Pokémon Umbral ~ Ruinous Origins: Signups, Q&A, Nekkid Pillow Fights...

[Geminex]

I'll be going slayer.

Though I admit, I'm mildly disappointed. I had been hoping to use M16s and RPGs against Dragonites... Alas, it was not to be...
Would it be possible to get one or two "standard" weapons (like, say, hanguns, M16s, RPGs, Anti-Air rockets (stingers)) and then fewer elemental weapons?

Also, regarding pokemon's moves...
I actually would recommend that each pokemon has a free "natural" move. Said move would let the pokemon in question use whatever powers it has in a very basic manner. Like Alakazam using telekinesis to, say, influence the flight path of a pokeball or charmander setting a piece of wood alight. The attack itself wouldn't be powerful or do much damage, but it'd simply be utilitarian.

I'll edit this with my profile once it's done.

[batgirl]

I'm thinking about this, but I really only know the 151 originals and a few others, so I don't know how good I'd be for this rp. My pokemon knowledge is many years old.

[Astral Harmony]

Armored Explains It All! ~ Part 2:

Q 1: Would it be possible to get one or two "standard" weapons (like, say, handguns, M16s, RPGs, Anti-Air rockets (stingers)) and then fewer elemental weapons?

A 1: "Okay there, Rambo. I thought about military-grade weaponry, but decided that if someone wanted to just deal Normal type damage (as those weapons you just mentioned would), then they might as well strike the enemy with the butt of their equipment or punch 'em or something. Besides, it's not really part of the plot or anything, but thanks to the raw combat potential of Pokémon (not to mention their deployability in many environments where guns just wouldn't help at all), there hasn't been a whole lot of call for standard guns anywhere you look. Additionally, you can expect to see the guys armed with those weapons occasionally dying left and right from Pokémon they were not prepared to face down, which would add to the atmosphere. Just imagine the kinds of havoc a Salamence can wreak on a squad of dumbasses with M-16s. Then you'll wish you had your Liquid Helium Launcher."

Q 2: I actually would recommend that each pokemon has a free "natural" move. Said move would let the pokemon in question use whatever powers it has in a very basic manner. Like Alakazam using telekinesis to, say, influence the flight path of a pokeball or charmander setting a piece of wood alight. The attack itself wouldn't be powerful or do much damage, but it'd simply be utilitarian.

A 2: "Menarker and I discussed this in the threads already (twice, I think) and I said okay. The difference between what I said and what you're asking is that I'm not going to make it a free move, just a free modification of the Pokémon's moves in its moveset. Additionally, if I'm thinking what you're thinking, then it's all a matter of balance in the end. Pokémon have a lot of things that Slayers and Pokébrids lack, and I had to do a lot of thinking just to create a balance. If I give Pokémon any more (like allowing a Misdreavus to possess and levitate a coffee table, then throw it at someone), I'll probably have to give the Slayers an Instant Kill Katana and the Pokébrids the ability to communicate with Pokémon or something just to keep those two classes appealing. Which I could, but I really don't want to. You're all powerful enough as is."

"Besides, I'm reserving all the really cool powers for my Pokémon."

Q 3: My pokemon knowledge is many years old.

A 3: "That's perfectly fine. Much of the information you'll need to play here will only need to be learned piece by piece. Aside from the moves and the Dark and Steel types, I don't think Pokémon has drifted from its basic roots. And there's various sources of information throughout the net that provide exactly what you're asking at any given time."

[Bard The 5th LW]

Charlotte- General InfoName: Charlotte Beaufort

Alias: Madame Ursurang

Age: 29

Gender: Female

Class: Trainer

Pokémon Registry: (moveset may be subject to change)

Arcanine (Buck)-Intimidate
Giga Impact/ Extreme Speed

Iron Tail/ FireFang

FireBlast/ Dragon Pulse

Houndoom (Sol-leks)-Flash Fire
Dark Pulse/ OverHeat

Nasty Plot/ FireBlast

Iron Tail/ Swift

Teslahound (Pike)-Static/ Rerouted
Discharge/ Thunder

Ice Fang/ Bite

Mightyena (Spitz)-Intimidate
Theif/ Super Fang

Iron Tail/ dig


Aerodactyl -(Hammond)

Dragon Claw/ Iron Tail

Stone Edge/ Sky Attack

Arceus (Dragon)

Judgement/ X-Scissor

Shadow Ball/ Blizzard

Appearance: Charlotte is about 6 feet tall, and is rather pale. Her hair is dark brown, and hangs loose to about her shoulders, and her eyes are a dark shade of blue. That She wears a very long fur-coat, reaching to about her knees. She likes to claim that she made the coat herself after having Buck kill an Ursurang. There has yet to be any confirmation on this, but no one entirely doubts it. Her story is also supported by the Ursurang crescent on the back of the coat. Aside from the coat, she also wears black leather pants. Is she attractive? That's subject to opinion. As in, it depends on your view of the sadistic.

