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This One's Special Right?; How to get GM approval for specials.
Topic Started: Jul 8 2015, 12:23 PM (1,709 Views)
Joshuwatt
Pokémon Trainer
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So I'm planning on taking Playing God and This One's Special, I Know It. It's gonna take a while but I know with special pokemon the pay off is usually worth much more than the wait. But the gm came to me and asked me to use one of my uses of This One's Special to make one of the other player's dream pokemon. Now I don't mind making it, we're all friends and try to help each other best we can both in-game/in-character and OOG/OOC. I just think that if I'm doing it so the gm has an excuse for giving somebody their dream special pokemon rather than them finding it, which would be near impossible considering what it is, I should have some kind of input as to how the other 5 pokemon will be special. I mean, I know it's meant to be the GM's decision how it's special but if I'm doing this shouldn't I get some kind of input? It's like type sync, you have a limited number of uses so you have to make sure that every use counts, so to give up something like this is kinda big, and I feel big enough to warrant some kind of input. It's not like I want OP pokemon, I just want special pokemon. That doesn't mean stronger, it just means special/different, they could even come out weaker and that would be fine, as long as they're special/different. Should I be allowed some kind input to the gm in exchange for doing this for him?
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Jacquerel
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Pokémon Trainer
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"The Pokémon is born with special qualities, determined by the GM." is right there in the description.
Some conferring with you is a good idea, but ultimately the special qualities are determined by the GM. Not you.
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AeonThePhoenix
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PokéGamer
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"Determined by the GM" does not, in my opinion, prevent the GM from taking a couple of minutes to listen to some of your input on how you'd want this pokémon to be special, even if they decide they'd rather go with their own take on it. After all, the final decision might be the GM's but the ability is yours and a little consideration and compromise goes a long way.

What I do find objectionable is the GM expecting you to use YOUR limited usage ability on another player's pokémon under the guise of justifying them getting one of their own rare picks, regardless of your opinion on the matter.

If the GM is willing to hand out such a Pokémon (I'm assuming it's a Legend or a tad overpowered), there are Baby Templates that can be used to bring it in line with the rest of the players' pokémon if balance is an issue. If the GM is intending to use your ability to help another player, then I feel you should have some input.
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Grand Silver
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2 kewl 4 u!
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One of my players is going to be using this very feature soon, I gave a vague idea and talked about it. We worked out something that we both think sounds good, in this case a Type shift slightly altered move pool and changed out one ability.
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Jacquerel
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Pokémon Trainer
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To clarify I am not saying that the GM should not be allowed to ask for your input, I think it's a good idea for that to happen, but it is still down to the GM whether they ask or not. You aren't entitled to be asked, and they are not under any obligation to listen to any suggestions.
Similarly though you can just say "no" for using your character's feat on someone else's pokemon. But if it's a pokemon for someone else and you don't mind using it that way, I think it would really be defeating the point if you got some input into their pokemon when the GM (and possibly the other player) already clearly have a plan?
Edited by Jacquerel, Jul 8 2015, 02:35 PM.
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Joshuwatt
Pokémon Trainer
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I should probably clarify a little, I don't mean should I get input on the pokemon I'm hatching for him with it. All of us already know everything about it and I'm going to be using it so he gets his special pokemon. What I mean is, since I'm doing the gm this favor and giving up a use to give another person their dream pokemon, for my other 5 uses of "This One's Special, I Know It" shouldn't I get some kind of input? Meaning should I be able to give some kind of thoughts and opinions for my other 5 uses.
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Grand Silver
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2 kewl 4 u!
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The GM could just make the egg special on his own without using up your feature. It would be simple enough to just say "This egg has something unique about it because reasons."
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Joshuwatt
Pokémon Trainer
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Well that's what I said especially since I'll be making it with Playing God, but he said it would be easier to just use the feature.
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Jacquerel
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Pokémon Trainer
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T0nb3rry
Jul 8 2015, 02:43 PM
I should probably clarify a little, I don't mean should I get input on the pokemon I'm hatching for him with it. All of us already know everything about it and I'm going to be using it so he gets his special pokemon. What I mean is, since I'm doing the gm this favor and giving up a use to give another person their dream pokemon, for my other 5 uses of "This One's Special, I Know It" shouldn't I get some kind of input? Meaning should I be able to give some kind of thoughts and opinions for my other 5 uses.
No.
If you are doing the GM a favour then you are doing them a favour, not bartering.
Doing a nice thing for another player doesn't immediately mean you should now get to do things you would not usually be able to do.
It should not change the GM's policy for how this feature works.

If he usually asks for your input (a good idea) he should continue to do so, and if he doesn't then you can ask him to do so, but he's not obligated to say yes nor does your doing this thing make you any more entitled to make him say yes.
The feature is designed to give GMs and absolute out for a reason.
Edited by Jacquerel, Jul 8 2015, 02:51 PM.
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Giant2005
Pokémon Trainer
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If your ability is capable of making another player's dream Pokemon, then it should be able to make your dream Pokemon too. Anything less is player favouratism and considering that your limited use ability is the one that is being used to bring out that player favouratism, it'd add an extra level of douchiness into the mix.
So yes, you should absolutely have some serious input on how your Pokemon are special, but don't go overboard with it - your GM could easily fall back in the realm of the righteous by virtue of you out-douching him.
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