Category: Not yet categorised

If there was a Mega Arceus, what do you think its ability would be? I’d make it omnitype, which makes all its moves super effective and restores Mega Arceus to full health as regular arceus the first time it faints in a battle. (basically, an extra life to make up for the fact that mega evolutions don’t increase total hp). For the record, I would still make it a normal type.

Well, if it were me, I’d say that any Mega form of Arceus would be quite powerful enough without needing a super-ability (not all Mega Pokémon get new abilities, mind – Abomasnow, for instance, keeps Snow Warning, even though it is of no use to him after he first switches in).  Not that that’s likely to sway anyone at Game Freak.

Who is your favourite historical Greek or Roman figure?

I actually have this really embarrassing historian-crush on Periander, the second tyrant of Corinth, mostly because I don’t think he was nearly as bad as most of the ancient sources say he was, and was actually a legitimately effective ruler who happened to have a lot of anti-aristocratic policies – history is written by the victors, but not if the defeated are the only ones who know how to write (also, the word ‘tyrant’ itself starts to become a strongly negative term in later Greek literature, and remains so to this day – it was probably a fairly neutral world in Periander’s time).

Throne of Games

Victory Road captivates me.  The Pokémon are powerful, of course, and as I make my way through, around and up the mountain I realise that even stronger ones fill the skies – Skarmory and even Hydreigon swoop down to attack me while I navigate the outdoor sections of the corkscrewing path.  That’s only half of what catches my interest, though.  The slopes of the mountain have been terraced extensively, surely a mammoth project, and almost every terrace bears the remains of several imposing walls, sometimes even intact towers.  The settlement here was fortified, and quite heavily.  I wonder how long the Pokémon League has made its home on this mountain, and what connection it might have had to the ruined fortress that protects its slopes.  Like all Pokémon League headquarters, this place is barely accessible even for adept trainers, but it’s not nearly as remote as any of the others I’ve seen, like the Kanto League squirreled away atop the Indigo Plateau, or the Hoenn League in isolated Ever Grande City – in fact, its position on this mountain gives it a commanding aspect over a good chunk of central Kalos.  Someone could come here for seclusion, yes – but it could be a very useful strategic point as well, especially since there seem to be natural springs on the mountain.  A siege would be almost unthinkable.  Were the original owners driven out by the Pokémon League, or did they abandon the citadel of their own accord?  Or perhaps the people who built it were Kalos’ first Pokémon League (although, if so, it’s strange that the walls should be in such disrepair).  As I wander through the ruins, musing and taking notes on something that looks like an altar, I am disturbed by none other than Serena.

Serena has been thinking long and hard about our confrontation with Lysandre beneath Geosenge Town, and has some things to say.  “Lysandre chose only Team Flare.  You and I chose everyone but Team Flare.  But since our positions forced our hands, you can’t really say any of us were right.  So maybe if both sides have something to say, it’s best to meet halfway.”  Yes.  I agree.  We should have used the ultimate weapon to wipe out one half of the people and Pokémon in the world.  That would have been reasonable.  I don’t think Serena has quite thought this through.  This game seems to think that it has successfully portrayed Lysandre as a morally ambiguous villain, but I have to disagree.  After all, neither Ghetsis nor Giovanni ever intended mass genocide (Maxie and Archie might have caused such through their own incompetence, but since it wasn’t part of the plan I’ll let them off).  I get that it’s tragic that Lysandre’s spirit was broken by his frustrated efforts to do good in the world, but he still pulled a total moral and ethical one-eighty when he decided to dig up something named “the ultimate weapon” and kill everything.  Whether he’s alive or dead now, I can’t say I have much sympathy for him.

Serena just shakes her head in confusion at all this.  She wants a battle – so I’ll give her one.  Serena’s first Pokémon, Meowstic, trades attacks with my newly-evolved Goodra, Pytho, for a while, and Pytho is weakened but prevails in the end.  Serena’s second Pokémon, an Altaria, tries to weaken Pytho’s special attacks with Confide, but it isn’t enough to ward off her Dragon Pulse.  I try to defeat Serena’s Delphox with rain-boosted Muddy Water, but Pytho is really running out of steam by this time and can’t handle it, so I send in Odysseus to finish Delphox with Surf.  Jolteon is up next, and I know better than to leave Odysseus where he is, so I switch in Pan to soak up the incoming Discharge and crush Jolteon with Wood Hammer.  Last of all is Absol, who finishes off Pan with Slash.  After a moment’s thought, I decide Serena deserves everything I can throw at her, and call out Xerneas to drop a Moonblast on her.  This ends predictably.  Although Serena is upset that she still can’t beat me, she reaffirms her faith that our rivalry will continue to make us both stronger, and wishes me luck at the Pokémon League.

Ah, yes… the Pokémon League.

