Verg's Unsanctioned Pokémon Nuzlocke Run

[Vergalon]

So... I've played Pokémon, maybe too much. I've put more hours into Pokémon than I am willing to admit, the most of any game series to date. The runner up, Phantasy Star Online, is behind by close to an order of magnitude. But that's another story.

I've never finished a Nuzlocke run, and this seems like a better way to motivate myself and have more fun with it
So, for anyone who doesn't know what a Nuzlocke Run is, here you go.
TL;DR It's a self imposed challenge mode for Pokémon that introduces permadeath for Pokémon upon fainting

As far as the rules I'm following, here you go:

• I'm playing on a physical copy of the US Pokemon Pearl Version
• Any Pokémon that faints is considered dead, and must be released kept in the bowels of the PC for shame/posterity.
• The player may only catch the first Pokémon encountered in each area, and none else. If the first Pokémon encountered faints or flees, there are no second chances (exception in the case of forced encounters at the start of the game). If the first encounter in the area is a Double Battle in dark grass, the player may choose which of the two Pokémon they would like to catch.
• Nicknaming all nameable characters using a random name generator set for any language to generate a first name based on gender, with 2 rolls, crossed out names weren't used
• A white out is considered to be "game over"
• Not allowed to acquire any Pokémon from out of game
• Allowed to use in game traded Pokémon
• Allowed to use trading to evolve Pokémon that require it if they are above level 30
• No save scumming

Presentation? Oh... crap... I don't have any capture device... and I'm playing on a physical DS... Um... I'll improvise...!



Disclaimer: Any names depicted in this 'LP' are purely coincidental, and do not reflect upon any who share a similar name in any fashion including appearance, ambitions, actions, gender, penchant for crime, personality, sanity, favorite food, shoe size, if they are good or evil, and is mainly for laughs :3

Day 1: A Dark Ally of Justice Embarks!

I started my adventure in Pokémon Pearl in the Evening on Friday
I forgot about the nearly mandatory tutorial before the start
Our hero is a boy, with questionable fashion sense, who calls himself Reinoud Aeson. Aeson may have a case of chuunibyou

His childhood friend's name is Trygve Damir. He may be a try-hard AND has chuunibyou

Aeson strides over to his life-long Rival's base!... only to be dragged along by Trygve, wanting to catch some common Pokémon.
Saving a lot of data... This may become a thing...
The boys are attacked by dumb birds and they steal acquire a Pokémon each.
Aeson chooses a female Piplup named Maria Zsóka (there's no ó on the menu...)

He thinks that English names are the coolest, in his home country of pseudo-Japan
They make it back home to their secret base, and rest till the 'morrow
Aeson and Trygve are told to meet Professor Kraid to atone for their crimes
Aeson destroys his first Bidoof! [Route 201 Clear :/]
Professor Kraid entrusts two boys with chuunibyou to go out into the world collecting and documenting wild animals... sound legit
Aeson left home, for good
He then was shown how to catch dem pokemangs by Professor Kraid's Assistant, Alice
Aeson caught a female Shinx named Inka Marta in a premier ball for extra swag [Route 202 Clear]

First Trainer battle! Our eyes have met, one of us must die...!
I should have trained a bit more, I used a potion on Maria
Maria learned Bubble Torrent! after some training
Marta scares wild Pokémon, and Aeson catches a female Bidoof named Laura Clytemnestra (way too long of a name) [Lake Verity Clear]

Second Trainer battle! Marta Annihilates two Bidoof
Third Trainer battle! Enemy Shinx can only Leer at Marta...
Aeson makes it to Jubilife City, and I call it a night

Good start. I hope to catch a Starly and/or a Budew, probably will catch a Zubat due to probability

So, there we go. A start? Let me know what I did right, and what I could do to make this better.
And yes, not much happened on the first day. The second day was a lot more fun
I'll update... regularly? Daily if possible.

Yes, the image editing is purposefully mediocre, not that i could do much better...

[Vergalon]

DAY 2: Red Feathers & the Roak
I found this while looking for stock images, fits well

(of course I didn't make it [Source])

Part 1

Started in the morning on Saturday
Aeson wandered around Jubilife City, and got the Old Rod... yay?
Marta learned Soul Charge before entering the Trainer School
Abras hurt, but Aeson gets a TM for Hidden Power, teaching it to Maria
Aeson got the Pokétch, after some pointless questioning of mimes (I always though it was pronounced Pokétek)
Aeson lays waste to the trainers on Route 204, Maria's Hidden Power is Grass type
Battle begins against a male Starly, is caught, and is named Jaakob Melanthios [Route 204 Clear]

Aeson ventures into the Ravaged Path looking for trouble, finds it in the form of a male Zubat! It's caught with little ceremony, and is named Heraclio Olabode[Ravaged Path Clear]

Trygve ambushes Aeson on route 203, but is fended off by Marta and Heraclio
Maria doesn't learn Water Sport, because it's a dumb move in this gen
Another male Starly appears, and is caught. It's name is Alfredo Eddy [Route 203 Clear]

Melanthios is slain by a wild Starly with a critical Quick Attack (D:) [Melanthios Down]

Took a break

Part 2

A slight time paradox happened because the game froze, but nothing happened
Played some more at noon
Made it through Oreburgh Gate without battling, and healed at Oreburgh's Pokémon center
Caught another male Zubat, calling it Areli Madhukar [Oreburgh Gate Clear]

Apparently Madhukar's eyes (?) shine brightly, so Aeson got a Great Ball from a random man

Aeson wander up to Route 208, and finds a Geodudette named Magnolia Arwa, and he catches her [Route 208 Clear]

