🞿 Expeditions

[astralprogenitor]

Expeditions​

Expeditions are the bread and butter of, well, Pokémon Expeditions. These are the avenue by which the shop expands and players earn both in-shop currencies and catch new pokémon. But what is an expedition?

The region of Nauwill is broken down into many regions, with little being known about any of them at the start. When one or more trainers or researchers head out into the wilderness, that's an expedition! In more technical terms, an expedition is a roleplay with some randomness attached. One or more characters go out into the wilderness beyond Doveport and explore, coming across different findings and pokémon along the way. How these adventures take shape is up to the players, but the dice are there to help decide victory - and defeat - for them. No matter how well the dice fall, your characters will always end up with some kind of reward at the end!

In order to partake in an expedition, you must have a human character. In addition, at least one pokémon must be present in the party, though not every trainer requires one of their own! To get started, keep reading.

 

[astralprogenitor]

How to play

Setting Up
​

The first thing to do to start an Expedition is to make the header post. The first post of any expedition should contain the same information: what area the character or group is exploring, what human characters and pokémon are attending, and what human players are taking part in the thread. You do not need to list any items you're bringing around; anything used up will just be taken directly from your stock at the end of the expedition. There is a form for this at the end of this thread, so feel free to use it for your convenience.

Remember:

• Only pokémon assigned to an attending character can be taken.
• Only six pokémon per human player can be taken (for balance).
• Area rank limits the pokémon that can be brought to that area to rank+1. An Amateur pokémon can be brought to a Beginner area, but an Ace pokémon cannot.
• Trainer rank does not limit which of their pokémon they can bring - only area rank!
• At least one pokémon must be present for every expedition.
• Multiple players can join in one expedition.
• There is no limit to the number of expeditions you can be in, but you won't get rewards for any of them until they are finished, and you will be penalized if you over-use items from your stock, so make sure you keep track!
• You can start as many expeditions as you want, when you want.

Exploring
​

Once you've got your thread started, the characters have to get out there and do something! This is a freeform roleplay section; you are free to start your adventure with characters setting off, or start it right in the middle of a long journey - whatever fits the story the players want to tell. How to roleplay is out of the scope of this thread, but feel free to come and ask us if you need help!

While you can format your text with whatever colors or fonts you want, please do not use any additive post styles to character posts when exploring. Events are triggered by word count totals, which we will check based on the site's reported word count per post. You can double post or make other posts if you want to chatter OOC or track information - only your roleplay posts will actually be checked over for counts, so be free.

Group events?​

Group events are where random dice rolls come in, and they're triggered based on the writing going on in the thread. You don't have to enact them immediately; you can "bank" the words until they're wanted. There's no limit to the number of group events you can trigger in a given thread, so long as enough words have been written, but do remember that you can't keep or earn anything from them until you finish, and additionally that a single roleplay only counts as one RP regardless of how many words are in it... so consider turning them in sometimes.

Earning a GE requires a mere 250 words written; this does not increase based on the number of players, so anyone can write as much as they want and everyone will benefit!

Once the thread has earned a GE, it can be triggered at any time by posting the form from the bottom of this thread and then one player rolling from the area's event chart. Once the event type is rolled, a player rolls the specific event from the appropriate type table. If the event is unknown, post in Discord to have it revealed to you ASAP!

When the specific event has been revealed, play it out! If there are any dice to be rolled, the event will tell you to do so then. Each player may only roll for a specific event once, even if they've brought along different characters; each player is rolling the event for themselves unless the directions state otherwise. Every player has a chance to participate in every event unless that event says they cannot or their inventory lacks an item needed by the event.

Once the event is concluded, players may continue the thread as normal.

Ending Early​

Some events offer danger states or fail states for the expeditions. These don't mean you don't get rewards, it just means that your characters need to beat a hasty retreat and have to start over in another thread. You don't have to close in a single post if this happens; if your expedition "ends," it just means you aren't allowed to generate any more group events in that thread. You can continue to play out the scene until reaching a proper ending spot, and you'll still be rewarded for everything written and done up to that point. Failure often makes the best stories, so dust yourself off and try again if it happens!

