General Statement
Pokémon: Apotheosis is a fan-game that I'm building in RPG Maker XP.***
This game has a simple goal in mind; it’s meant to take all of the best elements of the franchise and put it all into one place. Everything you’ve ever wanted in a Pokémon game, if this works properly, will be implemented. Hence the name, Apotheosis. Additionally, just about everything can be changed or altered if there’s something you don’t like. As a general rule of thumb, the game is meant to be fun first and challenging second; that being said, there are plans to add challenges to the game for people who want them.
This game has a simple goal in mind; it’s meant to take all of the best elements of the franchise and put it all into one place. Everything you’ve ever wanted in a Pokémon game, if this works properly, will be implemented. Hence the name, Apotheosis. Additionally, just about everything can be changed or altered if there’s something you don’t like. As a general rule of thumb, the game is meant to be fun first and challenging second; that being said, there are plans to add challenges to the game for people who want them.
Plot Summary
The game it set about a decade or so after Pokémon: Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon. Most areas of the world are in a state or remission or collapse, due to a combination of factors. The overall themes are tradition vs innovation and slowed progress due to rejection of newer ideals. The player, filled with youthful zeal, sets out to restore many of the things that have been broken. For Trainers, this is reinvigorating the Pokémon League, for Researchers, it’s building up all the world's Labs, and for Breeders its restoring faith in other areas of interest outside of the standard Pokémon battles. They aren’t the only ones trying to take advantage of the world’s damaged state, however. Many opposing forces want to use this as an opportunity to make the region theirs, whether that be to establish order or wreak havoc.
Gameplay
Key aspects of the game that will be put in no matter what, these are top priority:
Things I would like to have either fully or partially implemented at some point:
Things that will be put in if it’s possible/worth doing:
Game modes to be implemented:
- You may only catch the first Pokemon in any given area. This is ignored for special Pokemon or repeat encounters of the same species.
- Event/Special Pokemon and Legendaries can be used in battle by default (assuming that you don’t have a full party yet), but this can be disabled.
- If the player “blacks out”, their progress is reverted back to the last Gym they defeated. This can be changed to force a restart instead if so desired.
- Classes are disabled in this mode; everything is unlocked as if the player had every class. The Mastery quest is the same as if the player chose the battler class.
- Open world game-play (kinda): The region is opened up to the player after the first area of the game, allowing them to explore at their own leisure. No random road blocks or forced detours. They can choose to follow the main story line or just wander off to do their own thing.
- Quest system: As an extension of the the previous statement, the game has a quest system that will keep track of the players progress, so they won’t forget what they’re supposed to be doing. The game will have multiple quests that can be unlocked. Quests do not give awards is the traditional sense; they're meant as a away to keep track of your progress.
- Updated leveling system: The true maximum level for Pokemon has been increased to 150, also known as LVL X. Pokemon in the wild and owed by others will be scaled based on your number of Gym badges, so Gym leaders can be fought in any order.
- Non-visual Character Customization: The game starts with a quiz that determines aspects of your characters along with some game settings. For example, your rivals sex will be based on the question, “Who do you find attractive?”. There’s a separate document with a full list of these questions.
- Class system: The game will have three classes to choose from; Trainer, Researcher, and Breeder. Each class specializes in something different. Even so, this will not be a major limiting factor on what you can do in the region. Researchers can still challenge Gyms, for example. More info on the "Classes" page.
- New Pokemon types: Leucistic, Melanistic, Delta, Permanent Mega, Shadow, and Mystic. Most if not all of these will be added, and they each have unique uses in-game.
- Crafting Systems: Labs are a new feature that use several crafting systems. You can make just about any vanilla Pokemon item, modify Pokemon, or craft medicines that can’t be bought in stores. The main use for these systems though is to restore a Lab’s Central Machine, a device that has different functions depending on the Lab.
- Contests: Contest Halls make a return in this game, with some minor updates. They work similar to battles, but the point isn’t to faint an opponent, you have to get a higher score than them.
- Event Pokemon: Special pocket monsters obtained through in-game events or quests. More information in the future.
- Followers: The first Pokemon in your party is shown following you in the Overworld.
Things I would like to have either fully or partially implemented at some point:
- Challenge Modes: Multiple challenges will be available to play if you’re someone who thinks vanilla is the most boring flavor. Modes so far: Nuzlocke, Power Party, Elemental, Custom, and Rush. Game modes are detailed below.
- Deep Storage: This is a modified PC storage system that has tons of space but has strict rules. Pokemon and items can be put inside at anytime, but they cannot be interacted with. Things can only be taken out with Deep Storage Passes, an expensive and elusive item that’s usually only given to the player when starting a New Game +.
