Hello, folks! After some discussion, we've decided to hold the next stage in the May Fair tinyplot -- the expedition to the evolution site -- this Saturday, May 23rd. This event will probably begin in the afternoon U.S. time, with a possible continuation late Saturday evening U.S. time if we can't complete in the early session. I think it would be ideal to shoot for a 2 PM Eastern/1 PM Central start time, but what times would work for people?
Hope to see you there!
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Event Planning: May Fair Expedition
First off, thanks to everyone who attended the first part of our May Fair kickoff event! It was great to see so many guests on, and I certainly hope everyone had a good time.
If you weren't present, here's a quick synopsis of the event: during Pewter City's May Fair, Professor Auvin of the Pewter Pokemon Lab took the stage to announce that the lab had discovered a mechanism for Pokemorph evolution, centered around a specific site in Mt. Moon. With her to confirm was Jamie Sherman, a Golduck-Morph who had evolved in the discovery of the site. After answering several questions from the crowd, Professor Auvin announced that a further expedition would take place that afternoon, and that anyone interested -- whether 'morphs seeking evolution or just curious spectators -- would be allowed along.
Naturally, that means now we have to schedule that expedition. This will be open to all players, even if you couldn't make the initial session or don't have a character approved yet; if you can get an application in by the time it runs, it's all good. Players/applicants, when would be good for you? We'd prefer to run sometime in the next week or two, and because of the time zone issues (one British admin, one American admin), the ideal times to play would be during the day in the US (evening UK) or late evening US (early morning UK). I'll be out of town from the 15th through the 18th, but if necessary I'll have my attending alts NPCed for the event.
Thanks for reading, and let's have some fun!
If you weren't present, here's a quick synopsis of the event: during Pewter City's May Fair, Professor Auvin of the Pewter Pokemon Lab took the stage to announce that the lab had discovered a mechanism for Pokemorph evolution, centered around a specific site in Mt. Moon. With her to confirm was Jamie Sherman, a Golduck-Morph who had evolved in the discovery of the site. After answering several questions from the crowd, Professor Auvin announced that a further expedition would take place that afternoon, and that anyone interested -- whether 'morphs seeking evolution or just curious spectators -- would be allowed along.
Naturally, that means now we have to schedule that expedition. This will be open to all players, even if you couldn't make the initial session or don't have a character approved yet; if you can get an application in by the time it runs, it's all good. Players/applicants, when would be good for you? We'd prefer to run sometime in the next week or two, and because of the time zone issues (one British admin, one American admin), the ideal times to play would be during the day in the US (evening UK) or late evening US (early morning UK). I'll be out of town from the 15th through the 18th, but if necessary I'll have my attending alts NPCed for the event.
Thanks for reading, and let's have some fun!
Sunday, April 19, 2009
The Rules
Age: Vanishing Point doesn't operate any formal age policy, since the staff recognise that idiocy is no respecter of age or youth.
No twinking, no powergaming: It's hoped you'll know what these are. If not, ask.
Tiny Sex / TS: ...is no substitute for the real thing. We don't care if you do it, but please keep it private? If not, there's always the risk Auvin might wander in and start offering helpful hints.
Sexual Harrassment: This is a complete no-no. Anyone found guilty of sexual harrassment will be @toaded. In addition, don't ever expect to be able to connect to Vanishing Point again. Loser.
Rudeness: If another character is being provocative and rude, and doing it all in character, tough. That's something that characters do. If another player is being rude on a public channel, you have the option to leave the channel. If another player is being rude to you via page, you might want to make judicious use of the 'page #ignore' command. In addition, you may tell a member of staff. If another player is being offensive in a public room, inform a member of staff. There are plenty of creative solutions to this.
Angst: You think you've got problems? Well, tough, we all have. Auvin and Dok both have to suffer each other's company in real life, so anything that you might have to put up with pales into insignificance. In other words, if you have a RL problem, please keep it out of player areas. By all means discuss it in a private room, but please don't pressure other people for sympathy. We're here to roleplay, not to act as a therapy group. Note: If it's IC angst that's the problem, contact Ilsemar to learn how to do it in style.
Language: Feel free to turn the air as blue as you fucking like so long as no other wanker objects.
Additionally, some players find mis-spellings, bad grammar and abbreviations unacceptable, or at least aesthetically unpleasant. No-one can be expected to create completely typo-free poses, but please remember that you are in a text (not txt) based environment, and use language appropriately.
While we're on the subject, baby talk is not cute. In fact, it's positively nauseating. Please don't make us visit the vomitorium. You really won't like us when we return. Anyone found violating this will be on clean-up duty, too.
No twinking, no powergaming: It's hoped you'll know what these are. If not, ask.
Tiny Sex / TS: ...is no substitute for the real thing. We don't care if you do it, but please keep it private? If not, there's always the risk Auvin might wander in and start offering helpful hints.
Sexual Harrassment: This is a complete no-no. Anyone found guilty of sexual harrassment will be @toaded. In addition, don't ever expect to be able to connect to Vanishing Point again. Loser.
Rudeness: If another character is being provocative and rude, and doing it all in character, tough. That's something that characters do. If another player is being rude on a public channel, you have the option to leave the channel. If another player is being rude to you via page, you might want to make judicious use of the 'page #ignore' command. In addition, you may tell a member of staff. If another player is being offensive in a public room, inform a member of staff. There are plenty of creative solutions to this.
Angst: You think you've got problems? Well, tough, we all have. Auvin and Dok both have to suffer each other's company in real life, so anything that you might have to put up with pales into insignificance. In other words, if you have a RL problem, please keep it out of player areas. By all means discuss it in a private room, but please don't pressure other people for sympathy. We're here to roleplay, not to act as a therapy group. Note: If it's IC angst that's the problem, contact Ilsemar to learn how to do it in style.
Language: Feel free to turn the air as blue as you fucking like so long as no other wanker objects.
Additionally, some players find mis-spellings, bad grammar and abbreviations unacceptable, or at least aesthetically unpleasant. No-one can be expected to create completely typo-free poses, but please remember that you are in a text (not txt) based environment, and use language appropriately.
While we're on the subject, baby talk is not cute. In fact, it's positively nauseating. Please don't make us visit the vomitorium. You really won't like us when we return. Anyone found violating this will be on clean-up duty, too.
Character Application Form
VANISHING POINT MUCK APPLICATION FORM
Once you're ready to apply for a character, please put the following information into an email and send it to vanishingpoint@mail.com
PLAYER INFORMATION
Player Name: (Your real given name, with surname if you feel comfortable giving it.)