Backstory: Charlotte used to be one of the bad guys. She was an enforcer gang who ran a city far up North. In fact, she was a part of this gang for quite awhile, and she did some pretty mean things while working for them. She beat people up, smashed things apart, and would occasionally sick the hounds on them. Her bosses saw her ruthlessness as a good trait in an employee. Unfortunately, he failed to realize it could be a bad trait in an employee to. Eventually, an investigation team offered to make a deal with Charlotte; a decent amount of money and an opportunity to work with an investigation team if she helped them take down the gang. She decided that she was better off on the side of the law in the situation, and agreed right then and there. Her former co-workers were dead the next day, and her boss had a suspiciously large bite wound. To be expounded upon.

Personality: Charlotte is rather laid back and sarcastic most of the time. Although there are moments, particularly in battle, where Charlotte can show herself to be very malicious and bloodthirsty. It is during these moments that she can reveal herself to be rather unstable Huge Bitch Bluh Bluh

---

Revenard DataName: Revenard
Type: Steel/Ghost
Ability: Rough Skin- inflicts damage equal to 1/8 of the opponents health upon contact.

Appearance
Height: 6 ft
Weight: 200 lbs.
Renard is an eerie and unsettling figure. It bears a resemblance towards a silver fox, although is much larger. Upon further inspection, its fur seems to be made of metal and and also stands out like spikes, and they can be cut upon very easily. On his forehead however, his hair forms a completely black crescent moon. Revenard's eyes take a steely blue color, and always seem alert. It also seems to be incapable of making sound, and has no verbal cry. Its breathing is peculiar to, as it shows no outward signs of taking in air.

Stats:
HP:130
Attack: 150
Defense: 120
SP. Attack: 70
SP. Defense: 110
Speed: 100
Total: 680

Co-op technique 1: Future ShockCo-op Technique (Hammond and Pike)
Future Shock: Hammond circles the nearby skies and repeated uses stone edge, forming a ring around the foes in battle. Using the metals within the stones, Pike unleashed a discharge into them, leaving the entire ring a cage of scattered and jumping electricity, which then finds its way towards foes.
Effect: Moderate electric damage is done to all foes from the Discharge. Allies are unharmed. An electric version of Fire Spin effects enemies for 2-5 turns. 50% chance of paralysis upon initial attack.
Rage Points: 70/100

Sol-leks personal itemEye-Patch of Power
Description: Poor, poor Sol-Leks. Long ago, in a bad scrap against a certain Mightyena, the old dog lost and eye. He won the battle, but he is scarred forever. He presses on though, nothing gets him down, he's just to tough. His determination is terrifying, and strikes fear into his enemies. Its as though he is something unnatural, something to be avoided. This eye-patch, a badge of what he has gone through, only testifies to this, and amplifies the effect on foes.
Effect: Whenever Sol-leks lands a damaging attack upon an enemy, there is a 40% chance of that foe flinching, despite the attack. There is also a 30% chance of the targets Morale integrity falling by a small amount.

Revenard's custom attack.Name: Spectral Claw
Type: Ghost/physical
Power: 80
Description: Revenard maneuvers and makes his way to the foe, and sinks his teeth into the foe. Damage doesn't seem terrible at first, but the foe will shortly after feel a sharp drop in vitality, despite the wound being rather ignorable. In addition, Revenard seems to be more energized, and some of his wounds begin to fade away.
Effects: The foe takes physical ghost damage, and 1/3 of the damage done is added to Revenard's HP.

Trainer Actions and Teslahound.

Trainer Action: Kick the Dog

Exactly what the name implies. Charlotte physically attacks her own pokemon to encourage them to do better or else. Once it is in effect, there are three stat boosts to attribute to either Speed, Attack, or Special Attack, but 1/4 of that pokemon's HP is lost.

