Shard
One and Many
- Location
- Malaysia
Hmm. Are we going to make it into private tutoring, I wonder?
Vorstallen Magic Preparatory - The Third-Best School for Young Mages in the Nation! Enrol Today!
- Thread starter occipitallobe
- Start date
- Original Fantasy
- Location
- Croatia
People should not vote for Magical Map as using our guaranteed roll. It has a 35% chance of success per a roll, with no downside if we fail. As such we can brute force it. Some other rolls are far more sensitive. I'd suggest utilizing it on time sensitive rolls or ones which are harder if we fail like Sucking up, Family Money, Magic Pool, Six Parts of the Key and so on. They all have a d100.
Barondoctor
The things I chase come to me.
- Location
- The other side of the mirror
- Pronouns
- He/His/Him
All the more reason to have the map so we can either ambush the guy or avoid his ambushes.
@occipitallobe - if we complete the map this turn, does it provide a bonus this turn to six parts?
- Location
- United States
I think it makes sense to hit the senator's kid before (or during) exams, unless we are very tight on prep time to get decent grades. Hitting him during exams would be a two for one, since it would likely make him do worse, which might mean he doesn't impress any professors and gain access to better knowledge or resources, etc.
Also, he is probably planning on hitting us, and if we hit him first it might throw him off his rhythm.
Also, he is probably planning on hitting us, and if we hit him first it might throw him off his rhythm.
- Location
- USA
[X] Craft the Magical Map - The design is done, so it's time to get a'craftin'! DC 85. Currently Henrietta will be the primary crafter, adding +20 to the attempt to craft the map.
[X] Six Parts to the Key (Willpower)
[X] Six Parts to the Key (Willpower) x2
The WP spent on the key is very good, it gives us a reroll and then if we pass we get another reroll for the next step. I say take the guaranteed map and run and then work hard on the key.
[X] Six Parts to the Key (Willpower)
[X] Six Parts to the Key (Willpower) x2
The WP spent on the key is very good, it gives us a reroll and then if we pass we get another reroll for the next step. I say take the guaranteed map and run and then work hard on the key.
[X] Craft the Magical Map
[X] Six Parts to the Key (Willpower)
[X] Six Parts to the Key (Willpower) x2
Makes sense to me, hope the prize is worth it.
[X] Six Parts to the Key (Willpower)
[X] Six Parts to the Key (Willpower) x2
Makes sense to me, hope the prize is worth it.
- Location
- scrabbling
the firm number that we are competing against (the defined top 10% of the class) is 350-400. ulos has 290 base and gets +14.5 per 20 dc, and he's (as far as we know, and we've basically been told as much so I think I can trust that) the only student inukar set up with a tutor. I imagine the rich kids might have tutors on their own, Malkavian if he was good, so...assuming that they're equal to ulos in theory skill, they're dumping at least 80dc in (to reach the ~350 minimum), but probably more like 140dc (to reach 400), which is on average two rolls. we're at 60dc right now. if we want to cinch top 5%, we probably want to get at least 400. we get nothing from being first, except our pride I guess...
but I'm a bit paranoid that we might get jumped or something else might happen that could deduct from ulos' performance, so I'd like some safety margin above and beyond that, not to mention that this is, after all, a guess based on averages, and averages obviously disappoint if you depend on them too much.
thus I recommend we do 2 more rolls on magical theory prep, minimum. it doesn't have to be this week but it shouldn't be put off. I'd prefer we do them early and then have the time to adjust/adapt to the results or to the events around ulos.
