BigRedRod
5th of August, 2003, 22:56
The Glove
Produced and developed by MonCom, the Trainer's glove is now available in an endless amount of designs
Only a single glove is usually worn, although matching gloves for the other hand can be purchased, these however lack any of the function of the trainer glove
A worn glove allows monsters to be released and captured almost without limit.
To allow a monster to exit it's token, it is placed in one of the three slots on the back of the glove, and with a single thought and vague hand motion the Monster within is released. Removing a token automatically returns the monster to it, but the monster can be called back without removing the token (allowing trianers to leave their preferred companion in the glove at all times whether or not they want him about)
The Tokens
A blank token is black piece of plastic with a transparent centre, around an inch across and a circular shape
As soon as a token is used to capture a monster the transparent centre becomes filled with smoke
Once the token has been bonded to a master, the token usually alters quite radically in material and colour (but retaining the same size and shape)
Catching Monsters
Each glove is fitted with a mechanism for launching tokens at high speed, usually this is located on the wrist.
A blank token is loaded, fired towards a weakened monster and if successful the creature is pulled inside the token, and becomes ready for the bonding process
Bonding
This requires services available at the UmbCentres located in most towns and cities. MonCom Stations can also perform this task, although they are no longer as common in towns due to the competition from the UmbCentres
Inserting the token into a bonding device, the would-be master than pushes his gloved arm into the machine. After a few agonising minutes the process ends and the bonded token rolls out, although is some cases the monster can reject it's new master in which case the token does not change it's form and remains black with a smoky centre
Exchanging control of a monster requires the previous owner and a specialised machine (which is present in most stations and centres). Both trainers must inserted their gloved arms and the creature then rebonds with it's new master
It may be possible to exchange control of a monster without the previous owner, but it is illegal to perform such a process, or own a device capable of allowing it to happen
UmbCentres and MonCom Stations
It was MonCom who developed the technologies to capture and bond monsters, and so they set up small buildings in towns and cities across Jalis (even in some areas of wilderness) which would bond and heal creatures. However, these centres charged for their services. The Umbrella corportion saw a chance to strike at the rapidly growing company and so approached the government, pointing out that such a service was a monopoly and set up to exploit children. The government agreed and provided funding for UmbCentres in towns and cities which would provide the same services but for no charge.
This pushed the MonCom stations into the wilderness locations, so that trainers who needed to heal their companions while away from town would be able to pay. This arrangement has held steady for almost thirty years
The shutting down of the markets
When the technology first arrived, markets sprung up to seel rare and exotic creatures, however after months of constant protests the sale of monsters was made illegal
Discovery of the technology
MonCom emerged just over thirty years ago from nowhere with it's revolutionary technology. The main downside was that adults were more often that not unsuitable masters who couldn't bond. So MonCom marketed it's products at children, afterall a pet monster is more than just a pet, it's protection, a game, an adventure and it keeps the kids busy and away from drugs.
As years have passed the activity has become more and more popular, with a majority of children now taking part in some form or another. The original children seem to have maintained a greater ability than a normal adult to bond with creatures, so possibly it's only a matter of time and new training technequies before adults can freely use monsters, that would no doubt mark the beginning of a new era
The exact origins of the gloves and tokens are unknown, MonCom closely guard the secret and remains the sole producers of these products. Those that try to take apart the gloves are usually baffled by what they find, and are unable to understand how they function
The company has it's head-quarters based in Metralia, but release of it's technology was near simultanous with Jalis. The company denied Novtopia the technology for over twenty-five years, partially due to initial protest about capturing monsters which were held around the time of the announcement and partially due tot he company's belief that there would be no immediate market demand
Badges, Gyms and Teams
A majority of trainers don't compete alone, most form teams of 2-5 and challenge gyms, compete in tournaments and suchlike as a group. Theis allows a trainer to specialise if he should so choose without being hopeless
A solo trainer may challenge a gym and earn it's badge, in this situation the trainer will battle against the gym-leader alone (the exact nature of the battle varies). The gym-leader of course will not be playing at her full strength, instead she will choose monsters closer suited to the experience level of the opponents (although leaders have their limits), this allows the challengers skills as a trainer to be tested, while retaining the importance of the monster raising itself
A team may also challenge a gym. In this case the Gym-leader with battle against the team in a series of matches, some prefer all out combat involving multiple monsters, while others will pit each trainer against a gym-member, and then one member will face the leader herself. In this case each team member is awarded the badge, but it is recorded as a team badge on the IMTD, a new member of the team does not earn any badges for joining or a team ,or lose any for leaving
International Monster Trainer Database
This database can be accessed at every official gym throughout the world, and holds a record of each trainer and their badges.
A quick palm-scan during a competition sign-up gives the organisers all the info they might need on the trainer (including badges if there is a prerequisite for taking part)
The IMTD is very difficult to illegally access, either by eletronic attack, or by physically marching into a holding building guns blazing
Rangers
The Jalis government was put under incredible pressure by parents and concerned citizens in the early days. Children were being encouraged to roam the plains and forests between the towns! And in most cases there was no supervision.
The rangers were those young enough to bond with creatures but old enough to be considered "mature" (and more importantly legally workable adult hours). The recruited rangers' task was simple, simply roam the hot spots of trainer activity and make sure there was no trouble.
A ranger is typically a trainer of some skill. Each morning they meet in the area's ranger cabin and assign the duties
After Jalis implemented the ranger scheme with such roaring success, Metralia was quick to follow. And as the technology spread through novtopia , it wasn't long before they developed their own ranger scheme
The rangers of each country exchange information whe nneeded and are on quite friendly terms.
