Up to now, we have been "playing it by ear" with regards to the CAP project. We've taken the seed of an idea planted by Cooper, and we have expanded it into a multi-faceted community project. However, there are currently many different ideas as to what this project is about. To be honest, we are all over the map when it comes to defining our purpose and direction. Many people are acting on those assumptions, sometimes to the detriment of the project itself.
The purpose of this thread is to broadly answer the question -- "What is the Create-A-Pokemon Project?" We now have two Pokemon under our belt, thousands of discussion posts, a dedicated custom battle server, and a large population of talented project contributors. It's high time we put a stake in the ground and set some boundaries and goals for the project. Once we have established our mission, we can organize the project accordingly.
Like everything else in this community, the project explanation should be the product of community discussion. That doesn't mean we will have a poll on each sentence, nor is every project member's vision going to be included. But, I would like to have an open forum for discussing this, to gauge the community position as a whole. I have drafted a high-level explanation that encompasses various elements that I have privately discussed with CAP project members and members of the Smogon staff. I would like to use this as a starting point for discussion. Feel free to comment, offer suggestions, wording changes, propose additions or deletions, etc. But, keep in mind -- this is not a set of itemized rules, or otherwise detailed project planning document. It is a high-level explanation of the project's purpose. Please frame all of your comments and suggestions within the intended scope.
As this discussion progresses, I will make edits to this document. I plan to discuss this for a few days, but the timeframe is not set in stone. Once the discussion wanes or ceases to be productive, the project explanation will posted as a sticky in this forum.
Thanks
Doug
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What is the Create-A-Pokemon Project?
"The Create-A-Pokemon project is a community dedicated to exploring and understanding the competitive Pokemon metagame by designing, creating, and playtesting new Pokemon concepts."
Based on the project name, many people jump to conclusions about the Create-A-Pokemon project. Often these initial impressions are incorrect. So, just to dispel any false notions, perhaps it is best to list some common misperceptions about the Create-A-Pokemon project.
- This is NOT a forum to submit pre-built custom Pokemon from a pokedex you created
- This is NOT a forum to discuss every cool new Pokemon concept that pops into your head
- This is NOT a forum to change existing Pokemon in the current game
- This is NOT an effort to create an entire new pokedex or new generation of Pokemon
- This is NOT an effort to create a new Pokemon game
- We are NOT interested in adding anything to the ingame Pokemon world. This includes new regions, trainers, villains, gyms, contests, Elite Four members, etc.
- We are NOT interested in changing the basic mechanics of Pokemon battling. This includes Pokemon typing, existing moves, stats, damage calculations, move priority, etc.
- It is NOT a Shoddy Battle server that allows you to make your own Pokemon and use them in battle.
That's a pretty long list of exclusions. Many of those exclusions could be very fun and interesting to pursue. Some of those goals have been done before by other communities. Many of those goals are "fan projects". Meaning, as fans of Pokemon, those pursuits can be very interesting and fun. The CAP project has many avid pokemon fans amongst it's contributors, but it isn't a fan project. It is a project dedicated to detailed exploration and experimentation with competitive Pokemon play.
To pose an analogy: "Who knows more about cars -- a driver or a mechanic?" Actually, they both know a lot, and they both know different things because of their perspective. A driver knows how to drive cars, and a mechanic knows how to build and fix cars. This project is focused on the knowledge set analogous to the mechanic.
If you really want to learn about cars, then build one.
If you really want to learn about competitive Pokemon -- then build one.
The construction of a proper competitive Pokemon is a complex process and requires a detailed understanding of the game of Pokemon and the competitive metagame in which it will be played. Through the construction process, every facet of competitive Pokemon play is investigated and discussed in exacting detail. Pokemon typing, stat distribution, damage calculation, movesets, abilities, breeding characteristics, battling strategies, current threats and counters -- all of this must be taken into account in order to create a viable competitive Pokemon. In some ways, this is the purest form of learning the competitive metagame. It is like a lab class on the various factors that underly the Pokemon metagame.
