WTF Pokemon. I mean, really?

[smithy_2045]

Well, if we assume pokemon types are equivalent to taxonomy, all rock type pokemon are from the same family, grass type the same and so on, each type of pokemon could have a different specific biochemistry. Now, let's say that rock/ground types contain a specific gene that is unique to them. Whatever protein it expresses, it allows for the resilience against electricity, but also negatively interacts with high quantities of water. Maybe something akin to lactic acid buildup for humans, but more drastic in its immediate effects. You can train to become more tolerant of lactic acid buildup, but never completely get rid of it because it's part of your genetics. So essentially, rock/ground are fine with water intake so far is required for their biochemical pathways, but excessive amounts cause formation of some compound that harms them.

As for the psychic weakness against bug types, that can actually be explained very simply. Many have already suggested the hive mind mentality and/or simple brain which could be considered partially correct. If we assume that we can break pokemon kingdom into two main branches, vertebrates and invertebrates just like it is in modern taxonomy, bug type are clearly invertebrates. The insect brain is significantly different from a vertebrate brain. It is this difference which the immunity to psychic can be attributed. This doesn't denote a difference in intelligence necessarily, but does indicate a different neurological control scheme. It's not like Independence Day where a Mac can infect alien hardware with a computer virus.

Please forgive any inaccuracies in this statement, it has been a long time since I took a course in evolutionary biology.

Also, now I've completely overdone this.

Thought I should point out that Rock has no resistance to Electricity. That would be the Ground type.

 

[Geekosaurus]

Yes, now it's grass/poison, but back in 1996 it was just grass.

http://serebii.net/pokedex/001.shtml

It was always grass/poison, you're probably thinking of the 'special' stat.

In which case, my five year old brain couldn't work it out.

 

[Geekosaurus]

Bulbasaur line, Charizard, Butterfree, Beedrill, Nidoqueen and Nidoking, Odish line, Paris line Venomoth, Bellsprout line, Tentacool line, Slowpoke line, Dewgong, Cloyster, Haunter line, Exeggcutor, Starmie, Scyther, Jinx, Gyarados, and Lapris. And let's not forget every flying or rock Pokemon.
How does adding two types which actually add depth make it worse?
Nidoran, Machop, Psyduck, Abra, Magikarp, Electrode, and Magnemite are just a few examples.
Bug pokemon are whatever the hell anyway.
Why?

But at least there was logic. Oh, its a dragon but it can also fly - dragon type and flying type. But now you can get things that are both water and electric. ...What?! And the colours thing is more of a juvenile observation, rather than cold, hard fact.

Pokemon just got retarded when they started giving pokemon two different types, and when they added more types. Also, the pokemon's colour used to relate directly to it's type. Generally, if they were blue they were water type, red for fire, and green for grass. Now it's just anything goes. And yes, that annoys me.

Uh, bulbasaur, Pokemon #1, is grass/poison.

Yes, now it's grass/poison, but back in 1996 it was just grass.

water and electric, the electric eel answers that question.

But it can't be super effective and not very effective at the same time!* Mind. Blown.

* [small]With the exception of dragon type. (Before all you poke-Nazis jump on that one.)[/small]

 

[SpcyhknBC]

Well, if we assume pokemon types are equivalent to taxonomy, all rock type pokemon are from the same family, grass type the same and so on, each type of pokemon could have a different specific biochemistry. Now, let's say that rock/ground types contain a specific gene that is unique to them. Whatever protein it expresses, it allows for the resilience against electricity, but also negatively interacts with high quantities of water. Maybe something akin to lactic acid buildup for humans, but more drastic in its immediate effects. You can train to become more tolerant of lactic acid buildup, but never completely get rid of it because it's part of your genetics. So essentially, rock/ground are fine with water intake so far is required for their biochemical pathways, but excessive amounts cause formation of some compound that harms them.

As for the psychic weakness against bug types, that can actually be explained very simply. Many have already suggested the hive mind mentality and/or simple brain which could be considered partially correct. If we assume that we can break pokemon kingdom into two main branches, vertebrates and invertebrates just like it is in modern taxonomy, bug type are clearly invertebrates. The insect brain is significantly different from a vertebrate brain. It is this difference which the immunity to psychic can be attributed. This doesn't denote a difference in intelligence necessarily, but does indicate a different neurological control scheme. It's not like Independence Day where a Mac can infect alien hardware with a computer virus.

Please forgive any inaccuracies in this statement, it has been a long time since I took a course in evolutionary biology.

Also, now I've completely overdone this.

Thought I should point out that Rock has no resistance to Electricity. That would be the Ground type.

My bad, I thought rock was strong against electricity. I've only played red and blue though, maybe they changed it? I distinctly remember my geodude and onyx being immune to electric attacks.

 

[SpcyhknBC]

Well, if we assume pokemon types are equivalent to taxonomy, all rock type pokemon are from the same family, grass type the same and so on, each type of pokemon could have a different specific biochemistry. Now, let's say that rock/ground types contain a specific gene that is unique to them. Whatever protein it expresses, it allows for the resilience against electricity, but also negatively interacts with high quantities of water. Maybe something akin to lactic acid buildup for humans, but more drastic in its immediate effects. You can train to become more tolerant of lactic acid buildup, but never completely get rid of it because it's part of your genetics. So essentially, rock/ground are fine with water intake so far is required for their biochemical pathways, but excessive amounts cause formation of some compound that harms them.

As for the psychic weakness against bug types, that can actually be explained very simply. Many have already suggested the hive mind mentality and/or simple brain which could be considered partially correct. If we assume that we can break pokemon kingdom into two main branches, vertebrates and invertebrates just like it is in modern taxonomy, bug type are clearly invertebrates. The insect brain is significantly different from a vertebrate brain. It is this difference which the immunity to psychic can be attributed. This doesn't denote a difference in intelligence necessarily, but does indicate a different neurological control scheme. It's not like Independence Day where a Mac can infect alien hardware with a computer virus.

Please forgive any inaccuracies in this statement, it has been a long time since I took a course in evolutionary biology.

Also, now I've completely overdone this.

Just because you admitted to overdoing it doesnt mean it doesnt deserve to be said again, you're overdoing this.
Also, why would someone with an interest in evolutionary biology not point out Nintendos "interesting" take on evolution: "Your Wartortle has evolved into a Blastoise!"
Maybe that angle's been overplayed though.

Actually, I don't think anyone has mentioned that yet. I've never fretted about that too much mainly because I just always assumed it was a translation flub or marketing ploy. Evolution sounds so much cooler than metamorphosis which would be closer to what they actually do. Also, for the record, I'm not an evolutionary biologist, I only took one course exclusively in evolution, I'm a biochemist primarily.

 

[Vault Citizen]

For example, why does water do extra damage to rock!? Water's ability to deal extra damage to rock baffles me, becuase rock, as a substance is quite waterproof, to the degree that "like water on rock" is a saying meaning a totally ineffective strategy.

And yet, erosion.

I would like to know why Psychic cant hit Dark.

Because in the pre Gold and Silver games there was nothing which was specifically good against pyschic types in any meaningful way, it was a badly needed balancing move.

 

[Bloodstain]

Pokemon just got retarded when they started giving pokemon two different types

Moltres, for example, is Fire/Flying. It is a Generation I pokémon.
So...Pokémon was retarded from the very beginning?

 

[Ipsen]

In terms of the water > rock argument, if you're body was made of rock, or some hard mineral, even a slight weakening by exposure to water (or the force of plant growth, or the shifting of the ground...or by force of a fighting punch or kick...Cant forget steel either...) I would think be significantly affecting. If you end up as a soft rock, you're in trouble. I would think if a rock pokemon was broken apart, they'd be more than just fainted.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

SO MANY QUESTIONS.

