Quick retcon. I said something wrong in the AN and missed it. Mind if I rearrange the priority for the spare XP? It's design that unlocks having more slots, and I assume people want that? Right now it's

1. Armament
2. Agility
3. Structure
4. Design

I could switch Armament and Design, or whatnot. Apologies for getting people confused :(

You have enough slots to equip everything you worked on. Pretty much, basically. Though you'll be full up.
 
Last edited:
[x] Work on improving the basic body (Stats) of the puppet
-[x] 1) Design, 2) Structure, 3) Agility, 4) Armament
Oh man, my divination skills are acting up again. ^_^

Well, one last pitch for Spring Loaded.

-[] Spring Loaded: Currently the movement of the puppet is pretty normal. Springs could be placed to allow it a sudden 'burst' of activity. (Requires Emiko trap help to make work) (0/6)

We're in the backwater parts of the ninja world. I bet most Chunin, maybe even Special Jounin, haven't fought against weirdly-moving puppets before. Spring Loaded provides that extra burst of speed that will surprise our enemies, thus raising the effectiveness of all the other weapons on our puppet too.
 
[x] Provides that, plus trap mechanisms.
[x] Work on improving the basic body (Stats) of the puppet
-[x] 1) Design, 2) Structure, 3) Agility, 4) Armament
--[x] What portion of total XP do you allocate? One-third.
[x] Work on creating and designing equipment
-[x] Spring Loaded: Currently the movement of the puppet is pretty normal. Springs could be placed to allow it a sudden 'burst' of activity. (Requires Emiko trap help to make work) (0/6)
-[x] Wired Reflexes: There are some small parts of the puppet that could definitely benefit from the use of wires rather than gears for the mechanisms. It would be a small improvement, but it might lead to expanded possibilities later on, and there are ideas Shizue has based on what she's read that she couldn't even begin to implement. (0/3)
-[x] Cloak and Daggers: It's not a big deal, but the cloak that Shizue's puppet is wearing could be changed to help it blend in even more, and increase the chance of it being mistaken for something else at a distance. Plus, it'd be better, aesthetically. (0/2)
-[x] Net Trap Explosion: She's working on it, she's working on it. Hopefully she can get it done soon. (7 of 8).
-[x] Water Gun: All that's needed is to install this (8/8)
--[x] Caustic Water: There are any number of substances that can be rather bad if they get into someone's eyes, and can cause damage to the skin. While the water might dilute them, it could be a useful little trick. (0/8), requires installing the Water Gun. Exclusive from all others.
[X] Personal examples to make it feel more pressing? That's easy!
-[X] Talk to Azusa.
 
Quick retcon. I said something wrong in the AN and missed it. Mind if I rearrange the priority for the spare XP? It's design that unlocks having more slots, and I assume people want that? Right now it's

1. Armament
2. Agility
3. Structure
4. Design

I could switch Armament and Design, or whatnot. Apologies for getting people confused :(

You have enough slots to equip everything you worked on. Pretty much, basically. Though you'll be full up.
I don't mind the switch. That was what I was going for anyway.
 
[X] Provides that, plus trap mechanisms.
[X] Work on creating and designing equipment (just choose what you want to do, we'll work out numbers, and if you go 'over budget' that just means you have things invested to finish next time, like 5/X, or whatnot)
-[X] Net Trap Explosion: She's working on it, she's working on it. Hopefully she can get it done soon. (7 of 8).
-[X] Spring Loaded: Currently the movement of the puppet is pretty normal. Springs could be placed to allow it a sudden 'burst' of activity. (Requires Emiko trap help to make work) (0/6)
-[X] Cloak and Daggers: It's not a big deal, but the cloak that Shizue's puppet is wearing could be changed to help it blend in even more, and increase the chance of it being mistaken for something else at a distance. Plus, it'd be better, aesthetically. (0/2)--+1 towards stealth rolls, puppet looks cooler.
-[X] Water Gun: All that's needed is to install this (8/8)
--[X] Mildly Poisoned Water: Poisons could be added to the water so that if someone hit with the water gun wound up ingesting any of the water, they might suffer some side-effects, though at the level of poison knowledge Shizue has these wouldn't be truly dangerous poisons. (0/8), requires installing the Water Gun. Exclusive from all others.
-[X] Improved Poison: Begin trying to work out a better poison that can be used for the poisoned kunai reliably, or maybe even added to the arm blades to actually make them poisonous, really the sting of an angry hornet. (0/???)
[X] Work on improving the basic body (Stats) of the puppet
-[X] 1. Armament 2. Agility 3. Structure 4. Design
--[X] Excess from the Above
[X] Personal examples to make it feel more pressing? That's easy!
-[X] Talk to Azusa.
 
