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

[Lord Windos]

Also just remembered: Raphael knows After You, so they could use it on Oinari/Dittosect if they go before Deoxys' Modified Genesect (Henceforth referred to as DMG) and they go after it too. That could tip the scales in our favors....

[Dragonstrike]

Spoiler

Eh......I'm not too keen of giving Genesect a buff on top of Confusion, unless I can have Pixie out to Snatch that portion of the Move. Don't we have any other Pokemon that can learn Confuse Ray (Since pretty lights can elicit an emotional response/change in just about anything with light sensory organs and a developed enough brain, particularly INSECTS), or knows it already?

....I honestly should have expected that the Ditto would have its HA, given how special it was and the big deal its always been treated as, but to quote an most irritating being, 'Hindsight can be such a pain.' Pretty impressed that you managed to keep it secret for THAT long, though, so congrats for that! Maybe Ditto can save us all, if they're able to replicate even a fraction of a Genesect's POWER and Plot Devices!

Concerns of yours:
- Terra has 4 DEX and 5 Survival, so he's not exactly the slowest anymore. He's no speed demon like Nathan, but he can keep up now!
- ....Well, sometimes, one has to throw themselves on the sword in order to achieve victory. Whether or not that will be required is to be decided. Ideally, someone is willing to body block for Lilith long enough for her to Flatter Confuse it, Pixie Snatches any buffs on them she can (among other stuff), and then once they're mentally softened up THEN Oinari can be sent out. Alternatively, send both her and Imposter Ditto simultaneously regardless of Confusion (Ideally with it, but we can adapt!), and try to scare/Intimidate it with DOUBLE GENESECT TROUBLE!
- Pixie Snatch Steal! She can survive at least one hit if necessary, so if someone can Flatter/Swagger Genesect (Or just plain Confuse him), then she can just steal the STR Portion of the buff!
- Ember's Intimidation factor comes less from its actual firepower, and more from the fact that a fellow Genesect of its can USE FIRE , possibly AGAINST IT. If anything, Illusion can probably extend to the visual appearance of her attacks that Oinari can do (Otherwise Illusion wouldn't be nearly as effective as it is), and Terra has pretty decent Perform Status + Intimidation to pull a 'Fear/Intidimidating Display' (And can raise Perform to 3 right NOW), so pulling the act is not totally impossible. His Contest career is coming in hand outside of Belly Drum, surprisingly !

Its a risky gambit, like I said, but if we can pull it off....well, I need not speak for the results, am I right?

Don't forget Flatter lowers Strength in this game instead of increasing it.

The main concern I have about Confuse Ray is its original accuracy roll doesn't use a Social Attribute, unlike Swagger and Flatter.  It's not an inherently emotional move. Sweet Kiss is another Confusion inflicting move that originally used a Social Attribute in its accuracy roll that could be considered (if anyone has it/can learn it right now).

Lol.  Why do you think I knew how much exp Ditto's HA cost?  I asked Iron about it awhile back, and finally spent the exp on it when we got to the jungle, and Spira just used it for the first time when Ditto turned into Hida (Ditto's been so excited to have a chance to try out its new Ability ever since it was changed by the Millenium Comet's presence). The catch is that Ditto's random transformations take priority over Imposter (though it's not a major issue unless said random transformation is of the semi-permanent variety).  I honestly think the Ability is rather fitting for Nathan's Ditto, though, given how sporadic its Transformations can be.

There is ONE line in the book right after the listing of Kanto Pokemon that might throw a wrench into the Ditto plan.  'Legendary Pokemon and Plot Deviced Abilities/Moves cannot be replicated by Pokemon who copy Abilities, Moves, or Pokemon.'

Obviously, it doesn't work like that in the games, and this Genesect is weaker than a typical Legend (though still powerful), but whether Imposter might work on Genesect at all is at Iron's discretion.  Illusion's probably a different matter since you aren't truly copying anything.

