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Post by pokemonscrap on May 10, 2013 7:19:53 GMT -8
So, I don't know a lot about the whole Nuzlocke thing, but it seems it's traditional to keep a campaign journal. Since I'm not involved in any other Pokemon-centric communities, this seems like the place to do it.
So, I'm doing a run through Pokemon Black, which I've never played before and know almost nothing about. Not going to look up anything in advance, just take it as it comes.
I'm using this set of rules:
1. The first Pokemon I encounter in any given area is the only one I can catch. If I can't or don't catch it, I don't catch anything in that area.
2. If a Pokemon faints, I consider it dead. It gets released at the next Pokemon Center.
3. No buying items (I may decide later that this rule doesn't apply to Pokeballs).
I think that's about it. I'm probably not going to narrativize this journal much, since most of you likely know the story of Pokemon Black, just the point-form description of what went on. So without further ado, here's what happened on Day One!
I chose a Tepig as my starter. I named him Ernest. Almost got beat before I even started when Bianca's Snivy got two critical hits in a row, but managed to pull through.
On Route 1, I caught a Lillipup and named her Tyke. Immediately a real asset to the team.
Passed through Accumula town with no real difficulty. Turns out N is pretty easy when your Pokemon actually gain levels...
On Route 2, I caught... another Lillipup. Named this one Tyche. Two Lillipups with Pickup on the team are a real help when you're not buying items.
Some idiot in Striaton just gave me a Pansage for free! I called him Broccoli. He came in handy in conquering the Striaton Gym.
I caught a Purrloin in the Dreamyard, and named her Salizar (I usually forget to check the sex of the Pokemon before I name it... but who needs gender-binarist conformity anyway?). So far, she seems to be the weakest player on the team.
The first Pokemon I encountered on Route 3 was another Lillipup. I just knocked it out. Don't need to waste a Poke ball on a third Lillipup. At this point, I'm grinding all my Pokemon (except Tyche, the spare Lillipup) pretty hard because I don't know what's coming and I'm paranoid about them getting killed, but it seems like unlike in previous games, xp earned scales based on the Pokemon's level, so grinding is even more of a boring pain in the neck. But I'm winning all my battles, and haven't lost any of my new chums yet.
Caught a Woobat in Wellspring Cave, named him Count because he looks like a muppet. Stats aren't great, but it's good to have some more variety of attacks.
Encountered some cool critters while grinding along Route 3, but can't catch any. You know, rules are rules.
Arrived at Nacrene City and just passed right through to Pinwheel Forest, where I caught a Tympole. I forgot to nickname her officially (force of habit, I guess) but for now I will call her Robin. I haven't used her yet so I don't know what she's capable of, but I bet having a water Pokemon on the team will come in handy. Faithful, useful Tyche got sent to the box. So the team as it stands at the end of Day One is:
Ernest (Tepig), Level 14. Mild nature. Tyke (Lillipup), Level 15. Bashful nature. Broccoli (Pansage), Level 14. Mild nature. (Man, these critters are pretty chill). Salizar (Purrloin), Level 14. Naughty nature. Count (Woobat), Level 14. Sassy nature. Robin (Tympole), Level 12. Naive nature.
That's about it. Hope this is interesting! Let me know if there's any other information you'd like to know to make the journal more engaging. Or at least drop a note to say you're around so I don't feel like I'm shouting into the void...
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Post by pokemonscrap on May 10, 2013 14:41:58 GMT -8
Day two!
Ground everyone up in preparation to take on Lenora, and Ernest evolved into Pignite.
We suffered our first real loss as Lenora's Herdier destroyed Robin in one hit. Managed to defeat Lenora without any further casualties. RIP Robin.
I pulled Tyche out of the box and sallied forth into Pinwheel Forest proper. Encountered a wild Venipede, but Salizar accidentally KO'd it, so no new friend.
I finally let Tyke evolve into Herdier (had been keeping him as a Lillipup for the sake of his Pickup ability, but with Tyche temporarily on the team and with one friend down, I figured we could use the extra power).