[x] Provides that, plus trap mechanisms.
[x] Work on improving the basic body (Stats) of the puppet
-[x] 1) Design, 2) Structure, 3) Agility, 4) Armament
--[x] What portion of total XP do you allocate? One-third.
[x] Work on creating and designing equipment
-[x] Spring Loaded: Currently the movement of the puppet is pretty normal. Springs could be placed to allow it a sudden 'burst' of activity. (Requires Emiko trap help to make work) (0/6)
-[x] Wired Reflexes: There are some small parts of the puppet that could definitely benefit from the use of wires rather than gears for the mechanisms. It would be a small improvement, but it might lead to expanded possibilities later on, and there are ideas Shizue has based on what she's read that she couldn't even begin to implement. (0/3)
-[x] Cloak and Daggers: It's not a big deal, but the cloak that Shizue's puppet is wearing could be changed to help it blend in even more, and increase the chance of it being mistaken for something else at a distance. Plus, it'd be better, aesthetically. (0/2)
-[x] Net Trap Explosion: She's working on it, she's working on it. Hopefully she can get it done soon. (7 of 8).
-[x] Water Gun: All that's needed is to install this (8/8)
--[x] Caustic Water: There are any number of substances that can be rather bad if they get into someone's eyes, and can cause damage to the skin. While the water might dilute them, it could be a useful little trick. (0/8), requires installing the Water Gun. Exclusive from all others.
[X] Personal examples to make it feel more pressing? That's easy!
-[X] Talk to Azusa.
 
[x] Provides that, plus trap mechanisms.
[x] Work on improving the basic body (Stats) of the puppet
-[x] 1) Design, 2) Structure, 3) Agility, 4) Armament
--[x] What portion of total XP do you allocate? One-third.
[x] Work on creating and designing equipment
-[x] Spring Loaded: Currently the movement of the puppet is pretty normal. Springs could be placed to allow it a sudden 'burst' of activity. (Requires Emiko trap help to make work) (0/6)
-[x] Wired Reflexes: There are some small parts of the puppet that could definitely benefit from the use of wires rather than gears for the mechanisms. It would be a small improvement, but it might lead to expanded possibilities later on, and there are ideas Shizue has based on what she's read that she couldn't even begin to implement. (0/3)
-[x] Cloak and Daggers: It's not a big deal, but the cloak that Shizue's puppet is wearing could be changed to help it blend in even more, and increase the chance of it being mistaken for something else at a distance. Plus, it'd be better, aesthetically. (0/2)
-[x] Net Trap Explosion: She's working on it, she's working on it. Hopefully she can get it done soon. (7 of 8).
-[x] Water Gun: All that's needed is to install this (8/8)
--[x] Caustic Water: There are any number of substances that can be rather bad if they get into someone's eyes, and can cause damage to the skin. While the water might dilute them, it could be a useful little trick. (0/8), requires installing the Water Gun. Exclusive from all others.
[X] Personal examples to make it feel more pressing? That's easy!
-[X] Talk to Azusa.

May as well consolidate I guess. I'll get the poison next time!
 
[x] Provides that, plus trap mechanisms.
[x] Work on improving the basic body (Stats) of the puppet
-[x] 1) Design, 2) Structure, 3) Agility, 4) Armament
--[x] What portion of total XP do you allocate? One-third.
[x] Work on creating and designing equipment
-[x] Spring Loaded: Currently the movement of the puppet is pretty normal. Springs could be placed to allow it a sudden 'burst' of activity. (Requires Emiko trap help to make work) (0/6)
-[x] Wired Reflexes: There are some small parts of the puppet that could definitely benefit from the use of wires rather than gears for the mechanisms. It would be a small improvement, but it might lead to expanded possibilities later on, and there are ideas Shizue has based on what she's read that she couldn't even begin to implement. (0/3)
-[x] Cloak and Daggers: It's not a big deal, but the cloak that Shizue's puppet is wearing could be changed to help it blend in even more, and increase the chance of it being mistaken for something else at a distance. Plus, it'd be better, aesthetically. (0/2)
-[x] Net Trap Explosion: She's working on it, she's working on it. Hopefully she can get it done soon. (7 of 8).
-[x] Water Gun: All that's needed is to install this (8/8)
--[x] Caustic Water: There are any number of substances that can be rather bad if they get into someone's eyes, and can cause damage to the skin. While the water might dilute them, it could be a useful little trick. (0/8), requires installing the Water Gun. Exclusive from all others.
[X] Personal examples to make it feel more pressing? That's easy!
-[X] Talk to Azusa.
 
