Pokemon Tabletop United Discussion

[panahinuva]

This is for the Pokemon tabletop game, not for the one taking place on this forum

Hey guys, this is where we'll be discussing the PTU campaign. Right now, the players I'm looking at are Sorawolf, Chris, Silver and a guy from offsite. I'm open to, like, one more player? I'm holding the slot open anyway, especially since the offsite guy might not actually be interested.

So right now, starting off, we have a couple of things to figure out:

1. What kind of game do people want to play? We can do anything from straight pokemon adventure, to pokepirates, to pokeD&D, to pokenoir to pokemon IN SPAAAACE. It's all viable.
2. What level do people want to start off at? To make this more palatable, do we want to be starting off trainers? Trainers who have some experience? The levels range from 1-50, so I'd say we can start off anywhere from 1-10.
3. Where do people want this to take place? One of the existing regions, or a new region? or somewhere else entirely, depending on the type of game.
4. What characters/classes do people want to play? I'm assuming that you've all already taken a look at the rulebook for this.

[SoraWolf7]

1. I'd personally like to see a regular pokemon game or Poke-noir. Maybe something where there's a specific goal in mind for all the characters to have, but not need to drive for.
2. If we're doing a regular game, then let's be beginning trainers, or fresh out of trainer's school. If we're doing pokenoir, we'll need more experience.
3. If we're doing a regular game, a current region would be fine. Pokenoir would be cool in a new city, or in Orre.
4. Depends on what we're doing, as it should. If we're doing a regular game, I'm thinking Chef and something to help that. If we're doing Noir, I'll probably be doing a Rogue/Ninja or a Martial Artist/Aura Channeler.

[panahinuva]

Also, when do people have 4-5 hour blocks that they can devote to sitting down for a session?

[Silver]

For me, I'm actually rather free. say like 5pm-11pm pretty much every day. (eastern time, -5:00) As for everything else....

1. I think Pokemon in space is a bit of a stretch. I'd say either a straight adventure, or maybe pokeD&D or pokenoir.
2. Depends on the game type. If we are all going to be starting our adventures or whatever then level one, easy. Otherwise, I'd say 5 might be a good level.
3. Depends on game type again, though I'm fond of Hoenn. Orre might be nice for a non regular game.
4. Unfortunately I can't say much here yet. The new WH40k rule book is out in a day or so, so I'll have to balance relearning rules, with learning a RPG rule book as well. For what I glanced over I found my self more fond of the medic/healer/whatever Nurse Joy's class is.

[Chris_B]

As for free-time, I should be good for whenever anyone else is.

1. I kind of agree with Silver, maybe a standard adventure, pokenoir, or pokeD&D.
2. For starting levels, I think it would be best to start from between 1 and 5.
3. Again, no real preference as far as region goes, mostly because I don't really know the newer regions too well (Anything beyond Gen 2).
4. I'm pretty set for Cheerleader, and if anyone wants to be Medic, then I'll find a good secondary class for my perky character.

[panahinuva]

Silver: Medic is a pretty versatile class. It doesn't really demand to be paired up with a certain type of role, so it really depends on what you want your character to be. Martial artist could be good, or maybe one of the supernatural classes.

Chris: Cheerleader is pretty solidly a support class, so maybe musician and go for a perky idol?

[panahinuva]

So I just discovered that the pokemon RPG recommends 2-4 people for a game. However, I'm still willing to run the game for the 5 people currently interested (Tobi, Click, Sora, Silver and Chris), just bear in mind that the system may not run optimally. Also this is my first time running this system, so it may not run optimally anyway. XD

Regardless, we should probably pick the game setting so that people can actually start thinking seriously about their characters. So far I've gotten vote for standard, D&D and noir. So, here's what I'm going to do. I'll provide a description of what you'll get out of each game and then each person will pick one setting that they think sounds most fun. We have 5 players, so with any luck there won't be a tie.

Standard (starting at level 1): You pretty much know what you're getting here. Group adventure through region, some catastrophe (not necessarily involving a team) going down in the background, each player pursuing their character's life goals (greatest musician trainer, league champion, filled pokedex, master coordinator, etc.). Along the way they'll witness incredible miracles, meet unusual pokemon and work their way towards achieving their goals and possibly saving the world. (Will use the core rulebook and probably the god supplement)

D&D (starting at level 1): Group of adventurers set out with their pokemon allies to defeat the great demon god Darkrai who has cast their city into a deathless slumber (possibly changing the plot, but it'll be something like that.) Along the way they must defeat the demon's minions, both pokemon and human, defeating terrible monsters, collecting legendary weapons and meeting unique allies before facing down the god. (Will use the core rulebook, the fantasy supplement and the god supplement)

Noir (starting at level 5): Group of people in a large city who are pulled into a dark conspiracy by a merciless organization to seize power. They'll have to dig deeply into the mystery in order to save the country from the diabolical plan that will rob millions of their freedom. Along the way they'll face down dangerous gangsters, investigate crime scenes and follow clues in order to get to the bottom of the conspiracy. (Will use the core rulebook only)

[SoraWolf7]

I'd like to vote for Noir.

