Theme ideas for Prime 2012?

[Arcarinium]

[Ktywf]

Here's an idea inspired by the Rival Challenge Deck from this last cycle. What if we just had a Challenge Deck without the Rival? Something to make battles against Leaders more interesting/challenging. For example: [ixm7]Youngster Joey receives a card from the Mysterious Mr. Moustache that says [bxm7]"Use at least 2 Water-type moves in the next battle"[/bxm7][/ixm7] If Joey can fulfill this challenge, he receives a point towards some super special awesome prize thing, even if he loses the match in the process.

It could even be done to fit the tier system, where challengers can choose to take on a Casual, Intermediate or Veteran level challenge. An example for Casual would be [bxm7]"Score two Super Effective hits!"[/bxm7] or for Veteran it could be[bxm7] "Faint a Leader's Pokemon in one shot (OHKO)".[/bxm7]

Another direction it could take is to impose restrictions on both the challenger and the leader. Things like "[bxm7]Use no field effect moves in the next match" [/bxm7]or [bxm7]"Fighting-type moves are off limits!"[/bxm7]. That way it becomes a game of chance to see if the card hinders you or the opposing Leader or just makes the match more interesting. Win conditions for that would be sticking to the card, win or lose, or forcing the Leader to break it first.

[Shade]

[Arcarinium]

[Jeffolas]

I was brainstorming last night, and had an idea that incorporates the basics of the Rival System used at East this year and the Shadow Pokemon idea pitched earlier in the thread to an extent. A major story thread of the Diamond and Pearl Anime Arc incorporated [url=http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Jx7m]Pokemon Hunter J[/urlx7m], the ruthless Huntress that resorted to any measure necessary to steal Pokemon (be they a trainer's Pokemon or Legendary) for her clients. My idea revolves around having Pokemon Hunters roaming around PAX in a different colored scarf (like a neon-red or some stereotypical evil color) that could function as Gym Leaders, but also would have a second purpose. After defeating Hunters, challengers receive their insignia as proof of victory (similar to a badge) and a card that lists a Pokemon that the Hunter stole from the PAX Pokemon League. These cards could be turned into a Gym Leader/League Rep for a special Hunting the Hunters Badge as a token of gratitude.

The system could also work the other way. After defeating a Gym Leader, the challenger could be "requested" to help recover a Pokemon for the League and receive a card of a stolen Pokemon (why not entrust the task to a trainer who proved themselves worthy of a League badge after all?). After defeating a Hunter, the challenger could turn in the card the Gym Leader gave them to the Hunter to get the Hunting the Hunters Badge as well as that Hunter's Insignia. Another way to approach it is that instead of the Hunter giving the special badge, they give the trainer a voucher of sorts that confirms that they managed to reclaim the Pokemon and that voucher gets turned in for the Hunting the Hunters Badge, but I feel this way involves too many steps.

The system could also be modified so that the trainer has to collect matching Stolen Pokemon cards to get the special badge, but I feel that would be too much of a hassle to people who may only have a one-day pass or who may not be able to track down the right person in time.

The reason I propose that idea is to give people more chances to get badges in case queue lines are long. The other benefit is that this system could be run concurrently with the Rival System which would only facilitate receiving badges. Plus it adds a storytelling element to the League Challenge that involves taking the fight to an organization of evil-doers, not unlike how the Team Rocket Invasion was done, not to mention the call to greatness/heroism, being a trainer selected to save the League's Pokemon.

[Quilliam]

[Ktywf]

[Shade]

[Ktywf]

[SandstormS]