User:Ztobor

Hi, my name's Ztobor. I registered an account on here simply so that I could contribute a pattern that I've noticed in the games.

Trainer payouts (working page)

Based on investigation of the data here on Bulbapedia, I've deduced a pattern in the way money is paid out by all Trainers. (This is most likely not new information, but I haven't found it anywhere else on the site, so if it is somewhere, please point me to it.)

The money that each trainer pays to your character is calculated using the following formula:

Money = (Base Payout) * (Level of last Pokemon sent out by the trainer)

The Base Payout is different for each different type of trainer. Here is a list (mostly incomplete because BP is missing information on some of the generations):

Generation I

Swimmer: $5
Bug Catcher: $10
Psychic: $10
Lass: $15
Youngster: $15
Jr. Trainer: $20
Black Belt: $25
Rocker: $25
Super Nerd: $25
Channeller: $30
Rocket: $30
CoolTrainer: $35
Hiker: $35
Juggler: $35
Rival* (First 3 battles): $35
Tamer: $40
Engineer: $48
Pokemaniac: $50
Rival* (Next 4 battles): $65
Beauty: $70
Gentleman: $70
Gamer: $72
Burglar: $90
Boss (Giovanni): $99
Gym Leader: $99
Elite Four: $99
Champion: $99

Scientist: ?? Cue Ball: ?? Biker: ?? Bird Keeper: ??

• for the Rival, the "last" Pokemon is always the starter Pokemon that (s)he received at the beginning.

A lot of them (the ones marked ??) are missing because I couldn't find information on them on Bulbapedia and because I don't remember personally what they are in the games.

For some odd reason, the Rival pays out $1330 instead of $1300 for the fourth battle, on the S.S. Anne. Another discrepancy is the first Channeller in the Saffron Gym who should pay out $990 but only pays out $900.

Generation II

Swimmer: $8
Bug Catcher: $16
Youngster: $16
Camper: $20
Picnicker: $20
Schoolboy: $20 / 32
Twins: $20
Bird Keeper: $24
Black Belt: $24
Lass: $24
Hiker: $32
Psychic: $32
Sage: $32
Fisher: $40
Juggler: $40
Medium: $40
Officer: $40
Rocket Grunt: $40
Sailor: $40
CoolTrainer: $48
Firebreather: $48
Pokemaniac: $60
Rival (Johto): $60
Skier: $72
Boarder: $72
Rocket Executive: $72
PokeFan: $80
Beauty: $88
Scientist: $100
Rival (Kanto): $100
Gym Leader: $100
Elite Four: $100
Champion: $100

Notes:

• Psychic Mark gives $544 even though his Kadabra is level 15 instead of 17.
• Psychic Phil gives $832 even though both his Pokemon are level 24 instead of 26.
• Schoolboys Alan and Chad, have different base payouts, of $20 and $32 respectively.
• Sailor Eugene's "last" Pokemon is his Krabby, which is level 19.
• Some of the female swimmers on route 41 have a base payout of $20, while two of them pay $440 with level 19 Pokemon. I don't know why this happens.
• The "last" Pokemon of the Boarders in Mahogany Gym are whichever ones they have two of. Either that or the people who made the article on Bulbapedia decided to put the trainers' Pokemon in order of level instead of appearance.
• For some odd reason, Bulbapedia lists Silver as giving the player $1320 at the Indigo Plateau, making his base payout $26.4. Perhaps it was a bug? I dunno.
• The first Rocket Executive gives a payout of $1800 when she should be giving out $1656.

This might be just "speculation", but I've verified the pattern over pretty much all the cases on Bulbapedia. Ztobor 17:07, 28 December 2009 (UTC)

Now for some real speculation: The reason the numbers are so organic (for example, 16, 24, and 32 instead of 25, 35, and 70) in the Johto region is also cultural. In olden times, people used multiples of 2 and 3 more than they did 5, because dividing things into 2 or 3 parts was more common. An example of this can be seen in the imperial measurement system. A peck is eight gallons, a gallon is 4 quarts, a quart is 2 pints, and a pint is 2 cups. All multiples of 2. A mile is eight furlongs, a furlong is ten chains. A chain is two poles. More multiples of 2. A pound is 16 ounces. More multiples of 2. Some multiples of 3 appear: A foot is 12 inches, a yard is 3 feet. A circle is 360 degrees. Water freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit.

But in more modern, contemporary times, as is represented in the Kanto region, things are more commonly divided into multiples of 5 or 10, simply to keep in track with the decimal numbering system. In the metric system, the multiples are primarily of 5 and 10. What do you think? Ztobor 18:29, 28 December 2009 (UTC)