Knowing the layout ahead of time definitely helps out. As it is, Misty basically made Staryu's DC to be hit increase by 10 through her use of the terrain. Violet was able to somewhat ape it during the fight, increasing Dratini's hit DC by 5.
Knowing the layout ahead of time definitely helps out. As it is, Misty basically made Staryu's DC to be hit increase by 10 through her use of the terrain. Violet was able to somewhat ape it during the fight, increasing Dratini's hit DC by 5.
Specifically going out of our way to map the layouts of the gyms ahead of time feels like a disingenuous way to train our team at least if we do it for every gym. As, well we'll want to cultivate Violet's capabilities as a trainer which would include the capability to study the terrain, and plan ahead of time for a battle to gain an advantage that's only one of three combat situations she'll find herself in well also being by far the least common. The other two are fighting evenly with your opponent in terms of local knowledge which is also the most common, and fighting at a disadvantage which tends to be of middle commonality.
We're going to get plenty of experience fighting normal trainer battles or through tournaments with even knowledge so that's handled regardless of what we do but the other two types of fights ones where we fight with a knowledge advantage or disadvantage we can typically only expect to find in higher stake situations but the gyms if we split them up properly offer the opportunity to train those capabilities where it's fine for us to make mistakes.
It's the old saying that a pint of sweat will save a gallon of blood in battle but considering this is Pokemon we should probably swap blood for tears. And, it's probably the intention behind the gyms as a whole to be honest namely to train individuals to build and command teams able to fight against teams of Pokemon of any type in adverse conditions if necessary most likely either brought on by or adapted in the aftermath of the war Surge talks about.
It may be a little bit much work, but in the anime with end of gym seasons and the bigger tournaments, they do vary the terrain
I imagine some gym trainers didnt just study opposing teams, but also studied the different battlefields available in the next round
I'd argue that rather than this being something Violet needs to do each gym, this could probably be accomplished at any pokecenter PC throughout the course of a week.
Maybe not all in one go, but she could probably build a foundation, and then maybe a second time studying terrain, have a good idea of how to fight in gym setups as a basis
And like you said Gyms, by their namesake, should be teaching how to be a better battler. The variety of battlefields is meant to both challenge and teach those sorts of skills.
Violet will learn by doing, but she'll benefit by studying too.
Sabrina's gym night not be crazy, but I bet Erika, Surge, and Koga will each be worth the time, same for Blaine, Brock, and maybe even Giovanni
(Then there's whatever region she challenges after Kanto)
Entire post, there is no actual NEED to blindfold yourself to learn to work in adverse conditions, when you still need to work on the effects of said conditions.
Knowing the Gym is islets over water doesn't change that you need to train to fight while swimming/flying/hopping. Same for any other environment. You recon, and train to account for the information.
By the time we reach the league we should have already trained for all common terrain types just by training for each gym unless someone drops in a pokemon with Drought, Sandstorm etc.
Entire post, there is no actual NEED to blindfold yourself to learn to work in adverse conditions, when you still need to work on the effects of said conditions.
Knowing the Gym is islets over water doesn't change that you need to train to fight while swimming/flying/hopping. Same for any other environment. You recon, and train to account for the information.
By the time we reach the league we should have already trained for all common terrain types just by training for each gym unless someone drops in a pokemon with Drought, Sandstorm etc.
Being able to operate in specific environments is a different skill set from training to operate at an advantage or disadvantage in knowledge of a specific environment in comparison to your opponent. You can be trained to fight in a city after all you can even be better at urban combat generally than your opponent but that doesn't mean you're trained to fight in a city where you have superior knowledge of that specific city over your opponent or your opponent has superior knowledge of that specific city over you.
This is a key skill to train because you're not always going to be able to know more about the environment than your opponent in fact as a strong trainer or as champion odds are outside of the low-stakes competition environment you're pretty much always going to be walking into a scenario where you either know less than your opponent or at best have equal amounts of knowledge because you'll be seeking out your opponent rather than the other way around with a publically known Pokemon team at your side.
