Pokémon

By Ryan Silverman (doxwire@aol.com)

Intoduction

Pokémon, what are they? In the real world it is a popular game series, anime program, manga and Card game. In the World of Darkness, they are real. There are a few theories of what they are. One theory says that Pokémon are similar to the Changelings. As Changelings are Fae souls inside human bodies, Pokémon are Chimerical creatures born into animal bodies, However, because animals do not have the same banality as humans, the Pokémon's chimerical features appear all the time. Another theory is that they are the hybrid descendents of a Chimerical animal and a real animal. Yet another says that they are the results of a Progenitors experiment. Others say a kid got bored one day and decided to make them in the WoD. Whatever the case, the results are amazing.

Trainers

"I wanna be the very best, like no one ever was...
To catch them is my real test, To train them is my cause"

Of course, the Pokémon themselves are not made to be player characters. The player takes on the role of the Pokémon Trainer. The Trainer has to command the Pokémon to fight, and work with them to make them stronger. Each Pokémon has a wide variety of powers available to it, and it is the job of the trainer to teach them to use their Pokémon.

Examples of Pokémon

"You're my best friend, in a world we must defend...."

There are over 150 types of known Pokémon, as they seem to breed quickly. No Trainer is able to catch that many, of course (for the sake of not creating power gamers). The Pokémon League rules state that Each trainer is allowed only 4 Pokémon at a time -- tes I know the game allows 6, but too bad. 6 is way too powerful. For the sake of roleplaying systems, Pokémon serve much like disciplines or magical spheres. Each Pokémon in your party serves the same way different spheres do. The following is an example of a Pokémon battle group, complete with 4 levels each. The System works like the Mage Arete system. The term Arete is replaced with "PokeDex."

"PIKA PIKA... PIKA......CHUUUUUUUU!!!!"

*	Thundershock: Delivers damage equal to Strength to the opponent.
**	Thunderwave: Paralyzes the opponent for 1 turn following the attack.
***	Quick Attack: Delivers Str+1 to the opponent.
****	Thunderbolt: Thundershock's stronger version delivers a whopping Str+3 damage to an opponent.

Pikachu's attacks do +2 more damage in water Pokémon, and are useless against Rock Pokémon.

"Rattata!!!"

*	Tackle: Str damage.
**	Tail Whip: Knocks the opponent's defense down 1 for each success (The soak difficulty of the opponent increases by one for each success, lasting for the remainder of the battle.
***	Quick Attack: Same as the Pikachu move of the same name.
****	Hyper Fang: Does Str+2 damage.

Rattata's attacks do -2 damage on Rock Pokémon.

"Squirtle!!!"

*	Tackle: Same as the Level 1 Rattata Attack of the same name.
**	Tail Whip: Same as the Level 2 Rattata attack of the same title.
***	Bubble: Does Str+1 damage.
****	Water Gun: Does Str+2 Damage.

Squirtles attacks are +2 stronger against Rock Pokémon, and weaker against Electric and Plant Pokémon.

"Clefairy...."

*Pound: Str-1 damage. Clefairy's aren't as big on actual hand to hand.
**Growl: Takes the enemy's defenses down 1 (similar to Tail Whip).
***Sing: Puts the enemy to sleep for 1 battle turn per success.
****Metronome

Evolution

"What? Pikachu is evolving!"

There is no level 5 power for Pokémon. When a Pokémon reaches level 5, they evolve into a higher form. (Some Pokémon, like Pikachu and Clefairy, Do not evolve at level 5 automatically, but require rare stones like the Moon Stone (Clefairy) to Evolve.) Once a WoD Pokémone evolves, its skill level returns to zero, but when it re-learns its attack, +1 damage is added, and moves like Sing, Automatically get 1 success.

If a fully evolved Pokémon Reaches level 5, the time has come for it to leave its trainer. The Pokémon League has strict rules against a Pokémon trainer keeping such a strong Pokémon beyond necessary, unless the trainer is the master of a gym, in which case he no longer can go around challenging fights, but may only accept challenges from other trainers.

Pokémon Stats

Since the Trainer's Strength and Dexterity are not important in a Pokémon battle, each Pokémon has its own Strength rating. Each Pokémon also has its own Damage Chart. This resembles more of the Vampire Blood Pool Rating than the typical WoD damage chart. 10 points of health is the maximum for a beginning Pokémon, and an evolved Pokémon can have 20.

Pokedex

The Pokedex contains all the information you know on your Pokémon, and it also stores their special abilities. You cannot have a Pokémon ability higher than your PokeDex rating. (For example, if you have a Pokedex of two, you cannot teach your Pikachu its Quick Attack). The PokeDex costs 3 XP x current rating. (An evolved Pokémon's level 1 requires a Pokedex of 5, not 1)

Character Creation

Pokémon Trainers start out with only one Pokémon, And must get that Pokémon to level 3 before he is allowed the responsibility to take on another. The three starting Pokémon they can choose from are: Squirtle, Bulbasaur, and Charmander (Ok, so I didn't list Bulbsaur and Charmander's moves. Use your imagination: you most likely watch the show or play the game if you are actually considering playing one of these!!)

Trainer's Attributes: 6/4/3
Trainer's Abilities: 11/7/4

Pokémon Strength: 2
Pokémon Damage chart: 6 dots

PokeDex: 1

Trainer's Attributes: 5
Trainer's Abilities: 2

Pokémon's Strength: 2
Pokémon Damage Chart: 2 (Maximum rating of 10)

PokeDex: 5 (Maximum of three to start)

Trainer's Attributes and Abilities: Same as other WW games.

Pokémon's Strength: Level x 4
Pokémon's Damage chart: 2 per dot (Must be evolved to go above 10)

PokeDex: Current rating times x 4