opposed to being played by, say, you.
http://i606.photobucket.com/albums/tt148/fifthfiend/emoticons/awesome.gif

[Dracorion]

Man, I channeled so much Homestuck-ness into that post, I feel dirty now.

So I'm going to log off for a couple of hours.

I will say now, though, that I call bullshit on your post.

[Geminex]

How did that post contain homestuck-ness? You said chump once. That's pretty much it. You could have at least thrown in an sbahj reference!

I mean, it was fairly kismesilicous, but come on. That applies to 80% of your posts. And mine too.

Look, even if Impact has a lot of power, that power has limitations, and it doesn't make him any more important to the plot than any other character. You should totally tattoo that onto your bone bulge or something, cause if I have to tell you again, we will both regret it.

[Menarker]

And hey, obviously the decisions Renny makes will be as important as Impact's! I mean, Renny's going to be deciding the fate of entire countries every two seconds, obviously.

Because he's God. Yeah, Renny is secretly God. AWESOME PLOT TWIST.

Actually TVtropes would technically say that Renny is closer to one of the tropes related to THE MESSIAH (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TheMessiah), but being God would still be awesome. ^,^

[Geminex]

I made a thing.
It is horrible. I spent 3 minutes on it. I chuckled once.

http://filesmelt.com/dl/PURE_AWESOME.gif

I don't even know.

[Dracorion]

How did that post contain homestuck-ness? You said chump once. That's pretty much it. You could have at least thrown in an sbahj reference!

I mean, it was fairly kismesilicous, but come on. That applies to 80% of your posts. And mine too.

Well, I'm not saying it was full-blown Homestuck. I'm just sayin' the intent and language, even if I didn't say "shit" once, was similar.

Look, even if Impact has a lot of power, that power has limitations, and it doesn't make him any more important to the plot than any other character. You should totally tattoo that onto your bone bulge or something, cause if I have to tell you again, we will both regret it.

I think it's cute that you overstate the limitations to Impact's power.

You believe they're that relevant. I disagree. You have given me nothing to go on other than your word that OH MAN IMPACT'S POWER IS TOTALLY GOING TO BE LIMITED BECAUSE HE HAS LIMITASHUNZ.

I made a thing.

You are touched in the head.

There is seriously something wrong with you.

This is who you're putting in charge of the world, AB?

[Bard The 5th LW]

Gem, Impact is getting quite a bit of power.There is absolutely no doubting that. Its an undeniable fact placed out on the table for everyone to see.

I'm alsoletting it be known that Charlotte has stumbled into importance almost completely on accident. And I'm 0kay with that. She will definitely play an antagonist role in the sequel, so you will have to fight for those McGuffins.

@Gem: That was pretty excellent.

[Geminex]

Gah. I'm not overstating!

Look. The only effect that Impact's power will have is to stoke my ego. Cause that totally needs more stoking.

It'll have no effect in-game. Obviously. Impacts forces are gonna be so overstretched, you won't believe. I'm the one designing these limitations. I should know. He won't suddenly be getting extra forces in battles. His forces have better things to do than to deal with the likes of you.

And his position won't have any effect on his importance plot-wise. It just won't! Renny's actions would be just important as Impact's, in part due to the fact that Impact's resources will be massively overextended, but in part also due to the fact that it'd suck for you guys otherwise.
You really think AB'd give Impact that position if it meant that suddenly the story would start revolving only around him? Come on. Not to mention that I wouldn't want that. It'd be fucking boring.

Yes, Impact has power. But that shouldn't, and won't, affect his importance within the RP. I wouldn't protest against Pierce, or any other PC, gaining access to a lot of power as well, provided Drac actually work for that.

We're 5 people here. We should all get equal attention. If some of us earn slightly more attention than others, fine. But just a little. And the GM shouldn't just name a single protagonist, cause we're all main characters.
That's all I'm saying. Unless you disagree with that, is this discussion can be done now plz?

Yah, dats rite. Unles we is done nao, I keep speeking liek lolcat.
FEEEER MEEEE

[Astral Harmony]

Sorry about what I said, Geminex. I tried to get rid of it because I thought it sounded conceited. Let's just say I ate a bowl of stupid for breakfast and leave it at that.

