UTDZac
commented
1 year ago Hey Aeiiry, thanks for your interested in adding to the Ironmon Tracker project. This is a pretty cool feature update to automatically do calculations for you.
However, this is not something we're looking to officially add or make available on the Tracker. The primary reason is because of the amount of work this does for a person with regards to the Tracker playing the game for you. This automatically trivializes the choices made, removing that element of play from the game itself. Ultimately this is a two-part change, and I have some notes on each.
Automatically calculating the power for move effectiveness and STAB
This is a simple change but one we've purposefully chosen not to include. The Tracker already informs the user if a move meets either of these conditions and helps inform them that they can make the choice to use these "better" moves.
- If the move's power is automatically calculated, then it too quickly answers the question for the player of which move to use: the one with lower base power and stab and 2x, or the one with higher base power and 2x.
- If the move's power is automatically calculated, then the Tracker potentially takes away information. A player will constantly see different values for a Pokemon. I think this will visually be more confusing, especially for newer players, as each new Pokemon is encountered means the moves constantly change. In addition, this change means the player has to rely on the Tracker's calculations. If the calculations are incorrect, perhaps because a bug was accidentally added in a Tracker version, then all the player sees is the "wrong" value for the move and there is no way to know its wrong or right.
In short, I think the Tracker already guiding you on which moves are super-effective or not effective, as well as which benefit from STAB, is altogether sufficient enough information for players to make better, meaningful decisions during battle without the Tracker taking away that element of gameplay or decision.
Automatically calculating the new accuracy/evasion values
While it is true that this is something that the Ironmon Tracker can do for the player, I believe this reaches into the space of offering too much advice and guidance that a player wouldn't normally have (or bother to even lookup). It might be easiest to show as a comparison of another type of information: move effectiveness based on Pokemon type(s).
- Knowing effectiveness is critical to be able to play Pokemon (Tracker offers a way to remember and know). However, info on the exact numbers and percentages for acc/eva is not critical or required. Pokemon types.
- The type-tables are readily available and commonplace and well known by many, thus Tracker having this included makes sense in that regard and is convenient; people already do this by looking up type tables when playing even without the Tracker. However, knowledge about exactly how acc/eva changes with each stat drop is not so commonplace. A huge majority of people don't look this up or bother. Therefore, adding this in provides a bit more information than what a player would already get.
- Note: Some move descriptions already briefly outline how effective a stat stage change for accuracy drops are, such as Kinesis and Sand-Attack.
In short, providing exact calculations for accuracy/evasion isn't something that most players do, or need, while playing. The Tracker doesn't need to go over the top and provide this information on hand, as it's not critical to play the game. While yes it is convenient, I believe it's too convenient, as most people don't bother wanting to lookup this information to make decisions.
Aeiiry
Made this mostly for myself, pretty simple stuff right now. Opening a pull request in case this may be something other people would like
https://github.com/Aeiiry/Ironmon-Tracker/blob/acc-dmg-autocalc/README.md