[Meta thread] Iron's PokeRole Adventure: The Skull Ruins

[Dragonstrike]

Speaking of initiative, need the rolls for Masq, Tynamo, and Koa as well.

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

I know that post from the forums you are pointig out here, Dragon. If I understood things correctly, it'd go like this:

- My Pokemon uses Fake Out having +1 Priority, it flinches the foe.
- The foe is flinched, so he cannot make an action.
- Another Fake Out, another flinch if successful.
- The foe is flinched again.
- End of the Round for me, as I'll never use Fake Out more than twice. The foe can attack now.


In a single battle this feels very weird as why should the foe fall for the same trick two times in a row, but in a double battle such a thing sounds relatively believable as there are two targets. While one is flinched, the other can still attack or buff/debuff.

Still I'd like to hear GM's input about this, I don't think using Fake Out twice in Round1 is silly at all. Nasty and annoying, yes, but given me and my chara enjoy mischievous tricks that aren't possible in the handheld games, it's plausible. Without aid via additional dice in Accuracy Roll coming from support moves from battle partners for my Espurr such an action is very likely to fail anyway.

[Dragonstrike]

Well, keep in mind that'd set a precedent.  Anything we can do, the NPCs can too.  I don't think it'd be very fun for anyone to lose 3+ actions completely because someone's pokemon knows Fake Out and uses the same mechanics that Shiva isn't able to fully exploit.  Particularly since Fake Out does chip damage too.

And trying to plan how to deal with uber powerful techniques that players are abusing isn't super fun for the GM either.  It's why I stopped trying to use Horn Drill in the Celadon campaign and made an agreement with Windos on how and when it would be used.

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

3+ actions being lost doesn't feel believeable at all in the scenario of a battle, as I said that I think a Pokemon would very likely not fall for the same trick twice in a row. Two Fake Outs on a different foe in a Double Battle sounds like a thing that'd work, but never more. None, may it be player or NPC, can pull off a third Fake Out in a Double Battle or a second one is a Single Battle, it'd fail automatically. That'd be my suggestion for how to deal with this.

[Lord Windos]

Well, keep in mind that'd set a precedent.  Anything we can do, the NPCs can too.  I don't think it'd be very fun for anyone to lose 3+ actions completely because someone's pokemon knows Fake Out and uses the same mechanics that Shiva isn't able to fully exploit.  Particularly since Fake Out does chip damage too.

And trying to plan how to deal with uber powerful techniques that players are abusing isn't super fun for the GM either.  It's why I stopped trying to use Horn Drill in the Celadon campaign and made an agreement with Windos on how and when it would be used.

Reverse is also true as well, as any NPC me or Iron designs to face off against you means you can pick off those tricks and make our jobs all the harder down the line. Goes both ways, don't you know!

Yeap, super Accurate Horn Drill spam forced me to include several delaying tactics and anti OHKO measures until we decided that enough was enough, and not to use unless the situation calls for it. Its also part of the reason why I also have not spammed Sleep inducing moves against Reiner, as his fight against the Shroom Bros proved that getting put to sleep without recourse is not fun to fight against....

[Dragonstrike]

I still don't necessarily think Fake Out would work a second time anyways. If you've already stared the race before they yell 'go!', nobody present is going to fall for that trick a second time unless they were not paying any attention in the slightest. Plus, you're already past the starting line (which is basically the pokemon's pokeball in this example), so why would you go back and do it again if you're still in the race?

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Let us await what Iron says on this matter now that we made our points.

[Iron]

Gonna keep Fake Out like it is in the games. The precedent was already set way back in Zamboni's fight.

However, I will allow you to use it as your second action in a round INSTEAD of first action in a round. But still only once per round and only the round your Pokemon pops out.

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

That sounds like a good compromise, Iron. Thank you!
Hmm, I'll probably won't use Fake Out as a second action though, because this way it'd have an even lower dice pool, even with aid from a battle partner.

Besides, Wondertrade Event #5 is about to start! I'll be busy with sending in Pokemon, so I can't give you instructions for my battle right away. I'll get to it later, if it's okay.

[Iron]

That's fine, I have orders from Nathan and Heart to get to!

I just got back from sledding and my hands are cold so it takes me a long time to type : )