[Game Idea] Pokémon: Sanguine (Project: Prepper)

[Natzen]

This game is well into the planning phase, most of the story has been fleshed out and the map is nearly set in stone. A lot of the core functions I want to include in the game have been worked on previously in the past so I'll be converting a lot of that into this (just a matter of figuring out if everything is compatible from past essentials version) - my goal is for the first beta to coincide with Halloween or the month of October. My current objective is to finish creating the NPC and Pokémon artwork by the end of April. Once the game creation is underway, I'll try to livestream it partially on YouTube to act as "dev notes" for any interested. I am not a great artist by any stretch of the imagination, so the art style of the game could be too jarring for some.
I'll hopefully find some help in people who see the project and want to contribute their artistic talents. If there's enough support for the game I would consider creating a discord channel - for now this thread is fine!
(This is all of course, subject to change)

I believe this is the right place to post and not in Showcase, as I've not officially started putting the game together and have no in-game screenshots to show off yet.

Let me introduce you to the region as it is!

Spoiler:

Darkan
It's a place..? It doesn't exist anywhere relative to the main regions of the Pokémon universe. The story was kind of inspired in part by the events which unfolded in the Tandor region, and there are lots of elements of the Hoenn region - do with that information what you will!

Population:

Spoiler:

Relativeish order that player discovers each area.. 57 locations listed below currently. Need to populate areas many, 7-10 pokemon per area on average, many determinate on ingame time.
??? -
Gruphasm -
Route 601 -
Route 602 i -
Blitelite Caverns -
Route 602 ii -
Route 603 i -
Cedecay City -
Route 603 ii -
Route 604 -
Barrended Town -
Pokesemetary -
Roxanimus Tunnel -
Route 605 -
Roxanimus City -
Forbidden Caves -
Route 606 (Route 666) -
Path to Draynblud -
Draynblud Manor -
Old Draynblud Crypts - Yamask
Draynblud -
The Red Forest -
Amonastary -
River Salve -
Blessed Falls -
Old Shipwreck -
Route 609 -
Town of Eivilebarn -
Eivilebarn Field -
Route 610 -
The Olde Daycare -
Olde Marketplace -
Stadium of Olde -
West City -
New Olde City -
The Sewers -
Olde Mines -
Efloovia Bog -
Efloovia -
Route 612 -
Torrid Bowl -
East Basalt Beach -
Fort Scoria -
West Basalt Beach -
Route 613 i -
Murkwater Cave -
Weathered Street -
Darkan Weather Station -
Blasted Ruins -
Route 613 ii -
Blaksun Den -
Scoria Keep -
East City -
The Darkan Sea -
Hallow Village -
Blasted Temple -
Route 614 -

Where the story begins..

Spoiler:

There was a series of nuclear meltdowns in a nearby region. While it didn't have a direct impact on the region of Darkan - it sent many citizens and trainers on a path of panic and distress. The once feared region would fall into even more chaos over the following 20 years, safety riots and looting would only be a small part of the unfolding problem. You will uncover a conspiracy and the mysterious black-suit organization behind all of the fearmongering and mass hysteria.. but will they let you see the light of day after discovering their most guarded secrets?

Visit a whole new region with vast lore and never before seen regional formes as well as some you've encountered before! Take on your adventure in an entirely different way - no gyms or league challenge to pursue this time. The league hasn't been open since the fall of the region.. Instead you will be after the Grand Cup - and with it a large cash prize which will end your seemingly never-ending hunt for resources to survive. You will have to battle through many different tournaments hosted by a number of foreign corporations all across the region if you want a shot at the grand cup. You will need to earn the recognition of a sponsor, prove your worth in battle to impress whichever sponsors you want to side with.

Most shops across the region are in shambles, consistently being looted ultimately caused them to shut down for good.. you may find some traders here and there but they aren't always going to be after money. Some may want certain Pokémon, items, or favors. Pokécenters are often the target of thieves looking to steal valuable Pokémon in exchange for goods, therefore many of them were also shut down.. only a few well guarded heal centers are maintained in different corners of the map. You will have to gather your own resources if you want to survive in Darkan.​

The survival mechanics..

Spoiler:

Food - You have to eat, and so do your Pokémon.. You will have to earn resources the hard way.. gather berries and other plants and forms of protein which... definitely aren't Pokémon!

