[Meta Thread] Pokerole Mystery Dungeon: Primal Shadows

[Spiritmon]

YES! FINALLY! Now we can begin our strategy. At first I though in use the same strategy I did back there. Use Bulk Up, and then follow with Quick Attack+Shadow Punch. But now I not so sure since Landorus is preparing himself for a bit attack...Should I strike quick and fast, or should I focus in buff first.

Also as a side note, once again Kogeki one of the last in the initiative...*Sigh* Gonna tell you, sometimes I think the dice simply hate me.

[Dragonstrike]

For clarity by the way, similar to the Tornadus and Thundurus fights, those four pillars of rock can be used as cover.

[Lord Windos]

Intriguing, both the outcomes of the Big Snek fight. Grudgingly it was probably for the best we actually dodged that optional boss, as while Item Block on occasion is a nasty but ultimately tolerable problem, scads of party-wide passive damage coupled with it (or by itself, for that matter) is less so. Abaddon and Diam operated under similar principles with their slow but steady Attritional Strats to great effect, and it's a combo I had in mind for Genie (Toxic + Sand Tomb + Sandstorm w/ Spikes and/or Rocks) before she ended up becoming a Fissure/Rock Slide killbot by the end of her showtime. Still, it'd have been a sweet fight all the same, if perhaps a touch too risky for most....

As for the Lando Fight itself, I'll get back to you mates later. I've working on stuff that has needed my full attention for awhile, so if any of you have been wondering about me being quiet lately, well there you go. Suffice to say right now, though, is that everyone should probably take Cover behind one of the pillars and set their first Action to Buffing or scouting out how the PD Barrier of Lando exactly works. SE Damage and perhaps trying to change the weather would be a way to go about that (Summer to Winter Hail, anyone?) , and one of the Mythics we have on hand probably has some anti-Cheese tactics that can help by pass Lando's PDs. We also got to decide if we want to unleash the Love/Hate Genie in this fight and suffer the myriad of consequences that come from that.

[Spiritmon]

For clarity by the way, similar to the Tornadus and Thundurus fights, those four pillars of rock can be used as cover.

One question about it Dragon: Take cover behind a pillar is one action? Or we can just get behind a pillar without spending a action?

[Dragonstrike]

For clarity by the way, similar to the Tornadus and Thundurus fights, those four pillars of rock can be used as cover.

One question about it Dragon: Take cover behind a pillar is one action? Or we can just get behind a pillar without spending a action?

It's an action, and you break cover if you attack the opponent with a move that makes contact.  Cover in turn protects you from ranged attacks, but is completely ineffective if the opponent is able to circumvent it or uses a contact move of their own.

These pillars are large enough to provide full cover.

[Spiritmon]

Hmm, perhaps take cover, and then use Bulk Up should be a strategy. I do have that much Will Points to use like last time. What to do...

[Lord Windos]

Alright, I have a little time to myself, so I'll go over a few things and my general thoughts on what we should do at the outset of the fight.

- Remember Platina gaining 4 Instinct? If you didn't, I don't blame you, since it was overshadowed, heh. Anyways, part of getting to that point is that her Moveset has been expanded substantially. Here are the Moves she now knows, in addition to the ones shown - Magnetic Flux, Wing Attack, Dragon Rage, Spark, and Magnet Bomb . Magnetic Flux can work on Emolga, Mr. Z, and Platina herself to give them all a modest defensive buff, but my PC has a crap Special + Channel Dice Pool and so would have to use it as a Single Action if I don't want to spend a Will Point on it to guarantee the effect. Dragon Rage and Magnet Bomb might be able to be used Ranged and behind Cover (especially MB, since it's a Always Accurate Move too), but I'm unsure if Dragon Rage will do much to Lando's PD Barrier and Magnet Bomb might be neutered due to Ground Type PD Shenaningans. The rest are not worth talking about much, being either Melee or ineffective against Lando.
- As it stands, Platina can probably pull off a Cover-Based Attack Strat with relative safety between Dragon Rage and Magnet Bomb, or she could try to draw aggro like she did with Torny using her Shinines, force of personality, and limited diplomatic ability. Magnetic Flux COULD be of use, but only for herself and a select few members of the team, and her shaky accuracy with it could make trying to use it non-viable since I'm NOT going to be spending a Single Action on it and I rather avoid Will usage if I can. She also has Leer , but I highly doubt it'll phase a berserking Legend for any meaningful effect.
- Platina is a Flier and FAST, which is something that is only shared by Emolga (and Hoopa, to an extent). This means we can probably take advantage of the Terrain and always have access to Lando, if only at extreme risk if we abandon cover. Perhaps the both of them could herd Lando into unfavorable match-ups or into faceplanting into a Pillar if we can rile them up right and do a good enough job distracting them?
- Platina is one of the fastest combatants in the chain, if I recall correctly, so if somebody wants to use an Item or make a key play she's probably the one to do so in order to better facilitate the rest of the group's assault.

