Thursday, July 29, 2010

Pokewalker Setup Walkthrough

Since my friend asked me for some help setting up her son's Pokewalker the other day I decided to write up the instructions in a fun little blog post.

I'd call this a Discipline Blog post however, it won't have any of the other earmarks of a normal post as I have misplaced my Pokewalker and I'm a bit out of practice.

Anyway, to all the Pokemon enthusiasts out there: Enjoy!

How to setup and use your Pokewalker attachment for Pokémon Heart Gold and Soul Silver:

So, you’ve visited your local game store or gone online and used your hard-earned money to purchase your very own copy of Pokémon: Heart Gold or Soul Silver with Pokewalker, and you are incredibly excited to start walking around in real-life with your favorite Pokémon, gaining experience while catching more Pokémon in the field. Unfortunately, you have no idea how to begin using your Pokewalker.

To begin, you must have advanced far enough into the main story of the game to be able to catch Pokémon. This should not be too difficult, about five to ten minutes of steady game play should get you where you need to be. Once you’ve gained access to poke balls (I also recommend buying some extras from the local Pokemart) start wandering into the tall grass found all around the beginning areas of the game. Spend a little time leveling up and capturing Pokémon. Once you have captured at least one Pokémon, you are nearly ready to begin using your Pokewalker.

Now, you must take a trip to your local Pokémon Center. Once there access the PC located near the lovely young lady at the counter who offers to heal your Pokémon free of charge. When the menu options show, select “Someone’s PC” you are now given several options (Deposit Pokémon, Withdraw Pokémon, Move Pokémon, and Move Items). You may either simply deposit a Pokémon from your team of 2-6 currently travelling with you, or (if you are a more advanced user of the Pokémon storage system) you can use “Move Pokémon” to have more controlled distribution of the Pokémon on your team and in storage. Once you have at least one Pokémon in storage you can begin using your Pokewalker attachment.

Restart your game, when you come to the menu screen (after pressing Start on the title screen) move down through the menu options until you have selected “Connect to Pokewalker”. The on screen directions tell you how to connect the Pokewalker; however, for ease I’ll also explain the process. When prompted, press and hold the large central button on the Pokewalker until the LCD display shows a background and a number (usually 0). Once you can see the LCD image, press the central button again to access the Pokewalker menu (the cursor should default to the CONNECT option but if not you may have to press the left and right buttons to move it to the appropriate menu option).

With CONNECT highlighted, point the Pokewalker at the DS cartridge and press the central button again (depending on how much time you’ve taken to do this the Pokewalker may go into sleep mode again, simply press and hold the central button as before to resume its functioning) . You should see some flashing lights on your DS screen indicating a connection and you will also hear a beep on your Pokewalker attachment (if the sound is on).

Once the connection has been made, you can select the option “Go for a Stroll” which will then allow you to select both a Pokémon from those currently stored in your PC to move to the Pokewalker, and a route to stroll on (you begin only able to use 2 routes but unlock more as you use the Pokewalker. Select your chosen Pokémon and connect again to the Pokewalker. You will hear a chime on the Pokewalker indicating that you have successfully moved a Pokémon over (there will also be an indication on the DS).

When you want to switch Pokémon out of the Pokewalker or unlock new routes (or unload the Pokémon and Items you’ve found on your stroll) simply follow the same connection process and select the option “Return from Stroll”. Upon return all Pokémon and Items found during your stroll with be deposited into your PC (along with the Pokémon you’ve been strolling with) and your bag respectively (you will need to do this periodically as the Pokewalker can only hold 3 Pokémon and 3 Items at a time). You then repeat the above process to go on another stroll either with the same Pokémon as before or with another one currently stored in your PC.

With that you’ve learned how to utilize your Pokewalker attachment. Now get out there, get walking and level up your favorite Pokémon, I personally keep my Gyrados on me at all times!

Thursday, July 01, 2010

Discipline Blog Redux #2

Discipline Blog Redux #2

Pokewalker Steps Taken: 11455 (Woo-Hoo! Most in one day since I've started using the thing!)

Running Dungeons and Dragons

Today I’m running a session of Dungeons and Dragons (3.5, homebrew world), so in honor of that occasion, I’ve decided to write a quick piece about the world that the game is taking place in. I may also diverge from the key topic to share some particularly noteworthy gaming moments if I feel so moved.

