In an effort to stamp out those inane comment spats arguing which Red is in a given post, I suggest, in full, a splitting of some character tags.

These will mostly deal with Pokémon SPECIAL, though a few game names will be added.

First, new tags that don't require aliases.

• red_(special)
• gold_(special)
• silver_(special)

Then, new tags with simple aliases for qualifier consistency.

• blue_(pokemon) -> blue_(special)
• yellow_(pokemon) -> yellow_(special)
• ruby_(pokemon) -> ruby_(special)
• sapphire_(pokemon) -> sapphire_(special) -> odamaki_sapphire
• emerald_(pokemon) -> emerald_(special)
• diamond_(pokemon) -> diamond_(special)
• pearl_(pokemon) -> pearl_(special)
• platinum_(pokemon) -> platinum_(special) -> platinum_berlitz
• platina_(pokemon) -> platina_(special) -> platina_berlitz -> platinum_berlitz

A bit more complicated.

• green_(special) -> ookido_green_(special)
• Since "Green" has the same surname in the games and in SPECIAL.

Now a doozy: the Crystal character.

• crys_(special) & chris_(special) -> crystal_(special)
• "Crys" being shorthand for the full name, and "Chris" being in use in the English translations.
• crys_(pokemon) -> kris_(pokemon)
• Again, shorthand (クリス), and "Kris" is the default in English versions (since there is no official English rendering of the Japanese name that I'm aware of).

Which leaves the matter of crystal_(pokemon). Since the games only use that shorthand, I'd say to give it to the SPECIAL characters (thus crystal_(pokemon) -> crystal_(special)).

I think that covers the main characters. This is just how I figure it, so if you'd rather make aliases less chain-like, or change the qualifier, or whatever, so be it. Whatever is done, if anything is done, I'd be willing to handle wikis and tag cleanup.

For anime counterparts, I figure the few instances (the main gals, Jun, Kotone, etc.) are either identifiable enough (esp. by presence of Satoshi) or parallel enough to not matter as much. For the other manga, there simply aren't enough posts to bother yet (such as the Satoshi of Pikachu Dengeki).

And since this is a Pokemans post, I'm self-obligated to add [some of] these...

• soul_(pokemon) (and/or heart_(pokemon) -> silver_(pokemon) (default names for the rival in HGSS versions, respectively)
  ethan_(pokemon) -> hibiki_(pokemon)
  lyra_(pokemon) -> kotone_(pokemon)
  brendan_(pokemon) -> yuuki_(pokemon)
  lucas_(pokemon) -> kouki_(pokemon)
  barry_(pokemon) -> jun_(pokemon)

Personally, I think we should just use aliases so all the different characters have a single name, add a pokemon_anime (and maybe pokemon_video_game) copyright tag, and then just identify the individual characters by their copyrights.

Want Gold from the manga? gold_(pokemon) pokemon_special. Want that guy that was based on Gold but since he was in the anime he has a different name and is thus a TOTALLY DIFFERENT CHARACTER for some reason? gold_(pokemon) pokemon_anime. It might not be correct for a lot of cases, but I'm personally tired of having a thousand different tags for what is essentially the same damn person.

My counter to using *_(pokemon) pokemon_special would be that there's some images portraying multiple Reds, but an introduction of copyright tags for the games, anime, and whatever other comics that'd end up here.

Wow, how long have some of the English->Japanese ones been in the system? I feel sheepish for not checking, mod confirmation or not.

Urrrgh, I think I really hate Pokemon now.

This all seems exceptionally complicated.

So, taking e.g. blue_(pokemon) -> blue_(special), are you saying that there is only one character called Blue, and he/she only appears in Pokemon Special? It sounds like there would be no reason to differentiate in that case, though I guess you'd want to have all the special versions under _(special)... but what about if there's a non-special version _blue) at some point?

...headache.

jxh2154 said:
So, taking e.g. blue_(pokemon) -> blue_(special), are you saying that there is only one character called Blue, and he/she only appears in Pokemon Special? It sounds like there would be no reason to differentiate in that case

Exactly, Blue doesn't exist outside of Special, just like Yellow. I don't really see the point of any of these. The only character who has enough visual cues to differentiate the Special one from the game sprite is Red.

All we need is a red_(pokemon_special) tag then, right?

Wouldn't a pokemon_special red_(pokemon) search suffice?

And Jesus Christ, what the fuck is that brick of aliases supposed to achieve, other than to satisy some bureaucratic fetish?

I have a fondness of this series, as well as a stickler's tendency toward accuracy. However, Algasir's suggestion really does seem like the cleanest solution, assuming the tags are given mind.

pokemon_(game) - For character and specific Pokemon depictions drawn from the games

Possible implications:
pokemon_ranger -> pokemon_(game)
pokemon_mystery_dungeon -> pokemon_(game)
The TCG video games don't currently have tags, and tags for specific versions may as well die off; Gym Leader appearance changes can just be indicated by alternate_* tags.

Because of overlap for the three main girls, there should probably be a pokemon_(anime) tag as well.

Off course, imp. pokemon_(game) & pokemon_(anime) to pokemon

To be honest, the more complicated and obscure you make this, the less likely people will know to use it properly. I'm with jxh2154 and/or Hillside Moose on this one.

Let's... just stick with pokemon, I don't think we need anime and game separated. There's not much precedent for doing so.

Hillside_Moose said:
Wouldn't a pokemon_special red_(pokemon) search suffice?

That seems fine I guess. I'd really rather keep it all simple if only one character is ambiguous. Pokemon character tags are incredibly complicated as it is.