May - June Test Drive Meme

[indigo_league]

➞ Post with a character you wish to test drive in this game's setting.
➞ Tag other people's starters and thread out shenanigans!
➞ Invite your friends! Try out new characters! Come play with us!
➞ Have fun!

NOT SURE WHERE TO BEGIN YOUR TEST-DRIVE JOURNEY?
CHECK OUT ALL THE LOCATIONS WE HAVE AVAILABLE IN:

JOHTO | KANTO | SEVII ISLANDS

Feel free to make various prompts in multiple locations!

✭ ✭ ✭


OTHER USEFUL LINKS:
NAVIGATION | RESERVES | APPLICATIONS

Comments

Seto Kaiba | Yu-Gi-Oh

[blue_ice]

((ooc: trying again with solidified starter choice and path, and I think my samples have expired x.x))

big mouth, little seahorse (action, route 30)

[ The road of battle to fame and glory...chasing it as a duelist hadn't been nearly this tough. Kaiba is trudging along in his soccer uniform searching the far reaches of the meadow for new team members, but they've hit a rough patch. He ducks under a tree with his exhausted Horsea tucked in his arm, gently spraying a potion. ]

We need to shore up our weaknesses and fill out the team! If you can confuse a Pokémon in a bubble fog, we'll catch it. Failure's not an option---but you can't carry me alone. We need allies.

[ The Horsea lets out a tired bubbly sigh. He feeds her another berry...just as the grass rustles next to him. He digs in his bag for a tent stake and holds it out threateningly. ]

Not another step, or I swear you'll regret it.

[ Human or Pokémon, he's not letting anyone threaten them today....regardless of how threatening they actually are. Sorry. ]

fastball special (network video)

[ Kaiba looks like he hasn't seen civilization for a few days. He's out in the weeds again with a somewhat larger little team surrounding him. He's tossing various rocks and sticks above his team's head as hard as he can, urging his Pokémon to hit the moving targets. They're doing well, but...

He turns the view away from the Pokémon and toward himself. He hates asking for help, and that's reflected in his stony expression. But entering the gym unprepared and losing would be even more humiliating. ]

Does anyone have suggestions for faster object launches? Cannons, arrows, Pokémon who can throw harder than I can? I'm not challenging the gym until we master target practice, and I can't throw any faster.

Network

[crystalmaster]

[To say Radley is shocked to see the great Seto Kaiba here would be an understatement. Of course, he has never met Seto in person, but he has certainly seen plenty of video footage. He tries to shake himself out of his shock long enough to actually address the topic at hand.]

Target practice? Which gym are you challenging?

[He's wracking his mind, but he can't come up with a solid reason why throwing things would be a required skill for challenging a Pokemon gym. Well, maybe to stop certain attacks like rocks being thrown, perhaps?]

[blue_ice]

Violet City. We need to be able to hit fast flying targets.

[ Horsea appears on screen, bobbing in the air beside him. ]

Progress is happening, but it's slow.

[crystalmaster]

Ah, okay. Violet is either birds or bugs, right? You're trying to knock those out of the air?

[It sounds brutal, but then again, it's probably par for the course in Pokemon battles. Radley isn't suited to that and has chosen a different path.]

If you get a Rock or Fighter Pokemon, they can probably chuck a lot of flying targets. I'm not sure how they are in the Speed department, though. Some of my Pokemon can use the Swift attack, which sends a bunch of stars flying pretty fast.

[blue_ice]

We're working on that. Hard to find anything but birds and bugs out here.

Horsea has Bubble Beam, but it's not as fast as I'd like. Electricity could work, but...he's still learning.

[In the background a Shinx is chasing its tail.]

[crystalmaster]

Yeah, Electricity could do it. Fire too, maybe. And Ice ... Water ... all of those types have some pretty fast attacks, Mr. Kaiba.

[blue_ice]

[ He notes these suggestions, then looks up. Double checks his device. ]

...you've heard of me?

Fastball Special!

[orangesmith]

What the fuck? You don't have to do any of that, I just train mine so that they can overwhelm the gyms.

[Yup, Narancia brute forces the gyms, he's probably not the best guy to talk to if you want help with training...]

[blue_ice]

Of course we battle normally. The exercises are to better prepare.

I was told brute force wasn't enough.

[orangesmith]

Hey, it works for me. I got three badges that way!

[That's not to say he doesn't use strategy. He does, it's just that his strategy tends to be spamming a super effective attack, with some healing mixed in as needed. Who knows how long that'll work out...]

[blue_ice]

I can't afford to fail my team. Every possible advantage needs to be found

[orangesmith]

You still don't have to do all that. [Seriously, what kind of training is that? Narancia has never thought to do that kind of training and it shows.]

Having something supereffective helps a lot though. What gym are you doing first? [Captain obvious, but it's true. Having type advantage works wonders.]

[blue_ice]

Violet. I don't have much in the way of type advantage.

[ Just the small Shinx that needs to evolve first. He trots over and waves a paw.]

My trips into the wild for team members have mostly found bugs.

/SCREAMS. Action on R30!

[thetombkeeper]

[Marik was minding his own business, heading up to Violet City so that he could check out the Ruins of Alph. Just as he's about to step through the grass, he hears a very familiar voice and his heart sinks into his stomach.

He may be rid of his darker side but that doesn't mean his dark tendencies are gone. Much like a frightened animal (and partially out of rage), he wants to attack. Stab him with...

