Recent posts

#81

Music / Re: Which songs are you curren...

Last post by DrampardonMe - June 05, 2024, 17:24

Tears For Fears -- Everybody Wants To Rule The World

I'm not sure I get the actual meaning of the song, but in recent years, it's struck me as one they'd pick to play at the end of a movie as the protagonist squints over the horizon, says some "deep" one-liner amounting to "Job Well Done", and then he and his pals ride into the sunset, roll credits, etc., but in a way that doesn't fit the mood of the situation at all. If this hasn't been done before, I'd be surprised.

[Marvel vs Capcom Collection]

#82

Gaming / Nintendo Switch 2 officially r...

Last post by DrampardonMe - June 04, 2024, 22:56

I haven't exactly been keeping up, but last I heard, they were going to announce "something" in June. Definitely curious, but cautiously so, mainly because I don't know what that means for the Switch going forward, besides its inevitable "phasing-out" in a few years. Of course, that's assuming we're getting a new console entirely.

Either way, it's no real skin off my nose. The Switch is probably the last video game console I'll ever get... At least, I keep telling myself that! I'll probably play video games as long as it's plausible to do so, though. I have other priorities these days, but that's besides the point.

EDIT: For anyone glancing at this post in retrospect, a new Nintendo Direct drops TOMORROW (Tuesday the 18th, for those curious) HOWEVER, as per the video description:

There will be no mention of the Nintendo Switch successor during this presentation.

So that rules out... that. I'll probably be too busy to catch all of the Direct, myself, but hey, them's the breaks. Will likely update with my thoughts, assuming it's anything good.

Belated response to the direct:

*New Mario & Luigi game? Cool!
*Zelda: Zelda's Zeldening? Not bad!
*Metroid Prime 4? About time!

But for me, it's all about the Marvel vs Capcom Collection. I honestly thought they'd never do it... [MANLY TEARS]

EDIT2: In case you haven't seen or heard, the next Nintendo console has been announced! However, it turns out some Switch games won't even be compatible with the Switch 2. This is unfortunate, considering my Switch is starting to have technical issues in its own right, and I don't trust "buying the Switch 2" as anything more than a temporary fix for a (potentially) inevitable problem. I'd sooner trust my 3DS to still work 10 years down the line, if only because it still works now.

Looks like we're waiting until April for the next Direct, whatever that entails. Anyone optimistic about the Switch 2? Thoughts besides? Personally, I think the name and design are going to confuse a lot of people who would otherwise buy a new system for their kids. "Why does Little Jimmy need another Wii?" is what happened with Wii U, despite that being the least of that console's issues. You can't tell me the potential for "Why does Little Jimmy need another Switch?" isn't there.

#83

Team Building / Casual Sandstorm Team

Last post by DrampardonMe - June 03, 2024, 19:30

Anyone keeping up with Gen 9's battles? I have a Sandstorm team on Scarlet, and I'm curious how well it'd do in, say, a casual tournament. Not aiming for TRUE competitive, but feel free to give advice for the viewers at home who are.

Bear with me regarding IVs/EVs, I don't have the exact numbers unless otherwise stated:

Koizumi/Espeon (Male) @ Light Clay
Ability: Magic Bounce
Tera Type: Normal
EVs: Maximum Speed, a lot in Sp.Def and a good chunk in Sp.ATK
IVs: Just assume they're hypertrained in the right places
+Speed, -Attack
Reflect
Helping Hand (for Doubles, anyway)
Psychic
Protect

It basically exists to set up Reflect. Helping Hand for whomever in Doubles, but I guess I could swap it out for Light Screen in Singles. Psychic so it isn't stuck without an attack, and Protect is pretty staple in Doubles. Normal Tera Type was mostly because I raised it from an Eevee, but I'm willing to change it to something better if need be. I just figured it'd be good in a pinch against Ghosts...

This is probably the weakest link, and the most utility-based choice (I don't hate Espeon, but it's not my favorite, either) with nothing to really mitigate the Sandstorm damage. I'm pretty sure there's something with Prankster which does this better, but I like Magic Bounce, too. I'm willing to replace Espeon if need be, though.

EDIT: I was thinking Klefki, since I noticed this team would probably struggle with Dragons, but uh, it's not going to do much besides set up walls, is it? Unless Reflect/Light Screen/Dazzling Gleam/Protect is doable? Somehow? Not a big fan of the Impidimp line, plus Grimmsnarl is more of a physical attacker, and if I'm replacing Espeon, I'd rather something equal or greater to the role it plays now.

