Guess what, fellows? It's time for my 2,000th post on Smogon! It's been an exciting ride here, especially at #capasb; without you, I would be nowhere near as active, have nowhere near as much fun here, and have nowhere near this postcount. Therefore, I'm going to devote this 2K to ASB with a shoutout list and a mock Gym challenge.
Here are the shoutouts; I'm sorry if I forget you, whoever-I-might-forget!
(Alphabetical order since I'm going down the Reg Tower OP in the hopes of not forgetting anyone)
Alchemator: Awesome dude; it's a pity I don't know you better. Still, your presence on IRC guarantees some good convos ^_^
Athenodoros: Man, it's been awhile; congrats on approver status!
Blazikenmaster-Zeo: Don't die. Don't do it. No.
Box: Promising new user (also lives who-knows-where-some-obscene-timezone, so trying to keep a decent bedtime is a living nightmare if I need to talk to you on the weekends .-.); I'm excited to see how you do in ASB!
C$FP: It doesn't get Screens.
Deck Knight: The holy master of all things ASB. Great guy, and best lurker ever.
Elevator Music: Congrats on winning the Hall, bro; also, mindblowing moment when I realized you weren't a chick .-.
Engineer Pikachu: BRO! Seriously, though, I've been running into you all the time in ASB - first in the Tournament (gdi Bide change), then running for GL candidacy (gl bro), then FVHM (hi 5). You rock, bro, and I expect to see (and hopefully help) you kick lots of ass in the future. (Also, I feel your pain from the ninja-ing by EM)
Flamestrike: Congrats on approver; also, why did you get inactive right when we started D&D? sadface.
Flora: Actually got to talk to you for the first time recently; obligatory reference to the fact that she's one of three or four users that make up the majority of references.
HD: Ugh, you give me so much rage. Why must you give me so much rage?
iiMKUltra: Cool guy, even though he's a little bit of a troll. P.S.: Post in Isle of Lost Relics General; you've made the purchases, right? TESTICULAR FORTITUDE GOGOGOGOGO
Its A Random: Thanks for reffing my TLR; Phione da best and all you haters can suck it
Kaxtar: Why no presence on IRC lately? /me sadface
Leethoof: Thanks for the Trapinch, brah; also, have you been getting better at this game recently?
LouisCyphre: rasdfasdfasdfasdfasdfasdfasdfasdf. Your death gave me great anger, and welcome back!
Metal Bagon: bs hax da best.
Ragnarokalex: Why no IRC no m0ar? I miss our late-night flashmatches.
SDS: I JUST realized that your new username translates to "Jack Black". I feel so dumb. (I also found out after bringing this up that the jack black thing is completely unintentional. I'm a moron.) Fun guy to be around is fun to be around.
smashlloyd20: He asked for a shoutout, so here it is. You make me laugh, but I don't know why you don't just piss me off. Also, your team is not super-schmexy. Deal.
zarator: Obligatory THANK YOU for the Raid Zone; you're a great guy, and a ton of fun; we're lucky to have you around ^_^
Everyone I didn't mention (especially the #capasb crew) is also great; I just really don't know some of you that well and/or I have nothing in particular to say to you. Here's to the continued epic win of CAP ASB!
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And now for the battle challenge. I'm running for Poison Gym Leader, so I figured it'd be appropriate to shoot off a mock Gym Challenge. For my acceptor, I want somebody strong, preferably someone who's counterteaming. Absolutely no mercy. That being said, ground rules:
3v3 Singles
(Terrador can send up to 8 Pokemon to the ref)
2 Recoveries/5 Chills
2-Day DQ
2 Recoveries, 5 Chills
Items=On
Switch=OK
Abilities=One
(Yes, I know I normally wouldn't be able to pick those rules, but the GL would decide the entire ruleset normally)
Arena: Postapocalyptic Yellowstone
America's pristine Yellowstone National Park... in the year 2030. Most of the park, once a beautiful refuge for all sorts of wildlife, is now a desolate wasteland, decimated by pollution and warfare. Only a small are containing several highly active geysers is active; it's roughly rectangular, and somewhere to the tune of 50 meters long by 30 meters wide. The air above is highly poisonous; any Pokemon trying to travel more than about 15 feet up in the air risks running into low-lying smog; this smog is lethal to any Poison-vulnerable Pokemon (term defined later). Similarly, there are many puddles of acid underground; any Poison-vulnerable Pokemon wouldn't dare to Dig. The geysers around are still very active, but polluted by all sorts of acid; after every action, they erupt, dealing 1 damage to any Poison-vulnerable Pokemon, and healing any Poison-Type Pokemon by 1. After being doused by a geyser, any Steel-Type Pokemon will become permanently corroded. In addition, any seismic attack will cause the geysers to erupt again. Finally, a few pools of water remain; however, many of them are polluted, so any non-Poison Pokemon wouldn't dare to Dive. If Surf is used by any non-Poison Pokemon (Poison-Type Pokemon can identify the clean pools), it has an 80% chance of becoming a Poison-Type attack.
Summary:
Poison-vulnerable: Can be afflicted with the Toxic status (note that Magic Guard Pokemon won't take damage from the geysers, but don't have any other advantage here)
Geysers deal 1 DPA to all non-Poisons and heal 1 DPA for all Poisons; corrodes all Steels permanently (corrosion occurs post-damage)
Geysers erupt after each action
Geysers erupt after each seismic move
Non-Poisons cannot Fly, Dig, Dive, or Bounce, but they can stay high enough in the air to avoid seismic attacks and nerf Earth Power
If a Pokemon that isn't a Poison-Type attempts to use Surf, it has an 80% chance of becoming a Poison-Type attack
Again, I expect a counterteam, and I expect a powerful opponent. Good luck, and happy 2K to me!
Edit: I reserve the right to refuse a challenge if I have reason to believe that the opponent would be inadequate (weak builds/insufficient team matchup/etc.)
Edit II: Temperantia has agreed to ref, just for future reference.
Edit III: All Legendary Pokemon are banned, as they are very likely to be banned in the Gym League proper.
Edit IV: Athenodoros has accepted the match. Good luck!