All aboard! Magnet Train now departing for a quick Rocket plot!

[these_balls]

Hi there, Route! There's going to be some Rocket related shenanigans in the near future, so here's what's going on!

Lately, our NPC Rocket Grunts have gotten a little tired of the spotlight always being on the PC characters. I mean who's going to notice if one of them stole Joey's Rattata if everyone's busy freaking out about some guy blowing up Olivine or a mass wave of other Pokemon thefts? So tired of being in the background, a bunch of disgruntled Grunts got together and decided to hold a crime spree of their own to remind everybody that hey, miscellaneous local Rockets can do stuff too.

Now, the first part of their plan is pulling off some burglaries. Keep an eye out for a news bulletin about that soon. Those are going to happen without any advance warning, and will go off without a hitch. The second part's holding up the Magnet Train, but that one might not go so well. And that's where you guys come in! We're going to give you the opportunity to thwart this terrible terrible crimewave!


So then, here's what you need to know before signing up:

The Details and Options:
-The date of the train attack is April 26th and the train will be departing the Saffron station and heading towards Goldenrod.
-There will be between 5 and 15 challengeable Rockets on the Magnet Train depending on the number of people interested in challenging the Rockets
-If you're not interested in battling, that's okay, you can still participate! The Rockets will be starting an electrical fire, so we'll need people to help with that! And since the train's going to end up being stranded, we'll need people to ferry the passengers from the train to Goldenrod.
-And yes, there will be a log for this!

About the Rockets:
-Prior to the attack, the Rockets are going to be dressed as passengers and train staff. So they'll be blending in seamlessly with the rest of the people on the train.
-Once the train gets close to Goldenrod, they're going to strike, take the conductor hostage, and stop the train.
-From there, Rockets in each car are going to attempt to shakedown the car, which is where you guys come in! The people who signed up for battling the Rockets will have the opportunity to repel the thieves (which will be threaded out for the people participating!), and possibly even challenge the ones holding the conductor hostage!
-Once things start to go off the rails, sorry bad train joke, the Rockets are going to start an electrical fire to cover their escape attempt, which involves bailing out the windows onto Golbats.
-Of course now that their plan's been derailed, sorry, that was the last one I swear, this probably won't work very well. And having lost a Pokemon battle, like what you'd expect from game Rockets, most of them won't try to go anywhere at all.

How to Win:
-Beating the Rockets is great and all, but like it says up there, they're setting an electrical fire to buy some time.
-And the Magnet Train probably shouldn't go up in flames, so that's your victory condition! Putting out the fire
-How that works is up to you! What we're encouraging you to do here is work together to come up with an OOC plan in the comments of this post, using the questions we've provided as guidance for how you intend to stop the fire! Then, sometime before April 26th, present us with a description of the plan that Team Fire Extinguisher will be using! If you've arrived at a viable solution (spoilers: this won't be that hard to do; we're very flexible), you'll achieve success at this objective!
-So once you've come up with that, let us know your strategy, by telling us here!

And If You Lose?:
-Though we have plenty of faith that you'll be able to stop this caper before it gets out of hand, we have decided to build in the possibility of a lose condition just for the sake of keeping things interesting. Therefore, in the event that the fire somehow goes unaddressed, a highly flammable piece of secret cargo will be ICly destroyed as a consequence; the destruction of that cargo will delay the eventual raising of the Pokemon Box Limit for every character in the game.

Again, we want to stress that losing the plot does not mean player characters will lose the possibility of a Box Limit upgrade entirely; rather, failing to stop the fire will simply delay the raising of the Box Limit, rather than following the timeline we currently have set for it.


So then, what we need from you is to comment to this post, let us know which characters you're signing up, and whether you're interested in battling the Rockets, dealing with the fires, or helping take the passengers to Goldenrod. Please select one task per character, unless you're signing up for battle, then please read the next paragraph for more information!

If you're signing up for battle, please let us know the following additional information: a backup choice in case we have to roll for spots, if you're interested in a loss, and if you'd like to know in advanced or would like to be surprised by your Grunt's roster. One person from each group will also be randomly selected for an extra bonus, but more on that later!

Signups will be open until 11:59 PM EST on April 22nd, and after those close, you'll be getting information on what sort of Pokemon teams you'll be up against, unless of course, you want their roster to be a secret!

And that's it! Remember to sign up if you're interested and if you have questions, feel free to ask those here!

Comments

QUESTIONS

[these_balls]

TEAM FIRE EXTINGUISHER PLANS

[these_balls]

Here's what you need to figure out before telling us your plan!

-The door to the engine room is locked. How are you getting in?
Examples: Kick down the door, ask for help from nonRocket train staff, climb outside the train and cut your way in, see if Rockets have the key, etc.