But that's right. Impact becoming the leader of the world would still make it difficult for Geminex to derail the plot. Namely because there're still enemies out there. Y'know, the Knomere, the Hexagon Harem, and the Rebellion just to name a small handful. Impact will be surrounded by a great many powerful allies, but still, careful treading will undoubtedly be a must. After all, each region has its own epic trainers if at least that. And when the Knomere touch down, Pokemon are gonna flood Honmyr.

[Geminex]

Heh, 'tis cool.
What I said sounded sorta stupid as well.

As for the rest, yeah, guys. See, that's what I meant. Stuff ain't gonan come easy.

After all, each region has its own epic trainers if at least that
Dibs on one-on-one-ing against Red.
And having Gary Oak executed.

Also, do you read homestuck? It's never occurred to me to ask.

[Dracorion]

You do realize that Red, being, y'know, fuckin' Red, could probably single-handedly save the world from the Knomere threat?

And the only reason he doesn't is because he's up on some peak God knows where letting us handle it. Because we need the levels and he doesn't.

At the very least, I doubt Impact could beat him one-on-one. Cheating or otherwise.

That said, why do I get the horrible sickening feeling that I just gave AB the idea to introduce Red, muteness and all?

[Geminex]

Hey, red ain't so tough. A 10-year-old with level 60s can take him down. Still, it'd be a close fight.

That said, why do I get the horrible sickening feeling that I just gave AB the idea to introduce Red, muteness and all?
Fuck yeah, AB. Do this. Put him on the rebel side, I don't care. He can be the mysterious GMPC, appearing just at the right time to un-fuck all the good guys when they've been fucked up.
Just gimme the chance to one-on-one with him.

Also, I totally take credit for that if it does happen. I totally came up with it first.

[Menarker]

Except that since, Red is explictively a trainer, he might not want to care to fight with Impact. He's probably pay more attention to Pierce, Renny or Charlotte.


^^ I had a weird crossover daydream earlier...
You all know what the current world of Pokemon Umbral entails so far... but who else other than AB knows what the demon world where the Kimonos and Dinner came from has?

^^; In my wild imagination, I imagined the world of Disgaea.
The Overlord Laharl, a short demon kid with generally evil tastes/ambitions. One could say he's Renny's opposite if he was just a little older!
He fears sexy girls above all else! ESPECIALLY if they say idealistic/romantic things like "A Ray of Hope" or "A Pure Heart" or... "ETERNAL LOVE!!!!" *His stats drop by half*
We could just march the entire headquarter of PATCA and practically paralyze him with fear from all the sexy curves.
Then there is the Love Freak Flonne who is also much like Renny, but in terms of idealism!
Geez, and then I imagine CAPTAIN GORDON! DEFENDER OF EARTH! and all his crew. And the Prinnies. God damn exploding penguins!

And I'd imagine there would be more crazy stuff going on. >_> Would be one strange crossover...


Gem, could you look at the battle plan soon? Or should I assume you're find with whatever plan I make and try to make a post for Drac's convenience?

[Dracorion]

Anyway, Gem, not only do I reserve the right to say I told you so in the future, I will also demand a public apology and praise of myself, as well as a retraction.

Also, your testicles on a silver platter.

[Geminex]

Is that just a general demand, or is it motivated by anything specific...?

I mean, I'm not gonna comply either way, it'd just be good to know.

And okay, plan. Let's see...

[Dracorion]

I mean, about Impact's power in the future and that junk.

Also, you no longer have a choice. When I'm right, you have to do all of that.

[Geminex]

Okay, y'know what? That's fair.

If I turn out to have been wrong and Impact really does gain massive importance in the sequel and the story starts revolving around my character, and you turn out to be unable or unwilling to stop this-
then I will formally apologize and admit that you were right. And then I'll go back to ignoring your character while we live out my power fantasy.
That fair?
:dance:

[Dracorion]

No, no.

You'll apologize, admit I'm right, then take it all back. All of it.

And then your balls on a silver platter. Or a glass case, whichever you prefer.

[Menarker]

*Ignores Drac and Gem*

Bard, Dante, how are you both doing with your battle plan?

[Geminex]

Okay, you're really sending mixed signals. First you're all like 'No, I hate Bard now', and when I've barely gotten over that you start this sort of stuff! You're not supposed to want me to be crushed and driven before you anymore!
And stop demanding my balls. Stop thinking about my balls. Stop living on the same planet as my balls!

Edit:
Seriously, just weird.

[Dracorion]

Is it really that wrong of me to want a trophy of your utter humiliation?