Player Age: (Your age in real life. We will not reject applications for player-age reasons, but we prefer that players be at least 16.)
Player E-mail: (The e-mail address at which you can best be contacted about your application and other MUCK issues. Obviously, this needs to be real, because it's where we'll send your account password.)
Alts: (Other characters you play or have played, whether at Vanishing Point or other MU*s. Please be sure to list all of your VP alts, but other MU* characters are up to your discretion, although we'd appreciate knowing. For simplicity, please use the character@MU* form, e.g. "Zipporah@Vanishing Point.")
CHARACTER INFORMATION
Character Name: (The name your character goes by; this will generally be his or her given name, but it might be an alias or nickname. Please note that this should generally be a normal human name. This will also be your MUCK login for this character.)
Species: (Is this character a Pokemorph, a human, or a Pokemon? For Pokemorphs, please use the *-Morph form, e.g. "Pikachu-Morph," to avoid confusion.)
Des Anges Score: (If your character is a Pokemorph, this is the character's score on the Des Anges scale, ranging from 10 to 100; the average 'morph is around a 40. The higher the score, the more Pokemon-like the 'morph is, and the more potential problems they may have in society.)
Age:(The age of the character. Please note that we will not accept characters younger than 13: chronologically for humans and Pokemorphs, physically and mentally for all species.)
Profession: (What does your character do for a living? These should generally be everyday, normal human occupations appropriate for characters on modern Pokemon Earth; characters can also be students, retired, or simply unemployed. Please note that Pokemorphs are not currently allowed to enlist in the military or hold public office. Pokemon characters need not fill out this field, but if they work at a specific job, you can note it here.)
Description: (The physical description of your character; you'll probably also use this as your @desc in-MUSH. As well as basic body details, this should include their typical clothing and distinguishing marks. Feel free to be descriptive here, but this should probably be a simple paragraph or two, and avoid being overly florid.)
History: (Your character's history. This should be fairly in-depth, at least several paragraphs long, and discuss their whole life to date. Please try to keep the events of your history fairly plausible and realistic while still making them interesting.)
Personality: (What is your character like, how do they treat people, and what do they like to do? Please try to be specific here; "he's a nice person" does not a good personality section make. This should be at least a paragraph or two.)
Moves/Abilities/Skills: (If your character is a Pokemon or Trainer, please list their/their Pokemon's moveset(s) and ability/abilities here. Movesets must be game-legal: four or fewer moves, all of which can be learned by the species in any of the games. If your character is a Pokemorph, please list any and all supernatural abilities they gained from their morphed state; this should be low in power level and appropriate for their species, as laid out in the theme material. Additionally, please state if your character has any combat or military training. You will be expected to stay within the limits of what is presented here, so please be complete.)
The Vanishing Point wizards aim to review applications at least twice weekly; if you haven't received a response within a week of sending your character application, please feel free to contact us to find out what's going on.
Each player may hold an unlimited number of characters. However, all new players will be subjected to a probationary period of one month, during which period they are limited to a single character. Additionally, should you decide you no longer wish to play a character, please let us know.
Once you're ready to apply for a character, please put the following information into an email and send it to vanishingpoint@mail.com
PLAYER INFORMATION
Player Name: (Your real given name, with surname if you feel comfortable giving it.)
Player Age: (Your age in real life. We will not reject applications for player-age reasons, but we prefer that players be at least 16.)
Player E-mail: (The e-mail address at which you can best be contacted about your application and other MUCK issues. Obviously, this needs to be real, because it's where we'll send your account password.)
Alts: (Other characters you play or have played, whether at Vanishing Point or other MU*s. Please be sure to list all of your VP alts, but other MU* characters are up to your discretion, although we'd appreciate knowing. For simplicity, please use the character@MU* form, e.g. "Zipporah@Vanishing Point.")
CHARACTER INFORMATION
Character Name: (The name your character goes by; this will generally be his or her given name, but it might be an alias or nickname. Please note that this should generally be a normal human name. This will also be your MUCK login for this character.)
Species: (Is this character a Pokemorph, a human, or a Pokemon? For Pokemorphs, please use the *-Morph form, e.g. "Pikachu-Morph," to avoid confusion.)
Des Anges Score: (If your character is a Pokemorph, this is the character's score on the Des Anges scale, ranging from 10 to 100; the average 'morph is around a 40. The higher the score, the more Pokemon-like the 'morph is, and the more potential problems they may have in society.)
Age:(The age of the character. Please note that we will not accept characters younger than 13: chronologically for humans and Pokemorphs, physically and mentally for all species.)
Profession: (What does your character do for a living? These should generally be everyday, normal human occupations appropriate for characters on modern Pokemon Earth; characters can also be students, retired, or simply unemployed. Please note that Pokemorphs are not currently allowed to enlist in the military or hold public office. Pokemon characters need not fill out this field, but if they work at a specific job, you can note it here.)
Description: (The physical description of your character; you'll probably also use this as your @desc in-MUSH. As well as basic body details, this should include their typical clothing and distinguishing marks. Feel free to be descriptive here, but this should probably be a simple paragraph or two, and avoid being overly florid.)
History: (Your character's history. This should be fairly in-depth, at least several paragraphs long, and discuss their whole life to date. Please try to keep the events of your history fairly plausible and realistic while still making them interesting.)
Personality: (What is your character like, how do they treat people, and what do they like to do? Please try to be specific here; "he's a nice person" does not a good personality section make. This should be at least a paragraph or two.)
Moves/Abilities/Skills: (If your character is a Pokemon or Trainer, please list their/their Pokemon's moveset(s) and ability/abilities here. Movesets must be game-legal: four or fewer moves, all of which can be learned by the species in any of the games. If your character is a Pokemorph, please list any and all supernatural abilities they gained from their morphed state; this should be low in power level and appropriate for their species, as laid out in the theme material. Additionally, please state if your character has any combat or military training. You will be expected to stay within the limits of what is presented here, so please be complete.)
The Vanishing Point wizards aim to review applications at least twice weekly; if you haven't received a response within a week of sending your character application, please feel free to contact us to find out what's going on.
Each player may hold an unlimited number of characters. However, all new players will be subjected to a probationary period of one month, during which period they are limited to a single character. Additionally, should you decide you no longer wish to play a character, please let us know.
