Yesterday (Saturday, October 7, 2006) morning, Pokemon viewers got
their first glance at Pokemon Rangers.  There is a new game in the
works starring Pokemon Rangers such as the one in the episode.  If you
saw the episode, you'd know that Pokemon Rangers use a device called a
Capture Styler to find Pokemon with special abilities and then
"Capture" them.  Capturing Pokemon with a Capture Styler is different
than catching them with a PokeBall.  The first and most obvious thing
is the methodology: The Capture Styler lauches a spinning top that,
guided by the Styler, creates an energy lasso around the target Pokemon
or group of Pokemon.  Once the loop is of sufficient strength, it binds
the target Pokemon to the Ranger's will.  The second, and least
obvious, difference is that Capturing is only temporary.  Once a
Pokemon's assistance is no longer needed, it is free to go.

Not expressed in the episode is that, like PokeBalls, the Capture
Styler is by no means foolproof.  From what I recall of an article I
read, the Capture Styler must make a complete circuit around the
Pokemon without interruption.  If the Pokemon touches the loop before
its completed, the line breaks and the Styler takes damage.  If the
Styler takes too much damage, it becomes inoperable for a while and the
Pokemon gets away.  It is also quite possible for a Pokemon to get away
before the loop is completed without touching it, especially since the
Styler's top can only move in two dimensions.

What concerns me is a Pokemon Ranger trying to Capture a Legendary
Pokemon.  According to the FAQ, "[Legendary] pokemon CANNOT be
captured, cannot be your trainer, cannot be cloned or killed, you
cannot get their babies... well, you get the idea.  You can write about
them in your stories, of course, but they're unique."  I think this
could stand a slight change.  Since the Styler's effects are only
temporary, the rule could be that they can't be permanently captured.
This could extend not only to the Stylers but to PokeBalls as well, as
a Pokemon could be caught and then released later, and could allow
storylines where a Legendary Pokemon needs to be rescued.