This is the opposite of lax as it's training under the conditions of battle we would expect to operate under as a strong trainer, and the closer training is to the reality of the job the better it is. It's also not incompatible with any other form of training so it's not even like there's a downside to it.
I will say, even if Violet pivots to another trainer-oriented career track like Pokemon Contests, if it involves battling, or involves competitive activites (hell say PokeRinger or another anime-specific sport), the factors would probably shake out the same even if it's not about the battlefields themselves (iirc Contests almost always are an indoor convention hall that is kept relatively the same, save for the way mons modify the terrain through their performances)
When it comes to examining terrain in gyms, that's one of those things that while you can do it, generally speaking if you feel the need to do so you aren't ready for that gym. It'll mainly come into effect only for battles in the actual Leagues themselves, where you may want to check out the arena beforehand in order to plan out any moves you want to switch up and such. So I would say it's definitely a valid strategy to scout out arenas before a fight, even if it's unlikely to be relevant in gym battles specifically. Well, unless a gym leader intends you to study the terrain before hand. So for a 7th or 8th badge some of them would make it a requirement. That and as pointed out, you don't want to over rely on knowing the terrain in advance. Some gym leaders vary up the battle arena for said reason.
On that note, I think I'll call it there. Looks like this was a very close vote.
Scheduled vote count started by Daemon Hunter on Apr 15, 2024 at 10:21 AM, finished with 22 posts and 11 votes.
[X] Learn Dragon Tail at C– as Dratini's fourth C ranked move
We could Thunder Wave, Dragon Tail, and then Thunder Wave the incoming Pokémon, so that two of our opponent's Pokémon are paralyzed. This could be useful if the first Pokémon we paralyzed in some way counters our other Pokémon besides Dratini.
[X] Learn Dragon Tail at C– as Dratini's fourth C ranked move
Walking east from Cerulean City, Violet admired the Cascade Badge. The blue drop was quite pretty to her, although a good part of that feeling came from the victory required to earn it. After the battle had ended she had spent some time celebrating with Dratini before realizing he was exhausted and battered. At which point she returned him to his Pokeball and was presented the Cascade Badge by Misty.
The gym leader explained that she was definitely qualified to earn it, demonstrating a strong Pokemon and a solid, reliable game plan to use against her opponents. Misty did recommend ensuring she challenged herself in the future, attempting gym battles earlier when Violet could learn more from them. Although she did say her use of Dratini to solo the battle did alleviate any worries of stifling her growth.
After a few minutes of the conversation (which was mostly Violet nodding along to demonstrate that yes, she was paying attention she just didn't see anything she could add) Misty presented her with the Cascade Badge, which had presented Violet with her current dilemma.
"Do you think it fits my top? Or should it be in a case?" She had asked Dratini and her parents, and everyone had different answers. The Mirage Pokemon told her to put it on her hat, which was an interesting idea. By contrast, her mother recommended she place it in a case as not all the badges would go with her shirt and some may clash with the pink color. Then her father had suggested putting them on her bag, which while it would work, felt a little disrespectful to the badges themselves.
Thankfully it wasn't an issue immediately. One badge could be swapped between locations as needed, accessorizing different parts of her outfit or being hidden away in a case if needed. It would likely only be something to worry about when she earned a set of 4. At which point it could be a challenge.
Shaking away the thoughts, Violet refocused herself on the next stage of the journey. The Power Plant.
Located on the eastern edge of Kanto, the plant provided over 90% of power to the region. A literal hub for electric Pokemon, the shy girl hoped she would be able to catch a Magnemite for the team, completing the main four she would rely upon for years to come. Heading down through Route 10 after having traveled through Route 9, the Pokecenter that serviced this part of Kanto came into view.
