every time i talk to other pokemon fans they always say "i wish gamefreak would just drop [literally the entire reason holly plays pokemon] and adopt something new like [something holly would drop the whole series over]"

@monorail I wish they let you hold the pokemon you have while you wander around

@BatElite @monorail what if like... you could bring a pokemon around with you, like in HG/SS or Yellow, BUT... it wouldn't just follow BEHIND you?

Like... depending on the pokemon, you'd either have it running circles around you if it was like a Yamper or something small and energetic, or following just beside you if a Lucario or Gardevoir or something, or above because it's a bird/flying type, or like, resting on your head/shoulder if it's tiny and smol.

@BatElite @monorail also what if we did away with pokeballs altogether and had you interact with and BUILD AN ACTUAL RELATIONSHIP with the pokemon not just beat them up, toss a ball on them and WHOOPS now you own them for other fights.

like, what if the pokemon could actually be BEFRIENDED and their trust and loyalty EARNED

@Nine @BatElite god i already have to actively avoid the affection system because it has mechanical impacts on the battles that i don't want

@monorail @BatElite oh I'm also thinking this would strip away like... 90% of the extraneous mechanics from this whole series, like, it would legit just be about befriending any pokemon you wanted and just... havin' a fun journey and not having to do any of the battling or anything if you didn't want.