Rotom goes through a special process that allows itself to obtain a new sprite(form), a new BST (higher), and a new move. How is that not evolution?
Because, it is not "evolution" by the definition of "evolution". It can undergo a process that looks somewhat similar to evolution, but not evolution.
It surely fits all other criteria (and we can't theorymon the last one).
As I pointed out, so do many, many, many, other Pokemon.
Who cares about old game systems or PBR? We adjust to the metagame we currently have built. In VGC, some Pokemon are disallowed and others are allowed that aren't in standard play. We still play the metagame off what we have built.
If there was a strong competitive reason why Rotom was the perfect solution, it was needed to prevent some massive problem, you may have a leg to stand on. There is no reason to change the rules that work now.
change the rules of the entire metagame? we are adjusting the sense of the word evolution because what rotom goes through is a sense of the word.
You can't change the meaning of the word "evolution", its already
defined very clearly. We either change the rules, or Rotom is not eligible.
does farfetch'd change forms and gets an immediate boost in bst / moveset? no, so it is entirely pointless towards this.
Neither of them "evolve". Neither of them are allowed under current LC rules. Neither of them should have the rules specifically altered to allow them in.
i thought the point was to bring in pokemon to a metagame if they fit the criteria? rotom does that just as well as any other pokemon in my opinion.
If Rotom actually did fit the criteria, then yes. Sadly, it does not evolve.
the only possible argument against this is, "rotom can "de-evolve". thats nice but it doesn't mean changing forms to acquire a higher BST and new moves won't count as evolution.
The arguement against it is that, by the accepted definition of evolution, Rotom does not evolve or de evolve. It changes form.
i don't see how, i think the points of me and other respected players (SDS, vader, etc.) are solid enough to tell you why.
I respect you guys, but I do not agree with you on this and am presenting my counter arguements which, though some what repetitive thanks to the fact that I keep pointing out the fact that Rotom does not evolve, I feel are solid.
Basically, you are saying "I don't want to change because I like the system", but if the system can still be enforced and we aren't fundamentally changing anything, I don't see the problem.
The thing is, this does fundamentally change the system that decided if a Pokemon may be used in LC. It alters one of the two basic rules that underpin Little Cup.
1. All Pokemon must be at Lv. 5
2. All Pokemon must evolve and be of the first stage if the evolution family.
The second needs to be changed to something like, as Heysup puts it:
"All Pokemon must be in the original form, and go through any type of Stat upgrading or Evolution"
This is undeniably a change to the fundamental rules.
This is undeniably to allow a single Pokemon into the metagame.
Now, there had better be a much better reason for this than "to allow another Pokemon".
My point that wasn't really addressed...ever....is: why aren't we thinking of 'changing' the rules as "updating the rules"? We constantly change them when needed. This isn't changing game mechanics. Rotom simply wasn't around when the rules were made and thus the rules need updating.
To be "updated" the rules must be "changed". They are one and the same. Rotom form changes not being around, fine. It was not around when the rules were made, but that does not mean if it was around it would have had the rules set up so it could be allowed in.
I see changing the rules to allow Rotom in much the same way (though somewhat more understandable) as changing the rules to allow Magikarp to be Lv. 10 so that it stands a fair chance in the metagame. Both change a basic rule, both do so to allow a new Pokemon to be viable.
Edit:
"do we readjust the sense of the word to fit rotom, as the word evolution has not been updated since platinum."
The word Evolution has not been "updated" for over 10 years. It has a fixed and well defined meaning.