Nuzlocke - Pokemon Emerald 386 run

[Munch]

Originally Posted by mgsmuhammad

You mean, right now? Or at the point of the last update?

Because I always play ahead a bit. Keeps a reserve of pictures safe in case i'm unable to play.

I just wondered if in the next update (or once you fill your 6 slots, or whatever) we could see what the total party looked like - I don't want spoilers!

[mgsmuhammad]

Chapter 4: Dickery in Dewford

Leaving the Devon Corp. building to begin my Delivery quest-quest, I was caught just in time by one of the interns.

Spoiler:

Awesome! Now i'll always know if someone's Rattata is in the top percentage!

Sadly, it seemed the wrinkled prune of a President had got one of them to train him to operate it (presumably at gunpoint), as he was the first to call me.

Spoiler:

...With his dementia in full-swing, he sounds just like Wario..

Nonetheless, I made to leave Rustboro (please let it be for the last time!), but couldn't quite slip by my biggest fan.

Spoiler:

Damnit.

Spoiler:

..What you really mean is, so you can contact me anytime, no?

Spoiler:

Ughh.. I guess I don't have a choice.. Plus, I suppose if your busy stalking me down the phone, you aren't doing it in person.

Spoiler:

Uh. No.

...

But then she taunted me about it, and implied that my companions were undertrained.
So I decided i'd show her the full-force of my team.

Spoiler:

..But I had all my pokemon at level 13.. Brendan, Whitney, Sergei and Nancy.. I had this in the bag before it even began.

Whitney, having the most attack, led out. It was met by a Lotad of equal level.

Whitney quickly and efficiently put it down, losing just under half her health in the process.

With May having just her Torchic left, I was already smug about my inevitable victory.

Needless to say, she sent out the Torchic, whilst I swapped in Brendan. He wasn't going to stay, but by entering the battle (even if just for one turn) he gets experience.

The Torchic was level 15. All my 'mons were 13 with no-one which Torchic was weak against. And Whitney, my greatest attacker, was in no condition to tank it down.

Out of terror, I immediately switch in Nancy.

She is then hit by Ember before his Bite. A full three-quarters of her healthbar is removed from that one hit. While she only takes an sixth or so of health off Torchic.

Rapidly running out of options, I switch to my last real hope, Sergei.

He takes the ember, but it hits hard. He's barely above half health.

Taking my chances, I try for a Sand-Attack. In retaliation Torchic knocks him to exactly two hitpoints.

Nonetheless, being a bit of a gambler, I try for another Sand-Attack. Torchic uses Ember.. And Misses! God bless Sand-Attack!

Torchic then goes on the worst streak of misses i've seen in a long time, allowing Sergei to Gust him down for the count.

Victorious, i'm able to make May spill the beans.

Spoiler:

Whilst I didn't want to hear about her day, this time it was useful. Apparently one "Mister Briney" had a cottage just outside of Petalburg town, and was a once-famous sailor.

As one of my destinations, Dewford, was an island and the other, Slateport, was inaccessible by land until the slacking contractors on the Rusturf tunnel picked up the pace, I realised his assistance would be invaluable.

After healing the team and making an altogether uneventful journey through Petalburg Woods (no bug attacks this time!), I reached the prophesised cabin.

With careful foot-falls, I slowly entered.. And was immediately disappointed.

Spoiler:

However, to their credit, it did seem that they took my advice.
(Earlier, in Chapter 3: >"Oh, get a room, you two.")

Spoiler:

That's just disturbing.

Beastiality aside:

Spoiler:

Well, no, not really. I mean, I want to sail, but..

Spoiler:

The hell do you care, you're retired! This will be the most excitement you've had since the turn of the century!

So, we boarded Briney's boat (which, coincidentally, seemed barely larger than myself but was surprisingly roomy on the inside) and set sail for Dewford. By which I suppose I mean, "set motor", as there was no sails in sight.

Halfway there, I received a frankly unwelcome call.

Spoiler:

He-who-shall-not-be-named, once more proving his eminent creepyness and general powers of being a jerk.

Still, we quickly reached Dewford in our ridiculously tiny boat.

Spoiler:

Spoiler:

You called?

Thankfully, the inhabitants of Dewford seemed much more hospitable than in Littleroot, Petalburg or Rustboro. I can only guess that reduced IQ is a completely land-locked condition.

Spoiler:

...
With this rod, I shall land the greatest Magikarp known to man or pokemon alike!

Spoiler:

It's almost there!

Spoiler:

...
That's no Magikarp..

