Smogon's First "Create a Pokemon": Reflections, Opinions, and Closing

[DougJustDoug**]

OK. It is now official. Doug's Create-A-Pokemon Server is open for business!!!!

Here are the exact steps you need to do:

If you have never connected to Shoddy, then go install it and connect to a server. Maybe watch a battle or something. But don't follow these steps until you've actually USED Shoddy. Otherwise, the Syclant sprites might not load.

Download this file
NewPokemonSprites.jar
and put it in a directory you can access from a command prompt. The simplest place is "C:\" for any "technically-challenged" folks out there. I would not advise saving it to your desktop. It's very hard to get to the desktop directory from the command line.

Open a Command Prompt window. It should be under Programs->Accessories->Command Prompt. Or you can do "Run..." from the Start menu and type "cmd". Either way, it'll open a command window.

Go to the directory where you saved NewPokemonSprites.jar The easiest way to do that is to type "cd c:\thedirectory\youused". Substitute the directories accordingly, and don't type those words literally. For example, if you saved it in C:\, then type "cd c:\" and press enter.

That file you downloaded is a java program. That means you have to run it with a special command. Now type "java -jar NewPokemonSprites.jar" and press enter. You should see several messages saying it stored a bunch of Syclant sprites. If not, then something went wrong.

OK, now you have Syclant sprites in the right place. I really wished I could have avoided those steps, but with the way the Shoddy client is designed, I couldn't come up with a better way to get the sprites into the client.

Now you can connect to my server. Start the Shoddy Battle client.

Use the "Advanced" button, if you don't see "Doug's Create-A-Pokemon Server" in the list. You probably WON'T see it in the list. Use this address and port:

address 98.195.195.196
port 8888

From there, you should see a welcome screen to register and login. Please use your Smogon name for this server.

IMPORTANT -- You might not be able to use existing teams. KoA had some trouble with it, and had to make a new team. I don't know the cause, but it may be because this is actually a new metagame definition. Shoddy comes with Advance and DP -- this is an entirely new one with a new "generation" of pokes.

Syclant is pokemon #499, at the very bottom after Arceus. Have fun. Test him out. Check out Mountaineer closely. I'll be looking forward to your feedback.

[MegaMewtwo]

That's pretty darn cool. "Syclant is a Mountaineer and avoided the floating stones!" Awesome, although I imagine if it actually existed the text used wouldn't be as cool.

What's it say when it uses Mountaineer to dodge a Rock attack?

[KoA]

I imagine it would say the same, but I've not tested it yet.

Someone come in the server with me to try out various Syclant things! :O

[Rena22]

Im using a Mac OS X so i dont have Command Prompt or anything... is the sprite file necessary?

[DougJustDoug**]

Originally Posted by Fat MegaMewtwo

That's pretty darn cool. "Syclant is a Mountaineer and avoided the floating stones!" Awesome, although I imagine if it actually existed the text used wouldn't be as cool.

What's it say when it uses Mountaineer to dodge a Rock attack?

Try it out! The message is: "Syclant is a Mountaineer and avoids the surprise rock attack!"

I tried to come up with something that would fit with the style of other annoying Pokemon battle messages.

EDIT: Thanks for noticing that it should have two different messages. Since we decided to make Mountaineer affect two types of switch-in damage, I went to great pains to make sure it fired separately. As such, two slightly different messages seemed to make sense. I should probably make the verb tense the same for both though... "Avoids" or "Avoided"? Big decisions, big decisions....

[DougJustDoug**]

Originally Posted by Fat Umbrelava

Im using a Mac OS X so i dont have Command Prompt or anything... is the sprite file necessary?

From what I could tell in the code, it should display a blank.

BTW, if you have Java on your Mac (I'm sure you do). Then you can run that jar file.

I wrote it to use the standard Shoddy tools, so if shoddy works, then that Jar should work. I don't know how to execute a jar on a mac though. Shouldn't be too hard to find out.

