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Basic Guide to RPGing
Topic Started: Nov 6 2007, 09:40 PM (5,360 Views)
Trainer X
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One Matzah Short of a Royal Flush

Completely new to RPGing? Then you'll want to read this!

Contents

[link=1, setup]Part 1: Getting Set Up[/link]

So you want to join the Orange Islands Text RPG (or OITRPG for short, if it can be called that)? Well, the first thing you'll need to do is to get a profile. Everything to do with signing up for the RPG can be found in this this forum. First, you'll need to copy the registration format from the stickied thread. Then, post your registration. After doing so, you'll need to wait for an RPG moderator to post your profile in this forum. Do not post your own profile, as it will be deleted. Also, avoid PMing an RPG moderator asking them to post your profile already. You will most likely annoy them, which will most likely result in the posting of your profile being delayed further. Only PM them if it has been two days since you posted your registration.

[link=1, start]Part 2: Starting Your Adventure[/link]

Alright, so you've gotten your profile posted. What's next? Well, it's time to start your adventure! Every player starts their adventure on Tangelo Island. You will post your adventure thread in this forum. An RPG updater will then come and update your thread. Your first battle will always be against your rival, and they will always have a starter who's type counters yours. Besides your rival's Pokémon, you may decide everything else about your rival, including age, gender, and personality.

[link=1, basic]Part 3: Basic RPGing[/link]

So how exactly will you RPG? Well, your posts may look something like this (Note: This will probably be more detailed than most players will want to make it):

Quote:
 
As Matt stepped onto Valencia Island, he sighed in relief. He was glad to be on solid ground again. His Lapras appeared tired out as well.

"Great job Lapras! You deserve a nice long rest."

And with that, Matt called Lapras back into its Pokeball. It was then that Matt noticed somebody approaching him from across the beach...

This is where the RPG moderator comes in. Their post will look something like this:

Quote:
 
It was a little boy in a swimming tube, and he challenged you to a battle!

[5] :pattle: 25/25

The sprite is, obviously, of your opponent's Pokémon. The numbers next to it indicate your adversary's total health (on the right), as well as their current health (on the left). The number to the left of your opponent's Pokémon indicates the Pokémon's level. When applicable, status afflictions will be listed to the right of a Pokémon's current HP (PSN, PRZ, SLP, etc). Note that moderators might have their own preferences on how they post this (for example, the [] around the Pokémon's level might be replaced with <>).

Now, you would reply with something like this:

Quote:
 
Matt wasn't in much of a mood for a battle, so he decided that he would end this as quickly as possible.

"Let's go Koaleaf! Use Razor Leaf!"


Note that you cannot use multiple attacks in the same turn. You can make this as detailed as you want, but all you really need to include in the post is your Pokémon, as well as their first attack. You can also make your attacks very elaborate, like this:

Quote:
 
"OK Koaleaf! Climb that tree, and use Razor Leaf! When Pattle attacks you, dodge into the nearby grass!"

Do not make your commands too complicated, or you might confuse your Pokémon! At this point, the RPG updater would post this:

Quote:
 
Koaleaf launched a fury of razor-sharp leaves at Pattle, which damaged it greatly. Pattle countered with a blast of water that barely scratched Koaleaf.

[7] :koaleaf: 29/32
[5] :pattle: 10/25

Again, each moderator might have his/her own preference as to how they post this. Some moderators put the player's (your) Pokémon on the bottom, although most generally put it on top. Some moderators might put the Pokémon information above the actual text in the post. This cycle of player command/moderator updates continues until one of the Pokémon faints. The opponent might have more Pokémon, in which case they would send out their next one after the first one is defeated. Note that since you can give your Pokémon complex commands, other trainers can do the same with their Pokémon, and the results can be just as complicated, as seen below:

Quote:
 
Koaleaf shot a dozen razor-like leaves at Pattle, who dodged swiftly into a nearby puddle. Pattle then countered with a blast of water, but Koaleaf dodged into the grass, injuring itself as it hit a rock upon landing.

[7] :koaleaf: 28/32
[5] :pattle: 25/25

Things can become even more crazy than that, and mods might even pull the tables on you with things such as, "Suddenly, a brick wall fell from the sky!" This is to spice up the fun, and if you're creative, then you'll know exactly how to get around it!

It's best for both you and the updaters that, if you want to say something that's not directly said by your RPG character or his or her narrator, that you begin the sentence with the acronym OoC, or OOC (Out of Context), as it makes your post more organized, and its easier to answer your question/respond to your comment. For example:

Quote:
 
OOC: I thought Absol couldn't learn Razor Wind until level 18!


Also, opponents rarely switch out their Pokémon, but it is possible. When you switch out your Pokémon, most moderators allow you to command your new Pokémon to attack within the same post, although it varies from moderator to moderator.

If you lose a battle, you lose half of your total money, and your wild Pokémon battle count for the current route is reset. If you lose a battle during a mission, all previous battles you have done during the mission do not have to be done again.

[link=1, progress]Part 4: Progressing in the RPG[/link]

Each route has a requirement to leave it. Most requirements involve you defeating a certain number of wild Pokémon and trainers. When you capture Pokémon, these battles do count towards the total number of battles required to leave a route. Some routes might have other requirements, such as a side quest or a rival battle. Cities usually have a requirement of either defeating a gym, defeating your rival, or completing some sort of mission.

