[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Iron]

Fennekin is sent out!

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

"Well, Shiva, who's next? Have you gotten a feel for how strong multiple actions are yet?"

"Eh... Nope. It doesn't go that fast. Anyway, good call to break my beloved Plus-Minus-Combination..."

[Iron]

Shiva vs Nathan Round 2!

Grid latches onto Swiftfire, careful to avoid hotspots. The Joltik in its natural habitat: the flank of a much larger mammal.

Then it fires a Thunder Wave at Fennekin.

Thunder Wave
6 dice, -2 actions
(1)(1)(6)(2) Miss!

Howl
(4)(3) It works.

Growl
4* Dex + 2 Fight + 0 Perform -2 actions = 4 dice
(5)(1)(5)(4) Hit
Minun loses 1 Strength
Fennekin's is cancelled out, as he lets loose a mighty Howl!


Nuzzle on Swiftfire.
(4)(2)(6)(6)
3* Str (Nasty Plot - Growl) + 1 power +1 STAB - 3 vit = 2 dice
(2)(1) No damage, but Swiftfire is paralyzed.


Leech Life on Minun
(5)(3)(1)
(1)(1)(6) Again, Nathan's early lead is hampered by the cursed Snake Eyes.

Ember on Joltik
Joltik has cover. Coinflip to determine between full body cover and half cover.
(2) Joltik has half cover. Two damage dice shall be removed.
(2)(2)(4) Hit
5 damage dice after Growl'n'Howl, -2 for cover, -3 vit = 1 dice minimum +1 SE
(2) Grid takes 1 damage. 4/6hp -1 pain.
Burn: (5)
Flash Fire activates +1 damage as some of the Ember hits the hoss.

Flame Charge on Minun
2* Dex + 2 Fight + 1 Brawl -3 actions -1 pain = 1 dice
(5)
4* Str + 2 power + 1 StAB -2 vit = 5 dice
(5)(5)(3)(2)(1) Minun takes 2 damage. 4/6hp -1 pain.



Shiva vs Nathan Round 3!

So much is happening!
Minun: 4/6hp, net +1 Str, -1 Dex
Grid: 4/6hp
Swiftfire: net -1 Dex, +1 Str, 4/6
Fennekin: net +0 Str, 6/6hp.

[Iron]

Shiva simply recalls Fennekin and sends in Azurill to make a performance! The flowercrown and Soothe Bell are still evident.

Nathan will have to update his orders if he wishes.

[Dragonstrike]

Gah, that was clever. Now he was at a complete disadvantage...time to change tactics. She was better than he thought she might be...

[Iron]

Shiva vs Nathan Round 3!

Quick Attack on Swiftfire
(6)(4) Hit
(4)(2) Swiftfire takes 1 damage. 3/6

Leech Life on Minun
6 dice, -1 pain right now, -2 actions
(2)(1)(3)(4) Hit
(6)(5)(1) Minun takes 2 damage. 2/6hp, -2 pain.
Grid is now at 5/6hp.

"Azu... Looks like it's your time to shine. Here's your chance to try out your new move, bring that annoying fire horse down! Don't be afraid of that eelectric spider. It cannot really hurt you, dear one."

Bubble Beam on Swiftfire, holding back
2 Dex + 2 Fight + 2 Channel -2 actions = 4 dice
(6)(6)(6)(1) A square hit.
2 Str + 3 power -3 vit = 2d6+1
(6)(6) Swiftfire takes 1.5 damage. Azu cheers as Swiftfire will be withdrawn!!
Chance: (5), if moves stack with status conditions. I'd have to look it up if this had succeeded.

League match rules say that if both parties agree to consider 1hp fainting, the Pokemon can't make more moves at the point of withdrawal. It's as if they had fainted. Makes sense, right? Hadn't come up in that exact way before so I thought I'd make a note of it.
Note that this is not how wild Pokemon will behave. I usually have them make one last attack, then flee, if they aren't the type to go down fighting.

Rulebook also says Hold Back deals half damage, rounded down. That can put you in an awkward place when trying to leave a friend with 1hp. For wild Pokemon I'm going to enforce this rule, but for League battles you can round either direction. How's that sound? This way nobody faints but the victim doesn't get a free extra round of life, which would punish mercy. Minimum is still 1 damage, so if your opponent has 2hp, it's always safe to hold back no matter the situation.

Leech Life 2
6 dice, -0 pain, -3 actions
(4)(1)(3) Hit
(4)(2)(2)
Grid is fully healed
Minun is out of the fight


Bubble Beam 2
(4)(1)(3)
(6)(3) Grid takes 1 damage. 5/6hp.
Check: (2)


Shiva vs Nathan Round 4!

[Dragonstrike]

"Great job, Swiftfire. Come on back, now."

She makes a pretty quick retreat from the battlefield. Why did bubbles have to hurt so much?! Nathan and Kirlia soothe her for a little bit, assuring her that she did her part well. Nathan then recalls her for some well deserved rest.

"Well then, Shiva, seems I might not have to hold back after all. You seem to have picked up the basics relatively quickly, and I haven't purposely held back anything so far. Let's see if you can continue keeping pace..."

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

(I am getting the following right, am I? --> )
- Swiftfire got defeated, unable to battle.
- Grid is at 5/6 HP.
- Azurill is at 5/5 HP and overjoyed about her victory over Ponyta.
- On my side, I lost Plusle and Minun.
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Oh, wait a moment... Just as desired, his Ponyta bended over Azurill's Bubble Beam! Feels good. "Very well done, Azu! Keep it up like that, please. Remember, once we made it to evolve you, your Bubble Beam will become stronger within the same breath."

However, there go her rodents - they belong together for several reasons, and targeting one one of the pair to break the combination was a smart call... Well, what else was there to expected from Nathan?

"Hmm? Ah, basics... I know the basics very well. Just need to explore my possibilities. So, what do you send out as a battle partner for, what did you call the spider again, Grid?"

[Dragonstrike]

(Yes, Swiftfire is down, as are the electric mice. Grid has 5 HP since he took a Bubblebeam. Azu and everything else are unharmed still. That's the situation currently)

"Exploring possibilities is a good thing, and I'd say you're doing a good job of taking advantage of your options so far! Well, when you're ready, let's fill this battlefield again. Looking rather empty with only two out of the four pokemon out, no? And yes, the Joltik's nickname is Grid."

[Iron]

Shiva, you will have to send me your next Pokemon in a PM before you know the identity of Nathan's next Pokemon. Unless you two decide to do it differently as a handicap.