[MegaMewtwo]

Originally Posted by Fat DougJustDoug

"Syclant is a Mountaineer and avoids the surprise rock attack!"

I tried to come up with something that would fit with the style of other annoying Pokemon battle messages.

Cool. If it were to actually exist though, I think it'd end up more like "Syclant dodged *rock attack* with Mountaineer!" or something.

About the screenshot, didn't it get decided that it wouldn't get Tail Glow? Just wondering.

[KoA]

It gets Tail Glow as an egg move, but it limits accessibility to like Earth Power, I think.

I forgot what sets were what now.

[Rena22]

Originally Posted by Fat DougJustDoug

From what I could tell in the code, it should display a blank.

BTW, if you have Java on your Mac (I'm sure you do). Then you can run that jar file.

I wrote it to use the standard Shoddy tools, so if shoddy works, then that Jar should work. I don't know how to execute a jar on a mac though. Shouldn't be too hard to find out.

On this computer Java is the default application for opening Jar files, but it cant do anything with the file though. I tried opening it with StuffIt Expander and that caused the file to make a duplicate folder which contained two folders, one of them containing a CLASS file, the other containing a file named MANIFEST.MF. Other than that, im not sure what will work...

Oh yeah, and ive tried making a team on the server and Syclant does appear blank.

[DougJustDoug**]

Originally Posted by Fat Umbrelava

On this computer Java is the default application for opening Jar files, but it cant do anything with the file though. I tried opening it with StuffIt Expander and that caused the file to make a duplicate folder which contained two folders, one of them containing a CLASS file, the other containing a file named MANIFEST.MF. Other than that, im not sure what will work...

Oh yeah, and ive tried making a team on the server and Syclant does appear blank.

It sounds like it OPENED the jar, but did not EXECUTE the jar. You need to execute it with the Java Runtime. I'm sure it's not too hard on a Mac. People distribute jars to Mac users all the time. Do a quick web search and see if you can figure it out. Be sure to post the results here for others.

EDIT: Here's an example of a link I found
http://www.bolthole.com/java/mac.html
Maybe this helps, maybe not. I really don't know Macs.

[linton]

I have noticed, Syclant makes teams quite Fire Weak. Not just because of it's typing, but teams that want Pokemon like Forretress, Hail Pokemon and others, make it a hard Pokemon to work with. A Scarfed Fire Pokemon is the best counter.

[Sunday]

Since I'm using my Mac for now I'll live with the spriteless Syclant.

Anyway, I thought Tail Glow was still being debated.

Also, I've got some news. As the whole point of the server is to test Syclant out to see if it's overpowered we need a whole lot of people on at the same time to get some accurate results. Therefore I suggest that I create a new thread. Something like this:

Smogon's First "Create a Pokemon": Syclant Testing Weekend

The purpose of this thread would be to inform people the Syclant server is up and running and to colloect test data. It would contain instructions of how to connect to the Syclant server aswell as a copy of the analysis for people to read. I propose we make next weekend "Syclant Testing Weekend" and invite as many people as possible to playtest Syclant with us. I will ask anyone with 'remarkable' logs, either to demonstrate how overpowered Syclant is or how he isn't overpowered, to post them in the thread for our concideration. It could also be a hubb for discussion of Syclant, mainly on the topic of is it broken and whether to keep Tail Glow if it does seem to be broken.

What does everyone think of this? I'm looking for the go ahead to post the thread mid week to start drumming up interest.

[KoA]

I like it. This weekend should really be used as a Syclant Bug reporting thing, since we're still breaking him into the programming.

Also, I very much enjoyed being the first to use Syclant. :P

[eric the espeon]

agreeing with lord sunday, and trying to get syclant working.

edit: i am on the server. can someone else come here?

[Sunday]

I'll be on real soon guys. Just finishing my team.

EDIT: On, where are you guys? xD

[Deucalion2]

I'm on too. It's kinda cool.

