Pokemon

Traits and Design Guidelines

The world of Pokemon Aetherium is home to many Pokemon of all shapes and sizes. What makes them distinct are the interesting traits some individuals are either born with or develop. Here in this journal, we'll explain all the basics of these traits to you!

Regular Pokemon

These are your standard Pokemon that lack traits! However that doesn't mean they can't have a bit of uniqueness to them. Minor deviations are allowed on regular Pokemon such as a minor change in hue, a spot or two on the body, or small socks on the feet! Eye color is also something you're always allowed to change with your Pokemon. Pokemon may be between 2/3x and 1.5x their canonical size. Though do keep in mind that the changes must be minor, and anything more would count as either Shiny or Variant.

Shiny Pokemon

Shiny Pokemon are just like they are within the games: Pokemon that are a different coloration than their usual selves. The difference here is that they can be any colors you'd like, instead of the standard shiny coloration of the Pokemon! If your Pokemon is purely Shiny, please keep in mind that they must retain all the factors about the Pokemon's original design.

Altered Pokemon

Altered Pokemon are basically variations of the Pokemon in question. Altered can have not only different markings than their original species (or even an addition of markings if they lacked them), but can undergo changes on their physical body as well. For example: an Altered Buizel could have stripes all over its body or could even be hairless! Altered can also have an effect on the sizes of Pokemon. Altered can be up to 1/4th to 4x the size of the original species!

Unless your Altered Pokemon is also Shiny, they should retain the original coloration of the species. If you're giving your Pokemon markings, they must fit with the color scheme of the Pokemon. Going back to our Buizel example, you couldn't give it bright purple markings, but a dark orange would fit just nicely.

Chimera Pokemon

Chimeras are an odd kind of Pokemon that have been influenced by the Myst of the land. They are mixes of two to three Pokemon species in a single Pokemon! For example, you could have a Pokemon like a Buizel/Shinx, which would look like both Pokemon mixed together. Designing such Pokemon must incorporate all the Pokemon involved in the design. Chimera Pokemon must have a typing from each Pokemon. If a Pokemon in the Chimera appears to be absent or lacking, you will be asked to redesign them.

Unless your Chimera Pokemon is also Shiny, they should use the original coloration of the species involved. You're welcome to mix and match colors that show up in all of them, but minor marking colors cannot be used as a main body color of the Pokemon. For example, our Buizel/Shinx we mentioned above cannot have an entirely yellow body, as the color is only used on Buizel's flotation sac, and Shinx's ears, tail, and arm bands. In addition, eye color cannot be used for main body color.

Shifted Pokemon

Shifted Pokemon are another odd group that have been influenced by the Myst. These Pokemon display typings that aren't usual in their species. For example, you could have a Dratini that is Grass Shifted. This means its typing would be Dragon/Grass instead of just Dragon! The coloration of Shifted Pokemon can be changed to fit their new typings, but anything unfitting must have the Shiny trait. The Pokemon can display the typings they're shifted towards in any way you find fitting, however do keep in mind that they must fit the typings; otherwise you will be asked to redesign them.

Shifted Pokemon must always keep at least one of their original types from each of their base species. For example, we have a Fighting Shifted Carbink. Its typing would be Fairy/Rock/Fighting! However let's say it's Fighting AND Psychic Shifted. From there you have a choice of keeping Carbink's original Fairy or Rock typing and replacing the other with the Shifted types. Therefore you could have a Fairy/Fighting/Psychic Carbink or a Rock/Fighting/Psychic Carbink!

Boosted Pokemon

Boosted Pokemon are a subset of Shifted Pokemon. These are Pokemon that have Shifted types towards ones they already have. For example, a Dratini that's Dragon Shifted is now considered Dragon Boosted as Dragon is its original type. Pokemon with a Boosted type display that type more heavily than their original forms. For example with our Dragon Boosted Dratini we mentioned above: it can display more Dragon traits than it could before. This could include things such as wings, horns, or whiskers, and can even come with a change in coloration to fit the typing!

