Metamorphosis Complete

May 31, 2008 | 12 Comments

Image created by Tim Newton ©
Image created by Tom Newtown

Before I go into details I feel I should start at the beginning. When I first bought Pokémon Red, I was hooked by the bug. No it was not the Pokémon bug, but the bugs in the game.

I remember the first time seeing a little Caterpie turn into a Butterfree or a Weedle into a Beedrill and thinking it is not the size of your Pokémon but how you use it. Well ever since that day I wished that Pokémon bugs would get stronger, enter Heracross and who could forget Scyther and Pinsir, among a few others who also made a huge impact! Also bug fans got an upgrade to Scyther and a multi-talented Forretress.

With this love for bug Pokémon something was missing, it was not until the Azalea Gym in the Johto League that I got my dose of an all bug gym. Later on there would be an Elite 4 Member in Sinnoh that would relight that fire that was burning in me for bugs.

By this time I was now the Beacon Gym Leader. I loved this position and loved defending the gym, but something was still missing. I missed my bugs and wanted to do more than just defend a badge and beat my opponents. I got into trying to teach other members how to breed and battle, but there again something was missing. How could I combine all that I love into one event?

Well, I took a new idea and started building it up with details and goals. Then one day the Pokémon League Judge saw fit to make my idea reality. So, I went into building the structure of a new gym; a gym that would challenge members and help them learn.

The concept behind this new gym was to take on new battlers, or caterpillars, and let them challenge the gym. As they progressed the gym would let them, the pupa, build their battle experience and harden their tactics. When everything is said and done, the new battler would emerge from the gym as a Battle Butterfly.

I know that this may sound cheesy, but I like to help people learn and I think that anyone can learn how to battle Pokémon. Battling is a mental game. I believe a lot of members new to battling get themselves psyched out before they even battle. Taking on the League gyms can be very overwhelming. I mean the gym leaders beat people on a daily basis.

So, how can this gym teach new members without breaking their confidence? Well, I will be using two things I love in the world of Pokémon. First off I will have three Bugs and three random Pokémon. Secondly I will only be using Pokémon from the NU and UU Tiers. Any trainer battling in the Chrysalis Gym can use any Pokémon that is not Legendary or Uber; so, any Pokémon from the NU to the OU Tier would be fair game to use.

How can I be sure that I will win battles this way? The goal of this gym is not to dominate my opponents, but to help them get ready to face the League. This gym will simply be a teaching endeavor for the trainers. I have three things to add before I forget, they are the following: the gym will be called the Chrysalis Gym and will award the Chrysalis Badge, I will try to keep changing my team to get different types and strategies in for new tactics, and lastly I ask that you do not be afraid to try.

I have talked to members that thought they stunk at battling, but I have helped many of them with their battling and this gym is here to do just that, help teach, and not to beat you down. Some tactics I would like to show in the gym would be the Rain Dance teams, Sunny Day teams, and weakness coverage. The main goal is to show how some of the NU/UU Pokémon can be used effectively.

So in closing, if you wish to try your hand at battling, want to see if you are ready to take on the League, or just want to beat on an old League Gym Leader, come to the Chrysalis Gym.

Posted by Buzz | Filed Under News 

Breeder’s Cup Tournament

January 4, 2008 | 89 Comments

This month we will be hosting a Breeder’s Cup Tournament in the forum. Rules are as follows:

RULES:

1. No hold items will be allowed.
2. We will be using a Swiss system. If you do not know what that means the simple explanation is that one loss will not knock you out of the tournament so you must be able to commit to a full day of battling.
3. Participating members can not have more than 10 current infraction points against them.

POKEMON:

1. Because all Pokemon must be hatched by you this also means no legendaries.
2. Yes, I know Manaphy hatches from an egg but you can not breed a Manaphy, which makes it not legal for this tournament.
3. You can not have more than one of the same Pokemon on your team.
4. All Pokemon must be level 1.
5. All Pokemon must be hatched by you and have your trainer ID.
6. You will only use three Pokemon.
7. You must use the pre-evolved form of any Pokemon used. (Munchlax yes, Snorlax no).

PRIZE:

1. I have a level 3 shiny Zigzagoon named Lilly that I caught in my Ruby game several months ago. Never touched and I have no idea what her IVs are as she is still on my copy of Ruby.

DATE:

January 19 - 20, 2008

The goal here is to see who is the best at breeding a team for battle on site. All are welcome to join but you do need to be a member of the forum. The tournament is expected to begin mid January.

Posted by HMTKSteve | Filed Under News