Pokemon Umbral Theatre 17: Happy Year's End Gratitude!

[Geminex]

The thing is, there are no battle transitions here. Combat and plot don't happen in two separate spaces.

What the...
Of course they do!
I mean jesus!
Everything from the fact that trainers limit themsevles to 2 pokemon, over the concept of 'free actions', over the fact that our characters get exponentially stronger as we progress through missions, over item limits, over the very concept of "rage", over the lack of PC death... I could go on.
But fuck, man. This RP is arbitrary as shit. Gameplay is fun. And plot is fun. But this is about 50 threads too late to start insisting that the two be in sync.

And look, I'm not even asking you to let me be arbitrary. I told you, I'd provide a satisfactory explanation. That is all you can ask for. I'm in the clear gameplay-wise, I'll explain it away plot-wise.

Alternative is that I buff Impact to compensate for the loss of his relationship tech. Pick a new one, I guess.

[Dracorion]

Yeah, that's one thing I can't explain.

But then again, it's part of what makes this Pokemon.

Sure, shoot me your explanation. I make no promises, though.

And hey, I still say you can ask AB. I'm not saying this because I know he's busy these days, I don't have a problem with waiting before he can respond. And I'll abide by what he says.

EDIT: Also, you can always be like Charlotte who has no Relationship-Tech.

[Geminex]

Look, it doesn't matter what AB says. Or, well, it does, because what he says goes.

But this is simple. Either plot doesn't affect gameplay. That's the way it has always, always been before.

Or we start intermingling plot and gameplay. And then remodify gameplay to provide balance.

My suggestion is this: Impact opens a line to Rayleen, sends her the battle info, asks her for tactical advice. She gives it. The end.
Or he could just channel her spirit, if you prefer. I'll even find some quotes to zip through his subconciousness to demonstrate how she's with him in spirit.

Or, like I said, I buff Impact. Probably I'd just remove CCC, instead give him a technique called 'Veni, Vidi, Vici', which lets all enforcers use an extra attack for 15 rage per enforcer. Y'know, like CCC. As an additional effect, Impact can let Rayleen or Irene support him when using said technique, splitting the cost between them. Y'know, like CCC. Unlike CCC, absence of Rayleen or Irene can't prevent use of said technique, thank god. It'd count as a signature technique, but Impact can choose it instead of his first relationship technique.

I'll even throw in a paragraph where Impact discards his old reliance on Rayleen in favor of using solely his own intellect. That'll make it allright plot-wise. And if anyone has gameplay objections, they can shove them where the sun does not shine.

How about that?

I mean seriously, I can't believe we're arguing over pedantic bullshit like this. This is not DM behavior. If you go through with this, you're hurting the RP in favor of plot shit nobody cares about.

[Dracorion]

Yeah, well, it's not like I don't keep saying that I'm a horrible GM.

It doesn't help that I want to point out the flaws in your suggestions, either.

But AB appointed me temp GM and I'll fulfill that role to the best of my ability. It's not that I'm not open to your opinions, it's that you've utterly failed to convince me. I mean, hell, I'm fairly certain AB's mentioned what I've been saying about this before.

So yeah. I'm putting my foot down and you can be angry about it and ask AB if you want.

Or hell, I will. AB, can Impact use C,C&C, you know, his Signature Sequence with Rayleen, right now?

For that matter, can Signature Sequences be used at all when one of the people involved should be logically physically unable to participate? Like, pretend Lola wasn't in Impact's team right now and Lola was instead outside Millenium House with the rest of the Watchmen. Could Renny still use Prosperous Gifts?

I mean, God, I was trying to show like leadership and confidence and shit by putting my foot down, but I'm really just not sure about this.

[Geminex]

How have I failed to convince you?
There is literally no reason to do this, other than you saying 'No'. Seriously. I mean, put it this way. If Impact used CCC normally, what would be bad about that? As far as I know, AB didn't have Rayleen disappear in order to weaken Impact. The GM doesn't want Impact weakened. There's no gameplay reason for Impact to be weakened. The only reason is plot-related, but that's entirely insubstantial. Even if you don't like that one explanation, there are others. And the only reason any of them are unsatisfactory is because you're saying they are. Why are you saying that? I have no fucking clue. It's arbitrary, it's pointless, it's not turning this into a better RP. Just outline your moviations, will you?


