- Location
- Staring into the void
[x] World's Remedy (Multitool)
The Practice War [Complete]
- Thread starter Snowfire
- Start date
- Original Sci-Fi
Garm352
Bearer of the Stars of Creation
- Location
- The Void Between Stars
- Pronouns
- He/Him
I more got the impression the multi-tool was a tool used for solely the physical works of practice, like fixing the cities. The idea I had was a tool that could theoretically bridge the gap, allowing for both the more esoteric effects and the physical mending to be combined in a single act of practice.
EDIT: Note, I am more than willing to accept I'm wrong, this is just the impression I got.
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- Location
- Somewhere out there
Okay, you're right about that. It is specifically a focus on the physical, although it's a very broad focus. However, I don't think a sewing needle does terribly much to symbolize social/emotional/psychic mending.
Honestly I don't really have a good suggestion to make in response. Perhaps a magnifying glass might be a meaningful symbol for understanding things not visible to the naked eye, although there's the concern that a magnifying glass is also a symbol of oppressive surveillance.
Garm352
Bearer of the Stars of Creation
- Location
- The Void Between Stars
- Pronouns
- He/Him
If anyone can come up with a better suggestion, I'm game. The needle was just the first thing that came to mind that made any kind of sense, since mending is a literal name for a particular act when sewing.
Also, because stitches came to mind.
Most of my own personal experience with, well, mending in the sense that Amanda chose to pursue it initially...well, I have some practical experience dealing with suicidal people and I'll leave it at that out of respect for their privacy.
Perhaps a pair of glasses, to better see what needs to be Mended? But that's more of an Insight focused artifact, which would also be a problem with the magnifying glass.
The multi-tool covers most physical tools too well, so it's hard to think of something that wouldn't already be on it, which we could use as a focus.
What about some type of reusable bandaging or wrapping? Something that could help focus quick and dirty field Mending on a battlefield?
- Location
- Somewhere out there
Do we WANT to be focusing on "quick and dirty"? That seems like exactly the opposite of what we should be doing -- we have time to prepare now, in order to do things the right way.
Glasses are a decent idea, right alongside the magnifying glass.
Perhaps a Rod of Asclepius?
@Snowfire: We don't really know a whole lot about this multi-tool. When Amanda uses it, how does she do it? Is it a literal Swiss Army knife in that it can turn into whatever tool you need, or is it more like a game object with a generic "use" command, or what?
Glasses are a decent idea, right alongside the magnifying glass.
Perhaps a Rod of Asclepius?
@Snowfire: We don't really know a whole lot about this multi-tool. When Amanda uses it, how does she do it? Is it a literal Swiss Army knife in that it can turn into whatever tool you need, or is it more like a game object with a generic "use" command, or what?
Garm352
Bearer of the Stars of Creation
- Location
- The Void Between Stars
- Pronouns
- He/Him
That, maybe. Again, I think the glasses and magnifying glass are more an Insight Focused Artifact idea, rather than Mending, so it probably wouldn't work out the way we want it to. Or it might. It's hard to say. I'd much rather something more certain.
And the quick and dirty thing was an idea that came to me based on previous combat scenarios that Amanda's been exposed to, Kingslayer (or whatever it was called) in particular.
Hmm. Well, let's not forget what we chose for Amanda last year; she's a Mender, but she's not just a Mender.
And so, we don't really need a multi-tool again; we need something new, more related to discovery and science, something that will help us delve into the infinite mysteries that Amanda finds herself surrounded by. We need:
[X] A Mender's Forge (Write-in) - DC varies depending on write-in.
-[X] An oscilloscope
--[X] An ordinary oscilloscope is used to measure voltage waveforms, and can be adapted to observe other signals. Amanda's Practiced oscilloscope can observe... somewhat more esoteric phenomena.
And so, we don't really need a multi-tool again; we need something new, more related to discovery and science, something that will help us delve into the infinite mysteries that Amanda finds herself surrounded by. We need:
[X] A Mender's Forge (Write-in) - DC varies depending on write-in.
-[X] An oscilloscope
--[X] An ordinary oscilloscope is used to measure voltage waveforms, and can be adapted to observe other signals. Amanda's Practiced oscilloscope can observe... somewhat more esoteric phenomena.
I like the symbolism of a phone. Amanda's primary methods of mending have been communication and organization. The problem is that her Unision Platform renders such things obsolete, so I'm not sure how much mundane use the tool would get and if that would matter for its performance as an Artifact. I'm also going to guess that doing this to her platform would be redundant. Correct?
