GojiBean
Your resident irradiated Kaiju King
Hoyo!
Most of us know it. Many of us love it. And dammit, I wanna RP it!
Why? I dunno. I've been hankering to get a Pokémon RP up and running lately so here I am giving it a try once again!
Let's get to the nitty gritty!
This RP is not one of the video games, so here's a list of changes from the games to make it a more realistic and human experience:
* All Pokémon can be found anywhere in the world so long as the environment is appropriate. For example, fire types will be found in deserts, wastelands, volcanoes, etc. Grass Pokémon can be found in grasslands, forests, etc. Bug Pokémon are mostly found in forests but can also be in grasslands, especially if there are large flower fields or sporadic woodlands areas throughout. Etc, etc. If you are uncertain as to whether or not a specific Pokémon can or should be found in a given area then feel free to ask me and I'll let you know my thoughts.
** Team Rocket is the only evil team in this RP since having all of the other canon ones in each region would overcomplicate things long-term. Additionally, while some of them were fun in the games not a single one is actually required for the lore of their respective region to work, nor for the lore around the region-specific Legendary Pokémon to work. So, Team Rocket it is! Additionally, Team Rocket are actually dangerous and very competent and methodical in this RP. They're not the bumbling dunderheads from the anime/manga. They train their Pokémon with viciousness in mind, and if the Pokémon aren't enough to get them what they want they'll switch to weapons like guns. So, if you don't want to risk your Pokémon potentially getting shot then it's wise to avoid Team Rocket at all costs.
*** In the past I had RP's where the Legendary/Mythic Pokémon were uber powerful and would only be encountered and/or befriended, but not captured. My logic at the time was that it would be a nightmare to justify actually capturing them if they're that stupidly powerful that they can one-shot basically anything other than another Legendary. So, this time around, they're Legends/Mythics because of rarity. Obviously, they're still powerful. But if a Groudon faced off with a Dragonite who knew Ice Beam then Groudon would have a hard time pulling off a win. For this RP the story goes that Legendary/Mythic Pokémon are all effectively nearly extinct with an estimated 50 or fewer individuals each. Because of how rare they are most people think they all are extinct, and that any sightings are a case of mistaken identity.
**** Personally, I've always seen capture-by-friendship to be lazy and contrived and a bit too convenient of a way to circumvent the point of what it means to be a Pokémon Trainer. However, a lot of people love this mechanic. So, I will allow it. However, it's by request. And as GM I reserve the right to refuse any such request at any time without justification or explanation. If I say "no," that's the end of the request/discussion. You can still catch whatever Pokémon it was you were after, but you'll have to do so the old fashioned way.
Additional Note: Pokémon are wild animals. They're not going to magically start trusting you just because you did something nice for them. They're going to be scared and distrusting of you. Even after you capture them they're not going to magically love and respect you and follow your orders. You'll have to send them out of their Poké Ball and spend time with them to earn their trust, earn their respect, earn their loyalty, and earn their love. Otherwise what's the point, right? The journey to bond with your Pokémon should be at the heart of the franchise core by this point.
***** Trade Evolutions are a fun mechanic in the video games to encourage connection between players. But in a more realistic world this would it wouldn't be natural for a living creature to suddenly and spontaneously evolve just because ownership, which is nothing more than a human-made concept, changed hands. Know what I mean? All Trade Evolution Pokémon (which don't require them to hold a specific item) will evolve as normal Pokémon do with age and experience. If a Pokémon has a Trade evolution by holding an item then that item functions the same as an Evolution Stone would instead. For example, if you have an Onix you can allow it to make contact with a Metal Coat and it will evolve into Steelix.
****** For the sake of simplicity we're going to assume that there's some kind of governmental funding for Pokémon Trainers, and/or that your character does some sort of freelance work on the side during time skips to earn money to fund their adventure. I will be holding everyone to the honor system on this one, and I'll be casually monitoring your inventory management as we go. If I think your inventory's getting a bit too full or a bit too conveniently packed with rare/expensive items like Full Restores and whatnot, then I'll hit you up in DM's and ask you to tone it down a bit.
