Gotta Catch ‘Em All

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

Pikachu, I Choose You!

Not really. This post is about settings. I think it is very important to think about the logic in your setting: how do people live, what are things like, etc. If you don’t have a clue about the day to day of life in the setting, it comes off as a little “off” when you stop to think about it.

A lot of people enjoy Pokemon. They did some things in a smart way: start the “players” out in a given region; let them explore and learn about the pokemon that live there; add new regions as they become bored. A good way to structure any campaign.

It might just be me, but I think they got a few things wrong.

Is everyone a vegetarian? You don’t see any animals besides pokemon themselves. Pokemon don’t seem to seriously hurt each other (in the wild, they might drive a pokemon away from their territory, but they don’t seem to be out to kill anything). People don’t eat pokemon (it would be strange to be eating creatures that you generally become friends with).

Why don’t kids go to school? It seems like that by the time they are 11, they are off chasing pokemon. Is all necessary learning done in a different way or is it done by age 10?

What do people really do to earn a living? In the video games, it is a little more clear that you can make money from pokemon battles/contents. However, not everyone seems to have a pokemon. What do they do?

Sure, none of these things makes Pokemon a bad setting. It just leaves you wondering about the wrong things which can take away from enjoying your campaign. So please think about the little things in your setting. You and your players will have more fun.