thatoneperson1123 Posted May 29, 2016 Share Posted May 29, 2016 (edited) Hello, everyone. My name is Anna, and I’ve decided I want to make a Pokémon fangame. Sounds familiar, eh? To make matters worse, I must be brutally honest and admit that I know nothing about mapping, scripting, spriting, or any of the other essentials required to fashion a Pokémon fangame. I intend to learn, however. Even as we speak, I’ve been devouring the tutorials on both this site and Youtube. I intend to (but not happily) stop being a cheapskate and shell out the money required to install all the necessary programs. I doubt I’ll ever have full mastery over everything needed to be the greatest game dev the world has ever seen, but I intend to strive toward being a Jack-Of-All-Trades, or what have you. Until that point, I have no desire to attempt to recruit anyone to help me with my project, as I feel it’s an insult to their craft if I don’t even have the faintest idea as to what they’re trying to accomplish. So you may be thinking, well that’s all and good, now care to explain why you’re wasting our time with this post? Simple, I enjoy the community here and would love any and all feedback people have the time to grant me. While my programming skills may be Youngster levels if we’re being kind, I do pride myself on my writing ability, particularly when it comes to world building. And so I have crafted a rough draft of my world for you all to see and critique as harshly as you wish. Trust me, I have a thick skin, so feel free to give me all the tough love in the world. So without further ado, let me present… Pokémon Blitzkrieg. One of my favorite fan games is Pokémon Sage. I normally am not one for Fakemon, but one of the things that Pokémon Sage does so well is provide a unified THEME. The concept art was all inspired/influenced by South America, and such a clear style translates to a fantastic, immersive experience. Now, while I have no intention of adding Fakemon, due to my aforementioned distaste for the things, I DO intend on basing my region off of Germany. Specifically East Germany, following the years after World War II. The inspiration came about due to Pokémon’s rather socialist leanings, as well as a fanfiction I read years ago where the Pokémon League was written as a dystopian society. Which brings us to our first problem. And that is the name of the game. Now, I like the word Blitzkrieg. It sounds awesome and badass and as a bonus is German. Unfortunately it is also infamous for being the name of Hitler’s war strategy during World War II. And this game is not about World War II, but the Cold War that followed. So I’m striving to find a better fitting name for my game, and if anyone has any suggestions, I would be greatly interested in hearing them. As a caveat, although my game is heavily based off of East Germany, I have no issue using artistic license as I see fit to craft a more interesting world and story. With that bit out of the way, let’s get down to the meat and potatoes of it all. Backstory Long ago, there was the Great War. It was during that time that Pokémon were first utilized to ravage the land. Some believe Pokémon were created by humans, while others believe they were discovered. The reality has unfortunately been lost in the destruction of the Great War, although many strive to uncover the truth behind this mystery. One of the major players in the Great War was a powerful country known as Dalmarich. It lost the Great War. Following its defeat, Dalmarich was split into several smaller regions, the two of greatest import being Richa and Dalmani. Richa was occupied for a short while but has become largely autonomous, while Dalmani became a satellite region of the ever ominous Ussharn Empire. Our story takes place in the Dalmani region. Centuries have now passed, and the Great War has become a precautionary tale. Richa has long been interested in reunification, desiring to restore Dalmarich to its former, near mythical glory. Dalmani is far more ambivalent to this idea, and it seems more and more likely that the only ending for these two regions is war. As a result Dalmani has developed into a military state, with rigid control over the lives of its civilians as it plucks a majority of the youth and trains them to become soldiers. The first phase of a soldier’s training involves rigorous academy life in which they must be both physically and mentally fit. Those who are not good enough are dropped and forced to find another occupation. As for the rest, upon reaching adulthood, they enter the second phase of their training. They are granted the privilege of owning a Pokémon. More importantly, they are given the means to control them. Pokéballs are strictly monitored by the military, and only those rich enough to afford the licenses or devious enough to apprehend them can use Pokéballs outside military jurisdiction. A young soldier is set loose in the Safari Zone, and upon capturing his or her first Pokémon, is given a Pokédex and a PokéNav and sent on a journey across Dalmani. They must visit eight towns of historic import and defeat the