Improving Pokemon: Pokemon Concepts
As a longtime fan of the Pokemon series since the Red and Blue days, I've always had ideas on how I want to see the games improve. Here is the first of several concepts I will share for Pokemon I would be more than happy to see. Each of these will be as fleshed out as I want them to be, with abilities, typings, signature moves, and the like. Enjoy.
The idea of a "sandman" Pokemon is certainly a unique one. Pokemon with "sleep" as their gimmick already exist, but this is one variation on the theme that we haven't seen yet. My concept is for a Ground/Psychic two-stage line that specializes in causing the sleep status and then taking advantage of the sleeping opponent with a handful of signature moves and other gimmicks.
Stage 1: Winkle ("Wink" [as in forty winks] + "Sprinkle", also references Rip Van Winkle)
Species: The Light Sleeper Pokemon
Type: Psychic/Ground
Abilities: Comatose, Deep Sleep, Downy Coat
Signature Move: Sleep Dust
Other Notable Moves: Sand Attack, Sleep Talk, Snore, Yawn
I picture the first stage being a small humanoid creature that revels in sleep. It would be sleeping constantly, which means giving it the ability Comatose makes a lot of sense. I imagine this creature being a Pokemon that does not like to have its sleep disturbed. It would retaliate against would-be foes by tossing sleep-inducing dust into their faces so it can make a quick getaway while the foe becomes drowsy -- lending itself to its "sandman" namesake. As for other abilities, it could have access to two unique abilities that would have to do with sleep. Its secondary ability, which I call "Deep Sleep," allows it to restore HP each turn it is resting. Its hidden ability, which I've named "Downy Coat," gives it the ability to cause Sleep status to opponents who attack it much in the way that abilities like Static and Flame Body function. The above image is similar to what I would imagine this Pokemon looking like, maybe with an additional "pillow" midsection and the look of something that is constantly ready for some shut-eye. Its signature move, Sleep Dust, would be a Ground-type variation on the move Hypnosis and, like certain other status moves, it would ignore the Ground-type immunity held by some Pokemon. The only reason it would have this and not Hypnosis is for flavor, and I think it really ties the concept of the Pokemon together well.
Stage 2: Frightmare ("Fright" + "Nightmare," though I'm sure a dozen better names exist)
Species: The Restless Pokemon
Type: Psychic/Ground
Abilities: Insomnia, Bad Dreams (or Deep Sleep), Downy Coat
Signature Move: Sleep Dust
Other Notable Moves: Sleeper Hold, Sleep Paralysis, Sleepwalk, Nightmare, Dream Eater
The second stage would be an inverse of the first. After evolution, it bursts out of its pillowy-midsection and becomes a monster made of sand. Bloodshot eyes, hulking stance, and gritted teeth are all that needs to be seen before you realize this "sandman" is not going to let you go to sleep peacefully. Angered by it being forced to evolve, this Pokemon would be unable to sleep and takes out its frustrations on its opponents. Insomnia makes good sense as an ability in this case, then. I also picture it being a Pokemon that viciously attacks Pokemon who are sleeping, sort of as punishment for the fact it can never get rest itself. This lends to it learning moves such as Nightmare and Dream Eater, as well having the secondary ability Bad Dreams. I could also see this ability being switched out for Deep Sleep as Bad Dreams is technically exclusive to Darkrai, and imagining this Pokemon as being extremely well-rested when it finally does sleep (thanks to the HP restoring powers of Deep Sleep), it does make sense as an alternative ability as well. Downy Coat remains as its hidden ability because it is something unique and makes sense for the "sandman" Pokemon. As for the other new moves written above, I can't imagine these being locked to just this Pokemon but they are definitely something it could learn. Sleeper Hold would be a Fighting-type move that can attempt to put the foe to sleep, while Sleep Paralysis would change a target's sleep condition to paralyzed -- with the catch that it will fail if the target isn't already sleeping. Sleepwalk is a move that originally was the whole concept of this Pokemon, back when it was basically Hypno 2.0 and had more to do with somnabulism. Sleepwalk would be another not-so signature move that allows the user to raise their Evasion and Speed only if they are sleeping, ironically something this Pokemon can't do with its base ability of Insomnia. To Frightmare's chagrin, however, I imagine both boosts would go away once the Pokemon wakes up, as it doesn't make sense to keep either once you're no longer sleepwalking!
So, thoughts? I kind of want to train one of these things IRL and nickname it "Morpheus."