The Des Anges Scale
Named after its creator, nurse Andrew des Anges of the Saffron Metamorphosis Management Team, the Des Anges scale offers a loose classification of the extent of an individual's final transformation from human to Pokemorph. While the scale does theoretically run from zero to one hundred, the vast majority of Pokemorphs exist within the 30-50 range. Additionally, owing to the scale's fairly arbitrary nature, Des Anges ratings tend to be described to the nearest ten, or occasionally five.
0
5 - Morphic nature discernable with DNA testing. Not officially a 'morph.
10 - Morphed species discernable with DNA testing. Not officially a 'morph.
20 - Slight changes in physical appearance, minor elemental strengths/weaknesses. Official classification as 'morph. The Nap occurs, but in foreshortened form, lasting three to five days at most. Individuals ranked at 20 may be impossible to tell from nonmorphed humans at a glance.
30 - Morphic nature clearly evident; species usually but not always clear. Noticeable elemental strengths/weaknesses. The Nap occurs, lasting from five to eight days. Most Pokemorphs ranked at 30 are human-adjacent types such as Normals and Fighters. Individuals at this level account for approximately twenty per cent of the Pokemorph population.
40 - This is the commonest metamorphosis level by far, accounting for an estimated fifty to sixty per cent of all Pokemorphs. Species and type traits are obvious, and the nap lasts 7-10 days.
50 - Individuals ranked at 50 start to resemble their morphic species more closely than they do a human; elemental strengths/weaknesses at this level may prove problematic. Nap lasts around 10 days. This level occurs in around 10-20 per cent of the Pokemorph population. Individuals of this ranking or higher will likely be considered slightly odd even by other Pokemorphs.
Rankings of higher than 50 account for a maximum of five per cent of the Pokemorph population.
60 - As 50, only more so. The nap lasts 9-12 days; day to day life as a human being may start to become problematic owing to physical limitations, and a certain level of pain may become a fact of life. Individuals with a rating of over 60 are usually considered physically disabled.
70 - As 60, only more so. Instincts from morphic species may come into play.
80 - Individual resembles deformed version of morphic species; elemental abilities and weaknesses are fully realised. Instinct comes into play, and mental function may be impaired.
Thus far, only one Pokemorph has been classified with a ranking of over 80.
90 - Individual is barely-distinguishable from morphic species. No recorded examples; any occurring would almost certainly classified as anomalous Pokemon.
100
0
5 - Morphic nature discernable with DNA testing. Not officially a 'morph.
10 - Morphed species discernable with DNA testing. Not officially a 'morph.
20 - Slight changes in physical appearance, minor elemental strengths/weaknesses. Official classification as 'morph. The Nap occurs, but in foreshortened form, lasting three to five days at most. Individuals ranked at 20 may be impossible to tell from nonmorphed humans at a glance.
30 - Morphic nature clearly evident; species usually but not always clear. Noticeable elemental strengths/weaknesses. The Nap occurs, lasting from five to eight days. Most Pokemorphs ranked at 30 are human-adjacent types such as Normals and Fighters. Individuals at this level account for approximately twenty per cent of the Pokemorph population.
40 - This is the commonest metamorphosis level by far, accounting for an estimated fifty to sixty per cent of all Pokemorphs. Species and type traits are obvious, and the nap lasts 7-10 days.
50 - Individuals ranked at 50 start to resemble their morphic species more closely than they do a human; elemental strengths/weaknesses at this level may prove problematic. Nap lasts around 10 days. This level occurs in around 10-20 per cent of the Pokemorph population. Individuals of this ranking or higher will likely be considered slightly odd even by other Pokemorphs.
Rankings of higher than 50 account for a maximum of five per cent of the Pokemorph population.
60 - As 50, only more so. The nap lasts 9-12 days; day to day life as a human being may start to become problematic owing to physical limitations, and a certain level of pain may become a fact of life. Individuals with a rating of over 60 are usually considered physically disabled.
70 - As 60, only more so. Instincts from morphic species may come into play.
80 - Individual resembles deformed version of morphic species; elemental abilities and weaknesses are fully realised. Instinct comes into play, and mental function may be impaired.
Thus far, only one Pokemorph has been classified with a ranking of over 80.
90 - Individual is barely-distinguishable from morphic species. No recorded examples; any occurring would almost certainly classified as anomalous Pokemon.
100
Creating Your Vanishing Point Character
Things To Think About
Here are some questions to consider as you develop a character for use on Vanishing Point MUCK. Many of them are fairly obvious, but they're still important to think about as you write an application and begin play.
1. How will this character interact with others?
This is probably the most important question in creating a character, since roleplaying is fundamentally about your character interacting with others. The bulk of your roleplaying on Vanishing Point will consist of casual social scenes with other characters; as such, you'll probably have the easiest and best time playing if your character is capable of participating in casual scenes. Characters who are antisocial, desperately timid, or otherwise incapable of social interactions with strangers will pose an additional challenge for both you and your fellow players, and please think carefully before applying for them.
The administrators take characters' interaction potential very seriously when considering applications, and if uncertain of a character's ability to interact, they reserve the right to request a sample scene with that character in order to gauge their viability. Please be prepared to play your character!
2. What does this character think about current events?
Before you begin an application, read the MUCK's documentation and think about how the setting presented there reflects on your character. The most important question, of course, is what your character thinks about Pokemorphs and the last five years' wave of transformation, but they're also likely to know about and have an opinion about Team Rocket, the Kanto training decline, and any number of other topics. Vanishing Point attempts to present a unique world, and building your character as a citizen of that world will serve you well.
3. What kinds of stories do you want to play with this character?
This is another very basic question, but it's something to think about: what do you want to do with this character? Do you just intend to play them casually, as a slice-of-life character, or do you have a planned story arc in mind for them? What do you want to achieve in play with the character? These should obviously be flexible -- after all, things will change in play as your character interacts with others -- but having some sort of idea what you want to do will help you start scenes and storylines in the game.
Training and NPCs
As a roleplaying game based on Pokemon, Vanishing Point obviously allows characters to be Pokemon trainers and to have Pokemon NPCs associated with their character. However, since the focus of this game is everyday life in a changed Kanto, most trainer characters in this game should be of the decidedly casual sort: a person with a Pokemon or two they keep as helpers and companions, not a wandering battler preparing to take on the Elite Four. To help emphasize this part of the setting, and to try and limit NPC clutter, each character may have only three associated Pokemon NPCs at character creation. Most should have fewer than this, and many will have none at all.