That's it for the changes!
The rest of the Pokémon world's lore and functions are essentially the same as you know from the games. Pokémon Centers, Poké Marts, Contests, the Pokémon League, the Elite Four of each region, the regions themselves, etc, etc.
Having said that, you can have your character be any kind of profession you want even if it's a non-Trainer profession such as a business person, realtor, restaurant owner, etc. This is a Pokémon centered RP, but it's going to be welcoming of non-Trainer types as well!
When it comes to Trainer Types, the "classes" from the games like "Ace," "Bug Catcher, "Lady/Gentleman," etc., are not a thing. Those only exist in the games to separate and give variety to the generic NPC enemies you face. When I say "Trainer Types," I mean actual professions and lifestyles like Pokémon Law Enforcement, Fire Fighters, Breeders, etc.
The one Pokémon Trainer Type I cannot allow is an active Pokémon Ranger, "active" meaning they're currently working in that profession. And the reason is simple: They literally can't be part of a nomadic group like ours because their whole purpose in life is to remain as close to or outright in the sanctuary they're assigned to and protect it from nefarious folks and illegal activities like trespassing, poaching, etc. I also cannot allow for your character to become an active Pokémon Ranger during the course of the RP because that would force them to leave the group permanently and go live in/near the sanctuary they're assigned to guard. So, unless you want to be written out of the RP becoming or being an active Ranger isn't an option.
I can only allow for a freshly resigned, dishonorably kicked out, or retired Pokémon Rangers to be part of the RP experience since they're not held to the same obligations as their active counterparts.
Characters are my favorite part! But we'll get to them in a minute. First, rules!!
I have 3 very simple rules for participation in the roleplay, and they are as follows:
Rules for Participation:
* If any issues between you and another participant arise, please... Talk. To. Me. As the GM, I'm here to settle any disputes and keep the peace. I don't care how big or small the issue is. If you take issue with something someone else said or did either IC or OOC then please bring it to my attention immediately and I will handle it.
Additional Note: Unless it's something obviously intentional and malicious, in which case report it to me immediately, try not to take anything that happens IC personally. The characters are the characters. They're not us, nor do their words or actions represent who we are, what we think, or how we behave. They're characters in a roleplay. Let them be so, and keep whatever happens IC separate from what's OOC. Even if our characters aren't getting along there's no reason why we shouldn't be able to laugh and shoot the breeze OOC with no animosity or frustration about the tension on the page.
Rules for Character Creation
Finally! My favorite part!
There's only 2 rules for Character Creation!
You may have noticed I didn't include either a Personality nor a Biography section as I'm keen to see those for myself in the RP.
All I ask if that if you give them some sort of tragic backstory that you do your best to make it something more original than "their parents were killed by Team Rocket," or "their older sibling who they admired more than anyone else was mauled to death by a rampaging wild Pokémon." Even though those kinds of backstories work, they're a bit contrived and I'd like to see more.
Also, I'm going to be updating this thread a bit later today with my own character once I've finished her details.
That's it!
I look forward to seeing if this gets any interest!
If you're interested then please reply to this thread letting me know, and if you already have a character idea feel free to fill out the little character sheet as well!
If you have any questions about other mechanics or worldbuilding modifications which are happening under the hood, so to speak, feel free to ask!
Cheers!
- GojiBean
Most of us know it. Many of us love it. And dammit, I wanna RP it!
Why? I dunno. I've been hankering to get a Pokémon RP up and running lately so here I am giving it a try once again!
Let's get to the nitty gritty!
RP Differences From The Games!