Hector/Kleavor (Male) @ Life Orb
Ability: Sheer Force
Tera Type: Stellar
EVs: Maximum Attack, a bunch in Speed and some in Defense
IVs: Everything except Sp.ATK is hyper trained
+Attack, -Sp.ATK
Lunge
Tailwind
Rock Slide
Protect

Kleavor is pretty much the reason I got back into playing Pokemon after skipping Sword and Shield. PLA was pretty cool, too, but I digress. In doubles, have him set up Tailwind alongside Koizumi and/or get to sweeping, depending on the situation. Lunge and Rock Slide are mainly for STAB and to take advantage of Sheer Force/Life Orb. Wish he had a better move pool... No Accelerock makes me sad...

I really only made him Stellar-type because I didn't see him benefitting from losing his dual-type, but dang if his axes don't look cool in Stellar. Too bad "looking cool" doesn't win battles, haha. Is Sharpness much better, though? I love the Sheer Force/Life Orb combo, but...

Sadcargo "the Teary-Eyed"/Magcargo (Male) @ Soft Sand
Ability: Flame Body
Tera Type: Ground
EVs: Maximum Defense, a lot in Sp.ATK and some in Sp.Def
IVs: Stupidly, I hypertrained everything when Attack didn't need the boost. Ah well!
+Defense, -Attack
Power Gem
Earth Power
Heat Wave
Protect

Ideally, I've got a Sandstorm set up to help increase its Sp.Def, but that point's moot when it terastalizes. Also ideally, Reflect is in play. It's a real novelty choice, but I'd like to get it to work if I could. Not opposed to replacing Soft Sand if there's a better item. Probably isn't the best to use in Singles, admittedly.

Patricio/Ludicolo (Male) @ Leftovers
Ability: Swift Swim (in case of weather wars)
Tera Type: Rock
EVs: Maximum Speed, almost all in Sp.ATK and a smidge in Sp.Def
IVs: Everything except Attack is hypertrained
+Speed, -Attack
Giga Drain
Weather Ball
Chilling Water (Because it doesn't get Scald :c )
Protect

The Rock Tera-type is pretty much to ensure the Sp.Def boost and to take advantage of Weather Ball. Giga Drain for longevity. Chilling Water to capitalize on crippling physical attackers even more. Protect because Leftovers.

...Actually, I'm not sure if Chilling Water is justified or not. The only hard-hitting Water moves it has are Surf and Hydro Pump... Or, well, it learns Muddy Water, too, but I'm not a fan of that or Hydro Pump's shaky accuracy. I'm a bit stumped!

Terrence "the Teeny"/Sandslash (Male) @ Expert Belt
Ability: Sand Rush
Tera Type: Bug
EVs: Maximum Attack, almost all in Defense and a bit in Speed
IVs: Everything except Sp.ATK is hypertrained
+Attack, -Sp.ATK
Rock Slide
Leech Life
Earthquake
Poison Jab

Rock Slide and Earthquake should be self-explanatory. Poison Jab for Fairies who won't go down to any of the other moves*, Leech Life to keep him alive and justify the Tera Type. I'd rather keep it Bug Tera either way, but I figure if it's going really fast with Sand Rush and with a screen or two up, it'll likely hit hard before opponents have a chance to take advantage of it being pure Bug.

*I realize a Steel-type move would arguably be better for that, but "Kantonian" Sandslash doesn't get much better than Metal Claw or Gyro Ball... Shame, because Iron Head would be cool.

Prudence "The Early Riser"/Hippowdon (Female) @ Smooth Rock
Ability: Sand Stream
Tera Type: Ground
EVs: Max Defense, almost all HP and a smidge in Attack
IVs: 0 in Speed and that's all that matters lol. Though Attack is Best and I hypertrained HP/Defense/Sp.Def
+Defense, -Sp.ATK
Sandstorm
Yawn
High Horsepower
Protect

And so we come to the sandstorm-setter herself! Not sure if knowing Sandstorm is redundant, but the idea is to either force a switch with Yawn or get the oppponent to actually sleep. High Horsepower over Earthquake because damage isn't the overall goal. In retrospect, those spare EVs should have gone into Sp.Def... Anyway, Protect for either format because Yawn and such.

Again, I'm open to suggestions, but I don't see myself battling online since, well, the 3DS days. Mainly asking for other's benefit! ...annnnd out of curiosity, too.

#84

Fake Whatever / DrampardonMe's Fakemon Collect...

Last post by DrampardonMe - June 03, 2024, 16:09

Pretty sure this goes here. Anyway:



Snoyew and Luchilldor!

