Proposal: Pokemon Species Features - Series?

[bobandbill]

Quoting from the other thread:

JI was definitely thinking maybe we could showcase a Pokémon of the week/month/however often PC Daily gets put up, and why it was selected. This seems like something that we could get started with in the first edition, I'm sure :)

Right, so, in general I think this is a good idea. There's a good deal of things that need discussing first, especially as this could well be a series of articles, and even separate posts for different segments.

The very first question - Pokemon of the (whatever): feature individual pokemon, or those within the line at the same time? Maybe one at a time but if there's an evolution, they become the next Pokemon to be analysed? I like the latter personally, in part because there's always a few lines with too many Pokemon in them. cougheeveecough.

In terms of content, these are some similarly minded articles I have helped create before on this webzine. This may well be a good base layout to consider. Taking the latest one there, it has comparisons about its height/weight, what they are based on, stuff about their name, abilities, etc. There's been a mock 'how to care for your ___' guide I wrote up, then a battling advice section (Nolafus happened to write that actually), and some Dos/Don'ts. (Meanwhile, on there there's separate articles I've done too to keep with the theme of a featured Pokemon.)

If we continue that general sort of trend, I can do a cross-post between PC Daily and Wynaut?/The BBS 'Zine each time one is done as extra advertising both ways. But maybe we want to change things up on the PC Daily side - for instance, expand some sections into their own article? For example, the battling folks may want to have a larger/separate article just on battling advice with each Pokemon. I (or anyone else interested, I need not do it all the time!) can always do the mock 'how to care for your ___' segment as its own section, and keep the rest for its own article. This will also mean we're not holding up posting of content because one section isn't yet done. Thoughts? If that happens, then I'd rather just one post on Wynaut to parallel ones here to minimise _everything_ being crossposted (as stated elsewhere, it'd be best if this was not the norm).

Furthermore, are there any other aspects (e.g. merchandise...?) we want to talk about in these segments?

That's enough for initial discussion I feel.

 

[Klippy]

You could do a "threads relevant to this Pokemon" if there are any. So if you did Pikachu, you could link to "What's your favorite Pokemon", "Who's the best electric type?", "Why do you think Pikachu was so important in the anime and never evolved?" (idk if these exist, but you get it)

You'd probably be alright to also feature smaller tidbits about its evos. So if you did do Pikachu, you could include some info on Pichu and Raichu too. Then eventually feature a full daily about them if need be.

You should also let the readers decide the next Pokemon to pick. Maybe a poll or just a question posed at the end.

 

[bobandbill]

You could do a "threads relevant to this Pokemon" if there are any. So if you did Pikachu, you could link to "What's your favorite Pokemon", "Who's the best electric type?", "Why do you think Pikachu was so important in the anime and never evolved?" (idk if these exist, but you get it)

Those could be linked towards the end if they do exist. If they don't exist, a thread (in PG or the like) could be made to discuss the Pokemon in full!

You'd probably be alright to also feature smaller tidbits about its evos. So if you did do Pikachu, you could include some info on Pichu and Raichu too. Then eventually feature a full daily about them if need be.

Makes sense if we don't do the whole line at once. Thoughts on if we'd want to feature other Pokemon within the line straight after one or not? They do tend to have similarities between each other which makes for a natural progression.

You should also let the readers decide the next Pokemon to pick. Maybe a poll or just a question posed at the end.

Might need some consideration if we do that because people will tend to gravitate towards the more popular Pokemon. Maybe a selection of a few as options? I'll think on that. Wordpress does polls so those could be conducted separate to the articles.

 

[Sylphiel]

Yeah, if we don't want people to just pick the most popular pokemon, I do think it would be better to perhaps generate a few names beforehand, stick those up as the poll, and then let people choose from that list.

I honestly think stuff like this is such an adorable idea.

Also, I could see smaller lines (like the ones with just one or two pokemon total in them) getting just one article, with bigger lines getting multiples. Especially if they're split evos and whatnot... :T

 

[bobandbill]

Yeah, if we don't want people to just pick the most popular pokemon, I do think it would be better to perhaps generate a few names beforehand, stick those up as the poll, and then let people choose from that list.

