Pokémon MMO fanfic, would it work?

[Tophat Dragoneye]

I've had this idea for a while and I wanted to ask my fellow writers of their opinions about this. Basically, the story I have in mind takes place in the real world, where Pokémon has become so big and popular, that a Virtual Reality MMORPG has been made. What I mean with Virtual Reality, is that the player don't control some avatar they own from a computer at home. No, THEY are the avatar inside a super computer, where they control their own actions, kinda like lucid dreaming.

I've already thought about how things like Pokémon battles works and things like the community etc. Battles works like in the games we all know and love, 4 moves per Pokémon, items, stats (that would be the difficult part for me (does a stats simulator exists somewhere in the Internet?)), levels, natures and abilities.

As for the NPC's we know in the games, I think it would be best that no NPC appears in the fic, everything is driven by players and staff alike. That would also involve making a brand new world instead of using the regions we already know. Staffs are obviously gym leaders, offer customer support, shopkeepers etc., while the players are allowed to build and make everything at their leisure, such as towns and buildings, some may even run shops or something similar.

As for story, you can probably guess that it involves something going wrong or something happening not supposed to happen.

Don't want to reveal too much if I decide to make a fic like this, so that's the gists of mostly everything.

 

[Zekurom]

Try something like .hack//SIGN XD

 

[Glitchipedia]

Equip each player with a Pokédex or a pair of goggles to access the heads-up display. That's what I would do.

 

[TheLlama]

To sustain such a virtual reality, if it's to feel like they actually ARE them, they would need a computer the size of a planet >.>;

Anywho. The stats are quite easily sim-able. Though I'd make the games more like the anime - in terms of dynamics anyway. Not the rule-based, turn-based ordeal, but depending on reaction, speed and such. Stats can easily be simulated by making a pokemon with a higher speed stat move faster. A pokemon with a higher attack stat carries more of a punch to its physical attacks, and a higher special attack means its ranged/telepathic/etc. attacks are more capable. HP/defenses means less flinching from attacks, and more physical endurance. Move PP I generally imagine to be fatigue taken from using one's own attacks (i.e. a powerful solar beam can only be used x amount of times). This is how stats would be simulated in a virtual reality from my point of view. Pokemon have individual skills based on their genetics (IVs), which can be promoted through breeding (just like breeding for IVs in the games), training ups your whatever..stat (EVs), which influences them like explained above.

What specifically do you mean when asking "does a stat simulator exist on the internet?" As a program that simulates pokemon stats and use them in a battling simulation, a function that is used in MMOs to determine stats? All of them exists, not really sure what exactly you're pointing to here.

 

[Tophat Dragoneye]

Try something like .hack//SIGN XD

I'll have to watch the anime in order to get some inspirations, but thanks for the advice.

Equip each player with a Pokédex or a pair of goggles to access the heads-up display. That's what I would do.

Goggles are out of question, but Pokédex could be used

To sustain such a virtual reality, if it's to feel like they actually ARE them, they would need a computer the size of a planet >.>;

There could be used as a plot point in the fic if it ever makes it that far. Other than that, yeah, a super computer would need to be enormous in order to support the virtual reality.

Anywho. The stats are quite easily sim-able. Though I'd make the games more like the anime - in terms of dynamics anyway. Not the rule-based, turn-based ordeal, but depending on reaction, speed and such. Stats can easily be simulated by making a pokemon with a higher speed stat move faster. A pokemon with a higher attack stat carries more of a punch to its physical attacks, and a higher special attack means its ranged/telepathic/etc. attacks are more capable. HP/defenses means less flinching from attacks, and more physical endurance. Move PP I generally imagine to be fatigue taken from using one's own attacks (i.e. a powerful solar beam can only be used x amount of times). This is how stats would be simulated in a virtual reality from my point of view. Pokemon have individual skills based on their genetics (IVs), which can be promoted through breeding (just like breeding for IVs in the games), training ups your whatever..stat (EVs), which influences them like explained above.

The things is, the MMO in the fic (at least in my head at the moment and not on paper yet) is based on the games and not on the anime. But I do agree that simulating the various stats, such as moving faster if the speed stat is higher, can be used.

What specifically do you mean when asking "does a stat simulator exist on the internet?" As a program that simulates pokemon stats and use them in a battling simulation, a function that is used in MMOs to determine stats? All of them exists, not really sure what exactly you're pointing to here.

What I meant was a stat simulator that shows the stats for each Pokémon depending on level, nature and whether it has been EV-trained or not. Or am I hoping too much that it exists?

 

[Zekurom]

What specifically do you mean when asking "does a stat simulator exist on the internet?" As a program that simulates pokemon stats and use them in a battling simulation, a function that is used in MMOs to determine stats? All of them exists, not really sure what exactly you're pointing to here.

What I meant was a stat simulator that shows the stats for each Pokémon depending on level, nature and whether it has been EV-trained or not. Or am I hoping too much that it exists?

I think the word you're looking for is "display", rather than "simulator". A "simulator" is something that pretends a situation is happening.

 

[Tophat Dragoneye]

I think the word you're looking for is "display", rather than "simulator". A "simulator" is something that pretends a situation is happening.

Right, a display, sorry about using the wrong words.

 

[TheLlama]

Here you go
Psypoke Tools :: Stat Calculator

Insert level, IVs (they call them DVs), EVs, nature and which pokemon, the calculator does the rest. It's the closest you get, as an actual table for each and every level of each and every pokemon with each and every minimum an maximum stat is unrealistic.

So what you mean is that the battles in the MMO will be turn-based like in the games? Okay.

 

[Tophat Dragoneye]

Thanks for finding the stat calculator for me, @Llama_Guy;, it will definitely help

It will be turn-based most of the time, but there will "exceptions" at times (hint hint).

Another question I would like to ask you guys: If you were in some way or form handicapped, not able to walk, cannot see or speak etc., how would you react if you were able to do what I've mentioned in virtual reality (remember, what I've had in mind is like lucid dreaming)? It's also something I might touch in fic if I make it.

 

[TheLlama]

A simple Google search for "pokemon stat calculator" gave me that page, it's not that hard

Ooh, exceptions. I like exceptions. Hints at plots. That's deep and, ooh, mysterious! If you're a good writer, anyway ;P But, uh, I dunno. If it's a virtual reality, game-like rules (especially when concerning physical action) such as turns would detract SoD (suspension of disbelief). Unless it was a heavily regulated rule system defining turns, that one would get infracted for if one did not follow. Either that, or their minds would have to be altered to accept the turn-based interface without facing SoD. Since stats are abstract and not physical, having them does not really break SoD as much as turn-based battles would. But it's all your call, just tossing out ideas here

It would be to the handicapped person what it would be for me to use magic, perhaps? I wouldn't know, it's hard to imagine, but it's basically the experience of being able to do something entirely novel for the first time, so it would be similar I guess. Try and imagine how you, for real, would feel if you could use magic, or do unimaginable, superhuman feats.

Oh, and since it's restricted to the virtual world, I guess many people would as such be bound to it, really addicted. Especially overweight people, people who felt they were losers in real life (but now had a novel chance of becoming someone better), and so on. In a fic I'm writing I'm touching within the thematic aspect of how virtual reality is a place where anyone can succeed, unlike actual reality, in which you may be born unable to do a lot at all.