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Original trainer stories and badge order
- Thread starter icemew
- Start date
I made up my own region, but I suggest you go in order unless there's a plot twist, but the gyms shouldn't be switched around dramatically. I think that fics shouldn't be just about the badges and all, like a Ash in Pokemon copy, but there's something else going on so that the whole badge collecting thing is a side plot or one of the larger subplots. Whatever. And as much originality as you can, the order can be regular and exciting depending on how you do it, At least that's what I have to say. I don't think I was helpful...
I usually go for the custom gym leader concept, and I say if you're going down that route, then you can put it in any order you want depending on the leader's experience.
However, if you're keeping the same leaders, then going down the normal path seems the only way to go - unless you vary the experience of leaders to suit your character.
Another idea could be to have the leaders work around the experience of the trainer. I think that gym leaders could have a wide range of Pokemon, all varying in experience, and if a Trainer with say two badges came in, the leader would choose certain Pokemon to face that trainer with to work around the experience of that trainer.
It all depends on how you write it really. Though my favourite idea is the third, and would be one that I'd use personally.
However, if you're keeping the same leaders, then going down the normal path seems the only way to go - unless you vary the experience of leaders to suit your character.
Another idea could be to have the leaders work around the experience of the trainer. I think that gym leaders could have a wide range of Pokemon, all varying in experience, and if a Trainer with say two badges came in, the leader would choose certain Pokemon to face that trainer with to work around the experience of that trainer.
It all depends on how you write it really. Though my favourite idea is the third, and would be one that I'd use personally.
I use a system where gyms are assigned a level based on the strength of the leader in the games, so Pewter City is level one, Cinnabar is level seven, etc. When you challenge the gym leader, you fight them at their 'level', i.e. their pokémon are restricted to a certain numerical level demographic. However, if, at the time of challenging them, you possess badges higher than their level (i.e. you're challenging Roxanne but you already got Norman's badge), then the gym leader can use pokémon of the level group up to one higher than the highest badge you already possess. Therefore, if you had Pryce's badge at the time you challenged Morty, Morty could fight you at up to level eight--and he probably would, because if he just used his regular pokémon, he's not going to have much of a chance.
If the gym leader can't match your 'level', they can use the best pokémon that they do have, but if they're still pretty low compared to your pokémon (say, two or three levels below max), then they have the option of forfeiting and handing you the badge. Some would take the option to avoid danger to their pokémon (if the level gap was large enough), though others would fight anyway as a matter of pride. If they do fight, they aren't required to give you any sort of prize (TMs, money, etc.) aside from the badge.
If you get the eight badges from one region and move onto a new one, the gyms in the new region can require you to fight at 'level nine', but since getting to this range (say, level 60-70ish) is quite time consuming, especially for a gym leader who has to train new pokémon quite often, it's rare that they'd be able to go to higher levels. The new region's gyms would therefore be fairly uniform in level range (see Kanto in G/S). Of course, it becomes almost cheap after a while because the career trainer's same six pokémon are getting stronger all the time whereas the competition's are not, so it is often considered 'good form' to start from scratch or to pull some pokémon out of the PC that you meant to train eventually, when starting a new region.
The level range can also mean different things in different regions--for instance, Kanto's level eight seems to be around level 40-50 (Giovanni) whereas Clair's strongest pokémon is level 40, and Wallace/Juan are a little higher, 43/46. The 'fic I'm working on is set in a new region where trainers start getting badges at sixteen but can get a starter at twelve, so level one is 20-30ish rather than the 10-15 of Brock's gym.
This whole thing works for my writing because levels/stats do exist, though as a mechanical, plus-or-minus type of measurement. It mostly makes sense on the basis that something has to happen to gym leaders' pokémon when they get too strong for the level range. Gym leaders are trainers, too, so if they're training a team for tournaments or some such, it would be worth it to them to see how they fare versus a new opponent.
Wow, a little longer than I thought. xP Nice to get it straightened out on the screen, though, I guess.
Edit: Oh yeah, I didn't really reply to the question... Anyway, I've been going in the level order so far, since they're technically 'n00b' trainers and there's no reason in going to a level fifty gym when your strongest pokémon is level forty. Plus, going in order with the gyms is the easiest given the region and where they started, otherwise they'd be doing a lot of unnecessary backtracking, which would be a pain 'cause it's a big region. If they were established trainers in Kanto or something, I would probably go out of order 'cause the central gyms are kind of in a weird order geographically.
If the gym leader can't match your 'level', they can use the best pokémon that they do have, but if they're still pretty low compared to your pokémon (say, two or three levels below max), then they have the option of forfeiting and handing you the badge. Some would take the option to avoid danger to their pokémon (if the level gap was large enough), though others would fight anyway as a matter of pride. If they do fight, they aren't required to give you any sort of prize (TMs, money, etc.) aside from the badge.