Might as well go with that then!

Also, I could see smaller lines (like the ones with just one or two pokemon total in them) getting just one article, with bigger lines getting multiples. Especially if they're split evos and whatnot... :T

But I'm proposing a series of articles as it is even if it's just a one-lined Pokemon species. =p I'm not sure about combining them if there's only one or two of them, and if we want to keep a large number of updates coming it makes sense imo to keep them split up.

 

[wolf]

I think it'd be more convenient if there were separate features for battling (one for non-battling, one for OU battle strategy). My reasoning for this is that a lot of Pokemon aren't good in OU (the format that most PC battlers play), so battlers simply won't care to read about it. Certainly, it's fun to do joke articles every now and then, but they shouldn't be a regular occurrence. In the future more features could be done for other battle formats, like Dave's LC series.

One more suggestion: I think this would be a great hands-on experience for the community. We could post a thread in BTB where everyone can discuss what movesets we should include, what are useful teammates, how to battle with it or against it, etc. About 10 days would be a reasonable time for the discussion to occur. Then the editors can proceed with writing the article. "Pokemon of the Fortnight" sounds good, though it might pigeonhole ourselves into a inconvenient timeframe that won't work. We'd have to give it a test run first.

If the community involvement idea gets approved, this would be a good substitute/replacement for my old Battle Wiki suggestion!

Also, could I bring this up with Anti? He might have some useful opinions on how to do the battle strategy articles. I'd like to make sure that the first article is done well enough so that we don't have to later redo it in a different article layout and schedule.

 

[bobandbill]

Whoops, sorry I missed your post, wolf. Bumping at any rate for more feedback - which the first article for this would be better done after the launch (so anyone can join in), we can still work on settling on the full format.

I think it'd be more convenient if there were separate features for battling (one for non-battling, one for OU battle strategy). My reasoning for this is that a lot of Pokemon aren't good in OU (the format that most PC battlers play), so battlers simply won't care to read about it. Certainly, it's fun to do joke articles every now and then, but they shouldn't be a regular occurrence. In the future more features could be done for other battle formats, like Dave's LC series.

I'm fine with having completely separate articles for battling with the Pokemon being featured.

One more suggestion: I think this would be a great hands-on experience for the community. We could post a thread in BTB where everyone can discuss what movesets we should include, what are useful teammates, how to battle with it or against it, etc. About 10 days would be a reasonable time for the discussion to occur. Then the editors can proceed with writing the article. "Pokemon of the Fortnight" sounds good, though it might pigeonhole ourselves into a inconvenient timeframe that won't work. We'd have to give it a test run first.

If the community involvement idea gets approved, this would be a good substitute/replacement for my old Battle Wiki suggestion!

This also sounds good to me, and probably the ideal way to do this. One thing to consider is long-term - when the next gen does happen (whenever that will be), or indeed if the next gen 6 game brings more toys (as new games tend to do like with move tutors), would we want to look at updating past articles, or even redoing them?

Also, could I bring this up with Anti?

Sure.

A few unresolved things from earlier - please comment on these!

In terms of content, these are some similarly minded articles I have helped create before on this webzine. This may well be a good base layout to consider. Taking the latest one there, it has comparisons about its height/weight, what they are based on, stuff about their name, abilities, etc. There's been a mock 'how to care for your ___' guide I wrote up, then a battling advice section (Nolafus happened to write that actually), and some Dos/Don'ts. (Meanwhile, on there there's separate articles I've done too to keep with the theme of a featured Pokemon.)

(Noting that battling would be its own article now as discussed above.)

Furthermore, are there any other aspects (e.g. merchandise...?) we want to talk about in these segments?

You'd probably be alright to also feature smaller tidbits about its evos. So if you did do Pikachu, you could include some info on Pichu and Raichu too. Then eventually feature a full daily about them if need be.

Makes sense if we don't do the whole line at once. Thoughts on if we'd want to feature other Pokemon within the line straight after one or not? They do tend to have similarities between each other which makes for a natural progression.

