I too support naming our protaganist PTW!
A truly inspirational name that shall lead to great glory!
This was too good to pass up. I was trying to fit "Bay12" in Japanese phonetics into the 7 letter limit. Baejyouni or Baetuerubu. I was going to go with Baejoni - but my dyslexia kept reading it as Bon Jovi. Anyway, here's Pitiwu-sama:
(https://i.imgur.com/Fkj9Rno.png)
I decided to stick with the male protagonist, since the female one looks a bit too similar to Oichi.
About this update:
This will hopefully be one of only two half-updates. I want to start each update with a castle battle, but there's a bit of tutorial to blow through. Looking at it now, it's a bit too much to shove in front of Ignis Castle, so I'll go through it quickly now in this short update.
Part 1.5: Auroraoraoraora
(https://i.imgur.com/dKc7vZP.png)
We now have free access to the world map. The world map updates and uncovers more cities as you conquer your neighbors. You might notice a little farm icon on the bottom right of the top screen - this indicates a location in Aurora. That location has a little Pikachu on it, meaning there are Pokemon to murder encounter there. We also get access to the Gallery in the Start menu - which lets us get a closer look at our Warriors.
(https://i.imgur.com/I1nrsrN.png)(https://i.imgur.com/E6ZjpmQ.png)
So there's a bit going on here that the game has not yet explained to the player. Among the odd decisions which make up Pokemon Conquest, fully explaining anything is not done at least until a third of the way through the game. Luckily, you have me to help you out with that. Pitiwu and Oichi both have "Ranks" - these are reached by having a powerful enough link with their Perfect Match Pokemon - or, in some cases, story progression. We won't be reaching a higher rank in a long time, but it does unlock a different costume for your character, and that's fun.
Y will cycle through about 5 images showing different emotions - we've seen these in dialogue screenshots already, but it's real useful in an LP to grab your preferred face. Pitiwu will, from now on, be portrayed with this doofy shocked face. (https://i.imgur.com/ivvqzRu.png) Power, Wisdom, and Charisma all have minor effects on their Pokemon, and come up when doing jobs in town, which we'll get to later. Warriors also have Warrior Skills, which we get into later in this update - since they're locked at this point in the game.
(https://i.imgur.com/4e1Vud9.png)
Let's get into Aurora and progress the story. The Equip option is what it sounds like - Warriors can carry an item which can be used on that Pokemon's turn - in this play through, it will almost always be Potions because most of the other items suck.
(https://i.imgur.com/XtuVDGM.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/cPnxRS6.png): Ooph!
(https://i.imgur.com/r32QyTm.png)
Who is this mysterious young bully? Could it be...Nobunaga himself?!
(https://i.imgur.com/cPnxRS6.png): I-I'm sorry...
(https://i.imgur.com/cPnxRS6.png): There's a Farm not far from here, Lord Pitiwu. I'm sure there'll be some wild Pokémon there... Let's go do some training!
(https://i.imgur.com/a8WEERB.png)
We're once again given "control" over the game, however there is only one thing to do. We get a preview of the Farm. It has a Bidoof and a Starly - two Gen 4 Pokemon. The white square next to both of them represents Normal type, and the Blue square on Starly shows it's Flying type. Later, we'll be able to catch these guys, but we need to defeat...4 kingdoms to do that. For now, the farm needs fertilizing with blood.
(https://i.imgur.com/cPnxRS6.png): You're the Warlord of this kingdom, Lord Pitiwu. Jigglypuff and I will follow your orders! So, what do you want us to do? Try to work together to claim victory!
Up to this point, Oichi had been controlled by AI. Now, you can order Jigglypuff around as you please. This map is basically a square with two enemy Pokemon. This is still a tutorial, so there's not much to talk about. You move Eevee forward, then Jigglypuff does the same.
(https://i.imgur.com/8E5uLkX.png)
The battle screen gives us information on whatever is hovered over - so we see Jigglypuff's attack, link level, HP, mood, and ability all on the top screen. Attacks are pretty basic at this point, and you'll recognize them if you played any Pokemon games. Eevee has Quick Attack - doing damage to one square in front of it. Jigglypuff has Doubleslap - doing damage multiple times to a square in front of it - just like the main games, it hits 2-5 times.
(https://i.imgur.com/i2XKPWV.png)
Oichi, you know I don't. It's literally my second day here.
(https://i.imgur.com/cPnxRS6.png): Eevee has one called Celebrate... And Jigglypuff has one called Lullaby...
You can learn more in the Gallery or the Info page - it's pretty easy to find out what these moves do. Celebrate (or, as I know it, Grim Harvest) allows you to take another turn if you kill an enemy, unfortunately, limited to one extra turn. It's probably the best ability in the game. Lullaby will randomly put enemy Pokemon to sleep if they're within a certain range. It's a nice debuff. Some other Abilities are straight out of the main games - Shed Skin (lose status ailments), Jagged Edge (do slight damage on physical attacks) and Static (paralyze on physical attacks) are all in here somewhere. They are all passive.
(https://i.imgur.com/UViSfEu.png)(https://i.imgur.com/KO36Wi6.png)(https://i.imgur.com/e3Xz7pt.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/EXh93me.png)(https://i.imgur.com/o74rgNn.png)(https://i.imgur.com/Q82w2hx.png)
Eevee kills Starly, activates the ability, then moves to Bidoof, leaving it at 1 HP. Jigglypuff cleans up the scraps.
(https://i.imgur.com/XBUeWsx.png)
The game gives us a quick tutorial on Link. It's just their level. It's straight strength.
(https://i.imgur.com/cPnxRS6.png): The more time they spend together, the stronger this link becomes. This will make the Pokémon more powerful as well.
You and Eevee must be tired after that battle, Lord Pitiwu... And Jigglypuff is looking pretty worn out, too. I think we should take a break. A Warrior can only do battle with their Pokémon or take them to visit a location once in a month. When all the Warriors in your army have moved, select Next Month to advance to the next month.
(https://i.imgur.com/w165STm.png)
This screen is the most common one in the game. Get used to seeing it. As you gather more Warriors, you can do more in each month - each Warrior gets one action, whether that's a battle, shopping, or digging for gold. After 3 more kingdoms, we can delegate those tasks out and don't have to directly control each Warrior. This also ensures that the first part of the game is the most exhausting part. GAME DESIGN! Anyway, the camera goes to Ignis after we finish our turn.
(https://i.imgur.com/w22fyYk.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/ELJKs3d.png): Losing against a complete beginner like that... They need to get their act together! I'm not letting them mess things up for me now! I've got to make the kingdom of Aurora mine!
On that empty threat, the game moves to the next season. Hideyoshi is a supremely important figure in Japanese history, and here, he's portrayed as a petulant child... Well anyway, let's kill more Pokemon since we literally can't do anything else.
Toyotomi Hideyoshi (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyotomi_Hideyoshi) was the second of the three Great Unifiers of Japanese history, the other two being Oda Nobunaga and Tokugawa Ieyasu. Unfortunately, their histories are so intertwined, that it's nearly impossible to talk about just one of them. In 1582, when Nobunaga was killed, Hideyoshi took up the reigns of power, then spent 10 years marching all over Japan and finalizing the unification that Nobunaga started, although only in a tenuous peace. He had been a soldier in Nobunaga's army, and had risen through the ranks thanks to his competence and skill. His military achievements are frankly too numerous to list.
