Starter Pokémon

[Quote]

Originally Posted by XanderO

Froakie is the best starter for Gen 6! XD

[awesome image]

Y'beat me to it.

Geez, that comic just about sums up how we're all going to feel when they release the starter evolutions.

I personally prefer Fennekin for the looks right now, but that isn't taking into account stats and whatnot.

I've been entertaining the prospect of a fourth starter, and I think they might be able to pull it off, whether it's a Pikachu-like Pokemon or a normal-type that has no weakness but no strength against the other starters...

Just me tossing an idea around. What do you think?

[Twilight Sky]

Originally Posted by Quote

Y'beat me to it.

Geez, that comic just about sums up how we're all going to feel when they release the starter evolutions.

I personally prefer Fennekin for the looks right now, but that isn't taking into account stats and whatnot.

I've been entertaining the prospect of a fourth starter, and I think they might be able to pull it off, whether it's a Pikachu-like Pokemon or a normal-type that has no weakness but no strength against the other starters...

Just me tossing an idea around. What do you think?

Interesting on paper, but my question lies within how it would work out if it was applied to the games, in which my guess would be: not very well. XD

It would help for the indecisive(sort of) person, who has a fourth option to choose of the three don't really suffice any, and having neutrality against the three starters would brush off any worries about typing, but for consistency purposes, I don't really see that happening in the near future, just to keep the whole "three starters to choose from" tradition alive.

[Forever]

Originally Posted by Quote

Y'beat me to it.

Geez, that comic just about sums up how we're all going to feel when they release the starter evolutions.

I personally prefer Fennekin for the looks right now, but that isn't taking into account stats and whatnot.

I've been entertaining the prospect of a fourth starter, and I think they might be able to pull it off, whether it's a Pikachu-like Pokemon or a normal-type that has no weakness but no strength against the other starters...

Just me tossing an idea around. What do you think?

I think it'd work out great really. Like not because it could be a special edition but it could legitimately be a great idea to make it more interesting. Sure the main three are the main three, but a fourth would just be a nice extra twist and knowing GameFreak, anything can happen!

[Pichu02]

I'm pretty sure I'm going to choose Chespin. When I looked at the starters for the first time, I didn't know which one was my favorite. But since I've always chosen the grass starter, I just started liking Chespin better.

[The_CGC]

Froake, It probaly evelves into some gigantic toad TANK That whoops some ass
(Highlight that blank spot to see ) and kills every thing.

[jedijoren]

I'll wait till I see the evolutions, so for now I'll just say Chespin!

[jfuze174]

im okay with all but chespin felt like he should be in the game just not a starter

[aegisrox]

I will start with Fennekin, beceuse i looks similar to EEvEE that is my favorite :D

[SooperTrooper]

Fennekin is great and all, but for some reason I really, really like Chespin. I love his design a lot more than the other two. I also don't mind Froakie, he's pretty cool.

[Forever]

Originally Posted by jfuze174

im okay with all but chespin felt like he should be in the game just not a starter

Oh I get why. Because Chespin looks like Patrat/Bidoof, etc? I felt that too kind of. :x But nevertheless it also looks like a starter too so idk it'd fit two roles really. Hopefully it's not useless!

[Pizzapocket]

For once, I actually want to get the grass starter for my first run! Chespin looks too adorable to pass on. Beside, Froakie looks like he may be Water/flying, but might end up as a pure water while Fennekin might have the dreaded fire/fighting combo just like the last three.

Whatever Chespin evolve Into, I won't regret my choice!

[EvilTotodile]

fennekin looks great! a lot better than tepig. i always go with fire so im glad its a good one

[Sheriff Woody]

Definitely picking Froakie. It's so freaking cute!

[Forever]

Originally Posted by Pizzapocket

For once, I actually want to get the grass starter for my first run! Chespin looks too adorable to pass on. Beside, Froakie looks like he may be Water/flying, but might end up as a pure water while Fennekin might have the dreaded fire/fighting combo just like the last three.

Whatever Chespin evolve Into, I won't regret my choice!

Water/flying is something most of us really haven't considered in detail. However, given the clouds are there, there's a good point that it could fly but I'm afraid if it did fly it'd be some scary creature based upon from what people have... drawn. :(

[Superfox]

There's been much debate on this issue. I obviously think that yes, Fennekin is meant to represent the Dog, but there's still a faction who think that its not. I wanted to get the opinions of the people on here.

To start, I'll share my opinion of why Fennekin should be allowed in the Zodiac club. My opinion basically boils down to two reasons: Cyndaquil and Chimchar. Some of the same people who claim Fennekin is not the Dog also hold these two up as the Rat and Monkey respectively, without realizing that this punches a major hole in their theory. The fact of the matter is that Cyndaquil is not based on a rat and Chimchar is not based on a monkey.

Lets start with Cyndaquil. Now, Cyndaquil has been identified with many fans (and official sources) over the years as being inspired by a shrew or an echidna. The very name Cyndaquil seems to denote echidna because these animals have spines sticking out of their backs. They also have the same long snout as Cyndaquil. However, neither a shrew nor an echidna are related to rats: they aren't even rodents. So, Cyndaquil is not really a "fire mouse", even if Sugimori identifies it as such.

Likewise, Chimchar also pretends to be a monkey when it isn't. I'm sure that some of you think I'm crazy for asserting this theory, but the fact is that no, Chimchar is not based on a monkey. Its based on a chimpanzee. And for those who didn't know, chimps are not monkeys; they are apes, which is a completely separate family. Apes are actually more closely related to humans than monkeys because humans are in fact apes ourselves.