Remember: if any pokémon's VIT reaches 0, they are Knocked Out for the remainder of the Expedition unless a trainer uses an appropriate healing item on them. If all pokémon in the party are knocked out, the Expedition must end early unless at least one is healed back to consciousness. If any human character's VIT reaches 0, they are Knocked Out and the Expedition must end early unless another character uses an appropriate healing item on them.

Wrapping Up​

Once you've finished your expedition, you'll close up the adventure by making a final post using the form found below. Each player needs to make their own individual post counting their own exploits during the travels! When that's done, simply have the person who made the thread edit the title to add [Complete] and you're finished. Rewards will be given out ASAP. Make sure to record the expedition for one of your trainers, and congratulations on finishing an expedition!

 

[astralprogenitor]

Types of group events



Startled pokémon​

The characters scare pokémon out of hiding. Roll 1-100 and determine which pokémon you've found from the area's chart; all players find the same pokémon, so only one person needs to roll. Each player is allowed to roll one character's DEX + their choice of ball's Catch Score vs the event's difficulty in order to try and catch one.

Wild battle​

One or more aggressive pokémon attack! Roll 1-100 and determine which pokémon you've found from the area's chart; all players find the same pokémon, so only one person needs to roll. Each player is allowed to roll one of their pokémon's STR or SPEC + VIT or DEX vs the event's difficulty, if they brought a pokémon; if they fail, that pokémon loses 2 VIT. If a player succeeds, they can roll their character's DEX + their choice of ball's Catch Score vs the event's difficulty to try and catch one of the now defeated wild pokémon.

At least one player must roll against a wild mon during this event.

Note: If you're using a sweet honey to force a wild battle event, the difficulty depends on the recommended rank of the zone you're exploring:

• Starter: 2
• Beginner: 2
• Amateur: 4
• Ace: 4
• Pro: 5

Unusual terrain​

The players discover an unusual feature of the area. Each player may roll one character's INS + Clever vs the event's difficulty. If at least one character succeeds, then the characters document enough information about the feature to help the researchers back at Doveport and gain +1 research at the end of the adventure. Any mention of success only reveals the sort of discovery it is for roleplay purposes.

Trainer danger​

The players encounter a danger, whether terrain or pokémon based, which directly threatens one or more players.

If the event indicates all characters are in danger, roll the directed stats vs the event's difficulty for each character. If a character fails the roll, they lose 1 VIT for the remainder of the Expedition.

If the event indicates one character is in danger, players decide which character will be targeted; players may roll 1d20 with the lowest number being targeted if they don't want to decide themselves. That character rolls the directed stats vs the event's difficulty. If they fail, that character loses 1 VIT for the remainder of the Expedition.

If the event indicates major danger, then all characters must roll the directed stats vs the event's difficulty. If any character fails, all characters take 1 VIT of damage or the remainder of the Expedition. If half or more of the characters fail, the characters are instead collectively Knocked Out and must end the Expedition.

Pokémon danger​

The players encounter a danger, whether terrain or pokémon based, which can or should be tackled by a pokémon instead of a human.

If the event indicates a simple danger, one at a time players may choose a pokémon to roll the indicated stats vs the event's difficulty. If they fail, that pokémon loses 1 VIT for the remainder of the Expedition. The event cannot be finished until all players have rolled at least one pokémon (if they have any available).

If the event indicates a major danger, each player may choose one pokémon to roll the indicated stats. Add up all successes vs the event's difficulty. If the players fail, they are Knocked Out and must end the Expedition.

Discovery​

The players discover some kind of items of interest.

If the players discover easy to reach items, they may simply document these items for +1 research at the end of the Expedition.

If the players discover difficult to reach items, one at a time players may choose a pokémon or a character to roll the indicated stats vs the event's difficulty in an attempt to reach or obtain them. If they fail, that pokémon or character loses 1 VIT for the remainder of the Expedition. Players may choose to give up at any time. If they succeed, they may document the discovery for +1 research at the end of the Expedition.