Hideyoshi was a peasant - not a samurai. For a brief period, he was the most powerful man in all of Japan, and reached the highest Imperial Nobility rank available. He put forward laws which would persist through the Tokugawa Shogonate (ending in 1868), including laws such as only born samurai were allowed to carry weapons. His impacts on Japanese culture persist today in popularizing the tea ceremonies and Noh theatre. Late in his life he adopted the title Taiko, and after his death there was a supernatural air about him and his name. A mere peasant was almost Shogun - the supreme dictator of Japan. Tokugawa would later take up the true Shogunate, but Hideyoshi is probably the most favorably looked upon of the three Unifiers because of his common birth.
Nobunaga is known for his ambition, but Hideyoshi attempted to conquer all of Korea and then push on toward China in the later years of his life. This was largely unsuccessful, often attributed to attrition after decades of fighting in Japan.
And here, he's an idiot who looks to be 13 years old.
(https://i.imgur.com/EdWo3C8.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/cPnxRS6.png): That place looks like it'd be full of wild Pokémon! It might be a good idea to do a little training.
(https://i.imgur.com/c0gXXNv.png)
We get a new location: the waterfall. We can see there'll be a Wooper and Meowth there.
(https://i.imgur.com/5nS5EYq.png)
I just said that.
(https://i.imgur.com/cPnxRS6.png): If I recall correctly, Woopers have the Water Gun move. Some moves, like Water Gun, allow you to attack a wide area. Each Pokémon has a set move that they can use, so be sure to think about your tactics before entering battle!
Pokemon only come with one attack, and that attack has a certain range. Some hit 3 squares in a line in front of them, others hit one square 4 spaces away. They are varyingly useful. This is once again a tutorial battle, so I just rush the Meowth, and get hurt.
(https://i.imgur.com/cPnxRS6.png): Are you all right, Eevee?
Lord Pitiwu, at times like this you should select the Warrior option. You see, battles aren't just about telling your Pokémon where to move and when to fight. It's a Warrior's job to help out their Pokémon on the battlefield. You can use items... And you can use Warrior Skills... You may not be fighting yourself, but you and your Pokemon are a team. Working with your Pokemon in battle is what it truly means to be a Warrior.
My Warrior Skill is Sweet Song. It can be really helpful when you're in a bind. Warriors can help their Pokémon in battle by using their various Warrior Skills. Warrior Skills can only be used once each in every battle or training session.
Thanks for the wall of text, Oichi. So before you move, you can open the Warrior menu and activate Warrior skills or use items. Each skill can only be used once per encounter, and items can be used as long as you have them. Items can be picked up and equipped if they show up on the field. Breaking items and killing Pokemon drops items sometimes. Oichi's healing ability is great. Pitiwu's ability is also good - called Top Speed, it just lets Eevee move a couple extra squares. What I like about these is that they happen before movement, so you still have a complete turn with your Pokemon if you've used a Warrior ability or item.
(https://i.imgur.com/HFssWLE.png)
My screenshots on this were terrible. I kill the Wooper and then Celebrate by killing the Meowth. Since Eevee downed more enemies, you can see Eevee's Link goes up significantly more than Jigglypuff's.
(https://i.imgur.com/lueiNJH.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/fz40tRb.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/bG9FPN5.png)
I'm certain we've already talked. Or...you talked to me, at least.
(https://i.imgur.com/bScKpxF.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/0XhBw8y.png): Come on, Kiyomasa! We need to have a word with these guys, or they won't know what they're doing!
Oh, trust me. Pitiwu will still not know what they're doing after this.
(https://i.imgur.com/h2zhiBU.png): Yeah... We hear that you're training your Pokémon a lot... But what for? What can you two hope to achieve?
(https://i.imgur.com/cPnxRS6.png): I-I...!
(https://i.imgur.com/3diH61g.png): Well, they're right, you know. You have to do more than just train. Eventually, you need to challenge another kingdom to a battle. If you win that, you can get some more Warriors and Pokémon to join you.
(https://i.imgur.com/h2zhiBU.png): Strengthen your army, and win battles. Those are the tasks of a Warlord. But I'm sure you know that much, right?
(https://i.imgur.com/cPnxRS6.png): Uh... Well, I... Lord Pitiwu... If we really want to become stronger, we're going to have to challenge other kingdoms to battle. I think the time have come for us to make our move.
(https://i.imgur.com/byX54R1.png)
Mitsunari, (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ishida_Mitsunari) Masanori, (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fukushima_Masanori) and Kiyomasa (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kat%C5%8D_Kiyomasa) were three people I had to genuinely look up. They were generals all present at the Battle of Sekigahara - which was the decisive battle which put Tokugawa on top and basically started the 260 year-long Tokugawa Shogunate. These three were in support of Tokugawa, which suggests that Pitiwu is actually Tokugawa. Notably, Masanori was part of Hideyoshi's mounted vanguard. That's pretty neat.
Alright! Showdown at Ignis next time! Thanks for reading!
Part 2: Ignis
Music: Ignis Theme (https://youtu.be/Q8BYina0o04)
Time to go to Ignis and get revenge for their terrible attempt at conquest.
(https://i.imgur.com/0TajNjW.png)
We get a quick overview of Ignis and Hideyoshi's forces. Two fire types and a Bidoof. Chimchar is the Gen 4 fire-type starter and Tepig is the Gen 5 fire-type starter. Bidoof is the Ratata of Gen 4 and I hate him with all my heart.
(https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/pokemon/images/e/e7/399Bidoof_DP_anime.png/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/185?cb=20150104165746)
Look at this stupid fuck.
(https://i.imgur.com/QIbfHDS.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/Q11oXaS.png)
We have the option of getting more info - we can look at the enemy Warriors' abilities and the attack their Pokemon have. Hideyoshi seems surprised that we've figured this out. Warrior abilities are exclusively Active - so although this sounds like a Passive ability, he'll have to activate it for it to start applying. Anyway, let's get this show on the road!
(https://i.imgur.com/ftDYXVj.png)(https://i.imgur.com/CUEw8vt.png)
Later, when we have more castles and warriors, you can send two groups of warriors from two different castles to a fight, as long as they don't exceed 6. It's neat.
(https://i.imgur.com/KxNQ3VM.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/ELJKs3d.png): I never thought I'd see you over here... Well, two can play at that game! If it's a battle you want, I'm ready!
(https://i.imgur.com/cPnxRS6.png): Fine! Then a battle it is! But Lord Pitiwu is going to win!
((Why does she should like this wasn't exactly what we were coming here to do?))
(https://i.imgur.com/ELJKs3d.png): Ho ho! Aren't you a cutie? I could do with someone like you in my army...
(https://i.imgur.com/cPnxRS6.png): Don't call me "cutie"! I would never fight for someone like you, anyway!
((Hideyoshi: misogynist. I love the implication here - Pitiwu is someone she WOULD fight for, probably because he never says anything, while everyone else is an insulting petulant child.))
(https://i.imgur.com/AtHoUvV.png)
Oh...Fuck yes.
(https://i.imgur.com/iukEtBe.png): Alright, I think it's time for a battle, don't you?
(https://i.imgur.com/FE4XvEL.png)
This is a pretty even match as far as fighting strength goes. Thanks to the action economy, this gives Hideyoshi a slight advantage, due to having 3 fighters. We, however, are playing a game for children - so we'll be fine.
(https://i.imgur.com/OHAanPQ.png) (https://i.imgur.com/n2PtsVB.png)
We also have 20 turns to finish this fight. This game's turn counter is pretty generous, as most fights end in 4 rounds or 8 at the most. If you run out of rounds, the player loses.
(https://i.imgur.com/RGV0GSw.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/iukEtBe.png): The pillars of fire and magma will stop you from getting near me... But my Chimchar isn't bothered by things like that!
(https://i.imgur.com/XcrNbzj.png) (https://i.imgur.com/nPDLWp1.png)
Here's the battlefield. Those treasures on the top right are inaccessible the whole fight - I don't know if it's possible at all to get them, because you can't have fire Pokemon at this point in the game. Fire Pokemon can move through the magma and flames. You can see a blue pool of hot water on the top - that onsen will heal the Burn condition and recover some health. That is most of the gimmick of this fight.
(https://i.imgur.com/LrB22Kd.png)
The best place for us to fight is on this side of the map, so I position the Pokemon to look longingly at those treasures and end my turn.
(https://i.imgur.com/pi33lMP.png)
Tepig and Chimchar are unbothered by the magma, so they run across it into the welcoming arms of death. Bidoof is useless so it has to navigate the top part of the map.
(https://i.imgur.com/0gSzY2D.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/iukEtBe.png): Before long, all the kingdoms will be mine!
((It's called Nobunaga's Ambition, not Hideyoshi's Ambition.))
(https://i.imgur.com/eH9ysTd.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/cPnxRS6.png): It seems there are times when the pillars of fire disappear. Eevee and Jigglypuff can move across the area safely then.
Although this is true, the timing of the pillars is either way too slow or way too fast, so we'll just never deal with it. Instead, I bait the enemies toward the onsen.
(https://i.imgur.com/yDetmdN.png)
Chimchar and Tepig have the same attack: Ember. It does fire damage 1 square away, and can cause burning - it does exactly that to Jigglypuff. Bidoof is pretty far behind because it can't walk on magma.
(https://i.imgur.com/k0CXgmq.png)
At the end of the enemy's turn, we get this message which doesn't tell us what is going to happen. Rocks will now fall from the ceiling randomly - they mostly hit around the magma pool and deal some fire damage.
(https://i.imgur.com/bJNfyDE.png)
yo
The game now tells us that onsens cure burning. The game doesn't tell you that you will expend its usage if you do - and enemies can as well, which is why we make a move for it first. They replenish after like...5 turns or something.
(https://i.imgur.com/n56ZmBu.png)
Just look at how happy Jigglypuff is.
Eevee comes around the south and deals some damage to Tepig - he should be able to finish him off next turn and then Celebrate.
(https://i.imgur.com/0altSpC.png)
Thank you! Nagayasu, do you want to join up?
(https://i.imgur.com/rB9okqI.png)
Easy to say when you have a ball of pure anger that puts everyone to sleep.
(https://i.imgur.com/1Lt5297.png)
HOLY SHIT. I didn't catch it in a screenshot - but that damage is from a falling volcano rock. It did Bidoof's entire health bar and knocked him out of the fight!
(https://i.imgur.com/kZ3Y5lA.png)(https://i.imgur.com/xzgb1dl.png)
A rock just misses Eevee and hits Tepig - since the rocks are fire damage, Tepig isn't bothered by it too much, but it puts him down to only 2 HP.
(https://i.imgur.com/hw8ls4F.png)
Then Jigglypuff puts him to sleep anyway. Insult onto injury. Eevee finishes him off easily.
(https://i.imgur.com/iPCX5hs.png)
What is this threat?!
(https://i.imgur.com/aOrYr7O.png)
Things have swung drastically in our favor. Only Hideyoshi is left, and at low health. I have Oichi give us some healing just in case both of us miss. Jigglypuff does some damage and Eevee moves in for the kill.
(https://i.imgur.com/UVQpNgU.png) (https://i.imgur.com/UwYcIlt.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/PLqyAbA.png)
That was...surprisingly dignified.
(https://i.imgur.com/vVLGXiK.png) (https://i.imgur.com/fsCZfZh.png) (https://i.imgur.com/gcNaqWA.png)
We get the gold from that treasure box and then the Victory screen. Eevee is getting a bit far ahead of Jigglypuff - since Oichi is required to bring to some battles, I'll make sure Jigglypuff gets the kill more often.
(https://i.imgur.com/ze95vIN.png)
Oh good, there's that indignant Hideyoshi I know and love.
(https://i.imgur.com/iukEtBe.png): But I have made a vow! I will be the one to find the Legendary Pokémon! And that means I will be back!
((To reiterate - that's God.))
(https://i.imgur.com/R1dfyfa.png)
Hideyoshi's army has been defeated and has been forced to retreat.
((Obviously, such an important person as Hideyoshi will return later in the game.))
(https://i.imgur.com/cPnxRS6.png): Congratulations, Lord Pitiwu! Your second castle... I'm sure we'll start making allies before long. The only thing is...I don't know how...
(https://i.imgur.com/32fmwDO.png)
((This must be another of Hideyoshi's cronies. Sick him, Eevee!!))
(https://i.imgur.com/ivvqzRu.png): ...?!
(https://i.imgur.com/C9Y8fKL.png): I watched your battle in Ignis. You're impressive for one so young. But if you don't even know how to make allies... Then I guess you've got a way to go before you can be considered a real Warlord.
(https://i.imgur.com/v7Sekge.png)
((I didn't see YOU just double your territory.))
(https://i.imgur.com/AoFjkxu.png)
((I will admit, I really like that the game shits on you after your first victory and then is like "Haha, I'm just kidding!"))
(https://i.imgur.com/C9Y8fKL.png): Tell you what, I'll teach you how to make new allies, all right? My name's Keiji, by the way. Just come to Ignis Castle when you're ready to learn!
Here, the game saves and moves forward a month. We re-enter Ignis.
Maeda Keiji (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maeda_Toshimasu) had a reputation as a wild-man and free spirit. How much of this is truth and how much is war legend is unclear. What is known about Keiji is that he was a competent warrior, and although he had a reputation for being "wild", he upheld family duty well. Keiji seemed to have always been an oppositional force during the end of the Sengoku-jidai - generally siding against the current unifier, or supporting the losing side.
One of my friends in Japan can recount his family history back to the Maeda clan - something he was very proud of.
(https://i.imgur.com/e8zCeGj.png)
Okay, can we talk about this guy's abs?
(https://i.imgur.com/C9Y8fKL.png): Oh, that's right! I was going to teach you how to make new allies. Well, it's pretty easy... Not all Warriors are part of an army, you see. There are plenty of free Warriors around as well, ones that are unattached. For example... Um... Ah, I know! Go and have a look in that Cave!
The implications here.
(https://i.imgur.com/C9Y8fKL.png): There's probably one or two in there. Start by seeing if you can recruit them. Hm? Me? Nah. I'm a bit of a free spirit, so I'm not keen on staying in one place for too long. And anyway, I've got some things I need to buy in the Shop. See you later, Pitiwu!
(https://i.imgur.com/cPnxRS6.png): ...He's gone. Where did he tell us to go again? The Cave, was it?
((Oichi and Pitiwu, mesmerized by Keiji's abs, fail to grasp anything he says.))
(https://i.imgur.com/YVoZjMd.png)
We get a preview of who is in the cave - that'll be Rikyu, the first recruit. Among the odd design decisions, this is one of them - Rikyu is a pre-made character. He is also entirely generic. All of the generic characters in this game are not randomized. They have specific starting Pokemon, names, locations, and art-work, although the art-work is shared among multiple characters. Why they didn't just randomize this, I have absolutely no idea. There are non-generic Warriors (Oichi and Pitiwu being the first two), which we will recruit later. For now, we just need fire pokemon, so we're going to recruit whoever we can.
(https://i.imgur.com/9aX4MXF.png)
Rikyu is the fucking best, honestly. He has Darumaka who has a great attack and ability combo. Rikyu's ability cures poison+paralysis, which is nice too. We'll be keeping Rikyu with us for a good portion of the game.
(https://pokestop.io/img/pokemon/darumaka-256x256.png)
Look at this cutie.
Here's Rikyu in detail.
(https://i.imgur.com/RUFIbf7.png)(https://i.imgur.com/e30eFLi.png)(https://i.imgur.com/WqpqklV.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/8OLk34K.png)
Goodnight.
(https://i.imgur.com/SfF1xSg.png)
The game informs us how recruitment works. The game says "You can recruit warriors by defeating them in 4 turns, defeating them using a supereffective(sic) move, or defeating them without any of your allies suffering damage. There are, however, some free Warriors who can only be recruited by fulfilling certain other special conditions."
Defeating them in 4 turns is the usual way this happens - 4 turns is a short time frame, as the first turn is wasted walking toward the enemy. Certain Pokemon (such as the maligned Bidoof) can cause flinching or paralysis and slow down this process.
Defeating them using a super effective move is the most reliable method, but isn't always possible, depending on what Pokemon are available.
Defeating them without any damage...I've never seen that happen. This is basically impossible.
The special conditions are almost always "be defeated by Pitiwu". Usually that's fine - but depending on type advantages, this can get tricky.
Since Rikyu was alone, we easily defeated him within 4 turns. Then, some plot happens!
(https://i.imgur.com/cPnxRS6.png): Our army is growing nicely. I think things are looking up, Lord Pitiwu!
(https://i.imgur.com/5TjvoPu.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/cPnxRS6.png): Oh, you again...
(https://i.imgur.com/h2zhiBU.png): I hope you're not resting on your laurels just because you've conquered Ignis!
(https://i.imgur.com/9cGGObi.png)
((Why is he so surprised by this? Also why is everyone such a dick? WE JUST DOUBLED OUR TERRITORY AND IT'S BEEN LIKE TWO DAYS))
(https://i.imgur.com/h2zhiBU.png): Because Aurora is surrounded by other kingdoms... And there's still Greenleaf and Fontaine to go.
(https://i.imgur.com/3diH61g.png): You know, the Warriors of Ignis... They mostly use Fire-type Pokemon, right? Strong against Grass, weak against Water... Heh. Everybody knows that, of course.
(https://i.imgur.com/h2zhiBU.png): Anyway, I hear that the Warlord of Greenleaf uses Grass-type Pokemon.
(https://i.imgur.com/9gU2ZSz.png)
((Pitiwu kills Masanori, mistaking him for a wild Pokemon))
(https://i.imgur.com/3diH61g.png): You know, I don't think the Warlords of either Greenleaf or Fontaine have any interest in trying to conquer other kingdoms. I reckon now's your chance to make a move.
(https://i.imgur.com/h2zhiBU.png): Come on. We don't have time to stand around here chatting. We've got to get to the Ponigiri Shop and increase our Pokemon's Energy.
(https://i.imgur.com/cPnxRS6.png): ... It sounds like there's just no way of avoiding battle...
((Oichi, he literally just said that they aren't interested in battle. We are the antagonists. Are you even listening?))
(https://i.imgur.com/lZM4owr.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/cPnxRS6.png): The more kingdoms you conquer, the more places you'll be able to travel to. You'll meet new Pokemon too. And each kingdom will have all sorts of interesting new locations to visit. Select a castle belonging to Pitiwu's army to command your Warriors to move. You won't send me off on my own anywhere, will you? I'd like to stay with you, Lord Pitiwu, if that's all right.
(https://i.imgur.com/wurpynB.png)
We now have access to the March option - Marching does not use a Warrior's action, so you can shuffle people around to your heart's content. Each castle can only hold 6 Warriors, so our effective army limit is 12 right now. Since Ignis mostly has Fire Pokemon, I send Rikyu down to Aurora for training.
(https://i.imgur.com/noCBKhi.png)
There's a new recruit available in Ignis's Cave. There are also Wild Pokemon there - who we will have to kill. Wild Pokemon are on the same side as Free Warriors - for some reason. You only need to take out the Warrior's Pokemon within the 4 rounds, then can deal with the wild ones after.
(https://i.imgur.com/Q4JoLd8.png)
This is sometimes an issue when they do turn-delaying effects. Luckily, I had already knocked out Charmander at this point.
(https://i.imgur.com/ebuVxf1.png)(https://i.imgur.com/C0n7Ck3.png)
There are often items hidden on the map - this little hill can be dug up by a Pokemon and an item can be found. These trees can also be attacked and sometimes give you an item.
(https://i.imgur.com/yeM6Ro6.png)
There's something hilarious about the word "disappeared" for knocking down a tree. I recruit a couple more Warriors over the next two months.
(https://i.imgur.com/qN9exyH.png)(https://i.imgur.com/PqZYqFP.png?1)
(https://i.imgur.com/kfDa9wo.png)
Every 3 months, your Pokemon's Energy will go up or down. Energy is a small modifier to all stats, and also improves Link growth. Since our Pokemon are a little low energy, I go to the Ponigiri shop (a pun on onigiri, which have existed in some form throughout Japanese history since at least the Nara Period (710 to 794)) Energy isn't supremely important, but hey - you might as well manage it while you've got the time. The game explains that you can visit these and look at what is available without spending the action of that Warrior - however, if you buy anything, it counts as an action and they can't do anything else that month.
(https://i.imgur.com/FJhY0oo.png)
Right now, there's nothing complex here. It just increases Energy slightly.
(https://i.imgur.com/iq8K5uR.png)(https://i.imgur.com/p5NjRAi.png)
And with that, we're up to 5 Warriors. 3 of whom have Fire Pokemon. We could go attack Fontaine if we wanted, but we'd just end up with Water Pokemon who are weak to Greenleaf's Grass types. Next time: Let's burn Greenleaf to the ground!
Part 3: Greenleaf
Music: Grass (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ii5ObEMWOk) This track is weirdly mild.
(https://i.imgur.com/7gIwWzl.png)
Let's get a closer look at Greenleaf before we go about burning it to cinders.
(https://i.imgur.com/zvEmFNv.png)(https://i.imgur.com/z8Gulf1.png)(https://i.imgur.com/5tOS9aj.png)
Motonari is cool. He's got one of my favorite Warrior abilities in the game (although, I don't think he uses it in the battle), and a Snivy. Snivy was the Gen 5 Grass starter. All of the starter Pokemon have the same ability - attack up when at low health. Our Charmander and Tepig have the same, called 'Blaze' for Fire types. He also has this item, Emerald Grace. It's like 3 potions as long as you're on grass tiles. Most of the game is on grass tiles, so these are pretty good. Anyway, let's get to killin'.
(https://i.imgur.com/qQqTAjr.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/cPnxRS6.png): That means our Fire-types should shine! Water-types will be in for a long, hard battle, though...
((The game will give you this basic advice for every battle for a while.))
(https://i.imgur.com/KwkjOp0.png)(https://i.imgur.com/NAPOHXf.png)(https://i.imgur.com/f61ZKH0.png)
This is my favorite part of the game. It feels the most like being an actual warlord, or playing a real tactics game. You can see golden lines in between these kingdoms - those are roads. There must be a direct road to call people in from other castles. Here, they're all adjacent, but soon we'll have castles which don't directly lead into other castles.
(https://i.imgur.com/YAHhyrI.png)(https://i.imgur.com/RjRWXOf.png)
It also sends the message too early, then plays an animation of your warband descending on Greenleaf. Oh, never change, Pokemon Conquest.
(https://i.imgur.com/fh058Ks.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/7PKWvZY.png): I've heard a lot about you... But I didn't expect you to be this young. I suppose you need a bit of youthful energy in this rough old world. Maybe it's time for my generation to call it a day...
((Motonari might be the only character in this game that I don't instantly hate.))
(https://i.imgur.com/daENAhd.png)
((Motoharu on the other hand...))
(https://i.imgur.com/kTHTy4S.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/H0oZVNm.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/7PKWvZY.png): I suppose I'd better do what's expected of me...
Mori Motonari (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C5%8Dri_Motonari) (you can see the Mori clan symbol on his arm in Pokeballs, which I like) was a pretty interesting guy. Most people think of Nobunaga, Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa's fights as the Sengoku-jidai, but they were just the end of it. A bit earlier (dying in 1571), Motonari led a conquest over the Amago clan, setting up the Mori to be politically and strategically influential for the end of the Sengoku-jidai. His groundwork was enough to guarantee his grandson Terumoto (son of Takamoto (the nervous chap we end up recruiting)) would sit on the Council of the Five Elders. This was the provisional government set up by Hideyoshi just before his death. Tokugawa would overthrow it and seize power himself - but for a short while, the Mori clan were equals to the Tokugawa clan. Motonari's campaign to expand the Mori's influence wasn't just military, he also did a lot of marriages, assassinations, and adoptions to expand the realm. Prime real estate for some historical fiction, if you ask me.
(https://i.imgur.com/Jlb8qhW.png)
So this is pretty cool. There are three banners which you have to claim. This fight is probably the first one you'll lose while playing this game solely for that reason. The enemies have a positional advantage and will almost definitely grab two of the banners before you do. They'll camp out on them, and send their two other units toward whatever banner you've claimed. The AI is smart enough to grab the banner instead of fight you - so a likely situation is that you move to attack the enemy, and then they just move to claim the banner and win the fight.
(https://i.imgur.com/7PKWvZY.png): What do you think it takes to win battles, Lord Pitiwu? You're thinking...strength, right? But strength alone is not enough. Do you understand what I'm saying? Doing battle is not just about defeating your enemies.
((Little does Motonari know, the best strategy here is to use overwhelming violence.))
(https://i.imgur.com/AXYgo0K.png)(https://i.imgur.com/kIcNe2b.png)
The game explains the banner mechanic for you. It'll come up a couple more times in the game - but not exactly like this. Let's look at the map, since it kind of has a lot of mechanics.
(https://i.imgur.com/E9g7mki.png) (https://i.imgur.com/cLYgpI3.png) (https://i.imgur.com/QkYYxv3.png)
If I wasn't so lazy, I could have cropped these all together into one image, but eh...c'est la vie. These are the three banners and the main battle-field. The pink tree is just a tree, but the flowers are called "strange flower" and they will throw you a few tiles away - usually far enough away for the enemy to move onto your banner. Punishing curiosity is good game design.
(https://i.imgur.com/Q5udfKU.png)
The patches of grass will teleport you to the patch of the same color. This one doesn't have a match, and if you get curious and try - it punishes you by sending you to the bottom corner of the map - the furthest point from any banners.
(https://i.imgur.com/JnkawaZ.png)
Motonari's squad start up top. You'll notice that they're right next to a teleport grass which leads them easily toward the top right banner. Snivy and the green monkey "Pansage" have Vine Whip - which attacks the 3 squares in front of them horizontally. It's a good crowd control move. Those two bugs are Sewaddles - like Caterpies. They are bug/grass type, meaning they're double weak to Fire. They'll be gone soon.
(https://i.imgur.com/jGQTmRc.png)
We start pretty close to a banner and near some teleporting grass too. Alright, let's get started!
(https://i.imgur.com/54OVZ1b.png)
Tepig's the only one who can reach the grass, so it'll make a run for the left-most banner.
(https://i.imgur.com/gQ9tBSL.png)(https://i.imgur.com/lP9M3Ed.png)
Jigglypuff and Darumaka rush B. Charmander and Eevee move toward the top right banner.
(https://i.imgur.com/USZ52qO.png)
Oh right. Every turn this bridge grows and the next turn it shrinks again. There's not much reason for us to go up there, so it's basically only used by the AI. I told you there was a lot going on in this map.
(https://i.imgur.com/GAR1w94.png)
The game makes sure your child-brain understands the recommended tactic of this fight.
(https://i.imgur.com/tMsjUTs.png)
The enemy in this map will claim two of the banners immediately. I use this to our benefit, since they will stay on the banner to ensure its capture. That means they effectively put two of their fighters out of the battle. We have no abilities or moves which can move enemy Pokemon, so there is no actual way to win this fight without using Strength to mutilate the opposition.
(https://i.imgur.com/qxvCTZX.png)
Bad screenshot, but you get the point. Jigglypuff will do the same - she has the most health and has a healing ability, so she'll just park herself there and do nothing. This ensures we can't instantly lose. Also of note, all the Fire Pokemons' attacks require them to be one square away. Jigglypuff and Eevee can attack adjacent enemies. If, say Charmander, were in this position - he wouldn't be able to defend himself because if he moved off the banner, the enemy would claim it and we'd lose. It's actually a pretty clever fight. The game also tells us you'll regain health if you stand on a claimed banner.
(https://i.imgur.com/vHIIV86.png)
Oh, and here's the final gimmick. Pitfall traps - these are not 100% random, but I believe they change slightly every time. They cancel your attack for that round, and you lose the next round. Enemy AI seem to know where they are, as they don't fall in them. This is what makes the banners so easy to lose - you might move to attack, then fall in a pit and be fucked for an extra round. Also, these show up in other fights later in the game, but never so annoyingly as this fight. As you can see, Sewaddle claimed that banner.
(https://i.imgur.com/K5MUDRO.png)
Takakage's Sewaddle is a real tank. It has the ability Grass Cloak - upping defense when standing on grass. Sewaddle's attack is Bug Bite. In the main games, that'll eat a berry off the enemy Pokemon, but in this game, it'll use the Warrior's item on itself. It takes a couple rounds to kill this Sewaddle, but Eevee and Charmander get it done. Snivy has claimed the banner in the back there.
(https://i.imgur.com/lBTMe0h.png)(https://i.imgur.com/30Yzjhg.png)
Read: He who knows where the pitfall traps are shall not be defeated!
(https://i.imgur.com/zTfGewO.png)
Pansage hopped on the grass and is getting pretty close to my banner. Eevee finishes Sewaddle and celebrates by going down to fight Pansage. Charmander follows.
(https://i.imgur.com/GzGt1BX.png)
Expected damage numbers are not absolute. There's a standard deviation of about 2 in either direction. We don't get lucky on the RNG here. I keep Jigglypuff parked on the banner - it's tempting, but Jigglypuff misses a lot and there are pitfalls. If things went bad, I'd have to restart the whole fight.
(https://i.imgur.com/pa52Zje.png)
Darumaka is basically a grenade.
(https://i.imgur.com/zpFbXFv.png)
Two banners down. Since we've cleared this half of the map, these two can move toward the center and help out with the fight. If, somehow, they come and claim this one, Jigglypuff's banner should be safe.
(https://i.imgur.com/9Cyavji.png)
Fuck. Don't worry - this is the next round, so Eevee and Charmander take care of it.
(https://i.imgur.com/Owte5JV.png)
Fuck.
(https://i.imgur.com/LOvDNk2.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/7PKWvZY.png): Hey, by the way, I read that there's some faraway world where people put Pokemon into these little balls and carry them around! Pretty strange, no? Now where did I read that...? I guess the peaceful days where I can just focus on my Pokemon research are still a long way away...
((The implications... Nobunaga exists in the same world as Professor Oak.))
(https://i.imgur.com/k0qlM1D.png)
Fuck
It's just down to Snivy at this point, so it's not a big deal. He's glued to his banner. We got lucky that we only started falling into these after the fight was half-way over. If this happens at the beginning, you can easily lose.
(https://i.imgur.com/Vk087Pp.png)
FUCK
Rikyu, throw a solution at this problem.
(https://i.imgur.com/e6hhiyf.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/a1kIXgk.png)
He says, looking down at our Pokemon, who are all in holes.
(https://i.imgur.com/YOzCrHL.png)
The fight doesn't end there - you still have to claim all the banners. You know what that means, boys.
(https://i.imgur.com/wFnqHvO.png)
Loot the place.
(https://i.imgur.com/GiNIb1F.png)
The same recruitment rules apply to boss fights - although the leader will not be recruitable in that fight. Since we knocked out those two with fire damage, they're on the team now. We'll need a couple Grass types for the next fight. Motonari is not recruitable at all, I think - but later Warlords will be.
Motoharu: "Lord Motonari..." (I'm not getting a screenshot for two fucking words.)
(https://i.imgur.com/7PKWvZY.png): Surely now I can be left in peace? You are a more worthy Warlord for Greenleaf than I, Pitiwu. I ask only that you take good care of my beloved kingdom.
((Rikyu kicks over a potted plant and hurls Darumaka into some dry leaves, instantly starting a grass fire.))
(https://i.imgur.com/6YmadhV.png)(https://i.imgur.com/oG3OfoD.png)
This is a weird use of the word "obliged". Since we have 5 warriors in Greenleaf, but recruited 2, we have to shuffle them off to another territory. They get sent off to Aurora to work in the Pokemon fields.
The game prompts you to save and moves to the next month. We will need to bring Eevee and Jigglypuff to Fontaine. Sewaddle's attack is bug-type, but his Grass typing makes him pretty defensive against Water Pokemon. There's really only one recruit that I'm looking for.
(https://i.imgur.com/0ygKoZN.png)
We can see that there are some Warriors available in Greenleaf. Let's hope the one I want is there. I send Eevee and Jigglypuff back to Ignis.
(https://i.imgur.com/Y83a4f5.png)
Hell yeah. That handsome chap with the blue bandana is Takeyoshi, and his Pokemon is great. With him, we'll be ready to go to Fontaine. Get in there, Rikyu.
(https://i.imgur.com/hchvGuk.png)
Carnivine's Vine Whip hits three squares, he has great attack, Takeyoshi's ability ensures a hit on the next turn, and for some reason, Carnivine fucking flies. That increased mobility is a game changer in the next fight, plus he's the right type for it. Those other Pokemon are Cottonee - who have Absorb, which is fine. I'll probably take this old lady with us too.
(https://i.imgur.com/7rYvOWQ.png)(https://i.imgur.com/ewUQKYB.png)
No one can stand up to Darumaka's insane damage output. Ekei's Warrior Ability is Convalesce - which heals for three turns and heals adjacent allies too. It's pretty good, but Cottonee kind of sucks.
(https://i.imgur.com/X2N7fja.png)
We take all three just for the next fight - that puts us up to 5 Grass types already. So we're ready for Fontaine! Oh, but we have to use up everyone else's turns first...
(https://i.imgur.com/isJ25gX.png)
For maximum gains, I send each of these Warriors in alone. You have to control these fights, which slows down the game a lot - but hey, it's not that bad so far.
(https://i.imgur.com/8uZC4G4.png)
Let's check out the shop, since we haven't done that yet. Each Warrior has an array of stats - Strength, Wisdom, and Charisma. Higher Charisma gets you a better deal in the shop. It is fucking laughable that Pitiwu has that high of a Charisma. Motherfucker can't even speak!
(https://i.imgur.com/OdDjTZy.png)
No thanks, I can do that. Different items will be available depending on the story and the level of the shop. Right now, they all basically have the same stuff - none of which is useful to us. The most useful is probably this item here.
(https://i.imgur.com/EKVBJGc.png)
I might slap one of these on Jigglypuff since I've been kind of neglecting Oichi. Sewaddles show up pretty regularly now, though, so there's always a risk of losing it to a Bug Bite. When you leave the shop, you get a small boost to Link. It's less than 1%, and I think it's the same if you join a battle but do no damage. Anyway, we're all trained up, everyone did some fighting or shopping, and we already have 5 Grass types.
(https://i.imgur.com/4OsN4Ll.png)
Let's boil Fontaine.
Part 4: Fontaine
Music: Water Battle (https://youtu.be/DAqOV9p3_2A), sounds like a Japanese-themed Dungeon from Chrono-trigger, right?
(https://i.imgur.com/m2x5FYE.png)
So here's Fontaine. Looking pretty and pristine. Be a shame if someone conquested it. Let's look inside.
(https://i.imgur.com/mUA3s8d.png)(https://i.imgur.com/ILTgMJB.png)
This hunk of emo meat is named Motochika. Besides being garishly over-designed, he has a great ability and Oshawott, the Water Starter from Gen 5. We've already seen this attack - Water Gun. We'll be bringing some Grass-types to resist the damage.
Chosokabe Motochika (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C5%8Dsokabe_Motochika) is actually my favorite historical figure from the Sengoku-jidai. Mostly because the Chosokabe clan were famed archers, but more-so because Shikoku (the fourth island of Japan) is, in my opinion, the most beautiful place in the world. I spend a lovely two weeks wandering around there with a backpack and a belly full of bourbon the last time I was in Japan, including a trip to historic Tosa, the homeland of the Chosokabe. Anyway, across a grueling ten-year military campaign, the Chosokabe managed to claim all of Shikoku - this is impressive as Motochika basically started this campaign under regency by the Ichijo, who were the first to be overthrown. Step-by-step they conquered all of Shikoku, and pushed out the last of the Awa and Sanuki who held on to the north-eastern corner of it. The victory didn't last long - such was the climate of the times - as Hideyoshi's 100,000 men came knocking two years later and Motochika had to surrender. Hideyoshi allowed Motochika to hold on to the ancestral province of Tosa. Conquered but not defeated, the Chosokabe would join Hideyoshi in the conquest of Kyushu. Motochika died in 1599 - seeing just the end of the fighting, but not witnessing the real rise of Tokugawa.
This is the best he could ask for, because Tokugawa would take Tosa from the Chosokabe family and also behead a few of Motochika's sons. They uh...didn't do well in the Tokugawa era.
(https://i.imgur.com/3LJar7D.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/cPnxRS6.png): Fire-type Pokemon might find it hard... But Grass-type and Electric-type Pokemon should be real useful!
((Note, it's impossible to have Electric type Pokemon at this point. Like I said, they give this same warning before each fight, in case you don't know the type advantages. I complain about it, but this is a pretty good feature, honestly. You can still back out of the fight at this point.))
(https://i.imgur.com/v7V0Tm9.png)
We take from Ignis: Pitiwu and Oichi, then from Aurora: Ekei (old lady), Takeyoshi (blue bandana), and two others who I don't give a shit about.
(https://i.imgur.com/gnIsTkY.png)
Oh, Takeyoshi. You're about to be so much more right than you thought.
(https://i.imgur.com/BrcDymQ.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/ebzEITB.png): So you are Pitiwu...? I'd heard that Aurora had a new Warlord... But I always thought that we would meet on the battlefield in Aurora, not here. Well, never mind. A battle is a battle, no matter where it takes place.
((This is the most coherent Motochika gets. His dialogue after this seems to be either overly dramatic, or poorly translated. My money is on both.))
(https://i.imgur.com/2uBuvoJ.png)
Your honor. Exhibit A.
(https://i.imgur.com/XzKQfzE.png)
Wait, the water or the spirit...?
(https://i.imgur.com/LHZE0ZF.png)(https://i.imgur.com/M5t7aGW.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/aEAjDnr.png)
As I'm sure you, the reader, are also completely fucking dumbfounded by what is happening - let me illuminate it for you. Those switches open the water gates. You can't walk across water. Got it?
(https://i.imgur.com/4NIGr1F.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/ebzEITB.png): Defeat is only a matter of time unless you do something.
(https://i.imgur.com/Mt0eTNQ.png)
I really dislike Fontaine. This is the premise: they aren't going to fight you. You have to get to them, and so you'll eventually lose because the clock will run out. This is a dumb premise and very poorly implemented. Also, the game forgets it instantly and tells you the failure condition is defeat:
(https://i.imgur.com/Y8tQa1J.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/29nM0DK.png)
OH RIGHT, WE'RE UNDER LOTS OF TIME PRESSURE. This is laughably long for Motochika's strategy. Honestly, I think 5 turns would have made more sense and would be feasibly failable.
(https://i.imgur.com/hNMNrvw.png) (https://i.imgur.com/bNlUoYK.png) (https://i.imgur.com/vnn2LYH.png)
So here's the battlefield. Pretty simple, honestly. The buttons will immediately open/close the gate they are next to, stopping or allowing the flow of water. Anyone in the riverbed when the water flows takes a tiny amount of damage and is placed back on dry land, usually on the side away from the enemy. Motochika's team is his Oshawott, a Piplup (Gen 4 starter), a Panpour (third monkey in the Pan-monkey gimmick thing) and a Wooper. Surprisingly, Wooper is the most valuable of all of these - he is Water+Ground typing, making him immune to our next enemies.
(https://i.imgur.com/GWi3W18.png)
When I looked at this, I knew there was something about it I didn't like, but I couldn't remember what.
(https://i.imgur.com/en4YRkT.png)
Let's get started - with Top Speed we can close the lower gate, opening the left half of this map for our Pansage and Jigglypuff team.
(https://i.imgur.com/olCq9Jp.png)
Sewaddle is a bit slow and I decided I didn't want him here as soon as I started the fight. So I put him to work collecting potions from these trees.
(https://i.imgur.com/WmbfG2g.png)
Oh right. That's why. Standing next to this fountain does a tiny bit of damage to you. Why? Game design. That's why. Cottonee and Carnivine move up near Eevee. Pansage takes the water damage because it's nothing but annoying.
(https://i.imgur.com/JsZ0hEB.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/ebzEITB.png): It's a wave... A crushing black wave... But it will not sweep me away. I will continue to fight, continue to cry out...
((What the fuck is this guy talking about?))
(https://i.imgur.com/Z3mb4eK.png)
In some sort of Galaxy Brain scheme, Panpour opens the way for the rest of the team without me doing any work. I think the AI is broken.
(https://i.imgur.com/bFkpJMm.png)(https://i.imgur.com/i3tTq8a.png)
Subplot, I guess this is Morichika's first battle. He um...doesn't do well.
(https://i.imgur.com/JsyD2c8.png)
Eevee is the first through the trenches into the fray. On the second turn, it's still too far away to hit anybody. Pitiwu craves blood. I put Carnivine in the trench, trying to bait them to press the button again, but they don't. Carnivine flies, so the water doesn't do anything to him.
(https://i.imgur.com/unxezLS.png)
Good job, Sewaddle.
(https://i.imgur.com/oPdkZ47.png)
What you're seeing here is Piplup hitting Eevee and Cottonee with a Water Gun. It does almost no damage. These Water Pokemon are extremely weak.
(https://i.imgur.com/LubTuM6.png)
It's time.
(https://i.imgur.com/mOoa2fh.png)
Carnivine's flight gives him insane mobility. He just floats over the enemies to get into a good position and then...
(https://i.imgur.com/v3dTf12.png)
Immediately kills two opponents.
(https://i.imgur.com/j3mqgER.png)
Cottonee is no slouch either. Keep in mind, Wooper's Ground+Water Typing makes him double weak to Grass.
(https://i.imgur.com/KDDDuYx.png)
Good job, Sewaddle.
(https://i.imgur.com/oYyOl6r.png)
Since this fight was over before it began, let's talk about the ability Melee. It's a cool one - the Pokemon who has it, does a little damage whenever a Pokemon next to them is attacked by an ally. Good positioning and some long-range attacks can bait out a lot of extra damage this way. The Pan-monkeys are likely to have this ability (our Pansage does, and this Panpour does), but also Zubat and Cottonee have it.
(https://i.imgur.com/5cMQfPC.png)
Carnivine teleports behind you. "Nothing personal kid."
(https://i.imgur.com/FX3Isr3.png)
We get some unlucky RNG, Carnivine doesn't one-hit Panpour, and Cottonee's Melee does minimum damage.
(https://i.imgur.com/V9J1jvQ.png)
Eevee cleans up the last of the army.
(https://i.imgur.com/zejQ7vs.png)
Oh, we get to recruit Nobuchika because this was still only 3 rounds in. We won this entire fight so fucking fast.
(https://i.imgur.com/ZPAjsUy.png)
I think these are the first words from Pitiwu in two updates.
(https://i.imgur.com/zVHCyZr.png)
Thanks to our speed and type advantage, we can recruit the whole team. Motochika fucks off somewhere.
(https://i.imgur.com/ES4WZX4.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/ebzEITB.png): But even though my castle is lost, my Pokemon will never leave me. Together, we will continue to resist the tides of fate.
((Is he like this because the tragedy of his family after his death? That doesn't make sense - he lived in the golden era of his clan.))
Anyway, we shuffle the new soggy recruits to Ignis to dry off. Wooper is all we were here for.
(https://i.imgur.com/RFqMVK6.png)
Chikamasa has a good ability. The other two were underwhelming and won't appear in this LP except for Morichika's Wooper to be there in the next fight.
(https://i.imgur.com/aXLBlpg.png)
((Listen. I'm trying, okay? I know I'm not good at this screenshot stuff.))
(https://i.imgur.com/cPnxRS6.png): ... You've heard the stories too, haven't you, Lord Pitiwu? The legendary Pokemon who is said to appear before the one who conquers all the kingdoms... The truth is that...right now... Ransei is on the brink of destruction...
((Again, Oichi is the only person who has told us this story so far. We get another cut scene like last time, it's not clear if Oichi is saying this. Maybe we're hearing it from God-mon.))
(https://i.imgur.com/StN9KrH.png)
A certain Warlord had set out on the road to conquest.
(https://i.imgur.com/gFcOJ7i.png)
His stated aim was to conquer all of the kingdoms and destroy Ransei.
(https://i.imgur.com/cPnxRS6.png): If Nobunaga is trying to destroy Ransei,he probably wants to use the power of the legendary Pokemon to do so. So... I think we should find this legendary Pokemon before Nobunaga does! That way, we can save Ransei!
...Luckily, Nobunaga's reach doesn't extend this far south yet.
Pugilis, Violight, and Chrysalia are the three kingdoms closest to us. Each of their Warlords is famed far and wide for their courage and strength. If we could get them to join us, our army would be truly formidable...
((We just bodily stomped Fontaine. I don't see what the big deal about Nobunaga is. He's exactly like us - killing his way to God.))
We now get access to see Pugilis, Violight, and Chrysalia on our map, but we've run into the increasingly annoying task of exhausting all the Warriors we have before moving to the next month. Uh, Rikyu, throw some solving at that problem for me.
(https://i.imgur.com/pNWGYhn.png)(https://i.imgur.com/Cp5uXJa.png)(https://i.imgur.com/Bqcx1Ac.png)
Thanks bud.
(https://i.imgur.com/SvKCpp8.png)(https://i.imgur.com/X1uEd8M.png)(https://i.imgur.com/adxNmoj.png)
Here are our three new targets - Electric, Bug, and Fighting types respectively. Before we can consider that, Oichi tells us what to think.
(https://i.imgur.com/M71uiAf.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/cPnxRS6.png): Pugilis, especially, is full of Fighting-type Pokemon. They might be too strong for Normal-type Pokemon like Eevee and Jigglypuff... And I have a feeling these Warlords might try invading our kingdoms, too... If we don't station Warriors to defend our castles, we could be in trouble... Just be careful, alright?
((So we've revealed a new mechanic: enemy Warlords will invade you. Personally, I've never seen this happen more than once. I play this game pretty fast, but if you mill about training everyone up, you'll get Pugilis or Violight messing with your holdings. That's pretty neat. You have to fight them on the battleground of that Kingdom, if I remember right. Chrysalia is a non-threat, so I might bait an invasion out from them so we can see it.))
Looking at Strength levels of the opponents, it's clear which way we're supposed to do this. There's really no benefit of not doing it in that way. You can pick up a Ralts from Chrysalia, giving you type advantage in Pugilis, but it's not essential. We can do this however we want. Violight can be trivialized by a Wooper, since it's immune to anything they can do, except for the dumbfounding bird and Panpour they have for some reason.
Note the golden background on the Violight guys - that one actually has two Warlords. Now that Oichi has mentioned that they might join us, these guys become recruitable. Usually you don't get them from the boss fight, but they'll show up in their Pokemon fields eventually.
(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/ee/ae/8c/eeae8ccfaf10cc19dd450a96426e3971.jpg)(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/99/60/32/996032de3c4621157b9ea02efcfef1b3.png)
I'm told that this game used the same designs as some sort of cross-promotion. You'd be hard pressed to convince me that they didn't just recycle concept art because this game was going to be a flop.
Next time: Violight or Pugilis? What do you prefer to see first?
Mitsunari, (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ishida_Mitsunari) Masanori, (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fukushima_Masanori) and Kiyomasa (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kat%C5%8D_Kiyomasa) were three people I had to genuinely look up. They were generals all present at the Battle of Sekigahara - which was the decisive battle which put Tokugawa on top and basically started the 260 year-long Tokugawa Shogunate. These three were in support of Tokugawa, which suggests that Pitiwu is actually Tokugawa. Notably, Masanori was part of Hideyoshi's mounted vanguard. That's pretty neat.
I'm pretty sure we're Tokugawa. Nobunaga is in the game as the final boss. Again, weird decision said don't mention him in the game until about 1/3 through it - even though it's in the Japanese title ("Pocket Monster + Nobunaga no yabou")
We'll meet Tokugawa Ieyasu fairly late in the first campaign: he's the Steel-type warlord. I don't believe there's any official word because both main characters are likely intended to be original, but general assessment is that the MC is most closely based on Nagamasa Azai (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azai_Nagamasa), albeit faring far better against Nobunaga than the historical Nagamasa did. This is mostly due to his close connection to Oichi and the male MC's appearance being superficially similar to his SW incarnation (https://i.imgur.com/3An7YvS.png).
Let's be honest, it's probably the magnificent hat (https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20120113).