When creating a "serious" trainer character, think hard about how such a person would fit into the theme and setting as stands. Ever since Team Rocket arose ten years ago, the number of young people committed to making the formal Pokemon League journey has fallen precipitously, and these days challengers beyond the first few gyms are very rare indeed. As a trainer beyond the casual level, your character will be essentially removed from everyday life, and they're unlikely to be able to function in the typical Vanishing Point setting with the ease another character would. This isn't to say such characters can't work, but please give them careful thought, and consider discussing your idea with the wizards before applying to get help smoothing out the details.
In general, try to keep the number of NPCs -- Pokemon and otherwise -- actively involved in scenes very low. Of course, most well-designed characters will have peripheral NPCs associated with them (friends, loved ones, dependents, and others), but in general, these characters should appear in scenes sparingly, and the character shouldn't interact with them to the exclusion of other players' characters. NPCs are background figures; please keep them that way.
Creating a Pokemorph
Pokemorphs are an important part of Vanishing Point's setting, and they make popular choices for characters -- after all, they're interesting, novel, and fun to play. However, they also have different considerations during character creation from those other characters might. Here are some things to think about while designing a Pokemorph for Vanishing Point.
1. All adult Pokemorphs were once humans. Natural-born Pokemorphs are all too young to be playable characters, and all others are humans who underwent the transformation process. Give plenty of thought to your character's human life and how it was changed or disrupted by their transformation. How long ago were they transformed? As humans, where did they live and what did they do? Did they encounter prejudice from friends and family when they awoke as Pokemorphs, or were they supported and accepted? Did their dreams and aspirations change post-transformation? Pokemorphs don't have to have traumatic transformation stories, but you should know where they came from.
2. Almost all Pokemorphs lived, and live, normal lives. The vast majority of Pokemorphs still live amongst humans, work at normal human jobs, and have human friends and loved ones. While some of them have changed careers to those better suited for their new bodies, almost none of them "go feral" or otherwise retreat from society, and almost none of them have terribly unusual backgrounds. Characters who diverge too much from normal human situations will be heavily scrutinized and may be rejected if they're too implausible.
3. Pokemorphs in VP have subtle and limited powers, not movesets. They're much closer to humans than Pokemon, so while they do have some elemental powers, they're not capable of proper "moves" or combat ability at a Pokemon's level. The power level of your Pokemorph should be kept low and generally reasonable.
4. Think about how physically changed your character is. Consider the Des Anges Scale when designing your Pokemorph. A score between 30 and 45, indicating moderate changes to appearance but few gross physiological changes, is the standard range for most 'Morphs; any 'Morph with a score greater than 45 will be considered very strange, and most in that range will have medical problems and quite likely mobility difficulties. If you're going to make a 'Morph very divergent from the human norm, consider the bad sides of this change as well as the good.
5. Legendary, baby, and evolved Pokemon species cannot be Pokemorphs. There is only one evolved 'Morph and one legendary 'Morph in existence; while this may change in the course of play, these are not currently available for applications. Pokemorphs of "baby" species only occur as natural-born offspring of other Pokemorphs, and thus none are old enough to be playable characters.
6. Give your character's species some thought. A Pokemorph character's species should usually have some connection to their history, personality, or nature. This connection need not be terribly deep, but there should be some reason that your character transformed into the species they did; try to pick a species that really fits your character, not just a random species or a cool one. (Of course, you can design a 'Morph character around their species, if that's easier for you.)
Creating a Human
Humans are the other major playable-character species on Vanishing Point MUCK, and they're every bit as viable a character choice as Pokemorphs. Many of the things to think about in Pokemorph character design are also factors in creation of a human character -- give plenty of thought to their backstory.
1. Almost all humans are normal. Not everyone is a paramilitary officer, international diamond thief, or ninja master, and in fact, these sorts of "exceptional" characters will actually have a much harder time interacting on Vanishing Point than a more normal character might. Make your character interesting with a well-thought-out history and personality, not because of an unusual upbringing or a lot of combat skills. And on that note...
2. Most humans have no fighting skill. Abide by this. The average person on the street has no or minimal combat training, and given the presence of Pokemon, actual human-on-human combat is much rarer in Vanishing Point than in the real world. The only characters likely to have even basic self-defense training are police officers or members of Kanto's small Self-Defense Force, and these groups have both important duties and constant official scrutiny from within and without. Characters generally shouldn't be terribly good at combat, and violence junkies really aren't theme-appropriate and may be rejected.
3. Keep prejudice realistic. Humans on Vanishing Point aren't villains, and while they may be prejudiced against or uncomfortable around Pokemorphs, this shouldn't be played for cheap drama or cartoonishness. Please keep your character's opinions realistic, and remember that the prevailing attitude in the setting is against flagrant prejudice; especially open or active bigots are likely to suffer social consequences, if not legal ones.
4. Humans can become Pokemorphs after character creation, but they don't have to. The transformation into a Pokemorph is a perfectly valid and interesting plot for human characters to pursue on Vanishing Point -- but be careful. If you plan to have them transform very soon after they hit the grid, it's probably more appropriate to just apply for them as a recently-transformed Pokemorph; transformation is best as an eventual plot idea, when the character's situation makes it most interesting to happen. Furthermore, just because Pokemorphs and transformation are a major part of the setting's themes doesn't mean every human character is obliged to transform. Don't force it or shoehorn it into the character just to conform to the setting! Additionally, bear in mind that the transformation process will involve your character being unplayable for a period of 1-2 weeks while they sleep.
Creating a Pokemon
While Pokemon can be viable player characters on Vanishing Point MUCK, they have to be approached very carefully compared to human or Pokemorph characters. They tend to be much harder to integrate into scenes and plots and can be difficult for non-Pokemon characters to meaningfully interact with. Please be cautious and think about the following issues before applying for a Pokemon character.
1. Pokemon aren't small humans. First and foremost, Pokemon are animals -- sentient animals, and sometimes very smart ones, but animals nonetheless. Most of them can't easily communicate with humans, don't fluently understand human speech, and can't process human concepts; Psychic-types have an easier time than most, and there are other very sensitive exceptions, but by and large they just shouldn't be played as little humans.
2. Think about their place in the world. Most of Vanishing Point's setting is urban, so your character should ideally have a place in that sort of environment. Would they be a stray or a wild urban Pokemon? Would they work for a living, semi-independently or with a non-Pokemon companion? Be careful here; Pokemon who aren't at least partially independent are probably best as NPCs with their human/'Morph trainer, but truly wild Pokemon may not be viable for actual use in scenes. Ideally, you want a balance of independence and potential to interact, just like with any other character.
