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

[Lord Windos]

Hitmonlee could also be packing Blaze Kick, which is definitely not a move you want to be on the receiving end of if you can help it.  3 power, chance of Burn 2, and high crit is quite dangerous, more than making up for the lack of STAB and/or Reckless.  Still probably a lot better than taking a potentially Reckless boosted JK/HJK to the face, though.  +2 Power for a 4/5 power move is...ow.  (assuming Iron lets the Ability apply to those moves because it does in the games instead of not because the move doesn't have the Recoil symbol in the book like the Ability's wording requires.  Otherwise, the Ability isn't very useful on Hitmonlee at all)

I could maybe go for taking A-Marowak while you go for the duck, but I'm also kinda curious to see what Heart, Spira, and Shiva do as well.  Lots of opportunities for rare and/or powerful pokemon here, and I'm not sure anyone wants to get directly involved in this battle IC.  We might be splitting ourselves among the 3 pokemon, maybe the items, and maybe getting out of dodge.

It gets THAT move?! Holy moly, if that kick boxer wasn't one to be toyed with before, it certainly shouldn't be now! STAB JK/HJK is always deadily regardless of a Reckless Boost - Which is should have, imo, since Recoil Damage is sorta rolled for any miss on either Move - , so a Ghost or sturdy enough Fairy/Bug/Poison type is all but mandatory to fighting him somewhat safely.

Then I guess we wait until everyone else decides on what Encounters they want to pick! I don't expect Shiva to want and stick around in the middle of a war zone, but Heart would probably be fine given his background and Blood Line, and Spira is nearly as tough as Terra + isn't afraid to be savage (Judging by their treatment of Yanmega), so him remaining in the turmoil isn't a stretch. Only time will tell what everyone else ends up choosing, though!

[Dragonstrike]

I don't really want to deal with Gen VII moves, but he'll have at least a rare ?  move.

Then I hope A-Marowak can learn/knows Shadow Ball and/or Hex, because those are literally its only other Ghost type attacking options in Gen 7.

Mini rant: I still don't understand why A-Marowak learns Shadow Bone at level 27 despite Cubone evolving at level 28...they could have made it an evolution move like A-Exeggutor's Dragon Hammer, but noooooo, they had to make it something weird that you couldn't get until it was time to challenge the Elite 4 in Gen 7 (unless you did trading shenanigans or used a gift A-Marowak in US/UM)...

[Dragonstrike]

It gets THAT move?! Holy moly, if that kick boxer wasn't one to be toyed with before, it certainly shouldn't be now! STAB JK/HJK is always deadily regardless of a Reckless Boost - Which is should have, imo, since Recoil Damage is sorta rolled for any miss on either Move - , so a Ghost or sturdy enough Fairy/Bug/Poison type is all but mandatory to fighting him somewhat safely.

It could also have Mega Kick, Close Combat, Reversal...even Bounce and Mach Punch if we get into ? move territory.  Given this Hitmon is actively screwing with Sarimanok's side and dodging around their attacks like it's nothing, he's probably quite experienced. Revenge, Rolling Kick, and Brick Break aren't to be underestimated either.

If you were to somehow capture Hitmonlee, you'd have a very powerful (but probably not Loyal) potential ally.  Alternatively, you could end up with a pokemon and/or item that was stolen from Sarimanok's army (also probably not Loyal, but definitely still really powerful)...or you could simply just get boatloads of exp for challenging the Hard difficulty encounter.

[Iron]

I don't really want to deal with Gen VII moves, but he'll have at least a rare ?  move.

Then I hope A-Marowak can learn/knows Shadow Ball and/or Hex, because those are literally its only other Ghost type attacking options in Gen 7.

Mini rant: I still don't understand why A-Marowak learns Shadow Bone at level 27 despite Cubone evolving at level 28...they could have made it an evolution move like A-Exeggutor's Dragon Hammer, but noooooo, they had to make it something weird that you couldn't get until it was time to challenge the Elite 4 in Gen 7 (unless you did trading shenanigans or used a gift A-Marowak in US/UM)...

I've heard Gen VII has a lot of poorly thought out levels.

[Dragonstrike]

I've heard Gen VII has a lot of poorly thought out levels.

And almost everything is really, really slow when fully evolved, yet really speedy when they aren't (with a few notable exceptions).  I guess it's kinda cool that almost everything has a signature move/ability of some kind, though, I guess?  Lots of really weird and new abilities and moves were introduced in that gen.  Shadow Bone is just the worst example of a move's terrible level placement (particularly since this was the gen where they introduced Evolution moves...).

Honestly, the levels moves are learned at is the least of the complaints I've heard/have voiced myself, except where A-Marowak's Shadow Bone is concerned. When you're a physical attacker that can't even learn your only physical Ghost STAB until the end of the game and it's not even because it's learned at a super duper high level, it reflects extremely poorly on that design choice.

The other major evolution progression related complaint that's really common is the magnetic field and ice rock locales. They're also both in the end game, when you're just about at the Elite 4. Evolving Charjabug into Vikavolt, Nosepass into Probopass, Magneton into Magnezone, Crabrawler into Crabominable, and Eevee into Glaceon also all take until just before the Elite 4 in Sun and Moon. The ice type evos are slightly more bearable in US/UM because you can evolve them at the base of Mt. Lanakila just before the 6th Trial, but it's still a loooonnnnggg time before you can evolve them into Ice types.

