Cosplay: Foodtopia Competitions

Me: All right, so we've had a "break" - if you can call it that way - so it's time to get back into the swing of things, starting with this one.

Ash: I'm ready when you are!

Pikachu: Pi pika chu! ["I'm ready!"]

Goh: So what's this one about? It looks like it's just the competition part that's the main thing for us.

Me: You might be right. I've done a little bit of research, and this is a food festival more so than a pop culture one. But I guess they know how popular characters and music are, especially from a certain part of the world, so that's why they put that in.

Ash: But hey, we get to eat and drink!

Me: That's a good perk - if we can make it work. We also have to make things work using your Kanto outfit for singing and the character parade, so...

Ash: "Mezase Pokémon Master"!

Me: Hey, you got this! It's a back-to-basics approach for us after the "break" and everything else.

Ash: I've got this!

Goh: By the way, where is this?

Me: It's in a mall, and you'd be surprised... because yes, they drafted the same organizer for Community Base Party for handling the competitions part.

Goh: Well, that could explain some things.

Me: Maybe so, but the only way to know is for Ash to help us find out. So... how are (or were) things?

Ash: All the food look great! I wish I could try them all.

Me: As always, though, we're limited by my budget and your room for movement. Speaking of which...

Goh: Same people, same place? Let me guess... crowded as usual.

Me: I'm told that the festival is actually ticketed and started on Friday, but somehow they negotiated for today to be ticketless as usual for the competitions.

Goh: Oh, that's interesting. But that means it's a crowd magnet. So in the end, you just got the usual.

Ash: Yeah, and the rain didn't help out. I think it's the first time they got fully rained on.

Pikachu: Pika, pi pika chu. ["Yeah, that happened."]

Goh: So what happened then?

Ash: We got moved inside for a bit - and I got to sing inside. After I sang, the rain let up and everyone moved back outside.

Goh: I wonder if this means you got lucky.

Me: Maybe, maybe not. But you should have gotten a pretty good reception, the way you are in my neck of the woods.

Ash: I did!

Me: Well, that's a good thing. That ought to be the case when you went up for the character parade.

Ash: Yeah! I think I got things down for you.

Goh: But what about the results?

Ash: I didn't make it for either, 3 out of 30 for the singing competition and 5 out of 50 for the character parade.

Me: Those are tough odds. But at least we got things going in this first time out after the break.

Ash: Yeah! Pikachu and I had fun.

Pikachu: Pika! ["Yeah!"]

Goh: I think that is a great thing, considering we just came from a break.

Me: I'd have to agree, because the effort for this was kind of meager but we still did something anyhow.

Ash: Let's go for it next time!

Me: You know what? I think that can just happen. Stay tuned, and good job for now.

One year ago: Introducing Mega Legendary Raids

Two years ago: Pokémon Asia McDonald's Happy Meal Toys - "Expedition Series", Selections

Three years ago: Hanging by a Cliff

Four years ago: Folding Paper for Pokémon

Five years ago: Pokémon in Poké Balls Stickers

Six years ago: Cosplay: J-COSHOKAI 2 - Utsukushii Hana

Pokémon Keeps Me...

As an aside from recent Pokémon happenings (and in particular the recent run of seven posts related to Pokémon Go in some way), I'd like to discuss how Pokémon has become connected to me over these years, and in particular after keeping this blog going for many years. To do that for this post, I take the framing and stance that Pokémon keeps me going in different ways; it's something that applies to other things I'm connected with, but I'm inclined to discuss the Pokémon connection in greater detail, as per this blog.

For starters, Pokémon keeps me active in different ways. Playing Pokémon Go prompts me to get out and exercise physically to make the most of it, while the battles (or something that resembles similar efforts) in the games keep my mind stimulated; as such, the active aspect is reflected in my body and my mind, a classically spiritual pair. Either way, those become the activities that keep me "on my toes", so to speak, and for them to occur with Pokémon is especially fascinating in that regard. 

