CAP 17 CAP 6 - Part 12 - Flavor Ability Discussion

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jas61292

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So, we've completed all of the competitive aspects of CAP 6 and have begun to playtest Cawmodore (for more details, check out this thread). Even so, we still have some more to do, starting with picking out a flavor ability. This ability should have little significance competitively, and should be all about what makes sense on the Pokemon.

The following abilities are banned from this discussion:

Air Lock
Bad Dreams
Color Change
Defeatist
Forecast
Illusion
Imposter
Moody
Multitype
Sand Veil
Shadow Tag
Slow Start
Snow Cloak
Teravolt
Truant
Turboblaze
Victory Star
Wonder Guard
Zen Mode

Arena Trap
Drizzle
Drought
Huge Power
Magic Bounce
Magic Guard
Prankster
Pure Power
Sand Stream
Serene Grace
Snow Warning
Speed Boost​

In addition, it should be noted that Unreleased Dream World abilities are banned from this discussion. While its very possible that a powerful ability could fit perfectly on Cawmodore from a flavor perspective, that opens up a dangerous can of worms which we would prefer to simply avoid.

If you are curious as to why these abilities are banned, check out this thread to learn more. Remember, the ability we choose here is an Ineffective Ability, meaning that it should be inferior to both Intimidate and Volt Absorb (Cawmodore's competitive abilities).

We probably don't need a ton of time for this discussion, so you can expect this thread to stay open for around three to four days.

CAP 6 so far:

Name: Cawmodore

Name: Show Me Your Moves!

General Description: A good user of moves with effects not frequently used in the OU metagame.

Justification: There are many moves in Pokémon with great effects, but they often end up unused. Moves such as Gravity, Snatch, and Safeguard have potential in OU, but they are neglected for several reasons: the moves are apparently overshadowed, have poor distribution, or are inefficient compared to another strategy. This CAP uses a combination of typing, ability, and stats to make these underused moves not only feasible, but also capable.

Questions To Be Answered:
  • What mechanics of Pokémon determine how viable moves are?--not only the Pokémon's typing, stats, and ability, but also its interaction with playstyles and momentum.
  • What new strategies might emerge by giving a new OU Pokémon underused moves?
  • What challenges do Pokémon that use lesser-used moves face compared to ones that use a more standard moveset?
  • If the Pokémon has options of staple OU moves (high-powered STABs, offensive stat-boosting moves, reliable recovery, Substitute), will those moves be useful to it, even if it's specialized toward a separate and distinct strategy?
  • Can underused moves increase other underused moves' viabilities?
  • Can one user of a strategy unrecognized in a metagame massively influence a pre-existing playstyle?
Typing: Steel / Flying
Abilities: Intimidate / Volt Absorb / ???
Stats: 50 HP / 92 Atk / 130 Def / 65 SpA / 75 SpD / 118 Spe
Movepool:
0. Leer
0. Peck
5. Growl
9. Swift
13. Metal Claw
18. Screech
22. Wing Attack
26. Detect
31. Steel Wing
35. Belly Drum
39. Bullet Punch
44. Brine
48. Tailwind
52. Flash Cannon
58. Hurricane
Air Slash - Braviary, Crobat, Farfetch’d, Mandibuzz, Noctowl, Pelipper, Pidgeot, Sigilyph, Skarmory, Swanna, Swellow, Swoobat, Togekiss, Unfezant
Drill Peck - Dodrio, Fearow, Honchkrow, Skarmory, Xatu
Metal Sound - Skarmory
Mirror Move - Altaria, Chatot, Dodrio, Farfetch’d, Fearow, Honchkrow, Mandibuzz, Noctowl, Pidgeot, Sigilyph, Swanna, Swellow, Togekiss
Pursuit - Aerodactyl, Altaria, Crobat, Dodrio, Fearow, Honchkrow, Pelipper, Pidgeot, Skarmory, Staraptor, Swellow
Quick Attack - Archeops, Crobat, Dodrio, Farfetch’d, Fearow, Honchkrow, Pelipper, Pidgeot, Staraptor, Swellow, Unfezant, Xatu
Quick Guard - Archeops
Razor Wind - Fearow, Unfezant
Water Sport - Pelipper, Swanna
Legal Move Combinations:
Air Slash + Drill Peck + Metal Sound + Pursuit (Skarmory)
Air Slash + Pursuit + Quick Attack + Water Sport (Pelipper)
Air Slash + Quick Attack + Razor Wind (Unfezant)
Air Slash + Mirror Move + Quick Attack (Farfetch’d)
Drill Peck + Mirror Move + Pursuit + Quick Attack + Razor Wind (Fearow)
Mirror Move + Water Sport (Swanna)
Quick Attack + Quick Guard (Archeops)

