Suggestion - can we get rid of the HM slaves?

[enu]

So in most pokemon games including Reborn you have to often have a HM slave or two on your team to move around cerain areas. In Reborn we can just overwrite a HM move with other TM / level-up / move tutor moves (thank God Ame). But of course when going to areas like E16 Azurine Lake or Celestinine Cascade you still have to bring your Bibarel Brobarel.

 

Come on why can't we ride on a Lapras if it doesn't know Surf? Why can't Conkeldur push a bolder unless he knows Strength? Doen't make sense. And switching between battle pokemons and HM slaves all the time is really not something I enjoy.

 

Another extreme are HM items (like in Zeta/Omicron) - I'm not too fond of that either. It somehow breaks the pokemon experience if you ask me.

 

My suggestion is to let any pokemon that can learn a HM move to perform it in the overworld (if you have the badges) regardless whether the pokemon actually knows the move or not.

 

[Elios]

I think it is most likely because the HM (known as TMX in the game) are suppose to limit us in how far we can advance in the region, I mean, the game have a lot of moments that we need certain HM to save someone or to reach certain places, but of course we have to defeat some gym leader first. I actually like the way Reborn and other fan games give that kind of meaning and relevance to HM.

[Blontary]

Though HM items wouldn't be that bad I guess. Maybe available only once you beat the game or something like that, but they would be a great relief while exploring a new region

[CyiV]

I think Insurgence has this system where HMs can be replaced with more commonly used moves, so a lot of moves that are just on your team can help with over world tasks, like psychic being able to move boulders and brick break smashing rocks. Badges are still required to use them in the over world though. I think it's a pretty cool system since it still retains the "Pokemon help you with your journey" aspect but not as annoying.

Edited December 10, 2016 by CyiV

[mde2001]

Part of the point of the TMx system is so that you can teach them to your battle pokemon then before you get into any important battles you can reteach them better moves using other TMs. As they can be forgotten at any time, having one on your moveset isn't as you don't need to wait until you find the move forgetter to remove it. 

[eggthief]

Actually you can overwrite surf with waterfall or dive while you're surfing, that's how i got around without having to waste heart scales at the relearner or use a HM slave. It's a bit annoying, would personally prefer other suggested systems like HM items.

[Lord C]

Problem is in some times getting the HM or even the badge needed to use it is a plot point in the story, so i dont think you can get rid of it

[Farnsworth]

My idea is having a system similar to Ride Pokemon in Sun and Moon. They would be called Poke Helpers, and they would be Pokemon that either you befriended along the journey, or maybe Pokemon that are hired by the League for the purpose of helping trainers explore the Reborn region and when you win the Gym badges you are permitted to use them. They would come in and help you and then go away, basically the HM animation would use these pokemon, and when you are surfing/diving/rock climbing/flying/whatever instead of doing it on a silhouette you would actually use the relevant Poke helper. The TMX's would then function as normal TMs (and we wouldn't get Surf until postgame ). So here are a few of the ones I thought about:

Scyther (Cut)

Crabrawler (Rock Smash)

Volbeat (Flash)

Charizard (Fly)

Machamp (Strength)

Lapras (Surf)

Gyarados (Waterfall)

Wailmer (Dive)

Mantine (Whirlpool)

Scolipede (Rock Climb)

Dugtrio (Dig)

Abra (Teleport)

 

The last two aren't really necessary, just maybe some sort of bonus (maybe rewards for sidequests due to their amazing utility). Pokemon that use for example Flash would have to be accessed through a Key Item.

[Fyermind]

I'm a big fan of developing on the S&M mechanic.  I'd like it if it was still tied to pokemon you've caught, but perhaps having it be able to work off pokemon in your PC?

[Kalnuza]

I ... dont see the issue with this if you have the badge and the TM/HM in the inventory? Something kinda like the Eon Flute in AS/OR where you can collect the different thigns in this Swiss Army Knife of an item/feature. 'Surf' and it being 'upgraded' to having dive and waterfall with the appropriate badge and tm, 'Cut', 'rock smash', etc etc. Interact with the thing in question and go.

[BrokenIce]

Or we can have key items replace these HM functions. A lot of fan games do this now.
Honestly, I don't mind having HM slaves for now if it means it will ease work load on the development team and we can get these nice goodies later on.

[esu]

Well, when you think about that, i'm thinking that pokemon that can carry you by "Fly" must be strong enough, not like zubat, starly, etc