Draco: Took a long-ass break between Chapter 2 and Chapter 3. Took a long-ass break.
So, this chapter is going to be a quick tour of what I've designated as "Trainer Mode". Basically, if you've got a team of sub-Lv20 Pokémon that you want to raise to a battle-worthy condition (your Pokétopia Rental Pokémon being a prime example), then you click on that option. And if you've got a team of battle-worthy Pokémon with no equipment, this is where you can get them equipped.
Pokémon and all related properties © Nintendo. Virtual Singers of Piapro Studio © Crypton Future Media.
A Trainer's Needs
As soon as Jeanne had consciousness enough to be active, she made her way to Pokétopia's Main Street.
The blue sky shining down illuminated what was a highly active city; people were running to and fro, taxis were ferrying people about, and just figuring out where to go was easier said than done. Maps of Pokétopia - and explanatory pamphlets describing the different businesses - were being handed out at the lobby of Gateway Inn, for which Jeanne was most grateful; there was so much going on in Main Street alone, she didn't even where to start.
Though she reckoned staring at her map as she walked was a bad idea - at least after she ran into someone in so doing.
"Sorry, sorry!" Jeanne pleaded.
"No, no, I'm sorry!" returned her impactor - a woman in a steely grey sundress, with light brown hair that hung to her shoulders save for a couple tufts bound above her head.
"Really, that's my fault," Jeanne insisted. "I should've watched where I was going."
The woman looked at the map in her hands. "Oh, um... Have you just arrived, here in Pokétopia?"
Jeanne nodded. "Yeah. Honestly, all this is a bit overwhelming."
"I can imagine," the woman admitted. "Um... You might want to start at the mall. Most of the facilities are gathered there."
"Then where are you off to?" Jeanne asked.
The woman seemed surprised at her query. "Me? Sunny Park. All of the non-battle options are there, or near enough."
"I'll keep that in mind," Jeanne mused. "Maybe I'll see you there. The name's Jeanne."
"I'm Jasmine," the woman returned. "If I see you there, maybe I can be a little more help."
She moved past Jeanne, who turned back to her map - not moving, this time, until she had a clear heading. "Mall, mall... Main Street Mall?" She looked around, soon catching sight of a promisingly large structure with a prominent logo on the front. "Guess it's as good a place to start as any."
+x+x+x+
Main Street Mall did indeed have a vast selection of facilities - not all of them Pokémon-focused. Jeanne ended up entering right near a clothier labelled Boutique Dynamique, and had to firmly remind herself that she didn't really have the funds to go clothes shopping... though she hoped that would change after she was able to fight in a few battles. The smell of fine dining told her the next one was a restaurant (and made her glad she'd had a complimentary breakfast at the hotel); a glance inside revealed it was a battle restaurant, and the sign overhead read Coronet Diner.
Virbank Records seemed to be a seller of Technical Machines, and Seven Samurai Tutors was next door; Jeanne decided not to visit either until she'd had a chance to raise her team a little bit. Dragon's Order Jewelers had what looked to be Mega Stones lined up in the front window, alongside more innocuous jewelry like necklaces and rings. Ramanas Evolution Emporium had less extraordinary rocks on display, and Jeanne briefly considered stepping in and grabbing a Dawn Stone... but she reckoned she'd probably be better off making friends with her Pokémon before she tried to evolve any of them, and decided against it. Uniter Armaments had combat gear on display, which Jeanne didn't want to peruse until she knew how her team would be fighting.
Crystal Wishes Spa ended up receiving her patronage; a full-team treatment was well within her budget for now, and her team was considerably more friendly with her as they wrapped up than they were when she left Gateway Inn.
As Jeanne stepped back out into the city (from a different entrance than where she'd come in), she found herself in front of a much more studious building labelled Pokétopia Public School. The sign proclaimed the doors to be open to all who wished to learn; her tourist's pamphlet revealed that Trainer School-typical classes were taught on a students-willing basis, while more general studies followed a stricter schedule. Jeanne decided against going inside, heading towards the edge of town; she soon found herself in front of a rather impressive-looking building that looked like it had room for a hundred thousand Trainers and all of their Pokémon.
Her map proclaimed it to be the Battle Club, and with great curiosity, she stepped inside.
Immediately, she could hear the sounds of battles being waged - both high-stakes matches between seasoned professionals, and the inexperienced commands of fresh-faced Trainers and Pokémon who had yet to trust one another. A broad-shouldered fellow in formal garb was standing near the entrance, with a tablet in one hand, and now he stepped forward. "Ah, hello there. Your first time here?"
"It is," Jeanne confirmed.
"Welcome to the Battle Club," the man greeted. "Here, Trainers of all stripes are welcome to battle one another - whether to train their Pokémon, to test their mettle, or even simply to make a living without a crowd bearing down on them." He spread his arms. "This place was fashioned after the Battle Chateau of Kalos, but with one key difference - all you need to participate in a battle in this place is the will to do so."
Jeanne smiled. "I do have the will," she insisted.