military leaders there, as well as learn more about the glorious Dalmani and marvel at its perfection. Once all eight leaders are defeated, the soldier has completed his or her training, although they are welcome to take on the four Colonels and the General of Dalmani if they desire glory. No one truly knows what happens to a soldier if they challenge these elite members of the military, however, as they disappear from the public regardless of victory. Over the years this rite of passage soldiers partake in has become publicized and even often a means of entertainment – battles against leaders are televised and draw massive crowds to expensive stadiums. This is the environment you were born in. You never had a choice to become a soldier, and to drop out is to bring dishonor to your family. You have completed the first phase of your training, and along with several other comrades, are prepared to step out of the sheltered world you’ve only ever known into the brave new world. Main Characters Samantha/Samuel: This is the default player character. Unfortunately there will be no gender neutral character in this story, as the totalitarian Dalmani would never tolerate such distinctions. Both of these characters are the blonde-haired, blue-eyed Anglo Saxons that defined the Aryan ideal. Their uniform consists of faded green military fatigues and matching service caps. Samantha keeps her hair in a bun while Samuel’s is short and spiky. They are the typical silent protagonist. Marshall: Your friend and companion from the Academy. A quiet, serious, patriotic man with aspirations of rising through the ranks and making Dalmani a better place. He has a witty tongue that can be hard to discern due to his deadpan nature, and is often shy and ill at ease when in the company of others. His starter is Fletchling. He is tall and broad shouldered, with dark hair and the beginnings of a stubble. Ellie: Your second rival and a rogue element. Bombastic and melodramatic, she has managed to hijack the system and get her hands on both a Pokémon and Pokéballs. She is always causing trouble and never fails to have quip on hand for any situation, no matter how dire. However she is passionate about a peaceful reunification of Richa and Dalmani, and is determined to bridge the gap between the two regions without sparking a second Great War. Her starter is Mareep. She is black with short, nappy hair and of a small, stocky build. Setting East Wallengrad: The largest city in Dalmani. Half of it is under Dalmani control, while the other half belongs to the Richa region. As a result tensions are high, especially around the wall that separates the two rival regions. Features five distinct boroughs. This is the city you were born in raised in. - Mitzii Borough: A major spot for tourist although only the richest of the rich west of the wall can gain access. Many important members of the Ussharn empire tend to visit and stay in this district. Also features a federally operated radio tower. - Frederickson Borough: Most of the working class lives here. Many are squatters residing in empty apartments, however, due to the poor construction of the free housing. Rumors murmur that a black market and other secrets reside in this area of the borough. - Lichenberg Borough: Houses the Safari Zone and Professor Chestnut’s lab. A soldier is given Safari Balls and then sent off to find their starter Pokémon. Once this is accomplished they are given a Pokédex and a PokéNav and sent away on their journey. - Peterstone Borough: The largest borough in East Wallengrad. Although mostly residential, it features a robust shopping center as well as the home and stadium of the first Major. - Weber Borough: A once rural area that was replaced by the Academy as well as the government and military headquarters. Nitro City: An ancient city that was destroyed in the Great War, and then rebuilt with painstaking love and care. Its economy is based upon the distribution of chemicals, and there is also a rampant, underlying drug trade in the city causing serious issues. The military has tried to combat the issue for years, but to no avail. Oakwood City: Surrounded by over twenty lakes, Oakwood City is the prettiest place in all of Dalmani. The residents take great pride in their city’s beauty and go to great lengths to preserve it. It also features a bridge that extends into Richa, and is used to exchange spies among the regions. Chiore Town: Nestled in the mountains, it is a simple mining town. Provides the quickest entrance to Drayano City via Stonebrook Tunnel. Also contains a league sponsored Day Care center that many soldiers like to utilize. Drayano City: A major industrial center. Home to many and varied factories. Also features an infamous place known as Striptown, which people visit at night to have a good time. The closest major city to the next region of the Ussharn Empire. Gearson City: Most notable for its trade in textiles, Gearson City also an administrative center of Dalmani. It has been struggling economically for some time, despite all efforts from the government to forcibly keep it afloat. Eonia: The oldest town in Dalmani and mostly untouched by the Great War. Car production is vital to its economy as well as the bustling trade fair that comes through every year. Bogton: Situated on the edge of a marsh, this city is best known as the capital of the energy business. It also features a plaza with a booming market place and St. Duncan’s cathedral. Johansson Town: A place of high art and refinement. It is the home of many famous artisans, and orchestras can be found playing at the park every weekend. There is a budding rap and hip hop counter culture growing slowly but steadily, to the dismay of many. Magna Town: A quaint university town known for its salt mines. It also features a market square where a statue of a local legend can be found. Next I’m going to look at gym leaders and their teams. As a heads up, there will only be eight, because otherwise this game would probably never get finished. There will also be no field effects. I confess that while I did design the teams to be competitive, about halfway through my eyes kind of glazed over and I started grabbing mons and competitive movesets off of smogon. So obviously this is just the first iteration of the teams and they will be quite fluid in terms of composition, movesets, abilities, items, etc. In terms of IVs/Evs/Natures assume for the moment that they are min/maxed. Although I understand the basics of competitive battling, this is still something I struggle with, so I definitely encourage ya’ll to offer up suggestions. Gym Leaders First, to clarify, the gym leaders in this region are known as Majors. They are high ranking officials in the Dalmani Military who are expected to test budding soldiers coming through the town. They are often important leaders and integral to the politics and success of their town/city. Without further ado, I’ll introduce you to our Majors… (1) Major Grant: An older, melancholic veteran who has grown disillusioned with his role. He spends a lot of his spare time at the beer gardens of East Wallengrad, wallowing in the sense that his life is unfulfilled and purposeless. Team Hippopotas Moves: Bite, Frustration, Dig, Yawn Ability: Sandstream Item: Smooth Rock Diglett Moves: Bulldoze, Frustration, Mud-Slap, Ancient Power Ability: Sand Force Item: TBD Drilbur Moves: Dig, Hone Claws, Rock Slide, Metal Claw Ability: Sand Force Item: TBD Phanpy Moves: Slam, Rollout, Bulldoze, Defense Curl Ability: Sand Veil Item: TBD Gabite Moves: Sand Tomb, Dual Chop, Take Down, Metal Claw Ability: Sand Veil Item: TBD Sandslash Moves: Bulldoze, Crush Claw, Fury Cutter, Frustration Ability: Sand Rush Item: Soft Sand (2) Major Kent: A handsome, charismatic Major dedicated to protecting Nitro City. One of the youngest to ever be promoted to Major, he has a bright future ahead of him and many feel he’s next in line to become a Colonel. However, Kent has a secret that could ruin everything if discovered. Team Scoliopede Moves: Bug Bite, Swords Dance, Iron Defense, Poison Tail Ability: Speed Boost Item: Black Sludge Nidorina Moves: Toxic Spikes, Double Kick, Poison Jab, Bite Ability: Hustle Item: Poison Barb Victreebel Moves: Leaf Tornado, Stun Spore, Belch, Sunny Day Ability: Chlorophyll Item: Sitrus Berry Croagunk Moves: Sucker Punch, Drain Punch, Swords Dance, Astonish Ability: Poison Touch Item: Black Sludge Haunter Moves: Shadow Ball, Sucker Punch, Curse, Confuse Ray Ability: Levitate Item: Black Sludge Nidoking Moves: Horn Attack, Poison Jab, Drill Run, Thrash Ability: Rivalry Item: Life Orb (3) Major Ada: Young and energetic, a fierce environmentalist. She firmly believes in Dalmani’s future of utilizing clean energy and is quite passionate about it. She is also extremely paranoid about spies from the west and is constantly on the lookout for them. As a result she keeps herself emotionally distant from others. Major of Oakwood City. Team Slowbro Moves: Calm Mind, Slack Off, Thunder Wave, Scald Ability: Regenerator Item: Leftovers Kingdra Moves: Dragon Pulse, Brine, Ice Beam, Scald Ability: Sniper Item: Choice Specs Lanturn Moves: Scald, Volt Switch, Thunderbolt, Ice Beam Ability: Volt Absorb Item: Assault Vest Lapras Moves: Brine, Freeze Dry, Signal Beam, Ice Beam Ability: Water Absorb Item: Choice Specs Milotic Moves: Recover, Haze, Ice Beam, Scald Ability: Marvel Scale Item: Leftovers Gyarados Moves: Dragon Dance, Waterfall, Bounce, Double Edge Ability: Intimidate Item: Life Orb (4) Major Lolita: A middle aged, graying woman who acts the prim, proper Major to the public and the military. However, behind closed doors she is a nihilist who engages in various hedonistic activities. She is resigned to the fact that she will disappear when the military learns of her night time activities. She is the Major of Drayano City. Team Umbreon Moves: Moonlight, Toxic, Foul Play, Quick Attack Ability: Inner Focus Item: Leftovers Weavile Moves: Icicle Crash, Ice Shard, Knock Off, Night Slash Ability: Pressure Item: Life Orb Scrafty Moves: Brick Break, Crunch, Dragon Dance, Poison Jab Ability: Moxie Item: Lum Berry Houndoom Moves: Flamethrower, Nasty Plot, Dark Pulse, Solarbeam