Fair point on Terra having a +9 Initiative now. That isn't too bad, on second thought.

[Lord Windos]

Don't forget Flatter lowers Strength in this game instead of increasing it.

The main concern I have about Confuse Ray is its original accuracy roll doesn't use a Social Attribute, unlike Swagger and Flatter.  It's not an inherently emotional move.  Sweet Kiss is another Confusion inflicting move that originally used a Social Attribute in its accuracy roll that could be considered (if anyone has it/can learn it right now).

Lol.  Why do you think I knew how much exp Ditto's HA cost?  I asked Iron about it awhile back, and finally spent the exp on it when we got to the jungle, and Spira just used it for the first time when Ditto turned into Hida (Ditto's been so excited to have a chance to try out its new Ability ever since it was changed by the Millenium Comet's presence). The catch is that Ditto's random transformations take priority over Imposter (though it's not a major issue unless said random transformation is of the semi-permanent variety).  I honestly think the Ability is rather fitting for Nathan's Ditto, though, given how sporadic its Transformations can be.

There is ONE line in the book right after the listing of Kanto Pokemon that might throw a wrench into the Ditto plan.  'Legendary Pokemon and Plot Deviced Abilities/Moves cannot be replicated by Pokemon who copy Abilities, Moves, or Pokemon.'

Obviously, it doesn't work like that in the games, and this Genesect is weaker than a typical Legend (though still powerful), but whether Imposter might work on Genesect at all is at Iron's discretion.  Illusion's probably a different matter since you aren't truly copying anything.

Fair point on Terra having a +9 Initiative now.  That isn't too bad, on second thought.

Oh! Well, that would work WONDERS, then! Particularly with body blocking and/or After You support!

Fair enough. Sweet Kiss can be used as an alternative means to Confuse DMG, if necessary and possible.

Hmm.....well, let Iron be the judge of that. I honestly can agree with either letting or not letting Ditto Transformed into a weak version of a Legend, so I can't really put an argue in favor of it beyond 'It'll help save our bacon in the event shit goes fucky!'  Oinari's Illusion should be possible, though (Not necessarily successful, mind us), since Iron really hasn't implied the contrary yet - more the opposite, really, if what I'm getting by reading between the lines is right.

So....all we have to do now is wait for Phantom, Mika, and Spirit to throw in their approval/own ideas to take care of DMG , then figure out how we are going to engage it. Ideally, that would involve Spira, Shiva, and Heart + the Scims serving as the initial confronting force to leave Nathan/Terra to prepare to unleash their knock-off DMGs , then do so once it's actually Confused and/or sufficiently weakened enough that the ploy has better odds of success. 

Worst case scenaro, the group has scads of Pokemon with ROCK SMASH, and Iron pretty much said that it's limbs/drones are its weak points, so target those parts with the HM and you should get SOME effect. Angie could even Dig underground and create a pit trap, then collapse it underneath DMG to buy us some time against it, if necessary. Or maybe Heart's Doublade can get a Deus Ex Machina into Aegislash, if the group really screws the Poocheyena and gets their arse serve on DMG's stone blades, because I don't think Iron would want us to fail at this stage of the game. Maybe against Deoyxs itself of in the League challenge, but not in the Skull Ruins (Fingers crossed) until we fight the True Big Bad of it.

Here's hoping we can pull this off without me having to go full Shirou Emiya.....

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

I can certainly confuse that Genesect, but I will not do so with Lilith's Flatter, too risky since she's naturally weak to this thing's STAB-Bug Type attacks. I'd prefer to do so with Raphael's Sweet Kiss. Apart from that, me feels paralyzing or putting it to sleep at the soonest opportunity would be a decent call, I honestly WANT to fight this thing to earn the first Ancient Artifact and keep our word with Noble Cofagrigus.

Mika, if you're planning to use Hida in this potential battle, do you want to loan that Expert Belt Shiva's having for him to hold? It'd grant another point of auto-damage on his STAB-Fire Type Moves, making it 3 in total. I've got a free Charcoal too if someone's interested.