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

(...) I could maybe go for taking A-Marowak while you go for the duck, but I'm also kinda curious to see what Heart, Spira, and Shiva do as well.  Lots of opportunities for rare and/or powerful pokemon here, and I'm not sure anyone wants to get directly involved in this battle IC.  We might be splitting ourselves among the 3 pokemon, maybe the items, and maybe getting out of dodge. (...)

(...) Then I guess we wait until everyone else decides on what Encounters they want to pick! I don't expect Shiva to want and stick around in the middle of a war zone, but Heart would probably be fine given his background and Blood Line, and Spira is nearly as tough as Terra + isn't afraid to be savage (Judging by their treatment of Yanmega), so him remaining in the turmoil isn't a stretch. Only time will tell what everyone else ends up choosing, though!

*sly snickring* Please don't start underestimating me - It itches me to have Shiva display some unexpected bravery and boldness by engaging in some dramatic and spectacular battle. ☆ So please everyone, give me a chance to do that and have her earn a bit of spotlight!

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Let's see, I'm not interested in the Encounters that require successfull dodging the battlezone (No. 7 onwards) because I don't want to run away from things in this particular situation, nor in the *Farfetch'd or the Trainer Supplies as taking them goes against my desire to have Shiva do something honorable and heroic. Which practically only leaves two options:


- From what I am reading, you're mostly interested in taking on Encounter No.1 (that hard[?]*Hitmonlee messing with King Sarimanok's side) but wish for aid, @Lord Windos? Please allow me to be the one to help then, I'm ALL up to join you in this if you're okay, Pokemon fighting for will either be Raphael or Delphox, or if allowed and doable in this scene (@Iron?), both of them. If not, it'll be Raphael.
EDIT: Or how about Nightshade? This would mean giving up on dealing SE-damage for the advantage of Flower Gift Ability for us.

- If not, finding a free Rapidash and engaging in a 1vs1 against someone in the Western Plains (Encounter No.3) would be it. Shiva knows how to ride Pokemon and is willing to swallow her fear here in order to be recognized and honored or so. She'll definitely fight for King Sarimanok's side as everythingelse is a horrible idea. This will bring some mechanical questions from my side:

Spoiler

- Is Raphael possible to be the one fighting for my side? He may not be able to 'ride' Rapidash with me but could hover above me or so. I'd really would like to have a dramatic battle with him that'll hopefully strengthen the bond between him and Shiva if all goes well, and the Pokemon for the 1vs1 needs to be a versatile fighter, minimum 8HP, worth of gaining a good amount of XP (a Fairy Type move for Raphael!!), trust and listen to Shiva, be a member of Fairy Type at best, and optimally having a way to heal suffered damage+boost+deal lethal damage. If not, I'd lean into choosing Azu.

- Would Shiva even be allowed to battle as a female? I hope so.

[Mikaruge108]

Unless someone else wants to Spira will go for the A-Marowak.

[Dragonstrike]

Okay, so Spira will probably need a Dex check, then...Shiva won't...Terra won't...



Question, @Iron: if we 'pass' the Dex check with 2+ successes, do we still have the option of picking an encounter from the first 6 options? And if we fail that check, am I understanding the wording correctly when it implies that we have to take an encounter from the first 6 options?

[Dragonstrike]

Spoiler

Let's see, I'm not interested in the Encounters that require successfull dodging the battlezone (No. 7 onwards) because I don't want to run away from things in this particular situation, nor in the *Farfetch'd or the Trainer Supplies as taking them goes against my desire to have Shiva do something honorable and heroic. Which practically only leaves two options:


- From what I am reading, you're mostly interested in taking on Encounter No.1 (that hard[?]*Hitmonlee messing with King Sarimanok's side) but wish for aid, @Lord Windos? Please allow me to be the one to help then, I'm ALL up to join you in this if you're okay, Pokemon fighting for will either be Raphael or Delphox, or if allowed and doable in this scene (@Iron?), both of them. If not, it'll be Raphael.
EDIT: Or how about Nightshade? This would mean giving up on dealing SE-damage for the advantage of Flower Gift Ability for us.

- If not, finding a free Rapidash and engaging in a 1vs1 against someone in the Western Plains (Encounter No.3) would be it. Shiva knows how to ride Pokemon and is willing to swallow her fear here in order to be recognized and honored or so. She'll definitely fight for King Sarimanok's side as everythingelse is a horrible idea. This will bring some mechanical questions from my side:

Spoiler

- Is Raphael possible to be the one fighting for my side? He may not be able to 'ride' Rapidash with me but could hover above me or so. I'd really would like to have a dramatic battle with him that'll hopefully strengthen the bond between him and Shiva if all goes well, and the Pokemon for the 1vs1 needs to be a versatile fighter, minimum 8HP, worth of gaining a good amount of XP (a Fairy Type move for Raphael!!), trust and listen to Shiva, be a member of Fairy Type at best, and optimally having a way to heal suffered damage+boost+deal lethal damage. If not, I'd lean into choosing Azu.

- Would Shiva even be allowed to battle as a female? I hope so.

Saving a pokemon's life even if it puts your own at risk is very honorable and heroic imo.

Fighting some random noble from Sarimanok's army is probably a lot less risky than fighting the general of the force, imo.  Probably slightly tougher than fighting the guys who live in the west, though.