Pokemon Tabletop United
At-a-glance: Fan-made • d20 mechanics • Class-based • Tactical combat • Pokemon collection • 3-5 players + GM • Character creation: 1-2 hours • Campaign play
What is Pokemon Tabletop United?
Pokemon Tabletop United (PTU) is a fan-created tabletop RPG that lets players experience the world of Pokemon through collaborative storytelling and tactical gameplay. Unlike the video games, PTU emphasizes the human element—trainers are not just commanders but active participants in adventures alongside their Pokemon.
The system is built on a d20 core with deep mechanical complexity. It features over 30 Trainer Classes, hundreds of Edges and Features, and a comprehensive Pokedex with custom move lists for every Pokemon. Combat is grid-based and tactical, with trainers and Pokemon sharing the same combat statistics and mechanics.
Character Creation: Building Your Trainer
Creating a trainer in PTU involves several layers of customization:
Skills
Trainers have nine Skills that represent their capabilities:
- Athletics—Physical prowess and endurance
- Acrobatics—Agility and balance
- Combat—Fighting ability
- Stealth—Sneaking and hiding
- Perception—Awareness and observation
- Focus—Mental discipline
- Education—Knowledge and learning
- Charm—Social interaction
- Intimidate—Coercion and threats
During character creation, you raise one Skill to Adept, one to Novice, and lower three to Pathetic (representing weaknesses).
Edges
Edges provide mechanical bonuses and special abilities. You start with four Edges at level 1, choosing from options like:
- Skill Enhancement—+2 to two Skills
- Elemental Connection—Affinity with a Pokemon type
- Weapon Proficiency—Combat bonuses with weapons
Classes
Classes define your trainer's role and provide Features as you level up. Examples include:
- Type Ace—Specialist in one Pokemon type
- Capture Specialist—Master of catching Pokemon
- Martial Artist—Fights alongside Pokemon
- Researcher—Studies Pokemon for combat advantages
- Commander—Tactical leader in battles
Pokemon: Your Partners
Each player typically controls 1-2 Pokemon initially, with the ability to capture more. Pokemon have:
- Stats—HP, Attack, Defense, Special Attack, Special Defense, Speed
- Abilities—Passive effects that modify combat
- Moves—Attacks and techniques (custom lists per Pokemon)
- Nature—Personality that affects stat growth
The Pokedex in PTU features curated move lists for every Pokemon, ensuring each feels distinct and balanced.
Combat: Tactical and Deadly
Combat in PTU uses a grid system with initiative order. Key elements:
- Trainers can fight—Unlike the video games, trainers share combat stats with Pokemon and can use moves, weapons, and abilities
- Status conditions matter—Burn, Paralysis, Sleep, and others significantly impact combat
- Type matchups—Classic Pokemon strengths and weaknesses apply
- Terrain and environment—Battlefields affect combat outcomes
Combat is dangerous—trainers can be injured or knocked out, and Pokemon can be seriously harmed.
Why Play Pokemon Tabletop United?
For Pokemon Fans: PTU captures the feeling of the Pokemon world while adding depth and danger. Your trainer is a real person in a world with real consequences.
For Tactical Players: The combat system rewards strategic thinking. Positioning, type matchups, and ability combinations create emergent gameplay.
For Roleplayers: The class system and skill mechanics support character development beyond just collecting Pokemon. Who is your trainer? What drives them?
For Free RPG Seekers: PTU is completely free to download, with an active community creating homebrew content, adventures, and support.
FAQ
Is this official?
No—PTU is a fan-made project. Nintendo has not released an official Pokemon tabletop RPG.
How many Pokemon can I have?
There's no hard limit, but managing many Pokemon becomes cumbersome. Most trainers focus on a core team of 3-6 Pokemon.
Can my trainer fight Pokemon?
Yes—trainers share combat stats with Pokemon and can use moves, weapons, and abilities. A Martial Artist can punch a Machamp!
Is it complicated?
PTU has a learning curve. Character creation takes 1-2 hours for new players, and combat involves tracking many modifiers. However, the depth rewards investment.
Where do I get the rules?
The core rulebook and Pokedex are free at pokemontabletop.com. The system is currently in development as "Pokemon Journeys" (PTU 2.0).
The Bottom Line
Pokemon Tabletop United offers something unique: the chance to truly inhabit the Pokemon world as a trainer with agency, danger, and depth. Whether you want to be a competitive battler, a Pokemon researcher, or a wandering adventurer, PTU provides the mechanical framework to support your story. As the #7 most-played game on StartPlaying in 2024, it's proven that fans crave this experience.