Trainer Action: CAUGHT ON TAPE!

Little known fact: Evidence helps give you a worse sentence, not that we even arrest people anymore. Using her camera, Charlotte can get all of your crimes committed in just one match on tape. Maybe major enemies won't care, but it would be disconcerting for your face to be caught on tape for future reference if your just aa henchman. For 5 turns, any drop in enemy morale is increased by 20%.

MANETRIC'S EVOLUTION!

Name: Teslahound (Pike)

Appearance: The vibrant blue and yel fades, becoming a pale green and lighter gray. The shoulder blades on the forelegs grow long and stick upwards, electricity jolting around them. His forehead points more directly backwards rather than forwards, and in general he's of a larger stature.

Stats:

HP: 95
Attack: 85
Defense:80
Sp. Attack: 130
Sp. Defense: 100
Speed: 110

TOTAL: 600

Jeremy and Role of FateName: Jeremiah *REDACTED*

Alias: Lucky 7

Age: 38

Gender: Male

Class: Slayer

Specialty: Enforcer

Weapon: Low key gambling items: Dice and Cards. Also carries a revolver painted like a roullete wheel

Slayer Attacks: Wild Card (spade= dark, heart= fire, club=fighting, diamond=rock). Dice Roll (a random chance between Ghost, psychic, electric, dragon, grass, & Ice). Revolver (Steel).

Slayer Defenses: Steel, Fighting, Dark, Immune to poison


Signature Sequence
Roll of Fate: Jeremy rolls an odd blue dice with an etheric glow as another team-mate begins an attack. This glow then extends to whatever attack was happening at the moment, possibly amplifying it to great extents, or causing awful drawbacks.
Effect: A 6 sided dice is rolled. The damage of the attack is then amplified by whatever the roll was. If it was a 6, then 6x damage. If the dice lands on a 1 however, then it is turned right around on the attacker, automatically flinching them.
Consumes 40/100 Rage Points.

Passive abilities- Possession Link ~ When Charlotte's Rage >= 70, choose a target. 50% chance of Domination, 50% chance of maintaining Domination on subsequent turns as long as Charlotte's Rage >= 70. If Charlotte chooses a different target, the original target is no longer dominated.

Temporary ReplacementsVenosaur (Monty) - Overgrow

Petal Dance/ Synthesis

Giga Drain/ Grass knot

Sleep Powder/ Sludge Bomb

Rotom (Peeves) - Levitate. Grass form. Equipped with Light Clay.

Thunderbolt/ Light Screen

Thunder/ Thunder Wave

Leaf Storm/ Charge

Spitz, veteran statsSpitz, new stats
HP: 90 (20 point increase)
Attack: 120 (30 point increase)
Defense: 90 (20 point increase)
Special Attack: 60 (0 point increase)
Special Defense: 80 (20 point increase)
Speed: 100 (30 point increase)

[Menarker]

Question!

How long do the effects of buffs last? I could imagine someone with a Scizor using Double Team and Sword Dance to the max before encountering a foe/being deployed, making it a potential monster. (Not that it bugs me either way. I would probably pre-buff too if the situation allowed me to do so favorably.)

[batgirl]

Placeholder for a Pokébrid, probably a Houndoom, but I want to do some reading first. Need to bone up on my Pokéknowledge.

[Geminex]

Originally Posted by Armored Bishoujo

Armored Explains It All! ~ Part 2:

Q 1: Would it be possible to get one or two "standard" weapons (like, say, handguns, M16s, RPGs, Anti-Air rockets (stingers)) and then fewer elemental weapons?

A 1: "Okay there, Rambo. I thought about military-grade weaponry, but decided that if someone wanted to just deal Normal type damage (as those weapons you just mentioned would), then they might as well strike the enemy with the butt of their equipment or punch 'em or something. Besides, it's not really part of the plot or anything, but thanks to the raw combat potential of Pokémon (not to mention their deployability in many environments where guns just wouldn't help at all), there hasn't been a whole lot of call for standard guns anywhere you look. Additionally, you can expect to see the guys armed with those weapons occasionally dying left and right from Pokémon they were not prepared to face down, which would add to the atmosphere. Just imagine the kinds of havoc a Salamence can wreak on a squad of dumbasses with M-16s. Then you'll wish you had your Liquid Helium Launcher."

