Zen

So, the three of us seem to be a magnet for crass comments on PO, which frankly doesn't bother us (oh look, a magneton pun!) But anyway, since we've come to Christmas and soon the New Year, maybe it's time to count ourselves lucky that Reborn's always been a tolerant community, and to perhaps make it a resolution to keep it that way While you people on Reborn have always been polite and civilized, I came across this old video, and felt that it may be good to help everyone here remember why Reborn has survived as it has. The video did bring to mind the frequent 'speak English or leave' nonsense on other servers, and the fact that people who speak various languages still can coexist peacefully in this community. The video below was a Chinese New Year advertisement by the late Yasmin Ahmad, a rather gifted Malaysian director. It is about filial piety, and is entirely filmed in the Chinese dialect of Hokkien. Just take a look at the comments, and while Reborn's stance on proper English is good, keep in mind that other languages can have a beauty within them too Have yourself a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year

So many crits XD (and here Ian is bemoaning the death of his poor marshtomp, who got killed in a Nuzlocke when a wingull crit on him with Water Gun. A wingull!)

And now, we have officially created a joint Trainer Card... so in a way, that's how we look like Zack won dibs on the hair, Ian got the boots, and Fen got the jeans. All three of us seem to have a fondness for sleeveless outfits, so the tank stayed. ... choosing the six pokemon and their moves was much harder since we all monotype, alas! So we settled on a mixed team of bronzong, tyranitar, nidoking, gastrodon, cradily, and garchomp. A decent mix of all our usual favorites

My little [s]troll[/s] darling. Quagsire (M) @ Leftovers Trait: Unaware EVs: 240 Atk / 96 Def / 172 SDef Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk) - Rock Slide/Waterfall - Toxic - Stockpile - Substitute Rock Slide since it was from a ground team, but you could put anything there, really. I just wouldn't recommend Earthquake thanks to all those bastard skarmory and gliscor out there Substitute's main purpose is to prevent [s]the troll[/s] quagsire from being poisoned or burned, really. Plus, he can't poison gengar, so having a sponge for those Energy Balls would be handy.

I tend to name my pokemon after cartoon characters if I name them at all. Zack tends to use optical, medical, and pharmaceutical terminology. Ian uses names from his favorite books.

I SAW DISTANT WORLDS MUSIC *is happy* But for me... I guess this is sort of my theme song. [spoiler][media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3D0KW6sJp4[/media][/spoiler] And for the other two heads of Reborn's resident dodrio, they seem to be fond of this one. [spoiler][url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnGnJWKyBak"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnGnJWKyBak[/url][/spoiler]

[quote name='Owen V. Seattle' timestamp='1321732107' post='20979'] I hear you. One of things I just can not stand is when people STILL chat speak on places where you can (and indeed should) use proper grammer. Sometimes I find myself facepalming to a friends FB post just because of that. [/quote] Chat-speak isn't the scary bit compared to the ghostwriting, though

Shade looks like he has been facehugged and the chestburster is coming out.

Nat a.k.a. MasterShaper once mentioned that the Reborn community was rather concerned about values that society nowadays may regards as obsolete, such as sportsmanship, courtesy, etc. Hence, this little post of mine is intended to bring to your attention something rather disturbing (if you weren't already aware of it, that is). So, I was reading this month's Reader's Digest, and came across this article: [url="http://chronicle.com/article/The-Shadow-Scholar/125329/"]http://chronicle.com/article/The-Shadow-Scholar/125329/[/url] Apparently, RD reprinted it. But that's not the main point here. Now, I'm not going to claim to be a master of the English language, and neither are the other two guys who are behind this joint account. But we do get along somewhat fluently in both written and spoken English, despite it not being our mother tongues (all three of us are Chinese, and it's four if you count MasterShaper). So... just to raise awareness regarding this - I repeat, if it isn't already common knowledge - and to hopefully encourage the usage of proper language on the forums instead of that banal SMS/texting language. Not having a perfect grasp of English is acceptable since no one is perfect, but paying someone to write and edit essays for you? A doctoral thesis? Something is seriously screwed up in that equation. What makes me sad about this is that the ghostwriter even wrote theses for pharmacology. [i]Pharmacology![/i] Good god, we could be having pharmacists out there who wouldn't know nuts about whatever medications they're being asked to dispense! As someone whose undergraduate studies have involved a brief foray into pharmacology and biochemistry, I find this particular point to be most unsettling. Reborn's already among the best of the online leagues, so maybe it as a community should also strive to set an example for the high school members with regards to language skills Just as a possible deterrent for what the article described. I don't think I should bring up the non-linguistic reasons for why students resort to ghostwriting - I fear I might end up in a flame war with some of the high school members around here if I did (I might be stereotyping, but no offence intended, since my general opinion of high schoolers has sadly deteriorated even though it's only been four years since I graduated from high school, myself - had some jarring experiences with the present batches in several different schools). Sorry if the post was lengthy, but I feel this may be relevant to the community - at least, from a people's perspective.

