Explore the world, one post at a time
Lately I’ve been thinking about ideas for a Pokemon Mystery Dungeon game featuring Pokemon from Gens 7-9, since the newest original game was Super back in the Gen 6 days. Here’s the main ideas I’ve got so far.
Starter Set:
Pikachu
Alolan Sandshrew
Galarian Ponyta
Cyndaquil
Paldean Wooper
Teddiursa
Oshawott
Goomy
Rowlet
Litten
Popplio
Rockruff
Grookey
Scorbunny
Sobble
Clobbopus
Sprigatito
Fuecoco
Quaxly
Tinkatink
Pikachu, Goomy, and the Hisui starters have access to both evolutions, Teddiursa also has access to Ursaluna here. I wanted a balance between the regions, and gave myself a limit of 20 like Super. Pikachu and the starters from these gens were basically required, so I used the remaining slots for variants and new Pokemon. Tried to go for some variety in the types available but I’m also very biased with some picks.
Story/Lore:
Idea for the main antagonist is a Type: Null/Silvally (I still can’t decide), locked away by its creators and having reawakened in the present long after humans have mostly disappeared from the world. The Regis also get involved somehow, partially because I think they’re cool. The other reason is because as far as I know, there’s no piece of Pokemon media where the Regis are the main focus, when they do show up they’re always some side thing and another Pokemon is the star. We got two new Regis in the SwSh DLC so they count as Gens 7-9.
The big idea I have is looking at how humans have impacted the PMD world, since we know they do exist here. I can buy some of the ruins being made by Pokemon, but places like the Decrepit Lab and Power Plant friend areas in Rescue Team are clearly man made. And humans aren’t some long gone species, they’re still around when the games take place. When your character tells other Pokemon that they’re human, none of them ever go “What’s a human?”, showing that they know what a human is. The protagonist in the Explorers games is also a human from the future, not isekai’d from some other world like the others. If humans didn’t exist at all by this point, they wouldn’t exist. Humans might only exist in small numbers in isolated areas, but we know for sure that they aren’t extinct.
Main idea for the partner is that they’re very interested in history/mythology, and they want to become an explorer to investigate the many ruins on the continent. They’re not as interested in helping people, but still do it because they aren’t completely heartless and they’ve got bills to pay. Might be a bit of a tough decision though if they have to pass up a once in a lifetime research opportunity to save someone.
For the hero, I’ve got two ideas. The first is that they’re a human from the past who got reincarnated as a Pokemon in the present, the second is that they’re a modern human living in the PMD world who got turned into a Pokemon somehow. Heart of gold, helps make sure their partner makes the right decisions. Not book smart but they’re good at solving puzzles.