Battling Ranger Forrest the Forest Ranger, Ernest was killed by a fluke critical hit. Had to take a little time to work through my despair and carry on. Forgot to take Ernest's Charcoal away before laying him to rest. RIP Ernest.
Finally fought through Pinwheel Forest and into the Castelia City. Found the exit to Route 4, where I caught a Sandile. For reasons mysterious even to me, I called him Yurt.
Repared back to the forest for more grinding. Salizar and Count both evolved! I decided to call it a day.
Current team:
Tyke (Herdier), Level 22, Bashful nature Tyche (Lillipup), Level 10, Quirky nature Broccoli (Pansage), Level 20, Mild nature Salizar (Liepard), Level 20, Naughty nature Count (Swoobat), Level 20, Sassy nature Yurt (Sandile), Level 20, Lax nature
The honored dead: Robin (Tympole), Level 17 Ernest (Pignite), Level 19
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Post by theryanneighbor on May 10, 2013 16:24:38 GMT -8
I'm sorry for your loss So early in the run too.
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Post by pokemonscrap on May 11, 2013 16:44:34 GMT -8
Phew. Eventful day 3.
Started off the day by evolving Broccoli into a Simisage with the leaf stone some guy in Castelia gave me.
While grinding on Route 4, Salizar was killed by surprise by a wild Darumaka, who one-hit him with a critical Fire Fang. RIP Salizar. I've still got another dark-type Pokemon, so it'll be ok, right?
Got through Castelia City's gym and other plot points with relative ease, thanks to power-leveling Count prior to taking on the gym. Went on to Route 4 proper.
Made it to the Desert Resort and caught a Sigilyph. I named her Tommy, after the The Who album. Figured with some leveling she would probably replace Count as my main flying/psychic type.
Things went downhill from there. We lost both Count and Yurt in trainer battles. I'm considering the possibility that I'm not a skilled enough player to take on this challenge. RIP Count and Yurt
I left the Desert Resort with my tail between my legs, and went on to Nimbasa City. Passing through to Route 5, I caught a wild Minccino. I gave him the name Romeo. I think he'll be a clinch player, if he can make it up to the same level as the rest of the team.
Ground a little more on Route 4, and called it a day.
Current team: Tyke (Herdier), Level 26 Tyche (Lillipup), Level 10 Broccoli (Simisage), Level 26 Tommy (Sigilyph), Level 24 Romeo (Minccino), Level 22
Fallen comrades: Robin (Tympole), Level 17 Ernest (Pignite), Level 19 Salizar (Liepard), Level 20 Count (Swoobat), Level 27 Yurt (Sandile), Level 25
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Post by pokemonscrap on May 12, 2013 12:16:38 GMT -8
Day Four.
Today started out pretty well. I ventured into Relic Castle, and caught another Sandile. I named her Hela, and she helped to fill the Dark-type hole in my team left by Yurt and Salizar.
Further on in Relic Castle I met a lady who gave me a fossil. I hurried back to the museum in Nacrene City to get it revived, and was delighted to discover I had a new Tirtouga! I gave him the name Crush. We went back to the Desert Resort and spent a while fighting those Darumakas that didn't seem so tough now that I had a high-defense Rock/Water type.
Eventually got bored of grinding, and wandered back to Nimbasa City. Had an encounter with N that ended tragically when his Sigilyph killed Crush with a critical psybeam. RIP Crush.
Took a quick foray up to Route 16 and caught another Minccini, whom I named Juliet and tossed straight into the box. This turned out to be a useful catch, as just minutes later, Romeo was killed by a Scraggy belonging to a Backpacker on that route. RIP Romeo. Overall, Juliet is looking a lot less useful than Romeo, largely because I like Cute Charm a lot less than Technician.
Went up to Lostlorn Forest to see what I could see. I encountered a wild Cottonee, but Tommy accidentally KO'd it with a critical hit.
With nowhere else to go, I decided to check out the gym. In my first encounter in the gym, Hela was killed by an Emolga using Pursuit when I tried to switch him out. Not very effective, but effective enough. RIP Hela.
