They are comfy and easy to wear! Let's play Pokémon Emerald!

Today's thread brought to you by the fine folks at Game Freak, the fine folks who brought us Mendel Palace, the Game Boy Camera, Drill Dozer, and little known gem of a series called Pokémon.


This installment is from the Third Generation of games, the Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald series, which introduced a handful of new features, and took out some old ones.


Of the four generations of games though, I'd say that R/S/E are probably among my least favorite. A lot of the new species introduced never really appealed much to me, Hoenn wasn't exactly an exciting place, and I really disliked the starter set they offered, especially as they evolved.


Not that that really matters for this LP, but I'll get around to that later. Here's the first of the Legendaries for this generation, Groudon.


And here's Cloverfield! I mean, Kyogre.

And on clear evening that suddenly cloud up, you too may be lucky enough to see the final Legendary...


Rayquaza!


I don't think I want to live in Hoenn, actually. The threat of giant dragons in the sky just showing up like that would be too much for me. Clearly the Pokémon world is scarier than all of its media makes it out to be.


My name is Birch. But everyone calls me the Pokémon Professor.

This is a slight nitpick, but just how many of these guys are there? Elm, Birch, Oak.... Do they just hand out Pokémon doctorates to every guy with a tree themed name? Because if so, I believe a name change is in order.


Awww, Birch has a Lotad!

The world is widely inhabited by creatures known as Pokémon. We humans live alongside Pokémon, sometimes as friendly playmates, and at times as cooperative workmates. And sometimes, we band together and battle others like us. But despite our closeness, we don't know everything about Pokémon. In fact, there are many, many secretes surrounding Pokémon. To unravel Pokémon mysteries, I've been undertaking research.

That's what I do. And you are...?

And now it's time for the first three major choices of the thread folks! I'm sure this is the very moment you've been waiting for.


First, we have to decide on our sex. While this is purely cosmetic, I'd say it's a pretty nice choice. And at least they look better than the sprites offered for Fire Red and Leaf Green. Nowhere near as cool as Ocelot though.


After that, we need a name. Are we PANTS?


No, no we are not. Think of a different name. Please. It could be SHORTS for all I care, but no PANTS.

And finally, the third choice. Now, this is where I would usually offer between the three normal starters (Mudkip, Treecko, and Torchic), but I'm going to be frank, I'm bored of that. I dislike the Fire Water Grass starter system Pokémon games have gotten themselves into. It was great once or twice, but how about a little variety? There are a lot of other different types that could get some loving. Like bug types. Or flying types. Or that whole Dark and Steel thing they introduced in the Second Generation.

So instead, I offer you this. Choose a completely different pokémon. Choose one you haven't seen much of. One of your favorites that isn't over powered. Choose one to screw me over if you so please, I'm leaving my early game to you folks. There are a few stipulations, however.

1. No legendaries (Birds, Beasts, or otherwise)
2. No ghost or dragon types
3. No fire/grass/water types

The first two are just to prevent overpowering the game, and the last is to see some types that just don't get used. Want to stick me with a Farfetch'd (Oh please god yes, stick me with a Farfetch'd), go ahead! Would you rather see Mareep get some love? That's fine too! You've got all of Bulbapedia and Serebii.net at your disposal, so choose well! Farfetch'd!

The thing'll also need a nickname. And while I'm at it, if you want any game mechanics explained, ask here and I'll make sure to cover it at some point during the play through. I'll try to cover as many as I can, especially the EV system, but I may forget one or two along the way.

So have at!

EDIT: Here's where the choices stand, as of Friday at 2:41 PM EST:

Protagonist - Girl, Maple (5) or Willow (1). Either way, it looks like we're going to be setting world of Pokémon Professoring ablaze with our complete lack of male parts. Glass ceiling, here we come!

Pokémon - A note before I begin, however. Some of you (PappillonReel, Shivam) chose Water/Fire types, which is clearly not allowed according to rule 3. Shedinja is also partially a ghost type, so it's disqualified as well. Sorry! But you can choose again!

Secondly, I know that there are a lot of choices, and there are some really hard ones to make. If it helps your choice at all, I'm putting extra weight behind those Pokémon who can't be caught in Emerald at all. I intend to catch as many as I can, so we can build a team of those later. If enough people vote for one we can catch, then I will start with them. And if your vote doesn't get in, don't worry! I have other plans!

No need for the list anymore, thanks for voting.

Please pick the girl, because the boy is wearing baggy shorts over black jeans and that is too stupid to deal with.

Also, for your starter please get a Mr. Mime.

Pick the girl.

I'd say that I want to see Zangoose, but he's not in Emerald, is he? Frown.

The reason Game Freak goes with the Fire/Water/Grass triad to start, as I discovered when I first tried to make my own Pokemon game (don't ask), is because they cycle. Very few of the other types in the game Rock/Paper/Scissors against each other so well.

Zangoose is from 3rd Gen, and he isn't catchable, which is a bonus.

For the record, I found a hack that allows me to substitute any pokemon in. It doesn't matter if it was obtainable or not, it can be thrown into one of the original pokéballs. So the field is completely open as far as species goes.

