KenJThomas
Pokémon RP tutorial writer.
- 30
- Posts
- 15
- Years
- Seen Nov 10, 2008
Un-Official Pokecommunity Guide to RP's [Up-Dated Nov8!]
Index
1. Introduction (Search: AAAA)
2. How to Create a Pokémon Trainer! (Search: AAAB)
3. Character Name (Search: AAAC)
4. Age (Search: AAAD)
5. Gender (Search: AAAE)
6. Description (Search: AAAF)
7. Personality (Search: AAAG)
8. Biography (Search: AAAH) / Skills (Search: ZZZZ)
8. Personality and Biography (Search: AAAI)
9. Other (Search: AAAJ)
10.RP Sample (Search: AAAK)
11. Running a Pokémon RP Advice (Search: AAAL)
12. Running a Pokémon RP Plot (Search: AAAM)
Introduction (AAAA)
This thread is made to create a comprehensive resource for the Pokémon Community. For the curious, the amateurs and veterans. I hope this thread will last and see use by many of the greater and lesser members of this board that have a high standard for their own RPGs and games.
I would ask any member of the Pokémon Community board that has advice, time and gumption to add to this thread. There are many topics to handle concerning Pokémon and I certainly cannot cover them all myself. Even bringing up relevant topics you want discussed, or editing work for legibility is greatly appreciated! (I know I am not perfect, so a stickler for the rules of the "written word" could vastly improve my examples and work.)
The first topic I have chosen is the character creation process, something that's valuable to both GM and PC. I will add on to this topic and my work as my schedule permits. If you have questions, or I don't respond immediately please be patient.
How to create a Pokémon Trainer! (AAAB)
For every RPG there is a "Sign Up Sheet" often called a "Character Sheet". Your Game Master (which will now be abbreviated to GM) requires you to fill out a character sheet for several reasons including but not limited to; determining if you are skilled enough to participate, have a grasp of the plot, can follow the rules, and what your character's parameters are. If your character sheet is not accepted , do not be dis-couraged, there can be many reasons for being rejected for any particular game. Often times GM's will offer helpful tips and allow you to modify your sign up sheet to reach their standards.
Most sign up sheets consist of; name, age, gender, description, personality, history, other and a RPG sample. You should always check for what information your GM is looking for in specific, and ask before you leave anything out or add to the sheet itself. There's normally reasons behind what is placed in any individual sign up sheet. Also, the sign up sheet represented actually gives you more range of freedom than you might at first realize.
Your character's Description, History and Personality should all be four lines long as a minimum unless otherwise noted by the GM. The PK forum has had many complaints over the years of "short posts" and while you might be able to get away with less than four lines, it can certainly lead to you not being accepted to the game(s) you want to play.
While your GM must create a plot, a world and handle all the Non-Player Character's (which will now be abbreviated to NPC) around you. They work hard trying to make the game detailed and original, maintaining interest amongst the players. With your character sheet you are proving to the GM you are worth the hard work they are putting in and surprisingly (or not) you will be looking into the same elements, to attract the GM to your sign up sheet and allowing yourself a spot in their game.
So step by step you want to consider making a character you want to play while maintaining originality and a description that explains your character in as concise a manner as possible.'
Character Name (AAAC)
There are plenty of resources for finding/making a good name for your character(s).
While you can have the same name as character's from the canon material, you might want to consider a more original name to avoid confusion. Also many GM's RPGs are not canon and they do not want character's from the show, game, manga or other facets of the Pokémon franchise in their original game. While it might be alright if your character acts and looks completely different than the character in question it's best to avoid confusion. If you are having trouble making a realistic name, these three sites have comprehensive lists that can help inspire you.
behindthename is a site that displays the etymology and history of first names. The index is quite massive giving you the choice between masculine, feminine and unisex names in over seventy different cultures!
https://www.behindthename.com/usage.php
This site offers several directory's separated by male and female first names and last names.
https://www.census.gov/genealogy/names/names_files.html
Seventh Sanctum has a quick name generator that can also be used to create a name for your character quickly.
https://seventhsanctum.com/generate.php?Genname=quickname
Another valuable resource is a telephone book, the wide range of names listed is phenomenal.
Age (AAAD)
The show indicates you can be a professional trainer at the age of ten. You will want to make sure however to follow the age limits (if any) your GM has implemented for character's.
If you want a more realistic out look on being a pokémon trainer you can use this guideline (or make your own):
Age 10-14r: You can travel the world as a pokémon trainer, but you need parental consent and supervision.
Age 15-17: You can travel the world as a pokémon trainer, but you need parental consent.
Age 18+: You can travel the world as a pokémon trainer, as an adult you do not need parental consent or supervision.
Gender (AAAE)
Gender is self explanatory, you can choose either male or female as both are equally viable. Unless there is some stipulation from your GM you are free to choose either at your discretion.
Description (AAAF)
Your character's description can encompass a wide variety of subjects, however, you should always describe details from most important to least that way if you end up writing to much, you can simply erase the less important material (at your GM's request). Avoid vague terms at all cost such as "middle" and "average", these only have value if everyone uses the same measurements for these terms (which is likely not the case). Everyone looks different than one another, with very little exception. I will try to provide a reasonable summation of examples, there is many more ways to describe your character than the details I provide and players are encouraged to expand their designs individually.