If you get the eight badges from one region and move onto a new one, the gyms in the new region can require you to fight at 'level nine', but since getting to this range (say, level 60-70ish) is quite time consuming, especially for a gym leader who has to train new pokémon quite often, it's rare that they'd be able to go to higher levels. The new region's gyms would therefore be fairly uniform in level range (see Kanto in G/S). Of course, it becomes almost cheap after a while because the career trainer's same six pokémon are getting stronger all the time whereas the competition's are not, so it is often considered 'good form' to start from scratch or to pull some pokémon out of the PC that you meant to train eventually, when starting a new region.
The level range can also mean different things in different regions--for instance, Kanto's level eight seems to be around level 40-50 (Giovanni) whereas Clair's strongest pokémon is level 40, and Wallace/Juan are a little higher, 43/46. The 'fic I'm working on is set in a new region where trainers start getting badges at sixteen but can get a starter at twelve, so level one is 20-30ish rather than the 10-15 of Brock's gym.
This whole thing works for my writing because levels/stats do exist, though as a mechanical, plus-or-minus type of measurement. It mostly makes sense on the basis that something has to happen to gym leaders' pokémon when they get too strong for the level range. Gym leaders are trainers, too, so if they're training a team for tournaments or some such, it would be worth it to them to see how they fare versus a new opponent.
Wow, a little longer than I thought. xP Nice to get it straightened out on the screen, though, I guess.
Edit: Oh yeah, I didn't really reply to the question... Anyway, I've been going in the level order so far, since they're technically 'n00b' trainers and there's no reason in going to a level fifty gym when your strongest pokémon is level forty. Plus, going in order with the gyms is the easiest given the region and where they started, otherwise they'd be doing a lot of unnecessary backtracking, which would be a pain 'cause it's a big region. If they were established trainers in Kanto or something, I would probably go out of order 'cause the central gyms are kind of in a weird order geographically.
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Chibi Pika
Stay positive
Well, I came up with a system for my fic when my main character goes badge hunting, although the battles aren't actually in the fic.
What I did was have it that any trainer can challenge any gym at any time, but the way it works is that during the two or so weeks that the trainers trains there, the leader makes a note of their skills and Pokemon levels. Then, come time for a battle, they use Pokemon of a few levels higher (So gym leaders would have stores of Pokemon at levels 10, 20, 30, ect, no matter whether they're the first in the game or the last)
~Chibi~;249;<?>;rukario;
What I did was have it that any trainer can challenge any gym at any time, but the way it works is that during the two or so weeks that the trainers trains there, the leader makes a note of their skills and Pokemon levels. Then, come time for a battle, they use Pokemon of a few levels higher (So gym leaders would have stores of Pokemon at levels 10, 20, 30, ect, no matter whether they're the first in the game or the last)
~Chibi~;249;<?>;rukario;
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Well, I believe that at least in anime canon, most gym leaders have pokemon built for any type of challenger, newbie or veteran. Notice how in Johto and Hoenn, Ash always had a decent challenge waiting for him at the gyms he visited (with the exception of Wattson if you're talking about official battles, but consider looking at the later exhibition match with him instead), even though he is a pretty experienced trainer and continually got stronger as time passed.
Now, none of my fics really have much of a badge-collection sideplot (a few characters in one go on one, but the story doesn't focus on them while they're not with the main main characters) but...that is what I believe, and technically they are going in the order of the games, but I would actually suggest that you mix things up a little bit.
Why do I suggest that, even if a few of my characters are following the games, off-scene though they may be? Well, it could be fun to mix things up a bit, and it provides a slight release from the regularity of many OT journeyfics. One of my favorite fanfics went something like: Boulder, Thunder, Rainbow, Earth, Marsh, Cascade, Soul, and Volcano, and sometimes without even going to the gyms! Another really good one I read recently went something like this: Cascade, Soul, Volcano, Thunder, Marsh, Rainbow, Boulder, and Earth. As long as you can explain why a (presumably) new trainer battles (and maybe beats) a leader from later on in the anime/game storyline first, then go ahead! The sky's the limit!
Now, none of my fics really have much of a badge-collection sideplot (a few characters in one go on one, but the story doesn't focus on them while they're not with the main main characters) but...that is what I believe, and technically they are going in the order of the games, but I would actually suggest that you mix things up a little bit.
Why do I suggest that, even if a few of my characters are following the games, off-scene though they may be? Well, it could be fun to mix things up a bit, and it provides a slight release from the regularity of many OT journeyfics. One of my favorite fanfics went something like: Boulder, Thunder, Rainbow, Earth, Marsh, Cascade, Soul, and Volcano, and sometimes without even going to the gyms! Another really good one I read recently went something like this: Cascade, Soul, Volcano, Thunder, Marsh, Rainbow, Boulder, and Earth. As long as you can explain why a (presumably) new trainer battles (and maybe beats) a leader from later on in the anime/game storyline first, then go ahead! The sky's the limit!