Therefore, Fennekin is actually as close to being the Dog as Chimchar is to being the Monkey, and is even closer to being the Dog than Cyndaquil is to being the Rat. However, I am not advocating that Cyndaquil and Chimchar be disqualified from being part of the Zodiac club. The simple fact is that Sugimori and Satoshi have always mashed together animals as inspiration for their Pokémon, even if the animals they group together are only distantly related. Chimps may not actually be monkeys, but in our imagination, they are close enough to be associated with monkeys. The same can be said for shrews/echidnas and rats. Therefore, even though Fennekin is technically a fox, it should still be considered close enough to meet the requirements of being the Dog of the Chinese Zodiac.

[Magmaruby and Aquasapphire]

I agree...also it'll be funny if Fennekin's final form is based on a chihuaha, which sort of look like foxes...also foxes are related to Dog's biologically (not sure how distant though) so there's another point. You picked up practically all the points I thought of when I first thought that Fennekin didn't fit than thought again, that oh wait, it sort of does.

[GolurkIsDaBomb]

Hm I didn't realize that fennekin could be the dog! I had thought that they had broken the theme of chinese zodiac, but I guess not. Also, charmander is based on the legendary creature the salamander, but then becomes a dragon. So gamefreak likes to tweak the rules on the zodiac theme. It'll be interesting if this ends up being true or not!

[Scorpio219]

The "All fire type starters follow the chinese Zodiac!" is the same as, "All grass type starters are reptiles!"----------------It is JUST a coincidence. It isn't a law of pokemon and I am now happy the new grass is a mammal and the new fire is a fox. Now people can stop making these stupid theories, especially since Pokemon is japanese, not chinese

[Totodile42]

Nope, I don't think so. Fennekin, even though I despise its' very existence, is a fox, and therefore isn't a dog. Pretty simple if you think about it.

[Scarf]

So since the original theory of the zodiac is already full of holes it's totally acceptable to count a fox as a dog? Sure, why not.

Originally Posted by Scorpio219

The "All fire type starters follow the chinese Zodiac!" is the same as, "All grass type starters are reptiles!"----------------It is JUST a coincidence. It isn't a law of pokemon and I am now happy the new grass is a mammal and the new fire is a fox. Now people can stop making these stupid theories, especially since Pokemon is japanese, not chinese

Just because it's a Japanese game doesn't mean it can't have elements of the Chinese zodiac. There is a lot of cultural borrowing between the countries, and has been for as long as people from both areas have had contact with each other.

But yeah, I think it was more coincidence than anything, too.

[.EJ]

Doubt it....foxes aren't considered "True dogs" from the Canini Tribe like dingoes, wolves, coyotes, domestic dogs etc. but rather they're Vulpini.

People think foxes are dogs because of it being in the Canidae family, but really they're not. Let's do some research guys~

[Miss Doronjo]

Even though foxes aren't technically dogs, foxes are related to dogs, so maybe on it's own right, even though it might not be a dog, Fennekin might still represent a dog. So the possibility might be up there, but... eh, it's a slim one. I thought that pokemon like Vulpix or maybe actual dog pokemon like Growlithe represented the Zodiac already, so, it's a surprise that they'd use a fire fox again.

[iTeruri]

All fire starters are from the Chinese Zodiac: broken with Cindaquil.
All grass starters are reptiles; broken with Chespin
Each generation has two main games and a third version; broken with Black 2 & White 2

My point being that fans see a lot of patterns in the Pokémon games that aren't meant to be patterns. The only 'pattern' related to the starters is that all water starters are being able to walk, but I don't think we'll ever see a fish as a starter Pokémon.

[AzaleaLightning]

How is it an issue? Lol

But yeah it's pretty commonly speculated that all of the Fire-starters are based on animals in the Chinese zodiac. Whether or not it's coincidence is up to fans to decide but the fact of the matter is that the starters ALL have links to it, like it or not.

Foxes are canines too so yeah, easily applicable. I highly doubt GF is going to be as specific as possible about it, they're developing it so it's entirely how they want to play it. But half of the animals in the Chinese zodiac are represented by the Fire-type starters in some way or another. You guys think that's entirely coincidence?

You can't compare Pokemon exclusively to one species of animal because they aren't animals. They're imaginative creatures. No need to be so literal.

I'm personally eager to see the tiger *w*

sn: They already canonically represented the astrological zodiac with Pokemon that loosely yet accurately fit the mold for the signs - Gothitelle represents Virgo, can you really see that as a young maiden? Not literally but figuratively, yes.

[Superfox]

Originally Posted by .EJ

Doubt it....foxes aren't considered "True dogs" from the Canini Tribe like dingoes, wolves, coyotes, domestic dogs etc. but rather they're Vulpini.

People think foxes are dogs because of it being in the Canidae family, but really they're not. Let's do some research guys~

Dude. This is Pokémon, where an echidna/shrew (Cyndaquil) is considered a "fire mouse." Its no stretch of the imagination that they'd have a fox representing the dog.

Originally Posted by iTeruri

All fire starters are from the Chinese Zodiac: broken with Cindaquil.

People say that Cyndaquil represents the Rat, which I can see personally.

Originally Posted by Miss Doronjo

actual dog pokemon like Growlithe represented the Zodiac already, so, it's a surprise that they'd use a fire fox again.

Growlithe is based on a shisha, which is a cross between a lion and a dog