Public Test: Exp. Rework

[Shinohara]

 

 

 

 

Introduction

As you may know, current EXP mechanics are not always friendly towards new players, sometimes forcing them to keep a Pokemon unevolved to maximize EXP gain. Due to that, we have decided to rework the entire EXP system to improve our players' experience, especially in the early game.
This new system, based on the official Gen 7 EXP system with some minor adjustments to make it more PRO-friendly, introduces cool features such as EXP Share (á la gen2 as well as Party Exp. share which is deactivated by default) and allows players to evolve their Pokemon more comfortably.

 

 

Testing Method

To participate in EXP rework testing, players are required to download the Test Client (Click here to Download), available only for Windows, and log on Test.

Once downloaded, for a correct and successful test, players must:

• Play the story from the beginning.
• Screenshot their teams before entering (the first time) and after finishing gyms.
• Give feedback about the EXP Rework and briefly summarize their personal experience.

The screenshots and feedback has to be posted here, on this thread.
 

 

Rewards

For every region you played, we will give out a legendary IV-Locked Reroll or an instantly activated 30-days MS on the account you played with.
To be eligible for an IV-locked reroll, you must follow all the Testing Method instructions. Therefore, you have to submit screenshots of your team before and after each gym, as well as give adequate feedback, for each region that you play.

 

 

Additional Info

• The public test ends on September 27th 11:59 PM GMT+0.
• You get a bicycle, Tree Axe, Pick Axe and Flashlight at game start.
• The played data will be deleted once the public test was finished!
• Gen2 Exp. Share can be obtained in Vermilion City.
• All users are trade banned.

 

[Eaty]

Do not comment on this thread, only post the screenshots and feedback in here!

[Caprifame]

Kanto (finished)

 

Spoiler

1st gym:

Spoiler

Before 1st gym

 

 

After 1st Gym:

 

2nd Gym:

 

Spoiler

Before 2nd Gym:

 

 

After 2nd Gym:

 

 

3rd Gym:

 

Spoiler

Before:

 

 

After:

 

 

4th Gym

 

Spoiler

Before:

 

 

After:

 

 

5th gym

 

Spoiler

Before (Note: Venomoth was actually lvl 48 when entering, I cleared the first 3 trainers before taking the ss on accident, sorry):

 

 

After:

 

 

6th Gym

Spoiler

Before:

 

 

After (I skipped all trainers):

 

 

7th Gym

 

Spoiler

Before: (I accidently beat 4 trainers inside already)

 

 

After:

 

 

8th gym

 

Spoiler

Before:

 

 

After:

 

 

After Victory Road: (also before Lorelei)

 

Spoiler

 

Before Bruno:

 

Spoiler

 

Before Agatha:

 

Spoiler

 

Before Lance:

 

Spoiler

 

Before Champion:

 

Spoiler

 

Hall of Fame:

 

Spoiler

 

Feedback (Kanto):

 

Spoiler

The Exp rework makes the early game (till gym 5) a lot easier.
Gym 6 was very hard, I had to stall out psychics with Moo Moo Milks and setup my Venomoth with Quiver Dance.

Gym 7 was easy because I had a Blastoise, but even there I missed some KOs (f.e. Arcanine) and got hit back quite hard (I assume I was lower level).

 

I was leveling Blastoise, EXP. Shared my snubull to a Granbull to get my 10 Dex Entries for flash, and after that leveled Blastoise solo until I caught Venomoth (after 3rd gym).

Blastoise and Venomoth were leveled equally (Exp. share on either one) and were my tag team.

 

I used Sturdy twave magnemite and 2 intimidate users to help my Moth setup. 

Without these strategies it would not have been possible to beat the elite 4.

 

I did no grinding on wilds for the whole run, but killed wild encounters I got during necessary story walks.

 

Conclusion:

In the late game the exp gain is very low. The lvl. 50+ in victory road only gave 1,4k exp, the grind would have taken a decent amount of time.

 

it is however, possible to beat the elite 4 with no grind at all, my final playtime on champin was 7h and 35min, which is quite fast imo.

The current setup requires the player to think ahead and have a good setup to win in order to do so. A more casual approach would have to grind before 8th gym or in the victory road to beat the region.

 

The EXP. Share is a great addition to the game. Thanks to it I was able to switch the items on my Duo whenever the other mon was better suited for the upcomming fights and still raise them equally. The item works really well and helps a lot to raise a team equally.

 

Feel free to DM me if you have any questions.

