I feel like if we're talking realistically here, people are forgetting you have to also source the Pokemon in question. Most people aren't globe trotting ace trainers, they're limited to what's around them and what they can realistically raise. As much as I'd love a goodra or a sigilyph or a volcorona, I don't live anywhere where they'd realistically show up and they take a lot of attention to level up. Also like, most people tend to have only two or three Pokemon, because looking an entire team of 6 is a full time job.
I think I'd have a galvantula (or maybe more realistically a joltik) and a garganacl line Pokemon. Ones a common household pest that hangs around electronics and the other's a giant guy made of salt who helps people and heals them. An electric type would probably actually help with my job and I've lived near salt mines before and an obedient Pokemon that can heal you and is big enough to assist with tasks sounds like a good choice for an assistance Pokemon. If I got to choose a third, it would probably be some sort of region bird because I like birds man. Maybe like a regional form of pidove. Spiders can catch their own food (and if not, bugs aren't that hard to get ahold of), I already have plenty of bird feed, and like, does garganacl even eat? I guess it'd probably need salt? I mean I've got lots of that.
I'd love some sort of sea dwelling Pokemon, but unfortunately I don't think they're very easy to look after if you spend a lot of time on land. Omanyte would be great, but I don't think fossil Pokemon are very easily accessible to the public
Yeah a lot of people would have to play like an NPC with anywhere from one to three pokemon. Taking care of 6 is hard. Different types have different foods they like and needs. You will also have to carry that with you plus your supplies. If it was up to me I'd sstay with one pokemon only. I'm a fan of solo runs, its just hard to pick only one.
That's the problem with a full team, they are expensive to take care of. I don't know how trainers care that much food for themselves and their Pokémon plus other supplies.
I love hyper-engineered game features. I want a full hunger, thirst, mood, wildness, attachment, happiness, height, weight, training, diet, wants, needs system in Pokemon.
This is something I've thought about a lot. I've thought about using smaller pokemon since maybe they need less food or grass types for their photosynthesis. I'm still not sure.
I've also looked at trainer classes and went with backpackers since they are younger versions of hikers. They usually have one pokemon and a big backpack which makes sense for a journey.
And I'm a fan of doing solo runs in the games.
If anything I could do a liligant and a fire type for a small sunny day team or something.
I like orb shaped Pokémon, so thevonly one who would give me issues would be voltorb/electode with my computer. Cutiefly is my absolute favorite, and would make the best emotional support Pokémon.
In a world so dependent on Pokemon, I don't think Pokemon food would be expensive.
So I'd go for one which will allow me to fly like a Charizard or travel the sea like a Lapras.
The food may note be expensive but they are also shown eating berries with them. In the shows how healthy a pokemon is shows how strong they are. Pokemon also eat a lot, I don't know how often they eat but their bowls are over flowing with food.
If I could choose anything for a starter, I would want a Zorua. They're just... so cute. And they can pose as humans for extra shenanigans.
The rest of my team... Steenee and Kirlia are smol and adorable. Steenee photosynthesize, but something tells me Kirlia have that "tiny girl who eats like a Dragonball character" thing going on. Might be expensive. Not sure. Still cute.
If I were to pick one to be my mount/travel companion, it would be a Skarmory. I mean, who wouldn't want a chrome chocobo? Now I'm probably pushing the limits of what I could afford to feed, though.
Two spots left on the team?
Sprigatito, because holy crap are they cute. And I have four cats already so I know feeding them isn't a problem. (Weed Cat is the reason I broke my lifelong pattern of always choosing Fire-type starters.)
and...
Growlithe. Because I've wanted one since I was a kid and in a world of cute things fire puppy is still the cutest. Just gotta get him to stop bullying Sprigatito and Skarmory.
If food's a problem, I would have either one of Skuntank or Grumpig, or a party of grass type Pokémon with photosynthesis so I don't have to get as much food.
Indeed, I used to think characters in the anime or even the games were just stupid. "Ash you only have like what.. an average of 4 or 5 Pokemon, period at any given time?"
But when you think about all that must go into taking care of an animal, unless they don't need to eat while in their balls (Which may or may not be the case), it becomes more realistic, you wouldn't want to be responsible for feeding twenty Clefairies because you just HAD to find one with the right Mark
I so badly want to say Vulpix because obvious biases, but I'd have to train it a lot to make sure it doesn't burn down the house if I were to leave them home alone.
With that in mind, along with the fact that I've always wanted a cat, I'd probably raise a Sprigatito. It seems like it's easy enough to raise, and the Grass type wouldn't cause a lot of problems in comparison.