Oh well. Water types are Water types. Besides, one that actually knows attacks must be better than a Magikarp, right?
(but how wrong I was..)

Anyway:

Spoiler:

Introducing: Larissa, the Tentacool.

Skirting along the water's edge, I encountered some Fishermen.

Spoiler:

At least, that's what you'll tell your grandchildren to hide your shame.

Realising I would need another pokemon who is super-effective against the Fighting type to beat Brawly, the town's gym leader, and also that the island's Granite cave was the last place I could legitimately catch an Abra, I enter the anteroom tentatively.

Spoiler:

...
Close enough.

Introducing: Xyston, the Meditite.

Finally having a full party of six, I decided to start picking off the trainers of the gym one-by-one.

Spoiler:

Baww.. ;_;

Spoiler:

Oh, thanks. Y'know, i'm starting to think there's a reason they keep you locked in a darkened room all day.

And so, I had one last heal before my valiant stand against Brawly..

------------------------------------------

Current party:
Brendan - Treecko - lvl.14
Whitney - Whismur - lvl.14
Sergei - Pidgey - lvl.15
Nancy - Poochyena - lvl.14
Larissa - Tentacool - lvl.14
Xyston - Meditite - lvl.14

(will update OP with released 'Mons.)

Chapter 5

[Omega124]

Originally Posted by mgsmuhammad

So, cursing under my breath, I sulkily stomped into Route 116 again.

But, I must say, it had it's perks.

Like bumping into this fine young lady:

Spoiler:

True, she may have the perception of an enemy in a Metal Gear game, but i'm sure she makes up for it with her other qualities.

Just to make sure, I prepared to check out her skills as a trainer.

Spoiler:

Oh-
Oh god!

She's like... five! D:

Spoiler:

P-Please, just let me go!

...
After purging my mind of that unfortunate episode, I plucked up the courage to return to Route 116 and pass her.

Epic. Pure Epic.

I'd suugest you save thing under a "Png" format, as the quality would be much better.

[mgsmuhammad]

This is Pokemon Emerald.

I can assure you, even in .jpg, these pictures have lost little quality.

But, i'll do them in .png from now on.

[mgsmuhammad]

Chapter 5: Brawly's Beatdown

Whilst some may call me crazy for fighting Brawly with a team of lvl.14's (and I probably am), but I did it anyway.

Spoiler:

Only three Pokemon? Haha! Come face me!

Let's see your beloved fighting types stand against Sergei's gust!

Spoiler:

Aw, c'mon! A critical-hit Karate Chop straight away?!

Deceased: Sergei - level 15 in Dewford Gym

Damnit.. Sergei, forgive me..

Ugh.. Xyston! Try and hold Brawly back! The more damage you do now, the less pokemon must die here!

And he did. Killing Brawly's first two pokemon with ease (the weakened lvl.16 Machop and a lvl.16 Meditite), it looked like he may have the Confusion needed to turn this thing around..

But Brawly still had one more trick up his sleeve..

Spoiler:

Level Nineteen?! You've gotta be kidding me!

This Makuhita was nothing short of an arch-demon, the bane of 3rd Gen Nuzlockers everywhere.. It was feared.. Rightly so.

It had earned it's reputation. If not taken down quickly, it would buff itself up to unstoppable levels.

Fearing the worst, I keep Xyston out in a last-ditch effort to slay the beast.

Two turns later..

Spoiler:

Haha! Suicide!
..Goddamn she's good.

Xyston? Bro-fist!

Spoiler:

Damn right I did!

Now, about that TM..

Spoiler:

Nonetheless, it wasn't all smiles and hugs. Unfinished business had to be attended to.

Spoiler:

*sigh*

So much wasted potential..

Still, i'm on a delivery quest! (or two)
Let's get that Letter sent.

Venturing into Granite cave, a friendly Hiker offered me the Flash HM. I could have used it on Brendan or Xyston, but figured it'd just lock-up a space which could otherwise hold a far better move.

Besides, how dark can it really be?

Spoiler:

Oh.. Oh god.

I also cursed my lack of foresight in not purchasing any Repels. The constant Zubat attacks were getting unbearable.

Nonetheless, free EXP. Which is why I was caught with my pants down (metaphorically, of course.. >_> ) and Larissa at the front of my party when this goon attacked:

Spoiler:

Hate me for seeming so callous about it but, to be fair, she was the slowest leveller and utterly useless for the next 4 levels. She was the only 'mon i'd consider calling a drain on team efforts.

Deceased: Larissa - level 15 in Granite Cave

Eventually, after forcibly scything my way through all the "lol Zubats", I reached this fellow.