Height/Weight
The tallest man was (8 ft 11 in) tall
The shortest man was (1 ft 10 ½ in) tall
The heaviest man was (1,235 lbs)
The lightest man was (15.7 lbs)
The tallest woman was (7 ft 7 in )
The shortest woman was (2 ft 2 in) tall
The heaviest woman was (1,050 lbs)
The lightest woman was (22 lbs)
While I tried to be as accurate as possible, these numbers may not be entirely correct. However, these are nearing or are the absolute extremes of humanity, they are the exception not the norm! Most pokémon trainers as human beings will fall between five and seven feet of height and a hundred to four hundred pounds, as weight summarily increases with height for the value of proportions.
Build
Human beings can be divided into three major categories and body types, this is commonly referred to as body typology.
Ectomorph- Low body mass to size ratio. Increased maximum height. Decreased starting weight. Initial bonus to Flexibility. Increased maximum for Flexibility and Quickness. Decreased maximum for Mass and Vitality. This body type is characterized by long arms and legs and a short upper body.
<Example = basketball player>
Endomorph- High body mass to size ratio. Increased starting weight. Increased maximum weight. Decreased initial Flexibility, Quickness, and Health. Characterized by having a large waist and a large bone structure.
<Example = power lifter>
Mesomorph- Good body mass to size ratio. Uses human average for starting weight and height. Initial bonus to Tone, Mass, and Health. Increased maximum for Tone, Mass, and Vitality. Characterized by wide shoulder with a narrow waist.
<Example = olympic gymnast>
If however you want to sum up your characters physique quickly with one or two positive, descriptive, words the following list should be able to provide ample assistance; angular, athletic, attractive, big boned, brawny, broad, defined, dexterous, flexible, graceful, healthy, heavy set, large, lean, lithe, nimble, rugged, small, thick, thick skinned, thin, toned, wiry.
Many potential pit falls have been discussed in the Bad habits of RPrs thread. Admins, moderators and potential GM's and fellow players have voiced their concerns.
To maintain a high standard of quality at the PK community we want to help you avoid the more common (and some not so common) problems that the majority of RP'ers have run into in the past, or might come across.
The most common of which (to my knowledge) is a cliché character.
Cliché Character's
A cliché is an expression, idea or phrase that has been used to the point of losing its intended force or novelty. Everyone has seen cliché character's and many have been guilty of creating and using them. It's natural to want a particular set of characteristics that resemble what you deem to be "perfect", or to inter-pose yourself as the character you are portraying. Both often lead to favoritism, the latter reinforces this as people commonly down play all their negative traits they possess and exemplify their positive attributes.
So while you can start with a cliché your character's should not end there! Many popular and established character's are cliché to one degree or another. There success is based off a number of factors, they could be what popularized the cliché hence were original for their time. They could have several distinctive traits that help define the character beyond the generic, or be inter acting with character's and plot that are able to keep them entertaining. Or at it's worst, society has forced conformity on the creatives of the time and people are choosing "the best from the worst".
An important factor to remember is that these character's have the spotlight on them, while in RP you share the spotlight along side other players who will not enjoy your character's habitually generic, stale and lifeless actions. To make a good character they must be dynamic, capable of change and not easily caricatured into traditional good-evil dichotomies. The world and the people (your character's) that fill it should reflect that.
These two links will help determine if your character is a cliché.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_heroic_stock_characters
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_female_stock_characters
Alter Ego the moderator for the Pokémon Roleplay and Pokémon Roleplay Lounge has a considerable amount of information concerning character generation and avoiding clichés including an in-depth guide to avoiding the many faces of Sue (common clichés!) it can be found here A treatise on character profiles.
Personality (AAAG)
Personality is made up of habitual patterns of behavior, emotion and though. These traits should remain relatively stable stable over time, differing from person to person though some traits may over lap. These central traits determine your characters disposition, while secondary traits are not as prevalent in day to day activities. Plenty of traits correlate together forming "groups". What you must be careful of is giving your character's contradictory personality traits.
As the creator of your character, you must determine what your character's actual personality traits are. Do not focus on describing what other peoples character's think of yours. Everyones character's will come to a different conclusion, people might mistake shyness for indifference, being straight forward as antisocial, impersonal as cold hearted so on and so forth.
Some contradictory personality traits would be;
impulsive and calculated
egocentric and modest
strict and easy going
organized and chaotic
Wikipedia offers an adequate set of examples for personality examples. Divided into low range and high range groups so you will not end up with conflicting traits.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/16_Personality_Factors
Biography (AAAH)
A character's biography, particularly in this sense is used to help describe and high-light important aspects of your character's life, including intimate details and experiences and might include an analysis for the subject's personality or current out look.
As a pokémon trainer you will likely want to include how and why you got the pokémon (if any) that you have. The description does not have to be long especially if your a new trainer, perhaps it's your starter or it was purchased by yourself or a family member (as a gift). It's possible that your character was influenced by someone, or location or it was absolute chance.
If your character's life has been un-eventful you can still describe what influenced them into becoming a pokémon trainer and what led up to it.
A biography can also be a good way to determine what your character's skills are.
Examples for skills (ZZZZ):
Alchemy:
Alchemy is used to put ingredients together to create new substances such as; poison, soap, acid, perfume, alcohol, bug repellent, medical salves and more.
Appraise:
Use this skill to tell an antique from old junk, worthless stones from precious and the worth of foreign coins and currency.
Archery:
Archery is the art of using a bow and arrows, it is commonly used for hunting but can also be used in times of war.
Athletics:
This skill helps perform general physical functions including running, throwing and jumping.
