So, who's a closet Pokemon fan?

[Xerxes]

Neat. I gots me a Shedinja. In some ways it's move set kinda sucks, and so do it's stats, but I thought the whole Wonder Guard thing sounded cool.
How you get him?

Its very good for catching some legendary pokemon.

Also for everyone close to a T'R'Us:
http://tagn.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/shayminevent.png
I'll be there tomorrow. Wonder can I get him from my car.

[J Arcane]

You have to catch a Nincada, then evolve him with an empty slot in your party and a spare poke ball in your inventory, and then he just appears in the empty slot.

[headhunter228]

After lots of fruitless searching on the GTS, I finally got my hands on a Spiritomb. Joy. It's a good thing I could find one in a trade, because I'm not sure if I could find 32 people to greet in the Underground where I live.

[Ancalagon]

After lots of fruitless searching on the GTS, I finally got my hands on a Spiritomb. Joy. It's a good thing I could find one in a trade, because I'm not sure if I could find 32 people to greet in the Underground where I live.

I could have bred you one if you had asked!

[J Arcane]

After lots of fruitless searching on the GTS, I finally got my hands on a Spiritomb. Joy. It's a good thing I could find one in a trade, because I'm not sure if I could find 32 people to greet in the Underground where I live.
They don't have to be individual people. You can just talk to the same person 32 times over and over again.

[headhunter228]

I could have bred you one if you had asked!

Oh. Oh, well. It's not as if I was using that Azelf, anyway. Speaking of which, I'm free Saturday, and I could really use a Torchic and a Feebas. If you're not doing anything for Singles Awareness Day (a.k.a. Valentine's Day), just name a time convienient for you.

They don't have to be individual people. You can just talk to the same person 32 times over and over again.

Oh, again. Had I realized that, it would have made life for me a lot easier. Anyway, I finally bred a Chimchar with a decent personality, and have just evolved it to Monferno. And, I have to add that I fucking hate the RNG. When I lose at the Battle Tower, I want to lose simply because my opponent beat me fair and square. I don't want to lose simply because the RNG decided it hates me that day, and makes my opponent's Gliscor hit me with Guillotine twice in a row. Stupid cheating AI.....*grumble grumble*

[Ancalagon]

Oh. Oh, well. It's not as if I was using that Azelf, anyway. Speaking of which, I'm free Saturday, and I could really use a Torchic and a Feebas. If you're not doing anything for Singles Awareness Day (a.k.a. Valentine's Day), just name a time convienient for you.


Cool, also not doing anything on Single's Awareness Day (S.A.D?), so that should be fine. I'll breed them tonight, PM me when you have time on Saturday. Or I'll PM you, whichever.

[KSmitty]

I'll be there tomorrow. Wonder can I get him from my car.
I got Shaymin last night. I went to the store off Westheimer+Greenridge. I didn't have to go inside I just stood outside on the same side of the store as the videogames department.

I kind of had a spazz moment last night. When I went to download, it told me that my Wondercard was full. My mind blanked and I could not even remember what a Wondercard was, much less how to empty it. So I'm sitting there racking my brain to see if I remember, going through all my items in-game, I even considered calling someone and having them google it. All that within a span of about 3 minutes. Finally I had that a-ha moment and remembered where/what the Wondercard was. I still had the bonus downloads from Pokemon Revolution and Deoxys on my card (you only get three slots on your card). So I was good once I deleted those.

[Xerxes]

I got Shaymin last night. I went to the store off Westheimer+Greenridge. I didn't have to go inside I just stood outside on the same side of the store as the videogames department.

I kind of had a spazz moment last night. When I went to download, it told me that my Wondercard was full. My mind blanked and I could not even remember what a Wondercard was, much less how to empty it. So I'm sitting there racking my brain to see if I remember, going through all my items in-game, I even considered calling someone and having them google it. All that within a span of about 3 minutes. Finally I had that a-ha moment and remembered where/what the Wondercard was. I still had the bonus downloads from Pokemon Revolution and Deoxys on my card (you only get three slots on your card). So I was good once I deleted those.