That's all I got for now, aside from a bit of concern about Mika only doing a Single Action with Karen - if you got any helpful Items, plans on getting into Cover, or generally non-Move Actions, I say you give some thought about do such or not. Life Dew is really great boon, but it can affect only so manner of the Party right now. Kogeki and Keldeo could perhaps use their respective training to utilize the pillars in a creative way during combat (Like ninja/hero jumping between them), while A-Ninetales could try to bring Winter to Summer in an attempt to weaken Lando's PD and power along with enabling Aurora Viel and Blizzard spell (if she has them). Lastly : Hoopa is close to dead last on the initiative, so they have the most time to react and strategize mid-combat to great effect, but also more easily targeted. Given they're an annoying Mythic, chances are it'll get more than their fair share of aggression if the group can't split the boss' aggro. We also have to decide on if we're going to do the Love Genie summoning at some point, thought that could wait until we get our first proper testing on Lando's power and threat level before deciding that.

[Mikaruge108]

Spoiler

Alright, I have a little time to myself, so I'll go over a few things and my general thoughts on what we should do at the outset of the fight.

- Remember Platina gaining 4 Instinct? If you didn't, I don't blame you, since it was overshadowed, heh. Anyways, part of getting to that point is that her Moveset has been expanded substantially. Here are the Moves she now knows, in addition to the ones shown - Magnetic Flux, Wing Attack, Dragon Rage, Spark, and Magnet Bomb . Magnetic Flux can work on Emolga, Mr. Z, and Platina herself to give them all a modest defensive buff, but my PC has a crap Special + Channel Dice Pool and so would have to use it as a Single Action if I don't want to spend a Will Point on it to guarantee the effect. Dragon Rage and Magnet Bomb might be able to be used Ranged and behind Cover (especially MB, since it's a Always Accurate Move too), but I'm unsure if Dragon Rage will do much to Lando's PD Barrier and Magnet Bomb might be neutered due to Ground Type PD Shenaningans. The rest are not worth talking about much, being either Melee or ineffective against Lando.
- As it stands, Platina can probably pull off a Cover-Based Attack Strat with relative safety between Dragon Rage and Magnet Bomb, or she could try to draw aggro like she did with Torny using her Shinines, force of personality, and limited diplomatic ability. Magnetic Flux COULD be of use, but only for herself and a select few members of the team, and her shaky accuracy with it could make trying to use it non-viable since I'm NOT going to be spending a Single Action on it and I rather avoid Will usage if I can. She also has Leer , but I highly doubt it'll phase a berserking Legend for any meaningful effect.
- Platina is a Flier and FAST, which is something that is only shared by Emolga (and Hoopa, to an extent). This means we can probably take advantage of the Terrain and always have access to Lando, if only at extreme risk if we abandon cover. Perhaps the both of them could herd Lando into unfavorable match-ups or into faceplanting into a Pillar if we can rile them up right and do a good enough job distracting them?
- Platina is one of the fastest combatants in the chain, if I recall correctly, so if somebody wants to use an Item or make a key play she's probably the one to do so in order to better facilitate the rest of the group's assault.

That's all I got for now, aside from a bit of concern about Mika only doing a Single Action with Karen - if you got any helpful Items, plans on getting into Cover, or generally non-Move Actions, I say you give some thought about do such or not. Life Dew is really great boon, but it can affect only so manner of the Party right now. Kogeki and Keldeo could perhaps use their respective training to utilize the pillars in a creative way during combat (Like ninja/hero jumping between them), while A-Ninetales could try to bring Winter to Summer in an attempt to weaken Lando's PD and power along with enabling Aurora Viel and Blizzard spell (if she has them).  Lastly : Hoopa is close to dead last on the initiative, so they have the most time to react and strategize mid-combat to great effect, but also more easily targeted. Given they're an annoying Mythic, chances are it'll get more than their fair share of aggression if the group can't split the boss' aggro. We also have to decide on if we're going to do the Love Genie summoning at some point, thought that could wait until we get our first proper testing on Lando's power and threat level before deciding that.

I agree with testing the waters before pulling the trump card (?) that is Enamorous.
Since Karen only has healing items and an Escape Orb atm, I'll edit in taking cover.

So for strategizing, outside of TMs and Move Tutoring Landorus's moveset (As of Gen IX) is:

• Sand Tomb
  
• Smack Down
  
• Leer
  
• Block
  
• Bulldoze
  
• Rock Tomb
  
• Imprison
  
• Rock Slide
  
• Earth Power
  
• Extrasensory
  
• Stone Edge
  
• Hammer Arm
  
• Sandstorm
  
• Earthquake
  
• Outrage
  
• Fissure
  
• Sandsear Storm
  

(At least he don't get Rock Throw outside of Pokemon Go...)
Sandsear Storm has a Burn CD (I'd imagine Burn 1, but the move isn't in the corebooks)
Fissure is an outright nightmare if Lando gets lucky (I don't think he'll have the move unless Dragon is feeling particularly mean)
Earth Power, Earthquake, and Bulldoze are all area I think, so taking cover would probably not be helpful against these
Hammer Arm could potentially destroy the cover, depending on GM Discretion.