Awareness:
This skill increases your general ability to observe and gather information through your biological senses and also determines how alert you are to stimuli in your surroundings.
Cryptology:
This skill allows you to analyze and decipher coded text or messages. This includes mathematical, linguistic and other coding patterns.
Doctoring:
This skill is used to identify and successfully treat wounded friends from dying, to help others recover faster from wounds and to treat people who have become poisoned and disease .
Dodge:
This skill helps you to avoid being struck by taking evasive action. Some examples of dodge actions would include; side-stepping, with-drawing, ducking , weaving, feints and head slipping.
Fencing:
Fencing is the art and science of armed combat involving cutting, stabbing, or bludgeoning weapons directly manipulated by hand, rather than shot or thrown. Example weapons include swords, knives, pikes, bayonets, batons and clubs.
Herbalism:
Herbalism is the art of herbal medicine where you utilize the propertys of plants, fauna and moss for treatment of various ailments. Herbalism can also be used to create other more exotic or un-lawful extracts and is also shares in also has its share of common house hold uses such as perfume, soap, coloring dye and potpourri.
Leadership:
Leadership provides your character with the understanding of how to lead. You are equipped with the ability to influence, motivate and enable others to contribute towards the effectiveness and success of an action, project or group.
Martial Arts:
Martial Arts determines how well trained you are in self-defense and hand-to-hand combat. There are many forms of martial arts and characters must choose what styles they are practitioners of after taking Martial Arts (some examples are; Boxing, Judo, Jujitsu, Karate, Aikido and Wu Shu). Martial arts can be purchased multiple times for different styles.
Pokémon [knowledge]:
Knowledge pokémon represents a study of pokémon types, habits, diet and rules concerning the ownership and use of pokémon, including but not limited to, labor, battling, breeding, tournaments and contests.
Pitching:
Pitching provides your character with the ability to throw spherical objects faster, further and more accurately. It also allows you to safely lob objects to allies during stressful situations.
Repair:
Repair allows you to temporarily or permanently patch and keep together gear that is falling apart or broken.
Ride:
Ride helps you to mount and ride a suitable creature, for humans common mounts are; horses, camels and pony's and their pokémon variations. This skill lowers fatigue while riding and also allows players to attempt guiding their mount with their knees, mounted combat, using their mount as cover, fall safely (from their mount), fast (leap) mount and fast (leap) dismount with more success.
Speech:
In the act of vocalization you are well versed in public speaking, oration and quotation. Your ability to use rhetoric, composition and delivery of words is striking and graceful you are able to present and combine thought and reason in a powerful way and persuade others from their original point of view to another.
Stealth:
Stealth is your skill for slinking in and out of the shadows by virtue of quiet subtle movements, or at times creating diversions. Stealth is the art of remaining un-seen and un-heard.
Survival:
The Survival skill encompasses techniques used in camping including; lighting a fire, finding shelter, making water safe to drink, finding and identifying food, treating weather-based injury, climbing, swimming, and using specific or makeshift tools. This skill also helps the player track, hunt, determine direction and avoid natural disasters.
Tactics:
The tactics skill is how fast and how well you can provide strategy in any given situation. You understand formation, deployment, siege, artillery, logistics and employment of fighting men and women.
Personality and Biography (AAAI)
Think about the relationship of your character's personality and biography. Individuals are complex, a persons life takes shape through a series of contingent happenings. When you write these two subjects, your objective should be to arrive at your character's motivation and desires, his features of character (both positive and negative) as well as illuminating the events that make your character who they are. In order to fully understand your character you need to be able to determine how they think, what they want (and have wanted), intended, chose, resisted and why.
A biography is a compilation of several different kinds of assertions or observations. Some of the things that happen to your character, some of the actions and choices that were made, some reasoning behind the subject's personality and motivation and the reasons behind them.
While you may have determined each of these subjects singly and may not have contradicted yourself in each separately you must review to make sure your character's personality and biography reflect each other and do not contradict.
If your character has a tragic past they are un-likely to be the happiest person in the world.
Other (AAAJ)
Other is the "catch all" of the sign up sheet. Anything that does not apply to the other topics can be placed here. It's not un-common for people to list their pokémon both active and inactive, important possessions including your traveling gear, badges, ribbons, pokédex and what ever else your GM might supply you with. It may also include your character's journal or other information you have received over the course of your adventure(s)!
An example for clothing:
Trainers Outfit: This is an outfit for active trainers that have to deal with the hardships and rigorous life style brought on by the pursuit of pokémon training. It includes sturdy hiking boots, pants or a skirt, a sturdy belt, a linen shirt, gloves, and a jacket or vest. This outfit also includes any extra items you might need, such as a cap or a scarf.
RPG Sample (AAAK)
An RPG sample is just that! A sample of your skills and techniques for RPing.
While different GM's have different tastes you can count on being judged based off the following criteria;
-Character Development:
This includes how well you showcase your character. Anything that will further push our understanding of your character is included.
-Creativity:
Is the material original.
-Effort:
Without it, you lose. Simple as that.
-Entertainment:
This includes how enjoyable the role play sample (and sign up sheet to some extent) is to read.
-Legibility
Is the post clear enough to read, if it cannot be understood by your GM and other players it will not be accepted. If spelling and grammatical errors become distracting, your chance of being selected as a player will be deduced. The forum has a spell check option make sure that you use it.
-Rules
Do the sign up sheet follow all the rules up-held by The Pokémon Community forum, and include all the information asked for by the GM.
