Hidden Machine Obstacles

HMs for a Narrative Game

Hidden Machines in the games were specific moves that allowed you to move or interact with the overworld in specific ways. While HMs have gone by the wayside in the modern games, the concept of Pokemon enabling new shortcuts, avoiding obstacles, and being required to pass barriers is a great idea to spice up a Pokerole journey.

This is a list of various action words a Pokemon could take, and types of Pokemon that might be able to take that. Use these action words to inspire obstacles or challenges in your party’s path as they journey through the Pokemon world. The Types columns are only suggestions! If it makes sense a Pokemon can take that action in the given situation, allow it!

Moves This table is just based off of types or Pokemon and then generic powers that type might have. Moves are another great source of inspiration! Build backwards, look at a player’s move and build a puzzle or obstacle that just asks to be solved using that move.

---

Action	Types	Obstacles
Fly	Flying, Dragon	Anything on the ground, getting to something in the air.
Swim	Water, Ice	Travel on the water, waterfalls, whirlpools
Dive	Water	Get to something underwater
Float	Psychic, Grass, Electric	Levitate an object, cross a gap
Block	Rock, Ground, Psychic	Create a barrier, build a path through an obstacle
Vanish	Ghost	Go through a wall or floor, hide in plain sight
Charge	Electric	Power an electronic, cross live wire areas
Strength	Fight, Rock, Steel	Break an obstacle, Move a obstacle out of the way
Light	Fire, Electric, Dragon	Ignite a flammable material, clear flammable obstacle
Dissolve	Poison	Eat through materials
Sniff	Normal	Follow a scent, notice something hidden
Camouflage	Bug, Grass	Hide in plain sight, spy on something
Build	Rock, Ice, Ground	Create an obstacle or a way around one
Teleport	Psychic	Move instantly somewhere else
Sneak	Dark, Ghost, Flying	Move without being spot, trail someone
Freeze	Ice	Freeze an obstacle or path
Flash	Fire, Electric, Fairy	Brighten a dark area
Climb	Normal Ground, Fight	Scale a high/vertical surface
Swing	Grass, Fight	Swing across a gap on vine, cable, etc
Slide	Ice	Go safely down a deep drop
Honeypot	Grass, Fairy, Bug	Let off a scent or effect that attracts Pokemon/People
Douse	Water	Put out flames, cool off an area
Chill	Ice, Water	Make a too hot environment hospitable
Warm	Fire, Electricity	Make a too cold environment hospitable
Anchor	Rock, Steel, Ground	Make a too windy environment hospitable
Cleanse	Flying, Fairy, Poison	Make a toxic environment hospitable
Nullify	Normal, Dark	Make a spectral environment traversable
Calm	Fairy, Grass	Calm an anxious or distressed person
Forage	Grass, Normal	Find water or food in the wilderness