Forge of Destiny(Xianxia Quest)
- Thread starter yrsillar
- Start date
- Original Fantasy
- Location
- United States of America
Alright! So, I am going to make a really long post because I won't have time for the rest of the day to keep catching up with the thread. Here it goes!
Plans that I will vote for: Since there are so many plans out there, I don't want to make a new plan with only a few minor changes, I feel that it would just confuse me and other people. That being said, I am most inclined to vote for plans that have the grinning moon as the quest trial (reason will be explained later) choose someone to help with the trial site (I was leaning towards Meizhen, but good arguments have been made for Xiulan), have a good social with Meizhen, and in general will keep our cultivation of arts going (This does include going to Hanyi's mother).
Now, my thoughts on the Sect and what has changed because of this event. There does not appear to be any concerns about making enemies at the moment, as we have gathered plenty and I don't see how we could possibly create more in the span of time we have. The Sect has devolved into two camps, the Anti-Cai camp which is a loose coalition of various "feudal" states within the outer sect's older students (with a smattering of new students) who are determined to make sure that Cai does not establish a strong regime here. Then there is the Pro-Cai camp, who are working with Cai to help establish her regime over the sect. After this debacle, I have strong suspicions of anyone who would be claiming that they are neutral. As such, I feel that it should be open season on any person not in the Pro-Cai camp for any thieving activities that we might want to do, for they all could be classified as enemies. (This also depends on if we want to keep working with Cai.)
On to the Moon Spirits and the revelations that the vision has given us. First off, communication go! The better we are able to communicate with the greater spirits, the more we can figure out on ways of not offending them. Not offending Great spirits is a good first step in any communication with them and a good ground rule in surviving encounters with them. That being said, I would like to choose the moon spirit whose choice will offend the least amount of other moon spirits. Since we have not really received any communications from the New Moon, the Waxing Moon, or the Full Moon, and the other two moons don't like us particularly much at the moment anyway, the choice really falls down to the Waning moon, or the grinning moon. She is the one who has communicated with us the most and seems to have her eye on us the most. Refusing to join a pact with her at this stage in the game, when she is the one who has given us the most (arguably), would probably not sit well with her and might offend her.
Furthermore, there is no firm fact of what the quests will give us (although supposition that the New Moon gives a trial is a good one as we have seen only one other basalt gate, during a trial) and so I am leery of making the choice based on perceived benefits. The waning moon fits with Ling Qi's style of living right now, and there is a clear indication that we are not stuck with one moon for eternity.
Moving on from that topic, finally, I will now breach another topic that has been plaguing my mind, and that is of custom talismans. We are gathering money at a fairly acceptable rate, and we may gather even more if we go on thieving missions for Cai, but we don't have a ready use for them other than pills. So, here are my thoughts on what our money should be used for. The premise of this discussion is that money only ever has two uses: buying items for use, or paying other people to do stuff.
So, in reverse order, what could we use the money for in regards to getting people to do stuff for us. The first that comes to mind is bribery to get a network of individuals who are willing to sell out secrets and locations of the Anti-Cai faction's members and plans. Create a network of spies and saboteurs with the money we steal from the Anti-Cai faction. It is an appealing idea, and with the Huang Da memory whammy not even that risky politically, but doesn't fit in our style so far. We might decide to change that style and become the spider pulling the strings, but so far we like being more personal with our targets and physically stealing their stuff.
Now, on to the real meat of the issue regarding money. What in the world can we buy with our money that would be useful to us? There have been a couple people throwing out the idea of saving the money to buy a 1,000 stone talisman. We could do that, but that seems a bit far out of our reach at the moment. Instead, I would like to look at things that will improve the areas in our cultivation life that we are decidedly weak in. Primarily social situations and possibly intellectual pursuits. It is quite possible to commission a custom talisman that would help us with social situations or intellectual pursuits without spending exorbitant amounts of spirit stones and still gain considerable benefits from it. It won't help us in actual fights, but the area we need the most help in is not combat but actual politicking. Because like it or not, we are not in the midst of a political battle and we will never, ever, leave it. (For proof, look at Xiulan's comments about a higher end suitor. We are in the deep end here and we have a leaking safety tube without any knowledge of how to swim. This needs to be remedied). As such, here are some suggestions to ponder and debate the merits of!