- New Game +: This is essentially a soft reset that removes all quest and story progress, but allows players to keep certain things from their previous run. It can be done an unlimited amount of times. More details below.
- Auras: In addition to this, there's also the Aura mechanic. Auras are a set of boons and banes given to the player at the start of the game. Some areas render them moot though, so be careful.
- Achievements: Not technically required, but will be made nonetheless. There’s a separate document with a list of all the Achievements made so far.
- Bases: Each class and faction has a base of their own that the player can obtain. They all serve different purposes, and can be edited by the player in any way they choose. Base types so far: Dojo, Breeding Ranch, and Ginkgo’s Lab.
Things that will be put in if it’s possible/worth doing:
- Animated sprites: This seems like a no-brainer, but animations take a long time, especially with so many different variations of Pokemon that will be in-game. If I can get some help, it will be looked into.
- Character Customization: Besides gender, there’s no plans to implement this just yet. If the demand exists and it’s feasible to do, then it’ll get added.
- Trading/Player Hub: If it’s doable, players will be able to trade with each other, maybe even do battle if I’m feeling a bit ballsy. More likely than not, this won’t be an in-game feature, but something web-based like what PTD does.
Game modes to be implemented:
- Custom Mode: A special game mode that allows an insane amount of customization in regards to how the game works. Do you want to just have one region’s worth of Pokemon? Done. Hate the new game mechanics and want something closer to the main series games? You can toggle it on or off. Don’t like the starting items you get because it feels to cheat-y? You can remove them. Don’t like the class system? That’s optional now. Wanna just say “screw it” and have everything unlocked from the start? Go ahead. Everything can be edited to suit you.
- Power Party Mode: This mode limits the player to a group of 12 Pokemon they can use in battle/contests. The Pokemon, not counting the starters, will be randomly chosen for them. All are basic/baby Pokemon that start at level 5. The player can still catch new Pokemon, but can’t switch them out for the ones given to them at the start unless they obtain a Party Pass, an item only usable in this game-mode. The game is the same otherwise. Think of it as a modified, slightly more forgiving Nuzlocke Mode.
- Elemental Mode: This mode forces the player to only use Pokemon of a certain type, depending on what alignment they choose. The Stability alignment uses Ground, Rock, Grass, and Steel. The Freedom alignment uses Flying, Ghost, Electric, and Bug. The Order alignment uses Water, Ice, Psychic and Fairy. The Chaos alignment uses Fire, Dark, Fighting, and Poison. All alignments can use Dragon and Normal. If a Pokemon will evolve into one of these groups, they can be used. If a Pokemon will evolve out of it, their evolution sequence is cancelled.
- Rush Mode: This mode has no classes, and the story is disabled. The goal is to clear all mastery quests in as little time as possible. Each mastery quest has been slightly modified in order to make things more simple: Register all non-legendary Pokemon, Beat the Champion (not the Pokemon Master), and restore all five Labs. Several unique items exist to fulfill this goal faster that are only obtainable in this game-mode.
- Nuzlocke Mode: What it says on the tin. The base rules for this version are as follows:
- You may only catch the first Pokemon in any given area. This is ignored for special Pokemon or repeat encounters of the same species.
- Event/Special Pokemon and Legendaries can be used in battle by default (assuming that you don’t have a full party yet), but this can be disabled.
- If the player “blacks out”, their progress is reverted back to the last Gym they defeated. This can be changed to force a restart instead if so desired.
- Classes are disabled in this mode; everything is unlocked as if the player had every class. The Mastery quest is the same as if the player chose the battler class.
- New Game +: In the event that you’ve done all that you wanted to do in your play-through so far, you can start a New Game Plus. This does a soft reset of your game, sending you back to the character creation screen. Some things stay between play-throughs; Class mastery (Class exclusive items and locations will be unlocked as if you still had that class, although their progress is reset), Achievements, Pokedex Completion, certain items, and if you choose to, you can take up to 3 Pokemon with you into the new save for free. (If you don’t want to though, they’ll be put into Deep Storage with the rest of your old Pokemon and items). In addition to this, you’ll receive 5 Deep Storage Passes to get out any combination of items and Pokemon. Everything else goes away, and you can start fresh. This can be done as many times as you want, and class mastery progress is saved through multiple runs, so you can use this to unlock everything the game has to offer. Alternatively, you can do a Hard Reset of the game, which clears ALL of your progress, not including Achievements which are reset independently. The game will act as if this is your first time playing.