=Introduction=
I've finally put forth the time to delve into my "more thorough" idea that I skimmed over in my head the other day, and I feel that this challenge is reasonably balanced. So here we go!
(A short story has been added for your enjoyment. ^-^ If you choose to read it, you'll get the gist of what the feel of the Fugitive Challenge is supposed to be. If you choose not to, that's perfectly fine as well; just thought I'd put on paper what was running through my mind at the time. Oh also, Red and Blue's roles are flipped; I'm blue-version-biased, sorry guys.)
Spoiler:
Believe me when I say that this version is much shorter than the unedited one. You should feel lucky. =p
Now for the ruleset.
=Rules and Explanations=
The ruleset found in the Fugitive Challenge was determined by taking the simple in-game limits found in most Pokémon RPGs and exaggerating them to make the game ridiculously difficult. The Nuzlocke Challenge did the same thing with a few of these in-game elements, but it left a bunch of them open for critique. That having been said, I think I've found a way to balance what was once stuffed under the category "Optional Nuzlocke Rules" and make them affect one another interchangeably.
Please enjoy my poorly-aligned images...
See a pattern? =3
Now before you call me out saying I've fallen off the deep end, allow me to explain the situations that arise when abiding by this ruleset and how the game is still completely doable, even with these seemingly OP elements.
Please Note:
I tried to avoid these kinds of issues when I made this ruleset--and it's a shame that there's no answer to this problem--but you will need to use an emulator for this challenge. The biggest flaw in the Fugitive's structure is that one would most definitely run out of PP early on in the game. To accommodate this, you will have access to an infinite supply of ether (via cheats) usable ONLY when your move is completely out of PP.
While this may spoil the availability of the Fugitive off of the computer, taking into consideration the hardcore nature this challenge implies, I find this crutch to be justifiable.
Another important note, ALL TMs, HMs, BERRIES, AND ALL OTHER MART ITEMS ARE AVAILABLE AS LONG AS THEY DO NOT BREAK ANY OF THE RULES BELOW. USE AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION.
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Rule I - Release Upon Fainting & No Pokémon Centers
The first rule of this pair is a parallel to the Nuzlocke. As for the second portion, this also goes for your mom, PCs, and any other forms of healing your Pokémon. The "no Pokécenters" rule goes into effect immediately upon exiting the second town.
Rule II -Three Move Cutt-Off
You are only allowed to use three moves for each Pokémon. Go to Rule VI for more details and answers to your questions.
Rule III -Whiting/Blacking Out = Mugged of All $ and Items
Whiting/Blacking out would normally mean Game Over according to the Nuzlocke, but there's a redeeming quality I added to this that may or may not be beneficial, depending upon your current situation. If you're too far into the game to give up so easily and you think you can handle the challenge, you are allowed one do-over after you lose a battle. BUT, you must act as if your opponent just robbed you... of everything: toss every item you had prior to that battle and head to the nearest PokéMart immediately to spend your remaining cash. After doing this, toss all of the purchased items. (Any items found along the way to the Mart do not need to be tossed; do your best to keep track.)
No items to sell, no money for potions... could you do it?
Rule IV - Avoid Getting Caught (Fight as Few Trainers as Possible)
Your ultimate goal in the Fugitive Challenge is going to be how low you can make your trainer count. This is the only rule in each game run-through that can fluctuate--a personal record, if you will. There is no given limit to how low your trainer count has to be, but remember that this will be the factor that dictates the quality of your performance. (My suggestion is to keep from focusing too much on this aspect until you get a feel for the challenge as a whole. Discover your hardest obstacles, learn to prepare in advance, work strategies, and don't you DARE waste your savings.)
Rule V - First Encounters Only
You may catch only the first Pokémon you see in a given area; same as the Nuzlocke.
Rule VI - Enemy Critical Hits = Special Stun
A lot of you are probably asking what Rule VI is about. Put simply, anytime one of your Pokémon that knows a total of four moves gets stricken with a critical hit, it is stunned for exactly four turns (excluding the turn you got hit). You can't use any attacks from your Choice Three, you may not heal any Pokémon, and you cannot call back your stunned Pokémon during these four turns. So what does this leave you with? This is where your unavoidable Fourth slot comes in. This is the ONLY time you are allowed to use this move and there are certain rules that you must abide by when deciding which move will be your "Pocket Fourth."
- The Pocket Fourth must be decided upon as soon as possible. This means that as soon as your Pokémon learns their fourth move, or immediately after you catch a Pokémon that already has four moves, you must make a choice--then and there--on which one of the current four moves will be your Fourth.
- You may not overwrite this move at any point during your run. The move you decided upon initially will be stuck with that Pokémon for the rest of the game.
Do what you can to make sure your pocket Fourth is viable. Choose wisely.
Rule VII -5 Pokéballs
You are allowed five Pokéballs, and only five. If one of them you throw doesn't catch a target, tough luck. Make sure you know you can catch what you're after before you start chucking s*** at it.
Rule VIII - No Legendaries
Pretty self-explanatory.
Rule IX - Lv. 55
This was one of the hardest decisions I made when analyzing this ruleset and I still don't really know if it should be applied or not. But until I get hard evidence showing this is too game-breaking (especially when grinding and with the huge limit associated with healing), it will have to stay. The reason being that if you get too cocksure and raise one Pokémon as if it were a solo run, or grind a high-level Pokémon in a low-level grassy area where you're guarenteed OHKOs on all of the wild, you essentially have a Lv. 100 Pokémon--if you were patient enough.
These situations break the underlying purpose of this challenge and cannot be tossed under the rug. I do not wish to recreate another Solo Challenge thread. The rules for the Lv. 55 limit are as follows:
- If a Pokémon reaches Lv. 56, they are to be either replaced with an egg of the convicted Pokémon's species. You are to re-level your partner starting from scratch.
- If you are playing through Generation 1, you must release the Pokémon and must purchase one Pokéball. Use the ball however you like.
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Fugitive Challengers:
Spoiler:
Fugitive Champions:
Spoiler:
This challenge is not meant to be available for spinoff games (i.e. Colleseum, XD, etc.)
=Final Thoughts=
Please note that this challenge is meant to encourage high-level thinking. By no means is this challenge one that is made to be done over and over with certain Pokémon to add to your signatures. (In the least derogatory sense possible.) Bring out your most hardcore trainer skills, put your best foot forward, and plunge tooth-and-nail into a world completely devoted to finding and exterminating you.
Happy stealthing!
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