With what? The Rod he doesn't have on him? The Egyptian grinds his teeth, his poor Yamask sinking back on his shoulder. He's never seen his trainer angry before. He lets out a soft sound that thankfully calms the boy down.

Taking a deep breath to try and recollect himself, Marik steps out of the grass, clad in his khaki pants, black shirt, and usual jewelry. His Yamask has slid down so only the top of his head and bit of his eyes are visible from over his trainer's shoulder.

He wants to reply with "I already do" but... decides against it. Instead he just goes for glaring daggers and uttering the other duelist's name.]

Kaiba.

incoming disaster I apologize

[blue_ice]

Marik.

[ Yeah, that arm's not lowering any...but he isn't advancing. He's painfully aware that Marik has likely been in this world longer, and therefore his Pokémon are likely much stronger. That type of battle won't end well for him or Horsea.

Fortunately, he doesn't have to be quite as concerned with other fields of battle...all newcomers to this world were stripped of their powers and magical (ugh) objects disabled, right? So even if he did have the Rod, it would be useless? Still worth being a little cautious. ]

Horsea's not in fighting shape. But that doesn't mean I'm not.

[ ...Kaiba did, in fact, start the hostility. He's wondering if that was the best choice, but he can't escape in a helicopter or throw money at his problems anymore. All he has is an injured seahorse and his own claws...or, well. Tent stakes. ]

never apologize <3

[thetombkeeper]

[The grimace turns into a smirk as Kaiba realizes the spot he's in concerning the Pokémon.]

I wouldn't want to get them involved anyways.

[Chenzira, the Yamask, props himself up a bit more to look between his trainer and the newcomer. Who is this man? Why is Marik so upset? What is this dark energy...? He makes another noise, hoping to either calm that anger or.. well, he's not sure exactly sure. But it distresses him to see his trainer like this.]

Is that an invitation to a fist fight?

[The smirk curls into a dark grin and he holds out his arms, as if inviting him to try to take the first strike. A pity he doesn't have his powers or The Rod. This would be a perfect opportunity for a Shadow Game.

Which reminds him...]

Or are you feeling more civil and wish to duel?

[blue_ice]

[ Kaiba exhales, trying to release some of the tension. Horsea decides to help with this, floating over and gently curling her tail around his wrist. Wha...right. He should. Drop the stake. He does so, lowering his arm and rolling his shoulders back while Horsea makes a soft bubbling noise. ]

Duel with what? I'm not putting Blue Eyes on the dirt.

[ Does it have a hard sleeve? Yes. But it's the principle of the thing. ]

[thetombkeeper]

[Now see, he was purposely trying to bait him to see if he had his deck with him.

That's good to know.]

So you do have your deck.

[Marik slowly brings in his arms to cross them instead.]

I have a bedroll we could use but... I feel, as much as it pains me to say, we should wait until we've made it into town.

[Chenzira sighs, seeming to relax a bit. That was worrisome... He needs to keep an eye on this man to make sure he doesn't make Marik mad again.]

I propose then, a temporary truce for the time being. What do you say?

[blue_ice]

[ Seto exhales, calming a little as Horsea snuggles next to his neck. She likes to be tall, and she likes when her human isn't radiating fury. Win win.

He glances Marik over, as if assessing him...and reluctantly nods. Unfortunately, being without power and status necessitates compromise. ]

Fine. We're as far from Domino and the politics of the past as we can get.

[ Pause...and then, still fully aware that Marik has significant advantages: ]

It wasn't personal. I didn't recognize you, I've had to fend zealous trainers off all day.

Network

[heartofalioness]

Unfortunately, cannons and arrows aren't available to the general public. [Unless there's a kyūdō club in Ecruteak or something.] I take it your training for the Violet City Gym?

[Because a more experienced trainer would already have a routine down.]

[blue_ice]

Mmm. I'm told the gym challenge requires precise strategy and team harmony. We train against wild Pokémon and trainers every day, but there has to be more to it.

[ He's really uncomfortable asking for help, but...well. He desperately needs to conquer the gym challenge to open doors in this world. ]

[heartofalioness]

[A soft chuckle.]

Honestly, that's more or less it, at least for the physical side of things. Research is always useful, however; I like to go over data in the Pokédex of the Gym Leader's type specialty, and which Pokémon species have that typing. They all have unique strengths and weaknesses, and in the case of Flying, it's extremely rare to have a pure Flying type, so it's important to note how different type combinations give different resistances and vulnerabilities. And Falkner also hosts regular falconry demonstrations with his Pokémon.

Make sure to keep your Pokémon's strengths and weaknesses in mind as well. For example, when I challenged Falkner, I waited for a snowy day, since my Ice-type starter is not only a bit stronger in colder weather, but she has an Ability that makes it harder for Pokémon to hit her.

[blue_ice]

Hm. Horsea is faster in the rain...and as far as direct attacks, I have Shinx, but I'd like them both to evolve. Zubat too...he comes out to train at night, he specializes in confusion. I've mostly found grass, bug and normal types...and that's not helpful.

[heartofalioness]

Yes, they tend to be common on the first few routes. My main advice is to be patient and make sure your Pokémon are happy as well. If you're first starting out, it will take some time to reach the experience needed to evolve anyway. Pokémon will perform much better in battle when they have a strong bond with their trainer, and some evolutions are triggered by a strong enough connection.

[blue_ice]

...I'm not exactly known for being a patient man.

[ Horsea knows that. She makes a bubbly huff and flies into frame, flopping onto his shoulder as she does. He gently pats her head, mindful of the spikes.]

When did you know you were ready?