[X] Craft the Magical Map
[X] Six Parts to the Key (Willpower)
[X] Exam Prep (Magical Theory) (Willpower)
I do love me some mystery box...in addition, the map is very very useful. I'm debating trying to get everyone to vote in such a way to use the 76 on Six Parts to the Key, since that's two more locations guaranteed, assuming that the DC pattern holds. That being said, if that assumption does hold, Six Parts is going to be very brutal (DC 90 and 110 for the final two locations) anyway and I kind of doubt our ability to find those last two without solving puzzles, which will require a huge number of actions to put ourselves to the dice's mercy anyway. (Ulos rolled a raw 28 on puzzles...oof. Didn't even get +intelligence or anything.)
but I'm a bit paranoid that we might get jumped or something else might happen that could deduct from ulos' performance, so I'd like some safety margin above and beyond that, not to mention that this is, after all, a guess based on averages, and averages obviously disappoint if you depend on them too much.
thus I recommend we do 2 more rolls on magical theory prep, minimum. it doesn't have to be this week but it shouldn't be put off. I'd prefer we do them early and then have the time to adjust/adapt to the results or to the events around ulos.
[X] Craft the Magical Map
[X] Six Parts to the Key (Willpower)
[X] Exam Prep (Magical Theory) (Willpower)
I do love me some mystery box...in addition, the map is very very useful. I'm debating trying to get everyone to vote in such a way to use the 76 on Six Parts to the Key, since that's two more locations guaranteed, assuming that the DC pattern holds. That being said, if that assumption does hold, Six Parts is going to be very brutal (DC 90 and 110 for the final two locations) anyway and I kind of doubt our ability to find those last two without solving puzzles, which will require a huge number of actions to put ourselves to the dice's mercy anyway. (Ulos rolled a raw 28 on puzzles...oof. Didn't even get +intelligence or anything.)
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- Location
- It's a whole new world we live in
If we think rival action is likely (and it totally is), it might be more productive to focus on neutralizing that instead, since it'd probably effect multiple classes. Much less our friends.
I want to second (third) the idea that we should hit them right before the exams too
- Location
- scrabbling
I mean, yes, thus I do vote for a Map action.
- Location
- USA
Maybe I'm being negative but I don't really see what acing the exam for Inukar gets us. He already knows we're a diligent student, that's not really his problem with us, it's our lack of skill otherwise and we lack Edward's brilliance. Plus him being risk adverse and us voting to take more risks. Get the highest score ever and all that will still be true. I want to do some studying because I don't want to lose what we have, bomb it too bad and Edward might have second thoughts about taking us on, but in my mind Ulos has kind of already jumped ships and Edward is likely becoming his Theory Mentor over Inukar sooner than later.
Miranova supports more risk taking, along with a slew of other benefits. We can just do the token classwork with her and impress her in other ways, and her field is more directly linked to freeing our channeling.
Miranova supports more risk taking, along with a slew of other benefits. We can just do the token classwork with her and impress her in other ways, and her field is more directly linked to freeing our channeling.
- Location
- USA
This won last time we talked to Edward, so it looks like we won't be getting his Tutoring either way. Like I said, I could see him looking at our score and thinking, "do I really need this guy?" So I don't think we should blow it off, but I'm not sure what exactly we would get from the top score. Something I'm sure, but I also doubt Inukar will be taking us on any more field trips after how the first one went.
Miranova is a monster, and she might be able to teach us how to fight better with low Channeling if she likes us. Plus just her favor of us might be extremely helpful, with her reputation doors could open and people might think twice before trying to attack us.
What I would also like to do is see if we can get back the Alchemy charm from Edward. He's basically asking us to speed through Alchemy next term, that could go pretty far to helping us progress through it.
- Location
- Burgundian Netherlands
Getting at least in the top 5% of Magical Theory is absolutely essential, as the rewards are just too good to pass up:
As to why being first is important? The previous turn has shown that while Inukar dislikes us taking Edward's offer, he is still fundamentally the only person in this entire academy who cares about our academic progress. JoiningTom Riddle Edward is convenient and gives us nice bonuses, but he has clearly indicated that he doesn't care about us, doesn't think we're particularly clever or worth his while, only suited for 'reviewing proper work'. Maintaining our relationship with Inukar is essential, because when the chips are down he'll be the only educator who would consider sticking out his neck for us even a little. That means keeping in touch with him and convincing him that we're a worthwhile investment. Being the ace student in theory makes us valuable, and is currently pretty much the only advantage we have. Also with the personal tutoring we've received, scoring just high enough to qualify for the highest bracket but being surpassed by multiple other students who didn't have this advantage would be pretty awkward.
Furthermore, professors talk. Being the primus in one subject gets us credit in others, as we've already found out:
As to why being first is important? The previous turn has shown that while Inukar dislikes us taking Edward's offer, he is still fundamentally the only person in this entire academy who cares about our academic progress. Joining
Furthermore, professors talk. Being the primus in one subject gets us credit in others, as we've already found out:
TimEd
Meteor maker
Not true. Our teacher on that Spellweaving class also likes us, and really likes us to succeed. He saw our hard work and potential, and just was not able to give any benefits until we worked on Spellweaving in our off hours (which we didnt do).
Also pretty sure that Ex-assassin who teaches us History likes us too.
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- Location
- USA
So you think we are going to be personally tutored by someone else? Inukar? Because it explicitly says Edward will not when we choose to assist him. Inukar's relationship growth is also reduced because of our earlier choice, and from this chapter it looks like most likely the way to get back in his good graces would be to somewhat betray Edward.
This ignores the fact that my plan would be to forge a connection with Miranova, a teacher who seems to prize bravery and results over classes. In that case it would probably give Miranova the push to stick her neck out for us. It might hurt Inukar's defense of us that he himself is risk adverse, Miranova is decidedly not.
I don't think primus itself means much, I think that what the teacher was talking about was wheeling and dealing. An Alchemy savant could brew for teachers and accrue favors that way, we can't do much with theory alone. Especially because we are likely to be at best the third option in Theory at the school, both Inukar and Edward eclipse us to a degree that it's probably unlikely a teacher wants our help.
But in Runework or Alchemy we could create something novel that teachers would be interested in. I think it's more likely we get favors from recreating the Map in some form or assisting Edward than we would from being first in Theory.
- Location
- Burgundian Netherlands
...he likes us to succeed, because "Inukar has an eye for talent" -- talent in Magical Theory. He doesn't suspect we are secretly a magical combat genius, he is willing to extend us credit because we excel in another field.
And isn't the ex-assassin Miranova? Professor Junotrin is an alchemist, and as far as I can remember hasn't really given any sign that she likes us. I could be wrong though.
...yes, that's what has been said a few times now. Inukar takes the 75%-95% bracket, the top 5% are personally tutored by others.
Also, we (temporarily) stopped the relationship decline with Inukar...by just going to talk with him. I don't know how that leads you to suspect that we need to betray Edward to keep our relationship with Inukar intact, but I don't see it. Edward even said when we agreed to his offer that we'd be able to deal with the fallout with Inukar -- read: smooth over any ruffled feathers. It'll take some time and sustained effort -- sure, but considering how we've benefited from his patronage, that doesn't seem a particularly big price to pay.
As has been made clear in the narrative a couple of times now, Miranova is a psychopath who doesn't care one lick if we die. Yes, the things we can get from her might be valuable, but I'm puzzled how you can think of her as a reliable mentor figure -- unless Ulos suddenly finds his calling as a Spirit-specialised amoral assassin-type.
The mechanics quote is as follows:
That doesn't seem limited to "offer a uniquely valuable insight or item in one field", and if it were, that would preclude almost all students from acquiring favors in any way. Now, the sample of acquired favors is rather small, but what I take from this is that acquiring favors first of all means getting noticed by professors/teachers. How did we get noticed by Miranova? By talking to her and hinting at deeper-lying motivations for taking her course. How did we get noticed by Weres? By being scouted out by Inukar. How do we leverage our advantages? By climbing the Magical Theory tech tree, because while no one might care what happens with Flit #231 that paid for his ride with funds of unclear origin, people care what happens with the Flit that is the star of his year. How did we get Edward's tutoring in the first place? By making Inukar think that we were a near-genius, and thus were deserving of particular and special attention.
(also, note the first phrase in the quote, I'd rather have a mentor who "sees me as a promising seedling to be nurtured" than someone who wouldn't bat an eye at my unfortunate and untimely demise)
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