This RP is not one of the video games, so here's a list of changes from the games to make it a more realistic and human experience:
- No region-locked Pokémon *
- No Stats (HP, PP, Levels, etc)
- No four-move limit (this has always been a stupid limitation, especially in the newer generation games where the console is more than powerful enough to get rid of that 'tradition' and give us more options)
- Spinoff content is not a thing (mechanically at least, like the Pokémon Rangers swirly stylus capture method)
- Team Rocket is the only 'Bad Guy' Team **
- Legendary/Mythic Pokémon have attained their status due to rarity, not power ***
- No capture-by-friendship abuse ****
- Trade Evolutions are not a thing *****
- Money is no issue ******
- No Dynamax, Gigantamax, Totem, or Alpha Pokémon (these were video game gimmicks the dev's used to try drawing in new crowds, and I don't consider them a natural part of the Pokémon world)
* All Pokémon can be found anywhere in the world so long as the environment is appropriate. For example, fire types will be found in deserts, wastelands, volcanoes, etc. Grass Pokémon can be found in grasslands, forests, etc. Bug Pokémon are mostly found in forests but can also be in grasslands, especially if there are large flower fields or sporadic woodlands areas throughout. Etc, etc. If you are uncertain as to whether or not a specific Pokémon can or should be found in a given area then feel free to ask me and I'll let you know my thoughts.
** Team Rocket is the only evil team in this RP since having all of the other canon ones in each region would overcomplicate things long-term. Additionally, while some of them were fun in the games not a single one is actually required for the lore of their respective region to work, nor for the lore around the region-specific Legendary Pokémon to work. So, Team Rocket it is! Additionally, Team Rocket are actually dangerous and very competent and methodical in this RP. They're not the bumbling dunderheads from the anime/manga. They train their Pokémon with viciousness in mind, and if the Pokémon aren't enough to get them what they want they'll switch to weapons like guns. So, if you don't want to risk your Pokémon potentially getting shot then it's wise to avoid Team Rocket at all costs.
*** In the past I had RP's where the Legendary/Mythic Pokémon were uber powerful and would only be encountered and/or befriended, but not captured. My logic at the time was that it would be a nightmare to justify actually capturing them if they're that stupidly powerful that they can one-shot basically anything other than another Legendary. So, this time around, they're Legends/Mythics because of rarity. Obviously, they're still powerful. But if a Groudon faced off with a Dragonite who knew Ice Beam then Groudon would have a hard time pulling off a win. For this RP the story goes that Legendary/Mythic Pokémon are all effectively nearly extinct with an estimated 50 or fewer individuals each. Because of how rare they are most people think they all are extinct, and that any sightings are a case of mistaken identity.
**** Personally, I've always seen capture-by-friendship to be lazy and contrived and a bit too convenient of a way to circumvent the point of what it means to be a Pokémon Trainer. However, a lot of people love this mechanic. So, I will allow it. However, it's by request. And as GM I reserve the right to refuse any such request at any time without justification or explanation. If I say "no," that's the end of the request/discussion. You can still catch whatever Pokémon it was you were after, but you'll have to do so the old fashioned way.
Additional Note: Pokémon are wild animals. They're not going to magically start trusting you just because you did something nice for them. They're going to be scared and distrusting of you. Even after you capture them they're not going to magically love and respect you and follow your orders. You'll have to send them out of their Poké Ball and spend time with them to earn their trust, earn their respect, earn their loyalty, and earn their love. Otherwise what's the point, right? The journey to bond with your Pokémon should be at the heart of the franchise core by this point.
***** Trade Evolutions are a fun mechanic in the video games to encourage connection between players. But in a more realistic world this would it wouldn't be natural for a living creature to suddenly and spontaneously evolve just because ownership, which is nothing more than a human-made concept, changed hands. Know what I mean? All Trade Evolution Pokémon (which don't require them to hold a specific item) will evolve as normal Pokémon do with age and experience. If a Pokémon has a Trade evolution by holding an item then that item functions the same as an Evolution Stone would instead. For example, if you have an Onix you can allow it to make contact with a Metal Coat and it will evolve into Steelix.
****** For the sake of simplicity we're going to assume that there's some kind of governmental funding for Pokémon Trainers, and/or that your character does some sort of freelance work on the side during time skips to earn money to fund their adventure. I will be holding everyone to the honor system on this one, and I'll be casually monitoring your inventory management as we go. If I think your inventory's getting a bit too full or a bit too conveniently packed with rare/expensive items like Full Restores and whatnot, then I'll hit you up in DM's and ask you to tone it down a bit.