Pokemon Concept #1: "Sandman" Pokemon Line
The idea of a "sandman" Pokemon is certainly a unique one. Pokemon with "sleep" as their gimmick already exist, but this is one variation on the theme that we haven't seen yet. My concept is for a Ground/Psychic two-stage line that specializes in causing the sleep status and then taking advantage of the sleeping opponent with a handful of signature moves and other gimmicks.
Stage 1: Winkle ("Wink" [as in forty winks] + "Sprinkle", also references Rip Van Winkle)
Species: The Light Sleeper Pokemon
Type: Psychic/Ground
Abilities: Comatose, Deep Sleep, Downy Coat
Signature Move: Sleep Dust
Other Notable Moves: Sand Attack, Sleep Talk, Snore, Yawn
 | |
| (c) CJsux on Deviantart |
I picture the first stage being a small humanoid creature that revels in sleep. It would be sleeping constantly, which means giving it the ability Comatose makes a lot of sense. I imagine this creature being a Pokemon that does not like to have its sleep disturbed. It would retaliate against would-be foes by tossing sleep-inducing dust into their faces so it can make a quick getaway while the foe becomes drowsy -- lending itself to its "sandman" namesake. As for other abilities, it could have access to two unique abilities that would have to do with sleep. Its secondary ability, which I call "Deep Sleep," allows it to restore HP each turn it is resting. Its hidden ability, which I've named "Downy Coat," gives it the ability to cause Sleep status to opponents who attack it much in the way that abilities like Static and Flame Body function. The above image is similar to what I would imagine this Pokemon looking like, maybe with an additional "pillow" midsection and the look of something that is constantly ready for some shut-eye. Its signature move, Sleep Dust, would be a Ground-type variation on the move Hypnosis and, like certain other status moves, it would ignore the Ground-type immunity held by some Pokemon. The only reason it would have this and not Hypnosis is for flavor, and I think it really ties the concept of the Pokemon together well.
Stage 2: Frightmare ("Fright" + "Nightmare," though I'm sure a dozen better names exist)
Species: The Restless Pokemon
Type: Psychic/Ground
Abilities: Insomnia, Bad Dreams (or Deep Sleep), Downy Coat
Signature Move: Sleep Dust
Other Notable Moves: Sleeper Hold, Sleep Paralysis, Sleepwalk, Nightmare, Dream Eater
The second stage would be an inverse of the first. After evolution, it bursts out of its pillowy-midsection and becomes a monster made of sand. Bloodshot eyes, hulking stance, and gritted teeth are all that needs to be seen before you realize this "sandman" is not going to let you go to sleep peacefully. Angered by it being forced to evolve, this Pokemon would be unable to sleep and takes out its frustrations on its opponents. Insomnia makes good sense as an ability in this case, then. I also picture it being a Pokemon that viciously attacks Pokemon who are sleeping, sort of as punishment for the fact it can never get rest itself. This lends to it learning moves such as Nightmare and Dream Eater, as well having the secondary ability Bad Dreams. I could also see this ability being switched out for Deep Sleep as Bad Dreams is technically exclusive to Darkrai, and imagining this Pokemon as being extremely well-rested when it finally does sleep (thanks to the HP restoring powers of Deep Sleep), it does make sense as an alternative ability as well. Downy Coat remains as its hidden ability because it is something unique and makes sense for the "sandman" Pokemon. As for the other new moves written above, I can't imagine these being locked to just this Pokemon but they are definitely something it could learn. Sleeper Hold would be a Fighting-type move that can attempt to put the foe to sleep, while Sleep Paralysis would change a target's sleep condition to paralyzed -- with the catch that it will fail if the target isn't already sleeping. Sleepwalk is a move that originally was the whole concept of this Pokemon, back when it was basically Hypno 2.0 and had more to do with somnabulism. Sleepwalk would be another not-so signature move that allows the user to raise their Evasion and Speed only if they are sleeping, ironically something this Pokemon can't do with its base ability of Insomnia. To Frightmare's chagrin, however, I imagine both boosts would go away once the Pokemon wakes up, as it doesn't make sense to keep either once you're no longer sleepwalking!
So, thoughts? I kind of want to train one of these things IRL and nickname it "Morpheus."
Hmm... Solid concept. Not sure it really fits with the bitter insomniac of frightmare to have Deep Sleep—I mean, it completely undermines the idea...if only there were someway it could have "insomniac" most of the time, and then ALSO have some ability that restored health each round it sleeps...
ReplyDeleteMaybe it couldn’t self induce sleep? But if the foe does put it to sleep it starts healing?
ReplyDelete