Locking Abilities

[Its_A_Random]

Moderated Discussion, keep to the topic at hand.​

What started as a rant about Rivalry evolves into a proposal to lock abilities evolves into an argument over whether we should go ahead with said proposal or not. Whether we should implement this proposal:

I think that's a pretty good idea. It fits with how in-game, if you don't like an ability, you can choose a different one. Some suggestions I have for codifications:

1. It costs 5 MC to lock an ability. An ability can be unlocked for free if and only if the Pokemon has a full AC.
2. If a Pokemon has only one unlocked ability, it cannot be locked.
3. An ability cannot be unlocked mid-battle (not sure if this needs to be specified)

As far as I can tell, this covers all of the bases. Locking an ability is not particularly easy, but isn't difficult, Slakoth/Slaking/Regigigas/Archen/Archeops can't lock their Traits (but Durant can), and nobody can do something silly like bringing a Rivalry-locked Nidoking, seeing the opposing team has only males, and unlocking it.

Thoughts?

Or go for an alternative or not at all is up for debate.

So yeah:

• Should we implement a mechanism to lock abilities or an alternative or not and why?
• If yes, what should that mechanism be or what alternative we should look at?

Nothing else atm, just continue the argument from Feedback and yeah. Fire away. Just do not break any forum rules, okay?

 

[deadfox081]

No we should not block abilities outside of the current mechanic of not unlocking hidden abilities. I want to use rank 6 ark Haxorus or Sheer Force Nidoking without fear of drawback is not a good enough reason for allowing Rivalry to be locked. Molux would often rather not have Dry Skin (especially in raids). Damp offers no benefit to Politoed particularly. This should not become a game of making every pokemon as good as possible. Use them as the are, or choose not to use them based on qualities you don't like.

 

[Avnomke]

Honestly, the only abilities which I can see being locked often are Rivalry and Dry Skin (and then only on Parasect and Jynx). Maybe Solar Power but I doubt it.

Tbh I don't see much point in this. Rivalry and Dry Skin aren't bad abilities (although they can be annoying at times), and if you don't want them then get a different pokemon with similar capabilities.

 

[Maxim]

Frankly, I'm not seeing this ending very well. This proposal basically cuts out one of the many balancing factors of powerful Pokemon; namely, bad abilities. And besides that, how would this interact with such things as Skill Swap (much as I hate the move)?

A bit off topic, but if you really want to make Rivalry less silly, then I believe you could just implement a 2 CC cost or something to changing genders.

 

[Geodude6]

Maxim I think Pokemon already get free sex changes.

I see this proposal as basically "I don't want my Haxorus to suffer the drawbacks of Rivalry." As Maxim and deadfox said above, bad or even detrimental abilities is the trade-off for having a R6 in your main attacking stat (Haxorus & RC Beautifly) or Sheer Force (Nidos). And detrimental abilities are limiting factors for Pokemon like Slaking, Regigigas, and Archeops, and the only Pokemon to have a detrimental ability that would be fine without it (Durant) already has the option of not having it (Durant can just not unlock its HA).

TL;DR Texas if you hate Rivalry so much make your gym 2 abilities.

 

[Maxim]

Geodude6 I meant add a CC cost to it instead of it being free. So that people don't change their Pokemon Genders to screw over the leader's Haxorus for example.

 

[tavok]

@ Geo: Maxim means that you charge 2 Cc so people don't change sex just to screw with you rivalry mon.

 

[Geodude6]

Except the leader could always do the same thing...

 

[Its_A_Random]

Maxim I think Pokemon already get free sex changes.

False, there are no sex changes in ASB.

I see this proposal as basically "I don't want my Haxorus to suffer the drawbacks of Rivalry." As Maxim and deadfox said above, bad or even detrimental abilities is the trade-off for having a R6 in your main attacking stat (Haxorus & RC Beautifly) or Sheer Force (Nidos). And detrimental abilities are limiting factors for Pokemon like Slaking, Regigigas, and Archeops, and the only Pokemon to have a detrimental ability that would be fine without it (Durant) already has the option of not having it (Durant can just not unlock its HA).

Traits are not removable in Mowtom's proposal. Who even uses Rare Candy Beautifly?

TL;DR Texas if you hate Rivalry so much make your gym 2 abilities.

He closed his gym. Moot point.

That is not to say I support the proposal, but you need to get your facts right.

 

[TSRD]

Plus it's not like they don't already counter Gym Leaders by bringing mons to have an advantage over the leader's mon typing.
Gender countering is just one more thing and an extremely niche thing at that to make such a blanket rule (with plenty of potential drawbacks) to counteract.

False, there are no sex changes in ASB.

Is this a joke or a new Word of God or was it always like this? I'm fairly sure I read somewhere or got some confirmation that gender and name can be changed at will...

*Edit: Yes here it is:

Q: Can I change my Pokemon's nickname/gender?
A: Yes, and doing so is completely free, although it must be done outside of battle. Also, if you change gender, the new gender must be one that the Pokemon can legally be (so no female Gallade or male Vespiquen for example).

 

[waterwarrior]

putting my two cents in AGAINST locking innate abilities (i.e. Nidoking/queen and Haxorus' Rivalry). If you don't like that part of a mon, tough shit, you didn't have to buy it or train it. Hell, the only mons that aren't at least decently strong that would lock an ability that isn't a Hidden Ability is Parasect (Dry Skin).

HOWEVER, I would not be against re-locking Hidden Abilities for a cost on the same logic that you're able to never unlock them in the first place if you didn't want it.

 

[Its_A_Random]

Sorry for forgetting to read the handbook TSRD, I genuinely thought we never did this. Maybe I should fact check myself.

That said, if there is anyone who has an argument for this change, then please voice them now. Otherwise I am tempted to just close this thread and force no change. The more I think about it, the more arbitrary this change feels.

 

[Dogfish44]

putting my two cents in AGAINST locking innate abilities (i.e. Nidoking/queen and Haxorus' Rivalry). If you don't like that part of a mon, tough shit, you didn't have to buy it or train it. Hell, the only mons that aren't at least decently strong that would lock an ability that isn't a Hidden Ability is Parasect (Dry Skin).

HOWEVER, I would not be against re-locking Hidden Abilities for a cost on the same logic that you're able to never unlock them in the first place if you didn't want it.

WW sums up my feelings here rather well. If we felt the ability should be blockable, it would be a toggle ability -.-'

 

[Its_A_Random]

Calling veto and shutting this down.

No point continuing when more than half the incumbent council opposes it and the only ones supporting it are in a small minority.

If you really hate a specific ability, play with less abilities or play on an arena with said ability disabled. Tournaments will not change for it unless it is the gimmick of the tournament. It is not rocket science.