[x] Provides that, plus trap mechanisms.
[x] Work on improving the basic body (Stats) of the puppet
-[x] 1) Design, 2) Structure, 3) Agility, 4) Armament
--[x] What portion of total XP do you allocate? One-third.
[x] Work on creating and designing equipment
-[x] Spring Loaded: Currently the movement of the puppet is pretty normal. Springs could be placed to allow it a sudden 'burst' of activity. (Requires Emiko trap help to make work) (0/6)
-[x] Wired Reflexes: There are some small parts of the puppet that could definitely benefit from the use of wires rather than gears for the mechanisms. It would be a small improvement, but it might lead to expanded possibilities later on, and there are ideas Shizue has based on what she's read that she couldn't even begin to implement. (0/3)
-[x] Cloak and Daggers: It's not a big deal, but the cloak that Shizue's puppet is wearing could be changed to help it blend in even more, and increase the chance of it being mistaken for something else at a distance. Plus, it'd be better, aesthetically. (0/2)
-[x] Net Trap Explosion: She's working on it, she's working on it. Hopefully she can get it done soon. (7 of 8).
-[x] Water Gun: All that's needed is to install this (8/8)
--[x] Caustic Water: There are any number of substances that can be rather bad if they get into someone's eyes, and can cause damage to the skin. While the water might dilute them, it could be a useful little trick. (0/8), requires installing the Water Gun. Exclusive from all others.
[X] Personal examples to make it feel more pressing? That's easy!
-[X] Talk to Azusa.
 
Huh, wow. Alright, vote closed. Someone get me a tally. I'll start on the parts that don't have to do with the puppets, like Azusa and the 'thing' with Rika and other stuff, while I wait.
 
Vote tally:
##### 3.21
[X] Provides only her skill and an extra pair of hands
[X] Work on improving the basic body (Stats) of the puppet
-[X] Armament - 1st, Structure - 2nd, Agility - 3rd, Design - 4th.
--[X] 3/4 of XP
[X] Work on creating and designing equipment (just choose what you want to do, we'll work out numbers, and if you go 'over budget' that just means you have things invested to finish next time, like 5/X, or whatnot)
-[X] Net Trap Explosion: She's working on it, she's working on it. Hopefully she can get it done soon. (7of 8).
-[X] Cloak and Daggers: It's not a big deal, but the cloak that Shizue's puppet is wearing could be changed to help it blend in even more, and increase the chance of it being mistaken for something else at a distance. Plus, it'd be better, aesthetically. (0/2)--+1 towards stealth rolls, puppet looks cooler.
-[X] Water Gun: All that's needed is to install this (8/8)
No. of votes: 1
ReaperofInterest

[X] Provides only her skill and an extra pair of hands.
[X] Work on creating and designing equipment (just choose what you want to do, we'll work out numbers, and if you go 'over budget' that just means you have things invested to finish next time, like 5/X, or whatnot)
-[X] Wired Reflexes: There are some small parts of the puppet that could definitely benefit from the use of wires rather than gears for the mechanisms. It would be a small improvement, but it might lead to expanded possibilities later on, and there are ideas Shizue has based on what she's read that she couldn't even begin to implement. (0/3) - Agility is increased by 2 for the purposes of acting first, quick reactions.
-[X] Water Gun: All that's needed is to install this (8/8)
--[X] Caustic Water: There are any number of substances that can be rather bad if they get into someone's eyes, and can cause damage to the skin. While the water might dilute them, it could be a useful little trick. (0/8), requires installing the Water Gun. Exclusive from all others.
-[X] Improved Poison: Begin trying to work out a better poison that can be used for the poisoned kunai reliably, or maybe even added to the arm blades to actually make them poisonous, really the sting of an angry hornet. (0/???)
[X] Work on improving the basic body (Stats) of the puppet
-[X] 1. Armament 2. Agility 3. Structure 4. Design
--[X] Excess from the Above
[X] Personal examples to make it feel more pressing? That's easy!
-[X] Talk to Azusa.
No. of votes: 5
Arkatekt, Ridiculously Average Guy, Kairos123, Velocirampage, The Stormbringer

