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

[Dragonstrike]

Not to make meds out of those in the first place, though. Maybe there are other uses.

According to Mallorn in this post, it's good for both medicine and technology, though he didn't say what kinds (Deyo Powder is probably but one medicinal like usage).  So he'll buy bushels from us for large sums of money.  Great use, I would say.

[Lord Windos]

Well, while time was passing, I was thinking of what my last Pokémon on my team should be, and it been quite a dozy. I have several weakness in my team I need to consider, if I want to have a properly balanced out team. I ranked the requirement from low to high, with low being stuff I want, but don't need, and vice versa for high. Then, based on that, I chose types that countered those, choosing Pokémon that were good both offensive, defensively, or both for my team. Due to the sheer length of my analysis, I decided to put it into a spoiler tag, so as not to hog space on the Meta thread!

Spoiler

Poison: Two of my 'mon have are weak to Poison, so having something to directly counter it would be quite helpful indeed! However, since I have Ariel and Apsis, I can check Poison types anyway, and both have methods of anti Poison protection. (Corsola gets Refresh, and Apsis can't get poison period except my the Sazzle line, which is a REMOTE exception!)

Rock Types: My Fliers don't like being pelted by stones, but I have two direct counters on my team, so they are less than a Problem if properly accounted.

Steel Types: Ventus team is less concern about their offensive prowess, and more with their walling capabilities. They wall half the team by defalt (Apsis, Raphael, and Lucifer), and causes headache for the other two (Michael and Ariel). Apsis can deal with the with Fire Fang or Ground type attacks, and both Flyers can pick up Fire type moves later on, but its not a sure fire solution in the end...

High Priority:

Electric Types: Argably one my biggest weakness, as half my team is extremely weak to it, while I only have one or two soft counters in the form of Apsis and Michael to deal with them (Apsis learns Ground moves, and Michael is Grass type). That, and Paraylsis is just bad news period.

Ice Types: The other contender for worst weakness, as half my team is horribly weak to it as well, but I have more ways to deal with them. Ariel checks them and can deal great damage to them in turn, Apsis has Fire Fang, and Michael is part fighting type when it evolves, making any match it has against the gelid 'mon to be an even match. Wait, it has Mach Punch and Spore in its arsenal, so never mind!

Psychic Types: Hit a third of my party hard, and the rest takes neutral damage to it, which isn't very favorable in my opinion. The only form of resistence against those living headaches are Bite on Apsis and Lucifer, but that's a poor man's check indeed!

With all these in mind, I've thought about what type of Pokémon I'd want on my team to counter the high threats, while bolster myself against the others.

Steel Type: Immune to Poison, and cares not for Ice, Rock or Psychic, but it does nothing about Electricity, and it introduce another Fire and Ground to the team, while bringing a new weakness in the form of fighting. Given that my team has counters to each and everyone of those types, however, and it becomes less painful of a loss.
Potential 'mons: S-51, Tracton, Dribur, Durant, Pinco (Evolve into steel typing), Bronzor/Beldum, Riolo

Ground Types: Destroys Poison, Rock, and Electricty concerns entirely, but introduces yet another Ice weakness to the team, making the party a liability taking on colder opponents (Even if one member sorta self corrects its own weakness). The Water and Grass weakness is less of a problem, given the soft and hard counters present already.
Potential 'mons: Golett, Dribur (Again!), Mudkip, Numel, Sandile

Dark Types: Does not care about Psychics one bit, and has plenty of dirty trick to work out its problems against its aggressor, but it make Bug and Fighting weakness a big Concern in the process, even though there are hard counter prent against either type. That, and it does nothing about Ice or Electric types, unless they have a secondary typing that aids it against those foes!!
Potential Pokémon: Sandile (Again!), Devimp, Houndour

Fire types: Counters Ice and Steel types hard, and have a form of Burn resistence in the party. Most of its weakness are taken care of by the rest of its team mates, but the Rock Weakness it adds will be a big bug bear indeed.
Potential Pokémon: Devimp (Again!), Houndour (Again!), Numel (Again!)

