Pokemon: d20 Version

[Real Sorceror]

Pokemon: d20 Version
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Project founder: Real Sorceror (myself)
Software used: None. We use our "imaginations" here, kids.

Introduction
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This is my attempt at creating a custom d20 system for Nintendo's Pokemon franchise. If you're familiar with Dungeons and Dragons, you'll notice I'm primarily using the 4th Edition framework with concepts taken from d20 Modern and the 3.5 spell point system. If you're not familiar with D&D, that probably didn't mean anything to you, but don't worry, I'll explain.
Basically its a multiplayer game that works a lot like a play-by-post. You record your character and Pokemon on paper. A player known as the Game Master tells the story and plays the part of the NPCs. You and the other players react however you like and, when necessary, roll dice to determine the outcome of certain events.

All characters are assumed to be human, though it is possible to play a Pokemon (this may be unbalanced in some cases). Human players choose a starting occupation (such as Trainer, Breeder, etc), hometown, and starter Pokemon from their region. They later have the option of going into more specific careers, such as Pokemon Professor, Ranger, or Blackbelt.
Humans and Pokemon are expressed by numbers and abilities that determine what they are capable of doing. Polyhedral dice rolls (usually a 20-sided dice) are added to these numbers to determine the success of any event whose outcome is uncertain (such as attacking or sneaking). A Bulbasaur, for example, would look like this:


#1 Bulbasaur フシギダネ Fushigidane - Level 1 Basic
Small Grass Pokemon - XP 100
Initiative: -1; Senses: Low-Light Vision
AC: 14 (-1 Dex, +5 natural armor)
HP: 15 Fort: 12 Ref: 9 Will: 13
Ability: Overgrow; Speed: 5
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Attack Bonus: +2 melee, +1 ranged
Techniques Known: 2; Power Points: 4
Basic – Tackle: Str vs AC, 1d4+0 normal damage
1st – Absorb: Cha vs Fort, 1d4+1 grass damage, recover hp equal to damage dealt
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Alignment: Unaligned; Evolution: Ivysaur 8+
Skills: Athletics +5, Perception +5
Str 10 (+0), Con 10 (+0), Dex 9 (-1), Int 6 (-2), Wis 13 (+1), Cha 13 (+1), App 12 (+1)


In case that doesn't mean much to you, I'll explain in further detail below.

Spoiler:

This Bulbasaur is a level 1 Basic Pokemon. The line underneath its name starts off with its size. A Bulbasaur is Small size (humans are Medium), it is Grass type, and if it is defeated it provides 100 experience points. Initiative determines its reaction time and Low-Light Vision means it sees slightly better than a human in dimly-lit areas. The lines below that contain its defenses, which determine how difficult it is to hit, and its HP (you should know what that is).
Below that are its movement speed and attacks. A Basic attack can be used as often as it likes. Special attacks, such as Water Gun, Mach Punch, or Fire Spin require the user to spend power points. PP are drawn from a single pool that increases with level instead of having a set number for each move. A Pokemon learns more moves as it advances and is not limited to only knowing four attacks.
Finally we get to the bottom block. A Bulbasaur is Unaligned, meaning that it is neither good nor evil in nature. You'll notice that Bulbasaur evolves at level 8 instead of 16. This is because the game only goes up to level 30. If you where to actually play a d20 game from 1st to 100th level it could take a year or more of constant gaming (in real life!), so I had to compress the game into levels 1-30. Skills determine what non-combat things a Bulbasaur is good at. In this casing Athletics (like jumping) and Perception (spotting and listening). Its stats are much like its video game stats: Strength (Attack), Dexterity (Speed), Charisma (Sp. Attack), and Wisdom (Sp. Defense).

Features
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-An easy to learn d20 system utilizing Wizard's of the Coast open game content.
-A fully multiplayer experience (in fact, you literally can't play alone!)
-Completely customizable characters who gain levels and abilities along with their Pokemon.
-An expanded type selection to add variety and challenge to the game.
-Many legendary Pokemon are now "elite" or "solo", requiring multiple trainers to defeat.
-All Pokemon, badges, gear, towns, and regions are supported. Or heck, just make up your own stuff.
-A homepage with charts and information that is updated daily.
-No downloads whatsoever, though a pdf is available.

