JOINING
The International Pokémon League is currently looking for enthusiastic trainers from all over the Pokémon world to submit their applications to join us! The League is designed to be a home for fan character trainers who interact primarily through various forms of artistic media.
Or, in layman's terms: JOIN US, UP YO SKILLZ, MAKE FRIENDS, BE ACTIVE.
JOINING US
To join The-IPL, the process is simple:
Watch us!
Use one of our two templates below to create a trainer card for your character and team. Draw 'em both in there (don't forget to put list your team's movesets and abilities in the artists' comments!), upload it as a deviation, and proceed to the next step. The trainer templates look like this:
It is totally up to you which one you decide to use, but if you're going to draw your art by hand it might be easier to use the white one, as you can print it out and draw straight on top of it.
Send in a group membership request along with a thumbnail or link to your trainer card. Both can be found on the drop down menu in the share section next to all the icons of tumblr, facebook, twitter ect. Below is a visual to show exactly where the buttons are located:
Once your membership has been accepted, please send us a gallery submission request for your card so we can add it to our ranks. And that's it!
CARD CREATION HELP
This is for those who need help putting together a card. This is for if you have the art, but no image editing programs, or are a writer and need somebody to draw your card.
Enter your details on our
Trainer Card Commission Form.
Once that's sorted, you can then download the temporary trainer card below:
Then simply upload it with the bio of your trainer and Pokemon as you would with your real card (
make sure to include physical descriptions where necessary, and to title the card properly). Then apply using this card, and if you have sent in the commission request you will be accepted and will have the same freedom as any member while you wait for your real card to be done.
Be patient, and one of our volunteer commission artists will be assigned the card. You will be notified when the commission has been assigned, and who it's been assigned to.
Wait for the artist to get back to you with the card, and submit it as normal (see above). Thank the artist for their time and effort!
Your possible volunteer artists:
SunaBuna
Ryua
MrAthens
LinearMango
Yena-Kiachi
WafflezNFries
galacticpink
MissionSunshine
Taddle
Once your real card is finished, simply replace the temporary card with the new one and you're all done.
CREATING ADDITIONAL TRAINERS
If you wish to create more characters, you may use the same template as before but there are restrictions to creating additional characters:
No deviant can have more than three trainers.
You must have a minimum
50 points for additional characters. These points will be subtracted from your trainer card(s). We can siphon points from multiple trainer cards if a single trainer does not have enough points.
Simply send an art submission to our trainer card section and indicate that it is a new character you'd like to add in and well put them in the roster as soon as we can, which is usually on the weekends.
JOINING RESTRICTIONS
There are some restrictions with joining. Keep these in mind while creating your character:
No canon trainers from either the anime, comics or games. You cannot be Ash, Brock, Misty, May, Dawn, Max, etc, as this is a realm for original characters. In the same vein, try not to make your trainer related to any of the canon characters, for example, Candice or Diantha's little brother. Also, no trying to enter characters from other comics/anime/games/books/etc. Be original, guys.
When choosing a region, the following are a good guide: Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, Unova, Kalos, Orre, the Orange Islands, the Sevii Islands, Fiore, Almia, and Oblivia. We'll look at regions on a case by case basis but in general, if it's not part of any existing canon, then we'll probably ask you to change it.
No anthropomorphic trainers. Characters who wear animal-like costumes are allowed, as long as you have a reference of your character without the costume.
Gijinka and
Fursonas are absolutely not allowed, the Pokémon universe focuses on the relationships between humans and Pokémon, and we'd like to keep that link as it is.
The IPL canon is set around the X/Y game timeline. Therefore, Teams Rocket, Magma, Aqua, Snagem, Galactic, and Plasma have been dissolved. Team Flare is still kicking around, and you're absolutely free to enter ex-members of any team, however.
We do not accept sprite art on your trainer card, especially if they are ripped/modified from game data. Large-resolution pixel art is okay, as long as they're exclusively your art.
Do NOT use any official Pokémon art on your card. Similarly, vector traces and art sourced from the various 'trainer makers' on the internet are also prohibited. Study the Pokémon, put your best art forward, and show us the calibre of your work.
Official Pokémon only, please - Shiny Pokémon are fine to use, some customization and even some alternate coloration will be accepted to a degree, but if you're going to go out of your way to invent a brand new Pokemon species, we will have to say no to your application. Stick to those that appear in the games, excluding those that are mentioned in Restricted Section.
No restricted Pokémon - these are generally legendaries, but may include some ultra-rare Pokémon as well. The following list may change in the future, but for now, you cannot use these Pokémon in your line-up:
Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres, Mew, Mewtwo, Raikou, Suicune, Entei, Lugia, Ho-Oh, Celebi, Regice, Regirock, Registeel, Latios, Latias, Kyogre, Groudon, Rayquaza, Jirachi, Deoxys, Azelf, Uxie, Mesprit, Cresselia, Heatran, Regigigas, Dialga, Palkia, Giratina, Phione, Manaphy, Darkrai, Shaymin, Arceus, Victini, Reshiram, Zekrom, Cobalion, Terrakion, Virizion, Tornadus, Thundurus, Landorus, Kyurem, Keldeo, Meloetta, Genesect, Diancie, Hoopa, Volcanion, Xerneas, Yveltal and Zygarde (all formes). No Shadow Pokémon or Delta/Beta/etc Pokemon. No Mega Evolution forms depicted on the card, but you may point out in the description that some of your Pokémon can take on Mega Evolution. No permanently Mega Evolved Pokémon. Canon Mega Evolutions only.
No talking Pokémon, unless they can canonically talk through psychic/ghostly powers (Slowking, Ghastly, etc), aura abilities (Lucario) , or mimicry (Chatot). You're free to show pokemon talking to each other, however.
If you must have a Pokémon that can talk that doesn't canonically talk ( for example, like Team Rocket's Meowth), then it can only get one mainattack and not be a strong battler.
All moves exclusive to legendaries such as Shadow Force, Dark Void, etc, cannot be used by regular Pokemon via moves like Metronome, Transform, and Sketch.
That's it! Follow the rules for joining, abide by the restrictions, and welcome to the International Pokémon League!
