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GURPS Pokemon

by Don

Setting/Genre

GURPS Pokemon is a TL 9 setting. Even so, there are very few high tech items in use. Communication devices, medical equipment, and some rare, expensive vehicles will be common. Most items used by the average person will be TL 6 or lower. To reflect this during play, multiply the cost of any TL 7 device by 2, TL 8 by four, and TL 9 by 8.

Money is measured in DOLLARS. One Pokemon dollar equals $10 from the price lists in the standard GURPS books.

Use the following genre rules for GURPS Pokemon:

Characters

Characters are made with 50 points. Most PC's will be playing Pokemon Trainers, although other character types are allowed.

Pokemon Trainer: 5 points

This trait has several effects. First, the character can spend points to improve his Pokemon's stats. Time spent training a Pokemon can also generate points for that Pokemon; use the rules for studying skills.

A character with this trait can understand what a Pokemon says. Complex ideas may take a while to parley to the trainer.

Pokeball: physical/easy

This is the skill used to hit with the Pokeball, or the Pokeball recovery beam.

In most places, Pokemon trainers are celebrities, and a well known trainer may have STATUS, WEALTH, REPUTATION and the like. New trainers are unknowns, until they can earn some rep.

Equipment

All trainers must be licensed by an officially recognized Pokemon institute. This is usually done once a year. Trainers receive the following equipment:

Pokeball

Cost: not normally for sale ($50)
Weight: negligible
DP: 1

This device is used to capture and store Pokemon. Normally marble sized, it grows to the size of a softball when activated. (Activation takes 1 turn.) Use the THROWING or POKEBALL skill to hit. On a successful hit, the Pokemon rolls their current Hit Points. If successful, they can escape from the ball. If not, they are captured. (It's normal to use your own Pokemon to battle a new one before trying to capture them.) At this point, the owner should make a REACTION roll for the Pokemon, to see how willing to be trained they are. (NOTE: some Pokemon have an aversion to being placed in the Pokeball. Those that do add an extra -5 penalty to the REACTION roll if forced to stay in the ball.) A Pokemon in their ball will recover lost HP, fatigue and the like normally.

Recovery of a Pokemon is treated as an attack. The ball fires a red beam that will transport the Pokemon back to their ball on a successful hit. (Use POKEBALL skill to hit.) It's stats are:

    ss: 8    acc: 0   max: 250   rof: 1    All others are NA

Players start with 4+1d empty balls. Pokemon can be released permanently from the ball, which can then be used for another Pokemon. Devices exist for shifting Pokemon from one ball to another without opening them. Characters can get 1d more balls from any Pokemon institute, once theirs are full.

Pokedex

Cost: not normally for sale ($2.353)
Weight: 3 lbs, including battery.
DP: 3

This device is given to all new Pokemon trainers. It acts as a Pokemon database, and trainer ID. (One of the functions will bring up a picture of the trainer, as well as some basic stats; such as where it can be returned if lost.) Trainers are only issued one such device. It's treated as a COMPLEXITY:3 personal computer. It has the following programs:

Costs are given in Pokemon dollars.

In addition, all new trainers are given one Pokemon to start. This will be either a Charmander, Bulbasaur, or Squirtle; trainer's choice. (Occasionally something else will be available, but such Pokemon often have unusual traits or personalities.)

Pokemon Tournament Rules

Tournaments are held between two contestants. Before the match, a number of factors are decided on by the contestants:

Typically, only one Pokemon at a time can be used. A Pokemon can be recalled at any time, but if you have no Pokemon left to fight with, you lose. Matches can be held at any time, or any place. If held in a proper Pokemon gym, the challenger will win a badge from the gym if they defeat it's master.

Pokemon Installations

Pokemon Hospital: Injured Pokemon can be treated here. Use the MEDICAL TREATMENT rules for any Popemon treated in a hospital. Pokemon Gym: Places where Pokemon trainers are taught their art. There will be one master at a gym, as well as 1d lesser masters and 3d students. Some gyms have themes, or special entrance rules. Known gyms are: Towns: Small communities of people, living rustic lifestyles. Known towns are: Cities: larger communities, with better facilities. Known cities are:

Pokemon

Pokemon is a general term used for a large variety of creatures. Pokemon are divided into sub- groups as well, for ease of cataloging all their types and characteristics. Two general types of Pokemon are WILD, and TRAINED. Trained Pokemon are those who have a trainer, wild don't. Wild Pokemon typically don't like trained Pokemon, and will react to them at -5.

Stats given are for basic Pokemon. Once captured, they can have their stats raised, learn skills, or improve abilities. Points can also be spent on pickups. Some Pokemon may have other traits, or have been raised past the intital scores; but these are extremely rare.

Points can be spent to evolve a Pokemon. In their evolved form, they will gain the listed bonuses, and may have access to new pickups. Old pickups can't be purchased any more, but they will retain any they had already purchased.

Skills

Pokemon can learn the following skills:

Pokemon Stats

Pikachu: mouse/electric Pokemon
ST 4, DX 12, IQ 6, HT 8; Limited Communication; Lightning: 2d; Pickups: Lightning, Fan, Catfall, Increased Speed, Passive Defense, Super Jump.

Raichu: evolved Pikachu
ST +4, DX -2, IQ +0, HT: +3; Lightning: +3d; Damage resistance; Lightning: 25; Extra Limb (tail): striker, +1 hex range.