[X] Fight with the others and coordinate
-[X] Use your ring to redirect flames, create openings, and with how whimsical his weapon usage is maybe even blow it away.
 
[X] Fight with the others and coordinate
-[X] Use your ring to redirect flames, create openings, and with how whimsical his weapon usage is maybe even blow it away.
 
[X] Fight with the others and coordinate
-[X] Use your ring to redirect flames, create openings, and with how whimsical his weapon usage is maybe even blow it away.
 
[X] Fight with the others and coordinate
-[X] Use your ring to redirect flames, create openings, and with how whimsical his weapon usage is maybe even blow it away.
 
So what are people's opinions on the gacha outcome? It seems useful for this fight in particular and does have some utility, but I think in the long run I would've preferred better augments.

[X] Fight with the others and coordinate
-[X] Use your ring to redirect flames, create openings, and with how whimsical his weapon usage is maybe even blow it away.

Hopefully we'll be careful when redirecting, keeping in mind that wind can fan flames and make them stronger.
 
So what are people's opinions on the gacha outcome? It seems useful for this fight in particular and does have some utility, but I think in the long run I would've preferred better augments

Don't like gatchas, this time we got this, but too many and we wont be able to do anything with any efficiency in short order.

We're better served by never using it again, it's already hard enough to follow any plans, having a literal *random button* really doesn't help matters.

Frankly, the only reason I am not ranting for hours for removing it is that Naron's the one deciding its result, and is not the kind of QM who will kill us for using that from time to time… I do absolutely expect consequences if it was constantly used though.
 
I'm not a huge fan of the gacha option, but the outcome seems... mostly reasonable? I'm a little wary of the fact that the very first time we're ever using it is in a battle. That's just begging for something to go wrong.
 
[X] Fight with the others and coordinate
-[X] Use your ring to redirect flames, create openings, and with how whimsical his weapon usage is maybe even blow it away.

The rest of your afternoon is spent on getting your hair cut properly for the first time in years.
NOOOOOOOOOO

THIS IS A TRADGEY OF THE HIGHEST ORDER. IM GONNA DISTORT
 
Frankly, the only reason I am not ranting for hours for removing it is that Naron's the one deciding its result, and is not the kind of QM who will kill us for using that from time to time… I do absolutely expect consequences if it was constantly used though.
Honestly? I would not mind at all if people kept using it. Like I said, it gives me the opportunity to introduce stuff nobody else would ever think of.

Actually, let me pull back the curtain for a moment.
I had some trouble brainstorming cool stuff that is actually useful right now and did not want to make a Chekhov's Sword at the moment. I also went through lists of magic items for inspiration; lots of neat stuff that I can just explain with City schizo-tech.

If you look back at the chapter's start, you find some of my other well-liked ideas. A hyperstorage bag (disregarded because it feels like a staple I do not want to deal with yet) or the blackflame lantern that makes the wielder stronger the darker their surroundings are.

I ultimately went with something more basic because the really crazy stuff (which is also useful) feels like it would come at higher Grades. I also wanted something that is not just a +1 to any given stat, so I ultimately chose the wind-emanating ring. Its basic power is effectively Force Push, but it also has some creative uses.

I am not opposed to making up more neat gizmos. In fact, I recently considered a development path for Ciel that makes them lug around a grab-bag of tricks they can just pull stuff from until something solves the problem at hand. So further letting me pick their bigger purchases may go that way, though that is no guarantee.
 
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lists of magic items for inspiration; lots of neat stuff that I can just explain with City schizo-tech.

Note: The city has magic, you don't even need to explain via Shizo-tech!

This is not a guarantee or anything, but if people are interested in seeing more neat gizmos, I am not opposed. I recently considered a development path for Ciel that makes them lug around a grab-bag of tricks they can just pull stuff from until something solves the problem at hand. So further letting me pick their bigger purchases may go that way.

Urgh, literal Jack of all trades via bag of tricks, not my coup of tea at all, will make arguments for other things whenever possible.

I hate masters of none (I probably already said it here even), and cannot see *Jack of all trades* as anything but that.
 
Naron, just spitballing, but what is your opinion on allowing a 'mystery box' option which, if picked, we have to come up with various options of which you pick the one you find most interesting? That would keep the 'we don't know what it will be' aspect of it but also still give us some control over how Ciel specializes and develops his bag of tricks, which is my biggest issue with complete mystery options (every single heavy hitter you see in the City is specialized in some way, it just appears to be the way things are done)
 
Urgh, literal Jack of all trades via bag of tricks, not my coup of tea at all, will make arguments for other things whenever possible.