Storyline
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Anyone familiar with table-top, pen and paper type games knows that they are just a toolbox for running your own adventures. More or less, I don't tell you what to play. I'm just providing the guidelines. I will be coming up with my own flavor and setting, but you are more than encouraged to use my system to create your own story, world, and characters. Heres a quick blurb from the site about the campaign setting I'm working on:

Spoiler:

The Pokemon world is a relatively peaceful place. War, poverty, and disease are all but unknown. Certainly, the world has fallen into peril and distress at one point or another, but some hero always came along and set things right.
But more recently, problems have cropped up that no amount of heroics can solve: political strife and discontent. Issues that have remained taboo for generations have made themselves impossible to ignore.
At the center of this are the many questions surrounding Pokemon Rights: Can Pokemon own property? Run a business? Marry humans? Are Pokemon free to leave their trainers and "own" themselves? Even more radical ideas, such as Pokemon owning humans, have raised their ugly head as well.
Fueling the fire is Team Rocket. Unbeknown to most of society, they have invented the Slave Ball, a device that allows the user to capture humans, and are selling it to unscrupulous individuals and Pokemon separatists.

Screenshots?
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Well, there aren't any. Because this is a table-top-RPG system, you literally write your stats and gear down on a Character Sheet and the GM (Game Master) tells you whats happening. The visual part is all in your head. I have developed an excel character sheet for those who'd like to play over the net.

Having said that, I am using open content art from Nintendo on my website. It would be pretty boring without pictures.
I will be using the existing regions and locations from the game and anime, but theres nothing saying you can't supplement or replace those with fan made material. I have finished stats for around 100 Pokemon, mostly from Gen I and Gen III. However, this is a very flexible system, so it can easily be used to express non-cannon monsters.

Release Date: The alpha is finished and available to be played. The project as a whole is still far from finished, but I expect a playable beta within a month or two.

Credits: Its pretty much just me, Croverus, and other members of the Giants in the Playground community. If you're interested, we are currently running an alpha playtest hosted at the Order of the Stick forum.
If you have any ideas for the game, or would like to help out in some way, just let me know. Further details for the game can be found on my website.

 

[Spikey-Eared Pichu]

A Pokemon...D&D game? I'm skeptive, but okay...Where's this website?

 

[Yuoaman]

This is quite interesting, I have to admit. I am familiar with the D&D, though moreso with the 3.5 system, which I prefer. :\ I haven't played a game with anyone however, as I don't have access to either the resources or the people XD

I'll keep an eye on this to see how it develops, Sorceror.

 

[Real Sorceror]

A Pokemon...D&D game? I'm skeptive, but okay...Where's this website?

Technically I can't post real links just yet, but the website is in my sig

 

[TBM_Christopher]

Interesting. Would the current writeups for Pokemon be enough to use for a D&D game, or would there be conversions necessary? Imagine my friends' surprise if they wind up fighting a Pokemon instead of a standard monster. :P

 

[Real Sorceror]

Interesting. Would the current writeups for Pokemon be enough to use for a D&D game, or would there be conversions necessary? Imagine my friends' surprise if they wind up fighting a Pokemon instead of a standard monster. :P

The stats I've done for the Pokemon can be thrown right into a 4e game (I also have older 3.5 versions), though their attack damage scales a little differently. Some things will have to be adjusted (there is no Flying damage in 4e, etc) but otherwise it should work fine.

 

[xJordan360]

This is with much promise, and I am interest.

 

[assasinn]

This would go good on the role play corner...

 

[Scales]

This would go good on the role play corner...

The roleplay corner is for text based roleplays. A D20 game is played with a few friends around a desk with dice and paper.

So really it's more of a game and belongs here since it's under development

 

[davidthefat]

When I read d20, I read it as D12... You know

 

[Avatar]

This would go good on the role play corner...

Was there any reason you revived this thread?