Spoiler:

And you are?

Still, turned out he was the President's son or something. I wasn't paying much attention.

That out of the way, I realised there was only one last thing I must do before leaving.

Going to the community hall, I asked a local what was new.

Spoiler:

After walking outside, and a bit of subtle manipulation, I managed to influence the punk out there to see things my way.

Spoiler:

....

Spoiler:

...The system works.

Now, I was two 'mons down. My team of six had been brutally cut to four..

My rod shall remedy that!

Spoiler:

Goddamnit.. You weaken them so they can be captured.. What don't you understand?

Moving to the other side of town (all legitimate, as you can fish onto two different Routes as well as in Dewford on the island), I try again.

Spoiler:

Ugh.. Well, it's weaker.. But it's the best on offer. It'll have to do.

Spoiler:

Introducing: Mrs. Fish, the Magikarp.

After some slight grinding for Mrs. Fish's sake, I return through Petalburg Woods to that concrete hellhole, Rustboro.

Still, there was at least one interesting family.

Spoiler:

You sir.. Are dad of the year. All years.

Anyway, let's see what booty the President has for us.

Spoiler:

Hehehehe.. Mrs. Fish? I know what you're getting..

After an uneventful return to Dewford and then a short sail on to Slateport beach, I began asserting my dominance on the others there.
Even if they were just washed-up seamen and little kids.

Spoiler:

Sorry, bud, but there's no bathroom on the beach..

(also, first .png pic for Omega.)

As I was beating down the last trainers, something miraculous happened!

Spoiler:

Spoiler:

...
Damn..

Oh, and I caught another pokemon in a route on the other side of Slateport.

Spoiler:

Not sure if i'm comfortable with the idea of two grass-types with the Electric-gym so close, but..

Introducing: Olivia, the Oddish.

Also, it seems Brendan is the only male on the team... Probably enjoys it. <_<

------------------------------------------------

Current party:
Brendan - lvl.16
Whitney - lvl.16
Xyston - lvl.16
Nancy - lvl.16
Mrs. Fish - lvl.14
Olivia - lvl.13

Chapter 6

[tycoonist]

Great chapter... god bless Anal Rape

[Omega124]

I can notice the better quality without you even telling me that was your first "png". Now, go forth and make more sexual jokes!

[Munch]

Mrs. Fish will be stronger in the long run for having been caught at a lower level, but will she ever truly replace Larissa? :/

[mgsmuhammad]

In short, yes. <_<

In all honesty, Larissa was surprisingly incompetant even then. All she really knew was Supersonic, and that's seriously hit-and-miss.

At least with Mrs. Fish I have a slightly shorter uphill struggle getting her to badassery.

The only 'mon i've lost so far which i'll actually struggle to make do without or replace is probably Sergei.

[Munch]

It saddens me that slightly rare Tentacool (especially when you have a bad fishing rod) turned out to be so crap, I had a soft-spot for them, at least in comparison to the hugely common Magikarp.

This story is making me consider playing the game again, but with rules, like your main party have to know all the HMs between them.

[mgsmuhammad]

Don't get me wrong, Tentacruel is (in stats and typing at least) superior to Gyarados.

It's just it takes significantly longer to get to and, especially in a Nuzlocke run, the less time you have something just sponging off everyone else and actually contributing the better.

[Munch]

Originally Posted by mgsmuhammad

especially in a Nuzlocke run

I had to look that up (http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wi...ocke_Challenge). Interesting idea, but what is the reasoning behind only being able to capture in the first wild battle per area?

Also you are playing on some kind of emulator ... can you emulate trades? Is there some other way to 'force' evolution by trading?

[tycoonist]

Originally Posted by Munch

I had to look that up (http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wi...ocke_Challenge). Interesting idea, but what is the reasoning behind only being able to capture in the first wild battle per area?

Also you are playing on some kind of emulator ... can you emulate trades? Is there some other way to 'force' evolution by trading?

he's playing the challenge cause its fun, and the game is kinda easy if you've played it before without the challenge.

The emulator is VBA (visual boy advance). it emulates roms of GBA and standard GB, GB colour games. about trading, i don't think it is possible, but you can quite easily "cheat" if you desperately want your kadabra to evolve and essentially place an alakazam in your party. I just tend to avoid pokemon like that though, although it can be quite irritating.

[mgsmuhammad]

I'm using the first wild pokemon per area (barring duplicates) rule to give me an experience of some different pokemon than i'd normally not use. Diversify.