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RaZoR LeAf
Night Terror
I'm doing them in a semi-reverse order. My character goes from Pallet to Cinnibar first, instead f Pewter. Then he makes his way around kanto backwards, doing Gyms as he goes. Some of the Gyms are different so it's not all the same, and all the gym leaders are new characters.
I wouldn't. I'd go in a strange order to begin with, and when you get to the right place, go in the correct order. Say your character originated from fortree city. He would challenge Winona, then Flannery, (reverse order) then once he beat Norman he would go to Dewford, and then to Pacifdilog (forgotten spelling). Put some twists in it, and a few custom gym leaders. As it was mentioned earlier. And maybe he would find Winona to hard, and keep going back until he found an easy one. Do something odd and uncommon. then it'll be original.
The Big Al
I just keeping Octo
Really now. Why does a trainer ALWAYS have to go after badges/ribbons. Why not live a little and think of some creative ways for trainers to live out their lives?
I'm currently in the process of writing an original trainer fic, and his badge collecting efforts (in Johto, if you're wondering) are a side-quest to the main story. As my main character originated on a small island just to the west of the country, I simply changed the order of the gyms to suit his location, so he arrived in Olivine, skipped Jasmine, went to Ecruteak, fought Morty, journeyed south to Goldenrod, fought Whitney, and is currently in Azalea. Looking back on the earlier chapters, I'm glad I went with this route, because if I had written it with the standard Falkner/Bugsy/Whitney/etc. badge quest I think that not only would I, as the writer, have become bored with basically copying the game/anime hero's quest, but so too would the readers. In my opinion, mixing up the badge order is the way to go, since it always keeps your readers guessing. It is also quite viable in the anime, since if I recall correctly in Pokemon Chronicles, Sakura showed Misty her collection of badges from both Johto and Kanto, which were in a bizarre order.
As for the gym leader strength ideas, eh, I always considered the different leaders to constantly be getting stronger. Badges are a tough prize, and I don't think they would want to give them up without playing their best. Sure, they'd throw in a couple of their weaker Pokemon in battle to train them up a bit, but overall I think they'd be mostly trying to give the challenger the battle of their life, not trying to go easy on them.
Going back to my fic, I've tried to remain true to the game rules by allowing "Anything Goes", but, as my main character has a significant type advantage over Bugsy, I've decided to give certain gyms the ability to cast their own rules in order to make it a bit more challenging for both trainers, and in order not to make it become a snooze-fest for the readers.
As for the gym leader strength ideas, eh, I always considered the different leaders to constantly be getting stronger. Badges are a tough prize, and I don't think they would want to give them up without playing their best. Sure, they'd throw in a couple of their weaker Pokemon in battle to train them up a bit, but overall I think they'd be mostly trying to give the challenger the battle of their life, not trying to go easy on them.
Going back to my fic, I've tried to remain true to the game rules by allowing "Anything Goes", but, as my main character has a significant type advantage over Bugsy, I've decided to give certain gyms the ability to cast their own rules in order to make it a bit more challenging for both trainers, and in order not to make it become a snooze-fest for the readers.
I'm currently trying to write my first fic. It takes place 15 years after the last arc in the "Manga World". So, a lot of the gym leaders are new. I have yet to decide exactly how I want the badge order to go.
I'm thinking it might go in order, but something tells me I'm gonna start in Celadon City and go on from there.
It's going to be really interesting (I hope lol).
Mostly because it's a group of three trainers. Well, one's an actual trainer, one's a coordinator, and one's training to become a gym leader. There's also a mix of a bunch of side characters that play a role in the story.
So it's going to be one huge hustle and bustle with plot twists. So most likely I'm going to start in Celadon City, then go to possibly Vermilion City, or something like that. I'm still debating. lol
I'm thinking it might go in order, but something tells me I'm gonna start in Celadon City and go on from there.
It's going to be really interesting (I hope lol).
Mostly because it's a group of three trainers. Well, one's an actual trainer, one's a coordinator, and one's training to become a gym leader. There's also a mix of a bunch of side characters that play a role in the story.
So it's going to be one huge hustle and bustle with plot twists. So most likely I'm going to start in Celadon City, then go to possibly Vermilion City, or something like that. I'm still debating. lol
Ash_Junior
Irredeemable Nerd
Haunter said:
put your gray matter to work, why don't you?
I've started one to be a trainer fic that ended up with a world-saving complex, but it started out at the point of divergence from standard fics to be just a quest to get her Sneasel healed from a near-fatal injury...
give the trainer some personal dillemma such as needing to gather certain materials for something, start a Pokemon/human band and tour, or maybe even just have them wander around looking for a boy/girlfriend....then there's always the cliche TR destruction trainer fic (I've got one in the works, lol....)
the possibilities are endless.
the only limits are your imagination and thinking that the game is the only way to go.