Flavourmons: what if you took the flavor text literally? (no OHKO or Auto-Win effects)

Status
Not open for further replies.
P2X7 said:
I agree with this, as quite a few of the XY entries are just rehashed entries from older games, and the older games have better flavor for these purposes IMO.
Click to expand...

Redwolf said:
That sounds good. It's also really important that we make everything balanced. We don't want to end up with a pseudo hackmons... I think it'd be best to keep the OHKO moves, invulnerabilities, ect to a minimum. Despite there being counters, we want it to be a creative meta where fun is encouraged, not one where you're forced to run a skarmory to counter raticate or run a steel type to counter quilfish. I feel like there should be a looseness and balance. Unless we're making multiple different tiers.
Click to expand...

Let's try an example. Arbok.

Stadium Entry said:
If it encounters an enemy, it raises its head, intimidating the opponent with the frightening pattern on its body.
Click to expand...
Lets give it a useful, but not overpowering effect along the lines of "Intimidate re-activates whenever a new foe is sent out. A little strong, but because Arbok is a weaker Pokemon, I feel we can get away with it. Compared to newer generations:

X Entry said:
The pattern on its belly appears to be a frightening face. Weak foes will flee just at the sight of the pattern.
Click to expand...


Which could be unfairly interpreted as anything from lower level/nfe Pokemon run away, leaving the match for good, to Pokemon with x stat lower then arbok's leaves.

Diamond Entry said:
The pattern on its belly is for intimidation. It constricts foes when they are frozen in fear.
Click to expand...

Overpowered effect: "Intimidate freezes targets for one round, not including the switch in." Stops anything in its tracks, and allows Arbok to diffuse the situation by means of phazing or haze.

Or some just ridiculous entries:


Cyrstal Entry said:
To intimidate foes, it spreads its chest wide and makes eerie sounds by expelling air from its mouth.
Click to expand...


Arbok gets its own new-age music group.
 
S0L1D G0LD said:
Let's try an example. Arbok...
Click to expand...
That's definitely a good way to approach this. If we want to go with using dex entries from a pokémon's region of origin, then we're going to have to change some of the effects that have been previously established. Such as Arcanine's.
Red/Blue
A Pokémon that has been admired since the past for its beauty. It runs agilely as if on wings.
Click to expand...
Although we were previously considering using its soulsilver dex entry involving an affect similar to intimidate, we need something that fits the region of origin entry. For Arcanine, that could mean anything from a boost in the speed stat to Serene Grace.
 
I agree with this, but how will we make Victini balanced? Its entry is an absolute, if you use Victini you will win, and it was that way in the generation Victini was introduced in.

I think we should have a vote on what policies to adopt as far as flavor goes. Given as chaos, the user who posted this thread, is not very active, I posted a PiratePad document to use for voting. Write your Smogon Username, whether you think we should try to keep things balanced or interpret pokedex entries literally, and whether we should only consider pokedex entries from that pokemon's generation, region, or all entries. Do not clear the authorship colors on this document, and the voting shall last until the end of the month (or until every active user has posted, or until a time that the users here deem better). Mark it a saved revision after you vote on it on the document. Please use the same format I used to keep it neat.
When the voting is done, the option most voted for will go in effect.

Until the voting is completed, I think it should be fine to continue discussing it here.
 
If we just discuss it out instead of an actual vote, it might not be resolved, but I'd be fine with that if the community thinks that is better.

Anyways, for another example, I'll use my favorite, Lucario.

Pearl: By catching the Aura emanating from others, it can read their thoughts and movements.
Lucario's attacks will have 100% accuracy because Lucario can read how the foe will dodge.

HG/SS: It's said that no foe can remain invisible to Lucario, since it can detect Auras. Even foes it could not otherwise see.
Lucario's attacks ignore if the foe is invisible or hidden (includes Minimize, Double Team, Sand-attack, etc.).
Pearl: By catching the Aura emanating from others, it can read their thoughts and movements.
Lucario's attacks will have 100% accuracy because Lucario can read how the foe will dodge. In addition, you will know exactly what move the foe will use (or to whom your opponent will switch).