[x] Plan Sleek Killerbot
[x] Provides that, plus trap mechanisms.
[x] Work on improving the basic body (Stats) of the puppet
-[x] 1) Design, 2) Structure, 3) Agility, 4) Armament
--[x] What portion of total XP do you allocate? One-third.
[x] Work on creating and designing equipment (just choose what you want to do, we'll work out numbers, and if you go 'over budget' that just means you have things invested to finish next time, like 5/X, or whatnot)
-[x] Spring Loaded: Currently the movement of the puppet is pretty normal. Springs could be placed to allow it a sudden 'burst' of activity. (Requires Emiko trap help to make work) (0/6)
-[x] Wired Reflexes: There are some small parts of the puppet that could definitely benefit from the use of wires rather than gears for the mechanisms. It would be a small improvement, but it might lead to expanded possibilities later on, and there are ideas Shizue has based on what she's read that she couldn't even begin to implement. (0/3) - Agility is increased by 2 for the purposes of acting first, quick reactions.
-[x] Improved Poison: Begin trying to work out a better poison that can be used for the poisoned kunai reliably, or maybe even added to the arm blades to actually make them poisonous, really the sting of an angry hornet. (0/???)
-[x] Water Gun: All that's needed is to install this (8/8)
--[x] Caustic Water: There are any number of substances that can be rather bad if they get into someone's eyes, and can cause damage to the skin. While the water might dilute them, it could be a useful little trick. (0/8), requires installing the Water Gun. Exclusive from all others.
-[x] Cloak and Daggers: It's not a big deal, but the cloak that Shizue's puppet is wearing could be changed to help it blend in even more, and increase the chance of it being mistaken for something else at a distance. Plus, it'd be better, aesthetically. (0/2)--+1 towards stealth rolls, puppet looks cooler.
-[x] Net Trap Explosion: She's working on it, she's working on it. Hopefully she can get it done soon. (7 of 8).
[x] Reveal it to someone else?
-[x] Sano Tomoya: Her knowledge of guerilla warfare and tactics might come in handy, and her loyalty to the village is well known.
No. of votes: 1
Oh I am slain!

[x] Provides that, plus trap mechanisms.
[x] Work on improving the basic body (Stats) of the puppet
-[x] 1) Design, 2) Structure, 3) Agility, 4) Armament
--[x] What portion of total XP do you allocate? One-third.
[x] Work on creating and designing equipment
-[x] Spring Loaded: Currently the movement of the puppet is pretty normal. Springs could be placed to allow it a sudden 'burst' of activity. (Requires Emiko trap help to make work) (0/6)
-[x] Wired Reflexes: There are some small parts of the puppet that could definitely benefit from the use of wires rather than gears for the mechanisms. It would be a small improvement, but it might lead to expanded possibilities later on, and there are ideas Shizue has based on what she's read that she couldn't even begin to implement. (0/3)
-[x] Cloak and Daggers: It's not a big deal, but the cloak that Shizue's puppet is wearing could be changed to help it blend in even more, and increase the chance of it being mistaken for something else at a distance. Plus, it'd be better, aesthetically. (0/2)
-[x] Net Trap Explosion: She's working on it, she's working on it. Hopefully she can get it done soon. (7 of 8).
-[x] Water Gun: All that's needed is to install this (8/8)
--[x] Caustic Water: There are any number of substances that can be rather bad if they get into someone's eyes, and can cause damage to the skin. While the water might dilute them, it could be a useful little trick. (0/8), requires installing the Water Gun. Exclusive from all others.
[X] Personal examples to make it feel more pressing? That's easy!
-[X] Talk to Azusa.
No. of votes: 5
Molyneux, wingstrike96, veekie, Thriceboiled, Bakkasama

[X] Provides that, plus trap mechanisms.
[X] Work on creating and designing equipment (just choose what you want to do, we'll work out numbers, and if you go 'over budget' that just means you have things invested to finish next time, like 5/X, or whatnot)
-[X] Net Trap Explosion: She's working on it, she's working on it. Hopefully she can get it done soon. (7 of 8).
-[X] Spring Loaded: Currently the movement of the puppet is pretty normal. Springs could be placed to allow it a sudden 'burst' of activity. (Requires Emiko trap help to make work) (0/6)
-[X] Cloak and Daggers: It's not a big deal, but the cloak that Shizue's puppet is wearing could be changed to help it blend in even more, and increase the chance of it being mistaken for something else at a distance. Plus, it'd be better, aesthetically. (0/2)--+1 towards stealth rolls, puppet looks cooler.
-[X] Water Gun: All that's needed is to install this (8/8)
--[X] Mildly Poisoned Water: Poisons could be added to the water so that if someone hit with the water gun wound up ingesting any of the water, they might suffer some side-effects, though at the level of poison knowledge Shizue has these wouldn't be truly dangerous poisons. (0/8), requires installing the Water Gun. Exclusive from all others.
-[X] Improved Poison: Begin trying to work out a better poison that can be used for the poisoned kunai reliably, or maybe even added to the arm blades to actually make them poisonous, really the sting of an angry hornet. (0/???)
[X] Work on improving the basic body (Stats) of the puppet
-[X] 1. Armament 2. Agility 3. Structure 4. Design
--[X] Excess from the Above
[X] Personal examples to make it feel more pressing? That's easy!
-[X] Talk to Azusa.
No. of votes: 1
spudman
Vote tally:
##### 3.21
[X] Provides only her skill and an extra pair of hands
No. of votes: 6
ReaperofInterest, Arkatekt, Ridiculously Average Guy, Kairos123, Velocirampage, The Stormbringer