Shifted and Boosted Pokemon have the unique ability to learn any move from the Shifted typing they gained. This excludes Legendary and Signature moves, which are touched on in the Submissions Page.

Forms

Over the generations there have been many Pokemon that have multiple forms that have been introduced. Here in Aetherium, we classify such Pokemon into two groups: Ones that can be depicted in any form at anytime, and ones that need an item called a Bitter Berry to change forms beforehand. The difference mostly lies in if a major thing about a Pokemon changes through its form change such as type or moves it can learn. This also applies to Pokemon that have specific permanent cosmetic form differences such as Shellos's two forms and Alcremie's forms.

Note that if you obtain any Pokemon that falls under the "Needs an item" category, you can choose whatever form you want them to be in first when you initially get them.

The following Pokemon can be depicted in any form without an item:

Burmy (Note that once evolved, Wormadam will require a Bitter Berry to change forms)
Cherrim
Deerling
Sawsbuck
Keldeo
Genesect
Greninja
Furfrou
Aegislash
Xerneas
Wishiwashi
Minior (This applies to Core vs. Meteor form. The color of your Minior's Core form cannot be changed unless an Aetheric Runoff is used)
Mimikyu
Cramorant
Eiscue
Morpeko

The following Pokemon will require use of a Bitter Berry before it can be depicted in another form:

Castform
Deoxys
Wormadam
Shellos
Gastrodon
Rotom
Giratina
Shaymin
Arceus
Basculin
Darmanitan
Galarian Darmanitan
Tornadus
Thundurus
Landorus
Kyurem
Meloetta
Vivillon
Flabebe
Floette
Florges
Zygarde
Hoopa
Oricorio
Lycanroc
Silvally
Necrozma
Toxtricity
Alcremie
Zacian
Zamazenta

Abilities

When you first hatch Pokemon from your starting eggs you may notice numbers next to your options. These denote what ability they have! They can either have Ability 1, 2, or their Hidden Ability (denoted by HA sometimes). To figure out which ability each number translates to, simply go to a site like Bulbapedia or Serebii and check out the Pokemon's page. The first ability listed right at the top is their Ability 1, while the one underneath will be 2 (as long as the Pokemon has two abilities outside of its Hidden Ability). If the Pokemon doesn't have two abilities and you get one with a 2, simply use Ability 1 instead. If a Pokemon ends up with an ability you don't want, simply use either an Ability or Dream Capsule to change their ability!

Design Guidelines

While we encourage unique art styles and creativity, here in Pokemon Aetherium we do have some limits on what is and isn't allowed with both Pokemon and humanoid characters. This list isn't meant to stifle creativity, but instead set basic parameters on what we do and don't allow.

Pokemon cannot be drawn with breasts or other genitalia, implied or otherwise. This includes things such as crotch bulges and chest bumps. We understand some Pokemon, like Jynx, do have breasts, and can be drawn with such while staying close to the original design. However if you have a chimera with one of these Pokemon, you cannot use that half of the Pokemon simply to give the chimera breasts or any other features.
Please refrain from drawing your Pokemon too humanoid. This includes long bodies, defined hips, fingers, and human-like hair.
Exeggcute/Magneton/Dugtrio etc. Chimera cannot simply be a grouping of the Pokemon they are a chimera with (such as six regular Vulpix grouped together). The design must integrate both Pokemon for it to be accepted.
Armor and other accessories are acceptable to draw on your Pokemon. If it obscures too much of the Pokemon, you will be asked to provide a picture of them without any of it on to better see their design. Please refrain from making a Pokemon's actual skin look like clothing as it can make differentiating between the Pokemon's design and actual outfits or accessories difficult for the moderators and other members.
Pokemon must show all the traits they have. If you wish to not have a trait on your Pokemon, please make use of the trait removal items obtainable in the group.
Traits that Pokemon have cannot be used to make them look like another species or have traits they don't have.
Please refrain from drawing humanoid characters overly-sexualized. While the group is rated mature, we just ask that things are kept tasteful. When in doubt, please use the design check journal.

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