-If you manage to get in there, how are you going to put out the fire?
Examples: Throw water on it, throw sand on it, look for an extinguisher, ask the fire to please stop burning the train, etc.

-If that doesn't work, what's your next plan?
In case Plan A fails or somehow makes the fire worse, what's your backup plan?

And remember, we need your plans by 11:59 PM, EST, on April 25th!

TEAM FIRE EXTINGUISHER PLAN

[justkeptswimming]

WE HAVE A SET PLAN, WHOOOOO!

Plan A

1) After shenanigans that include Joker dragging Jimmy away from battling Rockets, Asahina, Joker and Jimmy are going to discover the fire (or one of them will and alert the other two, depends on how things go down).

2) Rogue (Joker) and Cherry (Jimmy) start up Plan "FURRET FURY DESTRUCTION" and attempt to bust the door down. If they can't get through on their own, Sakura (Asahina's Poliwrath) will assist.

3) Lightning the Luxray (Joker) and Leader the Manectric (Jimmy) will get involved and attempt to redirect the electricity since they're both electric types.

4) The water otter team (Asahina Floatzel and Jimmy's Buizel) will so the water otter thing, with Rain Dance back up by Guls the Goomy.


Now for Plan B for getting in:

1) Invidia the Zoroark (Joker's team) disguises himself as a Rocket and tricks/captures an NPC Rocket Grunt.

2) Donut the Slowpoke (Asahina's team) is given the task of interrogating them to see if they have a key. If so and he can retrieve it, he will bring it to Asahina and they get in that way instead of breaking down the door.

Plan B and a 1/2

If attempting to redirect the electricity + water attacks don't work/make things worse, they'll make attempts to smother the fire with Joker's cape and Asahina's track jacket while Jimmy runs to find a fire extinguisher.

And Plan C is them running around trying to find

Plan C is the three of them racing to find nonRocket train staff because they're a high school athlete, a guy from the 1800s and a teenage boy from Hell who have no idea what they're doing and need an adult.

Who else for Team Fire Extinguisher?

[pipers_son]

Signing up Joker for Team Fire Extinguisher! He really doesn't want to get involved in this Good VS Baddies thing, but if he's going to be on this train, well, he doesn't want it going up in smoke! Once he realizes that where there's smoke there's fire, he'll quickly get himself involved to see if there's anything he can do. He might even take lead of the situation like a proper ringleader if no one else does.

Why's he on the train? He had to make a quick stop into Kanto regarding Circus things! Nothing big, at least that's what he'll be hoping...

His roster on this jam will be:
1. Angel the Mime Jr.
2. Rogue the Furret
3. Guls the Goomy
4. Lightning the Luxray
5. Invidia the Zoroark
6. Ace the Eevee

[these_balls]

Joker has been signed up for Team Fire Extinguisher! Don't forget to hand in his or his group's plan here by 11:59 PM on April 25th!

IM USING THIS ICON BECAUSE I NEVER GET TO OTHERWISE

[awesmazings]

Jimmy will also be involved by way of association, since he happened to be accompanying Joker on his trip for Circus things. BUT APPARENTLY OUR FIRST TRIP ON A TRAIN EVER IS GONNA BE PUNCTUATED BY HIS FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH ROCKETS, OKGREAT

This kid is 100% out to do whatever he possibly can to help out, whether it be figuring out a way to get into the engine room, helping put out the fire, stopping rocket grunts, etc etc basically he's here to do anything, even at risk to his own safety.

Jimmy's roster will be:
1. Leader the Manectric
2.Cherry the Furret
3.Lucky the Buizel
4.Guava the Goomy
5.Inferno the Larvesta
6.Lucius the Houndour

Concerning the fire fighting, Jimmy is probably going to let his Buizel, Lucky, have a chance to really prove himself and do something selfless for once in trying to battle the flames. He's also in dire need of some ~character development~, so this is actually coming at a perfect time (I MIGHT EVEN LET HIM EVOLVE MAYBE IDK?? depends on how things play out)

If there's anything particular you'd like to have go down with Jimmy though I'm literally up for anything. This is his first serious conflagration in Route so I'm super excited

[pipers_son]

Any ideas for how they're going to get into the engine room? I have a few (including the classic "FUCK IT JUST BREAK IT DOWN") but figured I'd see if you had anything in mind!

[these_balls]

Before putting you down for anything, I just wanted to check which role you wanted for Jimmy! We have spaces open for Rocket battles, but since you've been plotting for fire extinguishing, I wanted to ask which one you'd prefer! It's your call! Just please let me know within the next day or so if possible!