Running a Pokémon RP Advice (AAAL)
Game Master
1.You need to create a game you will have a fun time GM'ing. If you start perceiving your game as a burden, chore, down right un-pleasant, end up having burnout, or writers block you need to examine your game and determine what you can do to change your out-look. If modification is not enough you may need to consider withdrawing from the game.
2.While you are involved with plot, you must listen to and balance your players needs, however, you will not conduct favoritism and put an individuals desires above the groups.
3.You will present a coherent plot and goals, manage the wants and needs of both with those of your players and enforce the rules as an impartial judge.
4.You will never conduct yourself in an immature or inflammatory manner, you are an example to your players. You have no excuse, if you are unhappy with your role as a GM it's time for you to take a break and pass the mantle on.
5.You have to be able to keep up on what's going on, you might be able to delegate work to an assistant but the game depends on you. If you are not consistent, you game will collapse.
Players
1.You need to join a game that you will a fun time playing in. Determine if a game is appropriate for you and decide if you want to commit your time and energy to the game you are considering joining. If you decide to withdraw from a game make sure to notify your GM and explain why you are going. Make sure to leave in a respectable and mature manner causing as little stress to the GM, rest of the group and game.
2.Be respectful to the GM, pay attention when they post.
3.Be respectful to other players character's, your character is only as important not more important than any other players character. You will not control other players character's, or NPCs that are being controlled by the GM.
4.There are consequences for your actions, playing as a character in a game there is always risk. That being said, bad things might occur to your character, possibly even die. Throwing tantrums or making inflammatory remarks is not appropriate conduct.
5.When filling out your sign up sheet (character sheet) be sure to follow the rules and make a character that fits your GM's needs and works in the game that is presented. Consider the effect's your character might have on other players as well as on the game. Try to make your character as interesting as possible, it will make the GM more receptive to accepting your character.
6.Take critiques and criticism with an open ear and mind. Nobody is perfect, and while you might not agree with what's said you might still learn from the experience.
7.Remember that GM's are human beings, as such they can make mistakes and also have a life outside RPing. Respect the fact that your GM has work,school or other pressing matters in their life and they need to have time to take care of themselves.
GM's and Players
If you are not having fun, find out what you can do to change it. You might have to modify the character, the plot or end up quitting the game entirely. Just be sure to do it like a mature adult, your fellow gamers are people to and will appreciate your courtesy. Be sure to respect one another, even if you have other responsibilities or pressing matters to attend try to maintain a pleasant demeanor. Be sure to listen to one another, people don't speak because they like the sound of their voice, they do it because they are trying to communicate, pay attention. Both the GM and the PCs are responsible for maintaining communication. Information and the exchange of ideas are crucial, if you enjoy something or are dis-pleased you must communicate this to each other.
Preparing a Pokémon RP Plot (AAAM)
The plot comprises all the major (or minor) events in your story. It's every idea you will execute so that your players can build and expand on and work through. To make a pokémon RP you first need to have a good grasp of the pokémon world this (with whatever modifications you enforce) will be the setting for your RP. Second you will need to focus in on the situation(s) you want your RP'ers to play through. These events are often dramatic and are the basis for your game. Your players could be abducted, disaster can strike, madness could ensue!
After you have come up with a collection of ideas, the next step is to make them into a recognizable story which forms your basic plot idea, that leads to your central conflict and premise, then builds your characters and underlying themes. A plot should not be less than five or six lines, the Poké Community will not accept less! While you do not have to provide a powerful essay on every event in your game, you have to provide enough material to maintain player interest.
Here is a list of twenty common themes, while not original they are serviceable (which is important).
https://www.tennscreen.com/plots.htm
Do not be afraid to use more than one basis for your plot, it will help make your game distinct when others inevitably have a similar basis for the idea of their story. This is doubly true if you want to play through the more common pokémon themed games the most popular of which (to my knowledge) is "A Pokémon Journey". There are reasons for this being the case, however, most players want to play the character's they have created and have their own adventure in the vein of the show or video game.
This has many pit-falls you must address before starting a game, as competition will be particularly stiff and you will have really try to impress upon potential players how your game is different and why they should play in your game rather than the multitudes of other RP threads that will likely look startlingly similar to your own. Even if your game has the potential for greatness, you can easily be over looked.
Example RP Plots:
Journey:
Like the majority of people in the world of Pokémon you are a Pokémon Trainer. Having given up your 'droll existence', you take your first strides of adventure now! Capturing pokémon, collecting badges, competing in competitions, battling the elusive Team Rocket and building your reputation with other trainers to claim your dreams!
Journey includes Capturing pokémon, collecting badges, coordinating in competitions, battling the elusive Team Rocket (or if people want to play in a different region replace Team Rocket with appropriate gang) and more. Basically it would be in the same vein as the show, there is alot to do in the pokémon world. The pokémon world is more dangerous than it is made out to be in the anime as it is a production for young audiences they have to keep violence (particularly permanent injury and death) to a minimum.
Cops and Robbers;
Cops:
As a member of the PPF (PokéPoliceForce) you and your Pokémon companions are in charge of protecting citizens, apprehending criminals and halting crime as you are ordered. An important but commonly thankless job you make do treading through your nine to five grind trying to make the world around you safe.
Robbers:
You are a member of the elusive "Team Rocket" working your way up the chain. Lets face it your a bad guy (or girl) for whatever reason, you want money, fame and power. As fast as you can get it, you live in a dangerous world and the police are not going to help you.