The mine seems like a solid place to go, so Aeson does. There he finds a Geodude named Dilshad Þór who took a few too many balls to catch. [Oreburgh Mine Clear]

Roarkow is shirking off his Gym Leader duties in the mine trying to destroy the world. Aeson pesters him into going back.
Madhukar learns Fright, and Aeson thinks his Zubat is the best thing ever
Aeson boldly walks into the Oreburgh Gym, and battles his way through those who would hamper his progress
Marta learned how to Bite, allowing her to combat rock types (?)
Aeson trains some more, in preparation for his first true challenge. Marta levels to 15 and evolves into a Luxio. Maria learns Fury Beak

Aeson stares down his first Gym Leader, Roarkow, demanding a battle. Going into the fray with only a level 15 Luxio named Marta and a level 15 Piplup named Maria, the battle begins!

Maria is sent out, and she takes out Geodude before it gets a chance to attack with Hidden Power
Roarkow sends out a massive Onix which uses Stealth Rock, before getting Hidden Power'd
Marta is sent out as Roarkow sends out a Horse, which is scared of Marta, I guess.

Aeson uses X Defend only to have the Horse Leer at Marta.
Bite half kills the Horse, but it Pursues Marta a bit...
The next Bite nearly finishes the Horse, but the Horse is really persistent in wanting Marta......
Marta finally files for a restraining order, finishing off Roarkow, gaining the Coal Badge and Stealth Rock!

I consider my luck (and preparedness) against this potential run killer, revel in that I didn't lose anyone to Pursuit, and call it a day
I remember reading a Nuzlocke comic, where Roark's Cranidos posed quite a dire threat with its high attack and Pursuit. I don't think I was over cautious with over leveling a bit, due to Cranidos alone. I don't plan on over leveling excessively.

Party: Maria 15, Marta 15, Madhukar 9, Laura 2, Alfredo 5, Heraclio 7

[Ozzy Ment]

Who would've though Mr. cow would make a semi-competent gym leader? This is pretty great by the way, loving the pictures. Am I crazy, or is that one with Piplup and Shinx inspired by Mystery Dungeon?

[Vergalon]

I guess being competent at destroying the world transfers over well into being a Pokémon Trainer? I think you may be right about the image.

Thank for read :3

Day 3: Loading Image of DOOM

What Aeson sees:
Source

What actually is happening:

Source

Onto the main quest:

Played a bit starting in the morning on Sunday
Aeson deposited Alfredo and Heraclio, grabbed Dilshad, and headed off towards Jubilife City... only to be interrupted by Trygve, who tried to run up a cliff to skip part of the plot. Foolish mortal.
Laura is taught the art of Smashing Rocks
Sent out Madukar to gain some levels. Aeson had big plans for his bat of the darkest night.
Maria leveled to 16, evolved into a Prinplup, and learned the secret art of Metal Claws, replacing Pound

Went into the depths of Oreburgh Gate for some reason.
The TM for Solar Flare is acquired
I'm not sure who's more strange, a chuunibyou Pokémon Trainer, or a biker who seems to lurk at the bottom of a cave
Professor Kriad makes Aeson do battle with Team Galactic members, along with Alice

Aeson then decides to challenge a TV Idol to battle. Her cutesy Pokémon were no match for Madhukar the Blackest! (with a small bit for help of help from Marta...)
Going north, the TM for Tomb of Stone is found in the Ravaged Path
Madukar learns how to Bite things
Dilshad gets some action against some nefarious Pachirisu
The TM for Gatling Seed is found
Aeson makes it to Floaroma Town and decides to steal berries from the local trees
Aeson sees a young girl in trouble, claiming that space men are being mean to her dad. Aeson does what any respectable dark hero of justice would do, and goes to save the day
At the Valley Windworks, a female Bidoof attacks. It's caught and is named Magdalena Joi [Valley Windworks Clear]

A clash against a wimpy Team Galactic Grunt shows us that they are a bunch of sissy whiners, and that the key to the Windworks is in a nearby field... I guess
Grunt1 and Grunt2 want Honey, but Aeson is here to put a stop to this!
The troubled citizen gives us an item he has no use for as a reward. Aeson got the Windworks Key
Aeson slathers a tree with honey, because an old man said you can find Pokémon this way [Used in Floaroma Meadow]
The party infiltrates the Windworks, intent on saving the day!
Grunts are no match for Madukar the Dark!
Marta is taught Solar Flare, and learns Spark Slam through leveling up
Aeson confronts Team Galactic Commander Markkofier.

Maria takes on the enemy's Zubat, slashing with Metal Claws, while Markkofier complains about Aeson fighting back (?).
Zubat down, Marta is sent out intimidating the under-leveled Garfield.

Marta uses a combo over 2 turns, unleashing a mighty OverSpark! nearly incapacitating the foe.
A critical strike nearly fells Marta, but a final Spark defeats the fat cat. Aeson wins the day!
The Windworks are safe again, and Father and Child are able to reunite. All in a day's work for a anti-nihilist avenger
After replanting some trees under threat of criminal charges, Aeson calls it a day

Yikes, that was too close. Marta had 6 HP left after the Purugly crit with a last ditch Faint Attack. At least I didn't lose anyone. I wonder what I'll catch with that tree... probably a useless Wurple... Future plans? Maybe I'd like a Misdreavus or a Budew from the forest? Nothing much for me on Route 205. May start training up ol' Dilshad

Party: Dilshad 8, Madhukar 14, Marta 18, Maria 16, Bidoofs don't matter