Gameplay Journal First serious attempt at a Nuzlocke

I've tried to do Nuzlockes before, but my Completionist mindset gets in the way and I end up just playing through like normal. So this time I thought, "Maybe this journal could help me stay the path? Especially if other people get involved..." so this will be the first post.

I'm playing Pokémon FireRed because there aren't a lot of Pokémon to worry about not getting/missing out on, and it's easy for me to play without needing any of the modern-day devices that I don't have (ergo, the 3DS). As this is my first 'official' Nuzlocke, I won't be using a lot of rules, but these will be used:

• • Any Pokémon that faints is considered dead, and must be released or put in the Pokémon Storage System permanently.
  • 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. 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. If there's a static encounter in the area, the player is allowed to capture them despite already capturing a Pokémon in that area. Shiny Pokémon also do not apply to this rule.
  • All Pokémon must get a nickname (which, for me, may be the hardest part).
  • If I black out, it's Game Over.
  • Starter Pokémon is based on the last number of Trainer ID; 1-3 is Grass, 4-6 is Fire, 7-9 is Water, and 0 is choice.
  • Species Clause is in effect.
  • Pokéball Clause is in effect (ergo, it starts once I get my first set of balls).

Okay, starting up the game now... "Hello, person's name and gender I cannot remember, blah blah blah..." Naming him Red and the dipstick Blue...

My Trainer ID is 22240 (), so I guess I'll put up a poll with this. Who should I choose as my first Pokémon?

 

That's true. Gyarados is especially problematic, especially given the Special split of Gen-2; the only other decent Water-type that a person has any real chance of catching is Psyduck, and a lot of that is due to Damp (since Graveler and Electrode love blowing themselves up). Cloyster doesn't have Skill Link yet, you have to be REALLY lucky to get Staryu on a first encounter, and the others are kinda mediocre.

 

I always forget about Tentacruel, primarily because I get so annoyed when I run into a Tentacool that I just block it out. XD

Oh yeah, Lapras can be gotten for free... Yeah, I like Lapras. Very versatile, great ability, all-around excellent Pokémon.

 

After a lot of consideration, I decided to go with Charmander; aside from the poll having only votes for him, I just like him best out of the Gen1 starters. Just have to hope that I get a decent Grass-type before Misty's gym (since Pikachu are so rare). Also debated importing a Kabuto from one of my complete files, but this isn't an Egglocke (might do that in the future, since Kabutops is one of my favorite Pokémon).

So, I walked over to the grass and got chewed out by the old man before getting dragged back to his lab to choose a Pokémon. I chose Charmander and was about to name him Hanzo - but it turned out to be female, so I named her Mikoto. She seems to be pretty rash, which makes sense since she's named after an Uchiha, but I can deal with that. Before I can leave to go train, the derpface challenged me to a battle with his Squirtle. So heartless; don't even bother to form a bond with his Pokémon by giving them a nickname... Anyway, I just go on an all-out offensive; Squirtle knocked Mikoto down to half-health but Mikoto managed to dodge a particularly strong attack so she was still in pretty decent shape at the end. "I picked the wrong Pokémon"? Seriously? No, you just stink as a Trainer.

Anyway, that done, I leave to go to Viridian City to get some Pokeballs, only to get turned around by needing to run an errand for the coot. Oh yeah, on the way some creepy guy that supposedly works at the Mart gave me a Potion. I mean, it's not like you need to promote the shop since you're the ONLY ONE IN TOWN!!! *cough* Anyway, ran into a couple of Pidgeys and a Rattata, but they were no match for Mikoto, who has reached level 7 and learned Ember. I wonder what that 'custom Pokéball' Oak had ordered was. Maybe it was the GS Ball? Maybe one of Kurt's balls? Oh well, time to move on again; now that I have the Pokédex and some Pokeballs I need to get serious and work towards a solid team. Blue walks off like the arrogant fool he is and has the gall to tell me not to get a Town Map from his sister Daisy. Oh, really? Too bad for you Daisy's pretty much my onee-chan too.

My first trip with Pokeballs was nearly silent, until the end where a Pidgey popped up and attacked. Mikoto landed an Ember attack, but despite living on a prayer at this point the Pidgey survived and scored a critical hit on Mikoto in turn - though it still didn't do much damage due to her low level. One Pokéball later and it was mine; named her Winona, after the powerful Flying-type Gym Leader of Hoenn. After healing at the PokeCenter, did a little bit of training and got Winona to level 6. During that I went west and caught a male Mankey; gotta be honest, thought for sure it was gonna be a Spearow, so I'm thankful it wasn't. Anyway, back to training! Had a close call with a level 5 Rattata getting in a critical hit, but Winona once again proves her sturdiness and gives me a chance to swap out for Mikoto.