Also, you wrote the most disturbing comic spoof in the history of everything, ever, including things that don't exist yet, and you're calling me weird?

You are like, leagues ahead of me, man.

[Geminex]

including things that don't exist yet
I'm gonna make another one now, just to prove you wrong.

And how was that disturbing? It was just Sweet Pierce and Hella Impact! It was totally horrible!
But not disturbing. Unless you're talking about picture quality?

And the plan seems fine. I don't like using Impact's rage for a sweep, but it seems necessary. Though having used Impact last turn would put us in a way better positon now.

[Menarker]

Well, that's kinda debatable. You would have taken heavy damage and risked the chance that we'd lose both characters capable of reviving.

NOW though, we got 3 characters fully healed and with 50% health regen after this turn, a character fresh from the back lines, having retreated one attacker still weakened to the back row, and we'll remove a hefty amount of attackers from their side. The only thing in danger of dying is the Fire Evolith, which Mirror has plenty of rage to make another as needed.

I think holding you in reserve was a good idea. ^^ Now you're in the position to lead the team to crush some clunky junkyard trash and look good doing it, while ensuring the other members takes less damage.

Anyhow, do you think you'll be able to make a post? Giving orders and all that?

[Geminex]

Not today. Gotta go.
Gimme 18 hours.

[Dracorion]

I promise you Menarker.

Tonight* someone dies.

*Wherein tonight could refer to any point of time inside or outside the RP.

[Menarker]

Ah. Well, I'm assuming you're going to kill Faynoc the same night in the RP, so that's no biggie. Heck, why are you directing that to me?

[Dracorion]

Tonight more than one someone dies.

[Menarker]

... On our side or their side? Cause I thought it was implied that a bunch of mooks would be gone too.

[Dracorion]

Everyone dies!

On all sides!

For certain definitions of everyone!

[Menarker]

That's pretty worrisome under any but the most lenient defination! >_>

Ah well, the show must go on! Well, when Bard/Dante is ready and when Gem writes his post.

Gem, just out of curiousity, did you have any luck with the PM stuff lately? Or you want to deal with that at a later point?

[Astral Harmony]

I'll be out of contact for a few weeks very soon. I sent information about Violet and Ricewood to Dracorion as well as his plot-based battles.

Hopefully I can get the linking plotlines together. Dracorion could do that himself, but there's one important plot point that needs to be mentioned.

[Menarker]

Gem, just for the purpose of discussion/balance, I got something to ask you since I just realized something I had forgotten.

I know we got the new custom item approved and replacing the old one, but I just remembered that Renny has the Trainer Action Serene Grace, which also applies dose of Serene Grace.

Guiding Support: A pokemon forfeits their attack to aid an ally with their attack via guiding them with enhanced senses or abilities. Target ally gains the benefit of Lock On/Mind Reader and Serene Grace. (Move will not miss (thus negating even 100% evasion) and has double chance of triggering status conditions or effects that happen some of the time.)


It could be possible for Togekiss to have Serene Grace on top of his Serene Grace on top of doubled success for Super Effective hits. But it's trading off an action which would be used for an attack. Would you feel that would be a problem in any way?


*Shrug* Was just looking through my bio to see if there was anything I forgot to take in account while waiting for everyone else to prepare for the next round.
It would seem that at the rate we're going, it'll be my birthday (Dec 5th) by the time Renny gets to reveal his pokebrid form. Not to mention being pretty darn close to Umbral's first anniversary. ^^

EDIT: I just had this crazy idea for Charlotte.
You know how Charlotte carries a camera around a lot? Well, I just remembered way back when I used to play Pokemon Snap. ^^ Fun times. Taking pictures, bopping pokemons on the head or aiming for nutshots with apples.
Maybe she could get a Trainer Action in the future that takes advantage of the camera part at least. Maybe something like spends a turn taking a picture of a pokemon or a human. Then for the next 2-3 turns, she gets a 50% attack/special attack increase for attacking a pokemon that has one of the same types. If the pokemon is the exact same species or if the typing is exactly the same, then double the power or something like that.

^^; I know that's a very rough draft, but I was just laughing to myself thinking of Charlotte being the "protagonist" of the next game of Pokemon Snap.

[Geminex]

Hmm... that's interesting.
I don't think it should double twice. But if the second dose of serene grace added another base probablity, it'd be fine.

