For many of us, Pokémon is a powerfully nostalgic part of our childhoods. We remember traversing the game’s vibrant regions, forming bonds with our Pokémon, collecting the trading cards, and watching Ash and friends chase victory on TV. We came to love the world of Pokémon as the home of some of our favorite memories, and continue to explore it as the franchise evolves. However, the video games, TV shows, and movies only offer linear stories. While each generation introduces a different setting, your task is the same: catch Pokémon, defeat Gym Leaders, thwart the evil Team’s plans, surpass the Elite Four, and become Champion. If you’re interested in telling an entirely new kind of story, engaging with the Pokémon world like never before, Pokémon Tabletop United (PTU) is the game for you.
The PTU TTRPG is a system made by your fellow Pokémon lovers that you and your friends can use to dive into the Pokémon universe and embark on a new collaborative adventure. For example, you could all be children partnering with their first Pokémon and questing for the region’s Championship like the video games, but more excitingly, you can also be anyone else. From an elite member of Team Galactic to a cashier at the PokeMart, this guide will help you build your ideal character for your next Pokémon Tabletop United game.
Remember To Think Ahead
Pokémon Tabletop United is a complex game. Similar to the video and card games, there is a good amount of math and many choices. Moreover, unlike most TTRPGs, you’ll nearly always manage your character, or ‘Trainer,’ and your Pokémon simultaneously. Don’t let this deter you! Although the number of options may feel overwhelming, this guide will show you that this allows for more personalized character customization. Before building your character according to the rulebook, think about what role you want to play in the game, who you want to become. Having a solid idea of who your Trainer is will make it easier to make choices that fit the playstyle you envision.
Before The Journey
The ‘Background’ is the first choice you’ll make for your character. Since the game’s skill progression system is built upon fulfilling prerequisites, this early decision will factor into what Features and Edges you can acquire later. PTU’s core rulebook offers a list of Background templates, such as ‘Street Rattata’ or ‘Silver Tongued,’ but you can also create your own. Your Background is made by selecting two Skills to elevate from ‘Untrained,’ one to ‘Novice,’ and the other to ‘Adept,’ then three Skills to reduce to ‘Pathetic.’ These ‘Pathetic’ Skills cannot be raised at Level 1. Everything else remains ‘Untrained’ for now. Mechanically, these Skill Ranks determine how many d6’s you roll for the associated check and what prerequisites you’ll meet. Character-wise, consider what your Trainer is good at, what they’ve spent time learning, and what activities they may have less experience with, then choose Skills accordingly.
Edges And Features
Your Trainer is unique, having a special combination of abilities and training that allows them to excel and succeed. This is represented in PTU by your choice of their Edges and Features. These mechanics will fundamentally define what makes your Trainer special and direct your play style for the game. You can select your Edges and Features in any order, even going back and forth between the two, but we’ll begin with Edges for this guide.
Whereas your Trainer’s Skills are more specific in what your character can do well, your Edges are bonuses derived from a Trainer’s quirks or proficiencies. Many Edges require Skill prerequisites and fulfill Feature prerequisites. Edges can affect your Skill Ranks, such as ‘Skill Enhancement,’ where you choose two skills and add a +2 to their rolls. At Level 1, you start with four edges you can select from the list in the core rulebook.
Pokémon Tabletop United, like many TTRPGs, includes a Class system for Trainers to identify their role and specialize. With options like ‘Chef,’ ‘Duelist,’ and ‘Oracle,’ these Classes can reflect how a Trainer sees themselves, or the type of Trainer they want to become. As opposed to most TTRPGs, players are encouraged and expected to adopt Features from multiple Classes, with a maximum of four at a time. Keep in mind that some more powerful Features have other Features as prerequisites in the same Class, so spreading yourself too thin may hinder you in the future. At Level 1, you can select four starting Features and one Training Feature that ignores prerequisites.
