Jerry, that is great!

How about we implement it between Chain 1 and 2?

That way the chains will become:
1. Getting the PokeTRanslator together
2. Prof finding out the PokeTranslator is malfunctioning (credits to Jerry )
*2-3 optional*, getting items again for the new version of the PokeTranslator
3. You get the chain were the Prof's going to the beach with the attitude of 'This time, it'll definetely work!' and the PokeTranslator gets robbed
4. Chain where you use the machine at the beach for Seel, go to the PokeCenter to heal him and get a reward from his trainer (Desha) and to Professor Steran for another reward.

Ps. I wasn't sure about the rewards.
I've integrated the HM Surf because I thought that such a great quest should get a grand reward and I would see a trainer with a Seel knowing it can be quite useful.
The Tidal Trip ticket could be a cruise trip to an area the player has yet to go to.

Edit: How about Professor Y (let's say Herol, but Jerry should name him I guess for it is his idea) starts to work on the quest, which makes up the new chains 1 and 2. Then he realizes it fails and doesn't want to continue further research and gives it to the player.
Some towns later (1/>), you meet up with Professor Steran who was also working on such a porject and likes to examine the one of Professor Herol to finish his own one. - chains (2-3 optional) 3, 4 and 5.

I think it would nicely mirror our working on a similar quest at the sime time.

I really like it.

It doesn't bother me that the questions are answered.. Some Pokemon just need to stay a bit mysterious.

Keep up the good work fuzzy!

Congratulations fuzzy!

First of all, Jerry, I like the way you think.

I understand that a PokeTranslator might not be optimal/ has limited usage in a Pokemon-game such as PU. I also agree on some of the comments you've made. Below, I'll try to elaborate on some a bit more with what I had in mind, and combine it with some of your ideas.

I think we agree on the fact that there could be a Professor X (let's say Professor Steran) in the game, who is trying to create a PokeTranslator. Since he's the timid  and shy kind of guy, not the best in communicating with others and definitely not adventurous, he has a hard time finding all the materials he needed. He was able to obtain some materials for the PokeTranslator from the local PokeMart (or possibly a local science store*), but that wasn't enough to finish the PokeTranslator. So he sets you, an adventurous boy/girl, on a quest to obtain the materials he still needs. These could for example be
Chain 1
1. a tire and some screws from the bicycle store;
--- For example, the professor notices that his machine keeps falling apart and asks you for supplies to help him keeping his machine in one piece.
2. another PokeDex from the starting Professor;
--- Professor Steran needs this to be able to imitate Pokemon speech.
3. a berry pouch/coin case/bag
--- This would make it possible to carry the PokeTranslator (as a key item, eg).
4. a Pokedoll
--- The Pokedoll will become the test subject, to make sure that no Pokemon will be harmed.

Once you've completed the chain, Professor Steran becomes so excited that he takes the machine and runs off (he mumbles something about the beach where Pokemon are often stranded and which would make for an excellent opportunity to test the machine).
Chain 2
You see the professor lying down on the beach, trying to keep in his tears. He doesn't want you to know that he was actually crying. After all his trouble, and actually being able to communicate with Pokemon. He says something like:
... Sniff ...
I ...
I finally...
I finally managed to finish my PokeTranslator...
Sniff...
And now Team BadGuys has taken it from me.
I dont know what to do.
Sniff...
...
Could you get it back for me?
Sniff...
Please?
If you've regained it, could you bring it back to me in my lab?
(Professor Steran walks slowly back to his lab. He does not want anyone else to see him crying.)
* Insert battles with the local Team BadGuy to regain the PokeTranslator.

Once the PokeTranslator is regained, the player goes back to Professor Steran.
Chain 3
He feels better again and sets you out on a quest to gather data with the PokeTranslator. He says that he saw a Seel on the beach, but he's afraid to go to the beach because of what happened, so he asks you to do it. Once your on the beach, you see the that Seel the Professor was talking about, is getting beaten up by a Team BadGuy person who was still lingering aroud. After you battle him and win, you turn to the Seel with the PokeTranslator.
--- 2 options:
* either it works and the Seel tells with his last strength (fainting, dying, choice is up to the developers. Dying would give it a more dramatic touch, but since PU should be for everyone and Pokemon dying is actually quite not-done overall, I suppose fainted is probably the better option for PU) if you could tell Desha in the local city that he was happy she was his trainer and if you could bring him to her, but a giant tidal wave causes the machine to short circuit so that the poketranslator becomes useless
or * the machine didn't work at all and the machines just made strange noise as a side effect of the sea noice that interrupts with the machine that were mistaken to be translated pokemon speech by the excited but social isolated Professor Steran You still understand that the Seel needs medical help and so you bring him to the Pokemon Center. After you let him be healed, a girl walks (runs) into the PokeCenter:
'Seel, Seel...
Where is my Seel?
I've heared that a Seel was brought in and hoped it was my missing Seel.
I haven't seen him in days.
My poor Seel.
And with all those Team BadGuys around...
I hope he's alright!'
...
'Oh, there you are.
I'm so happy you're alright!
Thanks for taking care of him, <Player's name>!
Here's something that might be useful for you.
I know it helped me a lot!'
* You've obtained the HM Surf. (+1 HM SURF)

