Pokemon Umbral Theatre 4: Dedicated to Cosplaying Pokemon Trainers Part 2

[Astral Harmony]

PM it to Geminex. That's all I'll say.

[Dracorion]

Seems to me like someone's abusing Geminex's good heart so he can slack off.

Wait a minute, Gem doesn't have a good heart, nevermind.

HEY GEM, COMMENT ON MY PROPOSED SNAGGED POKEMON HAPPINESS SYSTEM.

[Geminex]

*hiss*
Almost. Almost.
I don't like this one:

5) If the Attacker uses an Improved Critical move, add +2 to crit stage.

How about:

1) All attackers start at stage 1.
2) The percentages incrementally starting at 1 is 6.25%, 12.5%, 25%, 33%, 50%, 66%.
3) If the Attacker wins the Speed Clash, add +2 to crit stage.
4) If the Attacker wins the Speed Clash with double the speed of the defender, the bonus is +3 instead.
5) All other boosts to Crit stage adds +1
6) Without speed buffs, crit can reach stage 3 at max.
6) Two types of crit: Standard and Massive
7) Standard crits deal only double damage
8) Massive crits deal double damage and ignore enemy buffs and own debuffs
9) Massive crits can only be dealt by using an improved crit move (which raise crit by one stage and allow massive crits) or by having the ability super luck (which upgrades all crits to massive crits)

That a good compromise? It lets speedsters dominate crit-for-damage, and lets crit specialists use crit in a more tactical way.

Edit: Happiness system, good lord. Doesn't seem utterly horrible, though it'll have to get a full makeover. What bonuses were you thinking of? And what "number" would pokemon start on?

[Dracorion]

Originally Posted by Geminex

Edit: Happiness system, good lord. Doesn't seem utterly horrible, though it'll have to get a full makeover. What bonuses were you thinking of? And what "number" would pokemon start on?

Well, I proposed having them start at 5 happiness. Though, any low number will do.

Really, I was just giving an idea I thought would work. I would balance it myself, too, except I'm not good when it comes to balancing numbers.

Partly the reason why I'm staying out the crit debate, really. The other is that you and Menarker have really fucked it up.

Anyway, for bonuses, I was thinking the highest should be about as powerful as a trainer action. Basically, little rewards to give the Snagger for making their Snagged pokemon happy. Like I suggested: damage reduction, random stat boosts, healing or regeneration. Stuff like that.

[Menarker]

How about no? Double damage is THE major key feature of Crits. We barely see anyone (especially the foes) use buffs moves due to all the ganging up we do, with my Mollesk only being the exception because his stats are so darn high to start with and thus can survive in the first place. Taking the main reason why crit is useful away from other pokemons seem WAY WAY WAY too much to me. Also, limiting the higher levels of crit to only speed types? Also WAY too much.

The +2 to crit rate is so that slower pokemons who are more inclined to use crit moves (the ones I kept on saying are crit specialists) have a chance of equaling speed types who don't have the overwhelming advantage. A speed type who happens to have a crit move or having the overwhelming speed advantage would still has the advantage.

With the most recent system I proposed, the speed type still has the advantage in terms of how often they can crit, but it doesn't take away from the other pokemons whom were supposed to be encouraged to crit in the first place due to the abilities or moves they gain.

In fact, let me make a chart again with the one I was saying we should do the test on:

"Crit users"
Start at 1
Assume losing the speed clash
Crit move +2
Item +1
End result: 4

"Speed types"
Start at 1
Speed Boost victory most of the time: Assume +2
Item: +1
Assuming no crit move.
End Result: 4

It's balanced and equal (since choosing to equip the item is easy enough and no randomness there).

Now, if the crit specialist wins the speed boost (presumably against a slow foe), then he gets to +5. If the speed user happens to have a crit move, that's +5. If the speed pokemon happens to have overwhelming advantage in the speed clash, that's +6.

There is more or less a sort of balance which still rewards speed types (rewards both really), is simpler, and effective.

Otherwise, maybe the damage should be reduced, so you need to have a massive crit to do 2.0x more damage, otherwise, it only does 1.5x more damage on a standard crit.

So basically, either keep things the way I proposed it recently...

or

Crit moves only have +1, but standard crits only does 1.5x more damage and have that buff ignore thing, while massive crits like improved crit moves have the 2.0x damage and buff ignore.

[Geminex]

the ones I kept on saying are crit specialists

Which ones? Seriously, which crit specialists are there? Which pokemon has more than a minor focus on getting crits? Where do you see that they are "supposed" to crit? And how do they outweigh the relevance of speed-users?

It's balanced and equal

Yes. That's the problem. High speed is a far greater investment than using a fucking crit move. It rewards "crit specialists" as much as it rewards speedsters, despite the fact that the former are investing a lot less into speed. It's fair and balanced, which, in this case, IS A BAD THING.

Y'know what? Let's make this an ultimatum, I love them so. I think that neither of us seems particularly willing to give in, me because I'm convinced your way disadvantages speed users, you, because you're probably worried about your precious Mollesk, and whatever strategies you have planned for your pokeshift.

Unless you suddenly find yourself willing to agree with me, I propose this:
Speed gets eliminated
1/4 of each pokemon's speed gets added to their attack, defense, sp. attack, sp. defense. We'll be removing quite a bit of complexity from the game, but hell, you don't mind that, do you? As long as Mollesk is allright and whatever "crit specialists" you so seem to care about.

[Dracorion]

Okay, seriously, Gem, if you're going to devolve this into personal attacks I suggest taking your discussion to PMs.

That goes to you too, Menarker.

I mean, you two have to realize there's something wrong with both of you if I have to tell you to quit it.

[Menarker]

Dude, I got Mollesk, but I also got Shaymin who stands to gain a lot from the entire speed thing with her having one of the highest speeds on the team. I benefit either way.

As for crit users, I mean the ones with combination of stuff like Focus Energy, multiple improved crit moves in their level up move pool or breeding or TM, Sniper or Super Luck as well as decent power to attack with, typically only lacking speed because the game balance means that if they crit too often and always hit first, the foe would never get the chance to attack back and hopefully knock them out before getting sweeped in one critical hit each time.

I propose this slightly modified version.

1) All attackers start at stage 1.
2) The percentages incrementally starting at 1 is 6.25%, 12.5%, 25%, 33%, 50%, 66%.
3) If the Attacker wins the Speed Clash, add +2 to crit stage.
4) If the Attacker wins the Speed Clash with double the speed of the defender, the bonus is +3 instead.
5) All other boosts to Crit stage adds +1
6) Two types of crit: Standard and Massive
7) Standard crits deal only double damage
8) Massive crits deal double damage and ignore enemy buffs and own debuffs
9) Massive crits can only be dealt by using an improved crit move (which raise crit by one stage and allow massive crits) or by having the ability super luck (which upgrades all crits to massive crits)

Basically, all I removed was one of your number 6 rules which limited level 4 and higher to speed only. (Odd that you had two rule number 6)

And I fail to see where I said anything that could be taken as a personal attack that recently.

[Dracorion]

I'm not saying you did.

I'm saying if you were planning to, you should take it to PMs.

Seriously, fuck. From now on I'm going to have to take part in these debates, much as I hate it, because goddamn I am not putting up with the two of you again.

[Menarker]

Well, as much as I don't like Gem issuing that ultimatum and accusing me of not caring for the system when I'm putting a lot of effort and thought into the entire topic, the fact that Gem is actually elaborating his points instead of refusing to respond is a bit of an improvement to how he was before.