Like, base is 10%. With serene grace, it's 20%. With serene grace and support, it's 30%. Multipliers for super effectiveness etc... are applied normally. (If the attack were super effective, it'd be 20 40 60). Probably not really relevant, but it'd make me feel better.

^^; I know that's a very rough draft, but I was just laughing to myself thinking of Charlotte being the "protagonist" of the next game of Pokemon Snap.
I like how you think she somehow wouldn't maim her targets with shotgun blasts before taking pictures of them as they bleed out and die. I mean come on, apples? When she could be using 12 gague shotgun shells? Haha, yeah.

Tonight* someone dies.
Ooh! Ooh!
Was that a threat?
Please tell me it was a threat. There is nothing I want more than for it to have been a threat. Come on, was it?
Please?

Edit:
If it helps, I've already thought of the next sPahI. So that's probably worthy of a threat.

Edit2: Wait a second, dammit. Menarker, why is Lola healing Whitney? She can't get knocked out.
Or, well, she can. But that'd give us 4 extra, enraged pokemon. Why waste the healing?

[Dracorion]

Because he wouldn't put it past me to knock her out anyway.

Also, because you don't know if you'll get a chance to heal after the battle.

[Geminex]

Eh. Worst-case, we kill all but two killdolls, then draw the battle out some more while we heal up.

Also, Impact's wearing fighting armor. I'll dig up the equipment list tomorrow. I'm gone for today.
See ya.

[Dracorion]

All but two?

There's like sixteen Killdolls, man. Unless you mean over this turn and the next, you're certainly not killing all but two.

[Astral Harmony]

Okay. I've gotten the information out to Dracorion. It should keep the story going all the way up to the point that everyone catches up with Pierce.

As for what happens after that, I'm not entirely sure. I have a basic idea of what happens, but I need to think about the fight itself. I guess I can get by with Faynoc and his Pokemon wearing special protective gear for dealing with Gransrax's toxic fumes.

Just remember that Shizuka and Chizuru won't be available to fight in the final battle, so you can think about a full formation (including Sniper since it's going to be a large room) while you wait...if you even end up waiting at all.

Anyways, this will be the last post from me in a while. I'm not sure if I'll get the time for Internet access when we reach those other ports. I'll definitely try to get it somewhere.

[Menarker]

Hmm... that's interesting.
I don't think it should double twice. But if the second dose of serene grace added another base probablity, it'd be fine.

Like, base is 10%. With serene grace, it's 20%. With serene grace and support, it's 30%. Multipliers for super effectiveness etc... are applied normally. (If the attack were super effective, it'd be 20 40 60). Probably not really relevant, but it'd make me feel better.


That sounds ok off the top of my head.


Edit2: Wait a second, dammit. Menarker, why is Lola healing Whitney? She can't get knocked out.
Or, well, she can. But that'd give us 4 extra, enraged pokemon. Why waste the healing?

Aside from what Drac said, Whitney is currently boosted ala' Paradigm Shift. If she gets knocked out, she'll lose the double stat bonus, which would slow down her effectiveness as an attacker as well as be a tremendous waste of rage since it cost her 60 rage to shift. Plus, we would have to waste extra time and use an extra action for Lola to revive her. In the worst case situation, I felt it was not worth the risk. Also, since Whitney had pretty much maxed out rage, I felt it was best to use her rage to its highest potential lest the extra that she get would spill over 100 rage and thus be wasted.


Just remember that Shizuka and Chizuru won't be available to fight in the final battle, so you can think about a full formation (including Sniper since it's going to be a large room) while you wait...if you even end up waiting at all.

Team One:

- Charlotte (PC)
- Matthias (PC)
- Melanie (Medic)
- Kirie (Shock Trooper)
- Mio (Enforcer)
- Cecilia (Enforcer)
- Cassus (Extra enforcer)

Team Two:

- Impact (PC)
- Renny (PC)
- Kurika (Enforcer)
- Whitney (Sniper)
- Mirror (Engineer)
- Lola (Medic)

Others:
Pierce (PC)
Elizabeth ???
Violet ???
Ricewood ???
Sam ???

Ok, all PCs are in. No question about it.

Whitney is the only sniper and thus she's in as Sniper slot. (Lucky I brought her along!) This leaves Renny Enforcer-less. Fortunately, with Cassus being a spare enforcer, he can take up that space.
Mirror is the only Engineer and thus she's in.
Kirie is the only Shock Trooper and thus she's in.
Enforcers are pretty much in since they come attached to their respective PCs.