Mystery Menace:
An un-known force conspires against you and those around you. The town/city you occupy is hit with a major disaster and is closed off from the world around you. No help will be coming, it is up to you! Find out why the disaster struck, who is behind everything and survive.
Pokemon Ranger:
Index
1. Introduction (Search: AAAA)
2. How to Create a Pokémon Trainer! (Search: AAAB)
3. Character Name (Search: AAAC)
4. Age (Search: AAAD)
5. Gender (Search: AAAE)
6. Description (Search: AAAF)
7. Personality (Search: AAAG)
8. Biography (Search: AAAH) / Skills (Search: ZZZZ)
8. Personality and Biography (Search: AAAI)
9. Other (Search: AAAJ)
10.RP Sample (Search: AAAK)
11. Running a Pokémon RP Advice (Search: AAAL)
12. Running a Pokémon RP Plot (Search: AAAM)
Introduction (AAAA)
This thread is made to create a comprehensive resource for the Pokémon Community. For the curious, the amateurs and veterans. I hope this thread will last and see use by many of the greater and lesser members of this board that have a high standard for their own RPGs and games.
I would ask any member of the Pokémon Community board that has advice, time and gumption to add to this thread. There are many topics to handle concerning Pokémon and I certainly cannot cover them all myself. Even bringing up relevant topics you want discussed, or editing work for legibility is greatly appreciated! (I know I am not perfect, so a stickler for the rules of the "written word" could vastly improve my examples and work.)
The first topic I have chosen is the character creation process, something that's valuable to both GM and PC. I will add on to this topic and my work as my schedule permits. If you have questions, or I don't respond immediately please be patient.
How to create a Pokémon Trainer! (AAAB)
For every RPG there is a "Sign Up Sheet" often called a "Character Sheet". Your Game Master (which will now be abbreviated to GM) requires you to fill out a character sheet for several reasons including but not limited to; determining if you are skilled enough to participate, have a grasp of the plot, can follow the rules, and what your character's parameters are. If your character sheet is not accepted , do not be dis-couraged, there can be many reasons for being rejected for any particular game. Often times GM's will offer helpful tips and allow you to modify your sign up sheet to reach their standards.
Most sign up sheets consist of; name, age, gender, description, personality, history, other and a RPG sample. You should always check for what information your GM is looking for in specific, and ask before you leave anything out or add to the sheet itself. There's normally reasons behind what is placed in any individual sign up sheet. Also, the sign up sheet represented actually gives you more range of freedom than you might at first realize.
Your character's Description, History and Personality should all be four lines long as a minimum unless otherwise noted by the GM. The PK forum has had many complaints over the years of "short posts" and while you might be able to get away with less than four lines, it can certainly lead to you not being accepted to the game(s) you want to play.
While your GM must create a plot, a world and handle all the Non-Player Character's (which will now be abbreviated to NPC) around you. They work hard trying to make the game detailed and original, maintaining interest amongst the players. With your character sheet you are proving to the GM you are worth the hard work they are putting in and surprisingly (or not) you will be looking into the same elements, to attract the GM to your sign up sheet and allowing yourself a spot in their game.
So step by step you want to consider making a character you want to play while maintaining originality and a description that explains your character in as concise a manner as possible.'
Character Name (AAAC)
There are plenty of resources for finding/making a good name for your character(s).
While you can have the same name as character's from the canon material, you might want to consider a more original name to avoid confusion. Also many GM's RPGs are not canon and they do not want character's from the show, game, manga or other facets of the Pokémon franchise in their original game. While it might be alright if your character acts and looks completely different than the character in question it's best to avoid confusion. If you are having trouble making a realistic name, these three sites have comprehensive lists that can help inspire you.
behindthename is a site that displays the etymology and history of first names. The index is quite massive giving you the choice between masculine, feminine and unisex names in over seventy different cultures!
https://www.behindthename.com/usage.php
This site offers several directory's separated by male and female first names and last names.
https://www.census.gov/genealogy/names/names_files.html
Seventh Sanctum has a quick name generator that can also be used to create a name for your character quickly.
https://seventhsanctum.com/generate.php?Genname=quickname
Another valuable resource is a telephone book, the wide range of names listed is phenomenal.
Age (AAAD)
The show indicates you can be a professional trainer at the age of ten. You will want to make sure however to follow the age limits (if any) your GM has implemented for character's.
If you want a more realistic out look on being a pokémon trainer you can use this guideline (or make your own):
Age 10-14r: You can travel the world as a pokémon trainer, but you need parental consent and supervision.
Age 15-17: You can travel the world as a pokémon trainer, but you need parental consent.
Age 18+: You can travel the world as a pokémon trainer, as an adult you do not need parental consent or supervision.
Gender (AAAE)
Gender is self explanatory, you can choose either male or female as both are equally viable. Unless there is some stipulation from your GM you are free to choose either at your discretion.
Description (AAAF)
Your character's description can encompass a wide variety of subjects, however, you should always describe details from most important to least that way if you end up writing to much, you can simply erase the less important material (at your GM's request). Avoid vague terms at all cost such as "middle" and "average", these only have value if everyone uses the same measurements for these terms (which is likely not the case). Everyone looks different than one another, with very little exception. I will try to provide a reasonable summation of examples, there is many more ways to describe your character than the details I provide and players are encouraged to expand their designs individually.