Despite the project's name, the goal is not to create Pokemon. The Pokemon that come out of the project are simply a by-product of the community construction process. The process is the goal -- with all the discussions and discoveries that go along with it. Like they say, "Life is about the journey, not the destination." The same wisdom applies here. This is the key difference between the CAP project and every other fakedex/fakemon effort that has been done before. As such, it is perfectly suited to be sponsored by the knowledgeable Smogon community, aka Smogon University. People that participate in the project are expected to present reasoned ideas and to engage in intelligent debate of those ideas. That is why we are here.
The construction process is broken down into a series of steps, with each step representing a facet of a Pokemon. Each facet is discussed through an exhaustive peer review process and decisions are made by community vote. When the base construction process is complete, the Pokemon is implemented in the community battle simulator and is thoroughly play-tested. The playtesting enables the community to collect tangible evidence of the effectiveness of a given Pokemon concept. Playtesting evidence can be used to spur further revision of the Pokemon concept, or it may provide additional information that helps shape future construction projects.
The polls generally fall to two categories -- Competitive Facets and Non-Competitive Facets. Competitive facets of Pokemon are aspects that directly affect the the Pokemon's use in competitive battle. Those polls are of primary importance to the CAP project and are given the most time and attention during the construction process. However, non-competitive aspects of Pokemon are not ignored. Almost everyone involved in the CAP project is a fan of the Pokemon game. As such, the CAP project strives to create holistic Pokemon concepts that makes sense within the spirit and example of the actual Pokemon game.
One note about artwork: Some might consider artwork to be a non-competitive aspect of a Pokemon. However, Pokemon art is deeply interwoven with various competitive facets of a Pokemon design. As such, the CAP project spends significant poll time and discussion on Pokemon artwork and sprites, and the implications of that artwork on Pokemon typing, moves, abilities, etc.
The Create-A-Pokemon project strives to create an interesting environment for intelligent students of the competitive Pokemon metagame to exercise both creative and analytical talents for the betterment of the competitive Pokemon community.
- The CAP project is community-based, and very democratic
- The CAP project involves people with various talents and interests - metagame battlers, ingamers, artists, spriters, writers, etc.
- The CAP project inspires various interesting discussions about Pokemon, the spirit and mechanics of the game, and most importantly, in-depth analysis of the current competitive metagame
- The CAP project is an ever-evolving project
- The CAP project is open to anyone interested in learning more about the underlying fundamentals of competitive Pokemon
The purpose of this thread is to broadly answer the question -- "What is the Create-A-Pokemon Project?" We now have two Pokemon under our belt, thousands of discussion posts, a dedicated custom battle server, and a large population of talented project contributors. It's high time we put a stake in the ground and set some boundaries and goals for the project. Once we have established our mission, we can organize the project accordingly.
Like everything else in this community, the project explanation should be the product of community discussion. That doesn't mean we will have a poll on each sentence, nor is every project member's vision going to be included. But, I would like to have an open forum for discussing this, to gauge the community position as a whole. I have drafted a high-level explanation that encompasses various elements that I have privately discussed with CAP project members and members of the Smogon staff. I would like to use this as a starting point for discussion. Feel free to comment, offer suggestions, wording changes, propose additions or deletions, etc. But, keep in mind -- this is not a set of itemized rules, or otherwise detailed project planning document. It is a high-level explanation of the project's purpose. Please frame all of your comments and suggestions within the intended scope.
As this discussion progresses, I will make edits to this document. I plan to discuss this for a few days, but the timeframe is not set in stone. Once the discussion wanes or ceases to be productive, the project explanation will posted as a sticky in this forum.
Thanks
Doug
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What is the Create-A-Pokemon Project?
"The Create-A-Pokemon project is a community dedicated to exploring and understanding the competitive Pokemon metagame by designing, creating, and playtesting new Pokemon concepts."
Based on the project name, many people jump to conclusions about the Create-A-Pokemon project. Often these initial impressions are incorrect. So, just to dispel any false notions, perhaps it is best to list some common misperceptions about the Create-A-Pokemon project.
- This is NOT a forum to submit pre-built custom Pokemon from a pokedex you created
- This is NOT a forum to discuss every cool new Pokemon concept that pops into your head
- This is NOT a forum to change existing Pokemon in the current game
- This is NOT an effort to create an entire new pokedex or new generation of Pokemon
- This is NOT an effort to create a new Pokemon game
- We are NOT interested in adding anything to the ingame Pokemon world. This includes new regions, trainers, villains, gyms, contests, Elite Four members, etc.