Ability: Flash Fire Item: Life Orb Pawniard Moves: Swords Dance, Knock Off, Iron Head, Sucker Punch Ability: Defiant Item: Black Glasses Spiritomb Moves: Sucker Punch, Pursuit, Taunt, Will-O-Wisp Ability: Infiltrator Item: Black Glasses (5) Major Vincent: A strong willed man determined to see Gearson City’s economy rebound. Strict and gruff, he always dreamed of being a pilot, but was never able to achieve his dream due to his poor eyesight. He recovered from his disappointment, the epitome of practicality, but you can often find him at the airport watching planes land, a faraway look in his eye. Team Crobat Moves: Acrobatics, U-Turn, Roost, Poison Jab Ability: Infiltrator Item: None Swellow Moves: Façade, Brave Bird, U-Turn, Quick Attack Ability: Guts Item: Toxic Orb Altaria Moves: Dragon Dance, Fly, Roost, Cotton Guard Ability: Natural Cure Item: Leftovers Honchcrow Moves: Brave Bird, Sucker Punch, Pursuit, Roost Ability: Moxie Item: Life Orb Gligar Moves: Roost, Earthquake, U-Turn, X-Scissor Ability: Hyper Cutter Item: Eviolite Charizard Moves: Flamethrower, Solar Beam, Focus Blast, Roost Ability: Blaze Item: Charizardite Y (6) Major Terrance: A patron of the fine arts and resident of Johansson Town. He is good friends with Major Vincent and they often visit art museums and attend orchestras together. However he is something of a snob and turn his nose up at anything with even a whiff of lowbrow to it. He can also be condescending although his heart is in the right place. He is obsessed with rooting out the underground rap movement and destroying it. Team Clefable Moves: Calm Mind, Moonblast, Soft Boiled, Thunder Wave Ability: Magic Guard Item: Leftovers Wigglytuff Moves: Hyper Voice, Dazzling Gleam, Stealth Rocks, Focus Blast Ability: Competitive Items: Life Orb Togekiss Moves: Nasty Plot, Thunder Wave, Air Slash, Roost Ability: Serene Grace Item: Leftovers Whimsicott Moves: Stun Spore, Giga Drain, Leech Seed, Substitute Ability: Prankster Item: Leftovers Azumarill Moves: Play Rough, Waterfall, Aqua Jet, Knock Off Ability: Huge Power Item: Choice Band Mawile Moves: Sucker Punch, Iron Head, Play Rough, Stone Edge Ability: Intimidate Item: Mawilite Major Gavin: He has a good heart and has been a stalwart in the system for a very long time. However he is a bit gullible as well as not particularly bright, and thus tends to be taken advantage of. Very old fashioned to a fault. Likes to reminisce about the “good ol’ days”. He’s a patriot through and through, however, and will defend both Bogton and the entirety of Dalmani to the death. Team Electivire Moves: Wild Charge, Earthquake, Ice Punch, Meditate Ability: Motor Drive Item: Life Orb Magnezone Moves: Volt Switch, Hidden Power Fire, Flash Cannon, Thunderbolt Ability: Sturdy Item: Choice Scarf Rotom Wash Moves: Volt Switch, Will-O-Wisp, Hydro Pump, Rest Ability: Levitate Item: Chesto Berry Heliolisk Moves: Volt Switch, Hyper Voice, Grass Knot, Thunderbolt Ability: Dry Skin Item: Life Orb Elektross Moves: Volt Switch, Flamethrower, Giga Drain, Knock Off Ability: Levitate Item: Leftovers Manectric Moves: Volt Switch, Thunderbolt, Flamethrower, Hidden Power Ice Ability: Intimidate Item: Manectite Major Jared: An educated, thoughtful man who is Professor Chestnut’s cousin. He is a post-modernist who tries to remain neutral in politics. Very dry but also very witty, he tries to avoid his duties to the best of his abilities, and spends most of his time locked up in a library or teaching students at the university when he can. At the same time he is quite brilliant and thus considered a valuable contributor for the military, although he walks a dangerous line and is often bailed out of trouble by his cousin. Team Gardevoir Moves: Calm Mind, Moonblast, Focus Blast, Psyshock Ability: Trace Item: Life Orb Gallade Moves: Swords Dance, Close Combat, Zen Headbutt, Knock Off Ability: Justified Item: White Herb Xatu Moves: Psychic, Roost, Heat Wave, U-Turn Ability: Magic Bounce Item: Rocky Helmet Reuniclus Moves: Calm Mind, Psyshock, Shadow Ball, Recover Ability: Magic Guard Item: Leftovers Meowstic Moves: Light Screen, Reflect, Thunder Wave, Psyshock Ability: Prankster Item: Light Clay Alakazam Moves: Psychic, Shadow Ball, Focus Blast, Substitute Ability Magic Guard Item: Alakazite And there you have it. Those are our Majors. One of the changes I’m already contemplating is switching the Fairy and Psychic around so that Fairy is the final gym leader. It makes sense, I think, considering how powerful Fairy Type is. But I’m not quite sure, yet. Now, there will be an Elite Four and a Champion. But I’m going to be pretty tight lipped about these mysterious, powerful people. All I’ll say is that the Elite Four are known as Colonels, while the Champion is granted the title of General instead. Okay, what’s next? Our evil team, of course! Antagonists The Imperial Faction. A syndicate funded by the Richa government. Their role is to spread discontent and to try and convince the people of Dalmani that reunification is the best option. Named after Delmani's ironic policies disavowing the nature of imperialism, when