"Some thoughts on the gym meta:"

#PokemonGO: A lot of threads have popped up lately complaining about the gym meta, and specifically about CP creep. But there are some solutions! I'm going to outline a few of them along with their ramifications, and hopefully get a discussion started.Solution 1: First In, Last Out:Instead of knocking out the lowest CP pokemon, knock out the last pokemon that was placed in the gym.Pros:* makes CP irrelevant for gyms* incentivizes taking down enemy gyms, since you want to be the first in a gym* potentially eliminates bubblestrat if the gym order is also in terms of first in, since the bubblestrat pokemon will be at the top of the gym, not the bottom.Cons:* an early "troll" pokemon can hurt the power of the gym since it'll be in there for longer.* disincentivizes levelling gym up from 7-10, since trainers are putting in more effort for a pokemon that won't last as long.Likely changes in the meta:* Fewer Dragonites, Rhydon, Gyarados, and other weak defenders with high CP*More bulky defenders like Exeggutor, Lapras, Slowbro, Poliwrath*More fodder from lower-level players*Fewer level 10 gymsSolution 2: Random Out:When a gym is knocked down a level, knock out a random pokemon instead of the pokemon with the lowest CP.Pros:* Gets rid of the high CP meta, since high CP doesn't guarantee staying in a gym* Encourages players to put their best defenders in a gymCons:* Randomness could be annoying to high level players who want to hold gyms for months at a time*"troll pokemon" could stay in gym for a long time, making it easier for the gym to be taken down.* disincentivizes levelling gym up from 7-10, since trainers are putting in more effort for a pokemon that won't last as long.Likely changes in the meta:* Fewer Dragonites, Rhydon, Gyarados, and other weak defenders with high CP* More bulky defenders like Exeggutor, Lapras, Slowbro, Poliwrath * More fodder from lower-level playersSolution 3: Species ClauseOther pokemon games have a "species clause" in competitive battling, which states that each trainer can only have 1 pokemon of a single species. Pogo could implement the same thing by allowing one of each species in a gym, possibly combined with ideas 1 and 2.Pros:* more diversity in gymsCons:* will force trainers to spend dust on lots of pokemon* if gyms are still in CP order, no one will want to level up a gym to put in a low CP speciesLikely changes in the meta:*Top 7 CP pokemon will dominate gyms (Snorlax, Dragonite, Rhydon, Gyarados, Lapras, Vaporeon, Exeggutor)*Fewer level 10 gymsAny other ideas/comments are appreciated! via /r/TheSilphRoad http://ift.tt/2knoPqW