Then, Pokémon also keeps me creative. While this blog demands me to be objective in some ways, I also have some liberties that I can take in creating and presenting content, including its scheduling and writing - that's how things like "conversation posts" and even serials like event rollups come about. Obviously, that is also reflected in the artistry that I lend to things like cosplay and vocal performance, which demand quite a bit of creative input. In these and other cases, I'm essentially prompted to "think out of the box".

Rounding out this post, Pokémon is something that keeps me "relative". This may be construed as maintaining relationships - like with the people in my raid groups and other fans of the same Pokémon things that I enjoy - or creating new ones as through my participation in tournaments like those under the Silph Arena banner, both individual and Factions. Even so, it's always up to me to establish these relationships not just through and for the above, but also in different ways and with different people.

While these are only three aspects that I've been able to think of, and there might be room for more if I think about things even more thoroughly, they all share the same thread of keeping things going. In my case, they all involve Pokémon somehow and its happenings, for which the connections become evident in different ways and through them I can stand to make more ways into life. It's a life that is intimately tied to Pokémon for all the ways that it has pervaded the world and the continuance of that.

One year ago: Brave with the Firefly

Two years ago: On "Digital Talents" and Pokémon

Three years ago: Play Pokémon on a Plane

Four years ago: A Tropius Keychain

Five years ago: Cosplay: J-COSHOKAI 3 - Saikou no Yorokobi

Six years ago: Shuffling Stages

Special Research Guides

Including the posts on the last two days of April, I've made six posts in a row on topics that are related in some way to Pokémon Go. I feel that I should cap it off with a seventh post, and I've already thought of what to discuss. In more recent times, Special Research has gotten quite varied, not (or less) regarding the form of their tasks, but (more) regarding the people who guide them. It's arguably something - or one of the things - that sets it off from Field Research, and it bears some insights.

Special Research has always been (and still is today, to some capacity) guided by Professor Willow, and that's something that will likely never change. After all, every Trainer in Pokémon Go deals with the Professor when they start their journey and continue to do so even today - a particular example being the transferring of Pokémon. It can then be said that Professor Willow is the be-all and end-all for Pokémon Go, and it's only natural that he would be present to guide Special Research whenever appropriate.

As for recent times, Special Research is now able to be guided by characters other than Professor Willow. While this does go as far back as Jessie and James for an extra-special Celebi Research and Rhi when Ultra happenings pervaded the world, now even the team leaders can get a chance on the action, starting with Blanche last month, Spark presently, and Candela soon enough - the latter two of these to be detailed when the appropriate time comes. That translates into a greater diversity of guides.

Given the above, it seems that any NPC introduced into Pokémon Go may have the potential to become a guide for Special Research, whether sooner or later. Of course, this may depend on a lot of things, like the backstories of the characters, their relation to Professor Willow, and/or the situations and events that prompt them to become guides of Special Research in some form. They will also likely need to develop themselves before that happens, but that is something that should happen organically.

The diversity of Pokémon species in Pokémon Go today as well as the situations that they may be involved in may demand further insights to be made through Special Research, further as Professor Willow may have other engagements. Therefore, it's only a natural matter for other characters to (be able to) step in where the Professor isn't able to for guiding Special Research, for one reason or another. It's a thing of a great deal for Pokémon Go, as with the seven posts (as of today) that I have made.

One year ago: Brave with the Firefly

Two years ago: On "Digital Talents" and Pokémon

Three years ago: Play Pokémon on a Plane

Four years ago: A Tropius Keychain

Five years ago: Cosplay: J-COSHOKAI 3 - Saikou no Yorokobi

Six years ago: Shuffling Stages

Understanding the Arcana of Silph Arena

It doesn't take much to understand that with a new month, the themed cup of a Silph Arena season changes to challenge old and new Trainers alike. What may be hard to understand are the particulars of that themed cup, even if it may already be familiar to a number of people. It then just becomes a matter of getting everyone on board, including those who are already familiar. Such is the case with this month's themed cup, which might require that extra step of understanding by Trainers.

