HMs for a Narrative Game
Hidden Machines in the games were specific moves that allowed you to move or interact with the overworld in specific ways. While HMs have gone by the wayside in the modern games, the concept of Pokemon enabling new shortcuts, avoiding obstacles, and being required to pass barriers is a great idea to spice up a Pokerole journey.
This is a list of various action words a Pokemon could take, and types of Pokemon that might be able to take that. Use these action words to inspire obstacles or challenges in your party’s path as they journey through the Pokemon world. The Types columns are only suggestions! If it makes sense a Pokemon can take that action in the given situation, allow it!
Moves
This table is just based off of types or Pokemon and then generic powers that type might have. Moves are another great source of inspiration! Build backwards, look at a player’s move and build a puzzle or obstacle that just asks to be solved using that move.
| Action | Types | Obstacles |
|---|---|---|
| Fly | Flying, Dragon | Anything on the ground, getting to something in the air. |
| Swim | Water, Ice | Travel on the water, waterfalls, whirlpools |
| Dive | Water | Get to something underwater |
| Float | Psychic, Grass, Electric | Levitate an object, cross a gap |
| Block | Rock, Ground, Psychic | Create a barrier, build a path through an obstacle |
| Vanish | Ghost | Go through a wall or floor, hide in plain sight |
| Charge | Electric | Power an electronic, cross live wire areas |
| Strength | Fight, Rock, Steel | Break an obstacle, Move a obstacle out of the way |
| Light | Fire, Electric, Dragon | Ignite a flammable material, clear flammable obstacle |
| Dissolve | Poison | Eat through materials |
| Sniff | Normal | Follow a scent, notice something hidden |
| Camouflage | Bug, Grass | Hide in plain sight, spy on something |
| Build | Rock, Ice, Ground | Create an obstacle or a way around one |
| Teleport | Psychic | Move instantly somewhere else |
| Sneak | Dark, Ghost, Flying | Move without being spot, trail someone |
| Freeze | Ice | Freeze an obstacle or path |
| Flash | Fire, Electric, Fairy | Brighten a dark area |
| Climb | Normal Ground, Fight | Scale a high/vertical surface |
| Swing | Grass, Fight | Swing across a gap on vine, cable, etc |
| Slide | Ice | Go safely down a deep drop |
| Honeypot | Grass, Fairy, Bug | Let off a scent or effect that attracts Pokemon/People |
| Douse | Water | Put out flames, cool off an area |
| Chill | Ice, Water | Make a too hot environment hospitable |
| Warm | Fire, Electricity | Make a too cold environment hospitable |
| Anchor | Rock, Steel, Ground | Make a too windy environment hospitable |
| Cleanse | Flying, Fairy, Poison | Make a toxic environment hospitable |
| Nullify | Normal, Dark | Make a spectral environment traversable |
| Calm | Fairy, Grass | Calm an anxious or distressed person |
| Forage | Grass, Normal | Find water or food in the wilderness |