Page cleanup: "first partner" vs. "starter"
In the current version, the quotes and sources for "first partner" are mostly buried in the references while the ones for "starter" are quoted and highlighted. Let's please present both "first partner" and "starter" using basically the same style and structure while making it clear how much they are officially used in relation to each other.
The page text already states that "first partner" is the main version since Generation VI, and we can also see that "first partner" is the one most commonly used if we compare the sources since Generation VI. However, the presentation of this article still appears to give some undue weight to "starter" because of those style differences between sections. Incidentally, "starter" is still official since it's been used in some recent sources so let's please avoid wording like "first partner Pokémon were previously known as starter Pokémon".
Should we mostly use actual quotes in the main body for both "starter" and "first partner", or should we mostly use footnote references for them both? Personally, since this is a page entirely dedicated for the terminology, I would suggest using more in-line quotes in the main body and avoid the buried references, but I would understand if other people prefer using the references instead. In my opinion, using references is fine for regular non-terminology pages. --Daniel Carrero (talk) 02:38, 14 March 2024 (UTC)
- My view is that the full quotes aren't particularly useful to readers here because the context of how "first partner" and "starter" are used in prose isn't emphasized on the page. Since the groups of relevant Pokémon are already listed on the main page for the topic, I think leaving that context in footnotes should be fine. The other concern would be that including in-line quotes consistently would greatly increase the length of the page, which may make it harder to read. --Apopheniac (talk) 12:41, 14 March 2024 (UTC)
I've added a number of additional citations to this page referencing official game websites, press releases, and presentations to provide more context about the historical usage of these terms. I have not used bold text for these and have refrained from using in-line quotes except where I believe the context of the phrasing may be useful. Feel free to adjust these as you see fit.
The paragraphs are organized a little differently for each heading, with the "first partner" paragraphs organized by primacy of the media and the other headings organized chronologically. I feel like this works for what we're going for, but again, feel free to adjust these. Given the length of the "first partner" and "starter" sections, subheadings may be useful here. --Apopheniac (talk) 23:58, 9 April 2024 (UTC)
Core series usage across languages
Putting this here for future reference. This is the term used in each language during each usage of "first partner Pokémon" in the core series games. Grey cells indicate cases where that language is not using a term that resembles "first partner Pokémon".
| Game | Context | French | Italian | German | Spanish | Japanese | Korean | Traditional Chinese | Simplified Chinese |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B2 W2 | "'Go, Volcarona! Use Heat Wave here!' The Trainer solemnly ordered the Pokémon who resembled his first partner..." |
premier compagnon | primo compagno | ersten Partner | primer compañero | 初めての パートナー | 첫 파트너 | N/A | N/A |
| "The spirit of my first partner, Larvesta--no, Volcarona--lives on in my current partners, too!" | partenaire | primo compagno | ersten Partners | primero de mis compañeros | 最初の パートナー | 첫 파트너 | N/A | N/A | |
| X Y | "Which Pokémon did you pick as your first partner?" | premier Pokémon | primo Pokémon | Partner | compañero | パートナー | 파트너 | N/A | N/A |
| US UM Bank HOME |
"This Ultra Beast is well enough liked to be chosen as a first partner in its own world." | compagnon de voyage | compagno di viaggio | Partner für Reisen | compañero de viaje | 旅立ちの パートナー | 여행 파트너 | 踏上旅程時的夥伴 | 踏上旅程的同伴 |
| US UM | Kukui: "Y’see, the fact of the matter is... one of these Pokémon will become your first partner, woo!" | partenaire | compagno di avventure | Partner-Pokémon | compañero de aventuras | パートナー | 파트너 | 夥伴 | 同伴 |
| Nanu: "You’ll have to choose the Pokémon you want to have as your first partner." | N/A | compagno di viaggio | N/A | compañero de aventuras | パートナー | 파트너 | 夥伴 | 同伴 | |
| "Looking back at your first partner, the first Pokémon you ever chose in your adventure... you are reminded of how far you have come." | premier Pokémon | primo Pokémon | N/A | compañero | 最初の パートナー | 첫 파트너 | 最初的夥伴 | 最初的同伴 | |
| Sw Sh | "Choose the Pokémon you’d like to have as your first partner!" | premier partenaire | compagno d’avventura | erstes Partner-Pokémon | primer compañero Pokémon | パートナー | 파트너 | 夥伴 | 伙伴 |
| First Partner Pokémon (Trainer Card) |
Premier Pokémon | Pokémon iniziale | Erstes Partner-Pokémon | Primer compañero | 最初のパートナー | 첫 파트너 | 最初的夥伴 | 最初的伙伴 | |
| LA | "Choose a Pokémon to be your first partner in preparation for your trial." | premier Pokémon | primo Pokémon | erstes Pokémon | compañero Pokémon | 最初のポケモン | 첫 포켓몬 | 最初的寶可夢 | 最初的宝可梦 |
| Laventon: "Do you want <Pokémon> as your first partner?" | premier partenaire | primo compagno d’avventure | ersten Partner | primer compañero | はじめての相棒 | 첫 파트너 | 最初的搭檔 | 最初的搭档 | |
| S V | "Often used by Trainers who picked a <Type>-type Pokémon for their first partner." (Green/Red/Blue Poké Ball Pick) |
partenaire de départ | primo compagno d’avventure | erstes Pokémon | primer compañero | ポケモン | 포켓몬 | 寶可夢 | 宝可梦 |
| Rika: "What was the category of the Pokémon you chose to be your first partner?" | premier Pokémon | primo compagno | erste von dir ausgewählte Pokémon | primer Pokémon | 最初に選んだ ポケモン | 처음 선택한 포켓몬 | 最先挑選...的寶可夢 | 一开始所选的 宝可梦 | |
| Clavell: "Have you decided which of these Pokémon you would like to be your first partner?" | partenaire | primo compagno | erster Partner | compañero | パートナー | 파트너 | 夥伴 | 搭档 | |
| "That was the day I gave you your first partner Pokémon—<Pokémon>." | premier partenaire | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| HOME | First partner Pokémon | Premier partenaire Pokémon | Il tuo primo Pokémon | Erstes Partner-Pokémon | Primer Pokémon recibido | 最初に 選んだ ポケモン | 처음 선택한 포켓몬 | 最初選擇的寶可夢 | 最初选择的宝可梦 |
| First Partner Pokémon (Research Task titles) |
Les premiers partenaires | I primi compagni d’avventura | Erste Partner-Pokémon | Primeros compañeros | 最初のパートナー | 첫 파트너 | 最初的夥伴 | 最初的伙伴 | |
| "Pokémon that Trainers of the <region> region choose as their first partner before beginning their journey." | premiers partenaires | primo compagno d’avventure | erstes Partner-Pokémon | primeros compañeros Pokémon | 最初の 相棒 | 첫 파트너 | 最初選為搭檔 | 最先选为搭档 |
--SnorlaxMonster 04:15, 15 March 2024 (UTC)
- Awesome, thanks for checking those terms used in multiple languages. --Daniel Carrero (talk) 20:22, 23 March 2024 (UTC)