(I think we should have one article per Pokemon species in the line, so eg. one for Pichu, one for Pikachu afterward, one for Raichu after that. Battling articles for these would be separate as well, although in Pichu's case only if the battling folks feel it's worthwhile making e.g. a LC format article for Pichu, etc).

 

[Dragon]

Not much to weigh in here except, yeah, I agree with one article per Pokémon! But what if it's a special family of pokemon, like the eevee family? Would there be special circumstances for those? Or, better to leave them as one pokemon per pop?

 

[Sylphiel]

In regards to the battling thing, probably still worth at least putting in some info about it, even if it's just like a line or two. Actually, that's what I'm thinking is mostly a line or two. And then of course, if there's a battle article on that particular pokemon already, then link to it through that.

"This pokemon is in this tier blah blah, look here for more details."

For things like the eevee family, I almost wonder if we could just make things like that the exception and do several/all at once in there. "Special article! Eevee and its extended family!" I dunno. :P

 

[bobandbill]

Not much to weigh in here except, yeah, I agree with one article per Pokémon! But what if it's a special family of pokemon, like the eevee family? Would there be special circumstances for those? Or, better to leave them as one pokemon per pop?

As discussed in the chat, my feeling is to keep them all separate - so eevee first with its articles, then an Eeveelution, then another, etc until they're exhausted.

For things like the eevee family, I almost wonder if we could just make things like that the exception and do several/all at once in there. "Special article! Eevee and its extended family!" I dunno. :P

Another option raised is combining a few (so e.g. Jolteon, Vaporeon and Flareon share their own set of articles, Espeon and Umbreon, etc). But I do prefer to just stick to one set of articles per individual Pokemon (so Vaporeon gets its own set, then Jolteon gets its own, etc). There's a few reasons for that:
- it'll get awfully long even with three (especially when we have input from anyone in the forum to consider)
- consistency. I'd be weird when nearly every other species gets separated articles when Eevee doesn't.
- time. For the articles to be ready you'd need parts for every single Pokemon involved finished. Given these will be articles with a lot of people involved, I'd rather run multiple at once and post the ones finished first rather than wait for everything to be done to post together (plus it'd make for better pacing for posting to Wordpress too - more updates spread across time rather than a super large, single update).

Luckily there aren't many species lines as convoluted as Eevee's! Tyrogue's is four less already for instance.

Oh, btw, Eevee line may be the first one to be picked. Advantages are that it's a popular line throughout the fandom, so it may be good to start with that when PC Daily is still nice and new. Any objections to that? Looking for input as well with how we handle that- we should start with Eevee first, but then which Eeveelution we go with is another matter. We could go by dex number for the order, or allow a poll on the Wordpress side for people to vote upon for which one we should cover next. The same can be done following the Eevee line (e.g. 'which early game normal-typed do you want us to cover next, rattata, sentret, zigzagoon, (etc)?')

In regards to the battling thing, probably still worth at least putting in some info about it, even if it's just like a line or two. Actually, that's what I'm thinking is mostly a line or two. And then of course, if there's a battle article on that particular pokemon already, then link to it through that.

"This pokemon is in this tier blah blah, look here for more details."

That seems sensible - just need an indication from the battling folks for a quick line-or-two about it. And we can always edit in a direct link to the battling advice article when it's made as well.

 

[Sylphiel]

Fair points about leaving it as one per - and especially if we do end up doing Eevee first (which I have no objections to doing that), then I definitely agree to that.

(Only other options I would have gone for for a first line would have been like...aside from the possibly obvious choice of Pikachu, then maybe a Kanto starter of some kind. Eevee sounds like it would work better for a launch since that family alone will give us a bunch of articles to work with.)

Leave the next evo up to a poll. :D

 

[wolf]

I'll come up with an outline for the battling articles when I get the chance. The outline for the general articles seems fine to me. Be sure to add trivia from Bulbapedia and such, as well as funny Pokedex facts!