I retreated from the gym and went to lick my wounds at the Pokemon Center. So with my team down to only four (plus Tyche, our scrappy mascot and item factory), and my only ground-type already lost, I suspect that the Nimbasa Gym will be the end of my Pokemon Black journey.
Current team:
Tyke (Herdier), Level 28 Tyche (Lillipup), Level 10 Broccoli (Simisage), Level 27 Tommy (Sigilyph), Level 26 Juliet (Minccino), Level 24
Gone to Valhalla:
Robin (Tympole), Level 17 Ernest (Pignite), Level 19 Salizar (Liepard), Level 20 Count (Swoobat), Level 27 Yurt (Sandile), Level 25 Crush (Tirtouga), Level 27 Romeo (Minccino), Level 25 Hela (Sandile), Level 27
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Post by pokemonscrap on May 13, 2013 18:32:26 GMT -8
Day Five.
Things are looking up. I knew I would have to rely on Tyke, Broccoli and Juliet to take me safely through the Nimbasa Gym, since Tyche is woefully under-leveled and Tommy has a type disadvantage. So I ground those three hard on Routes 5 and 16 until Tyke evolved into Stoutland.
Before attempting the gym again, I deposited Tyche in my PC. I wouldn't need him in the coming battle, and I wasn't sure any of us would make it out alive. As it happened, the gym battle was difficult, but with a team effort we made it through with no more casualties.
Heading west to Driftveil City, I caught a Ducklett on the Driftveil drawbridge. Welcome to the team, Launchpad! More new comrades were to come soon after: I caught Audrey the Audino at the Cold Storage, and Sergio the Deerling from Route 6. Sent Audrey and Sergio to the box, since I figured it wouldn't be worth grinding up two more normal types with Tyke and Juliet already on the team.
Even though Tommy was significantly less leveled than Tyke, Broccoli or Juliet, she still proved a real asset to the team. She led the way through Cold Storage and was of comparable level in no time.
My first scuffle in the Driftveil Gym proved tragic, with Launchpad falling to a heavy assault from Felix's Palpitoad. RIP Launchpad
Broccoli took on the rest of the Gym singlehanded, and no more lives were lost.
Chargestone Cave turned out to be a real challenge, in particular the wild Ferroseeds against whom I had no good attacks. But I caught a Klink and added it to the team, under the name of Tim. With Broccoli again leading the way (holding a Smoke Ball, in case of Ferroseeds), we made it through Chargestone Cave shaken but intact.
I wish I had a fire or fighting type to help take on these pesky Steel types. Makes me miss Ernest.
Wandered up to Route 7 north of Mistralton City and caught a Foongus. Her name is Montana, and she currently inhabits the box. Broccoli is currently my most powerful Pokemon and a second grass-type doesn't seem strictly necessary. Plus, I've gotten used to having Tyche on the team. Staying out of battles, just snuffling around for dropped items...
At the end of day five, the active team is:
Tyke (Stoutland), Level 33 Tyche (Lillipup), Level 11 Broccoli (Simisage), Level 37 Tommy (Sigilyph), Level 34 Juliet (Minccino), Level 33 Tim (Klink), Level 32
And of course, the roll of the fallen:
Robin (Tympole), Level 17 Ernest (Pignite), Level 19 Salizar (Liepard), Level 20 Count (Swoobat), Level 27 Yurt (Sandile), Level 25 Crush (Tirtouga), Level 27 Romeo (Minccino), Level 25 Hela (Sandile), Level 27 Launchpad (Ducklett), Level 31
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Post by pokemonscrap on May 14, 2013 6:06:02 GMT -8
Day Six, already?
Just a short day today, since I've got to attend to some other projects I've been neglecting.
Not much to report today, just grinding hard on Route 7. The major event was Tim evolving into Klang.
Juliet is not really pulling her weight on the team yet. I've got a Shiny Stone and could evolve her into Cinccino, but I'm trying to hold off until she's learned a couple more moves.
So the current team is:
Tyke (Stoutland), Level 38 Tyche (Lillipup), Level 11 Broccoli (Simisage), Level 37 Tommy (Sigilyph), Level 36 Juliet (Minccino), Level 36 Tim (Klang), Level 38
And since on this joyous day, no one has joined the ranks of the glorious fallen, I'm going to skip the obits for today.