Produced and developed by MonCom, the Trainer's glove is now available in an endless amount of designs
Only a single glove is usually worn, although matching gloves for the other hand can be purchased, these however lack any of the function of the trainer glove
A worn glove allows monsters to be released and captured almost without limit.
To allow a monster to exit it's token, it is placed in one of the three slots on the back of the glove, and with a single thought and vague hand motion the Monster within is released. Removing a token automatically returns the monster to it, but the monster can be called back without removing the token (allowing trianers to leave their preferred companion in the glove at all times whether or not they want him about)
The Tokens
A blank token is black piece of plastic with a transparent centre, around an inch across and a circular shape
As soon as a token is used to capture a monster the transparent centre becomes filled with smoke
Once the token has been bonded to a master, the token usually alters quite radically in material and colour (but retaining the same size and shape)
Catching Monsters
Each glove is fitted with a mechanism for launching tokens at high speed, usually this is located on the wrist.
A blank token is loaded, fired towards a weakened monster and if successful the creature is pulled inside the token, and becomes ready for the bonding process
Bonding
This requires services available at the UmbCentres located in most towns and cities. MonCom Stations can also perform this task, although they are no longer as common in towns due to the competition from the UmbCentres
Inserting the token into a bonding device, the would-be master than pushes his gloved arm into the machine. After a few agonising minutes the process ends and the bonded token rolls out, although is some cases the monster can reject it's new master in which case the token does not change it's form and remains black with a smoky centre
Exchanging control of a monster requires the previous owner and a specialised machine (which is present in most stations and centres). Both trainers must inserted their gloved arms and the creature then rebonds with it's new master
It may be possible to exchange control of a monster without the previous owner, but it is illegal to perform such a process, or own a device capable of allowing it to happen
UmbCentres and MonCom Stations
It was MonCom who developed the technologies to capture and bond monsters, and so they set up small buildings in towns and cities across Jalis (even in some areas of wilderness) which would bond and heal creatures. However, these centres charged for their services. The Umbrella corportion saw a chance to strike at the rapidly growing company and so approached the government, pointing out that such a service was a monopoly and set up to exploit children. The government agreed and provided funding for UmbCentres in towns and cities which would provide the same services but for no charge.
This pushed the MonCom stations into the wilderness locations, so that trainers who needed to heal their companions while away from town would be able to pay. This arrangement has held steady for almost thirty years
The shutting down of the markets
When the technology first arrived, markets sprung up to seel rare and exotic creatures, however after months of constant protests the sale of monsters was made illegal
Discovery of the technology
MonCom emerged just over thirty years ago from nowhere with it's revolutionary technology. The main downside was that adults were more often that not unsuitable masters who couldn't bond. So MonCom marketed it's products at children, afterall a pet monster is more than just a pet, it's protection, a game, an adventure and it keeps the kids busy and away from drugs.
As years have passed the activity has become more and more popular, with a majority of children now taking part in some form or another. The original children seem to have maintained a greater ability than a normal adult to bond with creatures, so possibly it's only a matter of time and new training technequies before adults can freely use monsters, that would no doubt mark the beginning of a new era
The exact origins of the gloves and tokens are unknown, MonCom closely guard the secret and remains the sole producers of these products. Those that try to take apart the gloves are usually baffled by what they find, and are unable to understand how they function
The company has it's head-quarters based in Metralia, but release of it's technology was near simultanous with Jalis. The company denied Novtopia the technology for over twenty-five years, partially due to initial protest about capturing monsters which were held around the time of the announcement and partially due tot he company's belief that there would be no immediate market demand
Badges, Gyms and Teams
A majority of trainers don't compete alone, most form teams of 2-5 and challenge gyms, compete in tournaments and suchlike as a group. Theis allows a trainer to specialise if he should so choose without being hopeless
A solo trainer may challenge a gym and earn it's badge, in this situation the trainer will battle against the gym-leader alone (the exact nature of the battle varies). The gym-leader of course will not be playing at her full strength, instead she will choose monsters closer suited to the experience level of the opponents (although leaders have their limits), this allows the challengers skills as a trainer to be tested, while retaining the importance of the monster raising itself
A team may also challenge a gym. In this case the Gym-leader with battle against the team in a series of matches, some prefer all out combat involving multiple monsters, while others will pit each trainer against a gym-member, and then one member will face the leader herself. In this case each team member is awarded the badge, but it is recorded as a team badge on the IMTD, a new member of the team does not earn any badges for joining or a team ,or lose any for leaving
International Monster Trainer Database
This database can be accessed at every official gym throughout the world, and holds a record of each trainer and their badges.
A quick palm-scan during a competition sign-up gives the organisers all the info they might need on the trainer (including badges if there is a prerequisite for taking part)
The IMTD is very difficult to illegally access, either by eletronic attack, or by physically marching into a holding building guns blazing
Rangers
The Jalis government was put under incredible pressure by parents and concerned citizens in the early days. Children were being encouraged to roam the plains and forests between the towns! And in most cases there was no supervision.
The rangers were those young enough to bond with creatures but old enough to be considered "mature" (and more importantly legally workable adult hours). The recruited rangers' task was simple, simply roam the hot spots of trainer activity and make sure there was no trouble.
A ranger is typically a trainer of some skill. Each morning they meet in the area's ranger cabin and assign the duties
After Jalis implemented the ranger scheme with such roaring success, Metralia was quick to follow. And as the technology spread through novtopia , it wasn't long before they developed their own ranger scheme
The rangers of each country exchange information whe nneeded and are on quite friendly terms.