Height/Weight
The tallest man was (8 ft 11 in) tall
The shortest man was (1 ft 10 ½ in) tall
The heaviest man was (1,235 lbs)
The lightest man was (15.7 lbs)
The tallest woman was (7 ft 7 in )
The shortest woman was (2 ft 2 in) tall
The heaviest woman was (1,050 lbs)
The lightest woman was (22 lbs)
While I tried to be as accurate as possible, these numbers may not be entirely correct. However, these are nearing or are the absolute extremes of humanity, they are the exception not the norm! Most pokémon trainers as human beings will fall between five and seven feet of height and a hundred to four hundred pounds, as weight summarily increases with height for the value of proportions.
Build
Human beings can be divided into three major categories and body types, this is commonly referred to as body typology.
Ectomorph- Low body mass to size ratio. Increased maximum height. Decreased starting weight. Initial bonus to Flexibility. Increased maximum for Flexibility and Quickness. Decreased maximum for Mass and Vitality. This body type is characterized by long arms and legs and a short upper body.
<Example = basketball player>
Endomorph- High body mass to size ratio. Increased starting weight. Increased maximum weight. Decreased initial Flexibility, Quickness, and Health. Characterized by having a large waist and a large bone structure.
<Example = power lifter>
Mesomorph- Good body mass to size ratio. Uses human average for starting weight and height. Initial bonus to Tone, Mass, and Health. Increased maximum for Tone, Mass, and Vitality. Characterized by wide shoulder with a narrow waist.
<Example = olympic gymnast>
If however you want to sum up your characters physique quickly with one or two positive, descriptive, words the following list should be able to provide ample assistance; angular, athletic, attractive, big boned, brawny, broad, defined, dexterous, flexible, graceful, healthy, heavy set, large, lean, lithe, nimble, rugged, small, thick, thick skinned, thin, toned, wiry.
Many potential pit falls have been discussed in the Bad habits of RPrs thread. Admins, moderators and potential GM's and fellow players have voiced their concerns.
To maintain a high standard of quality at the PK community we want to help you avoid the more common (and some not so common) problems that the majority of RP'ers have run into in the past, or might come across.
The most common of which (to my knowledge) is a cliché character.
Cliché Character's
A cliché is an expression, idea or phrase that has been used to the point of losing its intended force or novelty. Everyone has seen cliché character's and many have been guilty of creating and using them. It's natural to want a particular set of characteristics that resemble what you deem to be "perfect", or to inter-pose yourself as the character you are portraying. Both often lead to favoritism, the latter reinforces this as people commonly down play all their negative traits they possess and exemplify their positive attributes.
So while you can start with a cliché your character's should not end there! Many popular and established character's are cliché to one degree or another. There success is based off a number of factors, they could be what popularized the cliché hence were original for their time. They could have several distinctive traits that help define the character beyond the generic, or be inter acting with character's and plot that are able to keep them entertaining. Or at it's worst, society has forced conformity on the creatives of the time and people are choosing "the best from the worst".
An important factor to remember is that these character's have the spotlight on them, while in RP you share the spotlight along side other players who will not enjoy your character's habitually generic, stale and lifeless actions. To make a good character they must be dynamic, capable of change and not easily caricatured into traditional good-evil dichotomies. The world and the people (your character's) that fill it should reflect that.
These two links will help determine if your character is a cliché.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_heroic_stock_characters
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_female_stock_characters
Alter Ego the moderator for the Pokémon Roleplay and Pokémon Roleplay Lounge has a considerable amount of information concerning character generation and avoiding clichés including an in-depth guide to avoiding the many faces of Sue (common clichés!) it can be found here A treatise on character profiles.
Personality (AAAG)
Personality is made up of habitual patterns of behavior, emotion and though. These traits should remain relatively stable stable over time, differing from person to person though some traits may over lap. These central traits determine your characters disposition, while secondary traits are not as prevalent in day to day activities. Plenty of traits correlate together forming "groups". What you must be careful of is giving your character's contradictory personality traits.
As the creator of your character, you must determine what your character's actual personality traits are. Do not focus on describing what other peoples character's think of yours. Everyones character's will come to a different conclusion, people might mistake shyness for indifference, being straight forward as antisocial, impersonal as cold hearted so on and so forth.
Some contradictory personality traits would be;
impulsive and calculated
egocentric and modest
strict and easy going
organized and chaotic
Wikipedia offers an adequate set of examples for personality examples. Divided into low range and high range groups so you will not end up with conflicting traits.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/16_Personality_Factors
Biography (AAAH)
A character's biography, particularly in this sense is used to help describe and high-light important aspects of your character's life, including intimate details and experiences and might include an analysis for the subject's personality or current out look.
As a pokémon trainer you will likely want to include how and why you got the pokémon (if any) that you have. The description does not have to be long especially if your a new trainer, perhaps it's your starter or it was purchased by yourself or a family member (as a gift). It's possible that your character was influenced by someone, or location or it was absolute chance.
If your character's life has been un-eventful you can still describe what influenced them into becoming a pokémon trainer and what led up to it.
A biography can also be a good way to determine what your character's skills are.
Examples for skills (ZZZZ):
Alchemy:
Alchemy is used to put ingredients together to create new substances such as; poison, soap, acid, perfume, alcohol, bug repellent, medical salves and more.
Appraise:
Use this skill to tell an antique from old junk, worthless stones from precious and the worth of foreign coins and currency.
Archery:
Archery is the art of using a bow and arrows, it is commonly used for hunting but can also be used in times of war.
Athletics:
This skill helps perform general physical functions including running, throwing and jumping.