HG/SS: It's said that no foe can remain invisible to Lucario, since it can detect Auras. Even foes it could not otherwise see.
Lucario's attacks ignore if the foe is invisible or hidden (includes Minimize, Double Team, Sand-attack, etc.), or if the pokemon is otherwise evading (Dig, Sky Drop, Dive, etc.).
 
Mulan15262 said:
If we just discuss it out instead of an actual vote, it might not be resolved, but I'd be fine with that if the community thinks that is better.

Anyways, for another example, I'll use my favorite, Lucario.

Pearl: By catching the Aura emanating from others, it can read their thoughts and movements.
Lucario's attacks will have 100% accuracy because Lucario can read how the foe will dodge.

HG/SS: It's said that no foe can remain invisible to Lucario, since it can detect Auras. Even foes it could not otherwise see.
Lucario's attacks ignore if the foe is invisible or hidden (includes Minimize, Double Team, Sand-attack, etc.).
Pearl: By catching the Aura emanating from others, it can read their thoughts and movements.
Lucario's attacks will have 100% accuracy because Lucario can read how the foe will dodge. In addition, you will know exactly what move the foe will use (or to whom your opponent will switch).

HG/SS: It's said that no foe can remain invisible to Lucario, since it can detect Auras. Even foes it could not otherwise see.
Lucario's attacks ignore if the foe is invisible or hidden (includes Minimize, Double Team, Sand-attack, etc.), or if the pokemon is otherwise evading (Dig, Sky Drop, Dive, etc.).
Click to expand...
You forgot, the accuracy will bring on a horde of lucarios and mega lucarios spamming deficit-less focus blasts, and the pearl entry really isn't useful, unless its extended to bypass subs, which is a little much.

As for Victini,

WhiteIt creates an unlimited supply of energy inside its body, which it shares with those who touch it.
Click to expand...

Victini heals allies who make contact with it (use sticky barb logic) by 25% of their maximum Hp. Only one of its entries (two if you count rehashes) has anything to do with an auto win. I don't see how hard it would be just not to pick that one.
 
Mulan15262 said:
If we just discuss it out instead of an actual vote, it might not be resolved, but I'd be fine with that if the community thinks that is better.

Anyways, for another example, I'll use my favorite, Lucario.

Pearl: By catching the Aura emanating from others, it can read their thoughts and movements.
Lucario's attacks will have 100% accuracy because Lucario can read how the foe will dodge.

HG/SS: It's said that no foe can remain invisible to Lucario, since it can detect Auras. Even foes it could not otherwise see.
Lucario's attacks ignore if the foe is invisible or hidden (includes Minimize, Double Team, Sand-attack, etc.).
Pearl: By catching the Aura emanating from others, it can read their thoughts and movements.
Lucario's attacks will have 100% accuracy because Lucario can read how the foe will dodge. In addition, you will know exactly what move the foe will use (or to whom your opponent will switch).

HG/SS: It's said that no foe can remain invisible to Lucario, since it can detect Auras. Even foes it could not otherwise see.
Lucario's attacks ignore if the foe is invisible or hidden (includes Minimize, Double Team, Sand-attack, etc.), or if the pokemon is otherwise evading (Dig, Sky Drop, Dive, etc.).
Click to expand...

Diamond: It has the ability to sense the Auras of all things. It understands human speech.
Balance wise, it makes much more sense to use this and let Lucario know what ability the foe has on switch in, or give it an affect similar to frisk.

S0L1D G0LD said:
You forgot, the accuracy will bring on a horde of lucarios and mega lucarios spamming deficit-less focus blasts, and the pearl entry really isn't useful, unless its extended to bypass subs, which is a little much.

As for Victini,



Victini heals allies who make contact with it (use sticky barb logic) by 25% of their maximum Hp. Only one of its entries (two if you count rehashes) has anything to do with an auto win. I don't see how hard it would be just not to pick that one.
Click to expand...