At the summit of the mountain is a huge cathedral, where the Elite Four hold court.  A building like this, in the Middle Ages, would have taken decades, maybe even a century or more, to complete.   With Pokémon, doubtless the task would have been quicker, but then again, I don’t think anyone ever tried to build a cathedral on a mountaintop in France.  With a casual flash of my badges, I am allowed inside and make my way to the central hall – no-one seems to care much about checking my status as a challenger; I got past the gates at the base of the mountain and survived Victory Road, so I must be worth noticing.  Like the Unova Elite Four, the Elite Four of Kalos hold no internal rank – they consider each other equals, and so can be challenged in any order.  The Fire Pokémon master, Malva, stylish and self-assured, lounges on a redwood throne, unfazed by the columns of raging fire that light her Blazing Chamber.  Her smugness falters when Odysseus ploughs through her entire team – Pyroar, Torkoal, Chandelure, and a passionate Talonflame – with Surf.  The Water Pokémon master, Siebold, an elegantly dressed chef who considers both cuisine and battle to be forms of art, stands in quiet contemplation of the artificial waterfalls that cascade down the walls of his Flood Chamber.  This battle is a forgone conclusion with not one but two powerful Grass Pokémon on my team; Pan and Ilex crush his Clawitzer, Gyarados, Starmie and Barbaracle (his partner, with its double-weakness to Grass attacks, proving extremely disappointing).  The huge stone wings that adorn the Dragonmark Chamber unfurl to reveal the dragon skull throne of the league’s Dragon master – sweet, kindly old Drasna, her dress adorned with the centuries-old claws and teeth of her ancestors’ partners.  My own Dragon Pokémon, Pytho, is a worthy match for her Dragalge and Altaria, leaving Xerneas to deal with her Druddigon and her Noivern partner.  Finally, between the two enormous swords that dominate the Ironworks Chamber, Wikstrom, a Steel Pokémon master in gilded mediaeval plate armour, requests the honour of a duel.  Orion is equal to his Klefki and Probopass, but falters against his mighty Aegislash; Odysseus is able to finish things up and take care of Wikstrom’s Scizor.  With the Elite Four behind me, all that remains is to take on the Champion.

I stand on an elevator platform to be carried up to the Champion’s room, and find myself standing at the centre of a circular chamber, its walls hung with white veils, the floor painted to resemble stained glass, and a soft white glow permeating everything.  Facing me is none other than the graceful, classy actress, Diantha.

Yes!  Totally called it!

Diantha doesn’t recognise me at first, but soon makes the connection between me and Professor Sycamore and realises that I’m the one who defeated Team Flare.  I suggest that she dispense with the battle and just make me Champion in recognition of my achievements.  Diantha laughs.  She thinks I’m joking, the fool.  Diantha’s first Pokémon out is, to my surprise, a Hawlucha.  I didn’t think wrestling was really her style – but maybe they did an action movie together or something.  I had Pan the Chestnaught taking point, and that clearly isn’t going to work, so I send in Xerneas, who takes a nasty Poison Jab but blows Hawlucha away with Moonblast.  Diantha’s not done surprising me and sends out a Pokémon I haven’t even seen before: Tyrantrum, a great rust-coloured tyrannosaur who must be the evolved form of Tyrunt.  Reasoning that this is a Rock-type, I decide to have Xerneas Horn Leech some of his health back – which turns out to be a bad move, because Horn Leech does minimal damage and Tyrantrum fires back a Head Smash which knocks out poor Xerneas.  So… really high physical defence, and it isn’t weak to Grass attacks.  I’ve been assuming this whole time that they’re Rock/Dark, but I actually have no idea what type Tyrunt and Tyrantrum are.  Well… they must be Rock-types because that’s a Rule for fossil Pokémon, and they don’t look Poison, Fire, Steel, Bug, Flying or Grass… I switch in Pytho and aim a Dragon Pulse, knocking out Tyrantrum and confirming his Rock/Dragon identity.  Diantha counters with an Aurorus, who takes the time to set up a Reflect as I switch to Orion – ‘bad move,’ I think as Orion one-shots poor Aurorus with Aura Sphere.  She picks her own Goodra next, and I leave Orion in, aiming to take it out with his Dragon Pulse, but failing to anticipate the Fire Blast that comes our way.  Goodra is weakened, though, and doesn’t stand up long to Pytho.  Gourgeist is next to step up, and I decide to try Ilex the Venusaur.  Ilex and Gourgeist trade Sludge Bombs and Phantom Forces for an excruciatingly long time – Diantha picks this moment to use both of her Full Restores, and Gourgeist uses a crafty new move, Trick-or-Treat, to turn Ilex into a Ghost-type and deny him his normal bonus on Poison attacks – but we eventually prevail.  Diantha is down to her last and strongest Pokémon: Gardevoir.  As Gardevoir takes the field, Diantha’s hand moves to the blue-green gem in her necklace, and I realise that it’s a Digivice.  She’s only just getting started.