That's it for the changes!
The rest of the Pokémon world's lore and functions are essentially the same as you know from the games. Pokémon Centers, Poké Marts, Contests, the Pokémon League, the Elite Four of each region, the regions themselves, etc, etc.
Having said that, you can have your character be any kind of profession you want even if it's a non-Trainer profession such as a business person, realtor, restaurant owner, etc. This is a Pokémon centered RP, but it's going to be welcoming of non-Trainer types as well!
When it comes to Trainer Types, the "classes" from the games like "Ace," "Bug Catcher, "Lady/Gentleman," etc., are not a thing. Those only exist in the games to separate and give variety to the generic NPC enemies you face. When I say "Trainer Types," I mean actual professions and lifestyles like Pokémon Law Enforcement, Fire Fighters, Breeders, etc.
The one Pokémon Trainer Type I cannot allow is an active Pokémon Ranger, "active" meaning they're currently working in that profession. And the reason is simple: They literally can't be part of a nomadic group like ours because their whole purpose in life is to remain as close to or outright in the sanctuary they're assigned to and protect it from nefarious folks and illegal activities like trespassing, poaching, etc. I also cannot allow for your character to become an active Pokémon Ranger during the course of the RP because that would force them to leave the group permanently and go live in/near the sanctuary they're assigned to guard. So, unless you want to be written out of the RP becoming or being an active Ranger isn't an option.
I can only allow for a freshly resigned, dishonorably kicked out, or retired Pokémon Rangers to be part of the RP experience since they're not held to the same obligations as their active counterparts.
Characters, and RP Rules!!
Characters are my favorite part! But we'll get to them in a minute. First, rules!!
I have 3 very simple rules for participation in the roleplay, and they are as follows:
Rules for Participation:
- You MUST be social and communicative OOC
- No Metagaming, Power Playing, or God-Modding
- No Drama *
* If any issues between you and another participant arise, please... Talk. To. Me. As the GM, I'm here to settle any disputes and keep the peace. I don't care how big or small the issue is. If you take issue with something someone else said or did either IC or OOC then please bring it to my attention immediately and I will handle it.
Additional Note: Unless it's something obviously intentional and malicious, in which case report it to me immediately, try not to take anything that happens IC personally. The characters are the characters. They're not us, nor do their words or actions represent who we are, what we think, or how we behave. They're characters in a roleplay. Let them be so, and keep whatever happens IC separate from what's OOC. Even if our characters aren't getting along there's no reason why we shouldn't be able to laugh and shoot the breeze OOC with no animosity or frustration about the tension on the page.
Rules for Character Creation
Finally! My favorite part!
There's only 2 rules for Character Creation!
- They must be at least 18 years old as no society in its right mind would allow minors to leave home with nothing but one young and inexperienced Pokémon as their partner
- Please keep pre-earned knowledge of Pokémon and how to be a Trainer to a minimum as one of the main points of this RP is that your character should be learning the ways of the Trainer from the ground up. The more pre-earned knowledge they have the fewer chances you'll have for character moments, growth opportunities, etc.
Code:
Name:
Age:
Height:
Birth Region:
Starter Pokémon:You may have noticed I didn't include either a Personality nor a Biography section as I'm keen to see those for myself in the RP.
All I ask if that if you give them some sort of tragic backstory that you do your best to make it something more original than "their parents were killed by Team Rocket," or "their older sibling who they admired more than anyone else was mauled to death by a rampaging wild Pokémon." Even though those kinds of backstories work, they're a bit contrived and I'd like to see more.
Also, I'm going to be updating this thread a bit later today with my own character once I've finished her details.
That's it!
I look forward to seeing if this gets any interest!
If you're interested then please reply to this thread letting me know, and if you already have a character idea feel free to fill out the little character sheet as well!
If you have any questions about other mechanics or worldbuilding modifications which are happening under the hood, so to speak, feel free to ask!
Cheers!
- GojiBean
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