The question mainly is who becomes the Medic. Lola or Melanie. Naturally, you all know I'm baised in favor of Lola. Although her regeneration style ability would help with easing the poison damage, her dragon type form makes her valuable if we encounter ruin types, and her ability to AOE safeguard might be useful to prevent a group of individuals from Granx's various poisonous side effects.

Mind you all, I mentioned all the above as it is because we don't know for certain if Violet, Elizabeth, Ricewood or Sam will actually be available for the formation, nevermind their exact roles. (Although we can probably guess Ricewood to be an engineer). It also assumes that Cassus doesn't chicken out along the way, if an escape route opens up or something.

[Dracorion]

I'd like to point out that AB said before that other characters would be available to pick for the DSS for the final battle.

He didn't mention any other than Rachel. Regardless, his last RP post implied that Discord was heading in as well.

AB, hopefully you'll read this before you leave. Can you tell us exactly which characters will be available for the DSS for the Faynoc battle?

AB did say before that only, like Sakuya and Irene and a couple others I forget what they're called wouldn't be available for the DSS. Perhaps when he said that he included the Faynoc battle. If not, then I'm okay with you guys getting a pick of all the NPCs for the DSS anyway.

I'd also like the point out the inherent silliness in hoping Cassus will be available when I've already said that several someones will die.

[Menarker]

Ah. Was under the impression that the big battle would be in some huge chamber underground and whomever we brought with us inside or whomever we met inside (like Cassus and potentially Elizabeth) were the ones we were limited to choose for our DSS.

EDIT:

I'd also like the point out the inherent silliness in hoping Cassus will be available when I've already said that several someones will die.

Do we get his pokemons when/if Cassus dies? =P

Or do they just go in a suicidal rage and become our meatshields?

[Dracorion]

Those several someones could very well include his pokemon.

After all, it does make sense to butcher them before you gank the Trainer.

[Menarker]

BTW, I'm totally calling that we're too late to prevent Sam from being Pokebrid-tampered, but she lives anyhow. I mean, Sam's bio shows her being a Deva as one of her upgrades!

[Dracorion]

Congratulations!

YOU HAVE CLIMBED HIGHER ON THE ECHELADDER.

YOU ARE OFFICIALLY SMARTER THAN A FIVE-YEAR-OLD.

[Menarker]

*Hopeful expression*

Does that mean I get more respect than I did before?

[Dracorion]

No.

You get SHINY BOONBUCK.

IT IS UTTERLY USELESS.

[Menarker]

You know what I just realized? Impact talks as if he and everyone is aware that the world that he and everyone else is in is a game and talks in game mechanics! How Meta!
I mean, look at the bolded stuff below!


"Y'know... This really pisses me off. All these annoying little robots, chipping away at our HP, almost bringing a few of us down. That makes me angry just watching. I can only imagine how incensed some of you must be. A lot of them are weakened. So use some of that rage of yours. Finish them off. We can weaken them enough to cripple their counter-attack. And when we're done here, we can find the engineer who made all of these. But first things first. Lola, heal up. Whitney, pokeshift. Froslass, go in with a blizzard. Have Ninjask take out a weakened one, maybe P. Mirror, centrifugal cannon, have the evolith keep blasting away at them. Kurika... get back. My turn."


Rage? (Also implies that he can see if a team-mate has enough strength to do a particular action)

Killbot P? (Unless their scanner actually lists them by letter)

Hit Points? Seriously?


I kinda laugh when I think of Impact recognizing he is a fictional character and probably having an existentialism crisis!

[Dracorion]

You mean, Geminex's subtle cheating?

Yeah, I noticed. We all noticed. No one really cares, though.

[Astral Harmony]

Looks like we can get some Internet out on the open seas, but I gotta make this quick since I don't know how long this will be true.

Charlotte's team will leave Cassus behind after the first battle to help bridge information from the surface, so he's out.

Violet is an Enforcer, so that helps Dracorion who didn't enter with one. Jeanette can also be an Enforcer as a Pokemon Breeder class, and will be forced to function as such after something happens to her Destroyer equipment...

Tonight, on a very intense Pokemon Umbral...When Destroyers Get Destroyed!

So, replace Whitney with Jeanette and set Whitney as the Sniper.