Another option I'm considering just for sheer versatility is a blob of nanomachines. Am I correct in guessing that would be a stupidly high DC?
Final question: does Amanda have some memento of the guard that died during that first assassination attempt? I think it would make a meaningful focus. Especially if somehow combined with a memento of that time she went starwatching with the kids
edit: actual final question ... does it have to be a physical thing? Now that Amanda is capable of seeing Harmonial bonds, could she start just sinking Practice into her bonds?
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Garm352
Bearer of the Stars of Creation
- Location
- The Void Between Stars
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] A Mender's Forge (Write-in) - DC varies depending on write-in.
-[X] An oscilloscope
--[X] An ordinary oscilloscope is used to measure voltage waveforms, and can be adapted to observe other signals. Amanda's Practiced oscilloscope can observe... somewhat more esoteric phenomena.
As to the phone idea, I'm pretty sure Amanda routes all calls through Sidra now, or something like that...so that'd be kind of useless to her if that is the case.
In any case, this is a much better idea than mine. Switching to this.
-[X] An oscilloscope
--[X] An ordinary oscilloscope is used to measure voltage waveforms, and can be adapted to observe other signals. Amanda's Practiced oscilloscope can observe... somewhat more esoteric phenomena.
As to the phone idea, I'm pretty sure Amanda routes all calls through Sidra now, or something like that...so that'd be kind of useless to her if that is the case.
In any case, this is a much better idea than mine. Switching to this.
- Location
- .wa.us
[X] A Mender's Forge (Write-in) - DC varies depending on write-in.
-[X] A pantograph
--[X] Sometimes, it's necessary to work at a different scale than you're used to - with unsurpassed control and attention to detail, or with sweeping motions that set out a pattern greater than yourself. A normal pantograph allows creating the most delicate of engravings and the most faithful of enlargings - what better for you, now that you are free to focus more closely than the Presidency ever allowed, on studies which may yet have a greater impact than any before?
I feel like a large part of Amanda's arc here is growing beyond the presidency - while it came with a lot of power, it also came with a lot of restrictions, and required her to operate in a pretty narrow band of scale categories. Now, with the additional freedom she has, I feel like something that's aimed at allowing her to work at any scale as if it were her preferred scale fits really well. In addition, I feel like it might be a useful bootstrap step for the Void Crystal, in time.
Besides, hasn't Amanda accomplished some of her best work when Mary was able to watch her work? This is all the better for that - allow Amanda to bring her Focus to bear on even the most delicate of problems, with Mary by her side to seek the treasures of learning that reveals. Yes, this is for Amanda, and not Mary - but really, can anything really be for Amanda without touching on Mary?
-[X] A pantograph
--[X] Sometimes, it's necessary to work at a different scale than you're used to - with unsurpassed control and attention to detail, or with sweeping motions that set out a pattern greater than yourself. A normal pantograph allows creating the most delicate of engravings and the most faithful of enlargings - what better for you, now that you are free to focus more closely than the Presidency ever allowed, on studies which may yet have a greater impact than any before?
I feel like a large part of Amanda's arc here is growing beyond the presidency - while it came with a lot of power, it also came with a lot of restrictions, and required her to operate in a pretty narrow band of scale categories. Now, with the additional freedom she has, I feel like something that's aimed at allowing her to work at any scale as if it were her preferred scale fits really well. In addition, I feel like it might be a useful bootstrap step for the Void Crystal, in time.
Besides, hasn't Amanda accomplished some of her best work when Mary was able to watch her work? This is all the better for that - allow Amanda to bring her Focus to bear on even the most delicate of problems, with Mary by her side to seek the treasures of learning that reveals. Yes, this is for Amanda, and not Mary - but really, can anything really be for Amanda without touching on Mary?
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- Location
- Germany
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] A Mender's Forge (Write-in) - DC varies depending on write-in.
-[X] An oscilloscope
--[X] An ordinary oscilloscope is used to measure voltage waveforms, and can be adapted to observe other signals. Amanda's Practiced oscilloscope can observe... somewhat more esoteric phenomena.
// I was thinking about a Tiara that improves her recognition and understanding of concepts and connections, but I like that^ one better.
-[X] An oscilloscope
--[X] An ordinary oscilloscope is used to measure voltage waveforms, and can be adapted to observe other signals. Amanda's Practiced oscilloscope can observe... somewhat more esoteric phenomena.