- We are NOT interested in changing the basic mechanics of Pokemon battling. This includes Pokemon typing, existing moves, stats, damage calculations, move priority, etc.
- It is NOT a Shoddy Battle server that allows you to make your own Pokemon and use them in battle.
That's a pretty long list of exclusions. Many of those exclusions could be very fun and interesting to pursue. Some of those goals have been done before by other communities. Many of those goals are "fan projects". Meaning, as fans of Pokemon, those pursuits can be very interesting and fun. The CAP project has many avid pokemon fans amongst it's contributors, but it isn't a fan project. It is a project dedicated to detailed exploration and experimentation with competitive Pokemon play.
To pose an analogy: "Who knows more about cars -- a driver or a mechanic?" Actually, they both know a lot, and they both know different things because of their perspective. A driver knows how to drive cars, and a mechanic knows how to build and fix cars. This project is focused on the knowledge set analogous to the mechanic.
If you really want to learn about cars, then build one.
If you really want to learn about competitive Pokemon -- then build one.
The construction of a proper competitive Pokemon is a complex process and requires a detailed understanding of the game of Pokemon and the competitive metagame in which it will be played. Through the construction process, every facet of competitive Pokemon play is investigated and discussed in exacting detail. Pokemon typing, stat distribution, damage calculation, movesets, abilities, breeding characteristics, battling strategies, current threats and counters -- all of this must be taken into account in order to create a viable competitive Pokemon. In some ways, this is the purest form of learning the competitive metagame. It is like a lab class on the various factors that underly the Pokemon metagame.
Despite the project's name, the goal is not to create Pokemon. The Pokemon that come out of the project are simply a by-product of the community construction process. The process is the goal -- with all the discussions and discoveries that go along with it. Like they say, "Life is about the journey, not the destination." The same wisdom applies here. This is the key difference between the CAP project and every other fakedex/fakemon effort that has been done before. As such, it is perfectly suited to be sponsored by the knowledgeable Smogon community, aka Smogon University. People that participate in the project are expected to present reasoned ideas and to engage in intelligent debate of those ideas. That is why we are here.
The construction process is broken down into a series of steps, with each step representing a facet of a Pokemon. Each facet is discussed through an exhaustive peer review process and decisions are made by community vote. When the base construction process is complete, the Pokemon is implemented in the community battle simulator and is thoroughly play-tested. The playtesting enables the community to collect tangible evidence of the effectiveness of a given Pokemon concept. Playtesting evidence can be used to spur further revision of the Pokemon concept, or it may provide additional information that helps shape future construction projects.
The polls generally fall to two categories -- Competitive Facets and Non-Competitive Facets. Competitive facets of Pokemon are aspects that directly affect the the Pokemon's use in competitive battle. Those polls are of primary importance to the CAP project and are given the most time and attention during the construction process. However, non-competitive aspects of Pokemon are not ignored. Almost everyone involved in the CAP project is a fan of the Pokemon game. As such, the CAP project strives to create holistic Pokemon concepts that makes sense within the spirit and example of the actual Pokemon game.
One note about artwork: Some might consider artwork to be a non-competitive aspect of a Pokemon. However, Pokemon art is deeply interwoven with various competitive facets of a Pokemon design. As such, the CAP project spends significant poll time and discussion on Pokemon artwork and sprites, and the implications of that artwork on Pokemon typing, moves, abilities, etc.
The Create-A-Pokemon project strives to create an interesting environment for intelligent students of the competitive Pokemon metagame to exercise both creative and analytical talents for the betterment of the competitive Pokemon community.
- The CAP project is community-based, and very democratic
- The CAP project involves people with various talents and interests - metagame battlers, ingamers, artists, spriters, writers, etc.
- The CAP project inspires various interesting discussions about Pokemon, the spirit and mechanics of the game, and most importantly, in-depth analysis of the current competitive metagame
- The CAP project is an ever-evolving project
- The CAP project is open to anyone interested in learning more about the underlying fundamentals of competitive Pokemon