[panahinuva]

Ok, rethought noir because the scenario I presented is really limited and wouldn't last. So here's the revised scenario:

Noir (starting at level 1): Group of amateur detectives, thugs and weirdos get together to form a detective agency, using their pokemon to solve mysteries. As the game progresses, the players will discover hints of the big, dark conspiracy I mentioned in the original synposis. This will give me a much more realistic scale for leveling the party, giving you opportunities to catch more pokemon and encounter special pokemon and get cool items.

[Silver]

I'll throw my vote in for the D&D one.

[Chris_B]

Oh, boy. All of those look fun.

But, I guess I'll have to vote for Noir.

[panahinuva]

Hey guys, while we wait for Tobi to get back and place his vote, I'm going to go ahead and throw up some resources for you guys.

1. Here is a link to a google doc spreadsheet version of the character sheet. Should make things a little easier for character building. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc ... sp=sharing

2. I have assembled a sort of cheat sheet summary of all the basic actions you guys will have during the game. Pasting it in below so you guys can take it at your leisure:

PTU cheat sheet

Capturing pokemon: AC6 status attack roll
100-lvlx2+(HP <75 -30, 50-75 -15, >25 +15, 1 +30)+(10x# of remaining evos)-(10 if shiny, 30 if legendary)+(volatile and injury and slow +5, persistent and stuck +10)
Roll equal or under to catch

Skill checks: # of d6s equal to your rank + attribute modifier

Attribute check: 3d6 + attribute modifier

Combat stages: Raised by .25, lowered by .125, max six times

Accuracy: 1d20, + user's accuracy, -foe evasion (pick one type of evasion)

Damage: 1. Find initial damage, 2. apply double/five hits 3. add damage base bonuses for final real damage (see table) 4. modify for crit damage, 5. roll/set damage, 6. add attack stat and bonuses, 7. subtract defense stat and DR, 8. apply weaknesses and resistances (x2, 3, 4/1/2, 1/4, 1/8), 9. subtract damage, min 1.

Struggle attacks: AC4, DB4, Expert combat: AC3, DB5

[panahinuva]

So Tobi voted for D&D, which means we have a tie. So, to break it, I flipped a coin and it came out D&D. So I hope you're all ready for high fantasy adventure!

Feel free to start building characters for the D&D setting. You have access to all the core classes, as well as all the classes (weapon master and the elementalists) in Game of Throhs. You are building a level 1 adventurer who has, up to this point, just been a regular person in town with a job (town guard, mystic, shepherd, etc.). This doesn't restrict your choices in building (if you're a weapon master or a supernatural class, just come up with a backstory to fit), just for character fluff.

You all will start out with one, level 5 pokemon.

You are not restricted to being human at this point, I will allow fantasy races beyond human, but no pokemorphs at this point, unless someone is really persuasive. Because in this system, pokemorphs are fairly complicated and screw with the power level.

If you all need help character building, you all have me on IM and I'm more than happy to help out.

[panahinuva]

Oh right, Sorawolf reminded me. There are going to be restrictions on Scientist and Researcher classes, simply because they don't make sense in the setting. You can still do them, but there will be some areas of study that are off limits or reflavored, such as chemistry->alchemy and archeology->necromancy.

Coordinator will be rethemed as a traveling entertainer, as pokemon contests don't really exist.

Photographer will be rethemed as a sketch artist or possibly a wizard of some kind, due to the lack of cameras.

Researcher will generally be rethemed as a subtype of wizard, with all of the areas intact as different types of 'mancies.

Scientist (which was already slightly hard to differentiate from researcher) will be rethemed as the same type of wizard as Researcher, although more generalized.

[panahinuva]

Update: Sora and I found the sheet I provided previously too confusing, so we took it on ourselves to make a new sheet. If you choose to use the sheet we made, please make a copy of it, rather than directly editing it, as that's our primary copy.

LInk: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... sp=sharing

[Chris_B]

Looks good to me. I'll make a character tonight.

[SoraWolf7]

Fair warning to everyone, I've been slowly altering the sheet as I make my own character, mostly to make things easier for everyone. I think I have everything that is simply done, so we should be good to go.

[SoraWolf7]

Update: I added in a damage taken and current health section, because we needed it. If anything else happens, I will let you all know.

[panahinuva]

Hey guys, if you could also start thinking about your characters' backgrounds, what they want to achieve and any unusual events in their histories. The setting is high fantasy, with a very active poképantheon, so if you want your character to have had a run in with some significant Pokemon or legendary that influenced them in some way, just run it by me. Consult the blessed and the damned supplement if you need ideas.

[panahinuva]

Hey guys, all the characters are finally made, so the last step is for everyone to spend the 5000 pokebucks as they see fit. When buying, imagine that you have access to Viridian City's pokemart (pokeballs (which are actually apricorn balls, but that doesn't matter right now), potions, antidotes and paralyze heals) and a small town armorsmith (so you can get first tier armor and weapons (leather armor, bronze helm, and basic weapons). Talk to me if you have something unique you'd like your character to have item-wise.

Ideally I would like to run the first session on Tuesday night, starting around 5pm EST when Silver gets home. PLEASE TELL ME IF THIS DOESN'T WORK FOR YOU