This month's themed cup is "Arcana". It ties into the above introduction in one way because... like Ember four months back, it is one of the Battlefields of the current Cycle of Factions, so those who play (like me now) should already get a leg up. Another way that it ties to the above is that the word "arcana", like the word "arcane", besides being spiritual, refers to something that not many people might understand and in doing so may need some special knowledge. It's appropriate since the format is now transitioning from the specialized realm of Factions into the more general SA competitive realm.

While I've already detailed it previously, it helps to reiterate the restrictions for the themed cup or format and explain them in greater detail. As before, the types of Grass, Rock, Ghost, and Psychic are allowed, along with five extra species (which are Scyther, Gyarados, Pelipper, Vespiquen, and Honchkrow). On the flip side, the types of Normal, Electric, Ice, and Fairy are not allowed, as are seven other species (which are Sableye, Tropius, Regirock, Bastiodon, Probopass, Trevenant, and Galarian Articuno). Over 200 species qualify to be used in this themed cup or format, but as always, a few show their dominance and prevalence over others, especially as has been proven in the past few weeks in Factions.

Notably, if one possesses the resources, Tyrunt can be made as a viable species for this themed cup or format; its prevalence is as such that some have taken to call this the "Tyrunt Cup" for that reason. Meanwhile, based on Factions usage, of the five "curated" species, Pelipper is extremely dominant in many rosters; the rest are made up of a mix of species that among others includes Cofagrigus, Jumpluff, Shiftry, Aggron, Crustle, Malamar, and Mew. Aside from slight differences in team compositions, selections from the mix appear strikingly similar throughout the teams that have been used.

Like the earlier Factions-to-individual competition convert, this themed cup or format is simplistic in relative comparison to its Factions companion (in this case, Catacomb). Its main types have dynamics that are simple to relate, and if this Cycle of Factions has been an indication, its rosters can work well even with minimal changes, indicating that the Trainers who play in the competition have a certain understanding of what works and can apply that understanding in the battles against others.

Simple may not necessarily lead to understanding (at least right away), but in the current case, Trainers who are engaged in the Silph Arena individual competition now have the full month to wrap their heads around what they may or may not have experienced earlier (if they're part of Factions). At least, that may be what's happening, now that the arcana that is Arcana (ahem) becomes opened for broader understanding by them.

One year ago: Quickies: Feeling Embittered

Two years ago: On Pokémon Submarines

Three years ago: Be Strong

Four years ago: Cosplay: Bunkasai 2019 -Tanabata Matsuri-, Day 1

Five years ago: Evolutionary Items and Their Limits

Six years ago: 3D, 2D, and Everything in Between

What to Evolve for Community Day

A lot of things have happened in Pokémon Go since the first edition of Community Day came about. Specifically, a lot of Pokémon have been added along with a number of conditional forms for them. Though the fate of the former will become progressively clear with further editions of Community Day, the latter might not be so clear-cut, and it may become confusing to decide which ones to evolve. To that end, I've decided to make a write-up on what a Trainer might want and need to evolve (or should evolve) when Community Day comes about for certain Pokémon.

Though it might go without saying, one should evolve the best one for Community Day purposes. This doesn't always have to be a perfect one - more so if, say, it leads to the Mamoswine that comes out of the Swinub edition - and it may be one that can suit the special move; further, if it might be fodder for Master League, then a Pokémon with a high Attack has to be imperative. Another one that might go without saying to be evolved is a Shiny one, as that has been the crux of the various editions of Community Day, to feature the Shiny form of a featured species in its debut or just to be obtained. And if that happens to be the best one, then it needs not to be questioned further.