Mining, Woodcutting, Harvesting - Skills to be trained with experience rates that scale as you level it up. You should have the level to access all resources and quests just by naturally progressing the game and preparing for each of your adventures. Each level should be about as quick as the last, especially if you are also doing the quests which offer xp rewards.

Mining:

Spoiler:

1 Dirt, stone
5 Tin, Copper
10 Iron
15 Silver
20 Gold
25 Diamond
30 Uranium
40 Kryptine
45 Platinumite

Woodcutting:

Spoiler:

1 Core Apricots (Blue, Red, Green, Brown)
5 Trees (Ones guilty of blocking the way)
15 Intermediate Apricots (Black, Yellow, Purple, White)
30 Advanced Apricots (Translucent, Golden, Shimmering, Rainbow)
45 Master Apricots (Using one of each apricot at the master cutters bench in Scoria Keep, craft one master apricot)

Harvesting:

Spoiler:

Fishing - Scales from different Pokémon (Scalefishing spots will be in certain areas, not the same as fishing for Pokémon normally)
All different berries - three different levels (1 core, 15 intermediate, 30 advanced).
Different grasses - 1 dead grass, 5 base grass, 15 thick grass, 20 charred grass, 25 frozen grass.
Fluids - 1 stagnant water, 10 running water, 20 rapid waters, 35 waterfall waters. 5 milk owo. 15 runny mud. 30 bottled lava. 40 bottled lightning.
Other resources which aren't woodcutting or mining. Even finding regular item balls will *should* progress harvesting experience.

Crafting:

Spoiler:

You will need to craft if you intend on completing this adventure! You will need to cook your own food to stave off hunger, you will also need to cook food for your pokemon, which will act as potions and status healers. Your hunger decreases when you move, gain experience from an action, or run from a wild battle. Having your hunger fall to 0, or having no pokemon available means you will be sent to the nearest heal center.. remember that heal centers are very few and far between - if you want to survive in the wild for long you will need to prepare ahead of time! Crafting utilizes most of the items gathered from the above skills, train each of your skills equally so you can take full advantage of the crafting mechanic. Create improved recipes of potions, stews, and Pokeballs. Discover new recipes as you level up your crafting skill, complete side quests, and uncover hidden secrets - some of which are extremely powerful and will help you increase your skill experience rate, your pokemon exp rate, shiny odds, and much more!

Depending on the starter you choose, you'll get a respective tool. Don't worry though, you can still craft the others and train every skill. The tool they come with may give some hints as to what forme they can take in the future.

Some notable recipes:

Spoiler:

Pickaxe, Hatchet, Rod - Stone, core apricots.
Pickaxe + & Hatchet + & Rod + - Processed Iron, Intermediate Apricots.
Pickaxe ++ & Hatchet ++ & Rod ++ - Gold, Diamond, Advanced Apricots.

Oil Lantern
Shoulder Flashlight
Shoulder Flashlight+

Base Speedbike and:
Bike Aquatic Attachment (Surf)
Bike Flight Attachment (Fly)
Bike Submarine Attachment (Dive)
Adding any of the above will add "i" to name, Speedbike i -> Speedbike ii
After the above three attachments are equipped, Speedbike ii becomes Speedbike+
Speedbike+ is needed to complete the story.

Bike Balance Attachment (needed to traverse certain areas),
Bike Extreme Attachment (needed to traverse certain areas),
Bike Speed+ Attachment (additional travel speed + needed to traverse certain areas)
Adding any of the above will add "i" to name, Speedbike+ i -> Speedbike+ ii
After all remaining attachments are equipped, Speedbike+ ii becomes Speedbike++
Speedbike++ is needed to fully traverse the world.

​

The gimmick... every game has one!

Spoiler:

Master formes: At level 30 of each skill, you can train certain Pokémon to unlock their new forme. Each forme has unique set effects, mixing certain formes in your party can create unique set effects that will help in battle and in the overworld - will you utilize them all? 40 new formes of previously discovered Pokémon, in addition - 24 of the new fakemon also have formes. Each forme as described below has 6 fakemon so you can have a full party of Darkan fakemon and still get the true mastery effect, or you can use one of the beloved original Pokémon who we've discovered these new formes for. Each true mastery effect will change your sprite in the overworld, as will each of the hybrid effects.