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Post by pokemonscrap on May 15, 2013 15:38:36 GMT -8
Day Seven.
A very good day.
Caught a Litwick in Celestial Tower, and I named her Twinkles. Immediately added Twinkles to the team, sending dear little Tyche off to the box for a well-deserved rest.
Took on the Mistralton Gym, with Tim leading the way. Beat the gym with no casualties, the first Gym where I was able to do so since Castelia City. Heading up to Twist Mountain, I was surprised with a free HM03. The only member of my team who can use it is Tyke, so I'd better get used to the smell of wet dog!
Having taught Tyke to swim, I went back to Nuvema town and worked my way back making sure I picked up all the items I could. Along the way, I picked up a few new Pokemon in areas I couldn't catch anything before: Welcome to the team, Louie the Frillish, Quinze the Frillish, and Masculin the Basculin! Hope you enjoy the box!
Also stuck my head into Mistralton Cave long enough to catch a Woobat. Named him Pookums, sent him to the box. Also nabbed a Boldore named Boris in Twist Mountain.
Arrived in Icirrus City, and wandered out onto Route 8. Caught a Stunfisk, named him Derpers, and sent him to the box. If I decide to cut Juliet from the team, Derpers is first alternate.
While exploring Route 8, Twinkles evolved into Lampent! I also decided it was time to evolve Juliet into Cinccino. Yes indeed.
Twinkles and Tim got us through the Icirrus Gym with no fatalities. I decided to call it a day before taking on Dragonspire Tower.
Here's the team at the end of week one: Tyke (Stoutland), Level 42 Broccoli (Simisage), Level 41 Tommy (Sigilyph) Level 40 Juliet (Cinccino), Level 43 Tim (Klang), Level 44 Twinkles (Lampent), Level 43
And, lest we forget: Robin (Tympole), Level 17 Ernest (Pignite), Level 19 Salizar (Liepard), Level 20 Count (Swoobat), Level 27 Yurt (Sandile), Level 25 Crush (Tirtouga), Level 27 Romeo (Minccino), Level 25 Hela (Sandile), Level 27 Launchpad (Ducklett), Level 31
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Post by pokemonscrap on May 16, 2013 19:30:08 GMT -8
Day Eight.
Headed on into Dragonspire Tower, where I caught a Druddigon after he foolishly fell in love with Juliet. For the manner of his downfall, I named him Paris. Got through the tower without much trouble, although I wasted an ether preparing for a fight with N that never happened. Little SoB just flew away. Ethers don't grow on trees!
Took a break from the story to explore Mistralton Cave. Found some cool items and leveled some of my critters, and was surprised to find the legendary Pokemon Cobalion. Since it wasn't the first Pokemon I encountered there, I couldn't capture it, so Twinkles just KO'd it.
I also spent a little time exploring the Moor of Icirrus, where I caught a Shelmet. It went to the box, whence I doubt it will ever emerge.
Proceeded through the story without incident, until I reached Opelucid City. I wanted to put a few more levels under my belt before taking on the gym, since I don't know what level the leader's Pokemon will be... I just know I don't have anything with a type advantage against dragons.
So I spent some time grinding along Route 9 until my whole team reached a robust level 50. Tim evolved into Klinklang, and for kicks I decided to use a dusk stone I found to evolve Twinkles into a Chandelure.
I wish I had left myself permission under the Rules to buy TMs from the mall. That Hyper Beam is looking pretty sweet...
Tomorrow... Opelucid Gym!
Team at the end of the day:
Tyke (Stoutland), Level 50 Broccoli (Simisage), Level 50 Tommy (Sigilyph), Level 50 Juliet (Cinccino), Level 50 Tim (Klinklang), Level 50 Twinkles (Chandelure), Level 50
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Post by pokemonscrap on May 18, 2013 8:38:41 GMT -8
Day Nine-and-a-Half.
Sorry, no update yesterday as I needed to go straight from the game into several other activities that took up my whole night. So you get an update up to the mid-point of today, day 10.
