That's a fair point, but there's still the issue that counters weren't obviously seen when Ling Qi did attack. If the tail slap was a counter, then Meizhen can instant-reaction single target debuff before the counter resolves, which is OP and more Renxiang's bag than her own, especially considering she eats initiative penalties with some of her arts. The glare might have well have been a counter, but it's unlike what's previously been seen of her counters.It must be noted, however, that they haven't attacked Meizhen. They are waiting for Ling Qi's mark to descend. Unless Meizhen's counters have suddenly changed, then the counters would begin when the phantoms actually attacked, not when they had formed. After all, Meizhen counters attacks not things waiting to attack.
I don't think there is an option that's ignoring people? I'd break it down like this:I was leaning towards playing it passive, but @Huo Yuhao convinced me and reminded me that this is a thing we're trying to get better at: being actively interested in the people around us and not just zoning out to listen to the Cultivation Gremlin chatter inside her head.
[X] Take the lead in conversation, ask Cai Renxiang what she was reading. You are trying to be more outgoing. What could go wrong with asking about her literary interests?
Also, with regard to Meizhen/Qingling, I ship it super hard for the following reasons:
- It is so rare that autistic characters get representation in romance plots in the stuff I read and I am 1000% here for it, I'm on Team Sensory Sensitivity Girl Should Have Nice Things
- IF MEIZHEN AND QINGLING FALL IN LOVE AND WE BECOME BETROTHED TO QIAN THEN MEIZHEN AND QI WILL BE SISTERS-IN-LAW SORTA/KIND OF/NOT REALLY AT ALL BUT WE WILL DEFINITELY GET TO POINT IT OUT IN A SMUG CALLBACK TO THE CONVERSATION WHERE SHE EXPRESSED DISCOMFORT WITH CALLING US SISTER
Also before it comes up no I am not modeling discrete turns in combat still, its just the easiest terminology to use since time remains linear in a narrative combatfor now
I still think slipping in an extra move between an attack you receive and a counter is OP. Counters ought to be as immediate narratively as they are mechanically.
My personal guess is that Meizhen was effectively holding her action.I still think slipping in an extra move between an attack you receive and a counter is OP. Counters ought to be as immediate narratively as they are mechanically.
Not that I'm saying that's what happened.
The second use was to counter-attack our FSS attack after a block using her Mantle:Then Meizhen's right hand twitched, and ribbons of metal screamed as they caught and deflected Ling Qi's singing blade and flung it away.
Only after we finish closing the distance are we, as you said out of a normal sequence, hit with the glare immediately followed by the tail.Through her flute, she sang, and falling curtains of rain shattered as she flew through their newly solid forms. Meizhen's free hand rose in warding as her refrain reached its crescendo, and black water froze and shattered, leaving red ice burns across her friends palm.
Slashing ribbons carved through her verdant armor in response...