Prospect Forme

Spoiler:

Certain Pokémon are able to master the Prospect Forme. Each prospect forme Pokémon in your party will increase mining efficacy and will offer unique skill set effects for every two formes in your party.
(2/6) - Rookie Prospects: Battle effect: xyz. Overworld effect: xyz.
(4/6) - Prospect Enthusiasts: Battle effect: xyz. Overworld effect: xyz.
(6/6) - True Prospect Mastery: Your appearance in the overworld changes to signify your mastery in the art of prospecting. Battle effect: xyz. Overworld effect: xyz.

Chopper Forme

Spoiler:

Certain Pokémon are able to master the Chopper Forme. Each chopper forme Pokémon in your party will increase woodcutting efficacy and will offer unique skill set effects for every two formes in your party.
(2/6) - Single Chop: Battle effect: xyz. Overworld effect: xyz.
(4/6) - Duochoppers: Battle effect: xyz. Overworld effect: xyz.
(6/6) - True Chopper Mastery: Your appearance in the overworld changes to signify your mastery in the art of woodcutting. Battle effect: xyz. Overworld effect: xyz.

Harvest Forme

Spoiler:

Certain Pokémon are able to master the Harvest Forme. Each harvest forme Pokémon in your party will increase harvest efficacy and will offer unique skill set effects for every two formes in your party.
(2/6) - Tanned Ambition: Battle effect: xyz. Overworld effect: xyz.
(4/6) - Sunburnt Squad: Battle effect: xyz. Overworld effect: xyz.
(6/6) - True Harvest Mastery: Your appearance in the overworld changes to signify your mastery in the art of harvesting. Battle effect: xyz. Overworld effect: xyz.

Craft Forme

Spoiler:

Certain Pokémon are able to master the Craft Forme. Each craft forme Pokémon in your party will increase craft efficacy and will offer unique skill set effects for every two formes in your party.
(2/6) - First Benchmark: Battle effect: xyz. Overworld effect: xyz.
(4/6) - Penultimate Benchmark: Battle effect: xyz. Overworld effect: xyz.
(6/6) - True Craft Mastery: Your appearance in the overworld changes to signify your mastery in the art of crafting. Battle effect: xyz. Overworld effect: xyz.

Hybrid Effects
While some trainers opt for purity in their team, others might want to experiment with the hybrid effects that occur when mixing a number of different formes. This action may be important to consider in late game team building - you might require certain effects to counter your opponent, especially those who are of legendary status **HINT HINT**..

Spoiler:

Muddied Lumber (3 Chopper & 3 Harvest):
Wooden Vein (3 Chopper & 3 Prospect):
Carpenter's Motive (3 Chopper & 3 Craft):
Blacksmith's Delight (3 Prospect & 3 Craft):
Fruits Basket (3 Harvest & 3 Craft):
Golden Farmer (3 Harvest & 3 Prospect):
Jack of all Gather (2 Prospect & 2 Chopper & 2 Harvest):
Engineered Perfection (2 Craft & 2 Chopper & 2 Prospect):
Feast for All (2 Harvest & 2 Prospect & 2 Craft):
Net and Sail (2 Chopper & 2 Craft & 2 Harvest):

​

The Darkan Dex...

Spoiler:

The Darkan Dex is going to be around 350 entries total with about 80 never before seen Fakemon, these numbers are excluding the roughly 70 alternate formes players will be able to use.
​

Fakemon
(List is roughly complete, names will get updated alongside art when possible).
I will slash out the names if they have sprites already completed, which you should be able to see in the Fakemon sprites section.
Interested in spriting any of these and being included in the art team and creative idea credits? Just leave a comment and I'll get your discord information!

Spoiler:

#1 Water Starter
#2 Water Rock Starter evo
#3 Water Rock Starter evo 2
#4 Grass elf Starter
#5 Grass Ice tundra elf Starter evo
#6 Grass Ice tundra elf Starter evo 2
#7 Fire Elephant Starter
#8 Fire Ground Starter evo
#9 Fire Ground Starter evo 2
#10 Darkanian Pichu (dark, electric)
#11 Darkanian Pikachu (dark, electric) (Evolves from pichu at 25)
#12 Raibleed (Electric, steel) (pikachu evolve after touching bloodied claws - ripper demonesque)
#13 Darkanian Murkrow (steel/flying)
#14 Krownibel (crow-nibble) (steel flying) (evolve murkrow at level 30)
#15 Krownite (paladin type, sheds wings, kinda looks like a raptor with steel sword like beak?) (steel fighting) physical attacker (evolve anywhere else in darkan with high friendship)
#16 Holykrow (monk type, has wings and a few too many eyes it looks like an actual angel) (psychic flying) spattacker (evolve at Amonastary with high friendship)
#17 Roleyx (rock/electric)
#18 Rockenroleyx (rock/electric)
#19 Darkanian "rotom" (ghost and: dark/fairy/fighting/poison forms)
#20 Darkanian meowth
#21 Sanguinyan (meowth evo)
#22 Helsingyan (sanguinyan evo)
#23 Darkanian poochyena (fire and dark type)
#24 Mightyowler (poochyena evo) (fire and dark type)
#25 Skelehowl (mightyowler evo @ 45 after fainting in wild battle, fire and ghost type)
#26 Hemoneon (Ghost/steel) eeveelution (blood altar)
#27 Falmotheon (Bug/poison) eeveelution (infestation altar)
#28 Gargolyeon (Rock/dragon) eeveelution (obsidian altar)
#29 Mutated fish pokemon (efloovia bog)
#30 Mutated fish pokemon evo
#31 White church owl (tyto alba based)
#32 white hissing owl evo (level 25)
#33 white death owl evo (level 40, at night)
#34 Darkanian Relicanth
#35 Relidoeth (freaky telescope fish, evolves from relicanth in the regi caves after reaching level 35)
#36 Darkanian Yamask
#37 Cryptasket (yamask evo in the draynblud crypts at level 44)
#38 candy basket pokemomn (halloween)
#39 evolved candy basket pokemon (halloween)
#40 red Mushroom spore 1
#41 red Mushroom spore 2
#42 red Mushroom spore 3
#43 red and white rabbitesque early route (alice inspired)
#44 red and white hatterabbit (alice inspired)
#45 lonely landmonkey 1 early route (normal)
#46 lonely landmonkey 2 (normal/fighting)
#47 Darkanian Keckleon (Dark/+++) Secondary typing uses adjust ability
#48 Kecknkek (Dark/+++) Secondary typing uses adjust ability (evolve by reaching level 45 and fainting another kecknkek)
#49 Wrecknkek (Fighting/+++) Secondary typing uses adjust ability (evolve by reaching level 30 and fainting another wrecknkek).
#50 Muddied Lumber Mon (Grass/Ground)
#51 Wooden Vein Mon (Grass/Rock)
#52 Golden Farmer Mon (Rock/Steel)
#53 Blacksmith Delight Mon (Rock/Normal)-trio
#54 Fruits Basket Mon (Ground/Normal)-trio
#55 Carpenter Motive Mon (Grass/Normal)-trio
#56 Jack of all Gather Mon (Psychic)-duo
#57 Feast for All Mon (Fairy)-duo
#58 Engineered Perfection Mon
#59 Net and Sail Mon (Water)
#60 Ichorkin ("box legendary 1") (fairy dragon - blood red, sluggy and goodra-esque)
#61 Goreline ("box legendary 2") (poison dragon - sluggy and neon-greenesque)
#62 Regigoo (Darkanian Regi Trio)
#63 Regilite (Darkanian Regi Trio)
#64 Regifite (Darkanian Regi Trio)
#65 Reoxys (Darkanian Deoxys - blood and toxic form)
#66 Darkanian Groudon
#67 Darkanian Kyogre
#68 Darkanian Rayquaza
#69 normal type machop/smeargle cross, clumsy
#70 normal type machop/scmeargle evo, less clumsy
#71 psychic normal type machop/smeargle evo, craftsman (staple craft mon), four arms, crafty paint tail, high IQ. forme becomes psychic fighting.
#72 ground shark baby
#73 ground grass four legged shark evo
#74 ground grass six legged "carrying" shark (staple harvest mon) forme becomes grass steel.
#75 grass oak seed
#76 grass oak seed evo
#77 grass steel oak ent lumberjack with hatchet hands (staple chopper mon) forme becomes fire steel.
#78 ground mud pool baby dragon
#79 ground mud pool dragon evo
#80 ground steel mud pool dragon evo 2 (pickaxe skull, staple miner mon) forme becomes dragon steel.