YOOOOO TEAM FIRE EXTINGUISHER

[justkeptswimming]

placeholder comment because i have to get ready for work but Asahina is jumping on Team Fire Extinguisher YEEEAAAHHHHH

[pipers_son]

I was trying to think of a way to get you involved but I sh ouldn't try to plot things in my head upon first awakening because the only thing coming to brain

is them capturing a Rocket Grunt and placing Donut on them for 'interrogation'

this isn't what the grunt signed up for help????

Re: YOOOOO TEAM FIRE EXTINGUISHER

[these_balls]

Asahina has been signed up for Team Fire Extinguisher! Don't forget to hand in her or her group's plan here by 11:59 PM on April 25th!

Re: YOOOOO TEAM FIRE EXTINGUISHER

[these_balls]

Hi again!

Remember the bonus mentioned in the post up there? You've been randomly selected for one of them! If you'd like, your character can be interviewed for an EV News post set after the train log resolves. All we need are a few sentences ICly answering the question of “What was it like dealing with the fire on the train?” You're welcome to go off topic if you'd like, but realize that the reporters might cut to something else depending on what happens!

If you're interested, please respond here with your character's answer by 11:59 PM PST on Tuesday! If you're not interested, please let me know so I can roll again!

[ajustcaws]

Cynthia isn't terribly good at things like planning so if she were to be put on Team Fire Extinguisher she would likely need someone else to tell her what to do, but she would be all on board with taking out some Rocket Grunts! Maybe she could buddy up with someone, even...

OH WHOOPS I... FORGOT TO INCLUDE THE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT WAS SILLY OF ME

Thinking about it, she could be the Hero and help take passengers back to Goldenrod. Actually I think that's a better backup plan, though she'd function a little bit better as an escort than she would with carrying people. So I'm going with escorting passengers as the secondary option if you need to roll for grunt fighting.

I am a-okay with losing!

Cynthia's current party is:
Blitzle (lv 25)
Murkrow (lv 20)
Rufflet (lv 30)

[these_balls]

Cynthia has been signed up for battling a Grunt! Would you like her opponent's team now, or would you like it kept a surprise until the log goes up?

[neededlassie]

Both of my boys are getting signed up for battling! Shaun's team that he'll have with him will be:

-Susie the Floatzel (lv. 100)
-Calvin the Raichu (lv. 100)
-Finn the Nidoking (lv. 100)
-Chase the Charizard (lv. 100)
-Bella the Munna (lv. 70)
-Alvin the Patrat (lv. 100)

while Togami is bringing to the party:

-Sho the Sableye (lv. 65)
-Richard the Persian (lv. 55)
-Alice the Persian (lv. 55)
-Reynard the Vulpix (lv. 25)
-Vampa the Rapidash (lv. 100)
-Vouivre the Dragonite (lv. 75)

In the event that you need to roll for battle spots and they need a backup choice, Shaun will start getting passengers to Goldenrod (which will involve taking one person with him, and then switching out Calvin for Giant the Golurk before heading back for the next person to continue the evacuation. Togami's backup plan is to join Team Fire Extinguisher, using Vouivre the Dragonite's bulk to his advantage for whatever purpose it can be used for (breaking down doors, smothering fires, what have you). If need be, Sho can also use her ghostly sneakysneaks to find and cut off the power to the train car so that the fire doesn't spread further.

I don't think Shaun's going to have any problem with anything the rockets are packing unless they too have teams of level 100s, and similar for Togami even though his team level average is lower (he's going to try to keep it to Sho and the Persians, but if he needs the big guns he'll use Vampa or Vouivre). I'd prefer for Shaun not to lose (and since he's packing 5 level 100s and a level 70 I don't think that's likely anyway), but depending on the grunts' team levels if you need someone to take a loss Togami can. I'd like to know their grunts' rosters in advance, svp!

[these_balls]

Both Togami and Shaun have been signed up for battling a Grunt! However, due to the size constraints and passenger policy for the train, we'll have to ask that you make a couple changes to their line ups! For Shaun, could you please swap out either the Charizard or the Nidoking for something smaller? And for Togami, I'm afraid that we're going to have to ask you swap out both Dragonite and Rapidash for smaller Pokemon. Another alternative would be to leave the slots empty if you'd like! It's up to you!

And here is what you'll be facing on the Magnet Train:

Shaun:
Raticate lv. 30
Golbat lv. 25
Raticate lv. 42

Togami
Golbat lv. 55
Zubat lv. 19
Zubat lv. 25
Golbat lv. 64
Golbat lv. 34

[fourwayconnection]

BACK AGAIN, this time signing Kirikou here up for Team Battling!