[X] Work on improving the basic body (Stats) of the puppet
No. of votes: 13
ReaperofInterest, Arkatekt, Ridiculously Average Guy, Kairos123, Velocirampage, Oh I am slain!, The Stormbringer, Molyneux, spudman, wingstrike96, veekie, Thriceboiled, Bakkasama

-[X] Armament - 1st, Structure - 2nd, Agility - 3rd, Design - 4th.
No. of votes: 1
ReaperofInterest

--[X] 3/4 of XP
No. of votes: 1
ReaperofInterest

[X] Work on creating and designing equipment (just choose what you want to do, we'll work out numbers, and if you go 'over budget' that just means you have things invested to finish next time, like 5/X, or whatnot)
No. of votes: 7
ReaperofInterest, Arkatekt, Ridiculously Average Guy, Kairos123, Velocirampage, Oh I am slain!, The Stormbringer

-[X] Net Trap Explosion: She's working on it, she's working on it. Hopefully she can get it done soon. (7of 8).
No. of votes: 2
ReaperofInterest, Oh I am slain!

-[X] Cloak and Daggers: It's not a big deal, but the cloak that Shizue's puppet is wearing could be changed to help it blend in even more, and increase the chance of it being mistaken for something else at a distance. Plus, it'd be better, aesthetically. (0/2)--+1 towards stealth rolls, puppet looks cooler.
No. of votes: 2
ReaperofInterest, Oh I am slain!

-[X] Water Gun: All that's needed is to install this (8/8)
No. of votes: 7
ReaperofInterest, Arkatekt, Ridiculously Average Guy, Kairos123, Velocirampage, Oh I am slain!, The Stormbringer

-[X] Wired Reflexes: There are some small parts of the puppet that could definitely benefit from the use of wires rather than gears for the mechanisms. It would be a small improvement, but it might lead to expanded possibilities later on, and there are ideas Shizue has based on what she's read that she couldn't even begin to implement. (0/3) - Agility is increased by 2 for the purposes of acting first, quick reactions.
No. of votes: 6
Arkatekt, Ridiculously Average Guy, Kairos123, Velocirampage, Oh I am slain!, The Stormbringer

--[X] Caustic Water: There are any number of substances that can be rather bad if they get into someone's eyes, and can cause damage to the skin. While the water might dilute them, it could be a useful little trick. (0/8), requires installing the Water Gun. Exclusive from all others.
No. of votes: 6
Arkatekt, Ridiculously Average Guy, Kairos123, Velocirampage, Oh I am slain!, The Stormbringer

-[X] Improved Poison: Begin trying to work out a better poison that can be used for the poisoned kunai reliably, or maybe even added to the arm blades to actually make them poisonous, really the sting of an angry hornet. (0/???)
No. of votes: 7
Arkatekt, Ridiculously Average Guy, Kairos123, Velocirampage, Oh I am slain!, The Stormbringer, spudman

-[X] 1. Armament 2. Agility 3. Structure 4. Design
No. of votes: 6
Arkatekt, Ridiculously Average Guy, Kairos123, Velocirampage, The Stormbringer, spudman

--[X] Excess from the Above
No. of votes: 6
Arkatekt, Ridiculously Average Guy, Kairos123, Velocirampage, The Stormbringer, spudman

[X] Personal examples to make it feel more pressing? That's easy!
No. of votes: 5
Arkatekt, Ridiculously Average Guy, Kairos123, Velocirampage, The Stormbringer

-[X] Talk to Azusa.
No. of votes: 11
Arkatekt, Ridiculously Average Guy, Kairos123, Velocirampage, The Stormbringer, Molyneux, spudman, wingstrike96, veekie, Thriceboiled, Bakkasama

[x] Plan Sleek Killerbot
No. of votes: 1
Oh I am slain!

[x] Provides that, plus trap mechanisms.
No. of votes: 7
Oh I am slain!, Molyneux, spudman, wingstrike96, veekie, Thriceboiled, Bakkasama

-[x] 1) Design, 2) Structure, 3) Agility, 4) Armament
No. of votes: 6
Oh I am slain!, Molyneux, wingstrike96, veekie, Thriceboiled, Bakkasama

--[x] What portion of total XP do you allocate? One-third.
No. of votes: 6
Oh I am slain!, Molyneux, wingstrike96, veekie, Thriceboiled, Bakkasama

-[x] Spring Loaded: Currently the movement of the puppet is pretty normal. Springs could be placed to allow it a sudden 'burst' of activity. (Requires Emiko trap help to make work) (0/6)
No. of votes: 1
Oh I am slain!

