Pokémon General Discussion

[Magical Girl Mimi]

I'd like it, if it could also be used in combination with the return of the Vs Seeker, so that you could rebattle in-game trainers to hone your battle skills without having to have any losses recorded, or go through the Hax Facilities. =P

[The Host]

okay, that sounds fair enough, but smogon has better analysis's overall, with more explanations explaining team strategies. and because strategies often change, players would have to download updates to get more up to date strategies. also, an npc's team would need to change as well, because there's only so much you can do with a select team.

-zls

[Flipz]

I'd like it, if it could also be used in combination with the return of the Vs Seeker, so that you could rebattle in-game trainers to hone your battle skills without having to have any losses recorded, or go through the Hax Facilities. =P

Well, that's the thing--with strategies implemented, the Hax Facilities don't need to be so hax; instead, they use actual strategy to beat the stuffing out of you.    The Vs. Seeker definitely needs to make a comeback, but I'd also like to see a few "extra areas" on each route, the require more advanced HMs than the first time you come down.  I'm not talking about sending the player back and forth across the regions over and over again for story, I'm talking about bonus areas, where you take your new HM back to an old route to pick up a few extra items, and battle a few new Trainers along the way.

okay, that sounds fair enough, but smogon has better analysis's overall, with more explanations explaining team strategies. and because strategies often change, players would have to download updates to get more up to date strategies. also, an npc's team would need to change as well, because there's only so much you can do with a select team.

-zls

1.) Serebii was the first thing that came to mind, that's all.  Besides, I'm actually kinda unfamiliar with actual strategies and stuff, since I can't play Pokemon on wi-fi.
2a.) Well, constant updates wouldn't really be needed. Keep in mind, this would be implemented in Gen VI, so it would take quite some time for new strategies and revisions of old strategies to be invented and to come into play.  Thus, for the in-game Trainers of the first two installments, strategies only slightly tailored to Gen VI would be just fine.  (Even with this "upgrade", the in-game trainers will never be as challenging as another human.)  For the third game and/or whatever remakes they decide to do, the game would be updated with data collected from the previous games.
2b.) That said, the "Hax Facilities" (now with less hax, as I mentioned to Blade) would be a better place for constant updates like that, and it could be an easy side-feature; everytime you play online (or via local wireless with someone with a more current update than you), the "strategy definitions" would be updated as well.  Of course, an option would need to be included to "opt out" or turn updating off, for those players who don't want the changes, but still, not a big deal.
3.) Well, the Frontier already has that.  I suppose a few in-game Trainers could get upgrades to their team and strategies, but for the most part I think they should stay pretty much the way they are when you first meet them, like they always have.  Another possible addition would be some sort of "influence" or "NPC EXP" system such that the more times you battle a given Trainer, the tougher they get (improved levels and movesets, additional Pokemon, evolved Pokemon), but even that would be a bad idea to implement for ALL in-game trainers, and besides that's a different concept that would have its own logistical issues.

[Magical Girl Mimi]

Flipz: Yeah, I agree. Plus, it would help to give people the ability to actually stand a chance. =P

I agree with extra areas; it'd kinda be like the Surf areas in the current games.

Something that could maybe also help with this... Maybe a general 'trainer level'? I mean, you have Pokemon levels, but you could also have a 'skill level' assigned to your trainer character somehow.

1. I've only really looked at Serebii strategies myself, to be honest. >>; Maybe it's partly why I'm still failing. =P

2a. Well, one problem with that; if it was implemented in there, then, wouldn't it make sense that they'd need at least one update for the new Pokemon introduced then? I see you addressed that, but couldn't it also have a backport to the old games? Especially since it's pretty much guaranteed to be on the 3DS, which now allows DLC and such; and since Nintendo has free control over their own eShop, they could just have those updates be free DLC to be 'patched' into the game.
2b. That would make sense. Maybe leave the huge updates for the second game in the gen, along with the backport update I was just talking about, if they did that.

3. Well; technically that could be actively implemented; and already has been implemented at least once. *Looks at the Vs Seeker* If they had an active upgrade system in place(Like so that all trainers who you rebattle gets consistent upgrades), then the Vs. Seeker could become a very handy tool, even more than it already is.

As for how to balance it; that's definitely where a Trainer Level would become handy... Because it could act as an 'upper limit' for the levels of Pokemon trainers you face have, when you re-battle them.(To an extent, obviously they won't be downgraded, they'd just keep their original teams in that circumstance)

[The Host]

1) well, smogon just has a much greater set of strategies that go really in depth and generally explain stuff better than:
example: flamethrower for consistancy, fire blast for power.
smogon would tell you which specific pokemon each move gets an important KO on, and which it doesn't.
unfortunately, smogon isn't as child friendly as serebii, so some of their strategies aren't exactly PG (although some strategies, like the luvdisc one, make me laugh out loud (literally) because of how they're written).
also, smogon forums are not fun, really, because they focus entirely on competitive battling. but for competitive battling they are pretty much the top.

