I was inspired by a thread I saw earlier today, but while the other thread was phrased in a Simple-Question-Simple-Answer kind of way, I intend for this topic to be more open-ended. Basically, I'm curious how you play through the Pokemon adventure on your cartridge. Do you rush through the game with your starter to unlock everything as quickly as possible? Do you take your time and build a well-balanced team along the way? Do you trade over some Pokemon before the first gym and go through the game with those traded Pokemon? Or do you do something else completely? With the imminent release of HGSS for most of us, I hope this thread can inspire us to play the games in fun and refreshing ways.
I'll go first. Typically, before the release of a new game (or when I replay an old one) I like to breed a balanced team of six Pokemon with great IVs, natures, and egg moves (no TMs though if I can help it). In Microsoft Word I'll plan out final move-sets and EV spreads for my Pokemon. I try to fit Surf and Fly onto my team somewhere for convenience, but as for the other HMs I'll just box one of my team members and take out an HM slave whenever I need one. I find playing with 6 Pokemon (as opposed to say 2 Pokemon and 2 HM slaves in your party, or even 5 Pokemon and 1 HM slave) a LOT more fun, as it makes the game much more reminiscent of competitive battling. Also keep this in mind: apart from Surf and Fly, most of the HMs are only needed for the adventure part of the game (and not later on once you've beaten the main game). So you can easily get away with teaching your regular team members moves like Cut and Rock Smash (especially early on when they don't have a competitive move-set anyway) until they learn their final move at level 50-whatever. My point is you don't even need an HM slave while going through the main game if you have 6 Pokemon.
I like to wait and hatch my Pokemon in the new game (so I'll trade the eggs over from my old game), as I don't like playing with traded Pokemon (I know they are technically mine, this is just me being anal. The boosted exp. feels a little like cheating to me). Then I'll go through the game with my awesome team and have a blast. Along the way I'll teach my Pokemon the moves I've outlined on my word document when they become available. Once I'm done with the main game, I'll use the EV reducing berries and I'll EV train my Pokemon to them into competitive Pokemon.
So basically this is a fun way for me to level up and play with my competitve Pokemon. I really don't understand people who just hammer through the game with their starters, they're missing out on so much. I've developed an affinity for my Platinum team that outstrips anything I feel for my LeafGreen team (which I went through with just two Pokemon). Of course, I can imagine many of you may find my process way too tedious. I'm interested to hear how the rest of you play though!
If this thread doesn't belong here a mod can move or lock it; I've re-read all the rules and I don't see anything wrong with it, as it's meant to be a discussion on how you play through the in-game mode.
I'll go first. Typically, before the release of a new game (or when I replay an old one) I like to breed a balanced team of six Pokemon with great IVs, natures, and egg moves (no TMs though if I can help it). In Microsoft Word I'll plan out final move-sets and EV spreads for my Pokemon. I try to fit Surf and Fly onto my team somewhere for convenience, but as for the other HMs I'll just box one of my team members and take out an HM slave whenever I need one. I find playing with 6 Pokemon (as opposed to say 2 Pokemon and 2 HM slaves in your party, or even 5 Pokemon and 1 HM slave) a LOT more fun, as it makes the game much more reminiscent of competitive battling. Also keep this in mind: apart from Surf and Fly, most of the HMs are only needed for the adventure part of the game (and not later on once you've beaten the main game). So you can easily get away with teaching your regular team members moves like Cut and Rock Smash (especially early on when they don't have a competitive move-set anyway) until they learn their final move at level 50-whatever. My point is you don't even need an HM slave while going through the main game if you have 6 Pokemon.
I like to wait and hatch my Pokemon in the new game (so I'll trade the eggs over from my old game), as I don't like playing with traded Pokemon (I know they are technically mine, this is just me being anal. The boosted exp. feels a little like cheating to me). Then I'll go through the game with my awesome team and have a blast. Along the way I'll teach my Pokemon the moves I've outlined on my word document when they become available. Once I'm done with the main game, I'll use the EV reducing berries and I'll EV train my Pokemon to them into competitive Pokemon.
So basically this is a fun way for me to level up and play with my competitve Pokemon. I really don't understand people who just hammer through the game with their starters, they're missing out on so much. I've developed an affinity for my Platinum team that outstrips anything I feel for my LeafGreen team (which I went through with just two Pokemon). Of course, I can imagine many of you may find my process way too tedious. I'm interested to hear how the rest of you play though!
If this thread doesn't belong here a mod can move or lock it; I've re-read all the rules and I don't see anything wrong with it, as it's meant to be a discussion on how you play through the in-game mode.
