so i got a reply on one of my previous posts
k downing said:

I agree ghost pokemon like dusknoir and gengar are too evil for younger fans

 i completely agree with dusknoir, as that's a pokemon form one of the later generations. i think, compared to some of the later generation pokemon, that gengar is a bit tame. i think that maybe some of the creepier pokemon might be, like a little bonus for the older players? i know that i didn't start reading the pokedex entries until i was much older.

so question time: do you guys think the pokemon creators realised how creepy the ghost pokemon might be to younger kids? because some of them are downright creepy.

 this is in reference to the link i posted yesterday

today i'm just here with a link. here's the pokemon series' accidental nightmare fuel page. i think i'm gonna talk a bit more about this tomorrow.

don't end up like me (part 2)

today on the menu: gym leaders, HM's and alternate teams/back up pokemon

susing back up pokemon seems a little bit insensitive (to the pokemon), but it's a good way to be ready for anything the league throws at you, while also getting to expand your pokedex. yesterday, i told you all about my  team in diamond, and how it's not all that good for beating all the gym leaders. when your main team has an abundance of one pokemon type (like how mine is half water pokemon) it's good to have back-ups. for example, i have a ponyta that i used as a back up for my empoleon at the snowpoint city gym. my graveler was a back up for empoleon and dialga in the sunnyshore city gym before i made it a permanent member of my team.

if using a pokemon for just one gym isn't really your style, you can go for entire alternate teams. it's a good way to spend time with all of your pokemon. and remember, try to keep your team diverse!

a tip about HM's: spread them around your team. a limit of 2 different HM's per pokemon in your team. also, teach the same HM to at least one pokemon you don't keep in your team, so that if you have to switch you won't be without HM's you need to get around.

that's all for today. tomorrow's topic is a surprise! (because i don't know what it is yet lol)

don't end up like me (part 1)

so today i'm gonna tell you about the importance of being prepared in the pokemon games.

last weekend, i made the decision to beat the elite four in my pokemon diamond game. it's a big step, but i've got to do it someday. i went to play my game with the intent of beginning to train my pokemon when i suddenly started to worry about whether or not i had the right pokemon to take them on.

this is where being prepared comes in.

you can't just go against the elite four all willy nilly. you have to have the right tools. that means all the regular stuff, like potions and status heals, as well as battle items to raise your stats. but one of the most important things is having the right pokemon team. i cannot stress enough how important it is to have a well rounded pokemon team. having too many of the same types of pokemon will be very hard on you later in the game. for example, here's my pokemon team in diamond:

• Empoleon (water/steel)
• Dialga (dragon/steel)
• Pelipper (water/flying)
• Wooper (water/ground)
• Pachirisu (electric)
• Graveler (rock/ground)

the problem is evident right away: half my team is water pokemon. for regular gameplay this is fine, to an extent.  it works for getting around the world, but isn't too good for taking on gym leaders. for the elite four, my team is not as good as it could be. an example of a better one is my team from black

• Servine (grass)
• Herdier (normal)
• Purrloin (dark)
• Panpour (water)

this team is much more well rounded, with diverse pokemon types. i think a good team can be made up like this:

• one grass/fire/water type (your starter)
• one pokemon the opposite of your starter (if you have a water pokemon, one grass-type)
• one electric type
• a rock or ground (or both/half)
• a dark/psychic/ghost
• a flying or combination flying

combination pokemon can make this easier and harder, becasue you run the risk of overloading your team on one type, even if it seems well rounded (which was my problem). of course, that list i made probably isn't the best (it doesn't include fighting, dragon, or steel, which are all good to have). in the end it's best to look and see what you're up against and plan accordingly

tomorrow i'm gonna continue on with this, talking about the gym leaders, HM's, and back-ups

and i also have some links, so you don't give yourself a headache training for the elite four (like i did)

• elite four and champion pokemon
• Kanto (gen 3)
• Kanto/Johto (gen 4)
• Hoenn (gen 3)
• Sinnoh (gen 4)
• Unova (gen 5)
• type match-up list

i'm sorry i don't have much today, but here's the link to pokemon's guide dang it! page. very informative.

so just a question for today: who is your favorite starter pokemon? mine is cyndaquil. cyndaquil was my starter in gold and soul silver. i'm also partial to totodile, who was my starter in crystal.