"Then you and your Pokémon are welcome," the man assured. "Here, each Trainer is assigned a rank, and may only battle Trainers of the same. Your rank is increased only by claiming continuous victory against your opponents; if you feel a higher rank is beyond your team's current capabilities, you may request to have your rank lowered."
He tapped on his tablet a moment before holding out his hand. "May I see your Battle Pass?" Jeanne handed it to him, and he glanced at its surface and tapped at his screen before handing it back. "You have been registered as a participant of the Battle Club, Jeanne. As of now, you hold Null Rank. Show yourself capable in battle, and that will change in short order."
"I'll be happy to," Jeanne assured him.
"One last thing," the man prompted before she could take off. "Battle Club participants may pay to host an 'Invitational' - that is, to reserve a few battlefields for Trainers who meet certain criteria to gather at. If you seek a specific type of challenge, you may come to speak with me at any time to make such reservations."
Jeanne nodded, though she wasn't intent on spending any money quite yet; then she headed further inside, seeking her first opponent of Pokétopia.
+x+x+x+
It had still been fairly early in the morning when Jeanne had entered the Battle Club, but the sunlight was fading fast when she emerged, having had a great many battles with her new friends already (and made quite the profit in winnings). Despite knowing that she really should head back to Gateway Inn for the day, she started further down Main Street, heading to the city outskirts.
She ended up passing by a Pokémon Nursery - and several Trainers carrying Eggs - before her route terminated at a massive stretch of farmland. The fence was broken only by a large building that seemed to serve as a gate of sorts; uncertainly, Jeanne made to approach it, and found herself greeted by a hearty "Good evening, lass!" from the side.
Jeanne turned to the voice to find an older-looking lady stepping forward, dressed in very outdoors-appropriate garb. "Um... hello," she returned. "What is this place?"
"Welcome to the Pokétopia Berry Fields," the lady replied. "We've got farmers here cultivating as many Berries as the world knows to exist. And, of course, there are a few plots open for any Trainers with a green thumb to put it to the test."
"Really?"
The lady narrowed her gaze. "Mind, you're responsible for any crops you go planting," she mused. "If you're gonna dig a hole and put a Berry in it, it's on you to pack it with Mulch, keep it watered, and collect the berries afterwards. Or at least leave your Pokémon to do so in your stead." Then, with a smile; "That's why we sell the Berries we grow. Whether you're going to put the time in, or just spend the money, you can get whatever you need here."
She made her way inside the gatehouse; Jeanne was about to follow suit when found herself yawning. Deciding that making decisions about Berries when she was sleepy was a good way to make a choice she would regret later, she turned away and started back towards Gateway Inn, intent on calling it a night.
Draco: Jeez, most of these early chapters are going to be, like, 50% gameplay ramble in the author's notes. Anyroad, I'm the first to admit that most of my favourite #AntiFrustrationFeatures from Generation VI inspired something in Grand Stage.
Mauville and Lumiose's everything-in-one-place nature is translated to Main Street Mall. Boutique Dynamique sells clothes, Coronet Diner serves battles, and Crystal Wishes Spa gives your Pokémon a daily friendship boost (your whole team, not just a single member). Virbank Records would have a massive list of TMs - like, if you could ever learn it from a TM, HM, or TR, they sell you the disc - and the guy behind the counter serves as a Move Reminder and Move Deleter. Seven Samurai Tutors consists of a paid Move Tutor with the Isle of Armor movelist, plus six free Move Tutors with strict student requirements: the Pledge moves, the starter ultimates, Draco Meteor, Steel Beam, Secret Sword, and Relic Song.
Dragon's Order Jewelers sells Mega Stones, species-specific Z-Crystals, and a Wishing Star (more information on how to get the empowering gear next chapter). If you come in with a Legendary Pokémon that has a core series artifact, you'll receive that artifact if you show them to the seller. Latias or Latios will get a Soul Dew, Giratina will get a Griseous Orb, Landorus and his fellows will get a Reveal Glass, etc. For everything else that you would give a Pokémon to hold in battle, buy it at Uniter Armaments; Plates are given out one per day, and the rest can be bought. Incenses are included at Uniter, because they all have an in-battle effect unrelated to breeding.
Ramanas Evolution Emporium sells anything that you need for a Pokémon to evolve. Use it directly, hold it while they level-up, hold it while traded, and Sweets for spinning a Milcery. They also sell "regional shards" - which will enable you to get an Alolan, Galarian, or Hisuian-form Pokémon, regardless of means. If you use a Thunder Stone on a Pikachu holding an Alolan Shard, it will evolve into an Alolan Raichu. If you leave a female Linoone holding a Galarian Shard at the Nursery, they'll find Eggs that hatch into Galarian Zigzagoon. And, on the flipside, if you leave a female Sneasler at the Nursery with no shard, they'll find Eggs that hatch into Johtonian Sneasel.
...I don't think Stantler, Ursaring, or Scyther would require shards in order to evolve into Wyrdeer, Ursaluna, or Kleavor. On the flipside, if Dartrix is holding a Hisuian Shard, it will not try to evolve into Alolan Decidueye at level 34 or 35.
