A brief update concerning Paldea

[StellarWind Elsydeon]

So, Scarlet and Violet have been out for two days now - and I'm sure many of us are still in the middle of playing it. Discoveries are still being made and as such, some updates to the rules are forthcoming. However, until we complete our review of the new legendaries and legendary adjacent creatures, several provisory rules must be put in place.

1. Pending further review, Paldea's legendaries as well as the unusual Pokémon from the Great Crater of Paldea may not be used in RPs at all. Updates shall be provided further once their lore implications are clarified. A detailed list shall be provided when sufficient time has passed as to not constitute spoilers.

2. Terastalizing is permitted, though until stated otherwise, it is restricted to RPs taking place within the Paldea region and similar limitations as to those in the game apply - one would require a Tera Orb to do so, the orb needs to be charged before it can be used again, etc. To the best of my awareness, there is no official lore explanations as for where Tera Orbs come from as of yet, supposedly there may be some bureaucratic hoops to jump, updates on this will be provided as well.

 

[StellarWind Elsydeon]

Update! (Finally)

1. Terastalizing remains allowed within Paldea only (until we have any official confirmation that it can be used elsewhere). Officially, The technology behind manufacturing Tera Orbs remains exclusive to the academies and the Paldean Pokémon League, and so one may only obtain a Tera Orb via these avenues. It has been stated officially that not every person is eligible to receive a Tera Orb, however (the ingame protagonist, as usual, gets fast-tracked in a way a normal person wouldn't) - presumably one would have to apply for one and some official test of battle aptitude would be required as part of the process. However, in the interest of saving myself AND all of you a massive headache that can all be handled off screen and there is no need to apply for permission to receive a Tera Orb from our staff.

2. Legendaries and Legendary-Adjacent Pokemon:
Given current lore, the following decisions are currently in place regarding these creatures. The reasoning behind these decisions has been placed under a spoiler tag as they provide spoilers for their stories.

a. Koraidon and Miraidon are classified as encounter only.

Spoiler: WARNING: Spoilers for the 'The Way Home' chapter of the main Scarlet/Violet story.

Officially, only two Koraidon/Miraidon were ever brought to this time period - the one that ends up with the ingame protagonist and a very powerful and aggressive second specimen. Theoretically, both of these specimens have been captured - which implies that they are not going to be catchable nor are they likely to bond with others.

b. The Treasures of Ruin are classified as temporary bonding only.

Spoiler: WARNING: Spoilers for the history class arc and associated lore

The Treasures of Ruin are likely unique and bound to their associated relics. All four brought together can have absolutely devastating effects on a regional scale if they are provoked to it, and for this reason they were sealed in their shrines long ago. These seals are not to be tampered with without good reason - but given the fact people are people, there may always be the sorts to truck with forces they do not understand, antagonists who might seek to obtain the power of these relics for themselves - or perhaps individuals that may win over their allegiance for a time. However, given the threat they represent and their fickle nature if they judge one unworthy - it is likely they would only lend their power to someone for a limited period of time, and should be sealed again afterwards.

c. Paradox Pokémon have similar rules applying to them as legendaries that can be captured.

Spoiler: WARNING: Spoilers for... well, everything associated with the damn things

Much like Ultra Beasts, this classification derives from the fact that their strength is legendary-adjacent (this holds particularly true for things like Roaring Moon and Iron Valiant) and from their general confinement to Area Zero - an area that access to which is deeply restricted (absolutely prohibited to most individuals, actually!), with powerful security systems in place to keep not only would-be-explorers out but the unique 'mon in. Nonetheless, some specimens may manage to escape containment on occasion and I can see someone managing to bond and capture with the things... although I suspect it would take a skilled trainer to keep these creatures and their unpredictable primal and/or futuristic power under control.

 

[StellarWind Elsydeon]

I seem to have forgotten to update things for the Scarlet/Violet DLC! Having caught up with it now, some updates regarding some newly-introduced legendaries.

A. Regarding The Kitakami Legends

Spoiler: WARNING: Spoilers for The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero: The Teal Mask

Due to the fairly complicated nature of the legendaries introduced in Kitakami (they appear to be particular individuals rather than species and their associated mechanics – the masks for Ogerpon and the Toxic Chains that made the "Loyal Three" what they are), the Loyal Three should be considered encounter-only legendaries and Ogerpon herself should be considered a bonding-capable legendary at most, at least, until such a time as more of their species are introduced through canonical circumstances.

B. Terapagos is... tentatively encounter-only for understandable reasons.

C. The DLC-based paradox 'mon fall under the same umbrella as other Paradox 'mon.

Additionally, an update to the rules has been made permitting Terastalizing outside Paldea in places where the phenomenon is stable, such as Kitakami and Blueberry Academy. As the latter managed to stabilize the phenomenon artificially, it is possible for similar methods to be utilized in limited closed environments of fanmade facilities, although they may need to be affiliated with Blueberry Academy somehow as they're the only buggers that managed to do so so far. >>