Heading north, I pass by the old drunk who thinks that even though I have three Pokémon on my team I still need a crash course on capturing wild Pokémon. After sitting through his nonsense I move north. First encountered another Pidgey, but my second encounter was Caterpie! I was quick to catch the li'l bugger; named it Fuu after the 7-tailed Jinchuuriki (if you hadn't noticed, I like Naruto). Okay, why are all my Pokémon so far either Rash or Naive?

Viridian Forest Update:

• Mikoto (Charmander); level 8; Scratch, Ember, Growl
• Winona (Pidgey); level 6; Tackle, Sand Attack
• Chuck (Mankey); level 6; Scratch, Leer, Low Kick
• Fuu (Caterpie); level 4; Tackle, String Shot

 

I remember the first time I traversed this dark forest... I was 11 at the time and was at Boy Scouts summer camp. A roommate had a Gameboy (something I was familiar with, as the dentist office on-base had one in a safebox with Tetris on it) and when he showed me the game, I was left in awe. He let me play it, though for obvious reasons I couldn't save. I'd play it after lights-out (hiding under my blanket with a flashlight so I could see the screen) and would always get up to Viridian Forest before needing to turn it off for the night. It was then that I became a Pokémon fan...

Given that I have Chuck, I'm not too concerned about Brock, but he needs lots of training, so I go ahead and fight the bug catchers with him since they give the most experience and I can get him to the point of being able to take on Brock quickly. I remember there are two items in the tall grass (and a third one that's hidden, but in a path that you need to walk through anyway) but I don't go for them yet. Surprised I can recall the hidden Antidote underneath the tree where you first walk in... That said, I send out Fuu to take on some of the Weedles belonging to the trainers because of Shield Dust preventing him from being poisoned, and eventually she evolves into Metapod. Cheers!

Ran into two Caterpies and a Metapod in the wild; not surprised since they're the only ones that typically show up anyway. I think. Or is it supposed to be Weedle? I can never remember encounter rates. OMGIWIJBFIJKNNFCWGF!!! IT'S A PIKACHU!!! I thought for sure I'd never run into one; am SO glad I caught Fuu on Route 2. She was a tough one; very nearly KOed it, but thankfully she had enough HP that I could capture her. Named her Tori because, to be honest, I couldn't think of anything better. Good thing I ran into Pikachu, because the next six encounters were all Weedle; I looked it up and apparently they changed the encounter rates so Weedle is supposed to show up as much as Caterpie. Talk about dodging a bullet...

Exiting Viridian Forest, I realize that Chuck isn't strong enough to take on the Gym, so I begin training, healing when necessary. I don't get how people are able to limit their PokeCenter visits or ban the use of items; poison is a pain in the backside, and I bloody nearly lost Winona - again! Still, the training paid off. Once Chuck hit level 10, I went to the Gym to take on Brock. Ironically, I had more trouble with the Sandshrew than I did with the Geodudes and Onix, since it's pure Ground and has almost as much Defence as Geodude; had to use a Potion mid-battle so I didn't lose Chuck. Thankfully Onix lost a lot of its terror when Wrap was nerfed in GSC, and since Fighting-types resist Rock attacks neither of them were going to use Rock Tomb. In the end, I got the Boulder Badge without much issue! After that, I snagged the Running Shoes and returned to Viridian City, where I vaguely recall my rival waiting to intercept me on the way to the Pokémon League. His Pidgey and Squirtle fell handily to Tori, so I collected my reward and returned to Route 3 to continue my journey!

I have a feeling, though, that things are about to get serious...

Route 3 Update:

• Winona (Pidgey); level 9; Tackle, Gust, Sand-Attack
• Fuu (Metapod); level 9; Tackle, Harden, String Shot
• Tori (Pikachu); level 10; Thundershock, Thunder Wave, Tail Whip, Growl
• Mikoto (Charmander); level 10; Scratch, Ember, Growl
• Chuck (Mankey); level 12; Scratch, Karate Chop, Low Kick, Leer

 

Thanks. Honestly, I'm shocked that things are going so well. I usually have at least one faint due to an untimely crit by now.

Man, that IS a lucky Buneary! XD Best of luck to you too!