I agree with victini. I think the reason people have been using auto win is because they're quick to make their favorite pokemon more powerful while being oblivious to the repercussions.
 
one of Machamp's entrys "it can throw over 1000 punchs in 2 seconds" = Machamp can attack 1000 times per turn, and needs to be banned(sry if someone already said this).
 
ALAKAZAM's brain continually grows, infinitely multiplying brain cells. This amazing brain gives this POKéMON an astoundingly high IQ of 5,000. It has a thorough memory of everything that has occurred in the world.
Alakazam should keep every level up move it learns plus 4 other moves to keep it from being COMPLETELY broken.
But then again, almost everything would be broken.
 
BenTheDemon said:
ALAKAZAM's brain continually grows, infinitely multiplying brain cells. This amazing brain gives this POKéMON an astoundingly high IQ of 5,000. It has a thorough memory of everything that has occurred in the world.
Alakazam should keep every level up move it learns plus 4 other moves to keep it from being COMPLETELY broken.
But then again, almost everything would be broken.
Click to expand...
Guys, if you would all just take the time to find a well thought out and balanced entry and effect then this place would be in a lot better shape.
 
S0L1D G0LD said:
Guys, if you would all just take the time to find a well thought out and balanced entry and effect then this place would be in a lot better shape.
Click to expand...
I don't think my suggestion would be very broken. Look at Alakazam's level-up movepool. Not very fantastic outside of Recover and Calm Mind.
 
Volcarona
Thought to be an embodiment of the sun, it appeared during a bitterly cold winter and saved Pokémon from freezing.
Click to expand...

All Pokemon thaw out when Volcarona enters the field, and none can be frozen while it is in the field.
 
This looks fun. Clearly, if you want to make this a real thing, we're going to actually need to come up with a system rather than just talk about the fun and relatively stupid descriptions.

So, I'm just going to go through all the fully evolved pokemon in order, a few per day until I get bored, beginning with Venusaur.

Venusaur
"The plant blooms when it is absorbing solar energy. It stays on the move to seek sunlight."
So, +25% special attack/special defense in the sun, -25% special attack/special defense in the rain or hail."


Charizard
"It spits fire that is hot enough to melt boulders. Known to cause forest fires unintentionally."
"Its fiery breath reaches incredible temperatures. It can quickly melt glaciers weighing 10,000 tons."
Fire moves do +50% damage against rock and ice types.

Blastoise
Blastoise has water spouts that protrude from its shell. The water spouts are very accurate. They can shoot bullets of water with enough accuracy to strike empty cans from a distance of over 160 feet.
Hydro pump has 100% accuracy.

Butterfree
In battle, it flaps its wings at high speed, releasing highly toxic dust into the air.
The wings are protected by a rain-repellent dust. As a result, this Pokémon can fly about even in rain.
Poison point. Also, Butterfree's speed increases by 50% in rain.

Beedrill
It can take down any opponent with its powerful poison stingers. It sometimes attacks in swarms.
Beedrill may take up to five pokemon slots on your team, but you may send multiple Beedrill out in single battles (Swarm battle mechanic).

Pidgeot
When hunting, it skims the surface of water at high speed to pick off unwary prey such as Magikarp.
Its outstanding vision allows it to spot splashing Magikarp, even while flying at 3,300 feet.
If Pidgeot knocks out a fish pokemon (Magikarp, Feebas, Tynamo, Basculin, Finneon, Goldeen, Seeking, Luvdisk, Remoraid), Pidgeot fully heals, and the enemy pokemon is permanently dead.
Keen Eye

Anyway, not really balanced (though honestly nothing is too ridiculously OP yet), but that's what I have for now. If we're actually going to create this game though, we should probably do it as more of a system than just stating how broken Machamp and Victini are 5000 times. Maybe have someone else start this process with each different pokedex? Remember that we will want stuff that can be programmed in, as this isn't going to be an easy programming challenge at all.
 
Last edited:
Also, remember, this game will be about a ridiculous number of OP pokemon, and since everyone will probably be overpowered, the standard of overpowered will increase. I would recommend avoiding things such as "pokemon x automatically dies when attacking pokemon y," or "pokemon x gets auto KOs with move y," but instead realize that pokemon are way tougher than we give them credit for.