3. Pokemon characters should be taken as seriously as any other. Please, don't apply for Pokemon as one-off gags or cutesy setting filler. They should be as viable and serious as any other player character, and if anything, they should take more effort and thought, just because they're harder to integrate. Excessively cutesy or jokey Pokemon character applications will likely be rejected as unviable.
Feature Characters
"Feature characters" are characters who exist in the Pokemon canon; in the context of Vanishing Point MUCK, this term refers to characters who have pre-existing personalities and occupy major roles in the setting (i.e., Gym Leaders). These characters are open for applications but are more restricted in their availability than non-feature characters, naturally.
The major factor to remember when considering playing a feature character is their status as semi-NPCs. As elements of the setting, they're by definition more reactive than active and will generally not be initiating their own plot arcs. These characters come with responsibilities to the setting and generally lack the freedom of non-feature characters. Think about this carefully: are you okay playing a character as a semi-NPC in this way? What would you want to do with a feature character if you successfully apply for one?
The first step in applying for a feature character is to contact the administrators and talk about the character you have in mind. They'll let you know if the slot is available and if your specific idea for it is viable; once you've talked to them, feel free to apply, but be aware that feature-character applications will be reviewed especially carefully. After you've applied, the administrators will probably request a sample scene to get a feeling for how you play the feature character -- after all, you'll probably be working with them on potential plot arcs involving your character's corner of the setting.
Please note that there are two types of feature character not currently available for application by players. The first is characters associated with Team Rocket (or the other Teams). Giovanni is imprisoned, as are all the other Rocket higher-ups of any note; while former Rocket Grunts may be available as player characters, they don't function as feature characters and generally shouldn't be focused on potential Rocket-related plots. Teams Aqua, Magma, and Galactic are not currently integrated into the setting, and feature characters from them will not be accepted into the setting unless they eventually are.
The second type of feature characters not currently available for applications is Legendary Pokemon. Legendary Pokemon in Vanishing Point are somewhere between mythical beasts and gods, and as such they are too central to the setting cosmology to allow for player-character applications.
A Final Note
Finally, perhaps the most important character-creation guideline on Vanishing Point MUCK is this: when in doubt, consult an admin. The administrators are more than happy to help you develop characters and work on applications, and they're happy to discuss your questions or concerns. Considering applying for a feature character? Unclear on an element of the setting? Wondering if a character idea you've had is workable? Please ask! The admins can generally be found and paged on the grid, and if they're not there, feel free to e-mail at vanishingpoint@mail.com.
Best of luck!
Here are some questions to consider as you develop a character for use on Vanishing Point MUCK. Many of them are fairly obvious, but they're still important to think about as you write an application and begin play.
1. How will this character interact with others?
This is probably the most important question in creating a character, since roleplaying is fundamentally about your character interacting with others. The bulk of your roleplaying on Vanishing Point will consist of casual social scenes with other characters; as such, you'll probably have the easiest and best time playing if your character is capable of participating in casual scenes. Characters who are antisocial, desperately timid, or otherwise incapable of social interactions with strangers will pose an additional challenge for both you and your fellow players, and please think carefully before applying for them.
The administrators take characters' interaction potential very seriously when considering applications, and if uncertain of a character's ability to interact, they reserve the right to request a sample scene with that character in order to gauge their viability. Please be prepared to play your character!
2. What does this character think about current events?
Before you begin an application, read the MUCK's documentation and think about how the setting presented there reflects on your character. The most important question, of course, is what your character thinks about Pokemorphs and the last five years' wave of transformation, but they're also likely to know about and have an opinion about Team Rocket, the Kanto training decline, and any number of other topics. Vanishing Point attempts to present a unique world, and building your character as a citizen of that world will serve you well.
3. What kinds of stories do you want to play with this character?
This is another very basic question, but it's something to think about: what do you want to do with this character? Do you just intend to play them casually, as a slice-of-life character, or do you have a planned story arc in mind for them? What do you want to achieve in play with the character? These should obviously be flexible -- after all, things will change in play as your character interacts with others -- but having some sort of idea what you want to do will help you start scenes and storylines in the game.
Training and NPCs
As a roleplaying game based on Pokemon, Vanishing Point obviously allows characters to be Pokemon trainers and to have Pokemon NPCs associated with their character. However, since the focus of this game is everyday life in a changed Kanto, most trainer characters in this game should be of the decidedly casual sort: a person with a Pokemon or two they keep as helpers and companions, not a wandering battler preparing to take on the Elite Four. To help emphasize this part of the setting, and to try and limit NPC clutter, each character may have only three associated Pokemon NPCs at character creation. Most should have fewer than this, and many will have none at all.
When creating a "serious" trainer character, think hard about how such a person would fit into the theme and setting as stands. Ever since Team Rocket arose ten years ago, the number of young people committed to making the formal Pokemon League journey has fallen precipitously, and these days challengers beyond the first few gyms are very rare indeed. As a trainer beyond the casual level, your character will be essentially removed from everyday life, and they're unlikely to be able to function in the typical Vanishing Point setting with the ease another character would. This isn't to say such characters can't work, but please give them careful thought, and consider discussing your idea with the wizards before applying to get help smoothing out the details.
In general, try to keep the number of NPCs -- Pokemon and otherwise -- actively involved in scenes very low. Of course, most well-designed characters will have peripheral NPCs associated with them (friends, loved ones, dependents, and others), but in general, these characters should appear in scenes sparingly, and the character shouldn't interact with them to the exclusion of other players' characters. NPCs are background figures; please keep them that way.
Creating a Pokemorph
Pokemorphs are an important part of Vanishing Point's setting, and they make popular choices for characters -- after all, they're interesting, novel, and fun to play. However, they also have different considerations during character creation from those other characters might. Here are some things to think about while designing a Pokemorph for Vanishing Point.
1. All adult Pokemorphs were once humans. Natural-born Pokemorphs are all too young to be playable characters, and all others are humans who underwent the transformation process. Give plenty of thought to your character's human life and how it was changed or disrupted by their transformation. How long ago were they transformed? As humans, where did they live and what did they do? Did they encounter prejudice from friends and family when they awoke as Pokemorphs, or were they supported and accepted? Did their dreams and aspirations change post-transformation? Pokemorphs don't have to have traumatic transformation stories, but you should know where they came from.
2. Almost all Pokemorphs lived, and live, normal lives. The vast majority of Pokemorphs still live amongst humans, work at normal human jobs, and have human friends and loved ones. While some of them have changed careers to those better suited for their new bodies, almost none of them "go feral" or otherwise retreat from society, and almost none of them have terribly unusual backgrounds. Characters who diverge too much from normal human situations will be heavily scrutinized and may be rejected if they're too implausible.