Note that only a total of 1 research is gained; research is gained for the group, not for individuals.

Special Item​

The players discover some special items that would be useful to them.

If the players discover difficult to reach items, one at a time players may choose a pokémon or a character to roll the indicated stats vs the event's difficulty in an attempt to reach or obtain them. If they fail, that pokémon or character loses 1 VIT for the remainder of the Expedition. Players may choose to pass their roll if desired.

Items are only obtained by players that succeed their roll. What item they get is determined by that player rolling 1-100 and checking the item chart.

Heal​

Players discover something that rejuvenates them or their pokémon. Follow the instructions to heal up any damage done. Heals cannot exceed normal VIT values.

 

[astralprogenitor]

Why explore?​

Of course, writing is a lot of effort - why should you bother? Apart from the fun of doing it, there are other shop benefits to going on expeditions!

Ranks: Going on expeditions is needed to get your trainer ranks up! These allow you to get more stat points and go explore more dangerous areas, each with their own potentially unique rewards. This also lets you bring along more powerful, capable pokémon, letting you conquer even harder challenges.

Evolution: Pokémon evolutions have different requirements, and expeditions fill those. Whether it's earning funding to buy Rare Candies, filling a happiness RP requirement, or working towards earning or finding a rare evolution item, an expedition is progress towards any of those.

Research: As people complete expeditions, intelligence back at Doveport will learn more about the surrounding areas. Every completed expedition fills up the progress for an area; fully progressed areas may unlock new items for purchase and, eventually, new zones for exploration! New areas mean new pokémon to catch and new things to uncover, so by doing expeditions you're directly contributing to the development of the shop!

Every completed expedition earns 1 research automatically, then 1 more for every 1000 words written collectively. Additional research bonuses can be earned via events.

Unfortunately, while data is always appreciated, excess research in a fully researched zone doesn't contribute to anything. You will not get bonus currency for excess research.

Currency: Every completed expedition earns you at least some currency, even if you failed every roll. This currency can be used to buy items that let you do a lot of things like evolve, reroll dice, and even catch new wild pokémon! Most of the items in the shops are only available in the shops and can't be found or obtained elsewhere, so playing gives you the opportunity to do even more.

Players earn currency at a rate of 1 per 250 words written. They may also catch pokémon in Research Balls to earn 1 per pokémon captured this way. You don't get to keep these pokémon, do keep that in mind! Research Balls are free and each player may use as many as they'd like; they have a Catch Score of 5.

 

[astralprogenitor]

Forms

Starting an Expedition​

[CENTER][I][COLOR=rgb(255, 235, 142)][SIZE=5][B][U]Let's go! Expedition time![/U][/B][/SIZE][/COLOR][/I][/CENTER]
[b]Players participating:[/b] usernames

[b]Trainers participating:[/b] please link journal
[b]Pokémon participating:[/b] please list ID numbers

[b]Expedition area:[/b] the region you're exploring

Group Event Trigger​

[CENTER][I][COLOR=rgb(142, 235, 255)][SIZE=4][B][U]The screen flashes and exciting music plays...[/U][/B][/SIZE][/COLOR][/I][/CENTER]
[b]Current Word Count:[/b] total wc so far
[b]Total GEs Earned:[/b] based on wc!
[b]GEs Already Used:[b] how many you've used BEFORE this, if any

Ending an Expedition​

[CENTER][COLOR=rgb(190, 157, 251)][I][SIZE=5][B][U]Alright! We're done![/U][/B][/SIZE][/I][/COLOR][/CENTER]
[b]Total words:[/b] total written
[b]Player 1 words:[/b] (wc for player 1)
((repeat for all players))

[b]Bonus research:[/b] link any roll/post which earned special research via unusual terrain or discovery events (only once per success, researches are per expedition not player)

--post for each player--
[b]Items used:[/b] any items you used, not including pokeballs
[b]Pokémon caught:[/b] link any roll which caught a pokemon; ball used, pokémon species
[b]Items found:[/b] link any roll/post which earned a special item
[b]Faction choice:[/b] which faction player is turning their finds over to