[Dragonstrike]

Reminder that the only NPCs with you currently are the members of Team Night Wardens, Hoopa, and Gallade.  Everyone else is currently fighting Sandaconda, so it's just you vs Landorus for the time being.

[Lord Windos]

Reminder that the only NPCs with you currently are the members of Team Night Wardens, Hoopa, and Gallade.  Everyone else is currently fighting Sandaconda, so it's just you vs Landorus for the time being.

Huh. Missed that detail. That leaves us even more disempowered against the Big Boss of the Genies, but we do at least have Gallade to even the scales. A Master Rank Explorer like him is probably worth a few Teams and assorted mons by himself, if we can back him up properly!

That should be a plan to consider, @Spiritmon , @Mikaruge108 , @PhantomUnderYourDesk , and @no one - just creating openings for Gallade to catch his breath and pound away at Lando, or exploit the hell out of what haymakers he has to wield against them. Sure, it's a bit passive and puts our PCs at a bigger risk, but that NPC pretty much trumps our individual character's own Dice Pools and probably has some nasty tricks beyond his Moveset, assuming that Lando's Barrier isn't totally impervious to non-Human attempts to shatter it or needs that special Human touch to overcome it. Even if that be the case then just have Gallade draw aggros and create openings for us to destroy the barrier ourselves and slam the Therian, occasionally dodging behind Cover or Scaling it to avoid AoEs and Spread Move whammies. Hell, Gallade might have Lucky Chant or Heal Pulse to prevent Bad Dice Luck from getting to many chances to screw us over, so Support Gallade could be helpful if convinced to go that route. What do you think, mates?

Also, Mika, thanks for listing out Their Moveset. Fissure , EQ  , and Bulldoze are right nasty to be sure, but don't discount his other options now. Stone Edge is LETHAL Damage that could outright kill one of our PCs if a Roll goes sour (Revivers only take care of Fainting, not outright Resurrection I think....) , Sandstorm is attrition + potentially a way for him to power up via PDs or hidden Abilities, Rock Slide could Flinch a massive portion of our Team, and Outrage is one of the few Spammable Moves in Dragonstrike's Version of Pokerole (IE: Lando can use it multiple times in a Single Round) with MASSIVE BP to go behind it that no even Platina can tank with Resistance. This guy is just plain dangerous no matter what he's capable of, high or low end, high or low lethality, so any Orders made will probably have to have contingencies baked in to avoid or mitigate the BS he can output (such as dodging, or Clashing if you're feeling particularly ballsy) unless we want to do an All Out Offensive with Gallade or simply go 'Fuck It' and Summon the Hate Genie upon Lando's arse and (try) to take of the chaos accordingly.

In terms of Testing Lando's capabilities, I'll get Platina to be the lab rat with a Dragon Rage (Special Attack and Fixed Damage) as her First Action or try to pull aggro onto her with a botched Diplomacy Roll, and see if she can dodge his Ground Moves (or bait out a Smack Down). If I do the former, everyone else should make contingency Orders based on the outcome of using Special Attack Damage on Lando if it works, doesn't, or something WIERD happens. Second Action will be Steel Wing to determine if Physical Attack can work, and lastly I'd go with Magnet Bomb if hard and fast projectiles can pierce the Shields. Again, plain out any Actions accordingly, if y'all can do upwards of 2-3 Actions a Round safely.

Phantom, what Items does Kee have on hand that can potentially be of help? Just want to confirm what resources we have to that effect, if any.

No one, who is exactly in your Team again, and do you have their Movesets on hand? Knowing what they can do against Lando and for the whole group is naturally a good info we can all pull from!

Dragonstrike, can Kogeki use his Quick Attack Combo to sprint from cover to cover or up the pillars themselves? Having that kind of mobility could be an opportunity to throw some bonus dice Kogeki's way, if he can find a way to utilize his ninja training and come up a plan robust or clever enough to lead Lando around if he wants to be the one to try and pull aggro.

Lastly everyone, we need to review the previous Genie Battles and comb them over for aaaallll the details we can and make notes about them to share. They were basically the prep version of THIS fight we're about to get into, so there is a strong likelihood we can applied what we learnt and succeeded with in those Boss Fights against Lando to a degree. We already know Humans have an edge against these Legends and that SE Damage/Piercing Damage like Sacred Sword has an easier go at destroying those Barriers, as well as Meta Knowledge that Gallade can't take Lando solo and therefore his capabilities alone need some backup against them, so those are some good starting points to go off there.