Only he's going to sort of-not really forget about the whole 'Pokemon' aspect of battling and might actually try to use his "I'm in a shonen manga" fighting skills to actually try and take out some Rocket Grunts the good ol' fashioned kick-to-the-face way if mods be willing. (Hey, they don't play fair. Why should he?) He'll eventually have to Pokemon battle, however! In which case, his team is:

1. Hiphop the Lv. 30 Doduo
2. Beijaflor the Lv. 5 Houndour
3. Ginja the Lv 20 Plusle
4. Cadeira the Lv 20 Minun

In case we have to roll, I'm totally cool with Kirikou slowly helping people get back to Goldenrod on his Doduo. I'm also totally cool with Kirikou losing the battle, especially since his Pokemon are not particularly high level yet! (His friend Maka will be on the train with him and thus there to bail his ass if things go south.)

And because I'm impatient like that, I'd totally like to know the roster of the Grunt he'll be going up against.

[soundmind]

Ye, Maka will be there to bail him out (and also forget momentarily that Rockets do not accept punches to the face or kicks to the nuts when they mean battle.) Her team would be:

1. Elizabeth lvl 100 Serperior
2. Serafina lvl 100 Charizard (also available for transporting people out)
3. Flash lvl 100 Alakazam
4. Kali lvl 100 Houndoom
5. Bismark lvl 100 Carracosta
6. Mira lvl 100 Mienshao

[these_balls]

Kirikou has been signed up for battling a Grunt! And here's the team he'll be facing on the Magnet Train:

Golbat lv. 25
Koffing lv. 19
Venonat lv. 11
Drowzee lv. 13

TEAM BATTLING

[cantgofast]

Sonic will be going toe-to-toe with any grunts he comes across. So I hope the grunts are prepared to defend themselves!

However, I think this would be a good opportunity for Too Slow (his level 5 Slowpoke) to get some battling experience too!

If Sonic gets rolled off of battling, I think Sonic would help people get off the train to Goldenrod (since Too Slow doesn't know any water moves to help put out the fire anyway).

Winning or losing is totally up in the air for me. With the element of Sonic being able to defend himself without Pokemon adds an extra layer of surprises.

GET REKT ROCKETS.

Re: TEAM BATTLING

[these_balls]

Sonic's been signed up for battling a Grunt! Would you like to know the team he'll be facing now, or have it be a surprise when the log goes up?

[falseshore]

Signing my guy up for battling, because he probably wouldn't be good on Team Fire Extinguisher since he tends to favor Fire Pokémon.

But anyway, he has with him a:

Lvl 70 Noctowl
Lvl 62 Houndoom
Lvl 66 Haunter
Lvl 70 Charizard
Lvl 72 Zoroark

and a level 65 Rapidash that he'd likely keep in reserve for escape purposes, in case the Noctowl falls in battle or something.

He is not opposed to fighting dirty, and neither are his Pokémon, really. Especially the Haunter.

[these_balls]

Riku Replica has been signed up for battling a Grunt! However, due to the size constraints and passenger policy for the train, we'll have to ask that you make a couple changes to his lineup! We're going to have to ask that he select either the Noctowl or the Charizard, and that the Rapidash be left in the PC! He's free to select a smaller replacement, or you can leave the slots empty. It's entirely up to you!

Additionally, would you like to know the team he'll be facing now, or have it be a surprise when the log goes up?

[usedswift]

Signing up Tenten for the battle group! Since she's got to protect other people.

level 75 Golurk
level 80 Hitmonlee
level 100 Arcanine
level 100 Luxray
level 100 Rotom (Frost)
level 100 Persian

Also it's Tenten, so she'll probably try to fight them personally herself. Because that's how she do.

[these_balls]

Tenten has been signed up for battling a Grunt! However, due to the size constraints and passenger policy for the train, we'll have to ask that you make a couple changes to her lineup! We're going to have to ask that she swap out Golurk and Arcanine for something smaller! Alternatively, you can leave the slots empty if you'd prefer to do that. It's entirely up to you!

Additionally, would you like to know the team she'll be facing now, or have it be a surprise when the log goes up?

[islandshore]

Signing Riku up for this. He'll try to help as best he can with the fire situation, as he has a couple 'mons that know Surf on hand.

Flare (L100 Charizard)
Draco (L100 Charizard)
Ace (L100 Lucario)
Axis (L100 Metagross)
Zen (L100 Blastoise)
Slacker (L100 Nidoking)

Like Tenten, he'll probably try to do some personal fighting as well. Riku hates sitting on the sidelines, after all.

[these_balls]

Riku has been signed up for battling a Grunt! However, due to the size constraints and passenger policy for the train, we'll have to ask that you make a couple changes to his lineup! We're fine with him keeping Lucario and one of the other listed Pokemon, but Metagross and the rest will have to be substituted for something smaller! Alternatively, you're free to leave the slots if you'd like!

Additionally, would you like to know the team he'll be facing now, or have it be a surprise when the log goes up?