Adventures in Helnith: Assault on the Town of Ash (OoC)

[Kareeah_Indaga]

Hmmm... does it work like Rich mulch (which was a set +2 berries), then, or more of a ratio thing? (Like, increases yield by 25-33% (rounded down)) Either way, it's still probably the better one to go with given our time scale.

25% increase.

You whippersnappers better stop gardening and go fight some eldritch horrors. Bah, kids these days.

We already did that, and Mark caught it. You need to catch up, old codger. 😉

It looks like it might be near a week in game before we can even go. There's no way we're getting to Moontear by tonight, and the next question is do we want to enter by Ternai, or near Coastmarch. I think Coastmarch is closer to our goal, but we would have to wait extra days. Ternai is Bandra controlled, right? Having to battle our way in could be extra dangerous.

Yes Ternai is Bandra controlled.

[Gnomes2169]

We already did that, and Mark caught it. You need to catch up, old codger. 😉

It's a baby Yog-Sothoth! It's got too much clock to be Cthulu, can't be Shub-Nigurath due to lack of goat hooves, and isn't Nyarlathotep because Mark and Mina aren't part of a death cult now (... I think.) Might be a baby King in Yellow, but Hastur usually wears that robe and we didn't perform the play that summons him...

Yes Ternai is Bandra controlled.

To be fair Coastmarch seems to be too, but we haven't been kicking the hornet's nest in that direction.

[Lord Ruby34]

We already did that, and Mark caught it. You need to catch up, old codger. 😉

Whippersnappers running ahead again, no concern for our arthritis. *grumble grumble*

[Gnomes2169]

Whippersnappers running ahead again, no concern for our arthritis. *grumble grumble*

Don't worry old man, Mark is definitely going to trip over his own feet and/or eat both of his shoes, which should give you a chance to catch up with your walker. Or maybe he'll just be back from the store before you get your shoes on, and save you the whole trip!

Edit: Also... technically Mina wasn't the one that set fire to the blender. She didn't stop it from igniting, though, and was hospitalized for smoke inhalation...

[Kareeah_Indaga]

To be clear, Miles will wager an item if Less wagers an item, otherwise it’s money for both of you.

Edit: Also... technically Mina wasn't the one that set fire to the blender. She didn't stop it from igniting, though, and was hospitalized for smoke inhalation...

Miles doesn’t care, he was inconvenienced by the inexpertise, and therefore everyone gets some blame! 😝

[Gnomes2169]

Mark used Flirt! It's not very effective. He hurt himself in his confusion...

[Lord Ruby34]

Don't worry old man, Mark is definitely going to trip over his own feet and/or eat both of his shoes, which should give you a chance to catch up with your walker. Or maybe he'll just be back from the store before you get your shoes on, and save you the whole trip!

Edit: Also... technically Mina wasn't the one that set fire to the blender. She didn't stop it from igniting, though, and was hospitalized for smoke inhalation...

I think Mark is eating foot, not shoe, for his dinner tonight.

To be clear, Miles will wager an item if Less wagers an item, otherwise it’s money for both of you.

Miles doesn’t care, he was inconvenienced by the inexpertise, and therefore everyone gets some blame! 😝

Good thing Less isn't in the business of name dropping.

Now, the real question , , , does Less have a chance in this battle against the poffin-boosted Pokemon?

[Kareeah_Indaga]

You can pick any three, and duplicates are fine:

• Razz
• Bluk
• Nanab
• Wepear
• Pinap
• Ebet
• Niptir
• Ekon
• Weidsei
• Lery
• Cheri
• Chesto
• Pecha
• Rawst
• Aspear
• Leppa
• Oran
• Persim
• Aktus
• Nilla
• Pepi
• Noini
• Nopei
• Occli
• Cumbir
• Figy
• Wiki
• Mago
• Aguav
• Iapapa
• Cornn
• Magost
• Rabuta
• Nomel
• Ashion
• Chahal
• Tareen
• Ikel
• Kwash
• Sitrus
• Pomeg
• Kelpsy
• Qualot
• Hondew
• Grepa
• Tamato
• Rinka
• Lum
• Spelon
• Pamtre
• Watmel
• Durin
• Belue
• Occa
• Passho
• Wacan
• Rindo
• Yache
• Chople
• Kebia
• Shuca
• Coba
• Payapa
• Tanga
• Charti
• Kasib
• Haban
• Colbur
• Babiri
• Chilan
• Roseli
• Veira
• Apicot

Good thing Less isn't in the business of name dropping.