EDIT: Or I would, be but my net is going up and down like a yoyo. I'm waiting for ping timeout. :(

[Sunday]

My Syclant died first turn. I feel like a bad father =='

Anyway, known glitch #1.

On a Mac not running the Syclant sprite the enemys Pokemon Sprite does not appear whenever Syclant is on the field.

#2.

When there is no Syclant sprite loaded weird shit happens with the Pokes, like the pokemon you had in previously showing up in place of Syclant, and the opponent being locked into the one sprite from the monent syclant comes in until he leaves.

[Deucalion2]

Seriously, I just realised how amazing Ice/Bug combo is. My team, which got an 18 win streak once ( not that good, but for me it is ) has a massive Syclant weak.

[Sunday]

Working on a warstory against Deucalion2. It was a great match and should drum up some interest at the very least.

[Deucalion2]

CBAnt is really bad, LO is decent, but can be tanked out, FS is OMGBBQWTF unless you have priority move/Weavile/Starmie/Dactyl, it can't survive long enough for Leftovers to have use, and Choice Scarf is alright, but means it outpseeds everything.

[tea_and_blues]

Heatran used Fire Blast.
It's super effective!
A critical hit!
Syclant lost 1362% of its health.
Syclant hung on using its Focus Sash.

Ah, epic moments on Smogon today.

[Time Mage]

I propose to name the server "Doug is your new god!". Seriously.


It's been great to test Syclant, although in the 3 battles I've played, my Syclant didn't get any action in one, in other he was KOed after one kill, and in the other I didn't use my Syclant team >_<

[NatKing]

Swept half a team late game. A bit broken, IMO.

[eric the espeon]

F sash + tail glow is good, syclant + heatran is GOD, and syclant is cool. also i have found a few minor bugs, one with the mountineer ability.
if you and your oponent switch in at the same time (after explosion or something) then syclant is imune for the first turn, not sure if thins is right.

syclant is a top OU, but its no way an uber. you need to make your entire team around it to get it to work. i have only tested mountineer + hail, but it works well. not sure about compoundeyes.

T-a-B it did 1455% in a diferent match.

i am also doing a warstory, expect it up in a few days.

syclant leads die, but could work if well played.

i have won 8 and lost 3 matches.

also thank you, thank you, thank you for makeing this.

[DougJustDoug**]

Wow! I love the global nature of this community. When I went to bed, I had just gotten Syclant working on the server and there were a couple of early user accounts. I woke up and checked out all the people that have made new accounts. Impressive.

I can't tell you how cool it is to read about all these battles with Syclant. I don't know why I find it so awesome. Maybe because it's like we turned this neat little theorymon project into a "real" pokemon. As real as it can get without Nintendo's help, anyway. There is something deeply satisfying about that. I feel like we are thumbing our nose at all the haters and doubters that trashed this project, claiming that it was a waste of time since, "Nothing will come of it."

Well something DID come of it. And consider my nose officially thumbed...

@Sunday - I really think we should move this to a "Syclant Playtesting Thread" or something like that. Your suggestion is perfect. Let's get the basic bugs worked out and then let's organize a mass test.

@Eric - Great catch on the Mountaineer glitch. I set up Mountaineer with a 1-turn timer that starts when Syclant switches in. I need to fix it so the timer starts only if Syclant switches into an existing opponent. Should be pretty easy. I'll work on it in a few hours and then I'll restart the server.

@Macintosh Users - Somebody please please please figure out how to run the jar file and post the instructions. There are at least three Mac users that have hooked up to the server. It's a real shame if they can't get the right sprites.


I'm really glad I could get this working for everyone. When coding this up, it was an interesting survey of all the contributions. The stats, the movesets, the artwork and sprites, everything. Very much a community project. For me to be able to hack this bad boy into Shoddy was a lot of fun. Programming challenges like this are always fun. But this one was a little more special than others, since I felt like a whole community was behind me, cheering me on. Seeing all you people using Syclant in battles is just great!