It'd be cool if Art & Design did something for these articles, but I'm not sure how many capable artists they have. Maybe TCG could have a section in the general article.

Sylveon and Espeon would be acceptable choices for battling.

I'll try to contact Anti but he has already "left" PC and probably won't have much time to address it.

This also sounds good to me, and probably the ideal way to do this. One thing to consider is long-term - when the next gen does happen (whenever that will be), or indeed if the next gen 6 game brings more toys (as new games tend to do like with move tutors), would we want to look at updating past articles, or even redoing them?

We'd have to remake them. Likely add an "ORAS" tag to every article until "Z" comes out.

 

[bobandbill]

I'll come up with an outline for the battling articles when I get the chance. The outline for the general articles seems fine to me. Be sure to add trivia from Bulbapedia and such, as well as funny Pokedex facts!

Yep, trivia will definitely be in there. Talking about the background for their names (across languages), size/weight stuff, how their abilities fit in, etc.

It'd be cool if Art & Design did something for these articles, but I'm not sure how many capable artists they have.

Hmm... couple ideas for this. One is that every time we feature a new Pokemon, a thread can go up in A&D (or even in FF&W as well) to challenge people on the forums to create some fanwork based on that Pokemon. [Or the Pokemon line, maybe]. Their reward is getting their art put up on an article, i.e. some exposure.

Another is something I tried on my Wynaut? magazine but it is timely - an article featuring existing fanworks for the Pokemon line (so basically a collection of art and stories with links to the source and artist name provided, with a line or two about said work).

I'll bug art/writing mods about it. =) Also if anyone wants to contribute a picture for any article to do with the Pokemon line during planning/writing that's perfectly fine.

Maybe TCG could have a section in the general article.

A section or even separate article, hmm. Either way that's a good idea imo! I'll bug don about it. =)

Sylveon and Espeon would be acceptable choices for battling.

Yep, seems like it to me from my limited knowledge (it's more vgc than anything).

I'll try to contact Anti but he has already "left" PC and probably won't have much time to address it.

Yeah, I noticed. =( Worth asking at any rate.

We'd have to remake them. Likely add an "ORAS" tag to every article until "Z" comes out.

Alright.


----------------

Okay, so, thinking aloud here, should we aim for something like this (sub in Eevee given it'll be the first one, this is just a general structure):

• The first article released is a general article on the lowest form of the Pokemon (e.g. Eevee, Pichu, Snover). This will cover the Pokemon's name, abilities, its basis (what animal/object it is based on), height/weight info, other trivia. This will also include a quick couple sentences about battling, but that'll be saved for any article that may be created for it.
• In order of 'when the article is completed and ready for posting', separate articles for (if made):
  • Battling. Thread for discussion will occur in BTB, input compiled and made into an article in the main section here.
  • 'Caring for your ___' Mock article explaining how to care for your e.g. Eevee - feeding, exercise, etc. Can be combined with Dos and Don'ts. (See example articles I linked in the first post for more info). I can do these, open to other people writing them as well.
  • TCG? Can be a section in the main article as well, to be seen.
  • Art feature? E.g. encourage users on the forums to make fanworks of the Pokemon, reward is their work gets featured in an article on PC Daily. [Can even reblog individually on e.g. twitter, tumblr for additional incentive?]
    Alternatively/in addition, article about existing fanworks here and outside PC to do with the Pokemon.
  • ???
• Once all these are exhausted (if they are being done), move onto the rest of the species line. If that's done, poll for the next species to be done. Repeat!

 

[Bay]

Concerning fanworks for these articles, not sure how Aiden and Fairy will want to approach this for their section but for me I don't mind trying a mixture of both. I can do a thread of whatever Pokemon is featured and if anyone wants to make a fanfic based on that Pokemon or want to mention they already have one and want it featured I'm cool with that too. I do agree if only PC fanworks are featured it might be timely to find them.

