The Ghost/Psychic Ban

[Adriel Sorano]

So yeah. As all of you are aware, Ghost and Psychic-types are more or less banned from this site, not counting the few staff members (plus Laz) who has them. I'm making this thread to officially challenge (and hopefully lift) these bans. I know it probably seems petty, but there have already been numerous complaints about it (and not just by me), and it's especially frustrating to me because both issues could have easily been resolved without forcing a restriction on what members can and can't capture. I'd like to add that I mean no disrespect toward the admins, and have no intentions of challenging their authorities. Still, I feel this is long overdue...if nothing else, just to get it out of my system so I don't end up arguing in the cbox over it whenever it's brought up again

First, I'll address the banning of Ghost Pokemon. This came about because the admins insisted on making them immune to all physical attacks, as opposed to just Normal and Fighting attacks. While I commend the attempt at originality, it also created a slight issue of making Ghosts ridiculously over-powered, partly due to the fact that this makes their biggest weakness (the Dark type) virtually useless against them. There are only two special Dark moves, and only one of them can actually be learned via level-up. Because of this, they were banned. Frankly, I find a few flaws with the whole "no physical attacks" thing.

1) You're taking the term "Ghost-type" too literally. They are not actually ghosts, but merely Pokemon with ghost-like attributes. Based on the logic being used, all Water-type Pokemon would be liquid-based, and all Fire-types should be made of flames...or at least constantly on fire. As we know, this is not the case for either of those types.

2) Why should it matter if the move is physical or not? A while back someone (don't remember who) kept arguing that they shouldn't be affected by physical attacks because they're "intangible". However, intangible' means that that something can't be touched by anything. Either way, why would fireball have any more of an effect on ghosts than, say, a razor sharp leaf? I mean, look at all the RPGs out there. I've played many of them, and out of all of them, I can only think of one where ghost enemies were completely immune to physical attacks. And even then, non-mage characters were able to get around it by using attacks that involved adding some sort of magic effect to their weapon-based attacks...sounds an awful lot like Fire Punch, if you ask me.

3) If a Ghost-type can't be hit by a physical move, then, based on the logic used here, they shouldn't be allowed to use physical moves either. Otherwise it wouldn't make sense...how would they be able to hit something physically, if they themselves can't be physically hit? Only thing is, this would rob them of rather useful attacks like Shadow Claw and Shadow Punch. Not to mention that several of them can make use of other useful moves, such as the Elemental Punches or Explosion. Either way, all you're doing is making things more complicated than they should be.

As for the ban on Psychics...well...no offense, but that was just dumb. The reason for the ban that was given was something to the effect of "they have a lot of moves that are easy to godmode with since they can't be seen". Frankly, that's crap. There are only a few moves where that can become an issue...Psychic, Confusion, and Telekinesis. And each of these can easily be depicted as blasts of psychic energy. And for those of you (again, don't remember who) that were all "BUT THE PSYCHIC TYPES ARE LIKE JEDIS, AND THEY'RE USING THE FORCE", just...shut up. Please. This isn't Star Wars. It's goddamn Pokemon. Even then, in games like Force Unleashed, Force powers like the push and lift were depicted with visible shockwaves, so the argument still falls flat.

Anyways...yeah. These are my thoughts on the bans. If nothing else, I just needed to get this off my chest, seeing as how every time it gets brought up, I find myself resisting the urge to go into a massive rant. And like I said, hopefully, this will help toward getting the bans lifted because, frankly, they're highly unnecessary. If, after reading this, you still feel the bans are necessary, then by all means. Ignore me. After all, it's not my site. But I at least hope you see where I'm coming from. And, once again, I mean no disrespect.

[Thomas Faye]

I would like to add in, banning Psychic's makes Fighting types INCREDIBLY strong, as they would only have one weakness; Flying. With all that Fighting beats up, having one weakness is highly unfair and OP'd. Just thought I'd add that in <_<

[Eros Wakefield]

Adriel has taken all of the words in my mouth and typed them up into a very well-written, very respectful tirade. I really like the way you went about this <3.

But yes. I too disagree with the ban. If anything, let it be known that psychic types and ghost types are an ultra rare occurrence. They have no set location/setting on the island, so it would be hard to find one, I imagine. Battle Mods shouldn't give them out willy nilly to anyone in the C-Box who says "I'd really like to catch a psychic or ghost type."

But to ban the capture of them completely is pretty unnecessary, I believe. What's more, I don't think its fair that Laz received one or that an Admin has them and these types aren't open to the rest of the RPers. As a group of mature players who can handle these Pokemon without whoring out the abilities that the site's co-owners fear we would, our fun and creativity is being infringed upon by a ban that isn't needed.

And that's my two cents.

[Lazarus]

So yeah, in case I do suddenly disappear from the face of the earth, you should all know that you have my honest vote for uplifting the whole ban thing.

[Ray]

I disagree with the ban as well. I don't have much more to say Adriel, you said it all.

[speedy]

Ehh I might as well Cast my vote in. You all probably know that I want an Alakazam in my team any way. So yeah, I'm all for Uplifting the ban.

[Seki]

*kicks ban* gimme my Espeon!

[Rixie Pakuna]

I agree wholeheartedly with uplifting these bans. I'd say more, but I'd only be repeating what has already been said.

[Raize Phoenix]

I do believe that Adriel has said it all. Thomas has a point as well. Without ghost & psychic pokemon, the rp balance has been thrown off. The fighting types are quite powerful now, though not many have been captured. Psychic attacks do have a physical form, for the most part. Even those that do not have a physical form can actually be described at a glowing light pink aura that surrounds the target(s). The Ghost pokemon are not actually ghosts themselves and thus CAN be hit. With the maturity levels of the members, Im sure that everyone can handle them. For any other further arguments, look at Adriel's post.

Though repetitive, this is just my opinion.

[kaera]

I dont' see why the ban is still in place <.< I haven't seen Civ or Roxx for a long period of time unless you count the ten minute spans they hvae in the Cbox then vanish again for weeks. Laz and Van and Aphr are the admins in my eyes and if they say 'go ahead' then why don't we just do it?

[Lily Reynolds]

One other issue I'd like to bring up that I've seen, before everyone gets a psychic type, and that's that every psychic type (and the one ghost) I've seen here so far could telepathically communicate with humans. I'm a bit confused about this, because as far as I've seen this is not something that should be happening. They can't do this in the games (as far as I've ever seen), and even in the anime they don't. Now I haven't seen all of the anime, and maybe they changed this at some point after I stopped watching it. But as far as I know, only Mewtwo ever did this, and Mewtwo is vastly more powerful then most other pokemon. I just think this contributes to reasons why psychic types would be banned, and should be put under control. Not all of them have the telepathy ability, and even if they did - Mind reading does not mean they know human speech and can relay thoughts around. Just means they can hear them. Even the move Mind Reader wouldn't allow this. Despite it's English name, it's more movement reading then actual mind reading. In Japanese it's called 'Heart's Eye', if that's any indication. Anyway, this is just another point I have of psychic types being treated as stronger then they should be. >_>

Basically, things can be changed. Based on how things work here, Adriel's 'psychic energy' idea works perfectly. And removing the random telepathy make psychic types perfectly normal pokemon with no reason for banning. As for ghosts, they just need their normal limits installed, as Adriel said. Things are only as OP as we let them be.