their mother country, Ussharn, has been aggressively snapping up surrounding regions. Their uniforms are a distinct red, white, and blue color. Their hierarchy is as follows… Imperial Votary: The main force of the Imperials. Votary is meant to imply a religious fervor as the group is borderline fanatical in their belief that Richa and Delmani must be reunited at all cost. I changed it from Grunt because I didn’t like the demeaning connotation of the word and felt it didn’t fit for a group that believes their cause is just. They tend to have steel, ground, and rock types representative of the walls dividing two regions that should be one. Imperial Admin: Of which there are four. Each operates four of the five main Imperial branches, and are delegated various tasks to the head honcho. Imperial Deputy: The right hand man of the leader. Provides even more delegation and does most of the communication with West Wallengrad and the government of Richa. Also responsible for bringing in new recruits. Imperial Leader: Runs the Imperial Faction. I’ve already outlined several important characters within the Imperial Faction, and I have a general idea of their teams, but I’m going to keep it a secret as a lot of the plot revolves around these guys. The trainer classes are fairly different from the main games, considering the majority of trainers are referred to as soldiers. This leads to an intentional sense of uniformity and conformity, but I wanted the game to be at least a little bit appealing visually, so I added some other trainers. Trainer Classes Soldier: Stand in for trainers, also currently competing in the league alongside the MC. Wear standard military fatigues that can be a faded grey or white. No themes in regards to Pokémon. Leuitenant: More experienced soldiers who have multiple won multiple fights against Majors. Tend to have stronger Pokémon and provide more of a challenge. Recognizable by their black military fatigues. Scientist: Under the employ of the league, allowed to engage in fights with soldiers if interested to help in their studies of the mysterious creatures known as Pokémon. Have a tendency to have a lot of steel, electric, and psychic types. Rich Gentleman/Woman: Only the richest of the rich outside the military can afford a license to own both Pokéballs and Pokémon, as well as have permission to use them in league battles. Tend to have exotic Pokémon that are aesthetically pleasing. Rich Boy/Girl: Similar to Rich Gentleman/woman but even more condescending and obnoxious, if that’s possible. Captain: Soldiers that work for Majors. Stand-ins for gym trainers. Military fatigues correspond to the color of the gym type (so ground gets brown for example). Pokémon follow the monotype of the specific gym. Gangster: People who get Pokémon and Pokéballs off the black market. Very suspicious and protective of their rare commodities. Tend to use dark and ghost type Pokémon. Gestapo: The secret police. They work for the league and actively hunt down dissidents of the region. Extremely strong and not to be trifled with. Bonus trainers that are hidden and can only be convinced to fight you after defeating the Major in each city. Wear red trench coats, a fedora, and dark sunglasses. Important Core Gameplay As I mentioned earlier, there will be no field effects. In all likelihood, there will be a level cap however. IVs/EVs can be viewed in the menu and you’ll be able to toggle run on and off. There will be a physical/special split and by the end all Pokemon will be available. At the beginning of the game, rather than choose your starter, you’re sent out into the Safari Zone to find one (I might rename it to better fit the oppressive nature of the game). This is something I’ve always wanted to do and I’m very excited about it, although the execution may end up biting me in the butt. I don’t know if there will be a reputation system just yet, but I do aim to have several branching paths in the story. Welp. That’s everything laid out, while trying to keep as much of the juicy plot details as hidden as possible. Just keep in mind that what I’ll be attempting is more of a political thriller than the magical fantasy a lot of fangames partake in (not that that’s a bad thing). Once again, all concerns are appreciated, and anyone who actually read everything in this massive post deserves a medal. If you have any tips for someone new to making a fanmade game (that isn't pinned to this forum already), please share, as I'll take all the advice I can get, haha. Edited May 30, 2016 by thatoneperson1123 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fumble Posted May 29, 2016 Share Posted May 29, 2016 Ooh, this game seems pretty interesting! I like your ideas and how you've planned out a whole lot of the game already. There are a few things I'd change about the Gym Leaders moves/items wise, but nothing too major (e.g. switch Unaware on Quagsire to Water Absorb, as it's a Ground Gym and there won't be too many Pokemon with moves or abilities that will help them set up in the early game.) Anyway, good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyaloom Posted May 29, 2016 Share Posted May 29, 2016 All I can say is that this project seems very promising and unique! Just keep up the good work :] Also, is Oakwood City based on Schwerin, by any chance? