[Meta Thread] Pokerole Mystery Dungeon: Primal Shadows

[Spiritmon]

I forgot to add: Now Kogeki level jump from level 24 to 28. And his initiative is now 6.

[Spiritmon]

Still, I gonna increase my dexterity from 3 to 4, putting my level from 24 to 28. My initiative base also increase from 5 to 6. And my dexterity valor is now 4. And I have only 4 XP left.

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

(...)Want to give Phantom a little longer for Kee to respond to the immediate aftermath of the battle)

Big thanks for that, it's very appreciated! I've sent out sort of a reaction for Ziggy Kee, added the XP - which are an amazing haul! I'm like not sure at all yet what to do with the 30+XP he has now, but since Galarian Ziggy doesn't get any decent moves via level-up anymore (least none I definitely want for now), they'll likely go into some Skills and Specialities - and sort of immobilizied Kee, as I'll be afk for the whole weekend. I probably still show up and read here but won't have time to response, so please do auto him if needed until Monday afternoon.

[Dragonstrike]

Had the draft for that post ready to go, and didn't need to respond to anything Kee said in particular, so up it went!  Feel free to react to any part of it (and anything that happened just before it) involving your characters that you wish to!  I left a large chunk of it open ended for player reactions.

This is the big moment I've been building the campaign towards and based a lot of my ideas for the plot on, so I hope you're as excited as I am to explore what's in store for our heroes!

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

(...)This is the big moment I've been building the campaign towards and based a lot of my ideas for the plot on, so I hope you're as excited as I am to explore what's in store for our heroes!

Oooooohhh, I definitely am! One big enemy defeated and one Plate obtained, looks like the next big Legendmon we'll have to face at some point is already foreshadowing... And oh boi, 'incredibly lethal burn' sounds painful. VERY so.

[Spiritmon]

Oh boy. The plot tick in! I would be lying if I say I not excited, because I truly excited! I just fear the fact if even Rayquaza attacks do not to much damage against the shining phoenix, how can fight such powerful figure!?

However this will NOT me from try the next time we meet. If this campaign was some kind of anime, the next arc would be training arc. So people, better to gather your best weights, because we gonna use all time we can to our next brawl against the darkness!

But being serious now, after so many crazy events, I wouldn't mind we take a vacation arc. Just relax and explore what events await us while the darkness doesn't grab it's dark tendrils again.

[Lord Windos]

Off-topic, but as I was strolling through memory lane on the Skull Ruins campaign, I realized something: Ventus gave everyone at least one Pokemon that saw frequent usage throughout the campaign, in some cases all the way until the very climax, and/or was heavily involved their development in some way. To name them off the top of my head....

- Heart: Delta Onix/Steelix. I believe Ven ended up trading them away for another Pokemon, partially out of a sense of thinking the rare hunter who expressed great interest in Deltas would appreciate them FAR more than he ever could. Fast forward to the end, and we got Mega Delta Steelix soaring around a war-torn battlefield, filling it with shock and awe! What I especially like is that Terra also managed to heavily chip in with Delta Steelix's existence, between providing the means of Evolution and getting Heart a Keystone to Mega Evolve them with! Cross character building is some neat stuff, eh?

- Shiva: Raphael the Togekiss, 'nough said. He gave away what he considered his first child to the love of his life, wanting to give them the very best possible experience and spare them the worst of their disfunction, highly morally ambigiuous father. While I don't really recall them doing A LOT under his gf's stewardship the seraph certainly was a welcome continued presence that at least kept a little bit of the best of Ven with the group.

- Terra: Michael. The kick-boxing shroom reached his full potential under the wandering monk, and finally achieved his dream of being able to punch all the way to the heavens themselves! Shame their new Master ended up taking that away from them in order to revive Arete, and he didn't end up playing a big role at all in the Deoxys fights, but he WAS instrumental throughout the Skull Ruins by simply being the indominable shroom that he was!

- Nathan: I can count four Pokemon at minimum Ven had either given to them or had significant impact on - Princess, Solomon, Porygon Z, and Charizard. The first was Ven's originally, but they gave it to Nathan for reasons that elude. She turned out to be arguably the most impactful Pokemon in the final few moments of the campaign, as without her involvement I have no doubt Deoxys Prime would have done FAR worse to the group and Cosh definately would've gotten away much easier. Easily a MVP at least! Solomon was a gift/wealth trade between our PCs, and I can't begin to fathom how much influence they had on your character and all the many doors they ended up making. He ended up being a valuable source of healing and wisdom down in the Skull Ruins, and now remains a perpetual rival to Sari the Ultra Shiny Slowking to drive them forward towards being an ideal king. Porygon straight up wouldn't have evolved without Ventus doing all the legwork, and they were plenty helpful in all things technological and just being an extremely capable Normal type. Lastly, Charizard got broken in by Ven as a Charmeleon in order to humble them, paving the way for Nathan to forge the punk lizard into a true king of dragons that went scorched earth on all that opposed their master. Technicaly I could ALSO include Delta Houdoom into the mix, but considering that Ven had a mostly HUGELY negative impact on them I REALLY don't want to count the good doggo for their own good.

Gallade: Had significant impact on the growth and development, and helped enable their De-Evolution so that they could free Mesprit and achieve the Evolution they/Nathan most desired more easily as a consequence. Not sure if Ven or Shiva provided the Dawn Stone necessary for that part too. Technically EVERYONE had a big impact on this most special warrior, but considering how often Ven and Nathan ended up at odds and evens with each other I have very little doubts Gallade hold them in high (if not entirely good) esteem.

