More than four

[wolfgang]

It looks like something I've been curious about for a bit has finally been answered- move limits. In the fight with the Kecleon Combusken uses Ember, Sand Attack, Peck, Double Kick, and Scratch. That's five moves, so either the pokemon have higher or no limits on the moves they can learn in the Pokemon-X universe.

I question whether this is a good or bad thing. While I've often wanted more move slots- it does allow for some weakness when coming up with move sets. So it could make difficult opponents almost impossible if they always have a move for the occasion.

What do you people think?

[daveshn]

Recon's said that he doesn't subscribe to the four move limit a long time ago.

I'll leave this open encase anyone has any other questions concerning it.

[Rocker]

If a pokemon knew thundershock, then learned thunderbolt, would they have both or would it be overwritten cause its basically an upgrade move?

[wolfgang]

I kind of figured it had been addressed. But I didn't see anything and I didn't recall seeing it in the commentary accompanying a comic so I made this. Also this is meant to double as a discussion on the benefits/flaws of each system.

[Jafar]

Personally I use the four-move system in my fan fiction, but I find that the "more than four" system can be more exciting and unpredictable. My only complaint with that system is that I find it hard to use, something which I cannot use well but others can.

Rocker: There would be no override. Some Pokemon have two versions of a move, one weaker than the other, because the powerful move has less PP. I watched a video walkthrough once of a trainer's Alakazam with Psychic for power and Psybeam for PP. While PP may not be used in comics/fan fiction, it could be implemented through energy level; for example, it tires at a Pokemon more to use Thunderbolt over Thundershock.

[Cogsworth]

I always treat moves like Flamethrower, Thunderbolt, etc. as upgrades.

For me its Absorb-> Megadrain

Thundershock-> Thunderbolt (Though I keep Thunderbolt, but you get it)

Ember-> Flamethrower

[SeriousJupiter]

In my comics, pokémon can use more than four moves. For example, in my Ruby Jupiter can use Return, Muddy Water, Earthquake and Blizzard, but I like to think that he can also use Protect in my comics, if I ever will draw him in another battle.

I like how pokémon can use all their moves in Pokémon-X. Like May once said, it wouldn't make sense for them to forget their moves.

[wolfgang]

Well, "forgetting" could be handled several ways- they're spontaneously learning moves so it could be an override of the pre-existing knowledge.

Perhaps it could be focus- keeping a limit on the moves for faster response. If you have a large number of techniques you have to make the mental connection between the command and the action. If you limit that number you don't have to sift through as much to get to the right one (this is partly from my experience with martial arts classes, while you can counteract this with more practice this is just for the sake of justifying the "four moves only" rule).

Finally there's the "it's the rules" excuse. I mean in this comic they're forced to take turns attacking each other, wild pokemon get teleported to a pokecenter when they faint, and I'm sure there's other oddities that I'm missing. It would make a reasonable amount of sense that trainers are limited to using four moves per pokemon in battle.

Also, where does May address it? I didn't recall it coming up before.

[swimming95]

In my mind, there should be a fine balence... 4 moves is way to constricting but having the pokemon know every single move available to it is a bit of an overkill

my guess on the original reason for 4 moves is
a) might have been easier to program the space XD (had to knock the developers for something )
b) it does involve a good amount of strategy to pick the best 4 moves (unless you look online for competitive move sets)

either way, I really look forward to a game without it

[SeriousJupiter]

Feb 26, 2010 22:25:47 GMT -6 wolfgang said:

Also, where does May address it? I didn't recall it coming up before.

She tells Brendan that during her battle with the Queen Spinda in the Cozmo's Meteorite storyline.

[saberoflink]

Recon tries to justify some of the idiotic plot devices they use for fairness in the games.

[SeriousJupiter]

And it's a good thing he does.

[daveshn]

Feb 27, 2010 6:13:17 GMT -6 swimming95 said:

b) it does involve a good amount of strategy to pick the best 4 moves (unless you look online for competitive move sets)

It used to require strategy, until they did the physical/special split. Now tyranitar can have a STAB'd rock move and dark move on the same set with no EV split.

[SeriousJupiter]

Exactly. My Tyranitar knows Ice Fang, Crunch, Earthquake and Stone Edge. He defeated all of Castle Valet Darach's pokémon.

Of course, the special/physical split does have its drawbacks sometimes, but that's why moves like Dark Pulse and Giga Impact were invented.

[Jafar]

The four-move system still requires strategy; for example, a physically fragile special wall could use Iron Defense, Acid Armour, Defense Curl, etc. along with a recovery move to better take physical attacks, more important now than before now that physical attacks can be of any seventeen types.

Skarmory, for example, is no longer invincible to physical attacks thanks to Fire and Electric physical attacks, making Roost a staple on Skarmory sets, which leaves room for only three other moves. That is why I like the four-move system. Working around the restriction is itself a strategy-requiring task.