Illegal Move Combinations:
Air Slash + Quick Guard
Drill Peck + Quick Guard + Water Sport
Metal Sound + Mirror Move + Quick Guard
Metal Sound + Quick Guard + Razor Wind
Metal Sound + Quick Attack
Metal Sound + Water Sport
Pursuit + Quick Guard
Razor Wind + Quick Guard + Water Sport

Note: There aren't any notable Egg move illegalities, mostly because there aren't many notable Egg moves.
TM06 - Toxic
TM10 - Hidden Power
TM15 - Hyper Beam
TM17 - Protect
TM18 - Rain Dance
TM21 - Frustration
TM23 - Smack Down
TM27 - Return
TM31 - Brick Break
TM32 - Double Team
TM40 - Aerial Ace
TM42 - Facade
TM44 - Rest
TM45 - Attract
TM48 - Round
TM58 - Sky Drop
TM62 - Acrobatics
TM67 - Retaliate
TM68 - Giga Impact
TM77 - Psych Up
TM87 - Swagger
TM88 - Pluck
TM90 - Substitute
TM91 - Flash Cannon
TM94 - Rock Smash
HM02 - Fly
HM03 - Surf
HM04 - Strength
Block
Drain Punch
Endeavor
Iron Head
Knock Off
Sky Attack
Sleep Talk
Snatch
Snore
Tailwind
 

Nyktos

Custom Loser Title
I think our flavour ability should be Big Pecks. Cawmodore is a bird, like all Pokémon with the ability, and its big "chest" is its most prominent feature. (I know the Japanese name is Pigeon Breast but half the things that get it aren't pigeons anyway.)
 
Personally, I think that Battle Armor would fit this guy beautifully. Not only is he a steel-type with a super-shiny jacket being one of his most prominent features, but he's a surly sailor, made rough and tough by the sea - you cannot and will not catch him unawares, as he's far too experienced for that.

Plus, the ability has minimal use, and would likely never find any worthwhile usage.
 

DetroitLolcat

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Big Pecks is the most reasonable flavor ability for the reasons Nyktos mentioned. The chest is the most prominent feature, it's rather large by bird Pokemon standards, and it's clearly a flavor ability.

Defeatist is also an ability that has to be mentioned, as we chose Belly Drum as our concept. What better way to reward successfully lowering your health by 50% than an Attack drop?
 
Big Pecks! Cawmodore's chest is its most recognizable attribute and its 'useless' ability should play off of that.
 

DHR-107

Robot from the Future
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Orange Islands
The only other Abilities worth even mentioning are Keen Eye or Early Bird. But I am right there with Big Pecks too. All three fit great to the whole aesthetic of Cawmodore.
 
While I'm tempted to suggest Anger Point as a flavour ability, since a gruff sea captain really is going to go into a berserk rage at the drop of a hat, I'll go with the crowd and plump for Big Pecks.
 

Birkal

We have the technology.
is a Top Artistis a Top CAP Contributoris a Top Smogon Media Contributoris a Site Content Manager Alumnusis a Battle Simulator Admin Alumnusis a Senior Staff Member Alumnusis a Community Contributor Alumnus
Just popping in as your local moderator to remind you that this thread is discussion-based. If you're going to post agreement for an ability here, at least provide a little blurb to back it up. We'll do voting later, so don't post your one-liners here.
 
Big Pecks works fantastic - we already have two great abilities and in this rare occasion, this rubbish ability is the best to suit our needs! Also it is a pun in two different ways which is great aswell
 
Anger Point because this.

But seriously, I think that Big Pecks is one of the best choices, simply because of how well it fits with the general design of Cawmodore. Heck, it practically feels like it was made for it, considering that Cawmodore's chest is its most prominent feature and that it has nautical themes in its design and that its a bird Pokémon.
 

Srn

Water (Spirytus - 96%)
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I think Defiant could be worth thinking of. It seems to go with the whole sailor's pride theme, and cawmodore doesn't really look like the humble type.
His puffed out chest and wing positions (it's like he's flexing his biceps) radiate manly pride in my opinion, and what better ability to highlight manly pride than Defiant?Also, unlike Big Pecks (though I can see where it comes from(duh)), Defiant slightly more competitive use
 
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Geodude6

Look at my shiny CT!
Vital Spirit seems like an interesting ability to put. It has little use competitively and kinda fits with the theme. Also seconding Shiruba's suggestion of Battle Armor.
 
