One-shot: Operation Lucky Star

One-shot for PTU (level 10 trainers, level 20 Pokémon)
Player Count: 3-4

The following is a one-shot I have run for my players, feel free to use it as writing exercise or in your own games. Keep in mind, turns in combat take 10 seconds of in-game time to complete. This adventure starts at trainer level 10 and two Pokémon at level 20, giving old players a chance to come in with a specific character build as fine tuned as they can without it being too disruptive while also giving ambitious new players a chance to play test freely. If a slower start is desired, go ahead and start them at level 1 trainers with two level 5 Pokémon. NPCs that the players will be fighting, in this case, can be reduced in level. Unnamed Ace Trainers will be the same level as the player characters and named Ace Trainers will be five levels higher than the players. Pokémon level is always double the trainer level when it comes to NPCs. I like to allow a player character's starter Pokémon an egg move, so let them know that they are allowed to have one or two if they are starting at level 20.

Start players with $5,000 and have them buy whatever equipment they want.

Operation Lucky Star

This one-shot takes place in Unova in a time before Team Plasma was headed by Ghetsis and were an actual advocate for Pokémon rights. Players will take on roles of team plasma members or volunteers. The current leaders are younger versions of Sage Bronius and Sage Zinzolin who have been contacted by a man who claims to care for a protect a powerful one of a kind Pokémon called Victini. The issue is a group of professional Pokémon Trainers called ACE Trainers has been attempting to take the mythical Pokémon from him for their own personal gain. The ACE Trainers in this one-shot are a factional League adjacent entity that is focused more on stats and win streaks than the Pokémon they use to achieve them. The ACE faction seeking to capture Victini are known as the Phantom Aces. They have at least one ghost type Pokémon they consider their Ace. the Grunts of the Phantom Aces will have 1-3 Pokémon depending on desired difficulty.

START
Location: Team Plasma Base, Castelia City
Time: Morning

NPCs present
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Zinzolin
	Zinzolin is Operation Leader for Team Plasma and the main reason the organization has opened up to accepting volunteers and independent trainers. He is an Ice Type Specialist who can't stand feeling cold. When asked why he chose such a type to specialize in he simply said, "discomfort promotes growth". He rewards good work and success in the face of strife with more opportunities to suffer for ones success.

(Note: he does not join the player characters, but in case the players want to fight him here are his team and classes)

Zinzolin's Team
	3 Cryogonal (level 22)
		>Reflect/Safeguard/Lightscreen
		>Ice Beam
		>Flash Cannon
		>Confuse Ray
		>Endure
		>[Free Move Slot]
Class List (level 11)
	Type Ace (Ice)
	Commander
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Bronius
	Bronius is more concerned with his research into legendary Pokémon and that interest is what drove him to volunteer for Operation Lucky Star, but he isn't overly excited about having outsiders volunteering, but is willing to work alongside them if need be. Bronius cares little for people he does not find interesting, but as the Public Relations Liasson he will accompanying the volunteers while pretending to be friendly to the ones he deems unintelligent and respectfully tolerating those he sees as "acceptably smart."

Bronius' Team
	Foongus (level 20)
		>Ingrain
		>Mega Drain
		>Growth
		>Gastro Acid
		>[Free Move Slot]
		>[Free Move Slot]
	Duosion (level 20)
		>Reflect
		>Light Screen
		>Hidden Power [Bug]
		>[Free Move Slot]
		>[Free Move Slot]
		>[Free Move Slot]
Class List (level 10)
	Sage
	Enduring Soul
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Several (3-4) Grunts

	These grunts are well meaning newbies to Team Plasma who require more training. They are the first of their kind within the activist organization; Zinzolin wants to be more aggressive with how their message is delivered to the masses and these grunts have the enthusiasm needed. These new members are one of the reasons why Zinzolin needs volunteers, he wants good trainers to join to help teach all the newbies a thing or two about battling. The idea of outsourcing that job to volunteers made him uncomfortable, and therefore he decided it must be the best course of action.
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Zinzolin starts the scene with a small welcome speech.

"Firstly, thank you all for coming and volunteering your time here at Team Plasma. Let's start this of right shall we? My name is Zinzolin and I hate the cold. This is..." He motions to Bronius who wasn't paying attention, He jabs Bronius with his elbow and Bronius responds with a flat "Bronius". There is a pause, clearly Zinzolin expects Bronius to say more, but he does not.

From here, instruct the player characters to introduce themselves and a fun fact about their character.
Once introductions are made, Zinzolin will thank the player characters again, and transition to the mission they need help with by nudging the bored looking Bronius who snaps into action and says the following:

	"We have called for your help today because this is an important job, that requires better trainers than we currently have access to. Mostly because of the possible conflict with the group called Advanced Coaching Experts, or as they like to call themselves "ACE". Our organization has had run-ins with them in the past due to allegations of allowing overly brutal and cruel training styles within its ranks. We've both had our names drug through mud over this, and so we want to be more hands off when dealing with them. That's where you come in. But what are they doing that needs intervention you may ask? Well trying to capture none other than the mythical Pokémon Victini for starters."

(here you can have your players roll a DC 15 Pokemon Education check to see if they know anything about Victini. On a success, they know it's from a different region and that it supposedly promises victory to those it likes. Failures within 5, know that it is a lucky Pokémon. Everyone else is hearing of Victini for the first time. Any information on Victini is mostly unknown by Team Plasma and if any of this information is told to Bronius he will simply scratch his chin thoughtfully before dismissing it as "a nice theory that needs more proof." Continue with the briefing after this.)