Violet was a bit sad Luna didn't want to travel, even if she understood her reasoning. The nursing intern simply liked healing more than battling and shifting between Pokecenters wasn't useful for her at this stage in her growth. Luna did say that may change in a few months or years after she gained a better understanding of Pokemon and needed to test her limits. But that was a long way off, and Violet wasn't willing to sit on her laurels for that long. Instead, she simply wished her new friend goodbye and left for the Power Plant. And after three days of travel, she had made it to the area.
She let out all three of her Pokemon, taking a moment to comb her hair with her fingers before asking, "Anything the three of you want to do here?"
Dratini, Pineco, and Chansey all answered at once, their voices overlapping enough that Violet had no idea what they were saying.
"One at a time, please. I can't tell what you're saying."
It took a few seconds, but eventually, they calmed down. Pineco was the first to share what she wanted, which was to climb some of the hills and mountains in the area. Towards the west, Violet could see what Pineco was referring to, with the mountain range that held the Rock Tunnel stretching for miles southwest.
Dratini spoke up next, wanting them to spend a few days swimming in the river that connected to the ocean. Violet was a bit hesitant to agree, mainly due to her lack of experience with water. But learning to swim could be useful in the future.
And last to speak up was Chansey, who just wanted to walk around the area and see the sights. It was her first time this far from home, and there was so much to explore!
Giggling at the exuberance, Violet was glad to see that her friends were as excited as she was.
The Ninth Week, Pick 2
Pokemon Actions
[] Catch a fourth Pokemon - Catching a Magnemite or other electric-type Pokemon is why you came here, there are almost certainly good options present.
[] Fish for Pokemon - While it's not normal, there are enough Water Pokemon out there to interest you. Fishing for them in the river next to Route 10 would be fun.
[] Train with your Pokemon - All of your Pokemon are good in a battle, and each has unique skills. Training for a few days would help them grow.
Battling Actions
[] Challenge New Trainers - Now that you and your Pokemon had developed, fighting a few trainers in succession was doable.
[] Challenge an Experienced Trainer - Some trainers in the area have a badge, beating them may be a good experience.
Exploration Actions (New)
[] See the sights in the Area - While the attractions are limited to the Power Plant, exploring its interior would be rather fun. Chansey would appreciate the more scenic tour. Wait, why are you two here?!
[] Explore Unorthodox Locations - Exploring parts of the area most people don't will be an interesting experience. Pineco would very much enjoy hiking in the mountains.
[] Learn to Swim - While you do know how to swim, there is a notable difference between swimming for fun and scuba diving. And an even greater difference when it comes to exploring underwater caves. Dratini would have fun teaching you.
Traveling Actions (Can Take 1 of These Only)
[] Travel to Cerulean City - The safest path back to civilization, once you have your fill of the area, you can choose to head back via a safer route..
[] Travel through the Rock Tunnel - Heading to Lavender town through the Rock Tunnel is the traditional method of travel for trainers, even if it is likely to take a few days to do.
[] Travel to Write-in - There are many locations in Kanto one could take a direct route towards.
Social Actions (For socials, it's assumed you keep up a basic level of contact through text, choosing a social means I write it up)
[] Call up your parents - Your parents would appreciate a call to congratulate you on your first gym badge.
[] Call Tetsuya - An old childhood friend of yours, the two of you drifted off recently. He recently arrived in Pewter City and just barely managed to earn the Boulder Badge.
[] Call Willow - The trainer you recently defeated, she seems fun if exhausting. She just made it to Cerulean City and has complained about an encounter with Team Rocket.
[X] Catch a fourth Pokemon - Catching a Magnemite or other electric-type Pokemon is why you came here, there are almost certainly good options present.
[X] Call up your parents -Your parents would appreciate a call to congratulate you on your first gym badge.
[X] Catch a fourth Pokemon - Catching a Magnemite or other electric-type Pokemon is why you came here, there are almost certainly good options present.
[X] Learn to Swim - While you do know how to swim, there is a notable difference between swimming for fun and scuba diving. And an even greater difference when it comes to exploring underwater caves. Dratini would have fun teaching you.