Basically, Raticate's "With its long fangs, this surprisingly violent Pokémon can gnaw away even thick concrete with ease" description means its fangs are powerful, but not auto-KOs, because almost all pokemon are tougher than concrete, as strange as that may seem. Also, I could say something like, "Alex Ovechkin skates around defenders to get open on the power play, and scores with an amazing one timer slap shot." That's a fair description of his play in hockey. That doesn't mean he has a 100% shooting percentage, a distinction I think some of us are forgetting here.
 
Using Sol1d Gold's system for a few pokemon (starting with Raticate as Redwings covered a lot of ground):
Raticate
Stadium: If attacked, it stands up on its hind legs, bares its fangs and shrieks in an intimidating manner at its enemy.
This is the clearest cut entry for Raticate, it should get access to Intimidate.

Fearow:
Red and Blue: With its huge and magnificent wings, it can keep aloft without ever having to land for rest.
Whenever Fearow uses Roost, he retains his flying type.

Arbok: (Second generation will be used here as first generation only talks about its neck patterns and how scary it is)
Gold: Transfixing prey with the face-like pattern on its belly, it binds and poisons the frightened victim.
When Arbok switches into the opponent it has a thirty percent chance of automatically poisoning the opponent.

Raichu:
Yellow: When electricity builds up inside its body, it becomes feisty. It also glows in the dark.
If you don't use an electric move for three or more turns, Raichu increases in speed.

Sandslash:
Stadium: Curls into a ball of sharp spikes and rolls into enemies. It is also adept at slashing with its sharp claws.
Sandslash now gains access to Tough Claws.

Nidoqueen: (Most interesting looks like its from Gold)
Gold: Its body is covered with needle-like scales. It never shows signs of shrinking from any attack.
Nidoqueen is immune to all abilities that act like Intimidate including Intimidate, or rather if an opponent switches in with a stat dropping ability Nidoqueen will not have a stat drop.

Edit: Source Bulbapedia. Also, I noticed a copy and pasted line that wasn't supposed to be there. All apologies.
 
Last edited:
Looking more on this thread, it looks like Mulan had the same idea I had and got further (although I really like my beedrill idea), so I'll start on Johto pokemon instead.

Meganium
Meganium's breath has the power to revive dead grass and plants. It can make them healthy again.
The first time you send out Meganium, you may choose a KO'd grass type pokemon on your team. That pokemon is now at full health.
Alternate ability, especially if original is OP: If Meganium uses an attacking move on an allied grass type pokemon in a double battle, that pokemon heals 50% of its health.

Typhlosion
If its rage peaks, it becomes so hot that anything that touches it will instantly go up in flames.
It attacks using blasts of fire. It creates heat shimmers with intense fire to hide itself.
If Typhlosion uses a fire type move that makes contact with the foe, the enemy is immediately burned. If Typhlosion uses a special type fire type attack, Typhlosion's evasion increases.

Feraligatr
When it bites with its massive and powerful jaws, it shakes its head and savagely tears its victim up.
Strong Jaw

Furret
Furret has a very slim build. When under attack, it can slickly squirm through narrow spaces and get away. In spite of its short limbs, this Pokémon is very nimble and fleet.
If you are not fighting in a stadium, Furret has +20% speed.

I'll do more later. Keep on working on the Kanto ones. We should all take a region and just start from there to avoid overlap. We can check for stupidly OP pokemon later.
 
Last edited:
Redwings1340 said:
Looking more on this thread, it looks like Mulan had the same idea I had and got further (although I really like my beedrill idea), so I'll start on Johto pokemon instead.

Meganium
Meganium's breath has the power to revive dead grass and plants. It can make them healthy again.
The first time you send out Meganium, you may choose a KO'd grass type pokemon on your team. That pokemon is now at full health.

Typhlosion
If its rage peaks, it becomes so hot that anything that touches it will instantly go up in flames.
It attacks using blasts of fire. It creates heat shimmers with intense fire to hide itself.
If Typhlosion uses a fire type move that makes contact with the foe, the enemy is immediately burned. If Typhlosion uses a special type fire type attack, Typhlosion's evasion increases.

