Well, sorry to tell you this, but all of their emblems have the same - southern - part coloured in.
Well, sorry to tell you this, hydro, but their emblems have the NORTHERN part colored in. Not South.
Well, sorry to tell you this, but all of their emblems have the same - southern - part coloured in.
But he is the first prominent character with ink, no?
I still don't think Sophocles is on Akala island. There is nothing on Akala island that looks like it could be a research facility. I think it is more likely that Sophocles is on Ula Ula island inside the observatory. He will probably be the first trial captain you face on Ula Ula island as well. Although having 16 trial captains sounds awesome, I just can't picture there being 4 trial captains on MeleMele island and Poni island. The another reason I don't think there are 16 trial captains is because in the Team Skull reveal trailer you fight Guzma at around level 30. I can't imagine our Pokémon only being around level 30 after fighting 8 Totem Pokémon and 2 Kahunas. I think it would be more reasonable to have 1-2 trial captain on MeleMele island, 3 trial captains on Akala island, 3-4 trail captains on Ula Ula island, and 1-3 trial captains on Poni island.
I think 16 trial captains (4 in each island) is way too much.
My guess we'll only have 10 trial captains:
1 captain/trial in Poni
2 captains/trials in Mele-Mele
3 captains/trials in Akala
4 captains/trials in Ula-Ula
Being Level 30 at is what is approximately half way through the game seems perfectly reasonable if you ask me. And as for the research facility Sophocles could be hold up in, I'll link a picture for reference:
Look at the building at the base of the volcano with the rounded roof and two rectangular pools in front of it. Notice the little enclosed glass balcony coming off of it? My guess is that's Soph's workspace.
Being at level 30 halfway through the game isn't the problem. It is the amount of battles the player has to go through to reach the halfway point. It feels like the level curve of the challenges will be too flat. If after 4 gym battles the player's party is around level 30, then obviously the level curve would be flatter if you go through 8 Totem Pokémon and 2 Kahuna battles.
The building at the base of the volcano could be a research facility, but it looks more like some kind of contest hall. Even if it was a research facility it wouldn't have a connection to space unlike Sophocles's lab. His lab has starry curtains as well as a giant rock, most likely a meteor given the game's theme. This would point toward a connection to space and the most suitable place to research space is at an observatory. There is more evidence pointing toward Sophocles being in the observatory than on Akala island.
Except that the Trials won't necessarily include battling, with the obvious exception of the Totem Pokemon. Still, that's only one guaranteed battle per Trial, which isn't much, and there's no telling how much battling there will be in between trials. It could be that most Trainer battles are optional or avoidable. Honestly, it's hard to say, but at this juncture I don't think that the level curve is falling flat. You really do need to keep in mind that 1 Trial is not necessarily equivalent to 1 Gym, and that the time/experience gained in-between Trials is an unknown.
As for good ole' Soph, the observatory would be a good place for him, no doubt. I was just pointing out a good spot for him on Akala, since you said you thought there wasn't anywhere that you thought would be his research facility there.
But he is the first prominent character with ink, no?
Being at level 30 halfway through the game isn't the problem. It is the amount of battles the player has to go through to reach the halfway point. It feels like the level curve of the challenges will be too flat. If after 4 gym battles the player's party is around level 30, then obviously the level curve would be flatter if you go through 8 Totem Pokémon and 2 Kahuna battles.
Nah, I believe Spenser in Emerald would hold that feat.
Matt's markings on his face and chest in ORAS could also be tattoos, but they're more ambiguous.
I think a lot of people are overemphasizing the Totem Pokémon Battles. One stronger critter with a boost to a stat and a few minions doesn't equate to the exp. you get from a gym, which typically involves multiple trainer battles (which means higher exp).
Matt's blue markings on the face could be his hair, while the white'ish Team Aqua logo could just be the result of giant Team Aqua-shaped tanline.. We've seen it before with Marlon.. xD
Don't see why we wouldn't get EXP from them, they're still Pokémon you battle, after all.Totem pokemon seems to be some kind of boss pokemon in the trial that is not captureable. At least we get experience from defeating them (hopefully).
Don't see why we wouldn't get EXP from them, they're still Pokémon you battle, after all.