[/COLOR]

Point taken... though sadly, disappointment also growing. This feels like something that's based too strongly on the game, with rules and movesets and stats and strengths and weaknesses. It's taking the pokemon world and adding some neat new ideas, as opposed to taking our world, bending the rules of physics a little and treating pokemon as actual animals, not as manifestations of stats and number. Water shouldn't deal extra damage against charizard because Charizard's fire type, but because it can extinguish the flame on its tail. And why should bullets do any less damage to Chari, as long as you hit it in the eyes or face?

To say it a different way:

I was hoping for:

"Geminex rounded the corner, gun in hand, moving quickly. The mansion around him burned, but that had been expected, what with all the fire pokemon around. What had been unexpected was the Electrode pokebrid that used explosion as soon as their team burst into the room. And it had all gone to hell from there. One minute he was firing off high-pressure blasts of water at Flareons, the next his head was ringing, vision was unfocused, radio was dead and the only weapon he had at his disposal was his M-16. And to make things worse, he had come across a Charizard, which had not been pleased at all. The only things that had saved him from its fire blast had been non-incendiary armor and hitting it in the chest with his gun-mounted grenade laucher. It had been stunned for a second, he had turned tail, and was now searching for the rest of his team. Of course, he could hear that bloody great dragon behind him, and while he had survived the fire blast his right leg has suffered burns, probably second degree. He stumbled as he ran/limped along the corridor, fell, and let out a yell of pain as a piece of burning ceiling fell right next to his already burnt leg. He hadn't known how accurate Charizard's hearing was, but apparently it was quite good, since as he was getting up a whitish-yellow beam sliced though the wall and kept on going, piercing the area where his chest would have been, had he not fallen.

What I'm afraid I'd be getting:
"Charizard used fire Blast! It's not very effective..."
"Geminex used grenade launcher! Critical hit!"
"Charizard used hyper beam! But it missed!"

...
Ok, that's vastly simplified, but do you sort of get my point? One has real-world rules, applied to pokemon, while the other transports our characters into the game world...

That having been said, while I'd prefer the former over the latter, I'd be entirely willing to play either, and really am not trying to criticize you personally, only your ideas.

You have found this informative.
That will be all.

[Menarker]

Out of curiousity, is there any rule against using Smergle, the pokemon that can practically learn any move via sketching? (If allowed to use it, I'll keep in mind not to select moves that only can be found on legendary pokemon, thus keeping with the rule of no legendary pokemon use.)

I'm also assuming that Mind-Reader + Sheer Cold would probably be rejected. :3

[DanteFalcon]

Name: Matthias Sona
Alias: Oberon
Age:22
Gender:Male
Class: Pokebrid
Pokémon Registry: Venomoth (Shield Dust)
Appearance: He has gained a somewhat faerie appearance, with the large purple/pink wings growing out of his back. (Would flying be allowed or would that be reserved for his paradigm shift if at all?)He also has the 3 horn-like antennae and somewhat creepily the fangs just barely showing from his upper lip. (more to be added here but that's the majority of his appearance change. Might be a slight discoloration as well)

Gained a castform form. All 4 of those appearances are editted in here.

Matthias: Castform appearance (All 4 of its forms)

Normal: His eyes have widened and become large, beady and black. The skin on his body has turned gray except around his eyes which have a sunglasses effect (the skin being a pale white). As he walks occasionally a small cloud forms from the top of his head before dissipating.

Sun (Fire): His skin turns orange/red and a series of orange orbs encircle his head. No longer leaves clouds in his wake though his eyes stay the same.

Hail (Ice): Skin turns purple and a windstorm kicks up around him. Doesn't have any real affect other then making it slightly awkward to stand near him due to debris.

Rain (Water): Head changes to a teardrop shape and appears to be a solidified drop of water.

Porygon-Z form gained: Ability: Download

Appearance: Matthias's arms and legs have all turned light blue, but as of this point color changes are practically second nature. However his entire body has become smoothed out and is now somewhat reflective, almost as if he was completely wrapped in plastic. His eyes have also changed into the appearance of bulls-eyes.