Fakemon Sprites

Spoiler:

I understand how laughably bad some of these are! Mostly just concepts and placeholders so I can begin scripting and actually putting the game together. If you want to improve on them please be my guest! Some of them still don't have officially chosen names so bare that in mind if you're confused about the current name!

Meet our starters!

Darkanian Murkrow - Krownibel (Split evolution into) - Holykrow and Krownite

Darkanian Pichu - Darkanian Pikachu - Raibleed

Darkanian Meowth - Sanguinyan - Helsingyan

Oakseed - Oakseed2 - Oakseed3

Darkanian Regi-trio; Regifite - Regigoo - Regilite

Darkanian Rotoms - Base, Dark, Fighting, Poison, Fairy

Darkanian Keckleon - Wrecknkek - Kecknkek

Darkanian Yamask - Cryptasket

Rolyx - Rockenrolyx

Darkanian Eeveelutions - Gargoyleon (Rock/dragon) - Falmotheon (Bug/poison) - Hemoneon (Steel/ghost)

Mudpool - Mudpool2 - Mudpool3

Whiteowl - Whiteowl2 - Whiteowl3

Darkanian Shroomish - Redmushroom2 - Redmushroom3

​

Returning Pokémon

Spoiler:

List is subject to change before first beta, distribution and map balancing are needed.
If pre-evolution is listed, assume evolution is added.
If final evolution is listed, assume pre-evolutions are added.
Regional variants will be base and exclude other of same species (so no regular zigzagoon if including galarian one for example).
every starter
every legendary (excluding regional variants)
every mythical (excluding regional variants)
most UBs
eeveelutions
galar zig
stufful
Absol
Cleffa
Mimikyu
morpeko
Slugma
meltan
Alolan Grimer
annihilape
capsakid
tinkatink
Sneasler
scyther
ditto
gastly
corsola/cursola
clauncher/clawitser
zubat
kricketot
ledyba
yanma
foongus
nidos
treventant
pumpkaboo
lotad
cacnea
poli line
Minior
starly
nickit
hatenna
snom
venipede
zorua
magnemite
tangela
slaking
wobbufett
vivillon
timburr
togepi
porygon
rhydon
lycanroc
burmy
trubbish
bellsprout
cherubi
helioptile
sandile
hippotos
pan trio
volb/illu

Planned Features...

Spoiler:

Hunger System (Steps reduce it slowly, running from battles reduces it a lot, gaining skill experience also reduces it incrementally)
Mining and Woodcutting Skills - Itemlist done, XP rates set but may need adjustment based on playthrough feedback. Still need some UI and animation work done.
Harvesting Skill - Itemlist done, XP rates set but may need adjustment based on playthrough feedback. Still need some UI and animation work done.
In-depth Crafting System - Itemlist done, XP rates set but may need adjustment based on playthrough feedback. Still need UI work done.
Custom UI for Streamers (Show Hunger value, steps, team, dex information, and more) - LUA implementation needs to be tinkered some, but mostly good to go.
Discord Rich Presence - Ready to go, just need to push rpc updates on new map locations, in wild and trainer encounters.
Mastery and Prestige System (Prospect Forme, Chopper Forme, Harvest Forme, Craft Forme) - No progress made atm.
Idle Farm (Send your mastered Pokémon on jobs to earn valuable resources) - no progress atm.

Current Roadmap...

Spoiler:

April into May - Curating tilesets and spritework. Currently working on base concepts for many of the sprites which are being added to the thread when possible.

Last post update: April 14, 2023 - Updating lists and progress report. Concept sprites continue to be added :)

Closer to release I will work on beautifying this thread, until then I will periodically update this thread adding more text, pictures, and concept arts as they are finished. I would love to hear your feedback and suggestions, thank you for taking the time to check this thread out! The ultimate plan is to have this thread shifted to showcase when it's ready to show off in a more complete manner.

 

[sNicolasS151]

I loved it and for sure this project will still be much loved, good luck with your ideas.💙😲

 

[Natzen]

Much appreciated, thank you friend!

Update:
I just started adding some of the fakemon sprites to the post, and I'll continue to update them over the coming week! They're super rough and probably *hopefully* not final, but it'll be nice to get all the front, back, and shiny concept placeholders finished so they can be polished before the first beta.