I say go with a girl, looks better than the Naruto reject. Um, can't think of any names... uh, Skirt maybe, to go with the whole Pants thing that people like so much?

And maybe an Eevee for the starter, if it's not overpowered or anything? I haven't played Pokemon since like Pokemon blue on the gameboy so I don't know what's uber powerful, since Psychic seemed to be the dominant type in Blue.

Girl named Maple. Let's get that degree!

Here are some types that also Rock/Paper/Scissors quite well:

* Flying->Fighting->Rock
* Flying->Ground->Rock
* Flying->Ground->Electric
* Psychic->Fighting->Dark
* Ice->Grass->Rock
* Ice->Ground->Steel

Some of these lack the features of Fire->Grass->Water, though: three super-effectives in one direction, and three ineffectives in the other.


As for a Pokémon choice...

* Beldum
Pro - Steel type! Psychic type! Evolves twice! Evolves quickly!
Con - Your only move is Take Down until level 20.

* Eevee
Pro - Evolves in five directions, whatever your choice!
Con - Your only damaging move is Tackle until level 23 or evolution.

* Ralts
Pro - Gets Confusion at level 6. Evolves twice!
Con - Quite frail. Next damaging move is Psychic at level 26 as Kirlia.

* Machop
Pro - Starts with Low Kick and learns Karate Chop quickly. Evolves twice!
Con - Commonplace. Third evolution requries trading.

* Anorith
Pro - Fossil: get this and Lileep in the same file! Rare Bug/Rock types.
Con - Only damaging attack is Scratch until level 19.

I like your forward-thinking-ness.

Also: Charmander if you can, plzkthx.

I can't narrow it down to just one, so I suggest Porygon, Delibird, Koffing, or Tyrogue for your starter. Also, you must catch a Shroomish, I love his face. |:<
Yea, it's the easy way out. I think they could do it with Psychic, Fighting and Dark though. What I really want is a pokemon game where you start with Eevee. But I guess they'd have to give you the evolution stones pretty early on to prevent it from getting too high and missing some good early moves from the evolutions, right?
This.

Break that emerald ceiling!

The "No Ghosts" rule eliminates my favorite Pokemon. And his previous forms.

So I'm going to second Tyrogue. It'll be exciting to find out which of the three he'll turn into! And he's not normally available in Emerald. And he only naturally has Tackle until level 20. Tyrogue is hardcore.

I don't suppose it's possible for this and the other Pokemon LP to do battle somewhere down the line? I doubt it but damn that'd be neat.

Not via the roms, but they could use their final team in the Netbattle thingy and fight each other like that.

Mary had a little lamb!

...that is, you should pick the girl and give her a Mareep. :3

Speaking of :3, Castform would work. It's several types rolled up in one!

Go for Lickitung, he's the best!

I agree with maple girl, and i want to see poliwhirl.

WOBUFFET!

I can't even imagine how weird that would make the beginning of the game, but I want to find out. Also, he's basically my favorite outside of the Eevee and Vulpix lines, you understand.

Guys, guys, this is obvious...

If it's a girl, call her "Willow".

See?

Farfetch'd is one of my all time favorites, so I vote that you keep him around. I LOVE Farfetch'd.

the correct answer is and always has been Luvdisc.

Spoink is the other correct answer.

This is all that needs to be said.

Take a Ditto, that way you can have all of them at once.

I'm a forward thinker.

I'll have to say Maple. Not because I get the reference- I don't- but it fits!

As for the pokemon...uh, you REALLY need to start narrowing it down. There's about 30 correct answers at the very least. Wobbuffet sounds fun, even if it makes the game really, really weird.

Also, if you pick Tyrogue, don't try to guide it's evolution. Otherwise there's no fun in it!

I am a cruel, cruel man, so I say Shedinja.

On the plus side, unless it gets hit by something Super-Effective against bugs, it's indestructible.

On the downside, Bugs are vulnerable to a lot, and Shedinja's got crap-all for moves and stats.

Also: Maple.

Shedinja is yes.

Be aware that if this was Gen 4, I would so be making you use a male Combee.

Hiya!

New to the forums, entered because of Let's Play and just HAD to post here!

I agree that we should start focusing... So agreed to Maple girl and Shedinja - though I really think you should start with a Nincada and get both Ninjask AND Shedinja... I'm just a bug fan (played silver and sapphire in mono-bug challenges.. Good times!)

But you know what would be the coolest? Smeargle. Like, you'd REALLY have to be picky on which attacks he would Sketch...

Also: About the rock-paper-scissors starters... Dark is stronger in a psychic-fighting-dark, since it's immune (not just resistant) to psychic. The only other "tryad" that functions exactly like the grass-fire-water one is flying-fighting-rock. It doesn't work as well as it seems, since no pokémon is purely flying type: A normal/flying would lose its resistance to fighting, and any other type would tend to override the flying type in importance...

Sorry. Getting carried away. Back to the game!

Poison->Grass->Ground!

So sad! ;_;

I'm gonna say you should start with a Nosepass.