[x] Reveal it to someone else?
No. of votes: 1
Oh I am slain!

-[x] Sano Tomoya: Her knowledge of guerilla warfare and tactics might come in handy, and her loyalty to the village is well known.
No. of votes: 1
Oh I am slain!

[x] Work on creating and designing equipment
No. of votes: 5
Molyneux, wingstrike96, veekie, Thriceboiled, Bakkasama

-[x] Spring Loaded: Currently the movement of the puppet is pretty normal. Springs could be placed to allow it a sudden 'burst' of activity. (Requires Emiko trap help to make work) (0/6)
No. of votes: 6
Molyneux, spudman, wingstrike96, veekie, Thriceboiled, Bakkasama

-[x] Wired Reflexes: There are some small parts of the puppet that could definitely benefit from the use of wires rather than gears for the mechanisms. It would be a small improvement, but it might lead to expanded possibilities later on, and there are ideas Shizue has based on what she's read that she couldn't even begin to implement. (0/3)
No. of votes: 5
Molyneux, wingstrike96, veekie, Thriceboiled, Bakkasama

-[x] Cloak and Daggers: It's not a big deal, but the cloak that Shizue's puppet is wearing could be changed to help it blend in even more, and increase the chance of it being mistaken for something else at a distance. Plus, it'd be better, aesthetically. (0/2)
No. of votes: 5
Molyneux, wingstrike96, veekie, Thriceboiled, Bakkasama

-[x] Net Trap Explosion: She's working on it, she's working on it. Hopefully she can get it done soon. (7 of 8).
No. of votes: 6
Molyneux, spudman, wingstrike96, veekie, Thriceboiled, Bakkasama

-[x] Water Gun: All that's needed is to install this (8/8)
No. of votes: 6
Molyneux, spudman, wingstrike96, veekie, Thriceboiled, Bakkasama

--[x] Caustic Water: There are any number of substances that can be rather bad if they get into someone's eyes, and can cause damage to the skin. While the water might dilute them, it could be a useful little trick. (0/8), requires installing the Water Gun. Exclusive from all others.
No. of votes: 5
Molyneux, wingstrike96, veekie, Thriceboiled, Bakkasama

[X] Personal examples to make it feel more pressing? That's easy!
No. of votes: 6
Molyneux, spudman, wingstrike96, veekie, Thriceboiled, Bakkasama

[X] Work on creating and designing equipment (just choose what you want to do, we'll work out numbers, and if you go 'over budget' that just means you have things invested to finish next time, like 5/X, or whatnot)
No. of votes: 1
spudman

-[X] Cloak and Daggers: It's not a big deal, but the cloak that Shizue's puppet is wearing could be changed to help it blend in even more, and increase the chance of it being mistaken for something else at a distance. Plus, it'd be better, aesthetically. (0/2)--+1 towards stealth rolls, puppet looks cooler.
No. of votes: 1
spudman

--[X] Mildly Poisoned Water: Poisons could be added to the water so that if someone hit with the water gun wound up ingesting any of the water, they might suffer some side-effects, though at the level of poison knowledge Shizue has these wouldn't be truly dangerous poisons. (0/8), requires installing the Water Gun. Exclusive from all others.
No. of votes: 1
spudman
 
Oh. Okay. So it's tied.
Sure 'bout that? :p

[x] Provides that, plus trap mechanisms.
[x] Work on improving the basic body (Stats) of the puppet
-[x] 1) Design, 2) Structure, 3) Agility, 4) Armament
--[x] What portion of total XP do you allocate? One-third.
[x] Work on creating and designing equipment
-[x] Spring Loaded: Currently the movement of the puppet is pretty normal. Springs could be placed to allow it a sudden 'burst' of activity. (Requires Emiko trap help to make work) (0/6)
-[x] Wired Reflexes: There are some small parts of the puppet that could definitely benefit from the use of wires rather than gears for the mechanisms. It would be a small improvement, but it might lead to expanded possibilities later on, and there are ideas Shizue has based on what she's read that she couldn't even begin to implement. (0/3)
-[x] Cloak and Daggers: It's not a big deal, but the cloak that Shizue's puppet is wearing could be changed to help it blend in even more, and increase the chance of it being mistaken for something else at a distance. Plus, it'd be better, aesthetically. (0/2)
-[x] Net Trap Explosion: She's working on it, she's working on it. Hopefully she can get it done soon. (7 of 8).
-[x] Water Gun: All that's needed is to install this (8/8)
--[x] Caustic Water: There are any number of substances that can be rather bad if they get into someone's eyes, and can cause damage to the skin. While the water might dilute them, it could be a useful little trick. (0/8), requires installing the Water Gun. Exclusive from all others.
[X] Personal examples to make it feel more pressing? That's easy!
-[X] Talk to Azusa.