3. Pokemorphs in VP have subtle and limited powers, not movesets. They're much closer to humans than Pokemon, so while they do have some elemental powers, they're not capable of proper "moves" or combat ability at a Pokemon's level. The power level of your Pokemorph should be kept low and generally reasonable.
4. Think about how physically changed your character is. Consider the Des Anges Scale when designing your Pokemorph. A score between 30 and 45, indicating moderate changes to appearance but few gross physiological changes, is the standard range for most 'Morphs; any 'Morph with a score greater than 45 will be considered very strange, and most in that range will have medical problems and quite likely mobility difficulties. If you're going to make a 'Morph very divergent from the human norm, consider the bad sides of this change as well as the good.
5. Legendary, baby, and evolved Pokemon species cannot be Pokemorphs. There is only one evolved 'Morph and one legendary 'Morph in existence; while this may change in the course of play, these are not currently available for applications. Pokemorphs of "baby" species only occur as natural-born offspring of other Pokemorphs, and thus none are old enough to be playable characters.
6. Give your character's species some thought. A Pokemorph character's species should usually have some connection to their history, personality, or nature. This connection need not be terribly deep, but there should be some reason that your character transformed into the species they did; try to pick a species that really fits your character, not just a random species or a cool one. (Of course, you can design a 'Morph character around their species, if that's easier for you.)
Creating a Human
Humans are the other major playable-character species on Vanishing Point MUCK, and they're every bit as viable a character choice as Pokemorphs. Many of the things to think about in Pokemorph character design are also factors in creation of a human character -- give plenty of thought to their backstory.
1. Almost all humans are normal. Not everyone is a paramilitary officer, international diamond thief, or ninja master, and in fact, these sorts of "exceptional" characters will actually have a much harder time interacting on Vanishing Point than a more normal character might. Make your character interesting with a well-thought-out history and personality, not because of an unusual upbringing or a lot of combat skills. And on that note...
2. Most humans have no fighting skill. Abide by this. The average person on the street has no or minimal combat training, and given the presence of Pokemon, actual human-on-human combat is much rarer in Vanishing Point than in the real world. The only characters likely to have even basic self-defense training are police officers or members of Kanto's small Self-Defense Force, and these groups have both important duties and constant official scrutiny from within and without. Characters generally shouldn't be terribly good at combat, and violence junkies really aren't theme-appropriate and may be rejected.
3. Keep prejudice realistic. Humans on Vanishing Point aren't villains, and while they may be prejudiced against or uncomfortable around Pokemorphs, this shouldn't be played for cheap drama or cartoonishness. Please keep your character's opinions realistic, and remember that the prevailing attitude in the setting is against flagrant prejudice; especially open or active bigots are likely to suffer social consequences, if not legal ones.
4. Humans can become Pokemorphs after character creation, but they don't have to. The transformation into a Pokemorph is a perfectly valid and interesting plot for human characters to pursue on Vanishing Point -- but be careful. If you plan to have them transform very soon after they hit the grid, it's probably more appropriate to just apply for them as a recently-transformed Pokemorph; transformation is best as an eventual plot idea, when the character's situation makes it most interesting to happen. Furthermore, just because Pokemorphs and transformation are a major part of the setting's themes doesn't mean every human character is obliged to transform. Don't force it or shoehorn it into the character just to conform to the setting! Additionally, bear in mind that the transformation process will involve your character being unplayable for a period of 1-2 weeks while they sleep.
Creating a Pokemon
While Pokemon can be viable player characters on Vanishing Point MUCK, they have to be approached very carefully compared to human or Pokemorph characters. They tend to be much harder to integrate into scenes and plots and can be difficult for non-Pokemon characters to meaningfully interact with. Please be cautious and think about the following issues before applying for a Pokemon character.
1. Pokemon aren't small humans. First and foremost, Pokemon are animals -- sentient animals, and sometimes very smart ones, but animals nonetheless. Most of them can't easily communicate with humans, don't fluently understand human speech, and can't process human concepts; Psychic-types have an easier time than most, and there are other very sensitive exceptions, but by and large they just shouldn't be played as little humans.
2. Think about their place in the world. Most of Vanishing Point's setting is urban, so your character should ideally have a place in that sort of environment. Would they be a stray or a wild urban Pokemon? Would they work for a living, semi-independently or with a non-Pokemon companion? Be careful here; Pokemon who aren't at least partially independent are probably best as NPCs with their human/'Morph trainer, but truly wild Pokemon may not be viable for actual use in scenes. Ideally, you want a balance of independence and potential to interact, just like with any other character.
3. Pokemon characters should be taken as seriously as any other. Please, don't apply for Pokemon as one-off gags or cutesy setting filler. They should be as viable and serious as any other player character, and if anything, they should take more effort and thought, just because they're harder to integrate. Excessively cutesy or jokey Pokemon character applications will likely be rejected as unviable.
Feature Characters
"Feature characters" are characters who exist in the Pokemon canon; in the context of Vanishing Point MUCK, this term refers to characters who have pre-existing personalities and occupy major roles in the setting (i.e., Gym Leaders). These characters are open for applications but are more restricted in their availability than non-feature characters, naturally.
The major factor to remember when considering playing a feature character is their status as semi-NPCs. As elements of the setting, they're by definition more reactive than active and will generally not be initiating their own plot arcs. These characters come with responsibilities to the setting and generally lack the freedom of non-feature characters. Think about this carefully: are you okay playing a character as a semi-NPC in this way? What would you want to do with a feature character if you successfully apply for one?
The first step in applying for a feature character is to contact the administrators and talk about the character you have in mind. They'll let you know if the slot is available and if your specific idea for it is viable; once you've talked to them, feel free to apply, but be aware that feature-character applications will be reviewed especially carefully. After you've applied, the administrators will probably request a sample scene to get a feeling for how you play the feature character -- after all, you'll probably be working with them on potential plot arcs involving your character's corner of the setting.
Please note that there are two types of feature character not currently available for application by players. The first is characters associated with Team Rocket (or the other Teams). Giovanni is imprisoned, as are all the other Rocket higher-ups of any note; while former Rocket Grunts may be available as player characters, they don't function as feature characters and generally shouldn't be focused on potential Rocket-related plots. Teams Aqua, Magma, and Galactic are not currently integrated into the setting, and feature characters from them will not be accepted into the setting unless they eventually are.
The second type of feature characters not currently available for applications is Legendary Pokemon. Legendary Pokemon in Vanishing Point are somewhere between mythical beasts and gods, and as such they are too central to the setting cosmology to allow for player-character applications.
