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To ensure that battles amongst members' characters and against NPCs such as gym leaders are fair and fun, they will be fought using Pokémon Online Battle Simulator (Pokésim), which can be downloaded here.

This program allows you to form your own team of pokémon and challenge other trainers across the world. A detailed walkthrough on its use can be found here.

When creating your pokémon on this program please ensure that it is set to level 50. (This can be done by clicking on the 'Advanced' tab beneath the picture of your pokémon. Select 'Side Window' and more details will appear on the right side of the program window. The level can be changed there.) Every pokémon, regardless of evolutionary stage or type, will be set to level 50 to ensure that battles are fair and fun.

You can store whichever pokémon you like in your box—this is not visible to the public. However, please remember to only include pokémon from your RP party in your PokéSim party. To remove pokémon from your team you must select 'New' from the bottom of the program's window. Just make sure you have stored your pokémon before proceeding. Once 'New' is selected your party will be cleared. You can then withdraw the pokémon you want in your party from your box.

Any battle between members' characters and/or gym leaders must be prearranged for a time convenient to both parties. (All times for gym battles are GMT unless otherwise stated.)

When both members are ready they must arrange which server to connect to. You should also make sure your tier (found on the menu at the top of the window) is set to 5th Gen Dreamworld Ubers (or if that's not there, whatever's most similar), otherwise the program might reduce your pokémon's level or disallow it completely.

Once this is set up properly the battle can take place.

As the battle progresses, a log is taken automatically by the program. It appears on the right side of the window. Once the battle is over, the admins will save the battle log. It will be posted in the Battle Results thread so that it can be dramatised and written up on the forums.

Although the admins will control the gym leaders for the battle, you will include the gym leader's parts in your own posts.

For battles between member trainers, members should post alternately, as usual.

A few things to remember.

Before each battle there are a couple of things you should think about;

- Get the right time for the battle. Don't want to miss it!
- Get the right pokémon in your party. Can't battle with the wrong pokémon!
- Ensure all of your pokémon are set to Lv.50. Don't want the battle to be completely mismatched!
- Make sure all of your pokémon have four moves selected. Won't be fun if you can't attack!
- Make sure you've distributed all the stats for all your pokémon. You'll want your pokémon as strong as possible!
- Check you know which server you're supposed to meet your opponent on. Don't want to be in the wrong place!
- Check your tier is 5Gen Ubers. Don't want the program to throw you out!
- Make sure you know your opponent's name. Want to get on with it as soon as your opponent's ready!

After each battle you should remember to:

- Save a copy of the battle log. You can't write it up on here if you don't know what happened!
- Come straight here afterwards, to celebrate with your pokémon, or to head into the forest/up the mountain/into the river to get on with training, ready for that rematch!

If you have any questions, don't be afraid to ask. We'll do whatever we can to help.

No Pokémon Online?

If you don’t have access to the Pokémon Online battle simulator, we can do your battles for you. Anything and everything from gym challenges to the firefighting event can be done for you--you won't miss out on a thing.

First, you have to let one of the crew know that you don’t have the battle sim, so that we can be prepared to do your battles for you when required.

Next, you have to post the details of each of your pokémon in your Trainer Card. The details we need are:

Species, Nickname, Ability, Held Item, Nature, Moves and EV Spread.

For more information on pokémon abilities, held items, natures and available moves, please consult bulbapedia.

For EV Spread, Pokémon Online allows 510 points to be distributed among HP, Attack, Defence, Special Attack, Special Defence and Speed. For each pokémon you have you must state how the EV points are spread.

For example, the details of Glint's partner pokémon, Gruff, might appear as so:
Species: Growlithe,
Nickname: Gruff
Ability: Intimidate
Held Item: Sitrus Berry
Nature: Modest
Moves: Bite, Ember, Double Kick, Leer
HP: 50, Attack: 100, Defence: 50, Special Attack 200, Special Defence: 50, Speed: 60.

If the total for EVs doesn't equal 510 you'll have to fix it. Similarly, if you list an ability or moveset that your pokémon cannot use or don't list any at all you'll have to fix it before any battles can go ahead. If you don't list a held item, nature or EV spread then you'll be at a disadvantage in the battle.

As far as moves go, it might be a good idea to swap and change them depending on the type of pokémon you're battling against, but you should still list a default moveset in your Trainer Card.

When we're getting ready for a battle you should be in contact with the crew member who'll be controlling your pokémon; either through meebo, the guild chat or if for whatever reason neither of those are available, through PM.

Before the battle begins you can tell the crew member about any changes you want to make to your pokémon's moveset(s) and let them know which pokémon you want to be up first.

Once the battle has started the crew member controlling your pokémon will keep you up to date with everything that happens. You should tell them which moves you want to use and when you want to switch pokémon out.

When the battle is over the log will be posted in the battle results thread, just as with any other battle.