From these requirements, I can narrow it down to just about 5 Pokémon, with three honorary mentions

Drilbur: Steel/Ground typing upon evolution make Ice/Electric/Psychic types a trival annoyance to it, makes it dead even against Fire types, while only having real trouble against Water and Grass types (Which can be taken care of by Michael and Apsis, respectively). Doesn't have a bad movepool to boot either!

Numel: Don't care about Ice or Electric types, is bulky enough to take a few hits, and only really fears Water types. Does nothing about Psychic, but can't have it all now! The Fire and Ground Stabs would also work nicely in dealing with Poison and Steel types as well!

Bronzor: Resists Ice and Psychic types, and has a good enough movelpools to deal with the rest, but both Introduce Ghost and Dark weakness to the mix, one of which is no very well covered in the team. That, and it does jack against  Electric or Steel types. Since it has Heatproof as an ability, its was chosen over Beldum ultimately.

Sandile: Electric and Dark type attacks are covered by this 'mon, but introduce another Ice weakness to the them on top of Grass and Water. That, and its later evo's are extremely disobedient, so their is that to consider as well!

Tracton: Ice, Psychic, Electric nor even Fire phase it overly much, has great abilities that aid it in battle (Motor Drive makes it immune to Electric type attacks, while Speed Boost is self explainatory). Problem with this Pokémon is three fold, however : It introduce another Fighting and Ground weakness, it takes only neutral or resisted hits against the three main types I want coverage from, and its a Tandor mon (Which means its rare as heck!) Still an option, but its more of a Jack of all trades, rather than doing anything particular well defense wise.

Honerary Mentions: Durant/Genesect, S-51, and Mudkip

The Bug/Steels : Resists Psychic and Ice like no tomarrow, take nun ya from Poison, and its dual typing lets it take neutral damage to types that otherwise would prove troublesome. They don't resist Electric, but are plenty strong on there own to make up for this deficiency. The problem with both are similar, though: A 4X weakness to Fire (Hot!), and the problems with getting them. Genesect is a Legend, and even with his backstory, its still a shaky chance of him getting one. Durant most useful ability, Hustle, make it hard to use like Corsola, and I don't wanna have an overlap of abilities on my team! That, and mono evolution makes its impossible to boost its HP outside of Surprises.

S-51: Psychic, Ice, Ground, and Poison are blocked by this 'mon, and it has a cool space gimmick to it that I appreciate quite a bit! Fire, Dark, and Ghost Weakness make it a sour choice, though, and its Tandorian and extraterstrail origins make it unlikely to be found without Iron just serving us up one in an extremely obvious manner (Which I don't like!)

Mudkip: Ice and Electric types don't bother it none, Poison and Steel is a jock against it, and have a nice movepool to it as well! 4X weakness to Grass and its Rarity, though, make it less than desirable!

Based on these results, I need either a Numel or Drilber as the final member of my team, unless one of the honrary mentions just happens to drop into my lap (The main reason they are there is that they are just so hard to get a hold of!). Hopefully I'll encounter one, because otherwise my team is going to be poorer without their inclusion!

On reflection, I have too much free time on my hands, if I was able to make this list...yeesh.

[Dragonstrike]

Well, we already know Numel and Camerupt reside in the region thanks to the Camerupt in Ginger Town. Numel can probably be found around Mt. Molten, or easily traded for. Mt. Molten can only be easily accessed from Trillium though, which is at the base of the volcano, and there's a lot of inherent danger in climbing an active volcano.

Drilbur, if it can be found in the region, is probably most likely to be in Mt. Sentry, which is riddled with caves. It can be accessed from both capitals and Trillium, so there'll be plenty of opportunities to explore it later.

