Tohjo Military University [Pokémon]

Kotone's Starter Choice


  • Total voters
    83
A couple general Kotone-knowledge questions:
  • Will we be taking further classes after graduation at a different school, or is it straight to missions?
  • Will we get a human team/partners, will we be solo, or is it up to us?
  • Do retirees from being active trainers get to keep their pokemon? Under what circumstances, besides catching the wrong pokemon on this test, are pokemon confiscated?
 
  • Will we be taking further classes after graduation at a different school, or is it straight to missions?
Postgraduate is possible, but most often that doesn't happen until you've been on the field for at least one or two years.

  • Will we get a human team/partners, will we be solo, or is it up to us?
Depends. As a rookie, you're likely to be teamed up, though.

Do retirees from being active trainers get to keep their pokemon? Under what circumstances, besides catching the wrong pokemon on this test, are pokemon confiscated?
They're typically put to death upon retirement.

Most Trainers don't ever really retire barring special circumstances. The closest they get is be put on reserve, in which case they get to keep their PKMN, but there are conditions.
 
I'd think it obvious by now, but consider me on the Oddish team for the straw poll, @Wysteria. :p

Tangela develops into basically-unkillable Tangrowth, that naturally learns Rock-type coverage (to wit, 4 of it's 5 weaknesses are themselves weak to Rock). Might be worth looking into.
Also, dex entry says it regenerates fucking limbs. If we're worried about Nuzlocke...

I did vaguely consider Tangela, but I remembered it being rather rare, which isn't good for our purposes. Those properties do make it pretty tempting, though...

As a fun fact: Given its pokedex entries and that it's only found on a water route in Gen I, Tangela is probably meant to be some kind of aquatic plant pokemon. Clearly didn't stay that way, though; in Gen II, it can be found on Mt. Silver.

Fun fact, TMs not being learnable means Ice Beam is actually a lot harder to get on anything that isn't partially an Ice type. Well, Move Tutor also teaches it, but I'm presuming Move Tutor is very limited if it exists at all.

This is actually a pretty good point to raise. I'd forgotten that most pokemon learn Ice moves via TM.

Now I'm imagining Belossom as a Naruto-type ninja, utterly ignoring stealth, throwing Razor Leaf like shuriken, abusing super-jump, and running with airplane arms.


Alright, getting too long. Second part to come later.

This is hilarious, but also amazing. I totally want to see this happen (though maybe with at least the option of stealth :V).
 
Straw-poll, I am pro-Scyther. Everyone else is shooting high with their choice of starters, I think maybe we were too conservative when picking Oddish because it's easy.

Also, isn't this capturing a pokémon thing supposed to be a test? Is it possible we get graded on level of difficulty of our chosen target? I don't think it would make us fail, but... Leaf would score higher than us.

I did vaguely consider Tangela, but I remembered it being rather rare, which isn't good for our purposes. Those properties do make it pretty tempting, though...
Well, we ARE going to the Safari Zone anyways, the ideal place to find rare pokémon. I won't try to sell it too hard because it's not an idea likely to beat Gloom at this point, but...
 
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Straw-poll, I am pro-Scyther. Everyone else is shooting high with their choice of starters, I think maybe we were too conservative when picking Oddish because it's easy.

Also, isn't this capturing a pokémon thing supposed to be a test? Is it possible we get graded on level of difficulty of our chosen target? I don't think it would make us fail, but... Leaf would score higher then us.

Eh. Silver pointed out that picking Oddish would impress interviewers as a rational choice. Kangaskhan... is obviously not a very rational choice, though it's certainly an ambitious one, and I imagine Leaf's proctors will realize why she picked it.

Besides, Leaf even called out her brother as being idiotic for having his heart set on Ditto (the utter hypocrite :V), and both Silver and Gary downgraded their picks in order to better support their partner. There is a clear precedent for not getting too ambitious here.
 
Besides, Leaf even called out her brother as being idiotic for having his heart set on Ditto (the utter hypocrite :V), and both Silver and Gary downgraded their picks in order to better support their partner. There is a clear precedent for not getting too ambitious here.
Downgraded to Arcanine and Nidoking. Nothing against ninja Belossom wearing a half-mask and a dramatically fluttering scarf, but it's not exactly an Arcanine.
 
