So a while back, I wrote a rules-lite Pokémon tabletop role-playing game called Pokémon World. The difference between Pokémon World and PTA is where PTA is heavily crunch focused and seeks to emulate the handheld games closely, Pokémon World is a narrativist, more casual game similar to Apocalypse World where the anime takes precedence.

The link is here.

I hope you all enjoy the game. Comments and criticism appreciated.

One year later, here's a heavily updated and renamed version, based on feedback from my short-lived Mt. Moon Search and Rescue one-shot.

Pokémon Tales v0.28

Enjoy!

Wait, you're not running one!?!?!
I was just gonna PM you if you had plans to do another one.

I had a shiny , even though I almost died getting it

EDIT: Best quote in the entire ruleset:

As much as I'd like to be more active in PbP, I just don't have the time to make that commitment. That said, you could run a Pokémon Tales game yourself if you wanted.

I would love to!
But I currently have to end some things of my own first lol.

Cleaned up some phrasing and formatting, and added new rules for Contests and catching wild Pokémon:

Pokémon Tales v0.29

I have a little more free time than I used to, so I may consider running a PbP game in the near future...

Is there an argument for +1d6 for each advantage and -1d6 for each disadvantage in battles? I want to roll lots of dice on a 4×SE move.

It could make the game bog down real fast in arguments about modifiers. The advantage of the current system is that you can just roll and go once you have a handle on the dice mechanics.

Wouldn't it entail the same arguments as ones that already come up, because of "- If you use Pokémon type advantage, roll an extra die"? Although I would argue that one to be more ambiguous, as it seems to me that I could use it to justify e.g. gaining advantage from using Water against a Cradily, because Rock is weak to Water, even though that weakness is negated by the Grass typing.

I think it's pretty clear that Water-type moves are neutral against Cradily. Fighting-type moves don't have "type advantage" against Spiritomb.

They do if you use Foresight :v
Anyway, if I wanted to munchkin, I would easily argue for that. If my water gun is as effective against a Kingdra as it is a Slaking (arbitrary Normal Pokémon of choice), why would it not be as strong against a Cradily as it is a Sudowoodo?

Actually, you're right. I should add a "not very effective" clause.

okay, posting it here because.... it feels right.
Entirely rules-wise, I have two complaints.
• The borders between what constitutes a fight feels arbitrary. This is mostly relevant when it comes to type effectiveness, where actions that would very clearly be affected during a typical fight no longer applies. It just doesn't make a whole lot of sense.
• My character feels very limited in what he can do. I would like to be able to try and do things outside of my talent, even if it carries harsh penalties, although I'm not even sure that is the solution. Emotionally, I just feel like my character can't do anything a lot of the time (from both games I believe), and I encourage myself to stretch my nature to a point where I feel like I'm cheating.

In terms of you as a storyteller, I really like how dramatic and high-stakes everything is. I get really attached to the story because I'm partially terrified, and your descriptions typically have a nice flair. However, and I think this comes partially from the pbp nature, it also feels a bit railroaded at times. There hasn't been a point yet where it has bothered me, although the timeskip after arc 1 tread on unstable footing. (I would say that you making me drop Nap would have bothered me, was that not what I initially wanted to do had I not thought the distance would be too large. I don't know if that was just down to miscommunication though.)

Yeah, I've noticed the same problems myself. I'm looking into making a clearer distinction when it comes to combat, and perhaps scrapping the Pokémon battle system entirely and redoing it from scratch. If I make any changes, you'll hear about it before the next session starts.

I'm sorry to hear that you feel railroaded. I'm trying to give you guys as much agency as possible, but a) I tend to err on the side of whatever plot development is the most dramatic, and b) there just isn't that much that a pair of dependent kids can do. I'll try to do better starting from the next session.

I am thoroughly enjoying the game so far, though I agree with Mown's assessments. Excited to see what happens next.

Pokémon Tales v0.3.0

A major rewrite of the rules is under way. My players already know but I thought I'd repost it here.

FYI, I would play in this game again if you were to run it again.

Kudos for the good design.

Thanks. I appreciate it.