My attempt at Gen 1 sprites, though obviously all the stats herein are for more modern games. My sprite work needs... work, or I'd have done upwards of Game Boy graphics.

Not much else to say not already in the image. I remember having fun designing these, though!

Any advice on the sprites, stats, etc.? Lemme know!

EDIT: I'm hoping someone out there recognizes these, because they're my favorite I've ever made, a play on "Making a Mountain out of a Molehill". Here:



These drawings are from a couple years ago. I still have trouble drawing Mountole, especially its arms, eheh.

I think I have their base stats in a text file somewhere, but I'm mostly posting for their designs/info.

I should really make a Water/Fighting Fakemon at some point, since those are my two favorite types. I had a starter line to that effect years ago, but nothing I'd consider presentable today.

EDIT: Oh yeah. I love Trubbish, but Garbodor is kinda "meh" to me, so I made a split-evo:



I didn't want to make it too different stat-wise, but what's the usual rule of thumb for split evolutions? Same base stats, but shuffled around? Should I swap out Aftermath for Wind Rider? I feel, bare minimum, it needs to keep Stench.

Design-wise, I thought about getting rid of the "trash horns", but I figured it'd look pretty boring without them. Just not sure what else to put there, haha.

[Anti-Turmoil Negotiators of Assault]

#85

Your Art / Re: Your OCs

Last post by DrampardonMe - June 03, 2024, 15:00

I've got five here, so let me condense it a bit...



If you have a five-man team and you don't draw them in the Ginyu Pose at least once, you're doing it wrong.

Oh, and as for "quotes":



Only Green Leader's stupid catch phrase has appeared in-comic so far. The others are pretty much "sample quotes". I'm a bit indecisive regarding Yellow Jammer's potential voice actress, for whatever reason.

Anyway, these are the Anti-Turmoil Negotiators of Assault (A.N.A. for short), or what's left of them:

Names: Green Leader, Black Muscle, Red Gunner, Yellow Jammer, Blue Ninja
Ages: Mid-30s or early 40s (GL), 30-ish (BM and RG), 11 (YJ), and 20s-ish (Blue Ninja)
Gender: All male except Yellow Jammer who's female
Species: Humans
Powers/Abilities:
*Green Leader has basic CQC and probably tossed a grenade once, but other than that, he's horribly unremarkable (unless you count his superhuman cigarette addiction and penchant for being REALLY ANGRY)
*Black Muscle has enough strength to toss chunks of the earth at tanks (or vice-versa), made possible by intense training under a strict master
*Red Gunner is a master gunman. He's especially fond of his custom-painted, custom-built rocket launcher.
*Yellow Jammer is one of those child geniuses, capable of hacking almost any machine through the use of the hologram laptop (or "holotop" ) stored in her visor.
*Blue Ninja's cyber-suit allows him to move super fast and cut nearly anything with his laser blade.
Alignment: Collectively and ultimately Good, though Green Leader himself has shades of Neutral (and I don't mean his sunglasses)
They don't really live anywhere, since their one home base was compromised, and now they wander space in an ancient UFO. It's a long story.
Personalities:
*Green Leader is hot-headed and foul-mouthed
*Black Muscle is reserved and intelligent
*Red Gunner takes the least kindly to betrayal out of all of them
*Yellow Jammer is chipper and optimistic
*Blue Ninja is quick to making witty retorts and is strangely obsessed with the 1980s/90s despite the story taking place in 22XX A.D. (though I guess that last part doesn't come up in the story itself that often)
Goal(s): To liberate Earth from alien rule

That's to keep things "short". I'd put additional info here, but at that point I might as well figure out how to upload the actual comics I've made (which I'm not comfortable doing at this time)

EDIT: Do you like chibis? I hope you like chibis:



I'd post more to-scale drawings, but I forget what the width limit on forums is in general. The site I used seems to have shrunk it, anyway... I haven't forum-posted in years, and it shows.

EDIT2: Hey, remember that one funny anime from 2007?!

Yeah, I miss Gurren Lagann, too.

...Okay, but seriously, though:


And here's an out-of-context panel from one of the newer comic pages:

(was gonna put this in my sig, but I like the current one with the cows too much)

Finally, here's an "album cover" for some fictional J-Pop single:



It's the closest thing to retro video game box art I've ever drawn! I'm not STRONG enough to draw the AMERICAN version... Yet.

Speaking of box art:



Boy, do my logos need work, too...

Also, guess what?