Iron, I've got two questions I'd like you to ask: These four drones, do they count as seperate foes/is there a risk that they will attack as well? I don't THINK so because they're mindless, but it could still be possible. And does Shiva believe that they CAN attack this modified Genesect at all, means, it is not encloaked in some plot-deviced forcefield that prevents any damage? If it is even invisibly, I feel Shiva's sixth sense will notice.

[Spiritmon]

Forgive me the delay in answer the messages. I return home yesterday with all my body broken after work. Ouch.

In regards about the plan, I could bring Rose and Doublade, to the first one be Heart strongest Pokemon, and use huge fire power against such beast like Genesect, and the former summon barriers of protection with Wide Guard. This might give both Terra and Nathan to pull of the Illusion/Imposter strategy.

Or I could summon Gustav, and send waves of Muddy Water to reduce Genesect accuracy and his drones.

And there is our last effort like Politoed Perish song, but I would need time and it could be risk if there any Pokemon in the field.

Suggestions?

[Lord Windos]

Forgive me the delay in answer the messages. I return home yesterday with all my body broken after work. Ouch.

In regards about the plan, I could bring Rose and Doublade, to the first one be Heart strongest Pokemon, and use huge fire power against such beast like Genesect, and the former summon barriers of protection with Wide Guard. This might give both Terra and Nathan to pull of the Illusion/Imposter strategy.

Or I could summon Gustav, and send waves of Muddy Water to reduce Genesect accuracy and his drones.

And there is our last effort like Politoed Perish song, but I would need time and it could be risk if there any Pokemon in the field.

Suggestions?

Yeesh, what sort of job did ya get, mate? Sounds like hard labor to me, or at least something mighty uncomfortable!

Thing is, a Pokemon's/Trainer's relative power means squat against a Legend or Plot Deviced Pokemon. You got to either know its weaknesses and/or the clue to how it 'works' in other to actually 'beat' these types of Encounters. Rose and Doublade are the best choices for a fight against the primal beast, though, as it does NOT like Fire too much and Doublade's association with the Royal Blood Line might make it possible to use them as a means to get them not to murdalate you/them (That is, if its not too stupid/wild for such a tactic). That, and they know rather Ploty Moves (ROCK SMASH and Sacred Sword [Which supposedly Ignores Target's Stat Changes, which could potentially include Plot Devices if we are being generous with the interp.] respectively), which are always a boon to have against a Plotty Boss. 

But really, anything that could help the gambit get pulled off is good stuff (Like drawing aggro long enough to Confuse the bleeder and for us to Step In), so long as you actually want to support it, mate.

Muddy Water is no likely to work, unless it's part Rock type (And even then it'll only do 1 Plot Damage), nor its Accuracy Drop, since it isn't a mental/emotional effect style debuff.

On the matter of putting it to sleep, that COULD be possible with Hypnosis (Fucks with the mind/emotions, like a true Psychic Move does!) , but the question of doing that is 'Is that really viable, and how long would the DMG be out?' That, and 'What about the Drones?'

However.....Perish Song could very well work. It rather blatantly says it messes/instills emotional response in a target, so that could possibly outright get rid of them if Iron would be so generous as to give us such an out (Hint: I doubt they will), or at the very least majorly mess with it. Problem is that is AoE, meaning that either we have to accept that any Pokemon that get sent out during the initial song days are numbered, or we have to concede to inopportune switches mid Legendary Fight. Considering the fact that Plot Device Damage outright KOes a Pokemon in two hits or less (Or Kills them, if its SE), though, I don't think we have to worry about friendly fire from the frog's song.