Feraligatr
When it bites with its massive and powerful jaws, it shakes its head and savagely tears its victim up.
Strong Jaw

Furret
Furret has a very slim build. When under attack, it can slickly squirm through narrow spaces and get away. In spite of its short limbs, this Pokémon is very nimble and fleet.
If you are not fighting in a stadium, Furret has +20% speed.

I'll do more later. Keep on working on the Kanto ones. We should all take a region and just start from there to avoid overlap. We can check for stupidly OP pokemon later.
Click to expand...
No. Mmm-mmm. These are not happening. Anything evasion is banned from normaly play, so I don't see how "spam specs typholsion and hitch a ride on the dodge everything and make your foe rage quit train" should be allowed here. As for Meganium's, I believe it would be more balenced if you could sacrfice (auto faint) Meganium to revive any grass type for up to meganium's current hp, but even that may be too strong, as it essentialy gives you two ferrothorns, two brelooms, etc.
 
Honestly, I think we have to work on balance after we have a draft of everything. We have absolutely no idea what this metagame will look like, and we have a good few hundred pokemon to go. Besides, there will likely be a lot of pokemon with 100% accuracy to counter specs Typhlosion (Keen eye will probably get a boost over the current ability, while No Guard becomes much stronger), and with no real ability during combat, Meganium might be deadweight aside from its healing ability.

We have absolutely no idea what this metagame will look like, so I don't think we can even start to know what is OP or broken right now. We definitely can't use current OU as a model to guess what this is going to look like. I'm definitely fine with changes to pokemon that I suggest, but for now, I think getting a good draft of each pokemon is more important than getting every single pokemon to be perfect.
 
That said, we could change Meganium's ability to
If Meganium uses an attacking move on an allied grass type pokemon in a double battle, that pokemon heals 50% of its health.

I think that's more boring, and I don't really want double battle abilities, because I doubt people will play doubles, but it works well with the description. Considering there are so many counters to choice specs Typhlosion even without these super pokemon in this game, I'm not ready to give up on the ability I gave it yet. Any pokemon with Flash fire also stops it dead if it's choiced, and I'm guessing 100% accuracy moves will be far more common here than in OU.
 
I'm just going to continue with more pokemon. I hope you don't mind, but there are a lot of them.

Noctowl
Its eyes are specially adapted. They concentrate even faint light and enable it to see in the dark.
Keen Eye. I'm starting to think Keen Eye should give pokemon permanent +2 accuracy as well as making accuracy drops impossible. What does +2 accuracy even do anyway? Meh, probably better in flavourmons than in regular pokemon.

Ledian
It uses starlight as energy. When more stars appear at night, the patterns on its back grow larger.
If fighting at night, outside, with no weather effects, Ledian gets +20% hp, special defense, special attack, and speed. (it's weak, so I'm giving it a sizable buff in specific conditions. I think the location of battles will have to be a factor here.)

Ariados
Ariados's feet are tipped with tiny hooked claws that enable it to scuttle on ceilings and vertical walls. This Pokémon constricts the foe with thin and strong silk webbing.
While Ariados is on the field sticky web can't be removed, and web moves used by Ariados have an additional -1 speed effect(String shot, constrict, spider web, sticky web).

Crobat
It flies so silently through the dark on its four wings that it may not be noticed even when nearby.
Illlusion? This seems to be a common ability though. Either that, or Crobat gets +1 priority the turn it switches in.

Lanturn
It blinds prey with an intense burst of light, then swallows the immobilized prey in a single gulp.
Flash has +1 priority and a 50% chance of flinching the target. This move has a chance of failing if used consecutively.

Xatu (skipping togekiss because of later game evo)
Xatu stands rooted and still in one spot all day long. People believe that this Pokémon does so out of fear of the terrible things it has foreseen in the future.
Future sight does +50% damage. Between using future sight and when it hits, Xatu may not use any physical attacks.

Anyway, I'll work on more later. This is pretty fun. I hope you don't all hate me for hijacking this thread.
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top