It's summer. NOT ANYMORE, LOL

WARNING: More 2007-era Anime Nostalgia:



In retrospect, I've shared an awful lot of parody art. On the other hand, I like how this last one came out, even if it's not perfect. Highlight of my weekend, to be honest.

[HAPPY 2025!!]

#86

Your Art / Fan Art By Yours Truly

Last post by DrampardonMe - June 03, 2024, 00:02

HAPPY 2025!! I drew the best Blazblue character to celebrate:

I'd have done a more interesting pose, but he's honestly a pain to draw... though I've only drawn him properly like, three times before. Do pardon the reuse of my stock explosion, too. Honestly, I'm just glad I drew Bang on the day of his birthday for once!

[If anyone saw any images here before and misses them for whatever reason, including my decidedly not-fan-art stuff, I might link them again, just ask!]

I don't know about the rest of you, but I've always liked Registeel the best out of the three Regis:



...and you should all support its musical endeavors. (This is actually a remake of a much older drawing I did; I'd like to think I've come a long way since those days, although that top hat still leaves much to be desired...)

Speaking of Hoenn, I tried drawing Defense Deoxys:



It's my favorite of the four, though I do like Normal Deoxys.

Was going through some ANCIENT files, when I decided to redraw one of them:



From my understanding, Garu from Monster Rancher is a bit too large here. Just pretend he's an "Alpha Garu" or something.

(stealth-edit: fixed Lyra up a little. Looking at it again, she probably needs more work. Bleh...)

(If you can guess what these two have in common besides "Being From Monster-Raising Franchises", you get the much-coveted "Bonus Points".)

Here's a doodle in which ARENA TYCOON GRETA tries to infiltrate the Fighting-Type Club:



Breloom? Heracross? I have NO idea what you're talking about!



I finished this at the tail end of 2020, but I think it holds up still. Wouldn't hurt to redraw it at some point, though.



This guy might be able to pull off a "real bout", but his "fury" isn't really "fatal". All things considered, he's left his "Mark of the Dance" as the "King of Ducks". (Or was it the other way around?)

...Seriously, my backgrounds need work.

Made this for MEGA MAY 2023, though I guess I've drawn this every other year for that purpose:



Either way, I struggle with Toadman dot EXE's anatomy...

NEW! Decidedly not for any Mega Man-related occasion, I just think Ring Man is neat:



I tried making his eyes more on-model, but it didn't look right. Pardon if anything else is off-model, too. Also, a rare attempt at shading! (and yes, that's a Ninja Gaiden reference, for anyone who'd care to point it out. The pose seemed suiting for Ring Man, so why not?)

I had a bit too much fun drawing this one:



...and that's all I really have to say on the matter!

Last fan art for now? Maybe?



It's a bit on the "old" side, but I added a makeshift background, got rid of some words, etc. It's more in line with what I originally intended now, at any rate. I still like it. Might add to the "redraw at some point" pile. Poor Gumshoe...

Speaking of mad science, I have committed a grave sin... I have drawn... SONIC FAN ART:



In all seriousness, this was a doodle I took a bit further than I thought I would. I blame the coffee I had two hours before midnight...

(Please tell me if I'm adding too many images to one post. I'll stop uploading, or resize/remove some, as necessary)

#87

Random Randomness / Re: Does anyone here lurk anym...

Last post by Clairefable - April 28, 2024, 20:23

Shout out to the troops still posting and keeping the spirit alive <3

#88

Random Randomness / Re: Does anyone here lurk anym...

Last post by Pam-the-Lamb - April 14, 2024, 23:19

This has been a banger of a forum, ngl. Plenty of good memories, plenty of summers spent posting here when I was younger.

  Lurking the Discord's fun, of course, but you can't go wrong with a good ol' forum.

#89

Random Randomness / Re: Does anyone here lurk anym...

Last post by Milsap - April 10, 2024, 15:58

Thought I'd check in after not being in here in forever. Nice to see it's still around.

It occurred to me recently I've been a member here for 20 years now.

TWENTY

T W E N T Y

I've been registered here longer than I was old when I signed up... If that makes any sense. 13 when signed up, 33 now and various responsibilites have kicked in seeing as I own a house now and that's something I definitely wasn't considering when I joined. And there's jobs to work and incomes to manage and bills to pay and all that stuff.

Anyway, back to work!

#90

PKMN.NET / Re: Happy 20 years

Last post by sylar - January 30, 2024, 16:50

this is crazy. i just popped in to see what was up and seeing this thread made me weirdly emotional. its months old by now but happy 20 (almost 21) years fellas.