A Final Note
Finally, perhaps the most important character-creation guideline on Vanishing Point MUCK is this: when in doubt, consult an admin. The administrators are more than happy to help you develop characters and work on applications, and they're happy to discuss your questions or concerns. Considering applying for a feature character? Unclear on an element of the setting? Wondering if a character idea you've had is workable? Please ask! The admins can generally be found and paged on the grid, and if they're not there, feel free to e-mail at vanishingpoint@mail.com.
Best of luck!
What's a Pokemorph?
Pokemorphs on Vanishing Point
Basics
Pokemorphs on Vanishing Point MUCK are humans who have taken on the characteristics of Pokemon, creating a unique species of their own. The first Pokemorphs underwent their transformations about five years ago, after a major meteor shower on Mt. Moon; in the years since, the transformations have continued at a steady pace, and it has become clear that this new hybrid species is here to stay. As an emerging species, faced with an ambivalent human public, they are still finding their place in the world.
The Transformation
Little is yet understood about the process by which humans are transformed into Pokemorphs, but some basic facts are known. First, only humans are affected, usually adults and never anyone below the age of puberty; no Pokemon has ever transformed. Second, the process is not contagious and involves no known pathogen. While those communities closest to Mt. Moon have had the most people affected, there otherwise seems to be no common thread between those transformed, and contact with Pokemon or Pokemorphs does not increase the chances of undergoing transformation.
The transformation process begins with a one- to two-week period of flu-like symptoms: fatigue, aches, increased appetite, and generalized feelings of discomfort. After this period, the changing human will fall into a deep sleep, during which the actual physical changes of the transformation occur; depending on the degree of physical change, this can take anywhere from a few days to two weeks. At the end of this process, the new Pokemorph awakens fully changed, and for better or worse, their new life has begun.
For unknown reasons, newly-transformed Pokemorphs are always of their most basic adult forms (e.g., Pikachu as opposed to Pichu or Raichu); aside from that, they apparently can take on the characteristics of any non-Legendary species. The most common Pokemorph species are those closest to the human norm, particularly mammalian and avian species, and more divergent species often involve medical problems as a result of the transformation, but such individuals do exist.
Biology
In most regards, Pokemorphs are biologically equivalent to humans; they eat human food (although many now find Berries and Berry-based confections tastier than most humans do) and respond normally to human medications. Medicine formulated for Pokemon generally won't work on them, and Pokeballs are as inert to them as they are to humans. However, aside from their physical traits, Pokemorphs do show some biological connection to their elemental types, as detailed below in "Powers and Weaknesses."
Pokemorphs are a reproductively distinct species; while some have human children from before their transformation, they can no longer interbreed with humans (or Pokemon, for that matter). However, all breeds of Pokemorph can interbreed freely, producing Pokemorph children. These children will be the breed of one parent, although they may have small cosmetic features of the other parent's breed. Although naturally-born Pokemorph children are still quite young -- the oldest was born four years ago -- thus far they seem to develop at the same speed and on the same path as human children.
Pokemorph evolution is still largely a mystery; only one Pokemorph has evolved to date, a Milotic-Morph named Iphigenia, and she refuses to reveal the circumstances of her evolution. Certainly, evolution stones don't seem to work as they do on Pokemon. There are a thousand theories about what might -- everything from special potions brewed from Mt. Moon herbs to sheer force of will -- but nobody has yet managed to repeat Iphigenia's feat, let alone publicize how it's done.
Powers and Weaknesses
Derived from humans as they are, Pokemorphs on Vanishing Point MUCK are closer to humans than Pokemon, and as a result they do not gain the power of a Pokemon moveset. They simply aren't "Pokemon enough" for it. However, they do develop low-level supernatural powers associated with their elemental types. Those attuned to natural elements will usually gain a certain degree of ability to control and manipulate those elements. Flying-type Pokemorphs can often use their new wings to glide or fly clumsily over short distances; Fighting-type Pokemorphs tend to be quite a bit stronger than normal humans; Psychic-types usually have low-level psychic abilities, most often telepathy and telekinesis. While Pokemorphs' powers are still nowhere near the strength of true Pokemon, they're strong enough to make humans take notice.
However, along with these elemental powers come minor type weaknesses, along the lines of the normal base Pokemon. These are not truly dangerous or crippling, but they are irritating. (Fire-types, for example, tend to suffer rashes and skin irritation as the result of prolonged contact with water; if they take quick showers and don't swim often, though, they'll probably be fine.)
Pokemorphs in Society
In the five years since the transformation began, Pokemorphs have become visible at all levels of society, and transformations have occurred in numbers sufficient to make them a true minority population and not simply a curiosity. Transformations have occurred across all four Pokemon-raising regions, but are most common in Kanto and Johto.
For the most part, Pokemorphs live the same kinds of lives humans do; they work, play, live, and love as normal members of society. All the regions in which Pokemorphs have appeared recognize them as legally human, and while a recent law passed in Kanto (and soon copied by the other regions) prohibits Pokemorphs from serving in the military or holding public office, they otherwise have all the legal rights of any other human.
This isn't to say that Pokemorphs have blended seamlessly into society, however, or that they are universally accepted. Open prejudice against Pokemorphs is still unfortunately common, and many humans are uncomfortable with them -- particularly in Sinnoh, where the relatively low rate of transformation means that superstition and rumors about 'morphs generally run free. Kanto, as the site of the most transformations, tends to have the greatest level of societal acceptance of Pokemorphs, which has resulted in a high rate of immigration among the newly transformed; these new arrivals tend to flock to Pewter City and Cerulean City, which have become known as morphic Meccas. These two cities now boast remarkably large 'morph populations, at over 40% of their total (as opposed to roughly 20% in most of Kanto, 15% in Johto, and between 5% and 10% in Hoenn and Sinnoh).
Perhaps the most uncomfortable subject in human-'morph relations is the subject of romance. As transformed humans, many Pokemorphs have human spouses or romantic partners before their transformations, and most retain a romantic interest in humans; human opinion on this subject varies widely, from curiosity and acceptance to discomfort or outright disgust. Post-transformation breakups and divorces are quite common, although some relationships do stay together, and many Pokemorphs only date within their new species to avoid potential disaster. That said, there are interspecies couples who stay together or find new love, but they often have an uphill battle; while humans and Pokemorphs can legally marry, some clergypeople will refuse to do so, and interspecies couples who want children often face prejudice when trying to adopt.