Onix seems to be the sledgehammer of your team - Crasher Wake, Maylene, and Byron may be possible problems

... I highly doubt that dear old Dr. Connal would like to have a word with me XD He'd most likely call for the lorazepam before five minutes were up LOL

STEEL <3 So, I'm guessing you'll be going for empoleon, steelix, bronzong, lucario, magnezone, and scizor? Seems like a reasonable team to have on Platinum, given the gyms and league system. Skarmory's your only option for flight, though. Otherwise, nothing much else in the way of steel save for maybe probopass, bastiodon, and aggron (which needs that damned Poke Radar to get caught).

Eh, my luck with Cross Chop is horrible - I'd take the consistent hits over increased damage with the higher miss probability. Also, Brick Break's handy in doubles/triples to smash through screens. And my electivire has a Sash! So one Discharge would normally be enough to get him sped up

So, I decided that actually using an entire turn to set up Trick Room, Tailwind, or whatnot was getting old. And that was how this team came to be A triples team that gets speed boosts, but which can also dish out some decent damage. --- Zebstrika (M) @ Air Balloon Trait: Motor Drive EVs: 255 Atk / 112 Def / 140 Spd Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk) - Wild Charge - Flame Charge - Quick Attack - Double Kick --- Rotom-W @ Choice Scarf Trait: Levitate EVs: 40 Def / 180 SAtk / 32 SDef / 255 Spd Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk) - Discharge - Hydro Pump - Will-O-Wisp - Trick --- Electivire (M) @ Focus Sash Trait: Motor Drive EVs: 112 Atk / 140 Def / 255 Spd Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk) - ThunderPunch - Earthquake - Ice Punch - Brick Break --- Galvantula (M) @ Life Orb Trait: Compoundeyes EVs: 255 SAtk / 255 Spd Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk) - Thunder - Energy Ball - Hidden Power [Ice] - Sucker Punch --- Follicle (Lanturn) (F) @ Air Balloon Trait: Volt Absorb EVs: 255 Def / 255 SAtk Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk) - Thunder/Discharge - Surf - Ice Beam - Rain Dance --- Manectric (F) @ Lum Berry Trait: Lightningrod EVs: 116 Def / 136 SAtk / 255 Spd Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk) - Thunderbolt - Flamethrower - Quick Attack - Thunder Wave --- So, the basic concept involves spamming Discharge and Motor Drive to really accelerate the pain. Electivire can handle ground-types, and zebstrika can deal with ferrothorn. Paralysis due to Discharge may also be painful, but only galvantula's vulnerable to that. Otherwise, manectric's meant for cleanup work once all the Motor Drive burns out.

Well I decided that it was time to try and make a grass team that went for being slow instead of the usual Chlorophyll! Well, it's not as hard-hitting as the usual grass teams, but is probably random enough to get away with some damage before the opponents can counter them. And yes, it's one more triples team that probably won't see much sunlight. --- Whimsicott (M) @ Leftovers Trait: Prankster EVs: 255 Def / 255 SDef Sassy Nature (+SDef, -Spd) - Leech Seed - Encore - Taunt - Trick Room --- Torterra (M) @ Yache Berry Trait: Shell Armor EVs: 116 Atk / 136 Def / 255 SDef Sassy Nature (+SDef, -Spd) - Rock Slide - Wood Hammer - Curse - Wide Guard --- Cradily (M) @ Leftovers Trait: Storm Drain EVs: 255 Def / 255 SDef Sassy Nature (+SDef, -Spd) - Rock Slide - Earthquake - Curse - Sandstorm --- Exeggutor (M) @ Sitrus Berry Trait: Harvest EVs: 136 Def / 160 SAtk / 212 SDef Sassy Nature (+SDef, -Spd) - Giga Drain - Psyshock - Hidden Power [Fire] - Trick Room --- Ferrothorn (M) @ Leftovers Trait: Iron Barbs EVs: 255 Def / 255 SDef Sassy Nature (+SDef, -Spd) - Power Whip - Gyro Ball - Sandstorm - Leech Seed --- Amoonguss (M) @ Black Sludge Trait: Effect Spore EVs: 172 Def / 160 SAtk / 176 SDef Relaxed Nature (+Def, -Spd) - Clear Smog - Giga Drain - Hidden Power [Ice] - Spore --- Was debating the merits of Rage Powder on amoonguss, but... decided against it. No point drawing fire when the rest of the team is really that slow. Plus, torterra with Wide Guard offers better protection against Blizzard in triples, or Dark Void. If you wanted to, though, you could still run Rage Powder amoonguss in the middle to get the Trick Room set up. Grass is DEFINITELY better when it runs speed instead of the slow version, though.

Flying definitely has versatility.

This might be very difficult to program, but what about doing something like the National Pokedex? As in, have double the number of leaders (16), but some only become available after you beat the league (which could be drafted out of former leaders). If you wanted to incorporate the former leaders, then maybe dump them in the battle tower?

@ Owen - At last count, I had maybe thirteen Trick Room teams... Between Zack and Fen, there are probably about ten more? @ Mashew - I'll admit that those Beat Up terrakion are a problem... The version of this team that uses a legendary has *some* defense against terrakion's Rock Slide of death, though.