Downgraded to Arcanine and Nidoking. Nothing against ninja Belossom wearing a half-mask and a dramatically fluttering scarf, but it's not exactly an Arcanine.

That's fair, but our strong suits are different from theirs, and Bellossom fits quite nicely on that front. I certainly want a strong powerhouse pokemon at some point, but our skills favor a first pokemon that's far more utility than DPS or tank. More importantly, Scyther is definitely on another level from Growlithe and Nidoran; it's going to be way too difficult to get Kangaskhan, Nidoran, and Scyther in two weeks while also dodging all the other dangers of the Safari Zone as a group.

This, by the way, is why I'm more open to Venonat than Scyther. Venonat's not gonna happen, though. :V

EDIT: For the record, though, Bellossom's stats actually aren't much to sneeze at. Stats work a lot differently here, of course, but just looking at base totals for comparison, Scyther's 500 and Bellossom's 480. Bellossom also naturally learns some seriously high-power Grass moves at higher levels-- Petal Dance, Petal Blizzard, and Leaf Storm. Scyther's strongest naturally-learned moves are... X-Scissor and Razor Wind. :V Not to mention that Bellossom is primarily a ranged fighter who can nonetheless deal respectable melee damage, while Scyther... should just stick to melee.
 
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1.11 - The Plan
"...You, Koto. You're the one who's supposed to know who I am."

Silver's words seem to echo in your ears, and despite the amalgam of emotions clogging up your throat, you try compose yourself.

You look at each other for a long time, and you watch his expressions change even as you're sure he's doing the same.

"I do know you," you finally say, sighing. Without realising it, a distance has grown between the two of you in the time you've said all the things you said, so you scoot a little bit closer to him. "You're considerate, always looking out for others, great with people, and you put up with way too much."

Silver blinks, slowly.

You continue. "I shouldn't have... I should know better. That's not you. But you're also secretive, closed off, and always trying to solve things by yourself. I don't want to be just handed Gary's research. I want to actually work with you."

"......."

"So, right now, we're going on a stupidly dangerous safari, and I want to plan it out."

"Koto--"

"Together," you add.

"...Okay," he allows. "Okay, I can work with that."

Hesitantly... "We are friends, right..?"

"You're my only friend, Koto," he says seriously.

You shove him in the shoulder. "I'm sure that's not true."


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After that, you spent several hours talking with Silver regarding the plans he already had with Leaf.

Leaf will be on the frontline, taking care of most of the threats, while he provides backup. He will also try to get additional supplies for the three of you, including, hopefully, at least one extra Pokéball.

Nidoran are aplenty in the Safari Zone, so he would catch a solitary one early on, on the outskirts where it is safer, just to get it out of the way. The gender doesn't matter, as a target of opportunity, as long as it is a decent specimen.

The plan for a Kangaskhan, on the other hand, is to follow in the footsteps of the Flame Champion when he caught his Starter: track down a Kangaskhan mother, kill her, and then capture the hopefully unharmed joey in her pouch. Now that you're actually on the team, it should be much simpler: a single, well-placed double-lung shot should kill one within a few hours, and then you just need to follow the blood trail...

By the time you find the carcass, the young joey should be distraught and weak enough that it cannot put up any meaningful resistance against a Pokéball -- or against its subsequent taming, for that matter.

If you agree with this plan, Silver recommends that you should do at least in-depth research on the Kangaskhan species and its anatomy, so as to better find an angle to place your bullet.

Also, according to the research they've done so far (meaning the research that Gary has done so far), Kangaskhan mostly populate the northern area of the Safari Zone, so you'll work your way north from the Southern entrance until you find one, catching a Nidoran on the way.

Of course, now that you're part of the party, the plan has to be adjusted slightly, but you have yet to commit to Oddish, and are still contemplating whether you should take advantage of Gary's notes to decide on another Pokémon native to the area. Whatever it is, though, you should probably decide soon and reconvene with your party (Silver and Leaf) to consolidate your strategies.


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Argento Razzo

Age : 19
Sex : M

STR : 7
AGI : 9
INT : 9

Primary : Submachine Gun OR Lightmachine Gun
Secondary : Pistol

Rank C : Survival
Rank C : Navigation
Rank C : First-Aid
Rank D : Marksmanship
Rank D : Traps & Tools

Personal Skill : Pokémon Master
You can tell the Age, Attributes, and Personal Skills of a Pokémon by observing it.
All interactions with a Pokémon are less likely to fail, including communication, capture, and training.
Roll an additional die and take the higher of both rolls.