 

[Fairy]

You know me, I'm pretty much down with trying anything! If nothing, it's worth posting a thread to see how people will respond. But I think it sounds like a fun, neat little event that lots of people could potentially enjoy. I even made a thread yesterday (two days ago?) gauging interest in a new content of sorts, and I think members are looking for something just like this to sink their teeth into. :)

+1

 

[bobandbill]

Concerning fanworks for these articles, not sure how Aiden and Fairy will want to approach this for their section but for me I don't mind trying a mixture of both. I can do a thread of whatever Pokemon is featured and if anyone wants to make a fanfic based on that Pokemon or want to mention they already have one and want it featured I'm cool with that too. I do agree if only PC fanworks are featured it might be timely to find them.

Cool. With the last bit, I think that if we do the former (ask people to contribute on the forums) it should be PC only, and if we do a general 'fanworks that already exist' summary then it should extend beyond PC.

You know me, I'm pretty much down with trying anything! If nothing, it's worth posting a thread to see how people will respond. But I think it sounds like a fun, neat little event that lots of people could potentially enjoy. I even made a thread yesterday (two days ago?) gauging interest in a new content of sorts, and I think members are looking for something just like this to sink their teeth into. :) +1

\o/

 

[Circuit]

I think collecting fanworks from artists would definitely be more time consuming, but certainly not impossible. I'm down for trying out both at first to see which gets a better response and proceed from there.

I have an idea. We could challenge the members for fanworks each week (or other predetermined time interval) and then at the end of a "series" we can collect fanworks that didn't quite make the cut and display them all as great pieces that deserve a mention. Thoughts?

 

[bobandbill]

I think collecting fanworks from artists would definitely be more time consuming, but certainly not impossible. I'm down for trying out both at first to see which gets a better response and proceed from there.

I have an idea. We could challenge the members for fanworks each week (or other predetermined time interval) and then at the end of a "series" we can collect fanworks that didn't quite make the cut and display them all as great pieces that deserve a mention. Thoughts?

It isn't impossible - I managed a few with a bit of help, but here we're hopefully talking about a whole bunch of people submitting stuff rather than a couple of other members. Makes sense to give both a go and see how they work out.

Could you elaborate more on the idea? Would you be challenging them on fanworks for the featured species (and the line being what you mean by "series"? And if so, I'd say each set of articles would run for longer than a week, but I'm not sure they would regularly happen in equal time intervals. But yeah, I'm afraid I'm a touch lost.

 

[Circuit]

It isn't impossible - I managed a few with a bit of help, but here we're hopefully talking about a whole bunch of people submitting stuff rather than a couple of other members. Makes sense to give both a go and see how they work out.

Could you elaborate more on the idea? Would you be challenging them on fanworks for the featured species (and the line being what you mean by "series"? And if so, I'd say each set of articles would run for longer than a week, but I'm not sure they would regularly happen in equal time intervals. But yeah, I'm afraid I'm a touch lost.

So as you said we challenge artist to create fanart for articles. And after so many articles we collect a bunch of notable pieces that didn't win, and put them in an article at the end of a set of challenges. For example, after 10 challenges an article on good pieces that didn't win, but should be seen.

 

[bobandbill]

Excuse the awful example but:

This sort of art is perfect for the articles, imo. It's not too big, not too flashy, it's just a creative/humorous subtle piece that isn't too distracting from the content itself. Some people might literally click for the fancy image with an awesome background, not read the article and just leave. Just my two cents, haha.

It sounds silly but when I saw this image I was more interested in the article x)

I suppose we will need to decide on pictures for the article preview, but we'll need to decide on that once PC Daily's design is done (which has been delayed thanks to hackers, bah).

So as you said we challenge artist to create fanart for articles. And after so many articles we collect a bunch of notable pieces that didn't win, and put them in an article at the end of a set of challenges. For example, after 10 challenges an article on good pieces that didn't win, but should be seen.

Ah, so you'd be possibly turning it into a contest? I'm fine with having a contest out of it in your section, but I'd rather not limit entries to each article and only post 'the rest' in a later article. In other words, the way I thought of it I feel it's better to allow all entries made while articles are written for say Eevee, and once some time limit ends compile all the entries into an article, not just the best of them.