[quote name='Vandaeron' timestamp='1320022284' post='20438'] I argue that not augmenting Chandelure's far above average defenses by improving its bad HP is a fatal mistake, and that giving it 252 HP may well alleviate its inability to survive an Earthquake all on its own, as well as the multiple other types it's weak to. It is more sound to think of this pokemon as a faster, special Dusknoir that needs to compensate on defense, than a bulkier, special Arcanine that needs to compensate on speed. [/quote] Reasonable. However, I myself dislike the concept of a scarfed chandelure - wasting away on its versatility, if you ask me. So I prefer to try and eliminate some of its weaknesses altogether, by using Balloons or Skill Swap.

Everyone's used to the normal-types being... well, normal. So I tried this one out, and surprise, surprise - these buggers get a significant amount of bulk without the need to invest in speed. --- Kecleon (M) @ Chople Berry Trait: Color Change EVs: 255 Atk / 255 Def Brave Nature (+Atk, -Spd) - Ice Punch - Brick Break - Shadow Claw - Trick Room --- Exploud (M) @ Chople Berry Trait: Scrappy EVs: 132 Def / 255 SAtk / 120 SDef Quiet Nature (+SAtk, -Spd) - Hyper Voice - Flamethrower - Ice Beam - Extrasensory --- Girafarig (M) @ Lum Berry Trait: Inner Focus EVs: 132 Def / 255 SAtk / 120 SDef Quiet Nature (+SAtk, -Spd) - Psyshock - Shadow Ball - Thunderbolt - Trick Room --- Snorlax (M) @ Chesto Berry Trait: Immunity EVs: 255 Def / 255 SDef Relaxed Nature (+Def, -Spd) - Rock Slide - Rest - Amnesia - Curse --- Ursaring (M) @ Toxic Orb Trait: Guts EVs: 255 Atk / 116 Def / 136 SDef Brave Nature (+Atk, -Spd) - Facade - Crunch - Close Combat - Fire Punch --- Audino (F) @ Leftovers Trait: Regenerator EVs: 255 Def / 255 SDef Quiet Nature (+SAtk, -Spd) - Heal Bell - Encore - Toxic - Trick Room --- The audino's a backup TR piece, but I do have this one in reserve should I change my mind. Spinda (M) @ Life Orb Trait: Own Tempo EVs: 156 Atk / 176 Def / 176 SDef Brave Nature (+Atk, -Spd) - Zen Headbutt - Mimic - Hypnosis - Trick Room Originally meant as a joke, but I've gained a healthy respect for the spinda LOL

If you wanted a backup TR piece, you could break the Ground monotype, or use an Eviolite baltoy, I guess.

As another member tends to say, welcome, and please leave your sanity at the door. LOL

So, the use of Wide Guard to block friendly fire due to Earthquake is pretty common... play a twist on it? Note that this isn't a particularly versatile strategy - it's merely designed to take out flying types and Levitating opponents, in addition to the usual self-immunity granted by Wide Guard. --- Gloria (Hippowdon) (F) @ Leftovers Trait: Sand Stream EVs: 255 Atk / 255 SDef Sassy Nature (+SDef, -Spd) - Earthquake - Ice Fang - Fire Fang - Rock Slide --- Swampert (M) @ Rindo Berry Trait: Torrent EVs: 156 Atk / 176 Def / 176 SDef Brave Nature (+Atk, -Spd) - Waterfall - Rock Slide - Hammer Arm - Wide Guard --- Claydol @ Leftovers Trait: Levitate EVs: 255 Atk / 128 Def / 124 SDef Relaxed Nature (+Def, -Spd) - Earthquake - Rock Slide - Gravity - Trick Room --- And the rest of the team consists of: --- Dugtrio (M) @ Life Orb Trait: Arena Trap EVs: 255 Atk / 196 Def / 56 SDef Brave Nature (+Atk, -Spd) - Earthquake - Rock Slide - Aerial Ace - Sucker Punch --- Rhyperior (M) @ Passho Berry Trait: Solid Rock EVs: 255 Def / 255 SDef Brave Nature (+Atk, -Spd) - Rock Slide - ThunderPunch - Fire Punch - Sandstorm --- Torterra (M) @ Yache Berry Trait: Overgrow EVs: 96 Def / 252 SAtk / 160 SDef Sassy Nature (+SDef, -Spd) - Giga Drain - Leech Seed - Toxic - Wide Guard --- Basically, just designed to use Trick Room, along with whatever goodness there is to be found in abusing Wide Guard and Earthquake. Rhyperior provides the option of manual Sandstorm in case the opposition gets smart and tries to bring in a politoed or ninetales in the second turn (no need to keep swapping hippowdon in and out). A major problem would be the multi-turn nature of the setup, but it's probably a strange enough strategy that no one will expect it.

No more battle logs? Alas, were hoping to see how the league battles unfolded, since the three of us are rarely online during league hours

Hmm, swapping gengar out after the Skill Swap's an option, since so many ghosts can Levitate Otherwise, Substitute does sound like a viable option, too ... Earthquake's always a problem XD