Why is the Cinnabar gym locked?

[MantisboyN]

Long story short, I watched TwitchPlaysPokemon the other day for a few hours (in the background, of course) as they tried fruitlessly to acquire the key to Blaine's gym.

I got to thinking, then... Why did Blaine lock his gym? It's never referenced in the game (to my knowledge), and the gym itself is completely functional (considering the quiz machines and trainers standing around for a battle).

So if the gym is totally ready for battle... why would he lock the door and leave (what is apparently) the key in the bottom of a burned down building?

 

[Ineedausername123]

Maybe it's because of the reason given in the anime, where Blaine is A. The Riddler of pokemon B. Tired of all the tourists

Or he might just be old and crazy, I don't know.

 

[Blueredemption]

It is probably meant to be a test, You find the key and you can get in. Or you could think from a developer's standpoint, it might have been to make cinnabar island have more to it.

 

[Puddle]

I like the idea that maybe it was a test. That whole gym was about tests, so maybe it did tie in with that. However, I think the point was to find TMs and Pokemon to help with the gym to give more incentive than just beating him with your Blastoise. But we can all imagine what we want.

 

[Flushed]

Wasn't he like part of the Mew/Mewtwo research team? Maybe he wanted a worthy challenger to find the manuscripts in the mansion before getting a chance to battle him.

 

[Kieran]

I considered it a test - Much like other Gyms where you need to go through some puzzles, too. Considering how technology was in Generation 1, I guess these were the only do-able stuffs and all.

Not to mention I'd not visit the whole of Cinnabar Island if I can just enter his Gym right away.
It's quite bare there.

 

[Hiatus]

I'm with Flushed on this one; it was probably his plan to put his challengers through a test before being able to battle him, to see if they've got what it takes and whatnot. Either that, or perhaps, since he's old and all, he's accidentally dropped his keys there without realization and also forgot to keep door unlocked after getting inside his gym? xD" This is very unlikely, though.

 

[Masterge77]

Riddle me this Batman: Why did Blaine lock the Cinnabar Gym and not tell anyone about it?

Blaine is known as the quiz-master, an he obviously set up most of the switches in the Cinnabar Mansion and put the key to the gym inside it to test the player to see if he or she is ready to fight him.

 

[fenyx4]

Spoiler:

I like the idea that maybe it was a test. That whole gym was about tests, so maybe it did tie in with that. However, I think the point was to find TMs and Pokemon to help with the gym to give more incentive than just beating him with your Blastoise. But we can all imagine what we want.

I considered it a test - Much like other Gyms where you need to go through some puzzles, too. Considering how technology was in Generation 1, I guess these were the only do-able stuffs and all.

Not to mention I'd not visit the whole of Cinnabar Island if I can just enter his Gym right away.
It's quite bare there.

I'm with Flushed on this one; it was probably his plan to put his challengers through a test before being able to battle him, to see if they've got what it takes and whatnot. Either that, or perhaps, since he's old and all, he's accidentally dropped his keys there without realization and also forgot to keep door unlocked after getting inside his gym? xD" This is very unlikely, though.

Riddle me this Batman: Why did Blaine lock the Cinnabar Gym and not tell anyone about it?

Blaine is known as the quiz-master, an he obviously set up most of the switches in the Cinnabar Mansion and put the key to the gym inside it to test the player to see if he or she is ready to fight him.

Basically one everyone else said above; the Secret Key (and by extension, the opportunity to challenge Blaine) is for those who prove themselves to be worthy, tying in with Blaine's nature as a quiz dispenser. This was especially evident in Twitch Plays Pokemon, where our determination was showcased when Red showed a burning desire to obtain the key, despite having blacked out right in front of it once before. Also, maybe the heat (?) of Cinnabar Mansion helps Trainers become accustomed to the inevitable heat that will arise in Blaine's own Cinnabar Gym...?

 

[Guest123_x1]

The only reason I can see for locking the Cinnabar Gym and hiding the key in the basement of the burned-out Pokémon Mansion is a test to see if the player is worthy enough to challenge the Gym. After all, it is the second to final Gym that trainers going through Kanto have to challenge before going to the Pokémon League.
Besides, there's a whole bunch of other 'tests' that Trainers have to go through to get to their intended destination-case in point: the storm Mewtwo brewed up in Pokémon - The First Movie, which resulted in the ferry that was supposed to transport prospective Trainers to New Island (where Mewtwo was) being cancelled and the invited guests having to use their own Pokémon to Surf or Fly to the island themselves in the middle of the storm.

 

[MantisboyN]

If he's the quiz master, then why not leave hints in the form of a riddle scattered throughout the mansion or elsewhere on the island? It just doesn't sit right to me, having him leave the key at the bottom of a crumbling mansion without anybody knowing.

Eh...

 

[Hero of Twilight]

If he's the quiz master, then why not leave hints in the form of a riddle scattered throughout the mansion or elsewhere on the island? It just doesn't sit right to me, having him leave the key at the bottom of a crumbling mansion without anybody knowing.

Eh...

that sounds too much like the trick master from hoenn