// I was thinking about a Tiara that improves her recognition and understanding of concepts and connections, but I like that^ one better.
- Location
- Earth Aleph
[X] double helix - evolution as next level of mending
After surviving something and healing from it, the next step is to adapt and overcome it.
Basically this means that once something was mended, it becomes far more resistant to the original causeof damage. So after you heal from a gunshot, the next one will not do as much damage (or just bounce off).
After surviving something and healing from it, the next step is to adapt and overcome it.
Basically this means that once something was mended, it becomes far more resistant to the original causeof damage. So after you heal from a gunshot, the next one will not do as much damage (or just bounce off).
- Location
- Germany
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Interesting. Might scratch second secret, though.
Shard
One and Many
- Location
- Malaysia
[X] A Mender's Forge (Write-in) - DC varies depending on write-in.
-[X] An oscilloscope
--[X] An ordinary oscilloscope is used to measure voltage waveforms, and can be adapted to observe other signals. Amanda's Practiced oscilloscope can observe... somewhat more esoteric phenomena.
-[X] An oscilloscope
--[X] An ordinary oscilloscope is used to measure voltage waveforms, and can be adapted to observe other signals. Amanda's Practiced oscilloscope can observe... somewhat more esoteric phenomena.
Tayta Malikai
200% Space Whale
- Location
- Australia
I rather like the idea of something that'll help us to see the path ahead, and/or guide us along it. Glasses or a compass, I'm thinking.
[X] A Mender's Forge (Write-in) - DC varies depending on write-in.
-[X] A compass.
--[X] The compass is a simple device, allowing one to find their way with the barest of reference points. No matter what lies ahead, this will keep Amanda true.
[X] A Mender's Forge (Write-in) - DC varies depending on write-in.
-[X] A compass.
--[X] The compass is a simple device, allowing one to find their way with the barest of reference points. No matter what lies ahead, this will keep Amanda true.
Snowfire
Polyglot of Chimera
- Location
- Wordcats
Although this has been dropped since, it would have been too metaphysical to get much traction. Although Practice can act on those levels, it starts with the physical. And building a metaphysical tool is pure theory at this point, given how you're still learning how to consciously apply it that way.
It's pretty much what the name implies. It started life as a tool that Amanda bashed together to finish fixing something in one of the first buildings she tackled when she was younger. Something she couldn't do with her hands. She then turned it to every other problem of that sort, and due to how saturated it was with Practice, that actually worked. It's still a tool, as in a physical object that is used to do work, but it has some effects that you'd probably consider 'gamey'. The main problem with it at present is that it's somewhat automated due to how many different things Amanda ended up using it for. That meant a command index of sorts, which required a way to enter them. Unforunately, she never wrote the former down and her memory isn't actually perfect. Tinkering with it would basically entail a huge amount of trial and error, as she relearns what she's forgotten of that, which is a lot.
Hopefully this explains things!
Garm's post below is correct where it concerns communication, and yes, trying to make a Unison Platform into an Artifact would extremely redundant. Do recall that their existence was the result of not one, but two Miracles.
Beyond your ability to pass high, mainly due to the fact that Practiced Artefacts generally have a very direct purpose underlying them. For example, Amanda's multitool was created out of a desire to fix the world around her. A blob of nanomachines just has too many application for it to work. Remember that the Practiced Sixth Secret nanomachines have to be specialists. They literally can't be Practiced into being generalists.
Over eighty percent of her detail that night died, so finding a single memento for that is unlikely to be possible. It's a good idea, to be fair, but that was a professional relationship above all. Whilst their sacrifice affected Amanda very deeply, at the end of the day they were only doing their jobs. Finding a memento in that case could be...hard.
Nice try
Yes, it does have to be a physical thing. As above, Practice starts with the physical.
I'm...really kinda confused by this. Could I ask for some clarity on what you're trying to aim for here?
All of these write-ins are valid. Do be aware that what you put in and what you actually get may not be exactly the same. I'm looking far more for a framework and intent than actual specifics of what you want the thing Amanda is going to make will do. And remember that this is something that Amanda pretty much has to be able to build by herself. Something that she can put together with her hands, most preferably. All of these have variants for which this can be done, however, so we're good.