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Random idea is random: If there are indeed Deyo Flowers included in my Comite-Encounter, I'll pick them. Maybe they can be crafted into incense sticks or a medical item to hold as well apart from a painkiller *stares at @Iron - "Could they?"*, and Cottonee was very fond of these flowers anyway. Whether Ventus will hear about this or not, is yet undisclosed. As an alternative, I'll just sell them as Dragonstrike suggested to get closer to a Breeder's Lisence.

[Dragonstrike]

Random idea is random: If there anre indeed Deyo Flowers included in my Comite-Encounter, I'll pick them. Maybe they can be crafted into incines or a medical item to hold as well apart from a painkiller *stares at @Iron - "Could they?"*, and Cottonee was very fond of these flowers anyway. Whether Ventus will hear about this or not, is yet undisclosed. As an alternative, I'll just sell them as Dragonstrike suggested to get closer to a Breeder's Lisence.

The catch with selling them is you have to sell them to Mallorn specifically, unless you can find someone else who knows what to do with them.  

The good news is that Mallorn often has business in Corsage Port, so we might run into him again fairly soon!

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

@Lord Windos, you do have too much free time. But somewhat, you had to keep your mind occupied I guess, and it's nice to see that such a list is the result! Interesting to see how much thoughts you've put into your team to balance it. I feel that Drilbur/Exadrill matches your character better than Numel/Camerupt.

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

If we indeed run into Professor Mallorn in Corsage, he will receive a big thank-you from Shiva because the Guidebook gifted by him turns out really interesting and handy.

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

(...) but then...." Ventus said, before trailing off into uncomfortable silence. His head was tilted down to the ground, in an attempt to hide his downcast expression from his friend, and his eyes had that sad look in them again.

"Things changed. As they are want to do." Silence.....

Oh no! I sense what is coming now... Sorry! Wasn't my intention, really not! Should have known, though...

[Lord Windos]

Well, we already know Numel and Camerupt reside in the region thanks to the Camerupt in Ginger Town. Numel can probably be found around Mt. Molten, or easily traded for. Mt. Molten can only be easily accessed from Trillium though, which is at the base of the volcano, and there's a lot of inherent danger in climbing an active volcano.

Drilbur, if it can be found in the region, is probably most likely to be in Mt. Sentry, which is riddled with caves. It can be accessed from both capitals and Trillium, so there'll be plenty of opportunities to explore it later.

I would quite like to get either one or another if I could, or both if I have the resources! Having both available to switch in and out of my team as necessary would be precaution, at least! If I had to choose one, however, I would love to have Drilbur, as its part Steel type, addresses most of the problem in my team, and is a Unovian Pokémon to boot! Have to represent the region in some way, correct?

If we indeed run into Professor Mallorn in Corsage, he will receive a big thank-you from Shiva because the Guidebook gifted by him turns our really interesting and handy.

Ventus would probably have a few stern words with the man, mainly over ordering children to pick potentially dangerous plant, hunting Legendary or extremely powerful (and dangerous) Pokémon for use as mail carriers, as well as not exactly doing the best job of preparing them for the journey, given that he just handed them their Pokémon and a few items, forced them to pay for the rest of the supplies, before shoving them off without anymore formal instruction. Vincent and Ventus could count as he way of doing the for Nathan, Shiva, and Larry, but its a bit lazy on his part to pile on those responsibilities to people ALREADY doing a job/task for them...

[Lord Windos]

(...) but then...." Ventus said, before trailing off into uncomfortable silence. His head was tilted down to the ground, in an attempt to hide his downcast expression from his friend, and his eyes had that sad look in them again.

"Things changed. As they are want to do." Silence.....

Oh no! I sense what is coming now... Sorry! Wasn't my intention, really not! Should have known, though...

Well, he did tell her that his mom owned a flower shop in his 1.5 Backstory of Origins and Foreshadowing of DOOM and DESPAIR, so she should have remembered and forsaw this reaction...