Okay, so with this SICK match more or less on hold until this gets resolved one way or another, I'm going to make a discussion thread in order to try to force a resolution on this ASAP. The question is, if a charge up move (Solar Beam, Sky Attack, Focus Punch, etc) is encored while charging, is it Encored or is the move used before it Encored? Notable posts/arguments from the Feedback thread:
So dogfish and I decided to test this out on Showdown, obviously Showdown isn't guaranteed to be the same as in-game but at this point in time it's as good as we're gonna get. So, the results of our research:
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogondoubles-157552913
-The charge of Focus Punch CANNOT be Encored; using Encore while a Pokemon is charging Focus Punch results in the previous move used being encored. Point: Birkal.
-The charge of Solar Beam CAN be Encored; the Pokemon completes Solar Beam as normal on the following turn and then can only order Solar Beam the round after. Point: Frosty.
Because of the way charge-up moves work in ASB I would go with Focus Punch being the better example here since all charge-up moves in ASB charge and attack in the same action, but technically if we want to be as close to in-game as possible then I think the correct answer is to go with the Solar Beam example.
I thought the end result would be the same with focus punch and solarbeam ._.. I suggested Focus Punch because it had enhanced priority and I wanted to see the action locking thinge.
I prefer if this goes to the booth. If both options have in-game precedence, then our choice will be based on other aspects (preferance and how it interacts with how ASB works) and I am not fond of that part being simply mod-enforced (although it can be fiated).
Focus Punch is closer to how solarbeam works here (same action) yeah, but the test estabilishes that the charge of solarbeam is considered an action to be encored. So the move isn't one single action that lasts 2 rounds in-game, but a move that consists of 2 actions. That same line of thought can be applied here, with the difference that both actions would happen on the same...uh...action (oh boy).
Also again, ASB Encore is BROKEN and any way to stop it should be praised, not nerfed IMO. If there is some in-game precedent that supports the metagame-friendly option, then I feel we should go that route.
Either way, I'd love if a decision is reached fast here. I got a tournament to run ._.. If there is no objections/opinions/mods demanding more discussion in like 48h or so I will create a voting thread.
Might have missed some useful arguments, but I think that sums things up decently. In the effort to drum up some speedy discussion before we punt this to a vote I'm going to be liberal with my tags: Dogfish44 ZhengTann Engineer Pikachu Texas Cloverleaf Gerard. I'd like to have the voting thread be put up within 48 hours if at all possible, so let's be quick about this.Solar Beam / Skull Bash plays exactly like Focus Punch in ASB. I would agree that Encore is a massively powerful tool, but that's the nature of the move. If you have issues with the move, change its energy / duration / whatever. Why make its mechanics more confusing?