Now, the real question , , , does Less have a chance in this battle against the poffin-boosted Pokemon?

They're mostly in the high 20's to low thirties, and since he's got them out with their book-and-cup 'hats' you can see what they are:

• Delcatty
• Dewgong
• Angerazm (Helnith Pokémon. Grass/Flying. Less remembers they're fond of sun and positive emotions. They're mostly found around Hillsbreak.)
• Swablu
• Kirlia
• Grovyle

[Gnomes2169]

I think Mark is eating foot, not shoe, for his dinner tonight.

He's certainly going to try, at this rate.

Edit: Yes, Mark's kid nickname was Markers. Do with that what you will. I've been waiting on an excuse to use this nickname for 12 YEARS

[Lord Ruby34]

Hey KI is the damage for that snarl correct? If so, ouch. I was hoping for more at +2.

[Kareeah_Indaga]

Hey KI is the damage for that snarl correct? If so, ouch. I was hoping for more at +2.

I’ll double check against the old Battle Tab.

EDIT:
Tentatively, it looks like STAB got broken at some point.

Lord Ruby, esscee, ignore the last round until I give the all clear and I’ll redo them.

Okay, I believe everything has been sorted. What was happening was that the new tab was only checking one of the type columns, so about half the attacks that should have been getting STAB weren't. Yell if anything still looks off.

[Lord Ruby34]

I’ll double check against the old Battle Tab.

EDIT:
Tentatively, it looks like STAB got broken at some point.

Lord Ruby, esscee, ignore the last round until I give the all clear and I’ll redo them.

Okay, I believe everything has been sorted. What was happening was that the new tab was only checking one of the type columns, so about half the attacks that should have been getting STAB weren't. Yell if anything still looks off.

Gotcha! I thought (hoped, at least) that that damage looked a little low. These poffin boosted Pokemon are tough.

[Kareeah_Indaga]

Lord Ruby I hope you’ve got a solid plan or you’re going to lose this.

Tangent, since the Expert Belt gives a 20% boost I probably should have used the Gen V implementation of the Metronome. 🤔 Maybe for next time!

[Lord Ruby34]

Lord Ruby I hope you’ve got a solid plan or you’re going to lose this.

Tangent, since the Expert Belt gives a 20% boost I probably should have used the Gen V implementation of the Metronome. 🤔 Maybe for next time!

Well, I have a plan, I'm not sure that I would call it solid though.

In furtherance of said plan, two questions.

1. Can Less tell what ability this Dewgong has by scanning with his Pokedex? If I need to spend a turn doing that Less will have Buck protect while he figures out that information. If not that's okay too. I've been assuming it has Thick Fat, but that's not necessarily true.

2. Is there a damage formula I can run through? I'm trying to figure out what the chance that a Fire Fang actually KO's here is. I don't mind doing the math by hand if needed. (I can see the Gen IV bulbapedia formula, but I was wondering if there were any changes.) (If there are no changes and Dew Gong isn't Thick Fat, I think Buck has a chance to KO based on the damage roll. I should have checked if it was Thick Fat before this, ugh.)

As an aside, was there something that I could have done differently to gain an edge here? Any mistakes? I'm trying to get better at actually playing. It might also just be that Miles has the stronger Pokemon, and there wasn't much I could have done differently. Not complaining, just curious. I've watched competitive Pokemon before, but I've never actually tried to play it.

[Gnomes2169]

Dang it, I've been trying so hard to find the youtube short of Lucario singing the chorus of Wake Me Up Inside that inspired my current characterization of Elijah, but it seems so have melted off of the face of the internet. It was so dorky and I loved it, but it's GONE, so I can't share it augh.

[Lord Ruby34]

Dang it, I've been trying so hard to find the youtube short of Lucario singing the chorus of Wake Me Up Inside that inspired my current characterization of Elijah, but it seems so have melted off of the face of the internet. It was so dorky and I loved it, but it's GONE, so I can't share it augh.