Awareness:
This skill increases your general ability to observe and gather information through your biological senses and also determines how alert you are to stimuli in your surroundings.
Cryptology:
This skill allows you to analyze and decipher coded text or messages. This includes mathematical, linguistic and other coding patterns.
Doctoring:
This skill is used to identify and successfully treat wounded friends from dying, to help others recover faster from wounds and to treat people who have become poisoned and disease .
Dodge:
This skill helps you to avoid being struck by taking evasive action. Some examples of dodge actions would include; side-stepping, with-drawing, ducking , weaving, feints and head slipping.
Fencing:
Fencing is the art and science of armed combat involving cutting, stabbing, or bludgeoning weapons directly manipulated by hand, rather than shot or thrown. Example weapons include swords, knives, pikes, bayonets, batons and clubs.
Herbalism:
Herbalism is the art of herbal medicine where you utilize the propertys of plants, fauna and moss for treatment of various ailments. Herbalism can also be used to create other more exotic or un-lawful extracts and is also shares in also has its share of common house hold uses such as perfume, soap, coloring dye and potpourri.
Leadership:
Leadership provides your character with the understanding of how to lead. You are equipped with the ability to influence, motivate and enable others to contribute towards the effectiveness and success of an action, project or group.
Martial Arts:
Martial Arts determines how well trained you are in self-defense and hand-to-hand combat. There are many forms of martial arts and characters must choose what styles they are practitioners of after taking Martial Arts (some examples are; Boxing, Judo, Jujitsu, Karate, Aikido and Wu Shu). Martial arts can be purchased multiple times for different styles.
Pokémon [knowledge]:
Knowledge pokémon represents a study of pokémon types, habits, diet and rules concerning the ownership and use of pokémon, including but not limited to, labor, battling, breeding, tournaments and contests.
Pitching:
Pitching provides your character with the ability to throw spherical objects faster, further and more accurately. It also allows you to safely lob objects to allies during stressful situations.
Repair:
Repair allows you to temporarily or permanently patch and keep together gear that is falling apart or broken.
Ride:
Ride helps you to mount and ride a suitable creature, for humans common mounts are; horses, camels and pony's and their pokémon variations. This skill lowers fatigue while riding and also allows players to attempt guiding their mount with their knees, mounted combat, using their mount as cover, fall safely (from their mount), fast (leap) mount and fast (leap) dismount with more success.
Speech:
In the act of vocalization you are well versed in public speaking, oration and quotation. Your ability to use rhetoric, composition and delivery of words is striking and graceful you are able to present and combine thought and reason in a powerful way and persuade others from their original point of view to another.
Stealth:
Stealth is your skill for slinking in and out of the shadows by virtue of quiet subtle movements, or at times creating diversions. Stealth is the art of remaining un-seen and un-heard.
Survival:
The Survival skill encompasses techniques used in camping including; lighting a fire, finding shelter, making water safe to drink, finding and identifying food, treating weather-based injury, climbing, swimming, and using specific or makeshift tools. This skill also helps the player track, hunt, determine direction and avoid natural disasters.
Tactics:
The tactics skill is how fast and how well you can provide strategy in any given situation. You understand formation, deployment, siege, artillery, logistics and employment of fighting men and women.
Personality and Biography (AAAI)
Think about the relationship of your character's personality and biography. Individuals are complex, a persons life takes shape through a series of contingent happenings. When you write these two subjects, your objective should be to arrive at your character's motivation and desires, his features of character (both positive and negative) as well as illuminating the events that make your character who they are. In order to fully understand your character you need to be able to determine how they think, what they want (and have wanted), intended, chose, resisted and why.
A biography is a compilation of several different kinds of assertions or observations. Some of the things that happen to your character, some of the actions and choices that were made, some reasoning behind the subject's personality and motivation and the reasons behind them.
While you may have determined each of these subjects singly and may not have contradicted yourself in each separately you must review to make sure your character's personality and biography reflect each other and do not contradict.
If your character has a tragic past they are un-likely to be the happiest person in the world.
Other (AAAJ)
Other is the "catch all" of the sign up sheet. Anything that does not apply to the other topics can be placed here. It's not un-common for people to list their pokémon both active and inactive, important possessions including your traveling gear, badges, ribbons, pokédex and what ever else your GM might supply you with. It may also include your character's journal or other information you have received over the course of your adventure(s)!
An example for clothing:
Trainers Outfit: This is an outfit for active trainers that have to deal with the hardships and rigorous life style brought on by the pursuit of pokémon training. It includes sturdy hiking boots, pants or a skirt, a sturdy belt, a linen shirt, gloves, and a jacket or vest. This outfit also includes any extra items you might need, such as a cap or a scarf.
RPG Sample (AAAK)
An RPG sample is just that! A sample of your skills and techniques for RPing.
While different GM's have different tastes you can count on being judged based off the following criteria;
-Character Development:
This includes how well you showcase your character. Anything that will further push our understanding of your character is included.
-Creativity:
Is the material original.
-Effort:
Without it, you lose. Simple as that.
-Entertainment:
This includes how enjoyable the role play sample (and sign up sheet to some extent) is to read.
-Legibility
Is the post clear enough to read, if it cannot be understood by your GM and other players it will not be accepted. If spelling and grammatical errors become distracting, your chance of being selected as a player will be deduced. The forum has a spell check option make sure that you use it.
-Rules
Do the sign up sheet follow all the rules up-held by The Pokémon Community forum, and include all the information asked for by the GM.