The only characters he didn't end up majorly contributing to their team were Joey, Vincent, and Mika's, with the former two ending up splitting off fairly early (some to our dismay, others to our relief), while Mika end up getting Time-napped by the group well after Ven left and could do anything for them. Now, what was the point of all this fluff? It made me re-discover, just a little bit, of why Ven had such an enduring impact with everyone, and that I have stiffed him of some credit due to being done with the ball of neurosis and crippling moral complexes that he became. Makes me regret being too stubborn not to properly TRY and make him a better fit (and a better person) for the group and the way Iron's campaign was going, but hindsight is 20/20, and I still think pushing him off to the side was the best move for myself and everyone at the time.

If I missed anything, do let me know! And why not share your stories of how your characters ended up contributing Pokemon and growth towards other character's Pokemon, if you don't mind!

[Spiritmon]

Thats a lot of points you made. Ven contribute a lot to everyone evolution. And the legacy he left behind, with the Pokemons he bring to everyone was important.

Its been years since I read the Skulls Ruins, and I do not recall EVERYTHING, and in mind, I do not recall all the Pokemons Heart contribute to everyone. But some of the evolution that come to mind both for Heart and maybe a bit for the others was like this I guess:

- Koa and Cottonee: Maybe Heart and Shiva friendly rivalry kinda helps the fae trainer to evolve in some way. I cant speak in the name of Phantom, so I just hope my words doesnt sound offensive or presumptions, its just the impression I had. Heart trully respect Shiva, not only from her strengh in the team, but because she had something Heart lacks for a long time: A true heart of gold, capable to feel love and respect around her, which is kinda ironic when I think about since Heart name is, well, heart. In a way, she was everything Heart wanted to be: Strong, but also kind. And I think Heart saying she is her rival, maybe help Shiva grown confidence, and find strengh. Not strengh in the form of a powerfull artefact, or a Legendary Boon. But the strengh that already exist: Within her. And Koa vs Cottonee was to me one of the battles I always remember very fondly, because it was not the classic: "I Dragon trainer and I gonna smack you fairy, and dragons go BRRRR!" But more like two friends having a nice battle. One full of blazing emotions, and one more calm and kind. And I think that rivalry also helps Heart grow a little, to be more kind, but also to try be more focus. Not to mentioned it was thank to Shiva that Viktor, Heart Phantump, became a Trevanant who help a lot to seal away the last part of Primal Deoxys death vengeance attack. I just wish they had their last Pokemon battle in the Pokemon League.

- Heart and Ven/Terra: What Windos said already is also already said. But...I guess the time with Ventus, and his departure had a impact in Heart evolution, in making him take things more serious, and sometimes do things what was necessary. Also, I dont remember to much things Heart did to help Terra in much ways. The only thing that I remember at the moment was when Terra asked him to understand what Duskull want from Terra to improve their bond. And maybe help Terra get a Meowth to get money later, however this is the far I can remember. If I forget something just tell me. I just wish Terra and Heart had a Pokemon battle previously to have some kind of experience.

- Nathan and Heart: I admit I was a brat. And a jerk. Specially at the start of the journey when I join the campaigh. I dont think Heart very much in the growth of Nathan. At least not that I recall. Again, its been years since I read the Skull Ruins, and I do not remember all the details. And I do not remember any Pokemon from Heart, be from his main pokemon or sporadic ones, that helped Nathan in any form. Viktor didnt help Gallade in its old fear of ghosts (I think it was a thing when he was a Kirlia?). Rose and Gallade never had a rivalry. Maybe if I act in some other way maybe Nathan and Heart would have more memorable moments in my mind. And again like before, I wished Nathan and Heart had their Pokemon battle. Maybe see Gallade special abilities go against Rose flaming skills. Or see more of the strategies of the two trainers. One who is literally the PUNisher and the other be serious as a heartbeat.

Thats my insights about it. I sorry if it is not so much great in details like Windos, but then again, you have to forgive me since its been years since I read the Skull Ruins, and a lot of details escape my memory.

[Iron]

Something I liked about Skull Ruins was what a huge variety of Pokemon we interacted with, often in great depth. These are all great examples.

[Spiritmon]

Something I liked about Skull Ruins was what a huge variety of Pokemon we interacted with, often in great depth. These are all great examples.

Yeah. That's something I really liked in Skull Ruins (and to be honest in any rpg of Pokemon). The interaction between human and Pokemon. That's something I wish the games had explore more. Most of Heart captured Pokemon was though roleplay instead of just fighting.

Two of those moments I remember fondly, despite I didn't use much those Pokemons: Gargryph endurance test. And Chespin test. The first one was literally a fight to endure the stone process and it was a big difficult fight (which I had the fear in failed) but it was a success. And I love the resistance.

The second was literally a big test of use every Pokemon moves in try to get that Pokemon. I had to use everything I had available for my pokemons and a help of Windos who give me great ideas.

But one of my favorites moments in the campaign (which had a lots of epic moments) was Moltres born from the egg. When I think Heart was about to die, BOOM! Moltres came out in all it's glory. And then healing Heart. It was really really cool. Just wish that happened a bit sooner during Deoxys battle. It would be amazing fighting Deoxys with such flames of justice in our side. Or at least happen before the campaign become diceless.

Now I wish we could continue the Skull Ruins campaign, and see the end of it. It would be cool see Heart face the woman who ruined his life and discover why she did that. And maybe have one last battle. And maybe find outs more about the secrets in Saminarok in the Skull Ruins. Or even see the Pokemon League and see the epilogues of everyone (specially the epilogues of Heart and Nathan, and see what it could be the end of the journey of those two!)