So....so far I'm seeing 3 Votes for Operation Bluff Da Big Bad Bug, and 1 Vote for Slug Fest with an added dose of Status (If it can work), and the possibility of either Sleep and/or Perish Song HAX. I'm rather surprised that it's Phantom of all people that want to go the Red Route, as opposed to Blue/Green (If I am using these terms right), as they and their character are usually the paragons of 'Let's not fight and be friends instead!' or 'Time for a Third Option: Roleplay!' . Meanwhile I/Terra are the ones that want to bash heads in and break/bypass roadblock the vast majority of the time, but I've somehow ended up becoming the lead diplomat stroke planner for trying to get around the difficult bits with as little fuss/strife as possible once the Skull Ruins Dungeon Dive had officially began.

It's honestly a bit confusing and disconcerting that this role reversal happening, as I distinctly recall the very same taking place with Ventus once he began his Character Derailment and straight into Moral Myopia and possible Insanity (Well, re-emerging mental issues, but same thing in the end), only in reverse (He goes from bumbling peacenik and friend to all beings into 'Fuck with me and mine own, and I will personally hunt you down and end your miserable existence in the most horrid ways I can imagine or can do on short notice'). I also find it somewhat amusing, but that's besides the point.

Again, I'm rather confused as to HOW this happened. How? I know I'm a schemer and general 'find the easy way' sort of player often times, but not to this extent. 

.....Anyway, what shall we do, mates? Proceed with Bluff Da BBB, try Perish Song/Mental Sleep HAX, some combination thereof, or just punch the dang thing hard enough that it finally flees from our sheer insane dedication to slugging it out with it?

EDIT: Remember that Oinari knows FOUL PLAY, which use's the foe's own power against them. If necessary/feasible, that could also be used in the Fear/Intimidation Display to show that it's 'counterpart' is at least as strong as they are, and further reinforce the bluff!

[Spiritmon]

We sell license products with nerd theme: Marvel, DC, Anime, Toons, series, etc etc. My part of the job begin afternoon and go until night, within 6 hours per day. I get a day of week to rest. Yesterday however I had to help build the first place we get selling our products. A bookstall I think it could be the translation.

Regardless, with Wide Guard, I think we could minimize a little some of the damage we received. Not to mentioned I could order Rose to summon Blast Burn, her most powerful Fire Move. She would need to recharge after such power so I need you guys to cover me.

Perish Song it's pretty risk, but it is our best gamble to Finish off all foes. I not gonna sacrifice Terra or anyone else.

What's is the answer everyone? I go with Perish Song strategy and Illusion thing.

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

(...) So....so far I'm seeing 3 Votes for Operation Bluff Da Big Bad Bug, and 1 Vote for Slug Fest with an added dose of Status (If it can work), and the possibility of either Sleep and/or Perish Song HAX. I'm rather surprised that it's Phantom of all people that want to go the Red Route, as opposed to Blue/Green (If I am using these terms right), as they and their character are usually the paragons of 'Let's not fight and be friends instead!' or 'Time for a Third Option: Roleplay!' . Meanwhile I/Terra are the ones that want to bash heads in and break/bypass roadblock the vast majority of the time, but I've somehow ended up becoming the lead diplomat stroke planner for trying to get around the difficult bits with as little fuss/strife as possible once the Skull Ruins Dungeon Dive had officially began.

It's honestly a bit confusing and disconcerting that this role reversal happening, as I distinctly recall the very same taking place with Ventus once he began his Character Derailment and straight into Moral Myopia and possible Insanity (Well, re-emerging mental issues, but same thing in the end), only in reverse (He goes from bumbling peacenik and friend to all beings into 'Fuck with me and mine own, and I will personally hunt you down and end your miserable existence in the most horrid ways I can imagine or can do on short notice'). I also find it somewhat amusing, but that's besides the point.

Again, I'm rather confused as to HOW this happened. How? I know I'm a schemer and general 'find the easy way' sort of player often times, but not to this extent. (...)