Synch Techs:
Venomoth (Matthias) [Powder Punishment] ~ Uses Disable, Toxic, Supersonic, Stun Spore, and Sleep Powder on the target with 100% effectiveness. Need to rid yourself of a threat but couldn't possibly do so by killing it? Try this move and see if you don't fuck 'em up royally.
- Castform (Matthias) [Forecast Shift] ~ Takes control of the weather and allows it to be whatever Matthias wants it to be. Got a sandstorm you don't want and wish Sunny Day was in effect? This is your move. Oh, and you can still use a move in that turn! Turn the tables on the environment and on your opponent.
- Porygon Z Synchronization Technique: ZOMGH4X!!1! - Transforms into digital information and hacks into the target mechanical unit for 3 turns. Able to use their moves like he has always been that unit. This extends to Engineer devices (exempting Evoliths), mechanical Pokemon like an enemy Magnezone, and various vehicles and powered armors. Against mechanical bosses, he can disable certain moves (like Cerulean Wildfire's plasmathrowers) but otherwise cannot control them directly.

Backstory / Personality: Matthias was almost always the quiet one. He preferred to listen, watch, learn and when the moment came to mislead to be the one to do the misleading. That isn't to say that he didn't have a strong sense of what he believed to be right or wrong, he just preferred more subtle ways to turn the tide. Hence why he chose Venomoth to cross his DNA. Psychic and Poison attacks were the perfect thing to enhance his tactics. He joined with law enforcement for the simple fact that it's much easier to be subtle when you have others to do the brunt of the manual labor.

[Astral Harmony]

Armored Explains It All! ~ Part 3:

Well, before I explain it all, lemme go ahead and say that Naqel is approved.

BardTheFifthLightWarrior is approved, but watch out for Ground types. Three of your Pokémon share that weakness. Fortunately, your Manetric has that Ice Fang to save your skin.

And DanteFalcon is in.

Now on to the questions!

Q1: How long do the effects of buffs last? ~ Menarker

A1: "Battles, while freeform, will still be relatively separated. Buffs and debuffs will fall after each battle is decided. Additionally, if you happen to get the drop on your opponent, your Pokémon will buff itself once for every buff it has and debuff the target(s) for every debuff it has. The reverse is possible as well."

Q2: Geminex says a lot of stuff. ~ Geminex

A2: "I definitely see where you're coming from, and, since nobody has set up a Slayer profile yet, why don't we just do that?"

"Okay, here's the changes: all Slayers have been granted a free sidearm. A simple handgun. Other weapons you mentioned or could mention are now available, but you will need to sacrifice room for the weapons already listed to use them. It should be simple enough that I won't have to create a list. Basically, guns that can be used with one hand are Light weapons, weapons that aren't heavy but require two hands to establish firm control, like assault rifles and heavy machineguns, will be Medium weapons. Everything that requires some strength just to wield, like a rocket launcher or anti-air missile rack, will be Heavy weapons. In the story, just tell where you're aiming and I'll see if you get that lucky shot in the eyes. I hope we're all happy with this. I'd hate to hafta settle this over a Pokémon battle."

Q3: Is there any rule against using Smergle, the pokemon that can practically learn any move via sketching? ~ Menarker

A3: "Sure, that'll work. But just know that I'm resisting a strong urge to have you fight a Smergle before you learn any moves that way. Then what're you gonna do? Sketch his Sketch?"

Q4: I'm also assuming that Mind-Reader + Sheer Cold would probably be rejected. :3 ~ Menarker...urge to kill rising...

A4: "Wow, I didn't know about instant kill moves in Pokémon until I looked those moves up. Tell ya what, Menarker. If the target Pokémon is weak against Ice, then fine, you can instant kill that bastard in two turns."

(looks in her book)

"...And that's how I singlehandedly damned all Grass, Ground, Flying and Dragon types ever."

Q5: Would flying be allowed or would that be reserved for his paradigm shift if at all? ~ DanteFalcon

A5: "Man, this book (Official Pokémon Platinum Strategy Guide) is weird. Did you know that a pissant little flier like Zubat can use the HM Fly and a flightless bird like Dodrio can also learn it, but a Venomoth can't? Where's the justice in these games, people!? The goddamn Dodrio ain't even got wings for crying out friggin' loud! It's a freakin' three-headed ostrichy-flamingoey thing! Makes no effin' sense!"

...

"But I digress. Let's meet at the halfway point. A Pokébrid would have too heavy a body to use them effectively so let's just say you can glide. You can fly when you Paradigm Shift, however."