Your DSS will be Destroyer-less, since one won't exist. Jeanette will be unable to function in that role, and while there will be two others, they'll be a little preoccupied with each other, and I mean that in a Goku Vs Vegeta way instead of the yuri way in which I usually mean it.

So, your DSS is you five PCs, just enough Enforcers for all of you, Shock Trooper, Medic, Engineer, and Sniper.

[Dracorion]

Well, that settles that.

We might have to shaft Elizabeth, but that's okay.

[Menarker]

Ah, so basically what I said, except that Jeanette becomes Renny's enforcer as opposed to Cassus who leaves and we know for certain that Violet is available to be Pierce's enforcer.

Of course, the question of whether we use Lola or Melanie is still up in the air.



EDIT:
Like I said before, Lola's forms and ability and her defensive support skills are probably going to be more use as a medic. With a Chimecho form, she COULD attack Granx for super effective damage. With Lopunny form, she minimizes her weakness. With Altaria, she is good against Ruin types and has some resistance and huge special defense. Yes, it has a quad weakness to ice, but Melanie also has a quad weakness. (Water in her Marcargo form)

The main and only advantage I see with Melanie is her being a Slayer and having total immunity to poison. But her ability is random and her forms neutral in effectiveness (normally her Bellossom form would be a liability against Granx, but with poison immunity due to Slayer, that's not a problem). Her techniques are pretty much all offensive except for the Bellossom technique. Problem is, she is basically tugged into trying to be a support type and trying to be an attack type. That and her one support ability only works to its best potential if there are other healers around or if the characters are using heals of their own, like a pokemon trainer action that focuses on healing. Since she can't AOE heal and we have no other healers around, that ability is mostly null except for the morale boost... except increased rage generation might be better for us if we DO hit lower morale.

We need a good medic type, since we'll have plenty of good attackers by now. That said, Melanie is a good character, but from a purely medical perspective, her contributions fall short of Lola's ability since Lola's ability is 1.5x more effective than Melanie per item. 1.4x after Melanie uses Bellossom.

Hence, why I would advocate Lola. Of course, feel free to discuss. I might be biased in favor of Lola, but I feel I covered the reasons behind why I feel she's the better choice.

[Dracorion]

OR, OR.

SINCE WE HAVE OUR PICK FROM EVERY PRETTY MUCH EVER CHARACTER.

WE CAN PICK SOMEONE ELSE. EVEN A DIFFERENT ENGINEER AND SHOCK TROOPER IF WE WANT TO SPICE THINGS UP.

AB himself recommended Rachel, which should speak about her value while fighting Gransranx.

[Menarker]

... AB didn't say that in his last post. Otherwise, we would be able to choose any sniper for example, instead of AB saying to replace Whitney with Jeanette and make Whitney Sniper. I think AB's recommendation of Rachel was in regards to helping us choose for the long-term for "easy mode" for fighting against Granx presumably.

That said, I want Whitney to be the sniper.

But would be nice if AB actually clarified if we had the options to choose those from the outside. I mean, I thought the place was more or less on lockdown.

[Dracorion]

I believe the implication is that whoever we pick to join us for the Faynoc battle will already be inside the facility, and anyone who we don't pick will be outside.

I know AB said in one of the discussion threads that Rachel would be available if we wanted her for Gransranx. And his last RP post implies Discord is inside as well, and I doubt she's going in alone.

[Geminex]

You know what I just realized? Impact talks as if he and everyone is aware that the world that he and everyone else is in is a game and talks in game mechanics! How Meta!
I mean, look at the bolded stuff below!




Rage? (Also implies that he can see if a team-mate has enough strength to do a particular action)

Killbot P? (Unless their scanner actually lists them by letter)

Hit Points? Seriously?


I kinda laugh when I think of Impact recognizing he is a fictional character and probably having an existentialism crisis!

There are two ways I could respond to this. I could say "1 AM, I take no responsibility" and edit it.
Or I could say "I did that on purpose" and just turn Impact into Deadpool.

Any y'know what I've learned? When given two choices, always pick the one that involves deadpool.

So fuck you, fourth wall. That was just the beginning.

[Dracorion]

You can't be Deadpool and an evil mastermind.

The two are mutually exclusive.

[Bard The 5th LW]

You can't be Deadpool and an evil mastermind.

The two are mutually exclusive.

Deadpool can do fucking anything.

You haven't been reading closely enough. Read the Casino chapter where he got the mech? He was pretty devious in that one.