 

 

Johto (finished)

 

Spoiler

1st Gym

 

Spoiler

Before:

 

 

After:

 

 

2nd Gym

 

Spoiler

Before:

 

 

After:

 

 

3rd Gym

 

Spoiler

Before:

 

 

After:

 

 

4th gym

 

Spoiler

Before:

 

 

After:

 

 

5th Gym

 

Spoiler

Before:

 

 

After:

 

 

6th Gym

 

Spoiler

Before:

 

 

After:

 

 

7th Gym

 

Spoiler

Before:

 

 

After:

 

 

8th Gym

 

Spoiler

Before:

 

 

After:

 

 

Before Will:

 

Spoiler

 

 

 

Before Koga:

 

Spoiler

 

 

 

Before Bruno:

 

Spoiler

 

 

 

Before Karen:

 

Spoiler

 

Before Lance:

 

Spoiler

 

Hall of Fame:

 

Spoiler

 

Feedback:

 

Spoiler

The start into the Johto Regions was very easy due to the amount of items I took with me from Kanto (leftover, Surf, Icebeam). Totodile made quick work of the first gym, we picked up a Hoppip which will be a great utility mon in the future fights of this playthrough.

 

The second (ice beam + surf), third (leech seed and surf) and the fourth gym (Crunch) were all very easy with my totodile starter. I was raising my Hoppip with the EXP. Share for the whole playthrough.

 

The 5th and 6th Gym were by far the hardest of the game for me. I tried to level train before the 6th gym but the Exp. gain was too little to make it worth my time. 

I ended up using a FEAR strategie with Leech Seed + low level sturdy Geodude to beat the 6th gym.

 

Even tho there is no good training areas between the 6th and 7th gym, all the trainer fights gave me a good amount of EXP and made the 7th Gym a lot easier than the 6th. 

 

The new Dragons Den spawn is really good. I caught a Clefairy there, taught it some Moves for 4k and it swept the 8th gym for me, after defeating her lead with Leech Seed + Geodude.

 

The Difficulty on the 5+6th gym was a bit too high, this is an area where I would recommend to add more trainers or higher level wilds.

 

 

Hoenn:

 

Spoiler

1st Gym

 

Spoiler

Before:

 

 

Note: I had to grind my torchic from level 13 to 16 to have a chance in this fight. Therefore I lost the first fight and got no Exp on my 2nd attempt.

 

 

After:

 

 

2nd Gym

 

Spoiler

Before:

 

 

Note: I lost this fight aswell and had to grind my Ralts to lvl. 20 to evolve it to have a chance in this fight. Even with the lvl. 20 Kirlia the fight was very hard and I was forced to use items.

 

 

After:

 

 

3rd Gym

 

Spoiler

Before:

 

 

After:

 

 

4th Gym

 

Spoiler

Before:

 

 

After:

 

 

5th Gym

 

Spoiler

Before: I forgot to take Screenshot before the gym and did the trainers inside, however the levels were the same as After 4th gym above, since there isnt much to do between the gyms.

 

 

After:

 

 

6th Gym
 

Spoiler

Before:

My Gardevoir was level 54 on this Gym, I tried to fight it but I had no chance whatsoever.

I have used 14 RC on my Gardevoir for the sake of finishing this region, so it was lvl. 68, no exp. rest of the team was the same. I took the Screenshot 2 days ago but deleted it as I saw no reason to move on as I was super underleveled and had zero chance in the battle. I came back on thr 26. to use the RCs and just finish the region for the reroll, not for Data.

 

After:

 

 

 

7th Gym

 

Spoiler

Before:

 

 

After:

 

 

 8th Gym

 

Spoiler

Before:

 

 

After:

 

 

Hoenn Elite 4:

 

Spoiler

Sidney:

 

Spoiler

Before:

 

 

Phoebe:

 

Spoiler

Before:

 

 

Glacia:

 

Spoiler

 Before:

 

 

Drake:

 

Spoiler

Before:

 

 

Steven:

 

Spoiler

Before:

 

 

Hall of Fame:

 

Spoiler

 

Feedback:

 

Spoiler

Hoenn was by far the worst region compared to Kanto and Johto.

Choosing Torchic as my starter was a bit mistake. I had to grind a lot of levels before the first gym to even have a chance. I caught a very good Ralts early:

 

Spoiler

 

And thought I would be good for the 2nd Gym. However I had to grind there again and evolve it to have a chance. Imo the first and second gym need a nerf, they were way too strong for me. 3rd, 4th and 5th gym were all fine and easy fights. 6th Gym was a huge roadblock and I used 14 RC on my Gardevoir, just to finish story fast and be done with it for the reroll.

 

I am sure I would have struggled in the 6th, 7th and 8th gym aswell if I didnt use 14RC.

