Interlude – Forums II

Interlude – Forums II

INTERLUDE - FORUMS II

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Topic: Retani Industries is a scam

Original Poster: Grace_Pastel (Verified Trainer)

Date: 12th November 20XX

Recently, there have been a lot of new companies that have been trying to get into trainer marketing. One of them is called Retani Industries. They’re a tech company based in Sunnyshore that wants to grow to rival the Poketch Company, but what’s more important is that they’re a complete scam. They invited me and my friend Denzel Williams to sign a contract and tried to make it seem like it would help us by promising money and TMs, but there were a lot of things hidden in the document. For example, they wanted to do ads for all of their products, which we would never have time for, they wanted to make our payments nonnegotiable, and we wouldn’t be able to retire until we turned twenty-two, essentially forcing us to shill for their company for years. If it wasn’t for my group’s help, we would have been screwed.

They also said that they were contacting more trainers, so I wanted to get ahead of them. Do not under any circumstances sign anything from Retani Industries. I recommend never signing anything if you aren’t familiar with business in general. These companies are predatory, and this behavior shouldn’t be allowed. Thank you for reading.

►Hayleigh_Munoz (Verified Trainer)

I’ve been contacted by them too, after winning my second badge in Pastoria, but I was too nervous to meet and I ghosted them. Apparently that was a good idea, thanks for the warning!

►Jessie_Newman (Verified Trainer)

So they’re contacting people all over the region? Arceus, these people are scumbags.

►Nathan_Phillips (Verified Trainer)

What the hell? Is this true? I signed just yesterday???? They didn’t tell me anything about what you’re saying.

►Chase_Karlson (Verified Trainer)

You’re all dumbasses for even thinking of meeting one of these companies. This is just one part of why sponsorships and company meddling in the Circuit should be banned. Not only does it give an unfair advantage to some trainers while leaving others in the dirt, they’re only doing it to enrich themselves. I’m banning that shit as soon as I become the Champion. The League is complicit in this. Why do you think they haven’t done so already? This is bigger than Retani Industries. If the government starts opposing big business, then the money suddenly gets cut off and stops flowing. I bet they’re paying off politicians too. The government doesn’t work for us, it works for the rich.

►Se7en

Big words from someone who barely won against Gardenia.

►Ramin_Abdel (Verified Trainer)

That has nothing to do with the topic of the thread.

►Chase_Karlson (Verified Trainer)

@Se7en nice job, buddy! You’ve successfully hidden your identity behind a screen and shittalked someone who you will never surpass! I have something planned very soon to bring a member of my team to the next level. I’ll beat Fantina easily.

►Mislav_Kelava (Verified Trainer)

No need to be this rude. Anyway, getting back to Chase’s point, I agree in principle, but how else are we going to buy all of the supplies trainers need to thrive at the top? When you have eight badges, the few hundreds of Pokedollars you get from battles are pennies. You need money from sponsors.

►Hayleigh_Munoz (Verified Trainer)

I agree with this. Plus, you’re acting like the League is a one-man dictatorship. There are procedures you would have to go through to do this.

►Chase_Karlson (Verified Trainer)

Okay bootlickers, have fun getting scammed and then crying about it. I’m proposing solutions while you’re all complaining. I’m a man of action. I’ll figure it out.

►Bobby_Odink (Verified Trainer)

@Grace_Pastel, I find it ironic that you of all people are trying to dissuade us from taking money from Retani when you’re traveling with a bunch of billionaires. I personally signed, and I might have gotten screwed, but that’s what normal trainers like us have to do, so I don’t expect you to understand.

►Chase_Karlson (Verified Trainer)

She might be privileged, but her point still applies. I checked your profile and despite having been in the Circuit for three years, your personal record is a single badge. You don’t need the kind of money we’re talking about to win at that level. I’m living proof of that.

You know what I think? I think you’re a pathetic jealous man who blames his personal failures on a lack of funds. Stop doomposting on the forums and hit the gym, loser. Train with your team for a change instead of making them repeat the same move over and over. That’s the definition of insanity.

►Bobby_Odink (Verified Trainer)

I’ll have you know that the vast majority of trainers don’t even get a single gym badge, so I’m actually good at my job, thank you very much. And yes, I do need money even at my level. How am I expected to go through routes if I don’t buy potions? And I’ve been wanting to save up for some TMs, which Retani will provide me with. Those will propel me to the next level.

