Leaving this to some algorithm could lead to problems down the track which we may want to retain control over.

Perhaps players could activate some sort of "Expert (Brutal?) Mode" once they beat the Brutal 5 (or something) which they can flick on to make all the Pokemon higher level in the zones?

I dunno, it's just I would be a bit worried about making an oversight on a feature like this and making the game too easy/hard or unplayable - when it would be better to manually control it.

If it's something that the players can control - I wouldn't mind so much.
Giving players control means that there will never be a situation where a trainer wants lower level Pokemon (while retaining the higher level pokes in his team) and they cannot get it for whatever reason.

Base line - if we were to implement this, I would recommend implementing it on a switch that players control.
Should erase 99% of concerns.

I really am only putting species clause in because people can and will try to use a full team of Slamence or something crazy. Also normally in pokemon mmos, when someone creates a tounrey they themselves will enforce species clause.

Yeah, Species clause is defs needed in this tourney.
Salamence... >.>

Just quickly, note that in PU, Species Clause may not be in effect.

I'm not 100% sure, I'll work it out.

Blaziken is frail so he gets OHKOd by most hits anyway. Blaze isn't *that* useful.

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Anyway, the "strong vs. creative" argument is an interesting one.

A lot of people like to make more creative teams because it requires more strategy and thinking - they wish to give themselves a bit of a handicap to make the game more surprising. Also, the element of surprise can help a tad - it's not like a lot of people carry dedicated counters to Dustox, right?
Honestly I don't mind having a weaker team if it makes the battle less mind-numbingly stale.

Similarly people get annoyed when others use cookie-cutter teams, as, again - it makes the battle boring as hell. I stopped playing OU because I was annoyed at just seeing Blissey, Scizor, TTar, Infernape every single damn battle.
There's a reason why RU is currently many battler's favourite tier in Gen V - there's just so much variety, and with a number of new moves, dream world abilities  and items - the tier actually has some awesome threats. Also UU is currently messed up.

This is partially why we're balancing in PU - not just so people can use their favourites, but so the game has some variety during tournaments.
Not much use in holding tournaments if every player has the same cookie cutter team.
It also gives players incentive to train more Pokemon rather than just the usual OUs - to discover each Pokemon's new potential.

I think we should be able to fly helicorpterrzzzz

The problem with this idea is usefulness.

What will be achieved through implementation?
How will the gameplay improve?

If we make the bonus exp high, it means that people will grind particular pokes and the game will be a grind-fest.
If we make the bonus low, it will have no presence, making it pointless to implement anyway.

Will it improve the gameplay?
Not really.

Still a cool idea though I guess?

Who was even yelling?

Do we yell here?