Pokétopia Public School has Trainer School classes available on the ground floor for walk-in students, because frick anyone who thinks there's something wrong with having the basics available to learn. This game is set up specifically so that your Rental Pokémon are a team to be raised from square one and taken into the worst of the worst hellfire, this is entirely plausible as someone's first Pokémon game.
The Pokémon Nursery is self-explanatory enough, but there is a hitch: if an Egg is found with one of your Rental Pokémon, the Pokémon that hatches from it is considered a Rental Pokémon as well. And before you start pointing out that that's only worth using for the hardcores who won't settle for anything less than perfect IVs, I would point out that I've already established Rental Pokémon can be traded for other players' Rental Pokémon.
The Berry Fields sell every Berry in the catalogue (at varying prices depending on their utility), and lets you grow your own. If you leave a Pokémon at the field to watch your crops, it will gain some experience, but it can't be brought into battle. If I'm remembering the Kalosian fields correctly (my 3DS is busted, so I can't check), it maxes out at 4 trees in each of the 6 rows; you're allowed about as much plot in the fields in Pokétopia, and one Pokémon can tend to one row. If your Pokémon tends to the Berries the whole growth cycle, yield is relative to their level (with max yield from a Lv60 Pokémon and minimum yield from a Lv10); they will harvest Berries, but they will not plant more.
The Battle Club is, as stated, a Battle Chateau for Pokétopia (albeit with full restoration after each battle instead of giving you an item stock). As stated, you can only fight opponents of equal rank, and can lower your rank at will; this saves you from running into Trainers with Lv10 Pokémon when you're trying to round out your Lv50 team, and lets you avoid running into Trainers with Lv50 Pokémon when you want to raise a new Lv10 team. You would also be able to choose what battle format you want to run into. "Invitational" hosting serves in lieu of Writs, summoning exclusively Trainers who fit certain criteria.
I am not going to pretend to plan out a scoring and promotion system. That said, if you choose to have your rank lowered, battles won during that time will NOT count towards your advancement to the next rank. Rankings and Invitational permissions are as follows, with higher ranks being permitted to host any Invitational from a lower rank.
Null Rank: NPC Trainers have Pokémon at Lv10
-Can host a typed Invitational (i.e. Normal Invitational), which gathers Trainers who specialize in a given type
Bronze Rank: NPC Trainers have Pokémon at Lv20
-Can host an Offensive Invitational, which gathers Trainers who specialize in hard-hitting moves with trade-off effects (i.e. Overheat or Close Combat)
-Can host a Defensive Invitational, which gathers Trainers who specialize in moves that protect from damage (i.e. Protect or Quick Guard)
Silver Rank: NPC Trainers have Pokémon at Lv30
-Can host a Bountiful Invitational, which gathers Trainers whose Pokémon offer large amounts of experience (like the Furisode Girls from the Battle Chateau)
Gold Rank: NPC Trainers have Pokémon at Lv40
-Can host a Wealthy Invitational, which gathers Trainers who offer large amounts of money to those who defeat them (like Rich Boys from the core series)
Crystal Rank: NPC Trainers have Pokémon at Lv50
Platinum Rank: NPC Trainers have Pokémon at Lv55
-Can host a Tactical Invitational, which gathers Trainers who use strategies (i.e. Sunny Day + Solarbeam, Nasty Plot + Baton Pass, or Protect + Earthquake in Double Battles; Z-Move users start appearing here)
Ace Rank: NPC Trainers have Pokémon at Lv60
-Can host a Mighty Invitational, which gathers Trainers who use very powerful Pokémon (minimum base stat total of 550 after empowerments; Mega Evolution users start appearing here)
Crown Rank: NPC Trainers have Pokémon at Lv65
-Can host a Masters Invitational, which marries the Pokémon from the Mighty Invitational with the strategies from the Tactical Invitational (this is where you start running into Slaking/Slowbro combos in Double Battles)
Full Rank: NPC Trainers have Pokémon at Lv70, or the level of the strongest member of your party, whichever is higher.
-Any opponent at this rank may have a Legendary Pokémon as part of their random team (but Mythical Pokémon will not appear)
Your true Rank decides which Invitationals you can host, but your presented Rank decides what Trainers you run into. For example, if you are at Silver Rank, but have lowered yourself to Null Rank to train a new team, you can still host a Bountiful Invitational, but your opponents will have Lv10 Pokémon.
...Also, because Sliggoo's evolution is dependent on weather, it will semi-randomly be raining on Main Street in Trainer Mode. The first time you load Trainer Mode since starting up the game, the skies will be clear. The second time, there is a 25% chance of rain. If it didn't rain, the third time has a 50% chance of rain, followed by a 75% chance the fourth time and a 100% chance of rain the fifth time. When it starts raining, it'll keep raining until you leave the mode; the next time you load Trainer Mode will be guaranteed clear skies. If you turn the game off and turn it back on, you will ALSO be guaranteed clear skies. Rinse and repeat.