The World of Bhakaras –

Like many fantasy worlds, Bhakaras is full of medieval weaponry, magical spells, and odd looking races of humanoids and monsters. Unlike many other fantasy worlds, except perhaps some of the worlds found in Final Fantasy style computer games, Bhakaras also has technology (of various kinds and at various levels) available to it. Even that doesn’t make it stand out completely however. Time travel, high technology, steampunk technology and medieval societies all have a place in this world and basically anything is possible.

Current Age of Bhakaras – The Age of Galiria (5735 a.r.c. – Annotated Renaissance Calendar)

Central to the campaign I’m currently running is the nation-state of Galiria. Originally founded as a small feudal city-state in the year 1077 a.r.c. Galiria grew in the aftermath of the fall of Prosempst (Pronounced Pross-M-Pissed). Several small outlying noble settlements and villages all united under the banner of Lord Valys Galerian III and a standing militia was founded in the wake of the influx of Prosemptan refugees. Within a decade, Galiria had officially established its borders (the forest line of Hylar to the north, the Viridian rift to the west, the Kalinost seas to the east and the Blightline to the south).

Galiria’s population consists of Humans (approx 70%), Elves (10% - mostly High Elves), Dwarves (5% - Mostly Hill Dwarves), T’lorians (5% mostly found in the capitol), and about 10% of Monster Races (Goblinoids, Draconic/Kobold, etc. – mostly found in small settlements away from villages, towns and cities).

Although the technology and wealth found in Galiria does vary greatly between the various sized settlements throughout, overall Galiria has a semi-industrial level of technology with a Steampunk Neo-Victorian feel to the architecture, clothing and technological devices. Although natural talent for Magical and Psychic ability is rare among the populace of Galiria, both areas of study are well-known and integrated into the daily lives of many of Galiria’s citizens. Many of the Steampunk devices are fueled using Magical or Psionic power sources, and the Galirian Academy of Scientific Study has departments devoted to the use and construction of Magical and Psionic devices.

The Galirian Academy of Scientific Study also serves as the central hub for all interactions with the T’lorian population in Galiria. The T’lorians (an advanced race from the Kovertan peninsula) came to Galiria shortly after the fall of Prosempst and offered to share some of their knowledge and experience by forming the Academy. In its current incarnation, the Academy has several satellite locations throughout the region and is the central hub for all academic study on the mainland. In addition, it serves as the training ground for nobility, scientists, engineers, sorcerers, psions, and more.

Over more than 4000 years, the Galirian political structures have changed drastically. Originally a feudal city-state ruled by a noble family. When the nation grew, it became a full-fledged monarchy. After nearly 500 years of rule by the Galerian royal house, a military coup occurred and the Royal family was forced into hiding. Until the early 2000’s, Galiria was a police state and all of the citizens of Galiria were forced to serve in the Militia. Finally, the Galirian royal family put together a legitimate resistance movement and for more than one-hundred years the nation fractured into smaller city-states, it was believed that the age of Galiria had passed during this time. However, the Galirian civil-war finally came to an end when the Viridian rift erupted in 2136 spewing out an army of golem-like warriors who began to lay waste to all in their path.

The Darkestarr Family Line –

Dekall Darkestarr, a T’lorian renegade, began traveling throughout Galiria shortly after the eruption. Little is known about the man except that in the years following the eruption he would often arrive in towns being attacked and save them from destruction before disappearing. For more than a decade “The Darkestarr” was considered a legend and little more, a sort of guardian angel. However, in 2145 the elusive and enigmatic T’lorian wed the Galirian princess Serra Galerian. The ceremony was very public (held in the destroyed central square of Old Galiria) and served as a uniting event for the nation. Within less than a year, the Galirian royal family had regained much of its lost power and the Galirian militia was rebuilt. Over the next fifteen years, the T’lorian and the Princess worked to reunite Galiria and re-establish its borders while working to eject the still massing golem armies. In addition, the first known children of a T’lorian/Human pairing began to be born as the Darkestarrs started having children. Despite being the co-ruler of Galiria very little is known about Dekall Darkestarr. However, his family line continues to this day. During Dekall and Serra’s reign Galiria had returned to a sort of Monarchy, however, both agreed that if Galiria was to survive a new system of government had to be formed. As a result, Gailria eventually adopted a system of government that was essentially a representational monarchy and a republic fused into one.

Well, that’s all I have in me for now… there will probably be more World of Bhakaras themed posts done every Thursday (my gaming day) if not more frequently… I’m currently working on the writing out of the actual system of government in Galiria which I may post as well. Anyway, thanks for listening to my ramblings. See you tomorrow!