1. A decorative fan (possibly with the night sky and moon designs?)
2. A tea set (maybe we should learn how to actually use it first?)
3. A quill that allows for verbal dictation (help speed up note taking about what we are researching?)
4. A burglary tool box (for help with larceny checks in order to bypass locks easier)
5. A Go board (for entertainment value and a way to distract people who are visiting. Might want to learn how to play?)
6. Animal Ken books for personal reading (so we don't have to be afraid of getting gangbanged on the way to archives when Zhengui needs help with something?)
I'm sure that there are other things that we could need and would be helpful that won't require a lot of spirit stones but it would disturb people that we don't have. Not all talismans have to be combat related in order to be immensely helpful. Well, thanks for reading all the way down here!
Plans that I will vote for: Since there are so many plans out there, I don't want to make a new plan with only a few minor changes, I feel that it would just confuse me and other people. That being said, I am most inclined to vote for plans that have the grinning moon as the quest trial (reason will be explained later) choose someone to help with the trial site (I was leaning towards Meizhen, but good arguments have been made for Xiulan), have a good social with Meizhen, and in general will keep our cultivation of arts going (This does include going to Hanyi's mother).
Now, my thoughts on the Sect and what has changed because of this event. There does not appear to be any concerns about making enemies at the moment, as we have gathered plenty and I don't see how we could possibly create more in the span of time we have. The Sect has devolved into two camps, the Anti-Cai camp which is a loose coalition of various "feudal" states within the outer sect's older students (with a smattering of new students) who are determined to make sure that Cai does not establish a strong regime here. Then there is the Pro-Cai camp, who are working with Cai to help establish her regime over the sect. After this debacle, I have strong suspicions of anyone who would be claiming that they are neutral. As such, I feel that it should be open season on any person not in the Pro-Cai camp for any thieving activities that we might want to do, for they all could be classified as enemies. (This also depends on if we want to keep working with Cai.)
On to the Moon Spirits and the revelations that the vision has given us. First off, communication go! The better we are able to communicate with the greater spirits, the more we can figure out on ways of not offending them. Not offending Great spirits is a good first step in any communication with them and a good ground rule in surviving encounters with them. That being said, I would like to choose the moon spirit whose choice will offend the least amount of other moon spirits. Since we have not really received any communications from the New Moon, the Waxing Moon, or the Full Moon, and the other two moons don't like us particularly much at the moment anyway, the choice really falls down to the Waning moon, or the grinning moon. She is the one who has communicated with us the most and seems to have her eye on us the most. Refusing to join a pact with her at this stage in the game, when she is the one who has given us the most (arguably), would probably not sit well with her and might offend her.
Furthermore, there is no firm fact of what the quests will give us (although supposition that the New Moon gives a trial is a good one as we have seen only one other basalt gate, during a trial) and so I am leery of making the choice based on perceived benefits. The waning moon fits with Ling Qi's style of living right now, and there is a clear indication that we are not stuck with one moon for eternity.
Moving on from that topic, finally, I will now breach another topic that has been plaguing my mind, and that is of custom talismans. We are gathering money at a fairly acceptable rate, and we may gather even more if we go on thieving missions for Cai, but we don't have a ready use for them other than pills. So, here are my thoughts on what our money should be used for. The premise of this discussion is that money only ever has two uses: buying items for use, or paying other people to do stuff.
So, in reverse order, what could we use the money for in regards to getting people to do stuff for us. The first that comes to mind is bribery to get a network of individuals who are willing to sell out secrets and locations of the Anti-Cai faction's members and plans. Create a network of spies and saboteurs with the money we steal from the Anti-Cai faction. It is an appealing idea, and with the Huang Da memory whammy not even that risky politically, but doesn't fit in our style so far. We might decide to change that style and become the spider pulling the strings, but so far we like being more personal with our targets and physically stealing their stuff.