If I wasn't, I can tell you already that Nancy, Mrs. Fish, Olivia and possibly even Whitney would be seriously boxed by now.

The emulator is VBA as tycoonist said, and the ROM is Emerald 386, a version of Emerald where you can get all 386 pokemon within the one game (except Mantyne, curiously. ).

Pokemon which would usually require a trade to evolve can either be caught as their evolved form or evolve at a set level. (Alakazam, for example, is level 40)

[tycoonist]

actually i just discovered that you can trade (and even battle online!!) but its quite a complicated process.

[mgsmuhammad]

Guess now's as good a time as any for an update.

Chapter 6: Stalking Round Slateport

So, i'm not gonna lie, the vast majority of this chapter was senseless grinding.

As in, more senseless grinding than usual.

Still, before I got started butchering the wildlife of the Route north of Slateport, I couldn't help but notice something odd..

Spoiler:

Jesus christ...

Either way, I was soon rudely interrupted.

Spoiler:

Damnit. Does EVERYONE in this region know my number?!

Spoiler:

I DON'T CARE! Please let me hang up!

Still, the mouldy old President's Exp.share was surprisingly useful.

Spoiler:

Spoiler:

...
Goddamn i'm proud of you right now.

But, as usual, creatures lurked in the grass ready to attack. Some more valuable than others.

Spoiler:

Wait, you mean I could have had this badass instead of Olivia?!
Goddamn it!

...Is it too late for a refund?

Nonetheless, rules are rules.

Soon enough I was bored, so I decided to try and advance the plot a bit.

Spoiler:

It's quite simple, my man. The rod goes in the hole.

Spoiler:

There's a tail?! The hell have you been up to?

..Ugh, nevermind.

Spoiler:

But I just finished a delivery quest-quest..

Gah!

Spoiler:

...
Have you not noticed the wanted terrorists in your lobby?

Spoiler:

Well I was trying to get my game on, but you goons seem to have cleaned out the place.

Who the hell are you, anyway?

Spoiler:

Oh.. Apologies. I just didn't realise, what with your faceless gruntliness and all.

On the second floor I found the elusive Capn.Stern.

Spoiler:

Oh, it's okay.
Most of them payed admission.

Spoiler:

Huh. Olivia's not quite as bad as she seemed..

Spoiler:

Don't forget our dog. Ain't that right, Scooby?

After their defeats, the big-boss of Aqua decided to grace us with his presence..

Spoiler:

...Captain Sparrow?

Spoiler:

My mistake.

In the greatest anti-climax known to all of man, he then left without fighting.

Dick.

Spoiler:

No, I don't think so.

Still managed to get my number off me though. <_<

God, i'm looser with my number than a Taiwanese stripper with..
Well, you get my analogy.

Spoiler:

Do you have a hidden plantation or something here, junkie?

Spoiler:

"She escaped the kitchen again a couple days ago"

Thankfully, some trainers to dominate waited up here.

Spoiler:

..Including some very creepy pokefans.

Seeing a small shack (probably fall of carelessly left valuables), I decided to investigate.

Unfortunately, the owner was in.

Spoiler:

Are you the Riddler's campier cousin?

He then threw me into a maze full of small shrubs to Cut. Thankfully, Olivia could take care of this, sparing my sanity.

Others were not so lucky.

Spoiler:

How long have you been down here?!

Eventually, after much deforestation and general dicking around, I found the passcode to access the exit.

Spoiler:

..Why didn't I see that coming?

Still, I could echo at least one of his sentiments.

Spoiler:

...
Not enough?
...
Okay, fine, this stuff happened too.

Spoiler:

And perhaps more importantly:

Spoiler:

...
Goddamn that's awesome.

----------------------------

Current party:
Brendan - lvl.17
Nancy - lvl.18
Whitney - lvl.17
Xyston - lvl.17
Olivia - lvl.18
Mrs. Fish - lvl.20

Chapter 7

[tycoonist]

how'd you meet a cyndaquil?

[Owen Glyndwr]

Originally Posted by tycoonist

how'd you meet a cyndaquil?

....Emerald version?

[mgsmuhammad]

Like I said, it's Emerald 386.

I could theoretically get every pokemon (apart from Mantyne), if it weren't for the rules forbidding it.

If i'd had better luck, I could also have already picked up a Torchic from Route 104 (where I got Sergei) and a Bulbasaur from Petalburg Woods..

But, they're understandably rare.

[tycoonist]

Originally Posted by Owen Glyndwr

....Emerald version?

you normally just get given one at the end by the professor bloke