Omg I almost forgot about this. 2 days left. I'll most likely stop buy the one on OST. It's on my way to work at U of H.

[JayVe]

Damn. I missed the Pokemon giveaway. :(

[Xerxes]

I went to Toys at midnight. Drove around the back at midnight where the game dept is and, bam, he still downloaded. Woot!

[KSmitty]

Well its not much of a bonus, but for any pokemon fans that collect the figures according to Pokemon Platinum.com (http://www.pokemonplatinum.com/#) when you reserve the game you get a bonus Giratina figurine:
http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x100/Ksmitty99/Online%20Pics/giratinareserve.jpg

[Xerxes]

http://cache.g4tv.com/ImageDb3/137399_S/Pokemon-Public-Service-Announcement-Regigigas-Giveaway-Runs-March-8-To-March-21.jpg

I'm upset too. I missed this. >_<

[Ancalagon]

Pokemon Platinum is coming out soon, and I fear for my free time and sanity.

[J Arcane]

Pokemon Platinum is coming out soon, and I fear for my free time and sanity.
Today for me. I'm kinda tied up with Zelda at the moment though, so I'm actually gonna let a friend split the bill and let him play it first.

What I don't understand though is, it's been mentioned to me in the past that its possible to some how import your party into Platinum. Is this some kind of special feature, or is this just a reference to the possibility of trading in a bunch of low levels?

[Xerxes]

For the canadian trainers...

Canadian Secret Key Event Announced

Yesterday, I was made aware of a possible Canadian Secret Key Event to be held in Toys 'R' Us stores in Canada and today I've managed to get confirmation. From April 19th to April 26th in participating stores, you will be able to download the Secret Key over local Wireless. This is in addition to the future ability to get it over the WiFi Connection. Whether the US branches will be doing this is unknown. The WiFi dates are also unknown, but are likely to be around this same time. We'll bring you more as and when we have it. Click the picture to go to the page detailling Rotom's form changes

For the UK trainers...
UK Shaymin Event Announced

Just a reminder to all our UK visitors, various participating GAME Retailers are, from today, giving away Shaymin at select stores. This Shaymin will access the Gracidea in Pokémon Platinum upon its release and allow you to get the Sky Forme of Shaymin. The specific dates that this event is in each store changes so be sure to check their site here for your nearest one

Courtesy of serebii.net (http://www.serebii.net)

[JayVe]

Ahhh shit. I just picked up Pokemon Platinum.

I am weak!

[Ancalagon]

Today for me. I'm kinda tied up with Zelda at the moment though, so I'm actually gonna let a friend split the bill and let him play it first.

What I don't understand though is, it's been mentioned to me in the past that its possible to some how import your party into Platinum. Is this some kind of special feature, or is this just a reference to the possibility of trading in a bunch of low levels?

No, just a reference to trading with someone else to get other pokemon (or yourself if you won 2 DS's). I'm doing it myself - since I now have a DS Lite and a DSi, I plan to trade some Pokes I've been breeding from Diamond to Platinum. That way, the party I play through platinum with wont suck so hard.

[J Arcane]

Well, I went ahead and bought it anyway, as a I mentioned in the other thread, and a friend bought it too so we can trade and such.

I used his DS to copy over the all-ghost team I'd been working on, and once they hit their stride around lvl 30ish they'd been kicking a fair amount of ass, but then I ran into a giant freakin' brick wall with the Cyrus fight in Distortion World. Every damn thing he has is Dark, and they're all EV'd out the ass, so I just flat couldn't beat the guy.

I wound up importing my old team from Diamond to get through him and the Giratina capture, and now I'm debating whether I want to go through the hassle of grinding up my Ghost team to 60 to make a run for the Final Four, or just use my already FF ready old team to beat it so I can get to the battle island stuff, and then maybe just work on rounding out my Ghost team to 50 for Battle Tower usage and such.

[Xerxes]

For the American trainers...