Now, on to the real meat of the issue regarding money. What in the world can we buy with our money that would be useful to us? There have been a couple people throwing out the idea of saving the money to buy a 1,000 stone talisman. We could do that, but that seems a bit far out of our reach at the moment. Instead, I would like to look at things that will improve the areas in our cultivation life that we are decidedly weak in. Primarily social situations and possibly intellectual pursuits. It is quite possible to commission a custom talisman that would help us with social situations or intellectual pursuits without spending exorbitant amounts of spirit stones and still gain considerable benefits from it. It won't help us in actual fights, but the area we need the most help in is not combat but actual politicking. Because like it or not, we are not in the midst of a political battle and we will never, ever, leave it. (For proof, look at Xiulan's comments about a higher end suitor. We are in the deep end here and we have a leaking safety tube without any knowledge of how to swim. This needs to be remedied). As such, here are some suggestions to ponder and debate the merits of!
1. A decorative fan (possibly with the night sky and moon designs?)
2. A tea set (maybe we should learn how to actually use it first?)
3. A quill that allows for verbal dictation (help speed up note taking about what we are researching?)
4. A burglary tool box (for help with larceny checks in order to bypass locks easier)
5. A Go board (for entertainment value and a way to distract people who are visiting. Might want to learn how to play?)
6. Animal Ken books for personal reading (so we don't have to be afraid of getting gangbanged on the way to archives when Zhengui needs help with something?)
I'm sure that there are other things that we could need and would be helpful that won't require a lot of spirit stones but it would disturb people that we don't have. Not all talismans have to be combat related in order to be immensely helpful. Well, thanks for reading all the way down here!
- Location
- scrabbling
oh, I thought we were at like 12/15
I must have misread that 2/15. my mistake. Totem Repair is definitely getting swapped out then. again, probably for TRF, but ding me if you think AM would be better or something. (though I'll note that any formations experience is good since it might give Ling Qi access to more schematics that's she's familiar with, which would make disabling similar or related formations easier. though there isn't really a mechanical basis to that...)
Last edited:
For IC matter, I'd like to remind you all that:
Bai Meizhen: oo
-Friend
and
Gu Xiulan: ooo
-Good Friend
So, right now Ling Qi is feeling much closer to Xiulan than to Meizhen.
There are very good reasons to believe that Xiulan can benefit more from a trial, and has more need of it, than Meizhen. Not to mention that there is a good chance that the trial is limited to Yellow cultivators, which disqualifies Meizhen in the first place.
If we invited Meizhen it would be either as payback for our previous trial (which doesn't really fit because it was Qi helping her and she got the lion's share of benefits) or as a gambit to improve our strained relationship (which is a bit clumsy and might seem mercenary)
I really think that Xiulan would be Qi's first choice of partner in this trial.
Bai Meizhen: oo
-Friend
and
Gu Xiulan: ooo
-Good Friend
So, right now Ling Qi is feeling much closer to Xiulan than to Meizhen.
There are very good reasons to believe that Xiulan can benefit more from a trial, and has more need of it, than Meizhen. Not to mention that there is a good chance that the trial is limited to Yellow cultivators, which disqualifies Meizhen in the first place.
If we invited Meizhen it would be either as payback for our previous trial (which doesn't really fit because it was Qi helping her and she got the lion's share of benefits) or as a gambit to improve our strained relationship (which is a bit clumsy and might seem mercenary)
I really think that Xiulan would be Qi's first choice of partner in this trial.
TheLastOne
Person of impeccable tastes (for destruction)
I would actually say we got the lion's share of the benefit last time - we got Zhengui.
Ok, a suggestion here:
Much of the disagreement is over a) who we want to ask to take the trial with us, and b) which moon quest we want to do. These are, by and large, not details that are actually integrally connected to the rest of the plan details.
Given this, in order to avoid the proliferation of plans that are almost identical except for these aspects, and so that people don't feel forced into taking plans that they don't like just to get a particular moon phase or something, I suggest that we should actually be formatting the moon and trial votes separately. That way we can argue over those decisions and the rest of the plan details separately.
e.g.