 

I did the water routes below Slateport to level up before the 6th gym, however my level was only 54, which was way too low. This region needs some work still, as it is too hard imo.

 

 

Edited September 27, 2022 by Caprifame

[Arielregev5]

before 1st gyafter 1st gym

Edited September 19, 2022 by Arielregev5

[Paprikaflow]

  Pewter Gym

[Backo0711]

Screenshots of Kanto Gyms + Elite 4

Spoiler

Pewter City Gym

Spoiler

Before Gym

After Gym   

Cerulean City Gym

Spoiler

Before Gym 

After Gym    

Vermillion City Gym

Spoiler

Before Gym 

After Gym    

Celadon City Gym

Spoiler

Before Gym 

After Gym   

Fuchsia City Gym

Spoiler

Before Gym 

After Gym    

Saffron City Gym

Spoiler

Before Gym 

After Gym   

Cinnabar Island Gym

Spoiler

Before Gym 

After Gym    

Viridian City Gym

Spoiler

Before Gym 

After Gym    

Elite Four + Champion

Spoiler

Before 

After   

 

 

 

 

 

Feedback:

 

For me, the EXP system has advantages but also disadvantages.
In the beginning it was very good and you progressed quickly, especially because you could develop the Pokemon and still get the same EXP. But later it became extremely difficult because you simply got very little EXP for the defeated Pokemon. Before elite four I had to gain quite a bit since I got there with 2 level 50 Pokemon.
With tactical knowledge and mechanics, I was able to do the gyms from the fifth badge, after that it was too difficult.
I have the feeling that it motivates people a lot at first, but then demotivates them too quickly.
It will be too difficult for the endgame and leveling up from level 70 and people will not be motivated to do so, so probably only rare candies will be used.
The EXP share is good for tanks so that they can also defeat Pokemon and get EXP, but since it's only half that won't pay off for two Pokemon either, as they continue to use leveling methods like Mismagius to get full EXP.
All in all, it's good that you can also see the second stages of evolutions, but the EXP that is needed and the EXP that you get are in a bad ratio.

The feeling is that you are always be underleveled. After every NPC go to the Pokecenter and heal.

I played without EXP Boost like the most here cause the casual gamer, who starts the game don't know how to get it and can't used it.
The system makes no fun for me.

 

Edited September 25, 2022 by Backo0711

[GoldenP1kachu]

Before and after 2nd Gym! 

[Norex]

Gym Screenshots:

 

Kanto:

Spoiler

Kanto 1. Pewter Gym

Kanto 2. Cerulean Gym

Kanto 3. Vermillion Gym

Kanto 4. Celadon Gym

Kanto 5. Fuchsia Gym

Kanto 6. Saffron Gym

Kanto 7. Cinnabar Gym

Kanto 8. Viridian Gym

(forgot screenshot but same as after Cinnabar Gym and no level gains on Gyarados or Venusaur)

Johto:

Spoiler

Johto 1. Violet Gym

Johto 2. Azalea Gym

Johto 3. Goldenrod Gym

Johto 4. Ecruteak Gym

Johto 5. Cianwood Gym

Johto 6. Olivine Gym

Johto 7. Mahogany Gym

Johto 8. Blackthorn Gym

Hoenn:

Spoiler

Hoenn 1. Rustboro Gym

Hoenn 2. Dewford Gym

Hoenn 3. Mauville Gym

(forgot after screenshot but Marshtomp gained 2-3 levels)

Hoenn 4. Lavaridge Gym

Hoenn 5. Petalburg Gym

Hoenn 6. Fortree Gym

Hoenn 7. Mossdeep Gym

Hoenn 8. Sootopolis Gym

Sinnoh:

Spoiler

Sinnoh 1. Oreburgh Gym

Sinnoh 2. Eterna Gym

Sinnoh 3. Veilstone Gym

Sinnoh 4. Pastoria Gym

(forgot after screenshot but Infernape gained 1-2 levels)

Sinnoh 5. Hearthome Gym

Sinnoh 6. Canalve Gym

Sinnoh 7. Snowpoint Gym

Sinnoh 8. Sunyshore Gym

Final Proof

 

Walkthroughs and Feedback:

(the walkthroughs mainly mention parts where NPC trainers are skippable and I battled all instead)

Kanto:

Spoiler

• trained on route 22 for 10 minutes
• battled all NPC trainers in viridian forest
• pewter gym easy with bulbasaur
• leveled 10min in viridian forest
• battled all NPC trainers at route 3
• battled NPC trainers in Mt. Moon
• cerulean gym easy with bulbasaur
• battled NPC trainers on route 24 + 25
• battled NPC trainers on route 5 + 6
• fainted couple times to random NPCs because only one pokemon leveled
• got EXP Share
• battled all NPC trainers on SSAnne with EXP Share
• battled all NPC trainers on Route 9 with EXP Share
• battled all NPC trainers in Rock Tunnel and on Route 10 with EXP Share
• battled all NPC trainers on Route 8 with EXP Share
• celadon gym easy with ice fang gyarados EXP Share
• battled all NPC trainers in pokemon tower without EXP Share
• battled all NPC trainers at Routes 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 with EXP Share
• fuchsia gym most challenging so far because of toxic spam but still rather easy with EXP Share
• battled all NPC trainers at Routes 18, 17, 16 with EXP Share
• battled all NPC trainers at saffron dojo with EXP Share
• battled all NPC trainers at silph co with EXP Share
• green + giovanni battles easy with gyarados setup
• saffron gym easy with ddance crunch Gyarados with EXP Share
• battled all NPC trainers at Route 21 with EXP Share
• battled all NPC trainers at cinnabar mansion + 10min training with EXP Share
• cinnabar gym cinnabar extremly easy with ddance + aqua tail gyarados with EXP Share but gym leader without EXP Share
• viridian gym (steel mewtwo) easy with leech seed + sturdy pokemon without EXP Share
• training for 20-30min and doing all NPC trainers in the victory road with EXP Share
• elite 4 needs a lot of grinding and money grind for healing items unless you use some "cheese" tactics

Johto:

Spoiler

• battled all NPC trainers on route 29
• battled all NPC trainers on route 30
• battled all NPC trainers on route 31
• EV-trained and leveled for about 15min at Route 31
• battled all NPC trainers at the Sprout Tower
• violet gym easy with ice beam totodile
• battled all NPC trainers at route 32
• battled all NPC trainers in the Union Cave
• battled all NPC trainers at route 33
• battled all NPC trainers in the Slowpoke Well
• azalea gym was challenging with just one leveled pokemon
• battled all NPC trainers in Ilex Forest
• battled all NPC trainers at route 34
• battled all NPC trainers at Goldenrod Underground Path
• skipped all NPC trainers in Goldenrod Underground Basement
• goldenrod gym was not possible with just Croconaw leveled and without a further strategy
• battled all NPC trainers in Goldenrod Underground Basement with EXP Share
• goldenrod gym second try worked better with some sturdy Geodudes and healing items
• battled all NPC trainers at route 35
• battled Copycat Lamsie in Goldenrod
• battled all NPC trainers at route 36
• battled all NPC trainers at route 37
• battled all NPC trainers at National Park
• battled all NPC trainers at Ecruteak Dance Theater
• ecruteak gym easy with just Crunch Croconaw
• battled Copycat Lamsie
• battled all NPC trainers at route 38
• battled all NPC trainers at route 39
• battled all NPC trainers at route 40
• battled all NPC trainers at route 41
• cianwood gym annoying but managable with some sturdy thunderwave magnemites
• olivine gym managable with sturdy thunderwave + light screen magnemites
• battled Copycat Lamsie in Olivine
• battled all NPC trainers at route 42
• battled all NPC trainers at route 43
• battled all NPC trainers at lake of rage
• battled all NPC trainers at mahogany town rocket hideout
• mahogany gym magagable with some healing items
• battled Copycat Lamsie in Mahogany
• battled all NPC trainers at route 44
• blackthorn city gym way harder than the others and failed the first attempt
• trained for 20 minutes in dragons den and changed up some moves
• blackthorn city gym second attempt easy with a setup strategy

Hoenn:

Spoiler

• leveled 5 minutes at route 103
• battled all NPC trainers at route 102
• battled all NPC trainers at route 104
• battled all NPC trainers at petalburg woods
• battled all NPC trainers at route 104
• rustboro gym easy with mudkip as starter
• battled copycat lamsie in rustboro
• battled all NPC trainers at route 116
• battled all NPC trainers at route 106
• dewford gym managable with some healing items
• battled copycat lamsie in dewford
• battled all NPC trainers at route 109
• battled all NPC trainers at route 110
• battled all NPC trainers at route 103
• mauville gym easy with marshtomp
• battled copycat lamsie in mauville
• battled all NPC trainers at route 111 south
• battled all NPC trainers at route 112
• battled all NPC trainers at route 111 north
• battled all NPC trainers at route 113
• battled all NPC trainers at route 115
• battled all NPC trainers at route 117
• battled all NPC trainers at route jagged pass
• lavaridge gym easy with swampert
• battled copycat lamsie in lavaridge
• petalburg gym easy with protect swampert for the slaking
• battled copycat lamsie in petalburg
• battled all NPC trainers at route 118
• battled all NPC trainers at route 119B
• battled all NPC trainers at route 119A
• battled all NPC trainers at weather institute
• fortree gym first attempt failed because swampert too low SPDEF IVs and bad nature
• battled all NPC trainers at route 111 desert with EXP Share
• fortree gym was a challenge and I was only able to do it with some RNG and switches on the opposing charge-up moves
• battled all NPC trainers at route 120
• battled all NPC trainers at route 121
• battled all NPC trainers at mt. pyre interior
• battled all NPC trainers at route 123
• battled all NPC trainers at magma hideout
• battled all NPC trainers at aqua hideout with EXP Share
• battled all NPC trainers at route 124 with EXP Share
• mossdeep gym really hard and only won with RNG, the level of the gym leaders pokemon seem really high around 70 with EXP Share
• battled copycat lamsie in mossdeep with EXP Share
• battled all NPC trainers at route 127 with EXP Share
• battled all NPC trainers at seafloor cavern with EXP Share
• sootopolis gym managable with some revives and sturdy + toxic geodude for milotic with EXP Share
• battled copycat lamsie in sootopolis with EXP Share

Sinnoh:

Spoiler

• trained 15min on route 202
• battled all NPC trainers at route 203
• battled all NPC trainers at Oreburgh Mine
• oreburgh gym easy with monferno
• battled all NPC trainers at route 204
• battled all NPC trainers at route 205 south
• battled all NPC trainers at eterna forest
• battled all NPC trainers at route 205 north
• eterna city gym easy with monferno
• battled copycat lamsie in eterna
• battled all NPC trainers at route 206
• battled all NPC trainers at route 208
• battled all NPC trainers at route 209
• battled all NPC trainers at lost tower
• battled all NPC trainers at route 210
• battled all NPC trainers at route 215
• veilstone gym easy with infernape
• battled copycat lamsie in veilstone
• battled all NPC trainers at route 214
• battled all NPC trainers at route 213
• pastoria gym easy with grass knot infernape
• battled all NPC trainers at route 219
• battled all NPC trainers at route 220
• battled all NPC trainers at route 221
• battled all NPC trainers at route 210 north
• battled all NPC trainers at route 211
• hearthome gym easy with calm mind infernape
• battled copycat lamsie in hearthome
• canalave gym managable with some healing items because of sturdy pokemon
• snowpoint gym easy with infernape
• battled copycat lamsie in snowpoint
• skipped basically everything after that
• sunyshore gym managable with sturdy + flash magneton army and calm mind infernape

General:

Spoiler

• gaining EVs from catching pokemon is a cool mechanic and I can see it being useful in some ways even for lategame (hunting + EV training at the same time for example)
• being able to evolve your pokemon is a really nice change (probably the best change even), good for unexperienced and new players and "cooler" for a playthrough, easier to level accidentally evolved pokemon and easier to level pokemon which were caught as evolved already
• EXP gain seems too low in the late game but is good in the early and midgame, could be improved though considering I only leveled 1-2 pokemon and not a full team of 6 like casual/new players like to do
• the EXP for cathing a pokemon is a nice addition and gives room for some new leveling+hunting techs
• I mainly leveled 1-2 pokemon during my region playthroughs and just battled all available NPC trainers at the main-story areas, the level ranges seemed fine to me considering I only leveled 1-2 pokemon
• Casual/new players trying to level a party of 6 pokemon might need a lot of grinding (farming wild pokemon which is not fun when doing story) to keep up with the increasing level-ranges
• the EXP Share makes it easier to level pokemon early on, easier to level pokemon which are usually hard to level, easier and more comfortable to level up a new pokemon you put on your team, makes the game easier and less grindy but potentially more enjoyable for some new players (-> later on its still grindy though)
• overall the EXP Share might not be worth if you want to rush the story but its nice for causal players for above reasons
• some kanto victory road NPC trainers outleveled me by about 5 level when I reached it, the level gap jumps a lot at this point it seems (and I only leveled 2 pokemon during Kanto)
• johto is the fastest and easiest region in my opinion, I didnt notice any big problems with it
• hoenn wild pokemon levels too low (especially hoenn victory road) and trainer levels seem to high considering i only leveled one pokemon too, would be worse if i leveled more
• sinnoh can be challenging after the 4-5 badges, esspecially for casual/new players since there are many optional areas and skippable trainers, really hard if you trained a full team of 6 pokemon

 

special thanks to

 

Edited September 27, 2022 by Norex

[Archr]

 

 

Before pewter gym :

 

 

 

After pewter gym:

 

[Olker]

Before and after first gym.