►Chase_Karlson (Verified Trainer)

I ain’t reading all that, chief. Happy for you though/sorry that happened.

►Bobby_Odink (Verified Trainer)

My message is shorter than yours, you fucking prick.

►Omori_Fumiko (Verified Trainer)

Can we stop with the toxicity and get back to the original topic? @Bobby_Odink, was your contract the same as Grace’s?

——

Gyms → Eterna → Gardenia

Topic: Does Gardenia have it out for me?

Original Poster: Caiden_Parker (Verified Trainer)

Date: 8th November 20XX

So I know I’m going to sound like a conspiracy theorist, but hear me out before clicking off the thread. I was at an anti-League protest a few days ago in front of the Eterna city gym, and Gardenia walked through the lobby while I was there, and I swear we fucking locked eyes for a split second. When I battled her two days later, she wiped the floor with me, and I mean no holds barred. I don’t even have a badge yet, and she’s treating me like I’m one of these first-year prodigies you hear so much about. So here’s my question, am I crazy or not?

►Caiden_Parker (Verified Trainer)

Why is no one answering the thread? Am I being shadowbanned by the League because I’m right on the fucking target?

►Palovolap

No, you fucking idiot, no one is answering because you didn’t take your pills this morning.

►Caiden_Parker (Verified Trainer)

So the only person that answers doesn’t even entertain my theory? Nice try undercover League agent! I’m going to protest twice as hard! In fact, I think I’m going to go inside and boo Gardenia in the stands.

►Palovolap

What losing once does to a mf.

►Emma_Gilly (Verified Trainer)

Stop entertaining his delusions and don’t reply.

►Caiden_Parker (Verified Trainer)

You’ll see me with a giant fuck you sign tomorrow, Gardenia!

——

Gyms → Eterna → Gardenia

Topic: Gardenia tips? (Second Badge) (Trainer Only Thread)

Original Poster: Leland_Joel (Verified Trainer)

Date: 10th November 20XX

Hello everybody. I know this is a common thread, but the others all seem less active than I’d like them to be, so I’ll try to revive the topic. I tried fighting against Gardenia an hour ago and I only managed to take down her Lombre. She also used Ivysaur and Roselia against me. I have two fire types: Pansear and Magby, but I also have a Hoothoot. I’m kind of trying to become a fire type specialist in the long term, but that’s beside the point. I tried to have Hoothoot deal with her Lombre and I was doing rather well, but she recalled it immediately and started dunking on me with Ivysaur, and my Hoothoot went down way faster than I thought. I was left with two fire types... in the rain... yeah. So, if you were me, what would you do to win?

►Poppy_Allen (Verified Trainer)

Wait, that was you? Yikes, dude, you’re making yourself sound way better than you actually were, but I’ll still try to help since I beat her two battles after you. It’s kind of impossible to make a strategy against Gardenia, since she uses so many Pokemon that you really don’t know what you’ll get that day. The only other gym leader that even comes close to the size of her team is Candice, from what I’ve heard.

So what can you do then? Well first, you need to give that Hoothoot of yours way more training, and you can consider teaching Magby Sunny Day to change the weather again after taking down Lombre. The problem is that weather moves take incredibly long to learn, so if I were you, I would honestly cut my losses and come back later in the year.

►Leland_Joel (Verified Trainer)

I mean, I really don’t understand why she’s that hard. I did just fine against Roark, and I had the same team. Two fucking fire types and a flying type, and I didn’t struggle. Plus, I thought we had really gotten better after getting through Eterna forest, but I guess not.

Yeah, you’re probably right, I think I’ll leave. Probably try to fight Maylene and Volkner instead.

►Zac_Swanson (Verified Trainer)

Sorry to burst your bubble, but as a veteran trainer who got six badges last year (check my profile), changing who you fight won’t do anything. The jump in difficulty between the first and the second gym is by design, not a flaw. No matter who you fight, you’ll have just as much trouble. Just stick where you are, toughen up your team, and you’ll win. If you beat that Lombre or you get lucky and fight her after she’s used both of them in previous battles, you’re pretty much guaranteed a victory.

►Leland_Joel (Verified Trainer)

I mean, maybe you’re right, but here’s what I don’t understand. Why is there such a massive difficulty jump in between the first and second gym in the first place? And are there any more that I need to watch out for?