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thatoneperson1123 Posted May 29, 2016 Author Share Posted May 29, 2016 All I can say is that this project seems very promising and unique! Just keep up the good work :] Also, is Oakwood City based on Schwerin, by any chance? Oakwood City was inspired by Potsdam, but Schwerin seems like a lovely place to visit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phi-Bi Posted May 29, 2016 Share Posted May 29, 2016 Interesting concept. When I read this, what came first to mind is the German-Reunification although perhaps you aren't going to make the story that far, only you knows. That said, to make things Legendary Pokemon-related, maybe add Reshiram-Zekrom-Kyurem reunification elements to the story as well? The concept is interesting since it's going to incorporate real-world history, I think it has a lot of potential. As for the names suggestion, Blitzkrieg sound good to me. You might already know it but kalter krieg is the germany of cold war. I guess it'd fit since the game is based around cold war although I'm not sure if it's sound good. Anyway, good luck for the project and keep up the good work ^^ (Plus, I'd really like if I could help but I have no skill required for game development anyway and you want to learn things as well as you said) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YoshiofRedemption Posted May 29, 2016 Share Posted May 29, 2016 This sounds really cool. Cold War history and Pokemon? Heck yeah I'm interested! You mention that taking on the Majors, Colonels and General are merely the second stage of training. It seems like there's a lot of room for potential after game material since no one knows what happens once a soldier defeats them. It could also imply that beating the General isn't going to be the end of the game if players decide to do that. What I wonder is what happens after that second stage of training? I understand if you'd rather keep this private, but it very interesting to think about. All in all, good luck with the game if you do decide to make it. It has a lot of potential. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krim Posted May 29, 2016 Share Posted May 29, 2016 I really like this idea. There hasn't been anything quite like it yet in Pokemon fangames. Anyways, for tutorials that might help, I highly recommend Atomic Reactor's How to Make a Pokemon Game series. I learned a lot of what I know from it. Also, make sure to test the teams for important battles (leaders, higher ups, any battle that's supposed to be difficult, really) well. The AI in Pokemon Essentials isn't always the most intelligent when it comes to competitive sets. I know you said you weren't recruiting, but if you don't understand something or can't get something to work, feel free to pm me and Ill answer what I can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commander Posted May 29, 2016 Share Posted May 29, 2016 I'm glancing at this concept and I won't judge too harshly since I hastily skimmed it, but my eyes were distracted by the Gym leader designs. The first gym leader is horrendously built as it forces the player to run an Ice type and a grass type and I'm not even sure how levels work at that point or if its doubles or singles. Quag and Eviolite Gligar will just wall everything. Heck, Gligar doesn't even need anything to start walling which is saying something. The team also uses the sandstorm weather very weakly only turning Diglett into a Dugtrio in a nutshell. Ryhorn with weakness policy or a sash would be kind of interesting to play for example. Even an eviolite on that isn't bad if you want a brutal level difficulty like Hardcore. What you have there is too much. I say this because the gym leader designs are very whacked up. If there was consistency I could give better advice but I just see not very practical things being placed on a team. The third gym (or whatever the rank the poison one is) is way easier than the first gym leader by a landslide. Half of those mons won't effect the battle at all and Scarf Nido for last really makes an almost guaranteed victory. Obviously these aren't the final teams, but I would have preferred to see way better difficulty scaling if you're going to post the leaders. With that out of my head, I'll look at the overall concept again: First thing I noticed is that you say people who fail to pass the first round are to "fend for themselves." Err...isn't the point of a military to prevent that? It also can be interpreted as a fancy way of giving them the death sentence. Other than that, the rest seems sound, but a little scatterbrained. I just feel it needs to be reordered a bit to flow better, but you get your point across. While a concept like this is interesting, it requires quite a few new graphics as Pokemon in general is very peaceful often putting technology towards innovation and livelihood. War and military