Many Pokemorphs find their new lives filled with struggle: confusion or rejection from loved ones, medical problems that may arise from their new body, and a change in self-image that may be overwhelming. However, for every tale of despair, there are two of hope and opportunity -- of Pokemorphs and their allies creating new lives and a new world. Will your characters be adventurous, despairing, or somewhere in between?
Basics
Pokemorphs on Vanishing Point MUCK are humans who have taken on the characteristics of Pokemon, creating a unique species of their own. The first Pokemorphs underwent their transformations about five years ago, after a major meteor shower on Mt. Moon; in the years since, the transformations have continued at a steady pace, and it has become clear that this new hybrid species is here to stay. As an emerging species, faced with an ambivalent human public, they are still finding their place in the world.
The Transformation
Little is yet understood about the process by which humans are transformed into Pokemorphs, but some basic facts are known. First, only humans are affected, usually adults and never anyone below the age of puberty; no Pokemon has ever transformed. Second, the process is not contagious and involves no known pathogen. While those communities closest to Mt. Moon have had the most people affected, there otherwise seems to be no common thread between those transformed, and contact with Pokemon or Pokemorphs does not increase the chances of undergoing transformation.
The transformation process begins with a one- to two-week period of flu-like symptoms: fatigue, aches, increased appetite, and generalized feelings of discomfort. After this period, the changing human will fall into a deep sleep, during which the actual physical changes of the transformation occur; depending on the degree of physical change, this can take anywhere from a few days to two weeks. At the end of this process, the new Pokemorph awakens fully changed, and for better or worse, their new life has begun.
For unknown reasons, newly-transformed Pokemorphs are always of their most basic adult forms (e.g., Pikachu as opposed to Pichu or Raichu); aside from that, they apparently can take on the characteristics of any non-Legendary species. The most common Pokemorph species are those closest to the human norm, particularly mammalian and avian species, and more divergent species often involve medical problems as a result of the transformation, but such individuals do exist.
Biology
In most regards, Pokemorphs are biologically equivalent to humans; they eat human food (although many now find Berries and Berry-based confections tastier than most humans do) and respond normally to human medications. Medicine formulated for Pokemon generally won't work on them, and Pokeballs are as inert to them as they are to humans. However, aside from their physical traits, Pokemorphs do show some biological connection to their elemental types, as detailed below in "Powers and Weaknesses."
Pokemorphs are a reproductively distinct species; while some have human children from before their transformation, they can no longer interbreed with humans (or Pokemon, for that matter). However, all breeds of Pokemorph can interbreed freely, producing Pokemorph children. These children will be the breed of one parent, although they may have small cosmetic features of the other parent's breed. Although naturally-born Pokemorph children are still quite young -- the oldest was born four years ago -- thus far they seem to develop at the same speed and on the same path as human children.
Pokemorph evolution is still largely a mystery; only one Pokemorph has evolved to date, a Milotic-Morph named Iphigenia, and she refuses to reveal the circumstances of her evolution. Certainly, evolution stones don't seem to work as they do on Pokemon. There are a thousand theories about what might -- everything from special potions brewed from Mt. Moon herbs to sheer force of will -- but nobody has yet managed to repeat Iphigenia's feat, let alone publicize how it's done.
Powers and Weaknesses
Derived from humans as they are, Pokemorphs on Vanishing Point MUCK are closer to humans than Pokemon, and as a result they do not gain the power of a Pokemon moveset. They simply aren't "Pokemon enough" for it. However, they do develop low-level supernatural powers associated with their elemental types. Those attuned to natural elements will usually gain a certain degree of ability to control and manipulate those elements. Flying-type Pokemorphs can often use their new wings to glide or fly clumsily over short distances; Fighting-type Pokemorphs tend to be quite a bit stronger than normal humans; Psychic-types usually have low-level psychic abilities, most often telepathy and telekinesis. While Pokemorphs' powers are still nowhere near the strength of true Pokemon, they're strong enough to make humans take notice.
However, along with these elemental powers come minor type weaknesses, along the lines of the normal base Pokemon. These are not truly dangerous or crippling, but they are irritating. (Fire-types, for example, tend to suffer rashes and skin irritation as the result of prolonged contact with water; if they take quick showers and don't swim often, though, they'll probably be fine.)
Pokemorphs in Society
In the five years since the transformation began, Pokemorphs have become visible at all levels of society, and transformations have occurred in numbers sufficient to make them a true minority population and not simply a curiosity. Transformations have occurred across all four Pokemon-raising regions, but are most common in Kanto and Johto.
For the most part, Pokemorphs live the same kinds of lives humans do; they work, play, live, and love as normal members of society. All the regions in which Pokemorphs have appeared recognize them as legally human, and while a recent law passed in Kanto (and soon copied by the other regions) prohibits Pokemorphs from serving in the military or holding public office, they otherwise have all the legal rights of any other human.
This isn't to say that Pokemorphs have blended seamlessly into society, however, or that they are universally accepted. Open prejudice against Pokemorphs is still unfortunately common, and many humans are uncomfortable with them -- particularly in Sinnoh, where the relatively low rate of transformation means that superstition and rumors about 'morphs generally run free. Kanto, as the site of the most transformations, tends to have the greatest level of societal acceptance of Pokemorphs, which has resulted in a high rate of immigration among the newly transformed; these new arrivals tend to flock to Pewter City and Cerulean City, which have become known as morphic Meccas. These two cities now boast remarkably large 'morph populations, at over 40% of their total (as opposed to roughly 20% in most of Kanto, 15% in Johto, and between 5% and 10% in Hoenn and Sinnoh).
Perhaps the most uncomfortable subject in human-'morph relations is the subject of romance. As transformed humans, many Pokemorphs have human spouses or romantic partners before their transformations, and most retain a romantic interest in humans; human opinion on this subject varies widely, from curiosity and acceptance to discomfort or outright disgust. Post-transformation breakups and divorces are quite common, although some relationships do stay together, and many Pokemorphs only date within their new species to avoid potential disaster. That said, there are interspecies couples who stay together or find new love, but they often have an uphill battle; while humans and Pokemorphs can legally marry, some clergypeople will refuse to do so, and interspecies couples who want children often face prejudice when trying to adopt.
Many Pokemorphs find their new lives filled with struggle: confusion or rejection from loved ones, medical problems that may arise from their new body, and a change in self-image that may be overwhelming. However, for every tale of despair, there are two of hope and opportunity -- of Pokemorphs and their allies creating new lives and a new world. Will your characters be adventurous, despairing, or somewhere in between?
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