►Zac_Swanson (Verified Trainer)

You might not have noticed it, but during your first badge, what face was Roark making? Unless you were any good, he was bored. That’s because all of the gym leaders pretty much run on auto-pilot during a trainer’s first gym battle. This is an open secret, but they’re basically kind of trying to get as many people through as they can because if too many kids are crushed in their first attempt, they probably wouldn’t come back. This keeps the League Circuit alive, with old blood returning every year to help the newer trainers. At the second gym, there’s no need for any of that, so they turn on a little bit of their brain during the battle, which is why you got hammered so hard.

The only other difficulty jump that I’m aware of is the eighth badge, for obvious reasons. Gym leaders don’t want to let random shmucks who got lucky or trainers whose skills don’t hold up into the Conference. In between the second in the eighth, though, the difficulty curve is pretty steady.

►Leland_Joel (Verified Trainer)

Thank you so much for the advice, man. I’ll keep at it. And honestly, I thought Roark was just permanently bored. Like for example, Gardenia does strategy, Candice is batshit insane, and Fantina has illusions, right? They all have a theme, and I thought he was the stoic bored guy that just used his rock type’s physical strength to win.

►Lynn_Sanford (Verified Trainer)

I mean, if what you said is true, it’s kind of morbid, no? A fuck ton of kids, including me apparently, are being given false hope that they’re any good when they should just retire and not waste their time.

Plus, you say that gym leaders don’t even try against badgeless kids, but the majority of trainers don’t even get their first badge! My first gym battle was fucking hard! What’s up with that?

►Zac_Swanson (Verified Trainer)

I mean, at the end of the day, if you truly love Pokemon battling, knowing about this won’t bother you. It motivated me to better myself instead. I recommend just quitting anyway if the first deal of hardship you encounter makes you have this entitled mindset.

►Lynn_Sanford (Verified Trainer)

Okay, asshole. So much for the older generation helping the new trainers. You’re blocked.

►Jean-Paul_Dargnan (Verified Trainer)

He was literally giving you advice, you drama queen. Anyway, I’m usually a lurker, but thanks for the help @Zac_Swanson. Older trainers usually don’t post that much on the forums.

►Zac_Swanson (Verified Trainer)

My pleasure. And yeah, older trainers tend to have grown past the childish antics, and we’re usually too busy trying to negotiate contracts, do odd jobs, and build connections. And we still train in between all of that! But I still swing by from time to time to give help and feel some nostalgia about just starting out. It’s a wonderful experience to be growing in skill as fast as you are. Cherish it.

——

Trainers → Cecilia_Obel → Megathread

Topic: Everything about Cecilia Obel

Original Poster: League_Account_Official (Bot)

Date: September 1st 20XX

(Showing page 325/333)

►Goalducc42

So I’ve been rewatching Cecilia Obel’s battle over and over in an attempt to describe her team in the most detail possible and maybe rank them? Anyway, I’m not a trainer, but I’m a huge trainer nerd, so I figured I’d give it a shot in between all of the discussions, so here goes:

Deino - Her strongest team member by far and it’s not even close. That thing is a monster that can take way too many hits without ever going down. I mean, it beat Gardenia’s fucking Breloom! With the type disadvantage! Like it was nothing! At first glance, it might seem like its Dragon Breath is its biggest asset, but it’s actually how many hits it can just seemingly brush off. The Deino line, as rare as it is, isn’t usually known for its defensive abilities, but for the insane amount of firepower it has. Just take one look at one of her brother’s battles, and you’ll see. Deino does have good attacking options, but I find its moveset rather lacking still. There’s a lot more Cecilia Obel could be doing with it.

►Persivan

You’ve been hating on this girl since her thread opened. Maybe if you stopped complaining and trained instead, you would get somewhere instead of still having no badges.

►Ishaan_Ward (Verified Trainer)

I mean, regardless of what the answer is, you have to admit that she’s a great battler. We already went over this right after her battle finished. She had a clear plan of action, and it worked out. Pastel has talent, I’ll give her that.

►Ayden_Garza (Verified Trainer)

How would you even plan against Gardenia? There was no way to know what she would go up against, and I doubt it was luck.

►Sonya_Hladik (Verified Trainer)

She’s fucking cheating. I’m telling you these kinds of people use informants.

►Flutesong55

Or... she just watched battle videos like everyone else? You are literally insufferable.

►Elsie_Burton (Verified_Trainer)

Still, pretty much everyone that fights against Gardenia just wings it. Even with an informant or watching the videos, you’d have to be crazy to memorize everything. That would probably take a month of nonstop studying with no time for actual Pokemon training.