When you head back with the (remains of) the Poke Translator to Professor Steran:
Oh, there you are.
How did it work?
*option 1: (the excitement and social isolated professor)
...
Oh...
...
Guess it wasn't done afterall.
Thanks for your work though!
Perhaps I should give you something...
Yes... no... maybe...
Would you like a car (or insert random other non-usable/wantable object)?
Oh, no driver's licence you say?
...
Than how about a ticket to sail with the Tidal Trip?
I won it with a quiz, but I'm afraid to go myself.
I'm not such a people person you see...
I hope you'll have a nice trip.
Guess it's time to get back to work.
While you walk away, you hear the Professor mumbling, 'someday, people will know me, Professor Steran, as the Professor who've made the PokeTranslator!'
*option 2: (the machine worked but a tidal wave
...
Oh...
...
Guess it wasn't made out of tough enough materials afterall.
I know I should've used stronger ones, but they would definitely intervene with the machine...
Thanks for your work though!
Perhaps I should give you something...
Yes... no... maybe...
Would you like a car (or insert random other non-usable/wantable object)?
Oh, no driver's licence you say?
...
Than how about a ticket to sail with the Tidal Trip?
I won it with a quiz, but I'm afraid to go myself.
I'm not such a people person you see...
I hope you'll have a nice trip.
Guess it's time to get back to work.
While you walk away, you hear the Professor mumbling, 'someday, people will know me, Professor Steran, as the Professor who've made the PokeTranslator!'

--- my preference would be the first option, where the PokeTranslator actually works, though be it for a really short amount of time.

* A local science store could also be a main point for other science related quests, definitely if it would be the only science store in PU.

And about aiding Nurse Joy, it's always possible to set u p a double chain-quest where
1. gather your own healing kit through several quests (healing kit -> key item)
2. applying bandages/small healing to pokemon (near/ in pokecenters) under supervision of nurse joy
3. get a feature where you can put bandages/ small heals with healing kit and obtain a title such as Nurse's Apprentice (or something like that).
I'll work on this one later on.
ps. I'd still think it would be awesome if there would be some kind of way to get behind the scenes, in the back of the PokeCenter, where all the Pokemon get healed.

Edit:
Perhaps this topic should be translocated to the quest-section.

Xetroc

Explain this a bit more. So far I'm thinking it may be more gimmicky than anything.

fuzzy3158

Sounds like an item that's a requirement for certain quests, possibly run-off-the-mill, possibly very elaborate. Maybe it makes some quests easier by allowing the trainer access to certain hints from nearby wild pokemon? Sounds like there are a lot of options, but you're going to have to make it work if you don't want it to end up as gimmicky, that's for sure.

I agree with you guys that it could become gimmicky. But I think, if used properly, it could become more.

I think such an item to help heal Pokemon and become a PokeSquad-member (name still debatable), should give you increased features such as
* entering PokeCenters, behind the scenes (wouldn't this be a great place to create the potions? or a great place where potion creation is easier/works better?),
* healing and helping Pokemon themselves (which could also function with the moral system - good for doing what the Pokemon say, bad for not listening to the Pokemon).
* more quests
* and some more things that I'll try to think of

Quest-chains in the process for gaining the feature:
1. Help professor complete PokeTranslator
2. Help Pokemon in the wild
3. Joining the PokeSquad (name still debatable)

I have to admit that looking at what is already up on the forum and facebook, I'm completely filled with joy about what's already accomplished. Every new thing you guys bring and post makes me even more excited about PU than before.

I think it really was a great idea to post some maps every now and then on facebook.
Would it be an idea to put a contest on facebook (and the forum?) to think of a (creative) environment people would like to see, either explained in text with a less decent map in paint (for the non-mappers) or created with mapmaking programmes?

Good luck to everyone putting effort in Pokemon Universe.

I think it's a great idea!

It would definitely be a great feature if you could try to become the champion yourself by battling, and your ideas about logging, and battling to become the champion also make a lot of sense!