Your rival will obtain more Pokémon as the RPG progresses. You have absolutely no control over what Pokémon or moves your rival uses, so do not attempt to. Your rival might obtain more than six Pokémon, in which case a Rival PC line would be added to the Rival Info post of your profile.

[link=1, poke]Part 5: Your Pokémon[/link]

The next thing you need to know about is your Pokémon. Each Pokémon levels up at 100% experience. For every Pokémon your Pokémon defeat, they gain experience. The higher your Pokémon's level is than the opponent's, the less experience you get, and visa versa. If your Pokémon faints, it will not receive any experience.

Your Pokémon will learn moves at certain levels. In addition, you may teach your Pokémon TMs that you obtain or purchase. Your Pokémon may have an infinite number of moves at once, allowing for great moveset variety.

You may have six Pokémon on your team at once. The rest of your Pokémon are stored within your PC. You can store an infinite number of Pokémon within your PC, but you can only access your PC while you are in a city, town, or otherwise designated area.

[link=1, plaza]Part 6: The Plaza[/link]

What can you do in the Plaza? Lots of things, actually!

The first, and probably most important feature (because it'll be your most frequently used feature) is the Trading System. In the trading thread, you may put up one of your Pokémon for trade, or you can ask for certain Pokémon, or certain types of Pokémon. Then, somebody can come and offer you a trade, and then you will post accepting/declining their deal. If you accept, an RPG moderator will process your trade. You may arrange deals with people in PM, and they can be as elaborate as you want. Do not PM RPG moderators asking them to process trades for you, because there are only three RPG moderators with permission to process trades. These three moderators are known as the Trading Council. After a trade has been accepted by both parties, a Trading Council member must approve the trade. This is so that unfair trades do not get through. In the event that one or two of the Trading Council members are trading, there are two reserve Trading Council members. You can use the Trading System from any point in the RPG, thanks to the new and improved PokeGear v2.

The second features is the shop. In the shop, you can obviously buy all kinds of items, ranging from different types of potions to all kinds of Pokeballs to TMs to battle items to hold items. Note that once you buy something, you cannot return it. You cannot currently sell items back to the shop. You can only use the shop from cities or towns.

The next feature is the Daycare. You can drop your Pokémon off at the daycare to be trained. You can only leave your Pokémon in the daycare for a maximum of 14 days a t a time. In addition, your Pokémon may only be dropped off at the daycare once per month. This means every 30 days, not every calendar month. Only certain moderators have permission to update the daycare, so do not PM the moderators asking them to update it.

Next there is the promo system. Once every month or two, you might have the option to claim a promo Pokémon. Usually you have a choice between multiple Pokémon, as well as an item. Sometimes, an event might be very creative or random, and you might not know quite what you are receiving. But what the heck, most promos are usually free, so why not go for it? But remember, don't beg or suggest promos, as all suggestions will be completely ignored, even if they are good.

Next there's the RPG Discussion forum. In here, you can discuss anything RPG related, and you can ask questions about RPG features if you'd like. Keep these questions intelligent. In addition, you can use the RPG Update Required thread to request an update for your thread. Remember not to use this thread unless your thread has not been updated for at least forty eight hours since your last post in your adventure thread.

The final feature of the plaza is the Stadium. Here, you can battle other players in the RPG! Currently, the only PvP battles you may participate in are tournaments, but we are planning on arranging anytime PvP battles!

[link=1, teams]Part 7: Teams and Free-Movement Events[/link]

In the OITRPG, you have the option to join one of four teams: Aurora, Eclipse, Twilight, or Sunrise. All team related things can be found within this forum. Once you join a team, you cannot quit the team without restarting your adventure, so be sure that you'll be content with your choice! Each team also has a secret forum for discussing team related matters. Do not bother trying to see other team's bases, as it's literally impossible to.

In addition, there might be team-related Free-Movement events. This means that you might have to travel to certain locations that are completely out of the way of your current adventure in order to complete a certain objective. If the objective location is within the Orange Islands, you can reach the location as long as you have a Pokémon that knows the HMs Surf or Fly. If the location of the event is within Zeralis, you will need Pokémon(s) with the HMs Surf and Fly. While in these out of the way places, you cannot battle gym leaders that you have not actually reached yet. On the other hand, you can battle the native Pokémon of that area, though their levels might be higher than what you're used to. After completing the event, you will be transported back to your actual location.

If you are eligible for an event, you will sign up for it in the thread that the event was posted in. When posting in this thread, make sure that you have your Pokémon with the needed HMs in your team. After posting, an RPG Event Supervisor will post in the thread with approval/denial of your application. After your application is accepted, you will make a new adventure thread in the location of the event. Your regular adventure thread will be locked while you are away.

Note that some events will have transportation provided to and from the location by your team. If you are not in a team, you may also participate in any event, but you will have to provide your own transportation every time.

[link=1, credits]End Credits[/link]

I hope this guide helps you with your OITRPG adventures!

This guide was written completely by Trainer X of the Orange Islands, and is copyright to the Orange Islands. If you would like to use any components of this guide, PM him for permission.
Edited by Trainer X, Dec 21 2009, 04:05 PM.
Matt's Most Bodacious RP Profile | Matt's Most Triumphant Adventure | Matt's Most Excellent Player Profile
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