Are YOU a Pokemon Master?!

[Whomper]

ADVANCE NOTICE TO MODS: This is a thread to discuss the possibilty of something like this occuring. In an effort to garner the most attention, I have placed it in the General Discussion forum (where Pokemon has recently received quite a bit of discussion). If this idea is actually to become a reality, it would obviously take place in the more-appropriate Gaming forum. However, if you feel this discussion should be moved there, please feel free to do so.

It seems quite a few people around these parts are interested in Pokemon recently. Upon noting this, and also noting that a couple of people have PMed me about a potential league, I figure I'll go ahead and pitch this out on these forums to see if any of this grand userbase would want to do something like this.

WARNING: GIANT WALL OF RULES AND REGULATIONS! CLICK AT YOUR OWN RISK!==================================================

Welcome one and all to the Pokemon League!

This is a place where those who dare can challenge the league of Gym Leaders to epic battles of Pokemon, in an attempt to become the Champion of the Pokemon League!

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This basically works like any other Pokemon gym challenge. It's done with real games, over the Nintendo wifi. (Shoddy battlers and other virtual players need not concern themselves with this league.) Since this is actual PvP gaming, special rules will be put into place to provide a more challenging path for any who would dare to challenge the league.

As I have done in the past, I will be administrating the league, and as such will be appointing four Gym Leaders to begin this. I intend to start out as one of the gym leaders (given that I'm already prepared), so that leaves three positions left to fill. If you wish to apply to become a Gym Leader, please send a PM to me with the subject line "Gym Leader Application", and answer the following questions:

- What pokemon type will your gym be, and why? (Don't name pokemon you will be using unless it's part of the reason!)
- What city will your gym be located in? (This can be a current city in the world of Pokemon, or one you make up.)
- What will your badge be called?
- Why do you think you would make a great Gym Leader?

Applications will be accepted until three worthy leaders present themselves, whereupon the Gym Leaders will be declared, and the games shall begin! If the league grows in size, more Gym Leaders may be considered. I'd honestly like to have eight, but I'm starting small here.

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THE RULES

Basic League Rules

- 4th Generation settings must be used. (Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, Heart Gold, Soul Silver)
- Battles will be 6 on 6 Lv. 100 Matches. (Don't worry - the game can automatically set your pokemon at that level for the battle.)
- Both the gym leader and challenger are allowed substitutions.
- The first trainer to obtain all badges offered will be crowned the League Champion.
- Any player obtaining all offered badges afterwards must challenge the current Champion to obtain Champion status. The winner gets the title, and the loser must start from scratch.
- A Gym Leader, after obtaining every other badge but their own, may step down from their position to challenge a replacement Gym Leader (inducted by them), and then challenge for the title of Champion.
- A trainer may not be both Gym Leader and Champion.
- The Champion, while not restricted by type, is obligated to follow the code of the Gym Leaders regarding accessibility.

Gym Leader Accessibility Rules

Gym Leaders will be expected to maintain a minimum set of accessibility guidelines:

- Establish some gym information in your forum signature (Battling Friend Code, Gym Name, etc.).
- Set at least one specific hour per week where anyone is free to challenge your gym, and post the time(s) in your sig.
- Challengers may challenge you in whatever way they can reach you (forum post, PM, messenger, etc.). They are to be played on a first-come-first-serve basis.
- Remain active. One hour a week may not be much, but it is still a commitment required of a Gym Leader.
- Encourage good sportsmanship. Remain unbiased and free from ultra-reactionary emotions, win or lose.

If it is determined that a Gym Leader is not fulfilling their duties properly, they can be closed down and replaced with another Gym upon decision of the administrator (me).

