Test Drive Meme - January & February edition

[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

Mandy Ramirez | Original

[cmonandslam]

Jump in with both feet (Route 30)
[Maybe suddenly finding oneself in another world and then spending several days on the road, on foot, in the winter would be enough to put most people in a sour mood. And ok, Mandy's not exactly thrilled to find herself in this situation.

On the other hand, she's gone native remarkably quickly, if the way that she reaches for a pokeball as soon as she spots another traveler is any indication. She grins, tossing the ball idly.]

Hey. You up for a quick battle?

Homework (Network, video)
[The camera seems to be propped up on the desk in a small motel room, with Mandy imperfectly in frame. Also visible - barely - is her trainer handbook sitting open, and a pad of cheap notepaper with a chaotic tangle of writing and arrows that seems to be an attempt to chart out type strengths and weaknesses.

In the background, a klefki happily sorts and reorganizes its collection of keys on the motel's ugly bedspread.]

Holy shit, the metagame here is intense.

[She doesn't sound discouraged - if anything, she seems kind of stoked. She taps her pen against her notes as if for emphasis.]

They expect ten-year-olds to balance this stuff? Eighteen types! All of them with multiple weaknesses and resistances!

Sidequest (Ruins of Alph)
Oh, come on.

[In the path just outside the entrance to the main ruins, Mandy's klefi bobs near the ground. Mandy herself is crouching to get on eye level with the pokemon, elbows propped on her folded knees. She is fully in the way of anyone else trying to pass through and she is also fully focused on her pokemon.]

It's not that spooky! You're a big strong keyring. Either buck up or get in your pokeball, bud.

Video

[dreamsofahero]

Oh, it's not that hard to get the hang of. Just start with learning the strengths and weaknesses of your starter, and work from there.

Re: Video

[cmonandslam]

[Mandy grins, propping her chin in her hand.] Hey, did I say I was worried? I'm new here, but I ain't exactly a novice at competitive monster battling.

It's just the system back home's a lot simpler, that's all.

Re: Video

[dreamsofahero]

Well, you were wondering how young trainers manage it, were you not? And I believe the answer is simply learning one type at a time. The way the Indigo League gyms are set up seems to facilitate this, as well.

[cmonandslam]

[She pauses a moment, obviously thinking this over, and then shrugs.]

I guess it's prob'ly simpler getting started with a single-typed partner, too, huh. Jangle's got a list of resistances as long as my arm.

[dreamsofahero]

That does tend to help, yes. What kind of Pokemon is yours?

[cmonandslam]

He's a Klefki - fairy and steel types. [Realizing belatedly that he's being talked about, the pokemon comes bobbing over to see what's going on, and Mandy runs a finger across the collection of keys, setting them briefly jingling.] Weird little dude, but I let him hold my keys and we seem to be getting along ok.

[dreamsofahero]

Ah, yes, two outright immunities and quite a number of resistances.

*yes, he knows them, no, he's not going to list them all off*

That's good to hear that you're getting along so far. I take it you recently arrived here?

[cmonandslam]

A few days, yeah. Great time of year for it, huh?

[dreamsofahero]

Quite; you have my deepest sympathies.

[cmonandslam]

[Sigh.] At least Jangle's easy to feed. The Pokedex says he absorbs metal ions by interacting with objects, and other than post-battle meds, he doesn't seem to want much beyond that.

[dreamsofahero]

That's certainly helpful, yes, though if you choose to even Pokémon like that can often still consume treats specifically designed for them.

Though, have you made it as far as Cherrygrove City yet? There's little enough in the way of supplies in New Bark Town, but once you've reached Cherrygrove there's more opportunity to better prepare for travel.

[cmonandslam]

Yeah, we're stopped in Cherrygrove right now.

Any tips on what's important to stock up on? I'm a little edgy about running through my cash before I get myself established.

[dreamsofahero]

Depending on how confident your are in your foraging skills, food designed for travel is good to have plenty of. Given the time of year, you'll also want both a warm enough sleep bag or tent for sleeping, and likely a heat source or a means to create one as well.

That said, it takes most people at least a week or so to make the trip to Violet city on foot, so you don't want to pack so much that it will slow you down, either.

[cmonandslam]

And I bet it's more of that nature path crap, so no chance of hitchhiking?

[dreamsofahero]

Indeed. Should you catch a Pokémon you can ride, that would be an option, however.

[cmonandslam]

I'll keep an eye out for something like that, then. [There's just a bit of melancholy that breaks through her bravado, there; she shakes it off quickly.] Hey, thanks for the advice. I appreciate it.

[dreamsofahero]

*Sion notices that, but doesn't comment on it*

You're quite welcome. Is there anything else you'd like to know?