But then, when you start to think about it...the population of the Pokemon world is tiny
There are no real places for meeting people.
And I'm sorry, but Team Rocket can get a Pokemon and wipe out all human life on the planet, if they wanted to.

And why are Gyms called Gyms? What makes you good enough to run one?

The cites are hardly cities, they're more just villages.

How are Pokemon not the dominant species on the planet? Shouldn't they be the ones catching humans?

SO MANY PROBLEMS

To be fair, no cities in games are every proper city size.

GTA4's world is actually about the size of a town, all in all.

And in the anime, those cities were usually...actually cities.

 

[Eldarion]

Pokemon just got retarded when they started giving pokemon two different types

Moltres, for example, is Fire/Flying. It is a Generation I pokémon.
So...Pokémon was retarded from the very beginning?

]

bulbasaur has 2 types and its pokemon #1.

 

[Geekosaurus]

Pokemon just got retarded when they started giving pokemon two different types

Moltres, for example, is Fire/Flying. It is a Generation I pokémon.
So...Pokémon was retarded from the very beginning?

I've sort of covered this already - anything with wings I can comprehend as being something and flying. It's when you start getting water/electric, or ice/fighting, or some other nonsensical combination that started to piss me off.

 

[Geekosaurus]

Pokemon just got retarded when they started giving pokemon two different types

Moltres, for example, is Fire/Flying. It is a Generation I pokémon.
So...Pokémon was retarded from the very beginning?

]

bulbasaur has 2 types and its pokemon #1.

Right, I'm retracting the statement about two types. Lets just go with this: I don't like any pokemon that has a numerical classification over 151. Why? Because I can!

 

[Cid Silverwing]

Insects do extra damage to Dark? Me being a casual observer of this makes me wanna suggest that it correlates with Insects' connection to Nature, a secondary opposition to the Darkness-connection that the Dark pokes have.

One thing I don't understand is the speedos the Machs wear. "Power regulators"?

 

[OrokuSaki]

If you want to be logical then why does Ghost-type work well against psychics when people who claim to be "psychic" tend to talk to and COMMAND ghosts?

Why isn't lightning super-effective against steel but fie is?

 

[Azaradel]

Maybe it's just me, but Dark being weak to Fighting just bothers me.

I just have a problem seeing how punching a Darkrai in the face is going to do anything.

http://archives.bulbagarden.net/media/upload/e/e5/Spr_4p_491.png
"Quick, punch it in the face!!!"

Also, Garchomp's Pokédex entries state that:
"When it folds up its body and extends its wings, it looks like a jet plane. It flies at sonic speed."

Yet, it can't learn fly.

My bad, I thought rock was strong against electricity. I've only played red and blue though, maybe they changed it? I distinctly remember my geodude and onyx being immune to electric attacks.

It's because they're both rock/ground types, with the ground type giving them the immunity.

 

[emeraldrafael]

For example, why does water do extra damage to rock!? Water's ability to deal extra damage to rock baffles me, becuase rock, as a substance is quite waterproof, to the degree that "like water on rock" is a saying meaning a totally ineffective strategy.

And yet, erosion.

I would like to know why Psychic cant hit Dark.

Because in the pre Gold and Silver games there was nothing which was specifically good against pyschic types in any meaningful way, it was a badly needed balancing move.

But you had Ghost and Dark. And in those games the attack sp. stat was just one stat so any pokemon that used it (like Alakazam) was going to break the game.

 

[TheEvilCheese]

http://www.serebii.net/games/type.shtml

simple, all the silly type matchups make it somewhat balanced.
As of now, (discounting Ubers) there are a lot of variations in competitive play, due to a (relatively) well balanced plethora of Pokemon types.

 

[Mittens The Kitten]

For example, why does water do extra damage to rock!?

Dude rock types have always been weak against water attacks since the first games. That's not something new they threw in recently, though it doesn't make it any less baffling.

I started this thread when i noticed wierd stuff that i didnt notice when i was 7 years old, its not a complaint about the new games.