In light of the above, a Buddy Pokémon that is a featured species ought to be evolved; this is almost always the case for me since most of my Buddy Pokémon are or have been featured species, making them one as soon as the next one is announced. A Best Buddy would also be great in this case. Likewise, a Lucky Pokémon becomes pertinent for evolution, especially as more recent main editions (not Classic) have included trading bonuses that make it rather attractive to try to get a Lucky Pokémon if one already doesn't have one. It's quite likely that some Trainers will have already "booked" an ad hoc Lucky Trade so this can happen, particularly involving a Shiny form.

Since many (recent) editions have had special moves that are optimized for PvP, evolving ones that are suited for use in Great League and/or Ultra League may be in order. This is true even if the special moves seem useless at first, so it may be best to have them just in case changes in format (themed cup) can accommodate them. Still, it is important to know that some evolved Pokémon may not have sufficient stats to make it for Ultra League - Jumpluff is one of them - and stat demands may be different for both leagues, so it may be important to check references for their use in PvP beforehand to see what applies.

Even more specialized than evolving for PvP is evolving the Shadow and/or Purified forms of the Pokémon. If the featured species isn't already available as the former, then the point is moot, but if it is, then the forms may be considered. This is particularly the case if the forms are already prepared, including Shadow Pokémon without the Frustration move, which will be able to learn the special move consequently. As with any of the above, if the situation allows for the evolution of these two forms, then it may need to be taken advantage of, moreover if they also apply.

Community Day is certain to involve more Pokémon in further editions, and some of those Pokémon are likely to be of different conditional forms, including the ones above that I highlighted. Any or all of these forms, by my prior experience as well as that of others, may need to be considered for evolution during an applicable edition for the possible benefit of a Trainer, sooner if not later. While it might still take a bit of decision-making for the ones that truly need to be evolved, at least some things may already be clear as the editions of Community Day come and go.

One year ago: Mixing and Matching Pokémon Game Music

Two years ago: Subscribing to Pokémon Home

Three years ago: The Call of the Forest

Four years ago: Localizing the TCG

Five years ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 5/3/2018

Six years ago: Gender Mismatch Detected

Country Compositions for Factions Teams

Just recently, my Faction faced what could be considered to be an "oddball" Faction, as its members are composed of Trainers from all different countries. There is nothing to restrict this, which means that it is also more or less legal; at the same time, it might seem rather strenuous for other Factions and that Faction itself. As such, I've been prompted to think about ideal compositions of Trainers for Factions. It's not a strictly Pokémon Go thing, but it could serve very well as guidelines for other similar competitions involving Pokémon games (if they were to be conceived).

Obviously, teams composed of Trainers from a single country, like mine and many others, is well-to-do and representative, not to mention easiest for internal coordination. Yet sometimes a Faction may have "guest" Trainers from another country, especially ones outside the regional conference, and this can still be fine in limited circumstances. The Faction may have to have special protocols for communication in this case, but it ought to be much simpler in comparison to what that particular multinational Faction may have, whether or not the situation is messy, as another multinational Faction can attest.

That's not to say that multinational Factions can't still work out. Aside from the situation above to a limited extent, it may still be possible to have regionally allied Factions (for example, ASEAN, Australia-New Zealand, or East Asian Factions) and still have workable coordination among their members, especially if their timezones are not too different as in the examples above. As for extensive cross-conference collaborations, that may be less desirable, as is competing in a conference whose Trainers are not from there; the latter situation has applied to certain Factions that finally "saw the light" and changed their conference to suit.

Based on the arguments above, some general rules of thumb could be derived. Wholly national Factions or single-conference multinational Factions ought to be (and remain) permissible and work out in any case. Factions could have "guest" Trainers from another conference, but their number ought to be limited, say, to no more than three - just like the number of Alternates in general. Finally, likely for their own good, "globetrotting" multinational Factions may have to be avoided and/or restricted, even if communication does somehow work out. Again, this last bit is currently not technically disallowed, but if the situation is of any indication, it may be discouraging or has to be so.