[Menarker]

Well, I didn't have an issue with it. I just felt like bringing it up on the off-chance it was accidental and if Gem wanted to fix it. *Shrug*


Anyhow, guess we're just waiting for Bard and Dante to figure out the next battle plan, barring any GM speed-along.

[Bard The 5th LW]

I guess I'll try something tomorrow.

I'll be home a little late though, so no computer access until later in the day, just a heads up.

[Astral Harmony]

No, you can't use anybody for your DSS that isn't in the facility. If I said that, I apologize.

[Dracorion]

Not really said but implied.

You did say in one of the discussion threads something along the lines that you'd make Rachel available for the Faynoc battle.

And this:

Irene ignored that. "We'll take care of Gardenoir. Discord, follow the plan and get inside with the others."
"What?! But she's right in front of us!"
Irene stared at Discord. "I've heard about that stare before from my mother. And...and I won't let myself be intimidated."
"Just go, Discord. I'll pay your bounty out of my own pocket if you miss it."
"But that still robs me of the satisfaction of killing her."
"If you stay here, who's going to kill Faynoc and all his mutant freaks?"
Discord looked thoughtful. "Fine, that does sound like more fun."

She then pointed at Gardenoir with one of her snake swords. "You'd better survive until I get back to kill you myself."
"Eh, sure." Gardevoir shrugged.
And then the situation grew even more volatile.
"Care to explain that, Styx?" Irene asked as a very large railgun extended out of the top of Millenium House.
"I don't quite follow," Sakuya said, deploying her Hiroshiho Rei powered armor and climbing inside.
Irene deployed Balor and Unownaut, then drew her swords. "I remember that cannon from five years ago. It mounted your Supreme Fragtank as its primary weapon."
"That last civil war cost me big time, more than you'd ever know. I ended up selling a lot of my weapons on the black market just to feed my people the following winter."
More turrets were appearing, some on the roof, some on ground level. Unownaut shifted to the side to avoid being annihilated by a piercing shell from the giant raingun.
No more time for gabbin'. "Watchmen, get inside, now! Find Pierce! We'll take care of things here!"
Gardenoir drew out her greatscythe from empty air. "My if I chip in, ladies? I'm here for a reason as well, and I've not leaving this place until I'm done."
In order to enter the building, the Watchmen used devices that destroyed the locks and forced the doors to open. Unfortunately, the doors didn't remain open.
"We're going to need to use all our Pokemon to force that door open again," Discord said. "Hell, we'll probably need even more assistance from outside."
"Bloody Rose to all Watchmen. Proceed with the mission as planned, and keep your eyes open for agent Granger. God knows what he's gotten himself into."

implies that Discord is inside as well, and I very much doubt she'd go inside alone.

So who, if anyone, is inside the facility but not part of one of the teams? Shizuka, Chizuru and Ricewood not counting.

[Bard The 5th LW]

I'll plan at some point.

It will consist of throwing murder at Gendom.

[Menarker]

Not really said but implied.

You did say in one of the discussion threads something along the lines that you'd make Rachel available for the Faynoc battle.

And this:

*See color text in post above*

implies that Discord is inside as well, and I very much doubt she'd go inside alone.

So who, if anyone, is inside the facility but not part of one of the teams? Shizuka, Chizuru and Ricewood not counting.

That presumably is incorrect.

See, the Watchmen got in because they used some sort of device that explosively opened the locks on the (first?) set of doors.
However, the doors didn't stay open, closing as the Watchmen went in. This meant that the ones who didn't make it through the door needed an alternative way to bust in. The suggestion being using the brute offensive force of pokemons to bust in, as Discord said. However, since the Watchmen already went inside and gone deeper in, Discord and everyone else has to wait for "outside assistance" since they don't have enough numbers of pokemons with the sort of brute force needed to get in.


That said, since AB didn't intend for us to have NPCs from outside, I guess that means our only choices for the DSS is presumably Lola/Melanie since everyone else will have either found an unclaimed spot (Like Violet and Jeanette for enforcer slots) or will not be partipicating (Elizabeth, according to you).

[Dracorion]

Are you for whatever reason implying that there's more than one set of doors and Discord is trapped in-between?

Because there's been no mention of such. Which means you're stupid.

Also, I didn't say Elizabeth wouldn't participate. She'll be available for the DSS, but we can only have one Engineer so we'd have to choose between her and Mirror.

