>>58007655TRPG with child soldiers where people literally fight alongside a Pokémon partner on the battlefield
Despite the extremely dark premise, the tone is very lighthearted. Kids are like 13-17, either outright cocksure or at least confident that they can help.
The game is about walking a tightrope in a super precarious situation. You have to manage team dynamics between clashing personalities, all the Pokémon’s needs, and various enemy factions while defending your “turf.” Global events can fuck things up randomly, and the entire game is built on persevering even in the face of some really desperate shit. It would probably only get an M rating thanks to moderate injuries being portrayed on children and some very sparse cursing, nothing too drastic
Put emphasis on the Pokémon as literal living bioweapons. Clarify how even one person with one Pokémon can level a town if they put their minds to it. Keep the game mired in a constant sense of paranoia around every single one, having status effects that can turn your own team against you and possibly have a plot point revolving around the cockiest guy in your squad losing his Pokémon to the enemy after being promised a better life (after being used like a tool/neglected most of the game).
Really lean into friendship both as a positive and enjoyable thing, but also an extremely necessary precaution because of how fucking dangerous the monsters can be
just some shit I’m flinging at the wall so this probably isn’t very coherent. Might work as a historical fantasy too, like a Conquest sequel or something.