A small note for the last write-in, though. A compass gets its direction from somewhere. With magnetic compasses, it's a piece of magnetised material reacting to the Earth's magnetic field. If you make a compass to help Amanda guide herself, to find her way through the unknown in search of solutions, there's a very relevant question to be asked. If it works, where will that guidance be coming from? Just a thought~
- Location
- Earth Aleph
Basically, you know how the saying goes a broken bone heals back stronger than before? That's what I mean.
Or if you want the sci-fi equivqlent; if we are stationed on a warship that gets hit, every subsequent hit does less damage... think borg style.
Snowfire
Polyglot of Chimera
- Location
- Wordcats
But how do you turn that into something physical? Into a tool? This seems to have the same major issue as the Needle suggestion by Garm. It's too metaphysical.
- Location
- Earth Aleph
ah.... tbh I was thinking of it mostly as a sort of meditational tool, something to look at / manipulate without looking too closely. Say a bonsai statue or some such that changes as the meditation continues. ... I may have the wrong idea as to how practice works.
Ahem, I mean a simple welding torch with some real funky welding wire attachement.
Ahem, I mean a simple welding torch with some real funky welding wire attachement.
Ugh, so Amanda's managed to be a terrible documenter in a world advanced enough that most code ought to be able to document itself? I had no idea it was so bad; I figured it was more like re-learning muscle memory for an instrument she hasn't played in 20-30 years, not that she had to discover what the damn thing did at all.
As said above, you're kind of coming at this backwards. Rather than starting from the end effect you're looking for, start with the tool and extrapolate towards what you want to do with it. Practice, as described in this thread, starts with something real, like a tool, or a word, that everyone knows the function of, and then extrapolates into the metaphysical, taking what we know that tool can do and encouraging it to do something more, using whatever power that the Dragons and their allies released through their sacrifice, focused through the soul of the Potential and the collective, linked souls of humanity's Akashic record.
That's why I chose an oscilloscope. For those with an EE background, or even those like me with a science background and who only have friends with EE degrees, the oscilloscope hearkens back to the heady days of the nuclear and early information ages, where scientists and engineers were rushing forward at the crest of a wave that would reshape the world. These days oscilloscopes are all fancy, with flat-screen displays and digital storage, but an old-school CRT-based oscilloscope, to me, calls up a time of possibility and wonder, when we as a people can say "We choose to go the Moon" and then just freaking knuckle down and do it.
- Location
- Earth Aleph
I can't really understand it because in my mind form follows function. Without knowing what you want to do, just blindly trying out stuff may be fun but ultimately useless. The oscilloscope helps us figure out what we need to do, so I like it for that. The welding torch/wire I mentioned basically works as repairing something that is broken and reinforcing the weakpoints... practice then expands on it and widens the effects to everything around it. Though why welding torches would be used in a world with nanites is beyond me - eh, generic future molecular bonding device may be more appropriate.... ha, found it, a tube of superglue that never runs out.
Snowfire
Polyglot of Chimera
- Location
- Wordcats
Ah, misphrasing on my part. I was stressed whilst writing - paychecks going mysteriously missing in transit have that effect. The tool was, for all intents and purposes, part of her for a rather long time. She learnt to use it instinctively, without thinking, but that sort of skill can only be upheld through practice. You're also expecting Practiced items to subscribe to the conventional mechanics of reality, which they very clearly don't. Saying 'code should be x' is all well and good. Except you're not dealing with code. Now to be fair, the largest part of the problem will be more akin to your muscle memory example than anything else. The issue is that whilst she knows certain commands on the thing, the more complex ones were in a very real way part of that muscle memory. Interaction between a Potential and their tools is weird, and if you make something complex, it'll be more so.
tl;dr, she knows what it does, she just needs to remember how it all works again. And it's a middling DC, so not exactly likely to be hard.
This is pretty much spot on.
And form following function is still occurring here. You start with something that you know is meant to do a particular thing, to serve a function, and then you push at it and try to make it more than it is on a metaphysical level. With a corresponding translation into visible and active effects on reality itself. Now, what you're basically talking about here is what Amanda already has. The multi-tool she built is pretty much as peerless as a physical device can be at repairing things. The effect you were originally looking at, and still kind of are, is far more a metaphysical province then a physical one, however. Just going "something that makes things adapt and become stronger" is very hard to grind down. Simply going with, say, adaption doesn't work either, because there are so many ways for that to happen and you're searching for a specific set of a much wider term. Bluntly, this is more the province of worked Practice and Words. Not a tool.