The battle through Opelucid Gym was a nailbiter. Even though I had a serious level advantage, I didn't have any type advantage and didn't know what to expect in terms of enemy pokemon or their moves. Both Juliet and Tommy came very near the precipice thanks to unexpected attacks, but we made it through with no casualties. It's now been several days since the last fatality in the Driftveil Gym.
Sadly, my first encounters on Route 10 and in Victory Road weren't pokemon I had any interest in capturing, though I did catch a new Herdier in the Badge Check Gates. Welcome to the box, Turk. So it looks like my team is well and truly settled for taking on the Elite Four and the champion.
Victory road also had some challenges (largely from wild Durants), but we made it through stronger and wiser.
I divided my store of vitamins among the three Pokemon who were still inexperienced enough to benefit from them (Juliet, Tim and Twinkles). I'm saving my rare candies for a little longer. I'll probably use them as soon as I finish grinding, right before taking on the Elite Four.
So since then, I've just been grinding at the top of Victory Road. I don't know for certain what levels and types to expect when I take on the Elite Four, so I'm planning to grind up to about level 60 before I dive in. Oh, and I took a spin through Pinwheel Forest and took out Virizion. Don't know where to find Terrakion, though...
That's about it for today. Hopefully I'll have time to finish grinding and take on the Pokemon League by the time I update again. Tallyho!
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Post by pokemonscrap on May 18, 2013 18:17:10 GMT -8
Day Ten!
I finished grinding up to level 60 as planned, then passed out my supply of Rare Candies for good measure, and headed in to the Pokemon League. Somehow my team contracted Pokerus, but as they are already mostly EV'd up it is more a curiosity than a boon.
The Elite Four were tough opponents, but not nearly as highly leveled as I had feared. A couple of close calls, and I needed to use a few potions, but I made it through all four without any losses.
The first wild Pokemon I encountered in Plasma Castle was Reshiram and I thought I might need to catch it in order to advance the story, so I caught it on the first round with a Quick Ball. Welcome to the team, Fiat. Off with you to the box, now.
Tyke beat Zekrom singlehanded in two moves. The rest of N's team was relatively easy to beat, even that sneaky Zoroark. No losses.
Then Ghetsis. The Cofagrigus went down easy enough to Tyke's Crunch, but we lost Juliet to a Focus Blast from his Hydreigon. Tyke finished the job with Giga Impact. Tim nearly followed Juliet thanks to the Bouffalant's Earthquakes, but we managed Gear Grind to victory. Seismitoad was no match for Broccoli, Tyke took out Eelektross with her Strength, and Twinkles melted Bisharp down with her Flame Burst.
RIP Juliet.
Then the credits rolled, and I woke up in my bed in Nuvema Town. I suppose my team and I have more adventuring ahead of us, but for now we are victorious. At the end of Day 10, I've conquered the Pokemon League and defeated Team Plasma.
The team, as it stands:
Tyke (Stoutland) Level 63 Female, Bashful, Sand Rush. Surf, Strength, Giga Impact, Crunch. Rocky Helmet.
Broccoli (Simisage) Level 63 Male, Mild, Gluttony. Cut, Dig, Leech Seed, Seed Bomb. Miracle Seed.
Tommy (Sigilyph) Level 61 Female, Calm, Wonder Skin. Fly, Flash, Psychic, Cosmic Power. BrightPowder.
Tim (Klinklang) Level 61 Genderless, Quirky, Minus. Lock-On, Discharge, Gear Grind, Screech. Scope Lens.
Twinkles (Chandelure) Level 62 Female, Lonely, Flame Body. Night Shade, Will-O-Wisp, Flame Burst, Hex. Spell Tag.
...and, our honored fallen.
Robin (Tympole), Level 17 Ernest (Pignite), Level 19 Salizar (Liepard), Level 20 Count (Swoobat), Level 27 Yurt (Sandile), Level 25 Crush (Tirtouga), Level 27 Romeo (Minccino), Level 25 Hela (Sandile), Level 27 Launchpad (Ducklett), Level 31 Juliet (Cinccino), Level 62
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Post by Mama Zaxis on May 18, 2013 18:39:50 GMT -8
CONGRATULATION! also i enjoyed reading this
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Post by pokemonscrap on May 19, 2013 17:24:26 GMT -8
Thanks Zaxis, I'm glad you enjoyed it. Also, all you folks who didn't comment but have been "liking" as we go.