Diantha’s Mega Gardevoir is terrifying in her elegance.  Moving with perfect, ethereal grace, she flings Pan across the room with Psychic, knocking him out before he can make a move, and hits Pytho with a Moonblast that leaves her seeing stars.  Odysseus manages to get in a Waterfall charge thanks to his Quick Claw, but drops when Gardevoir strikes him with a Thunderbolt from the tip of her finger.  That leaves… Ilex, who is weak to Psychic.  I’ve already healed him, and Gardevoir isn’t going to like his Sludge Bomb one bit, but still… this is going to be close.  I call out my Venusaur and activate my own Digivice.  ‘This had better work,’ I think as a wave of force erupts from Gardevoir’s splayed palm and rushes towards us.  Ilex nearly buckles under the pressure as I cover my face against the roiling psychic blast… but when I open my eyes, he’s still standing, with a princely 3 HP remaining.  Gardevoir and Diantha blink with surprise in unison as Ilex tosses back the biggest Sludge Bomb he can manage.  Gardevoir collapses.

BOOYEAH!

Ridiculous quote log:

“Vet-vet-vet- VETERAN!  Veteran all the way!  What do you think of my theme song?”
Your song is bad and you should feel bad.

If you could redo the type system, what changes, if any, would you make?

Well, in terms of rebalancing, not much, at the moment.  I still haven’t digested the impact of the changes Game Freak made in X and Y, so I don’t know what needs changing.

If we’re talking about sweeping thematic changes… well, there would probably be two or three fewer types, one way or another.  I’d either eliminate Ground or merge it with Rock, call it Earth or something, because really earthquakes have everything to do with rocks and not much to do with soil, and no-one seems to know whether sand powers fall under Ground or Rock, and honestly it all seems a bit arbitrary at times.  Maybe shuffle some of them over into Fighting instead while we’re at it.  I don’t much like the idea of Normal as a ‘miscellaneous’ type, either, and I sort of think that with Fairy in the mix now you could probably do without it; just toss everything into Dark, Fighting, Ground (or Earth or whatever we’re calling it now) or Fairy.   All the birds can be straight Flying, Kangaskhan can be Earth/Fighting, Porygon can be Steel/Fairy, Exploud might have to be Earth/Fairy or something, and Kecleon can be whatever he damn well pleases; you get the idea.  Sort some of the Normal attacks into types, and declare anything left over ‘typeless’ – resisted by nothing, strong against nothing, and no-one gets STAB on them.

Do you like other video games? If so do you have any interest in particular studio or company? For example since you are a pokemaniac Game Freak or Nintendo may come into the picture.

Link to an older question and answer because I am lazy: http://pokemaniacal.tumblr.com/post/69464174209/first-off-thank-you-for-the-amazing-content-ive

I’ve never actually been a big Nintendo person outside of Pokémon (and as for Game Freak, I think they’ve made… like, two non-Pokémon titles, neither of which were released outside of Japan?).  Used to play the original Mario game with a friend on his big clunky boxy Gameboy as a kid.  That was pretty legit.

What new type combination do you most want to see in the inevitable next generation of Pokemon?

Hmm.  Well, I’ve always wished there were a Grass/Dragon Pokémon, double-weakness to Ice be damned (hey, Dragonite and Salamence can live with it), just because I love Grass-types.  Not sure where I would go with this; one thought I had just as I was writing this is that you could combine the whole ‘hoarding’ thing that Western dragons have with the idea of a seed bank – so you have a great big Dragon Pokémon whose life’s work is to collect seeds of different rare plants.  Because he stores them all over his body, random flowers and vines and things tend to burst out from little cracks between his scales.  Maybe give him a spore-breath attack that does damage and has a chance to cause paralysis, sleep or poison.

In relation to the last question I asked you: Are there any dinosaurs or other prehistoric fauna you’d like to see as Pokemon in the future?

Have actually been asked this same question before but there’s no harm in thinking of some more…

My favourite dinosaur as a kid was Parasaurolophus (not exactly a traditional choice, I know, but to each his own), but I’m not immediately sure what you could do with her.  Parasaurolophus’ schtick is her long hollow crest, the function of which is a recurring topic of debate among palaeontologists, though it seems likely that it had something to do with communication, since the cavities in the horn are connected to the dinosaur’s nasal passages and could have produced a sonorous booming call at will.  Sonic powers aren’t exactly unique in Pokémon, though.  Maybe instead you could run with one of the more famous of the older, discredited hypotheses – that the crest was a snorkel – and make it amphibious or aquatic, but not actually a Water-type?  Sort of a Grass/Ground (or maybe just Ground with Water Absorb or something) swampy kind of creature, that submerges itself for hours at a time to hide from predators.

I leave you with a quote from the Wikipedia page on Parasaurolophus:
“One unusual suggestion, made by creationist Duane Gish, is that the crest housed chemical glands that allowed it to throw jets of chemical "fire” at enemies, similar to the modern-day bombardier beetle,“ so in fairness we can probably give the damn thing whatever powers we like.

See also this glorious image from one of Gish’s books directed at a younger audience.  I especially love the way the other dinosaur flails helplessly.