►Abigail_Walker (Verified_Trainer)

She probably studied a few and got lucky, but her battle was still incredibly done. All of her Pokemon are incredibly well trained, but that Togetic is something special. It stood up to fucking Sunflora. It took it down and lived to tell the tale. You certainly don’t see that every day.

►Persivan

The quick thinking with the multiple Ancient Power layers to weaken Solar Beam was my favorite part of the battle, but it was great all around. She’s not as flashy as some other trainers, but I think I’ll be rooting for her this year. I feel like she’ll get far.

►Christopher_White (Verified_Trainer)

If that’s not flashy, I might be doing something wrong. Still, I’ve battled her in the arena close to route 205, and she just destroyed me with her Tangela. Kind of deflated my ego, but she gives great advice. I managed to win against Gardenia with the tips she gave me, so I’m definitely a fan.

►Sonya_Hladik (Verified Trainer)

Whatever. You’ll see that she’ll lose soon and get nowhere.

►JohtoanSquatter

You have literally been saying this since September 1st. Seek help, this is an unhealthy obsession.

——

Sonya_Hladik → Profile → Direct Messages

►Pauline_King (Verified Trainer)

You. If you ever talk shit about Grace or any of my friends again, I’ll have my mother find out who you are, and I’ll ruin your life. You are worth less than nothing. Get over yourself and give up on Pokemon battling.

►Sonya_Hladik (Verified Trainer)

You’re unhinged. I'm reporting you.

►Pauline_King (Verified Trainer)

Yes. That means you should know that I’m telling you the truth. And it takes an unhinged woman to know another one, by the way. Sleep well tonight.

——

Trainers → Craig_Goodwill → Megathread

Topic: Everything about Craig_Goodwill

Original Poster: League_Account_Official (Bot)

Date: September 1st 20XX

(Showing page 563/590)

►Jordan_Mccullough (Verified Trainer)

That was my first time seeing a Mega Salamence, and holy shit, it didn’t disappoint. The entire battle with Maylene was awesome, but it kind of felt like Craig was the gym leader and not Maylene. She was on the backfoot the entire time.

►Denzel_Williams (Verified Trainer)

I mean, she just became a gym leader. She’s 14 and standing up to a 25 year old with 10 years of experience under his belt. So imagine her at Gardenia’s age. I can tell why they skirted around the rules and made her a gym leader. But yeah, Craig’s team is insane. I hadn’t taken a good look until I tuned in for the battle, so I only knew about his Salamence, but really? Typhlosion, Gyarados, Snorlax, Hippowdon and Eelektross? His entire team is stacked.

►[Raruro]

I mean, once he pulled Mega Salamence out, it was pretty much over, but like Denzel said, Craig usually doesn’t use Mega Evolution at all except in difficult battles, so that’s the proof that he found her at least challenging.

►August_Jenkins (Verified_Trainer)

Why wouldn’t he always use it? Sorry, I’m new to Pokemon training and Pokemon in general. I kind of signed up to the Circuit on a whim after my dad gave me a Buizel.

►Denzel_Williams (Verified Trainer)

It takes an incredible toll on both the trainer and the Pokemon, which is why it’s rarely used. It can even make a trainer pass out during the battle if they’re not used to it enough, but Craig’s had access to it for what, seven years now? At least that’s what his trainer wiki page says. So he can use it more than most.

►Dragontypesupremacist11

So that’s his fifth badge already, right?

►Cocoland

Yeah, he’s been flying around and speedrunning the Circuit. He’s beaten Volkner, Fantina, Wake, and Byron as well so far. In one of his interviews, he said he wants to get them out of the way before he goes to train on Mount Coronet.

►Denzel_Williams (Verified Trainer)

Arceus... training on Mount Coronet. We really live in different worlds. Any idea of where he’s headed next?

►Cocoland

Snowpoint in a week or two. He said battling Candice was always the most fun every year because she’s so unpredictable.

►Jordan_Mccullough (Verified Trainer)

There are few who can rival this guy at this point. I definitely think he’s winning this year now that Sarah Newman left.

►Denzel_Williams (Verified Trainer)

Wait, she left?! I thought she was still hanging about, only taking a break for a year to spend time with family.

