6th [video network post]

[angewiesen]

Has anyone else seen these things posted around?

[Jean holds up a flyer mentioning a Battle Convention that will be held in early October. It looks like a pretty big event, by how well put together and professional the flyer looks.]

Here, specifically.

[Within the flyer, an Otherworlder Tournament mentioned. Jean points to the exact spot where the rules for said tournament are laid out.]

It looks like someone who knows about us is putting this whole convention together. I probably would have attended even without a tournament just for Otherworlders, but this in particular is pretty interesting. Which one of us is the best at battling? This'd get you some serious bragging rights if you won.

You're only allowed three of your Pokemon, and one held item. No used items in battle. It looks like they're gonna be level-adjusting somehow, so everyone is at the same level. That'll mean that everything'll be pure strategy. Sure, some Pokemon are stronger than others, but the difference will be fairly small if we're all at the same level.

I'm gonna have to do some calculations on offensive and defensive type coverage to figure out who I'm gonna bring. I should make sure physical and special attack are both covered too... This'll take some thought, to figure out a strategy that can handle most possible matchups....

[Wow, he seems pretty enthused about this. Who knew he was such a strategist? Or maybe he just really likes the idea of winning such a tournament. It's probably that.]

It makes me wanna talk shop, but I don't want to give away any good ideas either.

Comments

[crystalmaster]

Hmm. I'm not into battling, but I wonder if they'll need someone to cater food and drinks? They're surely planning to have refreshments for a two-day event.

[Radley sees dollar signs. This would be a lot of publicity for his restaurant if he could cater it....]

[angewiesen]

I don't know anything about running a business, but sure? Go for it? What are they going to do to stop you?

[crystalmaster]

It might be too hard to move my stuff if they have it far away, though....

[Radley ponders.]

They'd probably want someone closer in that case. Cheaper for them. But it wouldn't hurt to ask.

[angewiesen]

I dunno. I get all my money from battling. But if there's a crowd, someone in there has got to be hungry.

Video;

[schachmeister]

[Armin hadn't seen the flyers yet -- he hasn't been to a poke-centre in the last few days, caught up in preparing for another Lapras release -- but it looks like he'll have to go and pick up one himself.]

Huh. That's new. Well, I suppose I'll have to defend my honour there. Ah, unless Aurora League members are barred from entry. Does it say anything about that?

[Armin wouldn't be upset if they were! It might not make for very fair competition.]

Video;

[angewiesen]

No, it looks like Aurora League members are allowed. A lot of us that are into battling are in it already, so leaving them out would probably narrow the races too much.

I wonder how far a mono-type team could make it in that kind of competition.

Video;

[schachmeister]

[Oh, an interesting thought experiment.]

Well, I suppose it would depend a bit on what type you are using. I imagine a Steel mono-type team might last longer than say, an Ice mono-type team. They just have so many more resistances. Though, of course, there'd be an element of luck as well. Even a steel mono-type team wouldn't make it past the first round if they just so happened to run into someone with a Fire type.

I guess if you really wanted, you could calculate the odds -- based on how popular certain types are in battle teams. I'm sure someone somewhere has collected data on that...

Video;

[nightyorb]

[Interesting. Definitely looks like the kind of place that'd a prime target for crime. All those powerful pokemon in one place -- would Team Rocket be tempted? If so, Riz definitely needs to be there.

But at the same time, he's also competitive enough to want to prove himself. Perhaps he can hit two birds with the same stone here.]

Do you need a certain number of badges to enter or can anyone try?

Video;

[angewiesen]

Nope. It looks like anyone can apply, even if your Pokemon are under-leveled. Whatever they're doing to even the odds seems to work in boosting your Pokemon's level too.

Video;

[nightyorb]

Okay, good. The gyms get really stupid over who gets to challenge their elite teams.

Do they say anything about what you get for winning?

video;

[singlespacedad]

Hey, kid.

[Looks like someone is feeling better from the last time they talked! Even if that was like three months ago.]

You're pretty excited about this, huh?

video;

[angewiesen]

I'm not your kid, buckethead.

But, yeah. Pokemon battles have always interested me. The strategy involved is so complex, if you're up against a real veteran, you'll have a different experience every time. You have to think and adapt on the fly. I like that.

video;

[singlespacedad]

You're what, seventeen? Eighteen? You're a kid.

[Said from the sage lands of his late thirties. Jean might not be his kid (heaven forbid!), but he is a kid.]

Makes sense. Planning for a battle can be an interesting challenge.

video

[smallshot]

[HELL YES SHE'S SEEN IT!]

I'm so glad I got here when I did, it's going to be...

[Wait. Wait a minute. She squinted. ]

Goat man?

video

[angewiesen]

Excuse me? Goat man?

[Does she mean Greatest Of All Time, or like a literal goat??? He doesn't know with kids these days.]

Re: video

[smallshot]

Your chin... It's like a goat's. [There's a pause and she thinks about it.] ...Jean?

video

[grice]

[ he has things to say, but he's just— he can't stop staring at the man's entire appearance before actually saying anything. ]

. . . Mister, [ oh, god, what was it— ] um, —Jean?

video

[angewiesen]

[Okay, goat girl was weird enough, but someone that knows his name? That he doesn't recognize?]

[Jean feels a weird chill. There's something in the kid's expression... It reminds him of how new recruits into the Corps would look at him when they knew who he was. He wouldn't go so far as to call it awe, that would be way too full of himself, but sort of respectfully surprised maybe?]

Yeah? Do I know you?

[grice]

[ oh. oh, certainly something in his chest drops, at the thought of being forgotten so soon. if only arceus had given a rundown on their timeline travel rather than getting the gist from “mom”. ]

I— It’s Falco? We . . . Fought together.

[video]

[captainash]

Wanting coverage for every option is all good and nice, but don't you run the risk of having a team that's too average to win? "Jack of all trades, master of none" and all that.

[video]

[angewiesen]

Yeah, you're right. Can't play the field too evenly. Type coverage is good to keep in mind, but committing to one strategy is probably your best bet. You can't have one hyper-offense Pokemon, one staller and another that relies on a different gimmick. There'd be no synergy.

[video]

[captainash]

As far as synergy goes, a type-themed team is always an option and might be the easiest, but the Gym circuit has taught most of us how to deal with those.

[Which is why he'll only be spectating, this time.]

After the second round or so, everyone who remains and who's paid attention to the other matches should know what strategies everyone favors... and whether or not they can counter those with their own team.

[ video | un: keith ]

[tempredmental]

A tournament, huh? Sounds fun.

video

[angewiesen]

You into battling too?

[tempredmental]

[Keith nodded.]

Yeah, actually. I've got a good group that are really into it, too. [Meaning his Pokémon.]

Are you going to sign up?