New battle structure to make Pokémon stronger

[Silktree]

Tsunekazu Ishihara has released additional details about the games. Among them is the following tidbit:

The bonds between players and Pokémon will deepen, and Pokémon will become stronger with the new battle structure.

What could this be in reference to? We got a stat overhaul in Generation III, but technically that doesn't count as a battle structure (only an underlying one), nor did it make Pokémon stronger, but rather more diversified. We also know from Masuda that Game Freak don't intend to cut backwards compatibility, IVs or EVs anytime soon (he said as much when he was asked about those things in a Q&A session last month).

 

[Beck]

I'm going to assume that the first half of the sentence is fluff, or an indication that the 3D Pokémon look lifelike, making it easier for a player to get attached to his or her Pokémon. I couldn't begin to guess in what way the Pokémon will become stronger due to the new battle structure, though. First and foremost I don't have the slightest idea how GameFreak could have changed the battle structure, so I can't think of any way that this would alter the strength of the Pokémon.

 

[Regiruler]

Maybe an overall mechanic change similar to the Physical/Special split?

 

[Ash_Pokemaster]

I like the choice of words "new battle structure" instead of "new battle mechanics". I'm really hoping for some deep changes in the battle system. It can't go on with just more additions and tweaks. It needs to freshen up with some bold changes.

I wonder if the "bonds deepening" and Pokémon becoming stronger have to do with each other.

 

[The Outrage]

Tsunekazu Ishihara has released additional details about the games. Among them is the following tidbit:

The bonds between players and Pokémon will deepen, and Pokémon will become stronger with the new battle structure.

What could this be in reference to? We got a stat overhaul in Generation III, but technically that doesn't count as a battle structure (only an underlying one), nor did it make Pokémon stronger, but rather more diversified. We also know from Masuda that Game Freak don't intend to cut backwards compatibility, IVs or EVs anytime soon (he said as much when he was asked about those things in a Q&A session last month).

I honestly thought of something similar to Pokemon Conquest where the Pokemon's strength actually depends on the link between the warrior and Pokemon. I hope so, it gives more evidence to the idea that humans in the main series games may have interacted with Pokemon similarly to the warriors in Conquest (that is, having a limited amount of Pokemon they can tame) with Pokeballs facilitating the initial bond that trainers would not otherwise be able to make.

 

[Luminosity]

It'd be interesting if a Pokemon got its stats boosted or lowered based on the bond it has with its trainer.

 

[The Outrage]

I'm going to assume that the first half of the sentence is fluff

I doubt its simply fluff. They mention it in the video as well, saying that the more you battle, the stronger your bond. Kind of a weird statement to make if its referring to something as generic as the happiness stat.

Relatedly, people are also speculating about trainer customizations. It would be interesting if the trainer customizations (or Trainer class chosen) also affected the types of boosts that will be given when your bond strengthen.

 

[33Whimsicott33]

I'm wondering what the source japanese text he said was. Exact words and the things they imply in their culture tend to be especially important when trying to "read between the lines"...

 

[suttonmitchell]

It is a bit confusing the way the translation is worded.

I hope some new big element is added and much more.

 

[Bikini Miltank]

I'm finding it hard to get an definite meaning from this statement other than "there'll be new stuff in the games!"

 

[Silktree]

I'm wondering what the source japanese text he said was. Exact words and the things they imply in their culture tend to be especially important when trying to "read between the lines"...

Famitsu has the original wording. I can tell that Masuda was the one who mentioned the new battle structure, and it seems that it is linked to the strengthened connection between Pokémon and their trainers. But someone who knows Japanese should take a closer look.

 

[Solacen]

Possible reworking / deepening of the friendship / happiness mechanic?

 

[El_]

If this actually does mean something, and is not simply a generic quote of creating bonds with new Pokemon:

The Nature system could probably get expanded in some way. In other words, say Adamant which increases attack by 10% normally. With a new mechanic, this will steadily increase due to how much happiness a Pokemon has, maxing out at 20% or 25%.

Alternatively, another stat (no more than 2) could simply get increased by 10% each based on happiness. In this example, you again have a Pokemon with Adamant, but based on your "bond" the Pokemon's speed also increases as if it had a Jolly or Timid nature. Either scenario naturally makes a stronger Pokemon and is simple enough to implement into the games.

If they ever brought back walking Pokemon, the Pokemon you most walk with could get these boost in power. Makes N's & Cyrus's statements about the Pokeballs limiting potential thing make a lot of sense, too.

I honestly am not putting much stock on the quote however, it could really just be a generic quote but if not I wouldn't mind seeing something new.

 

[Jolty94]

If this actually does mean something, and is not simply a generic quote of creating bonds with new Pokemon:

The Nature system could probably get expanded in some way. In other words, say Adamant which increases attack by 10% normally. With a new mechanic, this will steadily increase due to how much happiness a Pokemon has, maxing out at 20% or 25%.

Alternatively, another stat (no more than 2) could simply get increased by 10% each based on happiness. In this example, you again have a Pokemon with Adamant, but based on your "bond" the Pokemon's speed also increases as if it had a Jolly or Timid nature. Either scenario naturally makes a stronger Pokemon and is simple enough to implement into the games.

If they ever brought back walking Pokemon, the Pokemon you most walk with could get these boost in power. Makes N's & Cyrus's statements about the Pokeballs limiting potential thing make a lot of sense, too.

I honestly am not putting much stock on the quote however, it could really just be a generic quote but if not I wouldn't mind seeing something new.

Your theories are awesome anyway, that sounds like the only plausible way right now... but we know so little about the games yet, I just hope it's not a drastic change in the mechanics. I also like that they used the words "new battle structure" rather than "new battle mechanics"

 

[Proxima Centauri B]

I wonder if that means the Friendship mechanic will somehow have more of an effect on battling, that's what Im getting from that.

 

[V Faction]

Your Trainer now has a Level.

 

[ange]

If it has to do with friendship, then I guess I could be an effort to make trainers and Pokemon get a closer connection in-game, and encourage people to use and train the Pokemon they get in a trade. Since friendship resets to 0 when traded, people have to actually travel with it/use it to make it stronger.

HEH, I can already see people who wants quick PokeGen'd Pokemon being annoyed with that.

 

[Regiruler]

Your Trainer now has a Level.

And the level cap will be increased by 10 every two years.

Alternatively: raids, pokemon style. You get a massive boss pokemon with heavily increased stats, and you fight it 5 on 1. You would have to add additional mechanics to keep it interesting though.

 

[Falconwing]

Er, I don't think I can see that idea working at all. I know it's been done in the anime and other games, but for core pokemon they'd have to make the pokemon gruesomely overpowered. Not to mention that you wouldn't be able to catch it.

 

[Spycrab]

Well they mention a lot of "pokémon and human bonds making them more powerfull" stuff so i wouldnt be surprised if they extend the friendship mechanic or something related.