"We have been contacted by Victini's caretaker, an old man named Victor. He claims to have lost the will to go on guarding Victini in his old age and believes that we can relocate it safely. He also claims that ACE wants their hands on Victini, and Zinzolin has assured him that we can keep it out of their hands. Victor has made it as far as Lostlorn forest, but feels like he cannot make it much further. We are to meet up with him there and take Victini from him before any ACE factions find him. We will go through the desert, and arrive in Nimbasa, once there we can recoup if need be, but afterwards, I will stay behind and you will head straight to Lostlorn where, we will hopefully find Victor AND Victini. Any questions?"

Answer any questions to the best of your ability, transition to the next scene whenever. The Plasma Grunts will stay behind with Zinzolin to get trained, while Bronius accompanies the player Characters to the desert.
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DESERT
Location: Desert Resort
Time: Noon

NPCs present
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Vince
	 he travels up and down the routes selling travel necessities to trainers, he's always looking to help those in need. He is extremely accident and danger prone and is known to give discounts to those who help him out of tight spots.

Vince's Team
	Zebstrika (level 20)
		>Wild Charge
		>Stomp
		>Thunder Wave
		>Flame Charge
Class List (level 10)
	Rider
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Bronius
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Allow players to catch or battle Pokémon within the desert. Have them, roll perception. You decide how many Pokémon they see based on how high they roll. All Pokémon they find here should be around level 20

Pokémon present
	>Sandile
	>Darumaka
	>Maractus
	>Scraggy
	>Dwebble
	>Sigilyph
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Encounter: Saving Vince

Vince is being attacked by Darmanitan (Level 30) he accidentally pulled it out of Zen Mode when he tried hooking it up to his Zebstrika thinking it was a odd Relic Statue he could sell to collectors. He will call for help and offer a 50% discount if they save him.

	Vince's Wares:
		>Restoration Items,: Potion x30, Burn Heal x5, Paralyze Heal x3, Revive x1

		>X-Items, X-Attack x2, X- Spec. Attack, X -Spec. Defense, X-Accuracy, Dire Hit

		>Type Boosters: Ghost, Flying, Bug,

		>Type Brace: Dark, Ghost, Fighting,

		>Pokeballs: Basic x15, Great, x7, Ultra x3

		>Accessories: Medicine Case, Egg Warmer

		>Berries: Persim x9, Sitrus x20, Honey, x5,

	Darmanitan (Level 30)
Will have already used Belly Drum. It's moves are:
	>Belly Drum
	>Hammer Arm
	>Flare Blitz
	>Flame Charge
	>[Free Move Slot]
	>[Free Move Slot]
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In Nimbasa, Players can heal up and roleplay if they wish. Bronius will send them off and wish them luck.

LOSTLORN CONFRONTATION
Location: Lostlorn
Time: Late Afternoon

NPCs present
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Victor (level 10)
	>Victini (level 35)
		Moves it knows are up to you.
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Langford
	Ace Trainer and leader of his own Ace Team: The Phantom Aces. He is always looking for any way to increase his team's ACE Rank. Even if that means braving the unknown and capturing a legendary. He gives 100% in everything and will invite anyone to his team if they impress him.

Langford's Team
	Liepard (level 30)
		>Spite
		>Torment
		>Taunt
		>Feint Attack
		>Fury Swipes
		>Fake Out (Hit or Miss, the target is Vulnerable until the next time they are hit by a damaging attack or after one full round)
	Conkeldurr (level 30)
		>Rage
		>Dynamic Punch (Frequency not spent on a miss)
		>Comet Punch
		>Fire Punch
		>Ice Punch
		>Rock Throw
	Cofagrigus (level 30)
		>Infestation
		>Disable
		>Nasty Plot
		>Telekinesis (Two Targets)
		>Will-O-Wisp
		>Hex

Class List (Level 15)
	Stat Ace (Attack)
	Stat Ace (Special Attack)
	Ace Trainer
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2 ACE Trainers
	This part is up to you but they will have one level 20 Pokémon and be level 10 trainers with Ace Trainer and Duelist as their classes.
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BATTLE

	Victini is battling Langford and his team when the Player Characters arrive, Victor has already given up so Victini's power didn't help him win, now it's fighting desperately against the ACE Trainers. At  first, Victini will attack whoever is close to it including the Player Characters. Every round, have it use its strongest available move on the trainer or Pokémon closest to it.

	Langford will have led with his Liepard. Victini will be Vulnerable and Flinched round 1 thanks to the Liepard's Fake Out going off just before the Player Characters showed up. The ACEs will focus on bringing Victini down, until they are attacked by a Player Character. Once this happens, shift tactics to controlling who victini hits by ensuring Player Characters are closer to it. He will be forced to switch tactics a second time when his two teammates fall or if he is down to his Cofagrigus (whichever happens first) and try convincing Victini to join him of its own free will. Player Characters can attempt to reason with Victini as well. Player Characters must succeed three Contested Charm/Command/Guile/Intimidate (Players can use whatever they want, but the person whose turn it is determines what skill is used for the opposed check, Langford will be using his Master Command) over three rounds (allow all players to contest Langford's roll). Each success will bring Victini closer to their side of the battlefield. If Langford is winning Victini's attention, the best option might be for the players to finish the battle and defeat Langford outright, their tenacity in battle and belief in their abilities will trump Langford's ever shifting tactics in Victini's eyes.

Transition back to Nimbasa when ready.
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END
Location: Nimbasa, Plasma Base, Castelia
Time: Evening

NPCs present
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Bronius
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Victor
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Zinzolin
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Wrap it up nicely by having Zinzolin pay the Player Characters $20,000 to split amongst each other and sending Victini to Liberty Garden where it and Victor can be safe.