is also a very interesting concept as dark and mature themes are very strong in them. There's quite a few way to handle a game like this including just making it an explore the world type deal instead of plot driven like most fan-games are. There's just so much I could say, but it's your game and you kind of have to make decisions where to go with it. A lot of good ideas, but realistically this is all theoretical stuff so it can only be discussed so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thatoneperson1123 Posted May 29, 2016 Author Share Posted May 29, 2016 (edited) I really like this idea. There hasn't been anything quite like it yet in Pokemon fangames. Anyways, for tutorials that might help, I highly recommend Atomic Reactor's How to Make a Pokemon Game series. I learned a lot of what I know from it. Also, make sure to test the teams for important battles (leaders, higher ups, any battle that's supposed to be difficult, really) well. The AI in Pokemon Essentials isn't always the most intelligent when it comes to competitive sets. I know you said you weren't recruiting, but if you don't understand something or can't get something to work, feel free to pm me and Ill answer what I can. I actually have been watching Atomic Reactor's stuff, haha. He kind of loses focus from time to time, which is off putting, but still very informative. And thanks for the offer, I'll keep that in mind. I'm glancing at this concept and I won't judge too harshly since I hastily skimmed it, but my eyes were distracted by the Gym leader designs. The first gym leader is horrendously built as it forces the player to run an Ice type and a grass type and I'm not even sure how levels work at that point or if its doubles or singles. Quag and Eviolite Gligar will just wall everything. Heck, Gligar doesn't even need anything to start walling which is saying something. The team also uses the sandstorm weather very weakly only turning Diglett into a Dugtrio in a nutshell. Ryhorn with weakness policy or a sash would be kind of interesting to play for example. Even an eviolite on that isn't bad if you want a brutal level difficulty like Hardcore. What you have there is too much. I say this because the gym leader designs are very whacked up. If there was consistency I could give better advice but I just see not very practical things being placed on a team. The third gym (or whatever the rank the poison one is) is way easier than the first gym leader by a landslide. Half of those mons won't effect the battle at all and Scarf Nido for last really makes an almost guaranteed victory. Obviously these aren't the final teams, but I would have preferred to see way better difficulty scaling if you're going to post the leaders. With that out of my head, I'll look at the overall concept again: First thing I noticed is that you say people who fail to pass the first round are to "fend for themselves." Err...isn't the point of a military to prevent that? It also can be interpreted as a fancy way of giving them the death sentence. Other than that, the rest seems sound, but a little scatterbrained. I just feel it needs to be reordered a bit to flow better, but you get your point across. While a concept like this is interesting, it requires quite a few new graphics as Pokemon in general is very peaceful often putting technology towards innovation and livelihood. War and military is also a very interesting concept as dark and mature themes are very strong in them. There's quite a few way to handle a game like this including just making it an explore the world type deal instead of plot driven like most fan-games are. There's just so much I could say, but it's your game and you kind of have to make decisions where to go with it. A lot of good ideas, but realistically this is all theoretical stuff so it can only be discussed so far. -salute- I'll see what I can to do to rework the teams. I did feel the ground leader would end up being problematic, but I decided to go with it in the moment. Will course correct appropriately. "Fend for themselves" is a rather vague phrase, isn't it? I'll tighten it up and see if I can't also improve the general presentation of the post. The idea is more that joining the military is the pinnacle of Dalmani society, and if you're not good enough then you'll get dropped like a rock. Not sure what you mean by the point of the military being to prevent "that" (?), though. The military exists to protect the borders and ensure order, at least in Dalmani. And yes, I am somewhat concerned about properly conveying the atmosphere of my game with what I currently have, haha. Just going to have to work hard and try to learn from my mistakes. I too find war interesting, and I think it works well with Pokemon, where the gameplay revolves around pitting animals in fights against one another. Although to be more precise, this story is about two sides dancing on the precipice of war, and the psychological implications it has on its inhabitants. Thanks for the feedback, yo. Edit: Oh, and I haven't quite decided on level yet, but all gym battles will be singles, not