Factions remains an engaging venue for Trainers of Pokémon Go to team up and challenge others, and the factor of countries is naturally involved, given how those Trainers are present in all different parts of the world. At the same time, some considerations may have to be made regarding this factor and how that works out for the teams in question, which may also shed light on how this could work for implementation on other team competitions involving Pokémon games... and how they would reflect its worldwide appeal.

One year ago: Impulsive Conscience

Two years ago: New Pokémon Snap Unleashed

Three years ago: Pervasive Pokémon

Four years ago: Hit in the KOR

Five years ago: Keeping the Demo Versions

Six years ago: Cosplay Laundry

Tournament: SWEEP JR vs. Majestic Tiger Elite (SA Factions)

If the Bout last week for my Faction, SWEEP JR, can be considered a warm-up after a break, this Bout may be considered our "go time". That's because we were paired up with a Faction called Majestic Tiger Elite, which by its name is obviously a compatriot of the second Faction we faced. It also happens to be one of the debutant Factions of this Cycle in APAC, aside from mine and a few others from my country and beyond. The opposing Faction had started on a hot streak, but like us, it fizzled somewhat after that, and so we met up in this Bout.

Like its brethren, it's a Faction from India, but almost all of its members are from anywhere else but. Only three are truly from APAC countries, four are from EMEA (Europe/Middle East/Africa), and the other three are from North America and/or Latin America (NA, LATAM). It's a multinational Faction in the truest sense, so we had to take the initiative and establish battle times on our terms and not theirs, at least for those not from APAC. It's both fascinating and frustrating given the common issues of Factions, which may be amplified with this Faction.

As such, battle times for us in this Bout ran the gamut of all possible days. The Thursday battle involved riman12 vs. RAMPVINIANO17EZ in the Open Great League, the latter being the opposing Captain and the only Indian on the team; this was won 2-1. The Friday battles involved Wina1403 vs. Stuje24 (Catacomb Field, opponent from the U.K.) and Almujha vs. PokeSlowB (Arcana Field, opponent from Greece). Both ended in losses, 1-2 and 0-3 respectively, the latter being somewhat of a shock. Then, there was a Saturday battle involving Kucingimutt vs. CranelLarcade (Arcana Field, opponent from Costa Rica); this one, won 3-0, made things even again, though uncomfortably so.

The rest of the battles took place on Sunday. They started off with YukixCyz vs. jaraxXxus (Catacomb Field, opponent from Bulgaria), which ended up a 1-2 loss. Next came RaymondHrtwn vs. IXIEVOIXI (Justicar Field for Ultra League, opponent from New Zealand), also turning out as a 1-2 loss. The last battle in the Open Master League involved Orioo16 vs. XXBlueNationXX, the opponent being from Canada; this needed a 3-0 win on our side for us to win, exactly like in Bout 1... but it was only a 2-1 win instead, putting the final score at 10-11 and us losing by one point again, also exactly like in that Bout and all other ones where we lost, the fourth time overall.

While it has to be commended that we have never scored less than 10 points a Bout (through that same number of wins) , a loss is still a loss, regrettably and disappointingly all the same, including in their patterns, thus far throughout this Cycle. I can point at a number of things that may have contributed to that - some of which I may have addressed - but I'm not going to do it even specifically for this Bout. That's for me and my team, including my manager, to discuss separately and privately.

Our debut Cycle is now two-thirds over, and there is one-third of it left in the form of three more Bouts over the first three weeks of this month. I had introduced my Faction by saying that we are now taking on the world, and we have done just that so far and specifically for this Bout with an unusual multinational faction. Even if the results are rather unexpected and quite surprising, there's not much we can do but to go on until the Cycle wraps up, at which point we might be able to cool down and regroup for the future.

One year ago: Pokémon Go Mega Evolution Rework

Two years ago: Like a Slowking Without the Shell

Three years ago: Seek and Ye Shall...

Four years ago: Transcending to a Beautiful Harmony

Five years ago: Old Memories, New Memories

Six years ago: Indie Pokémon Stickers