Post by hecklejeckle87 on Apr 5, 2024 17:37:15 GMT -5
If you are familiar with any other TableTop Role Playing Game (TTRPG) you are probably familiar with the concept of Actions. While some systems like Pathfinder 2e just give the character 3 actions that can be used in any way the player wants, most games divide actions into two types. In the a certain famous game owned by an infamous toy company these actions are called Standard Actions and Move Actions. While the name might change, most systems tend to divide character actions into these two types.
PokeyManz has "Battle Actions" and "Movement Actions"
Battle Actions are easy enough to understand. If you are coming from a different system the Battle Action is your "Standard Action", your Attack action, etc.
It is the "Movement Action" that things get, weird. Because unlike many other game systems, PokeyManz doesn't really do "movement". It doesn't even have "Zones" like some other systems that have abstracted ranges and distances.
If two Pokémon are in a battle with each other, the assumption is that they are within range to attack each other.
You can't have your Butterfree kite a Mankey with Psybeam and stay out of melee range.
But if you look at the Paralysis status effect:
"Paralysis
The Pokémon is paralyzed, and cannot take their usual free Movement Action until or unless the paralysis is cured. Running away, getting out of the way of hazards, and general positioning become much more difficult! Moves that rely on speed may also take situational penalties."
BUT we have already established that two battling Pokémon are assumed to be in range of each other's attacks. Which raises the question.
WHAT is Movement actually used for?
I'm going to do my best to explain it. If someone with more experience with the system, or one of the mods, would like to add onto this discussion PLEASE do so! This is a forum thread, it's supposed to be a discussion.
on page 60 of v6 of the book
"Movement Actions are fluid and narrative; they could be something like burrowing underground, taking to the skies, moving a little further away, etcetera. A trainer should
use movement to set up for the larger actions or interact in minor ways with the terrain."
The Movement Action, in large part, is used to avoid hazards in the terrain. Being Paralysised prevents you from avoiding these hazards.
The most basic of these examples are going to be moves that cause "entry hazards", moves like Spikes and Stealth Rocks.
But there are other ways of interacting with the terrain
"Using the terrain to give your next Move a small advantage or another effect; for example, using Strength to lob a rock at a Pokémon that has flown out of reach, making
the Move effectively Rock Type, or giving the Pokémon the high ground Anakin to give a sharpshooting Move a +1 bonus"
To go back to the Mankey v Butterfree example. The Mankey could use Seismic Toss to "Lob a rock" at the Butterfree, thus making their fighting move effectively a rock move.
If a Hitmonchan was fighting an electric type and wanted a ground move, they could punch the ground to do a ground shock wave.
If Stealth Rocks are up, a Pidgey could use Gust to grab up the rocks. Another Pokemon could then use a fire attack on the Rock+Gust to make it a fire+rock+gust tornado!
In short, a LOT of the use of Movement Actions falls under the category of:
What B.S. will the Game Master let me get away with?
That said...
"Using a Move or Ability to navigate the terrain (Passively, no roll required); as an example, a Flying Type going up high with Fly, or a Water Type using Aqua Jet to jet
around underwater, Using Magnet Rise to hover over a gap. This can move a Pokémon out of reach or close a gap."
So you CAN use a Movement Action to move "out of reach", but the Pokemon Needs an Ability or Move to justify it doing so. You can't just kite the target and run away.
I know there is more to say on this topic, so if someone with more system experience wants to add onto this. Maybe point out a misconception I have, PLEASE do so.
PokeyManz has "Battle Actions" and "Movement Actions"
Battle Actions are easy enough to understand. If you are coming from a different system the Battle Action is your "Standard Action", your Attack action, etc.
It is the "Movement Action" that things get, weird. Because unlike many other game systems, PokeyManz doesn't really do "movement". It doesn't even have "Zones" like some other systems that have abstracted ranges and distances.
If two Pokémon are in a battle with each other, the assumption is that they are within range to attack each other.
You can't have your Butterfree kite a Mankey with Psybeam and stay out of melee range.
But if you look at the Paralysis status effect:
"Paralysis
The Pokémon is paralyzed, and cannot take their usual free Movement Action until or unless the paralysis is cured. Running away, getting out of the way of hazards, and general positioning become much more difficult! Moves that rely on speed may also take situational penalties."
BUT we have already established that two battling Pokémon are assumed to be in range of each other's attacks. Which raises the question.
WHAT is Movement actually used for?
I'm going to do my best to explain it. If someone with more experience with the system, or one of the mods, would like to add onto this discussion PLEASE do so! This is a forum thread, it's supposed to be a discussion.
on page 60 of v6 of the book
"Movement Actions are fluid and narrative; they could be something like burrowing underground, taking to the skies, moving a little further away, etcetera. A trainer should
use movement to set up for the larger actions or interact in minor ways with the terrain."
The Movement Action, in large part, is used to avoid hazards in the terrain. Being Paralysised prevents you from avoiding these hazards.
The most basic of these examples are going to be moves that cause "entry hazards", moves like Spikes and Stealth Rocks.
But there are other ways of interacting with the terrain
"Using the terrain to give your next Move a small advantage or another effect; for example, using Strength to lob a rock at a Pokémon that has flown out of reach, making
the Move effectively Rock Type, or giving the Pokémon the high ground Anakin to give a sharpshooting Move a +1 bonus"
To go back to the Mankey v Butterfree example. The Mankey could use Seismic Toss to "Lob a rock" at the Butterfree, thus making their fighting move effectively a rock move.
If a Hitmonchan was fighting an electric type and wanted a ground move, they could punch the ground to do a ground shock wave.
If Stealth Rocks are up, a Pidgey could use Gust to grab up the rocks. Another Pokemon could then use a fire attack on the Rock+Gust to make it a fire+rock+gust tornado!
In short, a LOT of the use of Movement Actions falls under the category of:
What B.S. will the Game Master let me get away with?
That said...
"Using a Move or Ability to navigate the terrain (Passively, no roll required); as an example, a Flying Type going up high with Fly, or a Water Type using Aqua Jet to jet
around underwater, Using Magnet Rise to hover over a gap. This can move a Pokémon out of reach or close a gap."
So you CAN use a Movement Action to move "out of reach", but the Pokemon Needs an Ability or Move to justify it doing so. You can't just kite the target and run away.
I know there is more to say on this topic, so if someone with more system experience wants to add onto this. Maybe point out a misconception I have, PLEASE do so.