Thread: More Gyms in Gen VI, Or Is 8 Enough?

One thing I've wanted ever since the run-up to Gen V is a Pokemon game with more gyms (similar to GSCHGSS, but all gyms before the E4). But nope, we've had 8 gyms from the start of the series and that has never changed.

But I think in Gen VI, there should be 12 gyms before the E4, partially so that they can make Pokemon games longer to accommodate the 3DS.

So, what do you think? More gyms, or just stick with 8?

Why exactly do we need to change the number of gyms? To make the games "longer to accommodate the 3DS" does not seem a very strong reason to me. The games stretch well beyond the gyms and elite four; collecting Pokemon, and competitive battling for example multiply the potential playtime by many times.
It wouldn't be much of a problem in my mind if there WEREN'T eight gyms, but at the same time I don't feel like this needs to be the case.

So what's so bad about having more gyms?

As I say, there's nothing BAD about having more gyms. But if it ain't broke, why try to fix it?

Originally Posted by Nytik

As I say, there's nothing BAD about having more gyms. But if it ain't broke, why try to fix it?

Well it's not like adding four more gyms is going to absolutely ruin the game, is it? It's not like I'm removing the gyms. Now if I was saying that, then the phrase 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' actually would be appropriate.

Once again, I'm not saying it would have any negative impact. But the phrase is appropriate, because I'm saying I don't believe it will have any positive impact either.
I mean, it would allow you to showcase more types and such, sure... Here's one thing, where would you fit the gyms in? Presumably the idea is to make the levels go higher before the E4?

I wouldnt mind more gyms, though having more might cause the E4 levels to be higher than other games, in my opinion, they are high leveled enough( I think in most of the games Lv 50-60) if the gym leaders' Pokemon levels went past Lv 50. I think 8 gyms is a good amount. Maybe they could do something like have a few more gyms unlocked after beating the Champion in later generations and have the Gym leaders levels be higher, which would be challenging for players.

I'd love to have more gyms. With eight gyms there's a limit to the levelling options of the gyms. With only eight gyms we can expect to face the elite four at level 50, give or take. Add 4 more gyms in and we can offer the players a longer game, more battles, harder trainers and perhaps a more rewarding play. I'd rather the elite four actually have high levelled Pokemon so that they are more of a challenge.

The only thing though, if more gyms are added it may water down the storyline between gyms, if each gym is a mile stone, the story could be spread thinner between 12 gyms than with 8. However there's is always the potential of more fuller storyline being developed because there is more time between first gym and last gym.

I feel that it would ruin the consistency. It would be odd requiring you to have to get 8 badges in 5 regions, and suddenly you'll need 12. It also poses a problem with the anime. They would either need to make it longer, or gym battles would occur more often. And either way it would get tiresome. And you run into a problem with typing, where there would be 12 gyms and 4 elite four member (and possibly a champion.) That would require almost every type to be used in a gym or on an elite 4 member, which as we saw in Diamond & Pearl, would be hard for some types (fire), if they don't make enough of them.

More gyms, more challenge. 8 gyms, less of a challenge.
I would say a few more would be worth everyone's time.

The badge quest has already become pretty stale. No need to drag it out with 12 or 16 gyms. Gamefreak needs to find other ways to make the games interesting.

I'd prefer it if there was more than 8 Gyms, but only 8 badges to collect, similar to the anime.

Originally Posted by elec-boy

More gyms, more challenge. 8 gyms, less of a challenge.
I would say a few more would be worth everyone's time.

I'm not sure more gyms = more challenge. How do you prepare for a gym? Typically get one or two Pokemon with a type/move advantage, make sure they're high-levelled enough, and then go and win.

The gyms are nothing more than punctuation in the Pokemon storyline, really; milestones on your journey. But not necessarily difficult in and of themselves.

That and just EV train your pokemon too.