League Clauses

- Sleep/Freeze Clause -
Only one Pokemon may be asleep/frozen at the same time as another. You can, however, have one asleep and one frozen at the same time. Once one unfreezes, that Pokemon or another may be put back to sleep. Pokemon asleep due to the effects of Rest, Effect Spore, or accident do NOT count towards that limit. (Ex.: one trainer switches out a pokemon that was frozen by ice beam, and the other player used another ice beam on that swap-out turn, freezing a second pokemon)

- Dodge Clause -
Moves that increase or decrease evasion or accuracy are banned. (Ex.: Minimize, Lock-On, Sweet Scent, Sand Attack)

- OHKO Clause -
Moves that cause a One-Hit Knock Out are also banned. (Ex.: Guillotine, Fissure, Sheer Cold)

- Species Clause -
Each Pokemon on your team must be of a different species. A different Pokedex number means it's a different species.

- Hax Clause -
Luck-based items, a.k.a. "hax" items, may not be used. These are items that, through a percentage chance, give pokemon a special advantage. (Ex.: Quick Claw, Focus Band, Scope Lens, King's Rock, Razor Fang)

- Self-KO Clause -
If both players are down to their last Pokemon and one uses a move that kills itself, such as Explosion, Self-Destruct, Destiny Bond, or Memento, the trainer who used that move is considered the loser of the match.

- Uber Clause -
The following pokemon, considered "uber", may not be used in gym battles:

Arceus
Darkrai
Deoxys (all forms)
Dialga
Garchomp
Giratina (all forms)
Groudon
Ho-oh
Kyogre
Latias
Latios
Lugia
Manaphy
Mew
Mewtwo
Palkia
Rayquaza
Shaymin (all forms)
Wobbuffet
Wynaut

Please take note that this list includes some pokemon that are non-legendary, and omits some that are legendary.

Let it be known that both challenging trainers AND Gym Leaders must follow all clauses set forth here, or that trainer/leader will be disqualified.

Gym Leader Insurance Policy

Because of the aforementioned extra challenge in a PvP format, Gym Leaders will be given special handicaps to prevent instaloss, thus adding extra challenge and cultivating fairness. These allowances are as follows:

- Tweak Rules -
A Gym Leader, at his or her discretion, may institute up to two custom rules for their gym WITHIN REASON. (Ex.: 3 on 3 match instead of 6 on 6 match, only one item type allowed per pokemon, only one self-KO move allowed per team, etc.) If made, the Gym Leader must also follow those rules and display them somewhere in public view (perhaps a Gym post?).

- Wildcard Pokemon -
A Gym Leader is allowed one wildcard pokemon per two gym type pokemon, rounded down. (Ex.: 6v6 matches = 2 wildcard; 5v5-4v4-3v3 matches = 1 wildcard.) A wildcard pokemon is a pokemon that does not match the gym's type.

- Challenger Pokemon Restriction -
A Challenger may only have two of any type of pokemon that would have an advantage over a gym's type, and dual-type pokemon count once towards each type. (Ex.: a Normal type gym could not be challenged by more than two rock, ghost and steel pokemon, but could be challenged by two of each.)

- Challenger Move Restriction -
Of the 24 moves available over 6 pokemon, a Challenger may only have up to 4 of each movetype that would be super effective against the gym, with the exception of Normal and Electric gyms, where 6 are allowed. (Ex.: an ice type gym could not be challenged with more than four fire, fighting, rock or steel moves, but could be challenged with up to four of each [16 total moves in this instance].)

- If the challenger or leader believe the Insurance Policy has been breached, they may request a Trade view of your pokemon team after the battle. If such a view is unable to be accomodated, the trainer in question will be automatically disqualified. Such a disqualification can be appealed to the administrator (once again, me).

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This has turned out to be a rather solid (albeit lengthy) set of rules that has worked out nicely when running this at other places. The largest problem I face when running one of these seems to be finding participants that actually own the game with wifi and are willing to participate. (This is meant to be a FULLY LEGAL game, after all.) Comments would be greatly appreciated; specifically, comment on whether or not this is something you'd want to participate in, and whether or not you would be able to.