Remove ads

Goddess' Shooting Star (Black★Rock Shooter X Persona 4)

Reader mode
Yeah, I think that was mostly me and Baughn hammering it out from the clues without full confirmation on the state of your soul, but idk.

Anyway, we have one battle to win, but like... Fog World, Mato and BRS, Wildcards, Otherselves in general... four-plus wars going on?

[X] You'll do it. You'll keep the second Knight busy while the others bring the first one down.

Anyway, yeah, we kinda need to roll. My guess is Mato needs to, uhh... something something put your spirit into your blade something something. Problem is BRS is the part of Mato that knows how to hold and use a blade, both physically and spiritually, but we'll see.
 
It's hard to tell which choice is better; if we choose to solo it we might get too injured to be much help during the rest of the inflitration (though healing magic exists and we won't be draining our stamina with spells, so it's questionable how much of a factor that might be), whereas if we choose to team up with Yosuke then the other two might need to spend a lot more time and stamina bringing the first one down. With that in mind, I think the best way to decide would be instead be based on how this is going to affect the narrative.

If we try to solo the knight, then that's probably going to further awaken what seems to be Mato's long-suppressed love of violence, strengthening her connection to BRS (and will also probably give us a pretty kick-ass fight scene).

If we team up with Yosuke, then that might help strengthen our relationship with the Investigation Team, or at least Yosuke in paritcular? Thinking about this, I think the narrative outcomes of this choice are a lot less certain, unless anyone has some clearer insights. However, I am definitely interested in strengthening our (now clearly pretty shaky) ties with the Investigation Team.

But with that in mind, I think I'm going to be switching my vote to

[X] You'll do it. You'll keep the second Knight busy while the others bring the first one down.
 
I'll be honest I've been trying to think of clever ways to explain how the interaction between Rock and Mato works but all of them sound stupid and I want to reveal it through the story.

Unless someone stumbles upon it anyways, I'll confirm correct answers in some capacity.

EDIT: Also, Yosuke is definitely your strongest social link within the investigation team right now.
Also there is a potentially entirely too subtle hint at something in the Naoto section ofthe update.
 
Last edited:
[X] No, ninety seconds is practically forever in a fight and you don't know if you can hold out that long. Split two-and-two instead.
-[X] With Yosuke

There is no growing stronger Persona-style when it comes to Otherselves: There is simply learning your lessons from past engagements and exploiting discoveries; that much has always been consistent in the black rough sugar Black Rock Shooter franchise.
 
Thanks!

Spectral Waltz said:
Narukami Yu (Wary/Warmed Up/Ready)
A fellow newcomer to Inaba. He and Mato shared a strange experience with something related to the Other World during their arrival in the town. He seems to be fairly open and accepting as a person but there's a calculating wariness that sometimes peeks through from underneath that.
Fighting Style: Balanced swordfighter, makes heavy use of 'Persona' powers on the offense
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Spectral Waltz said:
Hanamura Yosuke (Uncertain/Nervous/Ready)
Inaba local, childhood friend of Chie. Quick to befriend those who will spend time around him but lacks the maturity to take any kind of initiative in forming deeper relationships on his own.
Fighting Style: Small blades and knives, speed and agility, can use healing powers
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Spectral Waltz said:
Satonaka Chie (Distrusting/Anxious/Eager)
Inaba local, childhood friend of Yukiko and Yosuke. Athletic and strong with an outward enthusiasm and cheer but often straightforward to a fault and somewhat self-conscious.
Fighting Style: Bruiser, often fights bare-handed using her legs for leaps and kicks. Deceptively durable.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Okay, so Yosuke is the healer and Chie is the frontliner, but that just changes how we should fight, not who should pair up. Because yeah, Chie is not happy with Mato, though she's happy to pick a fight. Definitely should stick with Yosuke

With that in mind, I purpose a different vote. I was thinking about getting everyone to just dogpile on one knight, but I don't think we can kill it fast enough to alpha strike it before it's friend reacts. So instead this.

[] You'll keep one busy, but it'll be easier if it takes a hit first. Get Yu to hit one with his best magic to soften it up.

Or

[] You saw Yosuke's persona throw him at that first knight a couple days ago. Can he do that for you?

Just something to give us a strong opening move.
 
