Pokémon Novel

>>33356915
Make it about Parasect.

Here are some more thoughts I had that I'd like answered.

>Do/should animals exist in the Pokémon world? How would I balance that ecosystem?
>Would introducing original cities and locations be alright?
>How should this world operate economically and politically?
>Should there be Pokémon outside of the original 150? I know there are many hundreds more, but since this is based on Red & Blue, should those species be considered undiscovered or possibly never mentioned?
>Should Pokémon say their names or produce natural sounds? I know they say their names in the TV show, but I'm going for a more realistic approach.
>Would introducing completely original characters and/or Pokémon be considered a no-no?
>What backstories would work well for underdeveloped yet important characters like Gym Leaders?

>>33356915
A fresh experience would be ideal, don't reuse old characters because the audience would hold you to even more expectations once recognized, and you'd have more creative control.

>1st person or 3rd person narrative?
I prefer 3rd person narrative so you aren't stuck following the adventurer, and can explain some things better.
>What Pokémon should be featured?
Ideally, you should aim to give a nod to the original 151 Pokemon if you want a sense of wholeness, but most can be very indirect, where the only ones fleshed out as encounters or companions or enemies can be a mix of instantly recognizable Pokemon and Pokemon much less frequently given the spotlight, to appeal to both those at a distance to the franchise and to those well-versed in it. For example, the starters are a must as is Pikachu, but Nidoking, Dewgong, Venomoth, and Poliwrath would make for exotic and diverse choices.
>Who should I write for the protagonist?
Create your own character with a goal, like the person doesn't have to be on a quest to become a Pokemon master, more like out to solve a mystery or take revenge but needs to make a journey to someplace and assemble a team -- it could be very Journey to the West. Considering it's for your daughter, a female role model would be a nice touch.
>Is there any other media beyond the Red & Blue Versions that I should research? Is the anime worth researching?
If you look into the anime, it's strictly for behavior and understanding how certain Pokemon move or interact. Don't take cues like them saying their name for speech -- the game should take precedence over that with its noises for them. Try Bulbapedia, since it's pretty extensive with descriptions of each Pokemon and can cover lore where the game is seeming vague to you.
>Should I take any creative liberties to make this Pokémon world feel more unique?
Have more engrossing motifs, like for example an integration of Pokemon with police, construction, security, etc.

>>33356970

>Do/should animals exist in the Pokémon world? How would I balance that ecosystem?

No animals, pokemon eat pokemon is already a thing in the games

>Would introducing original cities and locations be alright?

If it's really necessary

>How should this world operate economically and politically?

Economically: Capitalistic but people actually respect the environment

Politically: There doesn't seem to be an authority (Maybe the E4 and champions) but there are policemen but most of the crimes are stopped by a kid so this one is really hard.

>Should there be Pokémon outside of the original 150? I know there are many hundreds more, but since this is based on Red & Blue, should those species be considered undiscovered or possibly never mentioned?

Never mentioned, sayings they are undiscovered is like saying pandas are undiscovered in usa

>Should Pokémon say their names or produce natural sounds? I know they say their names in the TV show, but I'm going for a more realistic approach.

Names are a must and sounds are okay

>Would introducing completely original characters and/or Pokémon be considered a no-no?

Characters maybe, Pokemons hell no

>What backstories would work well for underdeveloped yet important characters like Gym Leaders?

Not for gym leaders since you battle them once most of the time but it will nice for the rivals

>>33357055
Thank you. All of this is great and very helpful.

>I prefer 3rd person narrative so you aren't stuck following the adventurer, and can explain some things better.
Yeah, I was pretty much leaning towards either a shifting 1st person or strictly 3rd person narrative.
>Ideally, you should aim to give a nod to the original 151 Pokemon...
I like this. Some of my favorites during my time playing the game were Cloyster, Clefable, and Victreebel, and they seem rather obscure.
>Create your own character with a goal
>a female role model
I had already thought about something similar. A concept I had for the protagonist was the daughter of a scientist/researcher on Cinnabar Island. Maybe some of her parent's research gets stolen by Team Rocket and her goal is retrieving it? Just one idea.
>Don't take cues like them saying their name for speech
Sounds good to me.
>Have more engrossing motifs, like for example an integration of Pokemon with police, construction, security, etc.
Great idea. What species of Pokémon would be seen in the police force, construction industry, and security industry?