Aww, I guess we'll do Improved Poison later.
 
I'll go ahead and give a tiebreaker.
[x] Provides that, plus trap mechanisms.
[x] Work on improving the basic body (Stats) of the puppet
-[x] 1) Design, 2) Structure, 3) Agility, 4) Armament
--[x] What portion of total XP do you allocate? One-third.
[x] Work on creating and designing equipment
-[x] Spring Loaded: Currently the movement of the puppet is pretty normal. Springs could be placed to allow it a sudden 'burst' of activity. (Requires Emiko trap help to make work) (0/6)
-[x] Wired Reflexes: There are some small parts of the puppet that could definitely benefit from the use of wires rather than gears for the mechanisms. It would be a small improvement, but it might lead to expanded possibilities later on, and there are ideas Shizue has based on what she's read that she couldn't even begin to implement. (0/3)
-[x] Cloak and Daggers: It's not a big deal, but the cloak that Shizue's puppet is wearing could be changed to help it blend in even more, and increase the chance of it being mistaken for something else at a distance. Plus, it'd be better, aesthetically. (0/2)
-[x] Net Trap Explosion: She's working on it, she's working on it. Hopefully she can get it done soon. (7 of 8).
-[x] Water Gun: All that's needed is to install this (8/8)
--[x] Caustic Water: There are any number of substances that can be rather bad if they get into someone's eyes, and can cause damage to the skin. While the water might dilute them, it could be a useful little trick. (0/8), requires installing the Water Gun. Exclusive from all others.
[X] Personal examples to make it feel more pressing? That's easy!
-[X] Talk to Azusa.
 
Alright, I'll probably have the update posted by Sunday night or Monday morning. Please wait patiently, or speculate, or whatever you feel like doing in this thread!
 
Act 1, Scene 6 (Fin)
Act 1, Scene 6 (Fin)


[x] Provides that, plus trap mechanisms.
[x] Work on improving the basic body (Stats) of the puppet
-[x] 1) Design, 2) Structure, 3) Agility, 4) Armament
--[x] What portion of total XP do you allocate? One-third.
[x] Work on creating and designing equipment
-[x] Spring Loaded: Currently the movement of the puppet is pretty normal. Springs could be placed to allow it a sudden 'burst' of activity. (Requires Emiko trap help to make work) (0/6)
-[x] Wired Reflexes: There are some small parts of the puppet that could definitely benefit from the use of wires rather than gears for the mechanisms. It would be a small improvement, but it might lead to expanded possibilities later on, and there are ideas Shizue has based on what she's read that she couldn't even begin to implement. (0/3)
-[x] Cloak and Daggers: It's not a big deal, but the cloak that Shizue's puppet is wearing could be changed to help it blend in even more, and increase the chance of it being mistaken for something else at a distance. Plus, it'd be better, aesthetically. (0/2)
-[x] Net Trap Explosion: She's working on it, she's working on it. Hopefully she can get it done soon. (7 of 8).
-[x] Water Gun: All that's needed is to install this (8/8)
--[x] Caustic Water: There are any number of substances that can be rather bad if they get into someone's eyes, and can cause damage to the skin. While the water might dilute them, it could be a useful little trick. (0/8), requires installing the Water Gun. Exclusive from all others.
[X] Personal examples to make it feel more pressing? That's easy!
-[X] Talk to Azusa.

Work was its own reward, sometimes. Shizue found it very easy to forget just how much she loved working with her puppet. Life tended to do that, she'd realized long ago. It took all of the effort you put in and demanded more, and she neither had the time nor skill nor resources to spend her whole day working on her puppet. She had so much to train for, so much work to do, she had faced at least some threat of death a week ago. Yet the puppet was part of staying alive, and she felt far more confident once she had Stinger laid out on the table.

"I'm going to start by modifying the base a little," Shizue said, "I need to change things around if I'm going to be able to fit everything in. Can you help me with some of the mechanisms?"

"Of course," Emiko said, "So what are you looking to make?"

"Well, I had a lot of ideas, though I'm not sure I'll be able to do all of them, or even fit them into Stinger. I was thinking that if I had a way to make the puppet move unexpectedly. Like, almost as if it could suddenly spring out in an attack."