[X] You'll do it. You'll keep the second Knight busy while the others bring the first one down.

I agree with the others, always pick the 'most interesting' option. Plus it just... feels the most in character, if that makes sense? Mato's got her sword, is eager to fite gud and wants to make up for BRS stalling them before. She'd totally go for this.
 
[X] You'll do it. You'll keep the second Knight busy while the others bring the first one down.

Rock, how would you rate Mato's current combat ability? Both in general, and compared to your own?
 
NSMS said:
[X] You'll do it. You'll keep the second Knight busy while the others bring the first one down.

Rock, how would you rate Mato's current combat ability? Both in general, and compared to your own?
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Nothing has challenged any of them yet. Where three days ago they advanced cautiously, today they carved a swathe.

But what happens when they reach something or someone that can still pressure them even with their newfound strength?

That's where we'll truly see just how much closer I've grown.

(EDIT: Oh and for the record, in light of Unmaker's suggestions I will say now that Tactical Write-ins are allowed if you wish to make them.)
 
Last edited:
Spectral Waltz said:
Also there is a potentially entirely too subtle hint at something in the Naoto section ofthe update.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
I would assume, from BRS's reaction, that she encountered someone or something on the other side that she suspects is tied to the Detective Prince? Possibly an Otherself or more likely a Shadow.

[X] You'll do it. You'll keep the second Knight busy while the others bring the first one down.
-[X] You saw Yosuke's persona throw him at that first knight a couple days ago. Can he do that for you?

We'll probably have to use our Persona this time, if we want to succeed... hope it's got the tools to make stalling for 90 or even soloing properly feasible...
 
Spectral Waltz said:
(EDIT: Oh and for the record, in light of Unmaker's suggestions I will say now that Tactical Write-ins are allowed if you wish to make them.)
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Isn't that generally a bad idea? Free-form decision making in quests only works properly when you have dedicated players with gooderest brains and enough social stats to wrangle the thread bandwagon.

Even occasional write-ins being allowed are risky, because of players perceiving narrative decay where none exists.
 
Menthewarp said:
Isn't that generally a bad idea? Free-form decision making in quests only works properly when you have dedicated players with gooderest brains and enough social stats to wrangle the thread bandwagon.

Even occasional write-ins being allowed are risky, because of players perceiving narrative decay where none exists.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
It's usually fine as a combat thing.
 
Pretty much. Write-in mostly risk characterization. So long as Mato stays Mato, it's fine. Besides, a GM always has veto power. If they don't like something, it doesn't happen.

[X] You'll do it. You'll keep the second Knight busy while the others bring the first one down.
-[X] You saw Yosuke's persona throw him at that first knight a couple days ago. Can he do that for you?
 
Spectral Waltz said:
Also there is a potentially entirely too subtle hint at something in the Naoto section ofthe update.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Ryumancer said:
I would assume, from BRS's reaction, that she encountered someone or something on the other side that she suspects is tied to the Detective Prince? Possibly an Otherself or more likely a Shadow.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
I spotted that too after the fact, but I thought it might be BRS just being more observant when it comes to body language or something, though it could make sense if BRS is also staring an Otherself in the eyes.

Naoto would fit for an Otherself as well maybe? If we go with the idea that Otherselves are something like a Shadow that's been overstuffed with so much of the original's cut-off pieces of their personality that they end up with their own Ego forming.

Point being with how much of herself Naoto throws away to be the "Detective Prince" it would fit for her to have an Otherself in full instead of "just" a Shadow.
 
[x] You'll do it. You'll keep the second Knight busy while the others bring the first one down.
 
Spectral Waltz said:
Also there is a potentially entirely too subtle hint at something in the Naoto section ofthe update.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
I think I might want to take a crack at this. The two things of note are
1. Mato (and BRS to an even greater degree) was unsure of Naoto's gender, which is a doubt I don't believe any character expresses in P4 canon. BRS in particular seems to doubt the idea that Naoto is a "Prince".
- Relatedly, Mato seems to find Naoto 'familiar', although Mato eventually decides this is just because Naoto is a minor celebrity.

2. Naoto was staring at Mato, in a way that was described as "Intense and laser-focused, as though attempting to dissect you in that instant." From this, it's likely that Naoto either finds Mato suspicious or recognizes her in some way (possibly form the case where Yomi disappeared last year).