>>33357082
The PokéDex does mention other countries and animals, though. And I can't imagine an entire ecosystem of ~150 species sustaining itself.

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>>33357082

False. Pokèmon and animals do co-exist on Earth.

>>33356970
>Do/should animals exist in the Pokémon world? How would I balance that ecosystem?
See my previous post about integration, but at the same time, there should be a distinction known to the Pokemon community that some can be well-adapted to city life while others still dwell in jungles and forests and other habitats as they are untamed or tend to be harder to handle in heavily populated environments, not to mention their power would be feared considering potential damage output. For example, you wouldn't want a wild Onix in your city for fear of severe earthquakes/property damage.
>Would introducing original cities and locations be alright?
Yes, as long as you don't find it too overbearing to span your setting, and there's consistency/appropriate mapping, original would be great. The only conflict would be that these are Kanto Pokemon when you talk about Gen 1, so if you decide to not do Kanto this is a fresh fabrication you're doing.
>How should this world operate economically and politically?
These are pretty broad questions you may not need to answer unless you'd find it interesting if the plot or background intersects with them. Economically, in-game, trainers battle each other for money, but there are of course other jobs and work. Politically, there isn't much delving into it, just authority levels like Gym Leaders, the Elite Four, and the Champion. If you want to get into the economics and politics more thoroughly, it'd be on you to flesh something more thorough out.

cont.

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>>33357140
>The only conflict would be that these are Kanto Pokemon when you talk about Gen 1.

Professor Oak reference to something simiar to that.

>>33356970
>>33357140
>Should there be Pokémon outside of the original 150? I know there are many hundreds more, but since this is based on Red & Blue, should those species be considered undiscovered or possibly never mentioned?
If you're just doing Red and Blue, 151 is more than enough to balance, and I think if you decide to include a Pokemon or two outside of them while the rest are Gen 1, the scope would narrow to the ones you included and it may create scorn or something.
>Should Pokémon say their names or produce natural sounds? I know they say their names in the TV show, but I'm going for a more realistic approach.
I answered this previously.
>Would introducing completely original characters and/or Pokémon be considered a no-no?
Answered this already for the former -- original characters would be great if you think you'd be up for it. Original Pokemon is a no-no.
>What backstories would work well for underdeveloped yet important characters like Gym Leaders?
Here you can use the economic/political aspects to diversify your characters, like for example one Gym Leader in a town was raised on a family farm of Tauros to make money. Another Gym Leader could be a tech whiz with a Magneton and Porygon, due to a fascination with machines and data. Honestly, here, you can take many cues from existing Gym Leaders in the franchise, since they all have upbringings that are pretty well fleshed out.

One thing you should be aware of is that Gym Leaders are typically very well-versed in battling and have strong Pokemon, but also have weak Pokemon because they use the number of badges the challenging trainers have on their person to gauge how much to hold back. For example, a Gym Leader that sees a challenger has no badges would use the weakest Pokemon (mind you, all Pokemon would be related to the theme/type still) whereas if the challenger has 7 badges, the Gym Leader goes full-force.

>>33357109
>I had already thought about something similar. A concept I had for the protagonist was the daughter of a scientist/researcher on Cinnabar Island. Maybe some of her parent's research gets stolen by Team Rocket and her goal is retrieving it? Just one idea.
That sounds nice. You'd have to come up with a reason she would go rather than someone with greater authority or more professional, and I think dodging some cliches like bumbling adults and the whole 'beaten early on by Team Rocket, gains a drive to defeat them' would help your work in general, but you have a good causation on your hands with that. Maybe her parents are on their last legs financially and really needed the plans to come through, but Team Rocket steals them, so she pretends to take up a job offer from the local professor to document some Pokemon but gets wrapped up in that world and embarks on an adventure to put together a team and get back the plans (running away from home).
>Great idea. What species of Pokémon would be seen in the police force, construction industry, and security industry?
Growlithe and Arcanine are appropriate police hounds. Machop and Machoke and Machamp are appropriate for construction. Magnemite and Magneton are good at electronics security and Porygon is good for cybersecurity. Blastoise would be great for the fire department. Muk could be either a cause of city liquid pollution or an asset to the sanitation department by soaking up waste. Weezing would be the same, but for air/gas instead.