US Secret Key Event Announced

Today, the official US site announced the details of the US Secret Key events. Like in Canada, there's a brick & mortar event in Toys 'R' Us stores from April 19th to April 26th. In addition to that, it will be available of the Mystery Gift over WiFi Connection in Pokémon Platinum from April 20th to May 12th. Be sure to download it or go and get it from Toys 'R' Us. Click the picture to go to the page detailling Rotom (http://www.serebii.net/platinum/rotom.shtml)'s form changes

Courtesy of serebii.net (http://www.serebii.net/)

He's a fucking lawnmower

[CES]

Damn this game series to hell. Just put down a pre-order for Platinum.

Nintendo, I hate you.

[Dark Prince]

I definitely used to be one stretching all the way back to the Red and Blue versions. Me and a friend would be battling back and forth and keeping track of our progress though we seem to have lost the power to it after Diamond and Pearl.

I've been meaning to get a game to be sucked into my DSi again. Maybe Platinum might do that.

[J Arcane]

I think I've just about given up on this Ghost team idea. For the most part, my party just kind of sucks. A lot of the ghost dual types just have dismal stats, plus the lack of type variety means you're relying on normal damage values to kill most things, which makes grinding take two to three times as long.

The only one in my party that I am really satisfied with is Gengar. Gengar fucking rules. His special attack is so damn high he can basically one shot absolutely anything that isn't resistant against Ghost or Poison with the moves I have.

Rotom also isn't bad, and manages some decent stats as well. I just wish I didn't have to wait until the freakin' 20th to get his alternate form.

Giratina is the most disappointing Legendary ever. His attacks just suck. Sure he's hard to kill, but his attack stats are lowish, and his uber unique attack is physical, which is his weakest attack type. I know he'll be better once I get the Orb to change his form, but I have to beat the FF first before I can get it.

Froslass's stats are crap, pretty much all loaded towards speed and little else, meaning that I basically need Blizzard to be able to guarantee a one shot even against targets 5-6 lower that are week to ice. Drifblim is almost completely useless, for pretty much the same reasons, he's basically a Fly mule at this point.

Spiritomb sounds neat and all, with the no weaknesses thing, but he's basically a stall and little else, as his attack isn't that great, and his main move combo is Dream Eater/Hypnosis, as his Ghost/Dark moves so far are pretty pathetic. Great for holding off something for a few extra rounds, but not generally any good at bringing down the kill.

Plus, there's an HM issue. Namely, almost none of them can learn any except Drifblim, which creates a whole in my move lists where Surf is concerned. With my old team, I had Empoleon learn Surf, and Staraptor leard Fly/Defog, which meant the last four useful ones could be on one HM mule. Cut's basically useless in the late game so I never worry about that one.

Yet at the same time, while I miss the greater flexibility and just general whoopassedness of my old team, I feel like I'm cheating somehow for abandoning my original goal. I'd like to at least work in Gengar into my regular team somehow, because he fucking rules.

[Ancalagon]

I think some sole type teams just arent possible or feasible. Since ghost types are among the rarest in the game, I mean you dont have much choice. Something like a ground team or water team would be a lot easier... but yeah I know, not really what you wanted!

I thought of an earth team like this:

Tyranitar
Garchomp
Hippopowdon
Swampert
Torterra
Camerupt

Yes, Tyranitar isnt a ground type but he fits in well here.

[J Arcane]

Yeah, I had to bend my rule a bit at one point and squeeze a Houndoom in there to beat the ice gym as it was, and the 8th gym I just said fuck it and pulled out my Golem.

I was thinking of just levelling my Ghost team to 50 and using them as a shits-and-giggles battle tower/MP team, but honestly I don't think they'd be any good for that either.

However, I DO really love the shit out of my Gengar, it's my favorite Pokemon in the series hands down, I just can't figure out where I'd fit him in my main team, which is as follows:

Dialga
Empoleon
Luxray
Machamp
Golem
Staraptor

That team got me through the whole previous game, and while it had a few weak points against certain type combos (water/ground comes to mind, as well as steel/psychic), for the most part it pretty much kicks ass.