[X] Explore Unorthodox Locations - Exploring parts of the area most people don't will be an interesting experience. Pineco would very much enjoy hiking in the mountains.
[X] Learn to Swim - While you do know how to swim, there is a notable difference between swimming for fun and scuba diving. And an even greater difference when it comes to exploring underwater caves. Dratini would have fun teaching you.
[X] Catch a fourth Pokemon - Catching a Magnemite or other electric-type Pokemon is why you came here, there are almost certainly good options present.
[X] Learn to Swim - While you do know how to swim, there is a notable difference between swimming for fun and scuba diving. And an even greater difference when it comes to exploring underwater caves. Dratini would have fun teaching you.
[X] Learn to Swim - While you do know how to swim, there is a notable difference between swimming for fun and scuba diving. And an even greater difference when it comes to exploring underwater caves. Dratini would have fun teaching you.
[X] Explore Unorthodox Locations - Exploring parts of the area most people don't will be an interesting experience. Pineco would very much enjoy hiking in the mountains.
EDIT: changing over since Unorthodox Locations could win out over catching a fourth pokemon.
Everyone's had some little moments to shine, but before we add a fourth to Violet's party I think it'd be worthwhile connecting further with Pineco, and giving Violet some breather space where she doesn't have to be around people who might be on the intense side.
Dratini and Pineco are both pulling some heavy weight so far (Chansey too, damn), and I'm down for some deeper characterization.
ilu Chansey, but you're so easy-going that we can probably do Whatever together and you'll be happy for the experience.
before edit:
A good relationship with our parents would aid in the process of getting that Confuse Ray TM~
[X] See the sights in the Area - While the attractions are limited to the Power Plant, exploring its interior would be rather fun. Chansey would appreciate the more scenic tour. Wait, why are you two here?!
[X] Explore Unorthodox Locations - Exploring parts of the area most people don't will be an interesting experience. Pineco would very much enjoy hiking in the mountains.
[X] Call Tetsuya - An old childhood friend of yours, the two of you drifted off recently. He recently arrived in Pewter City and just barely managed to earn the Boulder Badge.
I'm not in a rush to catch our fourth Pokemon and leave immediately since we just caught Chansey plus I'd love to talk to someone other than our parents.
[X] Explore Unorthodox Locations - Exploring parts of the area most people don't will be an interesting experience. Pineco would very much enjoy hiking in the mountains.
[X] Learn to Swim - While you do know how to swim, there is a notable difference between swimming for fun and scuba diving. And an even greater difference when it comes to exploring underwater caves. Dratini would have fun teaching you.
[X] Catch a fourth Pokemon - Catching a Magnemite or other electric-type Pokemon is why you came here, there are almost certainly good options present.
[X] Learn to Swim - While you do know how to swim, there is a notable difference between swimming for fun and scuba diving. And an even greater difference when it comes to exploring underwater caves. Dratini would have fun teaching you.
[X] Catch a fourth Pokemon - Catching a Magnemite or other electric-type Pokemon is why you came here, there are almost certainly good options present.
[X] Learn to Swim - While you do know how to swim, there is a notable difference between swimming for fun and scuba diving. And an even greater difference when it comes to exploring underwater caves. Dratini would have fun teaching you.
[X] Explore Unorthodox Locations - Exploring parts of the area most people don't will be an interesting experience. Pineco would very much enjoy hiking in the mountains.
[X] Learn to Swim - While you do know how to swim, there is a notable difference between swimming for fun and scuba diving. And an even greater difference when it comes to exploring underwater caves. Dratini would have fun teaching you.
[X] Explore Unorthodox Locations - Exploring parts of the area most people don't will be an interesting experience. Pineco would very much enjoy hiking in the mountains.
[X] Catch a fourth Pokemon - Catching a Magnemite or other electric-type Pokemon is why you came here, there are almost certainly good options present.
[X] Learn to Swim - While you do know how to swim, there is a notable difference between swimming for fun and scuba diving. And an even greater difference when it comes to exploring underwater caves. Dratini would have fun teaching you.
