OP Format
If your metagame wins OMotM or is chosen for LCotM, the original post (OP) needs to follow this format. Otherwise using the format is optional, but recommended.
Key:
Blue = tips (delete when writing post)
Red = write your own text (change color back to black)
--
Approved by [???]
<List which staff members approved your metagame. Always include this information somewhere in your thread, so that posters know that you've gone through the approval process -- it can be small, as long as its visible>
<Try to include some sort of visual at the start of your thread that represents your metagame, with centered alignment. It can be something you've made, or an image you found on the internet. If it's the latter, always include a link that credits your source under the image, like so...>
[Source]
<If the image doesn't contain the title of your metagame, include a title in text below the image, bold and with maximum size font, like so...>
[Title]
[Text, default size, aligned left]
<This is where text describing the premise of your metagame should go. You can go on for a few lines, or a few paragraphs. You can add a bit of flavor text if you'd like -- you don't need to bee succinct here, save that for...>
Rules:
Mechanic:
[Text] <State exactly what mechanics changes there are between your meta and standard gameplay, in as few words as possible>
Clauses:
[Text] <List the clauses your meta uses. If your meta is based in an existing tier (OU, Ubers), then you can often just say "OU clauses," etc. However, you can also list clauses individually, especially if you add new clauses (ex: "Donors Clause" from Inheritance). If you do add clauses, be sure to describe them>
Bans:
[Text] <List the Pokemon, items, moves and abilities that are banned from use in your meta. Again, if you are based in a tier, you can just say "OU banlist" and then add additional bans>
Unbans:
[Text (optional)] <If you used an existing banlist for the above section, list Pokemon here that are are unbanned from that list. Many metagames won't have this list -- but if you do have it, it should look very similar to your banlist in format>
Strategy:
[Text, images, etc.]
<This section is very open depending on what you want to do, but you should use it to discuss the potential that your metagame has and how a new player should approach it. If you foresee certain Pokemon, team styles or special combinations that would work especially well in your metagame, you can describe them here. This can be in the form of paragraphs, or lines with sprite images. You may want to update this section as posters in your thread discusses the metagame, and eventually play it to see what is especially effective. If you're stumped, try looking at the threads of some popular metagames to see what they list. If this section begins to take up too much space, you can selectively use hide tags to condense it>
Q&A:
Q:
[Text]
A:
[Text]
[Repeat as necessary...]
<For questions that you received during the approval process or the discussion of the thread (or simply questions for mechanics/interactions that aren't immediately clear from any of the above text), list the question and your answer to it. Be sure to update this part of the post with questions that keep coming up about your metagame>
Resources:
[Text, images, links, etc.]
<This is where you include any miscellaneous information about your meta along with any additional resources that you or people in the thread have created. The content is up to you, but these are some items that would be useful in the section:
- Locations where your meta is playable (Aqua, Pandora, etc.)
- List of the people on your council (if applicable)
- Labeled replays of your metagame being played, to show readers examples of gameplay
- Images/charts/lists that provide more information about the metagame
- A list of bans/changes made to your metagame with dates to show readers the history of the meta
For popular metagames, this section can get quite long, so use hide tags as necessary>
[RESERVED POSTS]
<You likely want to reserve at least one post after your original post -- simply add additional posts that say "Reserved" before other people respond to the thread. This allows you to add more content if you run out space in the original post, although you can leave the post blank for as long as you need to. These are the most common uses of reserved posts:
- Viability Rankings: A list of viable Pokemon in your meta, sectioned off into tiers, with sprites next to their names. Check several popular metagame threads or official Smogon tiers to see examples of this -- keep in mind you likely want to wait until multiple people have played your meta and have formed opinions on what's good and what's not>
- Team Archive: A list of team imports that people have posted or that you have used. Please use hide tags here, and label the tags well so that teams are easy to find. Having an archive is a good way to promote the growth of your metagame, as new players can use a tested team without making their own
- Any of the items listed in the "Resources" section could be moved to separate posts as well
While you don't need to reserve posts, it's recommended you do so just in case -- if your meta really takes off and gets popular, you'll want more space without having to create a new thread>
--
<Here is a finished example of a proper metagame OP>
Approved by Eevee General and The Immortal
[Source]
Magicmons
Have you ever wished you could go back to a time before Leftovers? Before Life Orb? Before Choice Scarf? These days, held items are a crucial part of competitive battling, but there's a way you can negate them: Magic Room! This uncommon move prevents item use, but is rarely seen because it only lasts five turns. In Magicmons, this is no longer the case! Magic Room is permanently active during this game mode, making held items essentially useless. With a mix of Gen 1 and Gen 6 mechanics, anything could happen! It's magical!
Rules:
Mechanic: The move "Magic Room" is permanently active
Clauses: OU clauses
Bans: OU banlist, Sablenite
Unbans: Genesect
Strategy:
Without items, offensive Pokemon lose a lot of their damage and defensive Pokemon lose a lot of their longevity. The one type of Pokemon that lose nothing are Mega Pokemon, as they basically operated without an item to begin with.
Increased Viability:
Here are some Pokemon that are especially powerful in Magicmons:
Mega Charizard X is a monster in Magicmons. All the close 2HKOs it had before become much more consistent due to lack of Leftovers recovery, and it hits much harder than almost every other attacker.
Talonflame sometimes runs an itemless Acrobatics set in standard, and now that set has basically no downside! Definitely one of the better Acrobatics users, although Acrobatics in general is a much better move.
Decreased Viability:
There are also some Pokemon that lose a lot from the Magicmons meta, either from the lack of items on themselves or on enemy Pokemon:
Gliscor never gets the chance to activate Toxic Orb, thus taking away its main niche. As such, Landorus-T pretty much directly outclasses Gliscor in every way.
Weavile and other Pokemon that rely on Knock Off will be disappointed by their damage output, as few Pokemon will be holding an item unless they're attempting some sort of strategy with Natural Gift or Fling.
Q&A:
Q:
What happens if a Pokemon uses Magic Room?
A: The move fails, rather than reversing the permanent Magic Room.
Q:
Can Pokemon still Mega Evolve?
A: Yes, Magic Room doesn't effect Mega Stones.
Resources:
Playability: You can play Magicmons on
Aqua!
Council: To apply to the Magicmons council, please send me a PM.
Jajoken
Eevee General
The Immortal
Ban History:
2/26/2016: Sablenite banned. Without damage items, very few Pokemon could 2HKO Mega Sableye. Plus, it outclassed most defensive Pokemon due to their loss of Leftovers recovery, so the Mega Stone was determined unhealthy for the meta and banned.
2/27/2016:
Genesect unbanned. Without access to Choice Scarf, Genesect lost its main niche and was determined healthy enough for the meta. Thus, it was unbanned.
Replays:
[
1] - Showing the strength of Mega Charizard X
[
2] - How lead matchup impacts an entire match
[
3] - Example of why Sablenite was banned
[/hide]