Running a Pokémon RP Advice (AAAL)
Game Master
1.You need to create a game you will have a fun time GM'ing. If you start perceiving your game as a burden, chore, down right un-pleasant, end up having burnout, or writers block you need to examine your game and determine what you can do to change your out-look. If modification is not enough you may need to consider withdrawing from the game.
2.While you are involved with plot, you must listen to and balance your players needs, however, you will not conduct favoritism and put an individuals desires above the groups.
3.You will present a coherent plot and goals, manage the wants and needs of both with those of your players and enforce the rules as an impartial judge.
4.You will never conduct yourself in an immature or inflammatory manner, you are an example to your players. You have no excuse, if you are unhappy with your role as a GM it's time for you to take a break and pass the mantle on.
5.You have to be able to keep up on what's going on, you might be able to delegate work to an assistant but the game depends on you. If you are not consistent, you game will collapse.
Players
1.You need to join a game that you will a fun time playing in. Determine if a game is appropriate for you and decide if you want to commit your time and energy to the game you are considering joining. If you decide to withdraw from a game make sure to notify your GM and explain why you are going. Make sure to leave in a respectable and mature manner causing as little stress to the GM, rest of the group and game.
2.Be respectful to the GM, pay attention when they post.
3.Be respectful to other players character's, your character is only as important not more important than any other players character. You will not control other players character's, or NPCs that are being controlled by the GM.
4.There are consequences for your actions, playing as a character in a game there is always risk. That being said, bad things might occur to your character, possibly even die. Throwing tantrums or making inflammatory remarks is not appropriate conduct.
5.When filling out your sign up sheet (character sheet) be sure to follow the rules and make a character that fits your GM's needs and works in the game that is presented. Consider the effect's your character might have on other players as well as on the game. Try to make your character as interesting as possible, it will make the GM more receptive to accepting your character.
6.Take critiques and criticism with an open ear and mind. Nobody is perfect, and while you might not agree with what's said you might still learn from the experience.
7.Remember that GM's are human beings, as such they can make mistakes and also have a life outside RPing. Respect the fact that your GM has work,school or other pressing matters in their life and they need to have time to take care of themselves.
GM's and Players
If you are not having fun, find out what you can do to change it. You might have to modify the character, the plot or end up quitting the game entirely. Just be sure to do it like a mature adult, your fellow gamers are people to and will appreciate your courtesy. Be sure to respect one another, even if you have other responsibilities or pressing matters to attend try to maintain a pleasant demeanor. Be sure to listen to one another, people don't speak because they like the sound of their voice, they do it because they are trying to communicate, pay attention. Both the GM and the PCs are responsible for maintaining communication. Information and the exchange of ideas are crucial, if you enjoy something or are dis-pleased you must communicate this to each other.
Preparing a Pokémon RP Plot (AAAM)
The plot comprises all the major (or minor) events in your story. It's every idea you will execute so that your players can build and expand on and work through. To make a pokémon RP you first need to have a good grasp of the pokémon world this (with whatever modifications you enforce) will be the setting for your RP. Second you will need to focus in on the situation(s) you want your RP'ers to play through. These events are often dramatic and are the basis for your game. Your players could be abducted, disaster can strike, madness could ensue!
After you have come up with a collection of ideas, the next step is to make them into a recognizable story which forms your basic plot idea, that leads to your central conflict and premise, then builds your characters and underlying themes. A plot should not be less than five or six lines, the Poké Community will not accept less! While you do not have to provide a powerful essay on every event in your game, you have to provide enough material to maintain player interest.
Here is a list of twenty common themes, while not original they are serviceable (which is important).
https://www.tennscreen.com/plots.htm
Do not be afraid to use more than one basis for your plot, it will help make your game distinct when others inevitably have a similar basis for the idea of their story. This is doubly true if you want to play through the more common pokémon themed games the most popular of which (to my knowledge) is "A Pokémon Journey". There are reasons for this being the case, however, most players want to play the character's they have created and have their own adventure in the vein of the show or video game.
This has many pit-falls you must address before starting a game, as competition will be particularly stiff and you will have really try to impress upon potential players how your game is different and why they should play in your game rather than the multitudes of other RP threads that will likely look startlingly similar to your own. Even if your game has the potential for greatness, you can easily be over looked.
Example RP Plots:
Journey:
Like the majority of people in the world of Pokémon you are a Pokémon Trainer. Having given up your 'droll existence', you take your first strides of adventure now! Capturing pokémon, collecting badges, competing in competitions, battling the elusive Team Rocket and building your reputation with other trainers to claim your dreams!
Journey includes Capturing pokémon, collecting badges, coordinating in competitions, battling the elusive Team Rocket (or if people want to play in a different region replace Team Rocket with appropriate gang
Cops and Robbers;
Cops:
As a member of the PPF (PokéPoliceForce) you and your Pokémon companions are in charge of protecting citizens, apprehending criminals and halting crime as you are ordered. An important but commonly thankless job you make do treading through your nine to five grind trying to make the world around you safe.
Robbers:
You are a member of the elusive "Team Rocket" working your way up the chain. Lets face it your a bad guy (or girl) for whatever reason, you want money, fame and power. As fast as you can get it, you live in a dangerous world and the police are not going to help you.
Mystery Menace:
An un-known force conspires against you and those around you. The town/city you occupy is hit with a major disaster and is closed off from the world around you. No help will be coming, it is up to you! Find out why the disaster struck, who is behind everything and survive.
Pokemon Ranger:
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