Risus Thought of the Moment

I wrote about issues with Pokemon as a setting previously (Pikachu, I Choose You!). However, if you had to play as the Pokemon itself (al a Mystery Dungeon), what could you do? This came up on the RisusTalk mailing list.  I thought I would share my response here.

I’ve seen quite a few episodes of the show and whatever bits of the video games that they boys want to show me…

This might be useful:  http://www.pokemon.com/us/pokedex/

So you can see how many you have to chose from.

Basically, you have Pokemon of different types and each type has a benefit/weakness against certain other types (sort of a rock-papper-siscors) thing.

Wikipedia has a neat chart:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pokemon_types#Pok.C3.A9mon_types

I don’t know how you would want to translate this into Risus terms.  Maybe something along the lines of number of die that can be used for rolling purposes (1/2 cliche if it is a type you have trouble with; only for rolling, not for damage if it is a type you have trouble with; 2x normal dice for rolling, normal for damage).

I don’t know how well a specific Pokemon would translate into Risus terms.  Maybe you use Questing DIce and/or Lucky Shots to represent some of the special moves they can learn.

If you check out the Pokedex, you can see all of the Pokemon and the special moves they can learn.

If you look up Squirtle (a common starting Pokemon), you would see that he (or she) could learn the special ability of Torrent (and it is weak to Electric and Grass Pokemon).

I would definitely not play this with 10 die characters.  Maybe 5 die (especially if this is some sort of beginners to roleplaying setup).

Here’s an example:  Cocky, Sunglasses Wearing Squirtle Dude (4), Torrent [],[],[],[],[],[]

Here’s another:  Mischievous Munchlax on a Diet (4), Pickup [],[],[], Thick Fat [],[],[]

Maybe I’ve thought too much into this…I have an urge to post this up as Risus TOTM.

Have fun with it! It is Risus, there’s no wrong way to play.  Just be Arceus (4), God Powers [],[],[],[],[],[],[]. 

;-P

Larry