Haha, that's fun. ^^ But it's actually not much of a mystery why Shiva's being so set on challenging this Modified Genesect, few reasons that come together: Her usual way of trying to get to know and make first friends with THIS thing borders to pure madness, I don't think that even she would succeed on that. I'm somewhat hesitant to get closer to Genesect/get its attention to engage in some friendly rp'ing for the same reason. And, we kinda make an agreement with Noble Cofagrigus that if we defeat that thing (Genesect, not the spectral coffin themselves), we're given a golden key or the Artifact at best. Shiva's incredibly set and adamant on receiving the latter.

Don't be worried though that Ventus' 'derailment' starts to rub off on Shiva, the natural fae enthusiast isn't mad or insane and has quite a different background. They seem to share the trait of 'Harm me or my loved ones, and you will pay and suffer' though, with Ven being much muuuuch more willing to take violent actions. She doesn't mind that quirk of her chosen one though.

.....Anyway, what shall we do, mates? Proceed with Bluff Da BBB, try Perish Song/Mental Sleep HAX, some combination thereof, or just punch the dang thing hard enough that it finally flees from our sheer insane dedication to slugging it out with it?

(...) Perish Song it's pretty risk, but it is our best gamble to Finish off all foes. I not gonna sacrifice Terra or anyone else.
What's is the answer everyone? I go with Perish Song strategy and Illusion thing.

Basically, I'm up for anything that will earn us Cofagrigus' approval and the first ancient Artifact, I just hardly see any other way than fighting that Genesect.

I'm strictly against using Perish Song unless heavily needed, for the simply reason that it will KO a massive amount of our own Pokemon, including all of Marco's Pokemon. No, just.... no. Please don't.

One thing I am wondering about though, what is the use/idea behind the Imposter-Illusionary-Idea, @Lord Windos? I don't quite get that, apart from how it shall be pulled off. I'm very fine with that part, indeed, but how will such an action progress things - or to word it differently, what shall happen once it succeeds? (Sneak past the Genesect, grab the Artifact and make haste the further way? That sounds like betrayal towards Cofagrigus, and if Genesect ends up pursuing us it will come to a fight anyway).

[Lord Windos]

.....Anyway, what shall we do, mates? Proceed with Bluff Da BBB, try Perish Song/Mental Sleep HAX, some combination thereof, or just punch the dang thing hard enough that it finally flees from our sheer insane dedication to slugging it out with it?

(...) Perish Song it's pretty risk, but it is our best gamble to Finish off all foes. I not gonna sacrifice Terra or anyone else.
What's is the answer everyone? I go with Perish Song strategy and Illusion thing.

Basically, I'm up for anything that will earn us Cofagrigus' approval and the first ancient Artifact, I just hardly see any other way than fighting that Genesect.

I'm strictly against using Perish Song unless heavily needed, for the simply reason that it will KO a massive amount of our own Pokemon, including all of Marco's Pokemon. No, just.... no. Please don't.

One thing I am wondering about though, what is the use/idea behind the Imposter-Illusionary-Idea, @Lord Windos? I don't quite get that, apart from how it shall be pulled off. I'm very fine with that part, indeed, but how will such an action progress things - or to word it differently, what shall happen once it succeeds? (Sneak past the Genesect, grab the Artifact and make haste the further way? That sounds like betrayal towards Cofagrigus, and if Genesect ends up pursuing us it will come to a fight anyway).

We don't even know Perish Song would work like we want in the first place, so I don't mind seeing it shelved for the time being. However, it's also best to be used as early as possible, as they more Pokemon the group has out and ready to field, the more bodies we have to stall out the PS Turns. Dragonstrike, Spirit, Mika, what do you think?

Essentialy, I DO want to resolve DMG without Fighting them with Operation Bluff Da BBB, or ideally screw with it SO much that it becomes easier to take down. Unlike you/Shiva, Terra made NO agreement with Cofagrigus and has always put the saftey of the group first and foremost, so if he can find a way to bypass DMG without much fighting, by golly gee he'll take it!

[Iron]

The drones can be targeted with attacks. You sense a ton of Earthpower here, but not as much as Seikamater by any means.