[Menarker]

No, I didn't think Discord was trapped inside between doors. That would be stupid. But it's pretty weird that the locks would be blown open the first time and then "suddenly repaired" as the door closes.

ANYHOW, my main point is not about the locks but rather the lack of pokemon numbers within the outside force needed to open the door in the first place or so.

You said you might have to shaft Elizabeth, but having the option to choose her is nice.


Anyhow, does anyone have any thoughts for who we want for Engineer?

Mirror
+ Slayer type that resist poison and immune to poison status. Assuming Granx's presence.
+ Uses Stat boosters as opposed to Inhibitors which might be resisted by bosses.
+ Dusk Evolith can use Punishment which is incredibly powerful if anyone including bosses buff themselves.
- No pokemons and thus easier to directly attack.
- Her techniques do not stand out much or has too much randomness. Not very effective against bosses either.

Elizabeth
+ If we're fighting against other trainers, the ability to snag new pokemons will ensure she keeps a long stream of defenses as long as their happiness and the flow of enemy pokemons last.
+ Trainer Actions
+ Healing Dispenser
+ Psychic Evolith useful against Granx. (Since Evoliths don't actually have types, the steel one isn't immune to poison like steel type pokemons would.)
+ Inhibitors useful against mooks. (Although one could say that enhancers would be better in this situation)
- Inhibitors might be resisted by bosses/mechs?
- None of her base pokemons are likely to be particularly useful against Granx. Leprihare only has HM moves to attack with more than once (Strength and Rock Smash. Cut sucks serious ass). Sceptile weak to poison!
- Snagging is inherently luck based (don't know IF we'll encounter enemy pokemons, nevermind which types or if they have good movesets)


Which of her trainer actions does Elizabeth currently has access to? I'm under the impression is supposed to level up with each mission just like the rest of us.
Does she have a limit on Snagballs? Does she even have an inventory to carry them?

That said, I would choose Elizabeth in the final team. Also fitting since it's her debut and your side-quest to begin with. But even if that wasn't the case, several of her supporting abilities are really useful.

Uh... that said, I probably should avoid using Mollesk's Intrusion ability too much around her and Leprihare, since they might get some wild ideas in their heads. <_<;

[Dracorion]

Technically it was never said explosions were used to open the locks.

Just that some device destroyed the locks. And how the doors got closed afterwards, I'm thinking double doors in case of emergency. Like someone opening the first doors.

As for why not have the double doors active in the first place, because it'd be inconvenient to do so.

Also, I would like to point out that ALL the Evoliths are immune to poison by virtue of being mechanical attribute.

I dunno which Trainer Actions Elizabeth has access to. She gets them in the order they're listed on her profile. Check her upgrades to see how many she has available now.

[Menarker]

I meant Poison as in ATTACK TYPE. Yes, they are all immune to the poison STATUS. But none of them, not even the steel evoliths would be immune to the poison type attacks like Sludge Bomb or what not.

Kinda like how poison type pokemons can't be poisoned but they can be hurt by poison types moves (although not very effective unless the pokemon they are hitting are also grass types, thus making it neutral at best.)


Anyhow, I guess the rest of the group has to choose between:

Elizabeth and Mirror
Lola and Melanie

The rest of the NPCs are lucky enough to have just enough empty slots to fit them in.

My votes, as said repeatably is Elizabeth and Lola.

[Dracorion]

There's a reason everyone's ignored your constant defence of Lola so far.

[Menarker]

*Shrug* I already said I have heavy preference toward Lola, no hiding that. But as already mentioned above in post 99, I already gave reasons as to why I felt she was the better option. I just don't see any discussion from anyone else, which I'm inviting. Unless it is silently implied that you all agree with what I'm saying and just wished I'd shut up about it.

"Yes Yes, we agree on Lola! GET ON WITH IT!!!"

I'm just trying to see what's the concensus is regarding the DSS for the final battle. Since you said recently that Elizabeth is an option, I went and elaborates the difference between her and Mirror. Inviting discussion for that if anyone thinks otherwise.


^^ Bard, just out of curiousity, have you ever watched Reservoir Dogs? Charlotte strikes me very much to be like Mr. Blonde. ^^

[Bard The 5th LW]

I've heard it a bunch of times, but I really know nothing about it. Might look it up some time.

Edit: http://oi54.tinypic.com/2zoviw2.jpg

[Menarker]

... you certainly made it pretty horrible now...

Any luck with your planning?