3)VS seeker was one of the best things implemented in the games. I have no idea why BW didn't include it. also, just adding that your rival in Pt leveled up as well post E4.

[Magical Girl Mimi]

1. Yeah, i've been meaning to eventually check them out, but just haven't. =/

3. I agree, and forgot about the rival. Good point there.

[The Host]

So i've finally gotten my wi-fi to work properly for pokemon white (although it still doesn't connect for long periods of time for some reason). My friend code is listed in my sig.
I need the following pokemon in order to complete my Unova Dex:
-Tornadus (which will allow me to get Landorus)
-Reshiram
-anything from the Gothitelle line (although I can easily get this over the GTS)

Tornadus is the biggest problem, b/c I can't search for Tornadus, as I haven't seen it, nor can I ask for it (which is not very smart on Nintendo's part).

and I can finally understand the rage people get on the GTS, when 9/10 (at least) offers are for Resh/Zek at level 9 or under...

EDIT: If anyone has a Tornadus that they could lend me (so that I can get Landorus( I'll trade back the Tornadus afterwards and search for one on the GTS)) it would be greatly appreciated. I'm not sure of any other way to acquire one, except by negotiations, which don't work well for me.

[The Host]

Gaaaaaah! the new pokemon game that was announced IS NOT grey!!! it's not a main series game, but a RTS game, apparently, that to me looks like a pokemon version of Risk.

the cool things about the game are that Zekrom seems to play a prominent role, and Eevee is the starter pokemon (I always thought that Eevee should be the starter pokemon, as the player then has many options later on in the game). The game is also apparently going to be a DS game, which seems odd, but that might change, who knows...

[Magical Girl Mimi]

Well, it's only been a year since Black/White. Even if we got spoiled with three consecutive years of main series releases, look how long it took for Diamond/Pearl to release, and then the two year wait for Platinum. We just expected another one this year or next year. =P

Besides, they still have a few months to announce Grey or any remakes anyway. Since they typically announce new stuff in March or May, so that there's hype in time for September.

[Plotkin]

Hey jw, what kind of pokemon card is it when it's not holographic, but the rest of the card is shiny?

[The Host]

Hey jw, what kind of pokemon card is it when it's not holographic, but the rest of the card is shiny?

I believe its called a reverse holo. One come's in each pack (pokemon's way of guaranteeing a holo/foil card).

EDIT: Arceus is available ffrom the dream world right now, so if you don't have one currently you can get one (which was cool for me).

[The Host]

anyone else no longer getting spot pass pokemon for pokedex 3d? I currently have 104 pokemon registered and I haven't gotten a spot pass entry in about a week and a half (after usually getting them daily). I get spot passes for Mario Kart and Nintendo video, so I was wondering if something's up with my pokedex 3d...

[Magical Girl Mimi]

You need to self-scan the Pokemon after a while. Don't ask why, it just does. =P

[The Host]

Self Scan as in scan the QR codes on the official site? If so then thank you

[Magical Girl Mimi]

Yes, exactly that. =P Though, you can find the codes in other places, too. Like Serebii. =P

[The Host]

Apparently Kyurem has new formes that have been released... they look somewhat odd, I guess... check serebii

EDIT: the new formes also come because there are two new games: Black 2 and White 2. Unfortunately the games are for the DS, which means no 3D enhancements. The games appear to be sequels, though...

[Magical Girl Mimi]

I mentioned about Black2/White2 in CtaM, actually. =P

And yes, this does look very intriguing. I'm kinda liking the new forms, though the movie poster version makes them look a little better(Kyurem manages to still be asymmetric. =P).

/EDIT:

I do wish they'd change up their release schedule, and/or do a simultaneous release here and in japan at the same time.

I seriously have got to stop predicting the Pokemon future. =P

//EDIT:

Not if they decide to make the return to Hoenn another sequel rather than an actual remake.

You too, Flipz, even if it's not confirmed that we'll be heading to Hoenn in the sequels. =P

[Flipz]

MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!  

Next thing you know, the geneticists are going to use directed evolution to create actual Pokemon! 

[The Host]

I mentioned about Black2/White2 in CtaM, actually. =P

And yes, this does look very intriguing. I'm kinda liking the new forms, though the movie poster version makes them look a little better(Kyurem manages to still be asymmetric. =P).

/EDIT:

I do wish they'd change up their release schedule, and/or do a simultaneous release here and in japan at the same time.

I seriously have got to stop predicting the Pokemon future. =P

//EDIT:

Not if they decide to make the return to Hoenn another sequel rather than an actual remake.

You too, Flipz, even if it's not confirmed that we'll be heading to Hoenn in the sequels. =P

I thought that Kyurem was supposed to be broken, and that his new formes are supposed to be his more complete formes, so it makes sense that he's still asymmetric in his regular form.

[Magical Girl Mimi]

He was. The problem there is, if it's 'more complete'; why is his head and such still looking like he's broken? I guess it might be partially because all three dragons aren't merged into one still...