[][Moon] Grinning
[][Trial] Gu Xiulan
etc.
And then, assuming that moon and/or trial win, @yrsillar can go with whichever option is most popular.
Much of the disagreement is over a) who we want to ask to take the trial with us, and b) which moon quest we want to do. These are, by and large, not details that are actually integrally connected to the rest of the plan details.
Given this, in order to avoid the proliferation of plans that are almost identical except for these aspects, and so that people don't feel forced into taking plans that they don't like just to get a particular moon phase or something, I suggest that we should actually be formatting the moon and trial votes separately. That way we can argue over those decisions and the rest of the plan details separately.
e.g.
[][Moon] Grinning
[][Trial] Gu Xiulan
etc.
And then, assuming that moon and/or trial win, @yrsillar can go with whichever option is most popular.
Last edited:
Well. One one hand, the Full Moon got no traction. Not much of a surprise, but still something of a disappointment.
On the other hand, apparently both leading plans are taking AM. I am overjoyed at that development; I think AM has been left to sit far too long and it brings me great satisfaction to see us picking it up again. Hopefully we will roll at least 30 successes, which would let the art auto-cultivate to full next week. I am very much looking forward to what then next upgrade brings.
On the other hand, apparently both leading plans are taking AM. I am overjoyed at that development; I think AM has been left to sit far too long and it brings me great satisfaction to see us picking it up again. Hopefully we will roll at least 30 successes, which would let the art auto-cultivate to full next week. I am very much looking forward to what then next upgrade brings.
- Location
- scrabbling
Zhengui isn't valuable to Meizhen, nor was 'a powerful spirit beast egg' a designed feature of the trial. So it's specious to claim that Zhengui, a stroke of unpredictable good fortune, could or should be included in that account.
Arkeus
Crazy cat guy
- Location
- France
@PrimalShadow, @TheLastOne, @tricholysis, @tenchifew, there has been a great idea from @Erebeal that we should vote by block here. All the votes have 'Trials' and 'Moon Quest' opetions, so having 'who to take' and 'whose moon to do the quest' should be seperated. Something like this:
[] Plan Grinning Moon
-[] Use from inventory: 3 RSS, 1 YSS
-[] Buy and use: Gushing Spring Pill, Flowing Rivers Pill
-[] Spend some stones to stock up on restoratives. You never know when they will come in handy, and it is better to have but not need than to need but not have.
-[] Train at the vent
--[] SCS
-[] Talk to one of your friends about participating in the trial you have discovered
--[] Meizhen
-[] Spend time taking care of and raising Zhengui
-[] Seek out Hanyi's Mother, you have improved your melody after all
-[] Select and begin a Moon task
-[] Train on your own
--[] AM
-[] Cai Renxiang has requested that you meet her over tea. It seems she has something to discuss
-[] Visit Li Suyin and Su Ling to talk to them about moving back into the residential area. There are a number of free homes now
-[] See how Xuan Shi is doing, he suffered a defeat in the chaos.
[] Trial: Meizhen
[] Moon: Grinning
Those would mean we won't need to fight both the plans and the moon/friend to take at the same time.
[] Plan Grinning Moon
-[] Use from inventory: 3 RSS, 1 YSS
-[] Buy and use: Gushing Spring Pill, Flowing Rivers Pill
-[] Spend some stones to stock up on restoratives. You never know when they will come in handy, and it is better to have but not need than to need but not have.
-[] Train at the vent
--[] SCS
-[] Talk to one of your friends about participating in the trial you have discovered
--[] Meizhen
-[] Spend time taking care of and raising Zhengui
-[] Seek out Hanyi's Mother, you have improved your melody after all
-[] Select and begin a Moon task
-[] Train on your own
--[] AM
-[] Cai Renxiang has requested that you meet her over tea. It seems she has something to discuss
-[] Visit Li Suyin and Su Ling to talk to them about moving back into the residential area. There are a number of free homes now
-[] See how Xuan Shi is doing, he suffered a defeat in the chaos.
