What would happen if Pokemon use mana instead of PP?

shootingfoul

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    • Seen Dec 6, 2016
    If they add a new stat called mana(7 stats total), where you regenerate a fixed percentage of mana per turn(less in battle, more out of battle)

    The stronger the skill is, the more mana it cost, and the amount difference is very significant making spamming strong skills feel like it cost an arm or leg. If you don't have enough mana to cast any skills, it would be the same as running out of pp, you can only use struggle or do something else. Repeating the use of the same skill in a roll would increase the mana cost of it by a ratio with the exception of a few skills(such as fury cutter, no mana cost increase). Using a skill with the same type as you have would cost less mana, using a skill type that counters you would cost more mana.
     
    Mana seems extremely out of place in Pokemon, and it has no reason to exist within that universe. It would fit better in a RPG with magic as a relevant theme. The stronger a move, the less PP this move has. Mana cost ratios? What? Using a move with the same type as your Pokemon is called STAB, and that's the only "bonus" neccesary for that kind of situation. I wouldn't count on "Mana" being added, as it sounds more like a gimmick than a stat. A really complicated gimmick. Just my opinion though, to each his own.
     
    GoldfishHorde said:
    Mana seems extremely out of place in Pokemon, and it has no reason to exist within that universe. It would fit better in a RPG with magic as a relevant theme. The stronger a move, the less PP this move has. Mana cost ratios? What? Using a move with the same type as your Pokemon is called STAB, and that's the only "bonus" neccesary for that kind of situation. I wouldn't count on "Mana" being added, as it sounds more like a gimmick than a stat. A really complicated gimmick. Just my opinion though, to each his own.
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    You should give more explanation your arguments in terms of PP vs mana. They each have their advantages and disadvantages. It wouldn't make much sense to say "Pokemon should use PP because it's Pokemon", you have to give more explanation as to why you think PP is a better system. I am aware the stronger the move the less PP, however, it would make more sense for mana in a real real life situation, because you get tired for performing a move. It would make no sense to say "I can uppercut 5 times total in real life, I am totally exhausted and don't even have the energy to stand up, but since I only uppercut 2 times, I should be able to uppercut 3 more times." It is obvious using the same type as your Pokemon is STAB, there's no reason for you to repeat what's obvious. I would appreciate if you give us more of your opining as to why you think STAB is the only bonus necessary instead of only making a statement. I'm not saying your opining is wrong or right, I would just appreciate some explanation on the reasoning you think the way you do for each points, so we can see the advantages for PP.
     
    I can't even imagine pokemon this way; because so many things are reliant on that PP usage system; and repetition. For one, this would practically bar choice items. Secondly, think of all the other items, Metronome, useless. Encore would be a death sentence, Trump Card and Last Resort would go even further into the black abyss which is currently their usage statistic; it just... agh. Pokemon's PP is basically mana. It depletes from usage, can be restored by resting or consuming medicinal items or berries, and doesn't allow moves to be used when it's out. More powerful moves 'require' more, since they only get 5 - 10 PP, the only difference being that PP is not pooled between all moves; but assigned individual reserves for each move.

    It works. I could see something like this in a side game, but not in a main entry in the 'version' series.
     
    With PPs, you try to use (for instance) Blizzard five times, and after that you can't use that move anymore.
    With mana, you try to use Blizzard six or seven times, and after that you can't use any moves at all. With mana that regenerates every turn, maybe the Pokémon will be able to attack later, but in the meanwhile, since you can't skip your turn in Pokémon, you'll basically be forced to use Struggle and hurt yourself every time you do so.

    IMHO, replacing PPs with mana could completely change the battle system, and make the most powerful moves (of which most already have either low accuracy or negative effects, such as confusion or being forced to skip a turn) much less useful. If Pokémon does have to replace PPs with mana, here's what it will need to add as well so that it wouldn't be a complete disaster:
    • A basic attack that doesn't require mana.
    • An option to skip a turn with one Pokémon.
    • All battles being double or triple (or six VS six) so that Pokémon who have depleted their mana could be covered for by their teammates.
    This would change the game completely and (IMHO) make Pokémon closer to a generic RPG, which, depending on your tastes, could be good or bad, but anyway, it wil divide the fanbase. I don't think GF will ever risk it.
     
    I will just say, Mana should be given a more suitable name for Pokemon.

    Like Energy, Power, Stamina.
     
    In anime, Pokémon could use moves unlimited amount of times, so long as they have the strength to do so. There's no PP holding them back; if you've got enough power in you, then your attack will be successful. If not, then it'll fail. If games were to implement mana system, I think they'd take a huge step forward, since they're seemingly wanting to relate them to the anime as closely as possible.

    Difference between PP and mana looks to be that latter regenerates itself automatically throughout battle, and former doesn't, but still could with help of items. To be honest, mana actually seems like a more realistic approach. I'm not sure if this idea had ever crossed their mind, but if they do wind up making it a thing at some point in future, I'd love it!
     
    I don't even know if Pokemon moves are magic, which is to me what mana's mostly related to. I'd prefer a better name, like the aforementioned energy as that makes more sense in my opinion, but that's just me. I don't think it really works in main games - the PP system works much more fluidly in those, though like Polar said, it would fit more in the spin offs. All I could see replacing PP with mana doing is flipping the competitive metagame upside down, having to get used to this. No doubt it sounds pretty damn cool, but I just can't see me liking it, unfortunately...maybe if they give us mana restocking potions, or let us skip a turn to recharge it, then I'll like it, as the mana limit sounds punishing.
     