The possibilities people have already put forth are:

Option A: BRS ran into Naoto's shadow in the TV World. This requires the least amount of assumptions, but it also seems pretty unlikely that BRS would have run into and taken note of Naoto's shadow in particular; unless she's already been to the TV World, there shouldn't be anything to set her shadow apart from that of the thousands of other people living in Inaba.

Option B: Naoto has an Other Self and BRS has met her. This would explain BRS's reaction, but I think if this was the case we would have seen some evidence of their encounter before now, either through dreams or through invisitext (like with Yomi's Other Self). The idea that Mato is recognizing her through BRS seems to be on the right track though, because of this line
Spectral Waltz said:
Your eye itches slightly but you push that to the back of your mind, trying to find the thread. You've seen them before, you know they've been around…
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

Now, I mentioned before that it was possible that Mato and Naoto recognized each other from the investigation after Yomi disappeared, but that still leaves a lot of pieces unexplained, so I don't think that's it (and if it was that recent I would expect Mato to recognize them a lot faster). However, if I was going to make a wild guess, the possibility I want to put forth is:

Option C: Mato and Naoto went to the same elementary school. Specifically, during the time when Mato had yet to suppress her nature love of fighting (and therefore before BRS was created.) If the last time Mato saw them Naoto was still presenting as a girl, then that would explain her confusion over Naoto's gender. In turn, this would explain why Naoto was so interested in us; they were either trying to figure out why we seemed so familiar or they recognized us and were trying to determine if we still had the same bloodthirsty streak we had as a kid. Moreover, if those memories of Naoto were particularly entwined with the parts of Mato that went into creating BRS, then that would explain why BRS in particular seems to be confused about Naoto's status as a 'prince'.

This is definitely requiring a lot of assumptions, but it does manage to explain everything very neatly so I think it's worth considering at least as a possibility.
 
I think it's more likely that Naoto recognizes her from Mato's own incident last year, but it is an interesting possibility.
 
Honestly, I think we should focus more on Mato and BRS and their relation in comparison to the local bullshit than on the actual local bullshit that's currently happening.

I haven't checked the thread post by post, but @Spectral Waltz did mention somewhere near a chapter that he was pulling BRS Lore from not just the OVA but also the anime itself. Which, depending on how much he pulled means Mato and BRS are Death.

And I have vague memories of Death being an optional super boss in Persona 4.

So I vote let's start digging at Mato and BRS' connection and see how deep this rabbit hole goes. Especially if she gets her chaingun and Yomi eventually shows up with her undead horde.

[X] You'll do it. You'll keep the second Knight busy while the others bring the first one down.

EDIT: I had a point I wanted to make but my brain is fried right now and I sound incoherent here.
 
Crystalwatcher said:
I haven't checked the thread post by post, but @Spectral Waltz did mention somewhere near a chapter that he was pulling BRS Lore from not just the OVA but also the anime itself. Which, depending on how much he pulled means Mato and BRS are Death.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
You've misremembered, while I am pulling some lore from the anime where it suits me, my primary source is the OVA.

EDIT: Okay, I suppose that could be accurate to what you said in its own way... Hmm...
 
Last edited:
Ryumancer said:
Any particular reason you're using the default instead of the version that gives us a first strike, catching both Knight's attention briefly and hopefully letting our friends back-attack one while we shift to distracting just the other?
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Not sure what you mean by 'version that gives us first strike'.

Unless you mean "chuck Mato at a dude" which... doesn't sound like a good idea to me at the moment?
 
Why not? It's a bit risky, but so is everything else we've currently doing, and let's not forget we're on an unknown time table. Speed is important. And I don't mean in the 'we need to finish this fight fast' way. There's a very real chance Mato can't keep that knight busy for 90 seconds. There's, in fact, a chance Mato can lose this fight. If that happens, the team will need to pull back and try again tomorrow. That adds a whole day to rescue the operation, and we don't know how many days we have.

So let's stack the deck with some risks. It's a small one anyway. Mato is tough, and I honestly like our odds of getting in a good first strike better with a fastball special then Mato having to run up to the thing.
 
Last edited:
Reader mode
You must login or register to reply here.
Remove ads
Back
Top