Applicable Pokémon : Nidoran, Nidorino, Nidorina, Nidoking, Nidoqueen, Scyther, Kangaskhan

Personal Skill : Uncanny Negotiator
Negotiating transactions will most often be greatly in your favour.
Actions that rely on communication or diplomacy are less likely to fail.

Traded or newly caught Pokémon are more likely to listen to you.


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Leaf Kitchenham

Age :
19
Sex : F

STR : 9
AGI : 9
INT : 8

Primary : Assault Rifle
Secondary : Pistol

Rank C : Marksmanship
Rank C : Survival
Rank C : Navigation
Rank C : First-Aid
Rank D : Traps & Tools

Personal Skill : Pokémon Master
You can tell the Age, Attributes, and Personal Skills of a Pokémon by observing it.
All interactions with a Pokémon are less likely to fail, including communication, capture, and training.
Roll an additional die and take the higher of both rolls.

Applicable Pokémon : Kangaskhan

Personal Skill : Combat Instinct
Gain bonuses over time when in combat against the same opponent(s).
Reduces penalties from sustaining injuries.
This Skill has a low chance of being imparted when personally training a Pokémon.


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It is the 14th day of the Latewinter, in the 48th year of the New Pokémon Calendar.

Your interviews are in 8 Days.

What do you do next?


[x] Study Gary's Notes (1 Day)
→ [x] Scyther (preliminary)
→ [x] Kangaskhan (preliminary)
→ [x] Nidoran (preliminary)
→ [x] Safari Zone South (Safari Entrance) (in-depth)
→ [x] Safari Zone West (Safari Area 3) (in-depth)
→ [x] Safari Zone North (Safari Area 2) (in-depth)
→ [x] Safari Zone East (Safari Area 1) (in-depth)
[x] Do preliminary research on a Pokémon. (2 Days)
→ [x] What Pokémon?
[x] Talk to someone. (1 Day)
→ [x] Topic?
[x] Do some training. (1 Day)
→ [x] STR : Focus on training your body.
→ [x] AGI : Focus on training your reflexes.
[x] Write-in.
 
That's fair, but our strong suits are different from theirs, and Bellossom fits quite nicely on that front. I certainly want a strong powerhouse pokemon at some point, but our skills favor a first pokemon that's far more utility than DPS or tank. More importantly, Scyther is definitely on another level from Growlithe and Nidoran; it's going to be way too difficult to get Kangaskhan, Nidoran, and Scyther in two weeks while also dodging all the other dangers of the Safari Zone as a group.

This, by the way, is why I'm more open to Venonat than Scyther. Venonat's not gonna happen, though. :V
I'm okay with Venonat, but Belossom is probably the better choice. Tangela, though.

But none of them stand a chance of beating the hype train, so I'll vote for Scyther. It's true Scyther doesn't have moves as powerful on their own as Belossom, but I would NOT laugh at an Agility and Swords Dance-boosted X-scissors. I don't hate Belossom, really, and I won't rage if (when) we end up getting it, I just didn't want to have Gloom, the pokémon that smells like a rotting corpse, as a starter.

Edit: Besides, how will we seduce Gary Silver Leaf if we constantly smell like something died on us?
 
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Okay. Two days of geography, two days of Kangaskan research, one day planning with Leaf and Silver. I'm glad that plan isn't as suicidal as we thought. Either two days Pokemon research and one day to talk to teachers or three days to talk to teachers with Oddish.

Geography first, or Pokemon decision time first?
Adhoc vote count started by Wysteria on Jun 18, 2019 at 4:33 PM, finished with 11 posts and 6 votes.
 
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[x] Study Gary's Notes (1 Day)
→ [X] Kangaskhan (preliminary)

So like... I reallyreallyreally don't want the corpse-smelling walking-plant Oddish/Gloom to be our starter, I really don't. I'd rather have a Doduo, or Nidoran, or Scyther, or literally anything else.

(TBF I wish we could get a Mareep, they're cute, have a Dragon-mega, and Paralysis ain't no joke; or a Dratini lol)
 
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The plan for a Kangaskhan, on the other hand, is to follow in the footsteps of the Flame Champion when he caught his Starter: track down a Kangaskhan mother, kill her, and then capture the hopefully unharmed joey in her pouch. Now that you're actually on the team, it should be much simpler: a single, well-placed double-lung shot should kill one within a few hours, and then you just need to follow the blood trail...