[] Trial: Meizhen
[] Moon: Grinning
Those would mean we won't need to fight both the plans and the moon/friend to take at the same time.
Last edited:
- Location
- scrabbling
If it were implemented before plans were established it would be much better. But no point talking about that; this quest has shown a general willingness to change direction and overturn bandwagons before. Though that was when it was a bit smaller, it should work as long as people get on board soon and make it clear that that's how they're voting.
So...should current plans reformat, or what? Currently they're defined/named for their choices on those two things.
So...should current plans reformat, or what? Currently they're defined/named for their choices on those two things.
TheLastOne
Person of impeccable tastes (for destruction)
Eh, earning Zhengui was classic protagonsit luck, but we could only find that luck by taking the trial. I doubt we'll stumble across equally good turns of fortune, but going to a Trial is all about the gamble in the first place.
I'm not opposed, but it's a change would need to be called by @yrsillar to avoid confusion.
Arkeus
Crazy cat guy
- Location
- France
If we Tally by block, my example above would have the action on one side, then the two votes of who to take and what moon to take on the other side. So, for example, I could vote like this myself:
[] Plan Gearing Up to Gear Up.
[] Moon: Grinning
[] Trial: Xiulan
I think that you are going to confuse the vote tally that way.
If we want to do something like that, it should look like this:
Trial Vote
[] [Trial] Gu Xiulan
[] [Trial] Meizhen
[] [Trial] Other (Write In)
Moon Vote
[] [Moon] Full Moon
[] [Moon] New Moon
[] [Moon] Grinning Moon
[] [Moon] Bloody Moon
Plan Vote
[] [Plan] <Plan 1>
[] [Plan] <Plan 2>
[] [Plan] <Plan 3>
etc.
TheLastOne
Person of impeccable tastes (for destruction)
Yep, which is why any such change need to be made by the GM, to get everyone on the same page.
- Location
- scrabbling
Arkeus, Delcer
I've (probably prematurely) changed Flame to accommodate task/block voting for both Trial and Moon. Its SOLE distinguishing feature is now TRF over AM, and so is probably no longer appealing.
I've (probably prematurely) changed Flame to accommodate task/block voting for both Trial and Moon. Its SOLE distinguishing feature is now TRF over AM, and so is probably no longer appealing.
If every plan maker just changes the plans to have one less of each action type, and the market of voters swap over to the new system, then no government/QM interference is needed. So in the hopes that others follow, I've done so.
Last edited:
It would help a lot though... Of the plans I like TheLastOne's the most, Except for the moon phase. So I am on my like... third most liked plan atm.
Another problem - lots of plans to take Meizhen on the Trial also opt out of doing her minor action, so that is obviously a coupling between plans and the companion vote.
Arkeus
Crazy cat guy
- Location
- France
I don't think it's "either Meziehn social or Meizhen Trial" thing... but then again, I wouldn't be surprised if some people did think that.
- Location
- Spain
[X] Plan Grinning Flame
Meizhen got Elder lessons that helped her with her breakthough. She got plenty.
And anyway, is a moot point. The important thing is that it feels like a repay, regardless of it is or not.
Meizhen got Elder lessons that helped her with her breakthough. She got plenty.
And anyway, is a moot point. The important thing is that it feels like a repay, regardless of it is or not.
It isn't an either-or mechanically, but practically it seems like one Meizhen action is a priority whereas two are less so.
[X] Plan Gearing Up to Gear Up.
Arkeus
Crazy cat guy
- Location
- France
If you do TRF, please add an option to buy the 2 moon pills (the cheap and expensive one). We have enough stones currently not to have issues there. I might change my vote later- not a huge fan of the Xuan Shi action- but this is pretty good.
[X] Plan Grinning Flame
[X] [Moon] Grinning Moon
[X] [Companion] Gu Xiulan
I meant that I hadn't thought a Meizhen social was a priority at all currently. It's a me thing though, obviously.
EDIT: You probably need to take off the [Plan] in your part.
Last edited: