Anonymous asks:

What if, instead of an EV cap, there was a total stat cap? As in, “some Pokemon are naturally good at fighting, but all can achieve the same level of expertise through training” taken literally?

I think this has consequences beyond what you immediately intend. For one thing, under this system evolution and higher base stats are a bad thing, because they mean less flexibility – more of your stat cap is taken up by things you can’t change. For another, unless you have some sort of equivalent to the EV system – some limit to how far a Pokémon can advance beyond its basic capability in each stat – you’re going to end up eroding the differences between species of Pokémon. What’s the point of Alakazam if it can push its defence just as high as anyone else can, or everyone else can push their special attack just as high as it?

Anonymous asks:

What are you doing at the moment? How are feeling? where is Jim the editor?

Ehhhhhh… Well, I’m in charge of a university-level class for the first time ever, which is a lot of fun but so, so exhausting… and I have to propose a PhD thesis topic in a couple of weeks, and I know I want to work on Roman window glass, but beyond that there are still a bunch of methodological details to work out… So yeah. Fun times all around. As for where Jim is… Rome, as it happens. He’s in Rome, doing some research for his own thesis at the British School.

Anonymous asks:

What’s your favorite Alolan form?

Tricky. I think I’ve met all of them now… Probably the Marowak. I’m not a huge fan of losing the original type completely, but Marowak does at least keep its Electric immunity through Lightning Rod, and the whole dark, mystic aesthetic is a really neat take on Marowak’s design. These Marowak are not f&£#ing around; they’ve straight-up jumped in the deep end of death worship.

Pokémon Moon, Episode 12: In Which I Infiltrate A Gang Stronghold

Once I’ve stopped shaking uncontrollably, and the Rotomdex has reassured me that the horrifying undead Pikachu I just fought is only another Pokémon (a Ghost/Fairy-type called Mimikyu), Acerola offers me some suggestions on what to do next.  Although my success in her trial was in some respects debateable – I was, she reminds me, only supposed to get a photograph of Mimikyu, not give its lair a new back door – I did basically achieve its fundamental objectives, so she presents me with her crystal, the Ghostium-Z.  As Ula’ula Island has only two Captains, that means I now have the right to challenge the island’s Kahuna.  Acerola declines to explain who or where the Kahuna is right away, though, and invites me back to Aether House to talk it over there.  Unfortunately when we get there, with Hau just a few steps behind, someone who is definitely not the Kahuna is waiting.

Continue reading “Pokémon Moon, Episode 12: In Which I Infiltrate A Gang Stronghold” →

Anonymous asks:

I’m curious/forget if you addressed this in a post – did you breed your Psychu to have an Ice-type Hidden Power and Timid Nature, or did you just get lucky?

Pure luck, actually.  When I found the character who identifies your Hidden Powers, I just went through all the Pokémon I had at the time to see if any of them seemed useful.  Not sure whether I’ll keep it long-term as Hidden Power isn’t exactly a strong move, but I’m not sure what else Psychu can learn that I might want instead (I still have a blackout on any information I haven’t yet found for myself in the game).

Vikingboybilly asks:

The poképelago ironically seems more like slavery than when they were just left in boxes. They’re dropped off on islands where their job is to… harvest beans, farm berries, and mine for materials. That is exactly the kind of thing human slaves (and some animals, I guess) were forced to do in the real world. Oh, there’s islands for playing on obstacle courses and bathing in hot springs, but, be honest, how many of us use those more than the others?

Ehhhhh?  I mean, they don’t harvest the beans (you do), they’re not “mining” but exploring a cave system, and you don’t actually assign them to any of those three jobs, they just kinda wander in and out as they please.  I think your interpretation requires a certain level of wilful misreading.