By the time you find the carcass, the young joey should be distraught and weak enough that it cannot put up any meaningful resistance against a Pokéball -- or against its subsequent taming, for that matter.


...I...uhh...I mean wow. That is a plan. Murder the mom and Stockholm Syndrome the kid. This world sure as hell isn't sunshine and rainbows. At least their plan is a solid thing with our addition. Of course we may need ammunition with greater penetrating power or one capable of doing a hefty internal damage but it should be doable.
 
(...) Well, that's a coldhearted plan if I've ever heard one, but it's certainly a very good one. Even if the joey ends up dying in the process, we'd probably have enough time for another go (as long as we get a pokemon that's easy to catch quickly). Will take time for the baby to grow into usefulness, though.

Think that's a pretty clear indicator that we should decide now on whether to get Oddish or something else. If we're getting Oddish, we should start our Kangaskhan research so we can approach the professors with questions on that front. Maybe the geography research, too, if we go to Professor Ivy? Our partners are both better at Navigation than we are, though, so we should probably just rely on them beyond the basics.

They're also both better at First Aid than us, heh. Some support we are. :V At least my guess that we're much better at traps held true.

[X] Study Gary's Notes (1 Day)
→ [X] Kangaskhan (preliminary)
 
Everyone else is eyeing that second pokeball with desperate hope too, right?

Exploiting his crush is bad and metagaming, Wyste.

[X] Study Gary's Notes (1 Day)
→ [X] Kangaskhan (preliminary)

I have most questions for traps Bill and zoology Joy.
 
Hmm can Sweet Scent attract Pokemon? Just for curiosities sake I want to know if it can.
Yes.

...I...uhh...I mean wow. That is a plan. Murder the mom and Stockholm Syndrome the kid. This world sure as hell isn't sunshine and rainbows. At least their plan is a solid thing with our addition. Of course we may need ammunition with greater penetrating power or one capable of doing a hefty internal damage but it should be doable.
Preferrably penetration so that you have an easier-to-follow blood trail. But that relies on you getting a good enough shot to kill it with one bullet.

Everyone else is eyeing that second pokeball with desperate hope too, right?
Just a backup in case of capture failure. You still can't use it to catch an extra PKMN or Silver will get into trouble when the authorities find it.

Using the extra ball(s) in creative ways though..? Possible. You don't have to bring back a PKMN you catch, right?
 
[x] Study Gary's Notes
→[x] Scyther (preliminary)

I'm mostly doing this for token resistance, we should probably learn the best way to kill a mother to more easily kidnap her child.
 
[x] Study Gary's Notes (1 Day)
→ [x] Safari Zone South (Safari Entrance) (in-depth
 
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Hey, @wdango, if we have partners, are we required to physically capture our own pokemon, or can other members of our team capture it for them? I'm asking for a friend. Really. Because Silver's Rank D Marksmanship could use some help. <.<
 
[x] Study Gary's Notes
→[x] Scyther (preliminary)


[x] Study Gary's Notes (1 Day)
→ [x] Safari Zone South (Safari Entrance) (in-depth)

We should probably work on our own stuff first so we can make plans. I don't mind helping leaf but we need to figure ourselves out first

Edit: since everyone doesn't agree with Scyther I'm switching to this. We really need to do our own thing first
 
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Hey, @wdango, if we have partners, are we required to physically capture our own pokemon, or can other members of our team capture it for them? I'm asking for a friend. Really. Because Silver's Rank D Marksmanship could use some help. <.<
Assistance is permissible.

Marksmanship is shooting.

Throwing is based on Tools/AGI, and if you can fail in aiming your Pokeball with a low proficiency/level in either, the PKMN will likely break out anyway.

Unless it's like a Pupa, which is a guaranteed capture.
 
Assistance is permissible.

Marksmanship is shooting.

Throwing is based on Tools/AGI, and if you can fail in aiming your Pokeball with a low proficiency/level in either, the PKMN will likely break out anyway.

Unless it's like a Pupa, which is a guaranteed capture.

Oh. Mostly only useful in last-ditch-effort things, then, though we should definitely be the one to carry any extra pokeballs anyway, given that we're the best at throwing them in an emergency.
 
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