    I would actually love a mana stat more than PP. I never really understood why moves have a fixed PP, when it rarely ever happens that you'll run out of all 4 moves' PP and have to use Struggle. PP just seems a bit useless and out of places, especially because the anime takes a different approach and gets rid of PP entirely.
     
    SaniOKh said:
    With PPs, you try to use (for instance) Blizzard five times, and after that you can't use that move anymore.
    With mana, you try to use Blizzard six or seven times, and after that you can't use any moves at all. With mana that regenerates every turn, maybe the Pokémon will be able to attack later, but in the meanwhile, since you can't skip your turn in Pokémon, you'll basically be forced to use Struggle and hurt yourself every time you do so.

    IMHO, replacing PPs with mana could completely change the battle system, and make the most powerful moves (of which most already have either low accuracy or negative effects, such as confusion or being forced to skip a turn) much less useful. If Pokémon does have to replace PPs with mana, here's what it will need to add as well so that it wouldn't be a complete disaster:
    • A basic attack that doesn't require mana.
    • An option to skip a turn with one Pokémon.
    • All battles being double or triple (or six VS six) so that Pokémon who have depleted their mana could be covered for by their teammates.
    This would change the game completely and (IMHO) make Pokémon closer to a generic RPG, which, depending on your tastes, could be good or bad, but anyway, it wil divide the fanbase. I don't think GF will ever risk it.
    Click to expand...

    If they were to use the mana system(or maybe just a better name such as stamina), the mana usage will not be calculated by power alone, it's most likely a factor of overall how good the skill is, including accuracy into the calculation(therefore ice-beam mana cost would be around blizzard level if not higher by some amount).

    As for using blizzard 6 times in a roll, that'd be a problem. That's the point of the system, you have to manage your mana properly instead of just spam strong moves. They might need to change the entire formula in the game thou, to make the strong moves more powerful because the strong moves can be thought of as an ultimate skill in the games. Your ultimate ability wouldn't be ultimate if you are able to spam it, but they are something that can really hit like a truck to use strategically to take out specific Pokemon on the opposing team that might cause the most trouble. You would need to use it wisely to decide who to use them on.

    If you run out of mana, struggle is not your only option. you can still switch Pokemon since "Pokemon that's out of battle regenerate mana faster than Pokemon that's in battle" or in the case of in story mode, you can also use items.
     
    Polar Spectrum said:
    I can't even imagine pokemon this way; because so many things are reliant on that PP usage system; and repetition. For one, this would practically bar choice items. Secondly, think of all the other items, Metronome, useless. Encore would be a death sentence, Trump Card and Last Resort would go even further into the black abyss which is currently their usage statistic; it just... agh. Pokemon's PP is basically mana. It depletes from usage, can be restored by resting or consuming medicinal items or berries, and doesn't allow moves to be used when it's out. More powerful moves 'require' more, since they only get 5 - 10 PP, the only difference being that PP is not pooled between all moves; but assigned individual reserves for each move.

    It works. I could see something like this in a side game, but not in a main entry in the 'version' series.
    Click to expand...

    Yeah, you have a point, if they were to change the system that much, items such as Metrome would have to be adjusted and Encore seems OP, trump card would be pretty powerful and I'm not sure about last result. However, balancing can always be done to put them in line.
     
    Then the gameplay would be completely overhauled. I don't think game freak would take such a huge risk to change a winning formula, but it could work for a spinoff.
     
    A stamina system's not a terrible idea, but again, think of the unique and original gameplay elements GF has already built around their successful PP system. Choice items are pretty neat and the concept is mostly original to the Pokemon franchise, life orb increasing power, but at the cost of HP makes your own health like a mana bar; moves like Spite and Grudge deplete PP as if they were mana draining attacks. And lots of attacks have very fair drawbacks outside of a tertiary resource aside from HP and PP; Hyper Beam and its variances cost you a turn, almost like skipping to recharge mana, no? Sky Attack and its variations require a pre-announced turn to charge, Overheat and its variations cost you 2 stages of your special attacking stat.

    I'm not usually one to say "It works already - don't change it! argrarahragara" but it really seems like Game Freak could dedicate more effort to balancing or improving other aspects than a move usage or new battle resource system. Still, a neat idea - I'd just personally love to see other things aeons before this.
     
    1. It wouldn't make sense if Pokemon used "mana" during battle.
    2. If this was possible, Pokemon Battles would be A LOT more challenging.
    3. Instead of "Mana", why not Stamina? I mean it makes more sense right?
     
    I wouldn't feel comfortable with a system like this, having an arguably even more limiting option than PP, and needing to use costs for it. The turn based attacks are what i'd rather stick with.
     
    For those that are worried about its name, they don't necessarily have to call it mana--they could go with anything they choose, really. They might be able to name it PokéEnergy, even, which I won't mind at all, but at the end, it'd still perform the same, exact job. Mana is usually more known, as it's used frequently in video games.
     
    There isn't much difference.
    stronger moves = less PP.
    The only difference, cost wise, is that you could use all the mana for one move, as if you could convert all the PP of all the moves into PP of only one move, which is unnecessary. Plus, what others said.
    So down the water this idea goes lol.
    But as someone else said, to each his own.
     
    I just had a funny thought! If pokemon used mana, we could make two new games
    coupling them to Diablo series.
    Pokemon Mephisto and Pokemon Baal (Mephisto and Baal are two main villians in Diablo
    series) and then after one year, we make their joint remake, Pokemon Diablo!!!

    In this the warrier, rogue, necromancer, etc will have different set of pokemon they can use to defeat monsters and these pokemon will use moves based on mana!!!!!
     
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