Dialga's sort of a redundant inclusion type wise, but his stats are insane and his unique move is pretty near an unstoppable force. Machamp tended to be the red headed stepchild of the party, so I suppose I could swap him out. That would leave me a bit of a weakness against Dark, but most Dark is dual type in some way or another that allows me to get around that. Steel would also be an issue, because my only anti-Steel thing left would be Golem, who's simultaneously weak against and super effective against it. I'd essentially have the same situation against Ice as well. I guess I could make up for that by TMing someone with a good high damage Fire move maybe.

Hmmm.

[CES]

I'd remove Dialga for Gengar, trade a heavy hitter for one that can shut down most pokemon with minimal trouble. In fairness, I hate the stupid fucking thing since, while it makes a good tank, it has a shitty natural offensive moveset other than Roar Of Time.

[J Arcane]

I'd remove Dialga for Gengar, trade a heavy hitter for one that can shut down most pokemon with minimal trouble. In fairness, I hate the stupid fucking thing since, while it makes a good tank, it has a shitty natural offensive moveset other than Roar Of Time.
Yeah, outside their unique moves, the Legendaries really have pretty piss poor moves.

[Ancalagon]

I dont like using legendaries, mostly because they dont evolve and cant be bred. I prefer using pseudolegendaries - they are nearly as powerful, far less rare, and can be bred.

Well, I've got Pokemon Platinum sitting on my desk. This is either a very good thing or a very bad thing. It depends on how sane I am.

[J Arcane]

Beat the Final Four yesterday with a revised team subbing in Gengar for Dialga as CES suggested. Got the National Dex which was a bitch because it meant catching the lake legendaries. I swear they even made the legendary catches harder in this game. I had to Master Ball Giratina, which I didn't have to do for Dialga in the last game.

I'm in the middle of my first run at the Battle Factory right now, and it's kinda neat.

[CES]

Beat the Final Four yesterday with a revised team subbing in Gengar for Dialga as CES suggested. Got the National Dex which was a bitch because it meant catching the lake legendaries. I swear they even made the legendary catches harder in this game. I had to Master Ball Giratina, which I didn't have to do for Dialga in the last game.

I'm in the middle of my first run at the Battle Factory right now, and it's kinda neat.

That's because Giratina has the one of the lowest catch rates of all pokemon at 3, like most legendaries before it. Dialga and Palkia are much easier with a catch rate of 30.

[headhunter228]

That's because Giratina has the one of the lowest catch rates of all pokemon at 3, like most legendaries before it. Dialga and Palkia are much easier with a catch rate of 30.

Giratina was a bitch to catch. I sat there for hours trying and failing to catch it. It was easier trying to catch Mespirit.

[J Arcane]

That's because Giratina has the one of the lowest catch rates of all pokemon at 3, like most legendaries before it. Dialga and Palkia are much easier with a catch rate of 30.
I just didn't figure on them leaving the catch rate the same in this one, where he's your main legendary a la Dialga/Palkia in the last one, as he had in the last game, where he was a later rare hard to find catch in a cave you could only get to after beating the game.

[CES]

Giratina was a bitch to catch. I sat there for hours trying and failing to catch it. It was easier trying to catch Mespirit.

Which is very amusing since Mespirit also has a base catch rate of 3.


I just didn't figure on them leaving the catch rate the same in this one, where he's your main legendary a la Dialga/Palkia in the last one, as he had in the last game, where he was a later rare hard to find catch in a cave you could only get to after beating the game.

Understandable but you have to remember, this is a Pokemon game. Where would it be without utter bastard moments?

[headhunter228]

Which is very amusing since Mespirit also has a base catch rate of 3.

Maybe I was just lucky. I've only done it once.

[Press Ninja]

I picked up Platinum. I am weak. But they can be soo cute...

[TheEpicOfTyler]

I've been thinking of starting a new game or getting Platinum... I just know I'll be sinking a few hundred hours into it though and I really don't want to do that right now. :(

[CES]

Maybe I was just lucky. I've only done it once.

Well, there's loads of things that alter the catch rate so it's not an exact science.

[J Arcane]

I just found this:

lLpeiwCYOkM