►Jordan_Mccullough (Verified Trainer)

Nah, she said she was bored of Sinnoh. I kind of understand her, I mean, she’s been battling the same gym leaders over and over. She booked a ticket to Kanto after she lost to Bertha last year. She’s going to go through the League Circuit there, although they call it the Gym Challenge locally.

►Denzel_Williams (Verified Trainer)

Sounds fun. I’d like to go to other regions at some point too. Let’s get back to Craig though, if you had to face his Typhlosion, what would you do?

►Pharell_Meyer (Verified Trainer)

I don’t know, die? Tf you want me to do?

——

General → Team_Galactic

Topic: The Leak

Original Poster: Tyler_Reed (Verified Trainer)

Date: November 15th 20XX

So people are still gathering all the facts about this massive fumble from the League, but I figured I’d make a thread now that team Galactic finally isn’t being censored by the mods anymore. Not like they can hide it any longer with the giant leak that took place today.

So this afternoon, team Galactic used a Rotom to infiltrate Gardenia’s gym computers and send every single piece of information it had... somewhere. One can only assume they sent it to themselves, and we still don’t know what they’ll do with it. Still, team Galactic has access to all of the League’s communication, so they probably have a pretty good idea of how it operates and what the League knows about them. They also have information on every single trainer that passed through a gym. At first, I thought it would only be the poor bastards that went through the Eterna city gym, but no, since the entire registration system is connected, we’re all fucked. They know your full name, your team, the amount of money you have, the fucking number of hairs on your ass. They have everything.

So that begs the question. What the hell was the government thinking? The League said they were going to create an army of Porygon so this never happens again, but why weren’t the computers with the very sensitive information on them already Rotom proof? I don't care how rare Rotom is, that just seemed like a security breach waiting to happen, and it did. At least Cynthia’s been vocal, which is a nice change of pace. She’s finally giving us information about team Galactic, and people seem to be taking it more seriously now that it’s suddenly affecting them.

You hypocrites.

Let’s just hope you’re irrelevant enough so that team Galactic doesn’t threaten you or your loved ones now that they can literally doxx every single trainer in Sinnoh.

►Frank_Hussain (Verified Trainer)

I’m fucking terrified. This is way bigger than I thought it’d be. What do they even want to do with our information? Couldn’t they just have taken the League’s stuff and be done with it?

The League failed us hard today.

►Jodie_Park (Verified Trainer)

Maybe if the Directorate wasn’t cucking Cynthia every step of the way, she would be able to deal with these team Galactic assholes. Also really, @Frank_Hussain? You didn’t think they were a big deal after they busted into the Valley Windworks powerplant, faced Cynthia, and managed to fucking escape? Maybe you deserve what’s coming.

►Temerun_Wassem (Verified Trainer)

Maybe Cynthia should have told us how much of a threat these terrorists were instead of twiddling her thumbs the entire time.

►Elle_Brown (Verified Trainer)

POLL:

WHO DO YOU SUPPORT

CYNTHIA (15678 Votes)

DIRECTORATE (2101 Votes)

►Temerun_Wassem (Verified Trainer)

Lmao, the pro-Cynthia bots are here. Have fun supporting the person who caused this in the first place.

►Tyler_Reed (Verified Trainer)

Maybe the Directorate should get behind Cynthia instead of playing these stupid ass political games and help the League deal with team Galactic? How about that?

►Leslie_Nasser (Verified Trainer)

Okay, the point is, we’re all angry and scared. Let’s just wait to see the League’s response. Cynthia told the media that she’d deal with them more aggressively now that her negotiations with the Directorate failed. There’s no need to hold back anymore, she can just fly out and start raiding their bases when they find them or something. She doesn’t need to pass any laws for that.

►Antoine_Carette (Verified Trainer)

I shit you not, they’ve already said they’d launch an investigation on the League to figure out if the leak was due to ‘purposeful negligence’. It’s like they’re being dense on purpose.

►Leslie_Nasser (Verified Trainer)

Investigations won’t do shit, they won’t find anything. Sophie Richards just wants attention.

►Xian_Dong (Verified Trainer)

I was starting to doubt Cynthia before now, but now I’m fully on her side. They can extract any memories for all I care. I just want team Galactic gone.

►Tyler_Reed (Verified Trainer)

I mean, I don’t know about you, but it feels like everyone is thinking team Galactic is going to be dealt with way too quickly. I think this is just the beginning. They’ve shown they can outsmart and take the League off guard twice now, and who knows how many instances we haven’t even heard about. I think they’ll be there for a long, long time.