That is a true tragedy. Maybe the Wayback machine can provide answers?"

[Gnomes2169]

Only if I remembered the name of the video or the channel I hosted it on. Which, sadly, is not the case.

[Lord Ruby34]

Only if I remembered the name of the video or the channel I hosted it on. Which, sadly, is not the case.

Oof.

Well, while you're on Gnomes, do you think Less made any mistakes this battle? (Other than not knowing some of Mile's tutored moves.)

[Kareeah_Indaga]

Well, I have a plan, I'm not sure that I would call it solid though.

In furtherance of said plan, two questions.

1. Can Less tell what ability this Dewgong has by scanning with his Pokedex? If I need to spend a turn doing that Less will have Buck protect while he figures out that information. If not that's okay too. I've been assuming it has Thick Fat, but that's not necessarily true.

We can pretend Less has already done that, he’s had plenty of opportunity. Yes it has Thick Fat.

2. Is there a damage formula I can run through? I'm trying to figure out what the chance that a Fire Fang actually KO's here is. I don't mind doing the math by hand if needed.

I think Bulbapedia has it listed.

As an aside, was there something that I could have done differently to gain an edge here? Any mistakes? I'm trying to get better at actually playing. It might also just be that Miles has the stronger Pokemon, and there wasn't much I could have done differently. Not complaining, just curious. I've watched competitive Pokemon before, but I've never actually tried to play it.

To answer that I’d need to know how much of the information I gave that you made note of. Was Photobarrier a surprise? I know you did that archive binge a while back, but am unsure how deep you went with your binge. (The ‘likes sunlight’ comment was supposed to be a reminder.) I made sure to describe Miles’ Pokémon as beautiful (Beauty -> Special Attack) and tough (Tough -> Defense) in their overall description. (And the HP boost that goes with any other boost is noted in the house rules.) Also Miles’ general arrogance was meant to be a warning that he’s been in circulation as a trainer for a while and knows what he’s doing, and of course he told you outright that Contests have a battle segment.

For what it’s worth, I was just going to use the encounter to throw a side quest at you to make some Poffin and not bother with a battle at all…but once it got to that point the fight was intended to be difficult but winnable. Some of the problem might just be you’re used to squashing hordes of Bandra Grunts, who are by and large incompetent with very little variation in Pokémon and movesets.

[Lord Ruby34]

We can pretend Less has already done that, he’s had plenty of opportunity. Yes it has Thick Fat.

Oof. Does the Pokedex scan show the moves it knows? (Specifically, if it has Ice shard or another priority move.)

I think Bulbapedia has it listed.

Same formula then.

To answer that I’d need to know how much of the information I gave that you made note of. Was Photobarrier a surprise? I know you did that archive binge a while back, but am unsure how deep you went with your binge. (The ‘likes sunlight’ comment was supposed to be a reminder.) I made sure to describe Miles’ Pokémon as beautiful (Beauty -> Special Attack) and tough (Tough -> Defense) in their overall description. (And the HP boost that goes with any other boost is noted in the house rules.) Also Miles’ general arrogance was meant to be a warning that he’s been in circulation as a trainer for a while and knows what he’s doing, and of course he told you outright that Contests have a battle segment.

Photobarrier was a surprise. For some reason I got it in my head that he was going to use his Delcatty as Pokemon number 3. I think I saw that his other Pokemon were grass and psychic types and didn't think about it anymore.

I did pick up on the tough and beautiful, but I couldn't do too much about it. I think the play that I could have made differently was U-turning Connie into Buck after that first hit, but I don't know if that would have been enough to save me. Basically every move everyone other than Connie has is physical. The other thing I could have tried was using Leo instead of Connie, but that felt like a bad idea in the sun.

For what it’s worth, I was just going to use the encounter to throw a side quest at you to make some Poffin and not bother with a battle at all…but once it got to that point the fight was intended to be difficult but winnable. Some of the problem might just be you’re used to squashing hordes of Bandra Grunts, who are by and large incompetent with very little variation in Pokémon and movesets.

:p Fair. He was being rude and arrogant enough that I don't think Less thought about learning from him too much. I wasn't surprised the battle was hard, either I thought it would be based on everything above. It's still winnable, I think, but Less will have to get pretty lucky from this point.