"Well, there are ways to do it, though you wouldn't," she cautioned, "Want just plain old springs, and you'd have to be really careful. I'm thinking maybe a mechanism to allow it to suddenly come into play, but it'll take a bit of...do you have any paper? We should probably be doing the math and sketches before we start building all of this in…"

*****

Ambition tended to be a thing that caught, and so as soon as they'd worked out the spring loading, though they hadn't yet slipped it in, they were debating the wiring work. Shizue believed that certain areas could have wires to improve its overall operations in general. But there wasn't a general agreement as to where, though ultimately Emiko deferred to Shizue in this matter, helping her out how she could.

And she certainly could help out. Emiko knew exactly how to finally get the net trap explosion to work the way it should have, and she had a few things to say about how the water gun could be installed in order to make it work better.

On the matter of the ingredients for her caustic water gun idea, Shizue said playfully, "It's all easy to get, really. The same, regular civilian stuff I get down from the market can be used for this sort of thing, and it's unlikely they'll have that big of a shortage, even once the blockades start.

Emiko nodded and said, "Just consider me a tool-gatherer."

"Well," Shizue said thoughtfully, "I could also use you to adjust the clamps," she said, gesturing to the clamps on the table for securing the puppet.

"Oh, of course," Emiko said, "Wouldn't want our patient getting away, would we?"

*****

"This poison should be at least a little more effective, though the ingredients," Shizue said, frowning thoughtfully, "I'll have to go to the market pretty often to get stocked up, but it's all civilian make, at least, the base stuff, so there shouldn't be that many shortages."

Emiko nodded and finished up attaching the nozzle for the 'caustic' mix on the water gun. She had deft, clever hands, and despite being larger than Shizue, her hands seemed able to slip into nooks and crannies to fit in the device. The puppet looked as if it would need some triage to decide what was going in it, because all of the systems seemed like they'd run into each other at the moment, without more work being done. Still, things were starting to shape up. "You know," the Missing-Nin said, "I'll be needing to buy a ship before next month is out, if I'm going to be leaving, would you know the local merchants for that sort of thing?"

"Yes I would, Iwasaki-sensei," Shizue said, frowning thoughtfully.

"Well, maybe you could point me in the right direction, over a meal. I've spent weeks here, but it's all been weeks without exploring the town. I know you go into the town more than most other Genin, you can tell by the way you walk," she clarified, "So, I'd be happy for the ten ryo tour sometime, if you want."

"You know, I think that might be okay," Shizue said, "But first, pass the wrench. Also, do you have any ideas for how to make a cool cloak?"

"Cool? Shizue-san, if you stay on your own as long as I do, you pick up all sorts of skills. Cooking, weaving, hunting, fishing, just about anything. I'll make a cloak like you wouldn't believe."


[ END Credits]


Shizue doesn't have enough slots for everything. Cloak and dagger I'll make free, but there are still choices. Pick up to three (you can leave a slot open if you want, of course) of these:

[] Net Trap Explosion
[] Wired Reflexes
[] Spring Loaded
[] Caustic Water Gun


*****

A/N: So, surprise! The plan that won was a bit too ambitious for the number of XP that were spare, and so we have this short update. The good news is that the next update after this is also almost done, so this vote won't stop the Monday morning (or so) release time for the update after this! Still, this is an important vote that will come back to haunt/help you next time Shizue gets into a fight! So treat it seriously.
 
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"You know," the Missing-Nin said, "I'll be needing to buy a ship before next month is out, if I'm going to be leaving, would you know the local merchants for that sort of thing?"

"Yes I would, Iwasaki-sensei," Shizue said, frowning thoughtfully.

"Well, maybe you could point me in the right direction, over a meal. I've spent weeks here, but it's all been weeks without exploring the town. I know you go into the town more than most other Genin, you can tell by the way you walk," she clarified, "So, I'd be happy for the yen tour sometime, if you want."
*looks suspiciously at The Laurent*

[x] Wired Reflexes
[x] Spring Loaded
[x] Caustic Water Gun

Wired Reflexes is a very tiny boost for now, but I think it's good if we practiced using it more. It's implied that continued improvements on Wired Reflexes leads to new modifications.

Spring Loaded is a must. Puppets already have unnatural flexibility, but Spring Loaded's speed bursts will surprise opponents who haven't faced puppets before.

And the Water Gun is our ranged option. We'll need the time to practice with this. Also, there are a bunch of upgrades for Water Gun that we'll eventually take anyway.

Net Trap Explosion makes sense if we want more focus on non-lethal means and/or we want an additional weapon instead of Wired Reflexes. But unless if the QM specifically engineers a scenario where we want non-lethal takedowns, I feel like we won't need it much compared to the other three.
 
[x] Wired Reflexes
[x] Spring Loaded
[x] Caustic Water Gun

I agree with the reasoning listed above. Oh, and yeah, puppets! Sooooo happy for more puppets! :D
 
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