If you’re feeling intimidated by the number of Features, Edges, and Classes, the rulebook includes a list of Archetypes for guidance. Archetypes suggest which Features and Edges align with a type of character, even connecting to examples from the Pokémon TV show. For example, Brock is of the ‘Caretaker’ Archetype, aptly selecting Features from the Chef and Mentor Classes.
Crunching The Numbers
Trainers, like Pokémon in the video games, have numerical values assigned to each of the six Combat Stats: HP, Attack, Defense, Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed. These stats determine how much damage your Trainer can withstand, deal, and resist, alongside how quickly they can react. Your Attack and Special Attack stats are added to your attacks of their associated type. Your Defense and Special Defense stats are subtracted from incoming damage of their associated type. Your Speed stat decides when you act in combat; the higher the stat, the sooner you move. Lastly, your HP stat is used to find your Hit Points, which is how much damage you can take before being knocked unconscious.
Trainers begin with 10 HP and 5 starting points in each stat. You have 10 more points to distribute across these six stats, but you cannot put more than five points into any single stat. Your Edges and Features may grant you stat bonuses, so make sure to check for those additions.
Using these numbers, we’ll calculate your Derived Stats by plugging your Combat Stats and Skill Ranks into various formulas. These represent your character's physical capabilities, endurance, speed, strength, and more.
Your Derived Stats include how many Hit Points and Action Points you have. Your Trainer's Hit Point formula is: Trainer’s Level x 2 + (HP x 3) +10, so a Level 1 Trainer with an HP of 13 would be 51 (2 + 39 + 10). You begin with 5 Action Points and gain an extra 1 every five levels.
For your Trainers' movement capabilities, as measured in meters, their High Jump by default is 0, but increased by 1 if you’re Adept at Acrobatics, and another 1 if you’ve got a running start. Your Long Jump is equal to half your Acrobatics Skill Rank. The formula for your Overland Movement Speed is: 3 + [(Athl + Acro)/2], so a Trainer who is Adept at Athletics and Untrained in Acrobatics would have an Overland Movement Speed of 4 meters ( 3 + [(2+0)/2]). Your Swimming Speed is half your Overland Movement Speed. Your Throwing Range is 4 plus your Athletics Skill Rank.
Your Trainer’s raw Power, or physical strength, begins at 4, but increases by 1 if you’re at least Novice in Athletics, and another 1 if you’re at least Adept in Combat.
Evasion can allow you to dodge an attack altogether, and is split into Physical, Special, and Speed Evasion. These values are found by dividing the associated Combat Stat by 5 and rounding down. You cannot have more than a +6 in any Evasion solely from Combat Stats.
Finally, your Trainer’s size and weight. Trainers are size Medium by default. Those between 55 and 110 pounds are Weight Class 3, between 111 and 220 are WC 4, and those greater than that are WC 5.
What's In Your Backpack?
At this point in character creation, you should choose your first companion, a Starter Pokémon. This Pokémon doesn’t have to be one of the traditional Starters from the games, but is generally a Pokémon with three stages of evolution that will grow alongside you on your journey. Every Pokémon has unique stats which can be found on the PTU Pokedex, but customizing your Pokémon is for a different article.
Next, you’ll establish what equipment you’ll bring on your Pokémon adventure. Although the choice is ultimately up to your Gamemaster, the rulebook suggests starting with 5000 Pokedollars you can use to purchase items for your initial inventory. Stocking up on Poke Balls, Potions, and status healing items, while having some spending cash left over, is a great idea to set yourself up for success.
Until Next Episode…
Well done! You’ve successfully wrapped up the complex character creation of PTU. Complete with Skills, Stats, Edges, Features, Items, and of course, a partner Pokémon, your Trainer is ready to play a part in the brand new story you and your friends will tell. Now, it’s time for you to venture in, because the vast and vibrant Pokémon world is your Cloyster.
Finn Halpern is a Chicago-based writer, passionate about TTRPGs, nerd culture, and the art of storytelling.