doubles. Edited May 29, 2016 by thatoneperson1123 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lugruf Posted May 29, 2016 Share Posted May 29, 2016 Please finish this game. I love the idea. I just love it. Just a small thing you'll have to take into account as the game may otherwise have some ludonarrative dissonance: you are supposed to be in a military society where people is heavily controlled by the army and the police, but, however, a student is allowed to travel freely across the country from a city to another defeating gym leaders. Maybe you should think about controlling where the player can go in order to build the atmosphere and make the player believe that he is there. If you ever happen to need any help with coding, please don't hesitate to ask me for help. I don't usually help with fan games but I'm in love with your idea. I'll help in everything I can in order to help this project, and well, coding is my thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thatoneperson1123 Posted May 29, 2016 Author Share Posted May 29, 2016 Please finish this game. I love the idea. I just love it. Just a small thing you'll have to take into account as the game may otherwise have some ludonarrative dissonance: you are supposed to be in a military society where people is heavily controlled by the army and the police, but, however, a student is allowed to travel freely across the country from a city to another defeating gym leaders. Maybe you should think about controlling where the player can go in order to build the atmosphere and make the player believe that he is there. If you ever happen to need any help with coding, please don't hesitate to ask me for help. I don't usually help with fan games but I'm in love with your idea. I'll help in everything I can in order to help this project, and well, coding is my thing. Actually, the Pokedex, PokeNav, and Pokeballs all track the soldiers wherever they go (kind of like cellphones, at least that's what I'm thinking). I'm also considering making it so that when you save it's kind of like reporting in to headquarters or something. And thanks for offering your services, when I feel a little more confident in my abilities I might take you up on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phi-Bi Posted May 30, 2016 Share Posted May 30, 2016 (edited) I just saw the gym leader team that you has planned (yes, i haven't seen them before, shame me) and to tell you about my opinion I think the gym order needs to be redone considering that there'll be no field effects. With field effects, you could adjust some lower-tier monotype team with to be more suited in their respective order. However, now that there'll be no field effect, the gym order need to be chosen carefully so that each newer gym should have more difficult than the previous one. Of course that's not a must and it's up to you, as long as the gym order match well with the role of the leader in the plot. The team also hasn't been tested, I guess? Anyway, I still think that this game has a lot of potential like, why don't we skip the academy part of the game? There could be filled with various quest and mission to finish the academy but I guess for the start just focus with your current plan. Oh and just another suggestion, since we already know some of the backstory, the enemy's motives, etc. I hope that they don't decrease 'that surprise feel' when we finally play the game. So just be careful of spoiling the game's content too much. That's just my personal taste though since one thing I like from Reborn, Rejuvenation, and Desolation is that we don't know fully the exact motives of the enemy at the first place. And for the technical part, since this game will most likely utilize custom tileset what kind of graphics you're looking for, 3rd gen, 4th gen, or even custom? Will you release the game in episodically or as a full whole game? Besides the concept and worldbuilding aspect, what progress is being a priority now? Sorry for so many question, I'm just overhyped. Edited May 30, 2016 by PhantomBima Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DemICE Posted May 30, 2016 Share Posted May 30, 2016 (edited) Wow. This scenario follows veery much the key points of a scenario i have written in a notepad in case i ever persuade my lazy ass to learn programming and start my own rom hack / fan game. Tho its been sitting there for 2 years already ... In my case the protagonist is a test subject who manages to run loose, and yeah, my scenario behind pokeballs and controlling is very similar... Im happy to know someone else who actually has a similar approach of pokemon is actually making a game, and i will be rooting for you. Unfortunately i cannot help u with developing though Edited May 30, 2016 by DemICE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thatoneperson1123 Posted June 29, 2016 Author Share Posted June 29, 2016 Just figured I'd post so people know I'm not dead. Making a game is hard. I'm mostly working on mapping and reworking the gyms so that they're more viable. Cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.