I'm still playing the game, albeit a little less intently, so I'll keep updating the thread as interesting things happen.
I thought long and hard about how to fill Juliet's spot on the team. Reshiram was the obvious choice, as the highest level and most powerful Pokemon in the box, but using a legendary godbeast seems kind of out-of-line with the purpose of the Nuzlocke challenge. So in the end I pulled out Quinze the Frillish. I figured with a water Pokemon on the team, I could teach it to Surf instead of Tyke (considering her dismal Sp. Attack score, it was basically a useless move).
So I plunked the Exp. Share on its head and wandered Unova looking for areas I haven't been yet. On Route 18, I found the Waterfall HM, which convinced me I had made the right decision to add Quinze to the team.
I checked out a couple of the new areas that had opened up since I beat N, and was horrified to find out all the trainers have Pokemon that are even more powerful than mine. I high-tailed it out of there, pausing only long enough to capture my first non-Unova Pokemon, Rakkman the Gligar.
A little grinding later, Quinze became a Jellicent. I might level a little more before going to take on the terrifying trainers of eastern Unova.
Oh, also-- I have an egg now. No idea what it will be.
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Post by pokemonscrap on May 22, 2013 18:36:17 GMT -8
Bad news. While I was wandering along Route 14, Tim was killed by a Sheer Cold move from Ace Trainer Kipp's Walrein. That's a tough loss. Tim was one of my most powerful Pokemon, and I don't have anything in the box that can even begin to fill his shoes.
Other than that, there isn't a whole lot to report. Quinze the Jellicent has been slowly climbing the levels, to the point where he's nearly up to the same power as the rest of the team. I've caught a few interesting new Pokemon in my travels, including Morris the Mantyke, Emil the Slowpoke, and Cotton the Vullaby. The egg hatched; it was a Larvesta.
I'm considering who among my captures I should add to the team to fill Tim's spot. I don't have another Steel-type, which is what I really want. At the moment, I'm leaning toward Rakkman the Gligar, or maybe Paris the Druddigon.
I'm not sure how much more gameplay I have stretching out before me. I'm just keeping on keeping on, and hoping for no more tragedies.
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Post by pokemonscrap on May 25, 2013 14:55:21 GMT -8
I'm going to be honest-- I started another Nuzlocke adventure almost immediately after I finished this one. SoulSilver. It was going well to begin with, but sadly it has come to an ignominious end outside of Cianwood City. Alas!
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Post by pokemonscrap on Jun 6, 2013 17:03:54 GMT -8
So, I've made a series of Pokemon splices based on my Nuzlocke adventure. Each Pokemon I lost (up to the end of the main story) has been spliced with the Pokemon that killed it. I've posted the first two on my blog, and am now reposting them here. I also suggest that this splicing be officially unofficially mandatory-ish for Nuzlocke adventures published on this forum. It is a splicing forum, after all! HerdpoleHerdnite
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Post by pokemonscrap on Jun 7, 2013 5:26:56 GMT -8
Here's two more! DarupardDaroobat
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Post by pokemonscrap on Jun 15, 2013 16:34:11 GMT -8
Two more of my casualties... Maractile
Sigtouga
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Post by pokemonscrap on Jun 20, 2013 16:57:54 GMT -8
ScranccinoEmodile
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Post by pokemonscrap on Jun 22, 2013 5:53:50 GMT -8
Alright, these are officially the last two... PalpiduckHyccino Somehow the Hyccino reminds me of when Princess Elaine gets turned evil in the Jack the Giant Killer movie (1960s version). Poor Juliet... I may at some point create a slightly less cursory record of another Nuzlocke, in which case I will post the splices at the appropriate point in the story, rather than all in a big clump at the end. But for now, I think this story is finished. Thanks for reading!
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