Haha, I think you were referencing me, Clare. And I stick to my guns! Yes, if there is a plot-important reason that the starter Pokemon needs to be a Charmander, then go for it. But 99% of the time I feel that it just reflects the author's immaturity (I want my trainer to have this super cool/cute Pokemon that everyone in my class likes!!) rather than an intellectual decision.
I'm going to be honest. There are times when I'm a masochist and head on over to ff.net to attempt to look for a nice journey 'fic to read. I've been doing this for nearly a decade, guys. If the main character starts with a Charmander or an Eevee, I'm almost always out of there. Why? Because punishment is an effective learning technique. The amount of bad journey 'fic that features a trainer with an overused Pokemon, versus those that don't, is wildly skewed. I have learned from the pain. I've read the first chapter of probably well over 10,000 journey 'fics throughout many websites, and good lord, I am tired of it.
Any 'fic that starts with an overused or rare Pokemon has to be written really damn well for me to care. Mind you, this only applies to OT 'fics- coincidentally, the only ones I read. As far a Pokemon-centric stories or what-have-you, then go for it!
Wrong ways to give your trainer a damn Charmander or Eevee or Dratini:
- Starting with Charmander WHEN THE TRAINER IS NOT EVEN IN KANTO LOL. What justifies this?
- When your trainer gets a Dratini and everyone else gets either the regular starters or else some beginning bird or bug. It's immature. Though TBH, everyone getting Dratinis and Larvitars is almost as bad, but in a different way (that makes it okay for him to have a Dratini, right!?).
- HEY GUYS SOMEBODY ABANDONED THIS REALLY RARE POKEMON AND IT LOVES ME FOR SOME REASON. (God, this is so bad.)
- And along the same line, but EVEN WORSE:
TRAINER: Nurse Joy, I found this hurt Pokemon!!
NURSE JOY: Oh, no! It must have been abused/in bad weather/had a bad case of the runs! You should take it!
TRAINER: Wha? I don't know how to take care of an injured creature. Doesn't it need proper care and rehabilitation and-
NURSE JOY: NO. It needs love, and only you, TRAINER, can provide that.
TRAINER: ... But that doesn't make any sense. How do you even know I'm a good trainer? For all you know, I could have hurt it! This is a Pokemon Center, and I'm TEN, and I'm sure tons of more experienced trainers would love a rare Pokemon like-
NURSE JOY: I WILL KILL IT IF YOU DON'T TAKE IT.
TRAINER: Okay.
Slightly better ways to give your trainer a damn Charmander or Eevee or Dratini
- What!? Professor/Mom/Stranger in Dark Alley, all you have is a Charmander!? But I wanted a Bulbasaur! I want to be a grass-type gym leader, and I hate reptiles AND fire! UGHH.
At least more interesting, if still stupid. I wonder why I've never seen this?
- HAHA I STOLE AN EEVEE FROM THAT RICH B**** DOWN THE STREET. What? It hates me, and won't fight for me? Crap.
Hey, at least it makes sense and, again, is more interesting.
- ... Thinking of a different way to have Dratini as a starter... erm.. TBA.
These are the reasons that overused Pokemon are not okay. Perhaps to the very experienced and established writer (which I do not claim to be), but otherwise, leave it alone. To reiterate: If there is a reason your character needs to have a specific overused Pokemon, then okay. If not, then... you're a writer, right? Try to be creative, for the sake of those of us who have been reading 'fics since the RBY era?