I hate masters of none (I probably already said it here even), and cannot see *Jack of all trades* as anything but that.
I was about to disagree, but maybe you are right. Then again, having tools at hand is not necessarily a bad thing. It is less about not knowing how to do anything and more that beating a nail into a floorboard is easier if you conveniently have a hammer in your bag than doing it with your bare fists.

And honestly, that particular idea sounds much better to me personally than "hyper-optimised murderbot" because it has character. Ciel likes shopping, so them buying stuff leads to a collection that they can then use when the time is right.
Naron, just spitballing, but what is your opinion on allowing a 'mystery box' option which, if picked, we have to come up with various options of which you pick the one you find most interesting? That would keep the 'we don't know what it will be' aspect of it but also still give us some control over how Ciel specializes and develops his bag of tricks, which is my biggest issue with complete mystery options (every single heavy hitter you see in the City is specialized in some way, it just appears to be the way things are done)
It is possible, but I am not sure I want to offload that much creative work onto my players. It also immediately boxes me in if I agree to only pick from player proposals but none of them feels right.

That aside, it seems to me that there is a misunderstanding about how this works. The Mystery Box options will not preclude buying augments or weapons; Ciel will soon start buying augments on automatic to round out their kit. You will not get the option to forego replacing their weapon in favour of more gimmicks when they decide to buy a new one.

Mystery Box will only appear if Ciel has money to spend and is indecisive what to spend it on. It will appear together with things like Singularities. Moreover, there is technically nothing stopping you (the players) from just writing in some sort of tool to buy instead. It mainly depends on how much you want me to play with the wide variety of stuff that one can canonically find in the Backstreets.
 
I, for one, am 100% down with Ciel having a massive bag of tricks to pull from. Because specialization is great, right up until you run into an opponent who counters you, then you die. Considering that every color fixer I know about uses multiple or shapeshifting weapons says to me that versatility is definitely useful even at those levels.
 
I, for one, am 100% down with Ciel having a massive bag of tricks to pull from. Because specialization is great, right up until you run into an opponent who counters you, then you die. Considering that every color fixer I know about uses multiple or shapeshifting weapons says to me that versatility is definitely useful even at those levels.
AFAIK the only color fixer who doesn't was charismatic enough to recruit an assault force force for raiding the library to attempt to steal the light. Granted, I have no idea where Argalia is right now, and honestly, I'd rather keep it that right way.
Edit: just now realized I made a typo
 
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[X] Fight with the others and coordinate
-[X] Use your ring to redirect flames, create openings, and with how whimsical his weapon usage is maybe even blow it away.

A bit worried bout overusing the ring here, but well, it's the only good way I can think of to try to control the surrounding heat right now
 
It is less about not knowing how to do anything and more that beating a nail into a floorboard is easier if you conveniently have a hammer in your bag than doing it with your bare fists.

You don't need lots of tools, look, let me show you with the example of good old trusty fireball and how it can get you out of every situation!

-Ennemies before you? Fireball them in the face.

-They resist fire? Fireball in the air to call for reinforcements.

-Locked door stopping you? Fireball that b****

-Locked chest? Fireball should open it!

-Diplomacy going badly? Fireball them, they won't disagree if they're dead!

-The guards are after you because you just killed the king during a peace talk? Fireball them all!

-You are wanted in all the country for destroying the capital with Fireballs? The villagers can't report you if they've been Fireballed!

-The next country guards don't want to let you pass? Fireball to the face!

See, one tool, so many applications!

Because specialization is great, right up until you run into an opponent who counters you, then you die.

Being a master of none is (not) great, until you find an enemy that uses his specialization to curbstomp you and then you die.
 
Slaughterhouse 9 in a nutshell.
I disagree. Not enough horrific crimes against humanity and basic decency. Honestly, if you wanted slaughterhouse 9 levels, they should have at least made the fireball sentient, afraid of death, aware of its mortality, and perceive time slowly enough that they can enjoy hours of existential terror before it dies. :V
 
I disagree. Not enough horrific crimes against humanity and basic decency. Honestly, if you wanted slaughterhouse 9 levels, they should have at least made the fireball sentient, afraid of death, aware of its mortality, and perceive time slowly enough that they can enjoy hours of existential terror before it dies. :V

If you want to go full horror, just go and read this, the slaughterhouse wish they could do a fraction of that, they are posers, not worthy of being called as important in these kinds of matters.

Anyway, let's give Ciel a weapon that launch fireballs. :V
 
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