islandshore | 44 - video/action for groupmates;

[The feed clicks on inside a bedroom of some kind. There's a shiny Charmander wriggling around in the background, trying to hide under a pillow. Pay her no mind for now. Riku, in the mean time, faces the camera with a slightly deadpan look.]

Okay, since the data version of me came back, I figured it's time to do a little PSA. Basically, if you see two guys who look like younger versions of me, don't freak out. They aren't me. They're just based on me. One of them goes by Evan, and the other's got a black coat and took up the name Rin, I guess.

Also, since this is a newbie wave, I went ahead and updated my Training Guide, including a new section on Pokémon care. It also covers the basic questions most newbies toss around and some Pokémon recs. Like Toxicroak. I'm seriously surprised at how scarce they are.

[He shrugs.]

And don't forget to check out the Pokémon Rental Service if you need a quick trip to the next town. Newbies get a reduced price, since you guys are short on funds as it is.

[Okay, advertising's done. Now he can toss something up for the old crowd...]

And to wrap things up, I've got two questions for you. First, how do you decide to nickname your Pokémon? Or if you don't... why the heck don't you? I never got the point in referring to them by species when they're all individuals.

As for the other question... Do you think it's necessary to be friends with all your Pokémon? Even if said Pokémon is vicious, bloodthirsty, and only cares about fighting?

[And with that, he'll click off the feed. Well, after throwing up two private messages and slapping on the following attachments...]

ATTACHMENTS:

Training for Dummies.txt.

PGC Filter:

So, how many of you guys are here yet? And Lightning, do you think there'd be time to swing by Celadon a few times just to check in on my business? I'm fine with camping out here for as long as it takes. If anything, it'd just be day trips.

By the way, I'm willing to volunteer some Pokémon for the raid when it happens. A friend of mine also offered his Koffing and Crobat for added smoke support.

Private to Ven;

Hey. You busy right now?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Think clones and you get the basic idea.

[That's at least the easiest way to describe it.]

As for names, themes definitely do make things easier. At least, assuming you have enough artists to cover the number of Pokémon you catch. Might be tougher once you reach the upper limit.

And I'm glad at least someone else sees it that way. It definitely helps to at least tolerate them, but some people get so worked up if you're not buddy-buddy with every last team member.

I was thinking homuculi, actually, but I suppose that works.

Honestly, I don't think that it'll be much of a problem. I have to get a bit creative at times, particularly with female Pokemon-but I haven't had too much difficulty yet.

I don't really understand that mindset. In most cases, you're just going out and catching a Pokemon whose personality you have no control over-how are you possibly going to be able to get along with all of them? Hatching them is barely different, given that some of the Pokemon I've hatched have been more difficult to get along with than ones I've caught in the wild.

Huh. Never actually heard of a homunculi before...

[But that's interesting. Very interesting, in fact...]

I think my problem with names is how many Pokémon I've got. Figuring out a solid name for a Druddigon and a Bagon when you've already got a ton of other dragons is a nightmare.

But I completely agree about hatched Pokémon. My Aerodactyl and Garchomp both came from eggs, and they're easily the toughest to deal with. You'd think something like a Hydreigon would be the black sheep of the bunch, but Crush has to be the least intimidating hydra out there.

I would assume that in many worlds they're an obscure alchemical concept. A homunculus is an artificial human that can be an attempt to copy an existing individual, but they usually have more functions than just that.

...yes, I would imagine that was the case. I'll admit, during that swarm of Ghost Pokemon I found myself reaching a bit, given how many of them I caught...

[...but he's still kicking himself for not naming any of them after Juan de Valdes Leal.]

You can't really trust Pokedex descriptions or looks to accurately describe your Pokemon's personality. I've found that one of the Pokemon I've had the most difficulty with is a small plant creature.

Huh. What kind of functions?

[And as for the Pokédex, he nods.]

And I know the Pokédex won't fit the bill for every Pokémon, but it's still kind of ironic. I've had more trouble with mu Umbreon than him.

Practically anything you can think of, though it should be noted that in the vast majority of cases, they're frailer than humans in physical terms but much more powerful than humans in magical terms. At least, that's the case in my world. It may be different in other worlds where they exist, of course.

No, I certainly understand what you mean. Some of the things that are included in it seem horribly exaggerated, anyway.

Some, maybe, but a lot of it at least seems to hold some ground. The warnings about ghost Pokémon especially.

But Kadabra transforming from a human boy? Yeah, that's a little weird.

I know to keep a close eye on the Ghost Pokemon I have, at the very least. I've worked with spirits of various kinds in my world, so I know how troublesome they have the potential to be.

Well, given some of the things that have happened here, it doesn't seem wholly implausible, but I'd take it with a grain of salt.

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