And what's up with AB anyway? I thought this was supposed to be temporary?

[Dracorion]

Well I'm pretty sure it was implied that was how Signature Sequences were going to be since they were implemented. But, no real reason why not.

There's nothing bad about Pierce having all the bitches, either!

But meh. While we wait for AB to respond, what the hell, Impact can use C,C&C once per turn. I still think he shouldn't, but whatever.

And I dunno about AB. I think it was only supposed to be while he's camped out in Westfuckistan, but I forget how long that way supposed to last.

By the way, I hope you realize that now I'm going to have Impact spend the rest of the battle knocked out as revenge.

[Geminex]

Well, Pierce having all the bitches would leave very few bitches for the rest of us. That would make us very sad.

Look, even if you were right, that'd simply equate to Impact getting a nerf due to Rayleen's absence. To balance that, we'd have to buff him. And I'd buff him by just giving him the same technique over again. What is the fuckmothering point?

Also, did the rest of us get a say in the whole DM thing?
I mean, you're driving the story well, and combat's good. But there's no reason for you to be handling rules decisions just because it's your sidequest.

[Dracorion]

Yep, there's a very real possibility I overstepped my boundaries and took GM too literally.

I do believe there was a small discussion at which point AB said "Dracorion's in charge" and here we are.

[Geminex]

Indeed. Good to know.
I hope it won't become necessary to use that knowlege. : )

Anyway, plan again. No huge changes, really. Bit more risk, but eh. That's what makes it fun, am I right?

And I'm hoping that the equivalent of 9 130-power attacks is enough to kill a grunt. Y'know. Or else.

Impact: CCC
Whitney: Sunny Day
Volbeat: Helping Hand Renny
Kurika: Devils dance on Sergeant B
Lola: Attack booster on Renny, Special attack booster on Impact
Impact: Flamethrower on Footsoldier C. Stats bonus, plus STAB, Super effective, weather, helping hand give him an effective multiplier of 9, on top of a 130 power attack
Renny: Pokebrid action, reduce Foot Soldier B defense by 1 stage.
Renny: Paradigm Shift, Psycho cut on Foot Soldier B: Stats are effectively triple, Plus Stab, plus super effective attack, plus helping hand on top of a 70 power attack
Togekiss: Heat Wave on Foot Soldier A and Engineer A
Mirror: Build 2 Fire evoliths. Both use eruption on Foot Soldier A and Engineer B.
Mirror: Ground Cluster on Health Fountain. If that's not vulnerable, hit Foot Soldier C. If C's dead, hit B.
Impact: Use Stamina boost, hit Medic with Flamethrower.

Also, I found Impact's theme song.

Also also, dibs on making the next thread.
Again, or else.

[Menarker]

Drac, you're not a GM to decide how the rules are made. That is solely AB's domain as the one who runs the setting.

Your job as sub-GM (as far as I see it) is to keep the game running and to enforce the rules that AB already ruled on. I'm perfectly willing to listen to whatever interpretions you may have about the rules, but I take any such interpretions as if they came from me, Gem, Bard or Dante. As interpretions from a fellow player. Especially when the rules are not specific to your quest alone, but to the entire premise of the game in general, including after your character specific mission.

Thus, in regards to how Love-Techs operate and such, I pretty much insist that these things should be high-lighted for AB to rule upon.

My personal viewpoint with lovetechs is that each PC characters are capable of performings these actions on their own. Impact is very tactical, even without Rayleen. Renny is very dutiful about supporting and helping people, even without Lola. Pierce is a great combatant even without Chizuru. Having these love-partners who are also compatible with their respective strengths just enables them to do these techniques with more grace, skill and flair than normal.
Or as Renny would say it, these techniques may have been learned BECAUSE of their interaction with these specific characters. Lola TAUGHT Renny how to use items like these because of her skill as a medic. Rayleen TAUGHT Impact how to be even more of a leader than he was. The absence of these characters doesn't mean that the PCs suddenly is unable to do it, or that they haven't personally developed by their interactions with said specific character.

That is how I see it. ^^

EDIT: Oh, I see you kinda ninjaed what I intended to say.