Since I only replied with a one-liner previously, I will explain my suggestion for Big Pecks: it has that big "chest" of the bird on which its design is based, which would be the frigatebird. Also, Cawmodore could work with an ineffective ability, since Intimidate and Volt Absorb have their respective uses in competitive play.
 
I think Reckless, Defiant, Scrappy, and Unnerve all have a lot of potential. The first three evoke the belligerent, rambunctious nature of sailors, on which Cawmodore is based, while unnerve riffs along the same lines as intimidate.

That being said, Big Pecks is fantastic and fits the concept well.
 

Epikhairz

Anything goes
Yeah Big Pecks for reasons previously stated

Moxie is also worth considering cuz cawmodore just has dat swag for it plus its not dead weight competitively so thats a plus but it still fits the flavor but it might be too good
 
I'd like to suggest Steadfast. It fits the idea of Cawmodore being a fearless sea captain rather well, and it's not very competitive at all. On the slim chance that Cawmodore does flinch, it's a boon though.
 

jas61292

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So, I just went through the full list of abilities and there are only a few that really stick out to me.

Inner Focus and Steadfast both would be cool choices. They are fairly generic, but fit well the the theme of being a captain, who cannot afford to be distracted by minor annoyances like flinching.

Keen Eye would work well too, as not only is it again something advantageous within that whole captain theme, but its also a very classic bird ability. Can't go wrong with this one.

Light Metal is kind of an odd one, but I think this could also work out well. I mean, Cawmodore is a steel bird, and being lighter could certainly be an advantage when it comes to flying. Not necessarily the greatest fit ever, but I could certainly see it fitting.

However, my number one choice has to be Big Pecks. Between the literal interpretation (large chest [and beak!]) and the more indirect references, it just fits a sailor bird so perfectly. I would be happy with any of the other abilities listed here, but I just absolutely love Big Pecks.
 
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Big Pecks has been my number one choice for a third ability ever since we decided that our CAP would have three abilities. Cawmodore already has two ridiculously effective abilities which means that it most certainly doesn't need a third. But it also means that even an ability which isn't entirely useless like Big Pecks will be comparatively non-competitive because there would be virtually no reason to use it over one of the existing abilities that Cawmodore already has.

And, stylistically, it's perfect
 
Well the only choices are pretty much Sand Veil, Snow Cloak, and Moody. Oh you said non-competitive... never mind.

After finding out that the Japanese is Pigeon Breast I have to support Big Pecks because its an awesome pun.
 

Birkal

We have the technology.
is a Top Artistis a Top CAP Contributoris a Top Smogon Media Contributoris a Site Content Manager Alumnusis a Battle Simulator Admin Alumnusis a Senior Staff Member Alumnusis a Community Contributor Alumnus
Yo this is your 24-hour warning. If you have any further points to bring up this thread that have not already been stated, let's hear them before then. If not, be patient and wait for the voting phase. Have at it.
 
While I still support Big Pecks, I would like to bring up Overcoat as a possibility, as Cawmodore, being a Steel-type, would probably have hard enough feathers to shake off the effects of harsh weather, and that a veteran sailor like it probably wouldn't care about the weather conditions around it that much. While it is a somewhat competitive ability, it probably wouldn't see that much use simply because of how good Cawmodore's other abilities are, and that it's only really useful if you're a fan of Hail teams, so it's not that much of an issue. Also, if you're a fan of puns, Cawmodore literally has a jacket as part of its design, so there's that.

I would also like to say that I'm a fan of Light Metal as well, for reasons that jas61292 stated above, but also because if a real bird has lightweight/hollow bones to help it become lighter, than a steel bird could easily incorporate lighter metals/alloys to achieve the same goal.
 

Birkal

We have the technology.
is a Top Artistis a Top CAP Contributoris a Top Smogon Media Contributoris a Site Content Manager Alumnusis a Battle Simulator Admin Alumnusis a Senior Staff Member Alumnusis a Community Contributor Alumnus
Wow, such slate.

Code:
Big Pecks
Battle Armor
Anger Point
Defiant
Steadfast
Keen Eye
Light Metal
Very flavor.

For those of you that are new to the process, the slate was chosen based off of what was considered to be a "community consensus" of abilities. That's fancy talk for abilities that had two or more posts of support, with logic to back it up. We try to cast our nets broad, but not to the point of we take literally every ability that was suggested. Poll up shortly!
 
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