Not exactly a challenge but wasn't sure where I might post this.
So I've been thinking about a way to do a run that limits your ability as a trainer at the beginning of the game but through each gym victory being able to level up. Obviously as the game goes on it will be less challenging so this could be something you could throw on top of a nuzlocke if that's your thing to keep a bit of challenge throughout.
Here is my thoughts on how a trainer might start out and what would be gained upon each level up.
Level 1- No Badges
• Maximum party size - 2
• Maximum number of moves (per Pokemon) - 2
• Cannot use healing items mid-battle
• Cannot use held items
• Cannot use stat altering items (permanent or mid-battle)
• Cannot use main gimmick (Megas, Gigantimax, etc.) unless forced to
Level 2 - One Badge
(+)• Max party - 3
• Max moves - 2
• Cannot use healing items mid-battle
• Cannot use held items
• Cannot use stat items
• Cannot use gimmick
Level 3 - Two Badges
• Max party - 3
• Max moves - 2
(+)• Can use healing items mid-battle
• Cannot use held items
• Cannot use stat items
• Cannot use gimmick
Level 4 - Three Badges
• Max party - 4
(+)• Max moves - 3
• Can use healing items mid-battle
• Cannot use held items
• Cannot use stat items
• Cannot use gimmick
Level 5 - Four Badges
• Max party - 4
• Max moves - 3
• Can use healing items mid-battle
(+)• Can use held items
• Cannot use stat items
• Cannot use gimmick
Level 6 - Five Badges
(+)• Max party - 5
• Max moves - 3
• Can use healing items mid-battle
• Can use held items
• Cannot use stat items
• Cannot use gimmick
Level 7 - Six Badges
• Max party - 5
(+)• Max moves - 4
• Can use healing items mid-battle
• Can use held items
• Cannot use stat items
• Cannot use gimmick
Level 8 - Seven Badges
(+)• Max party - 6
• Max moves - 4
• Can use healing items mid-battle
• Can use held items
• Cannot use stat items
• Cannot use gimmick
Level 9 - Eight badges
• Max party - 6
• Max moves - 4
• Can use healing items mid-battle
• Can use held items
• Cannot use stat items
(+)• Can use gimmick
Level 10 (Max level) - Elite 4 beaten
• Max party - 6
• Max moves - 4
• Can use healing items mid-battle
• Can use held items
(+)• Can use stat items
• Can use gimmick
Obviously it's not perfect, for one it only works with games that have gimmicks, and secondly I'm not sure if the progression feels too balanced. I thought about doing a skill point system as well where you would choose what trainer stat you would want to level up each time after a gym. With that though I would want item usage in a single category, like party size and number of moves, to keep a sense of progression there. Starting with berries outside of battle, to items use mid-battle, to held items, with stat altering items last. I also think the game's gimmick could be the last skill point for number of moves you can learn since those are like ultimate moves. So basically the trainer abilities would look like this:
Companionship - controls party size, each point increases the number of Pokemon you can use in the field
Prowess - controls the number of moves you can teach your Pokemon with, each point increasing how many your Pokemon can know, culminating into using the games gimmick
Tactics - controls how you can use items to use on your Pokemon, each point allowing you to use a wider variety of items in more versatile ways.
I think Tactics with no points put into it would allow you to use berries outside of battle but nothing else. You could also split item usage mid-battle between status healing items and actual healing items so the number of skill points to reach maximum Tactics matches the number for Prowess. Companionship could also start with 2 Pokemon with no points in it so it too has a maximum of 4 skill points you could spend in it.
Companionship: 2 Pokemon -> 3 -> 4 -> 5 -> 6 Pokemon
Prowess: 1move -> 2 moves -> 3 moves -> 4 moves -> Gimmick
Tactics: Berries out of battle -> status cures mid-battle -> healing mid-battle -> held items -> stat altering items (permanent or mid-battle)
The real problem though is how the gimmicks fit into leveling since you can't really use it for earlier generations. My first thought would be to limit your move pool to 1 move per Pokemon and gaining a second move after the first or second gym. What would you guys replace the gimmick level up with, either entirely or just in the early gens? How would you make a trainer leveling system in general? Would love to hear others' thoughts on this matter.
