New Player Guide

Hi there, and welcome to Voxica Live Server! We're pleased to have you and hope that you'll stick around through the (somewhat confusing) character creation stage so that we can play with you!

This page will take you step by step on the important things to do and see once you've joined our server.

1. Reading Up
We do have a lot of PDFs and information in the Reference Document, and while it's all important, you don't need to overwhelm yourself by catching up on everything all at once. Here are some of our suggestions:

1.1 Download the Resources
Pokémon Tabletop is a large, exciting game. It's advised that you familiarize yourself with the basics of the system from the Core Rulebook before making your character (and we'd be happy to answer any questions). Here are links to the documents that will be discussed in this guide:
 * PTU 1.05 Core Rulebook - The system on which our game is based.
 * Voxica Reference Document - Our primary server information/mechanics document.
 * Class Compendium - A list of all Trainer Classes, Edges, and Features used on our server.
 * Pokédex & Reference - A compendium of all available Pokémon, along with all Moves and Abilities.
 * Items Listing - All Trainer items used on our server. (Also, a separate Weapons Listing.)
 * Trainer Sheet - This is where you'll be building your character. Don't copy it until Section 2!

1.2: Read the Rules
This should be an obvious one! The rules can be found near the top of the Reference Document, along with a list of the PTU materials we don't use. Reading these over might save both of us some trouble later.

1.3: Get Familiar with Recent Lore
Our Reference Document is to go-to spot for all of our mechanics, but it also has a brief overview of recent lore in the 'Setting ' section. If it's your first time here, you'll probably be playing a human, so click on that link to learn more about them. (If you're brave and eager to be a different race, you'll have to take a quiz first-- ask Seya!) It's also a good spot to learn more about the nine stable Far Realms in Ultra Space, which is where our stories take place.

1.4: Understand our Token System
In order for all players to fairly experience what Voxica has to offer, we use a Tokens-to-Play system where everyone must contribute to game-master (GM) tasks to fully enjoy the game. Haven't GMed before? Don't fret! You have enough Tokens at start to play up to 6 sessions before needing to earn them, and we've got plenty of people more than willing to help unfamiliar GMs learn the ropes.

1.5: Take a Look at our Custom Mechanics
Beneath the explanation for Tokens on the Reference Document, you can find plenty of other information for mechanics that are unique to Voxica as a whole. These include Shiny Pokémon templates, Capture Mechanics (different from Core, including Persuasion Captures), Old Coins and Loyalty. While not all may be immediately relevant to your character, they will give you a good idea on important aspects of our gameplay.

2. Creating Your Character
Here comes the exciting part-- actually putting your character together to play! Hopefully by now you've taken a cursory look at the Class Compendium and have a general idea of the kind of Trainer you'd like to play. The five playable races are Voxican (human), Aailu, Muhandi, Veilid, and Iosan-- the four latter require quizzes to be unlocked.

2.1: Make a Copy of the Trainer Sheet
It's easiest to work when you have the proper tools in front of you! Our Trainer Sheet is frequently updated, so make sure you're copying the most recent version.

2.2: Character Creation Guidelines
We have a set of basic guidelines for you to follow when you begin to plan your character
 * You are a Level 1 Trainer
 * By default, your race is Human (unless you've passed a different racial quiz)
 * Your Starter Pokémon (generated in the next step) will:
 * Be Level 10
 * Start at Loyalty 3
 * You may have 1-3 starters.
 * You will have $1500 in starter funds, which can be spent on anything on the Item List
 * Free Items:
 * 1x Full Heal
 * 1x Potion
 * 2x Enriched Water
 * 1 Item of choice (from the Item List) valued at $2000 or less

2.3: Spending Creation Points / Generating Your Starters
You'll need to hop over to the #s9-starter-rolling channel on our Discord.

Each player starts with a base of 10 Creation Points (CP), which are used to generate starters or give further bonuses to your characters upon creation. If you participated in certain events, contests, or earned recognition for something during the previous season, you may have more than the base 10.

**  LOG ALL CP EXPENDITURES IN THE #creation-point-log CHANNEL ON DISCORD!** 

Creation points are first and foremost spent to determine your starters. '''All starters by default will have randomized Natures, Abilities, and Genders (NAG). These are rolled in #s8-starter-rolling by typing '?randomnature [pokemon]''` (for Nature), or by consulting the Pokedex entry for your Pokemon and checking the Basic Abilities and Gender Ratio. To determine whether a Pokémon is considered an advanced starter, type ?advancedstarters and Dyno will bring up a list-- everything not listed on there is considered basic. Legendaries, Ultra Beasts, and Rotom cannot be picked as starters.

Creation Point Expenditure Prices
Should you not be happy with one or more of the Pokémon you rolled, you have two options:
 * 1 CP: Roll a starter from the full list (?rollallstarters).
 * 2 CP: Roll a starter from a specific type (?roll[type]starters, i.e. ?rollwaterstarters).
 * This instead costs 3 CP when rolling for Fairy, Dragon, Ghost, or Steel type.
 * 5 CP: Choose a specific Basic 2- or 3-stage starter.
 * 7 CP: Choose a specific Advanced 2- or 3-stage starter, or a Basic single-stage starter.
 * 9 CP: Choose an Advanced single-stage starter.
 * 1 CP: Choose one starter's Gender. Can be done after seeing the randomly rolled result.
 * 1 CP: Choose one starter's Basic Ability. Can be done after seeing the randomly rolled result.
 * 1 CP: Choose one starter's Nature. Can be done after seeing the randomly rolled result.
 * 2 CP: Choose an Egg Move to add to one starter's Inheritance List, following Tutor Rules (check ?tutorrules).
 * 2 CP: Apply TOSIKI or Fossil Restoration to one starter (providing you have that Class Feature).
 * 5 CP: Apply a Minor Shiny Template to one starter.
 * 1 CP: Extra $250 starting funds or 250 Scrap of Choice.
 * 1 CP: 1 Bonus Trainer Stat Point
 * 1) You may 'Coin' a Pokemon to receive 1 Old Coin in place of that rolled result. However, this Old Coin will count towards your starter limit of three Pokemon. CP remains spent.
 * 2) You may 'Void' a Pokémon to receive nothing for the place of the rolled result, but may pay to roll a new Pokemon, as Voided results do not count towards the starter limit of three Pokemon. CP remains spent.