additionally, since we're now on the topic of Fate power mechanics: I'm a little confused on the exact nature of noble phantasms, specifically in reference to Joe's - can someone explain how mana usage, range, etc. come into play? As I understand it, the noble phantasm's power allows him to operate in a zone where time literally doesn't exist, so how would using a little bit of mana to invoke it's power differ from using a lot? is it related to the range of the field? it's ability to summon materials?
So, he brings the hammer down, and in that moment, he's back in Avalon, where he learned his craft from the Fae in the exact same situation that was described when he got Master Craftsman. Time doesn't matter there, in any normal sense of the word. While he's there, he can summon materials from his workshop for the crafting he's about to do, and his hammer then can become ANY tool he learned to use while he was in Avalon the first time. Range for that is self, since he's the only one going under that particular function of the Noble Phantasm. Mana is going to depend on what he needs to do: If he's going to just be building one simpler item, it shouldn't eat up too much mana, though with his Mana at E he will definitely be feeling it. All crafting perks that don't rely on situations where he would be outside of Avalon for can apply. Beauty perks, quality perks, runecraft, his thaumaturgy knowledge, and if he elected to use Elven Enchantment, Name the item, or Sing to the Unseen, those would be options for him. Other things like trying to use the Skyforge would only work if he already had the material prepared beforehand, no Skyforge is in Avalon, sadly.
Once he's done, however long it takes, he comes back with the finished product. Zero time has passed for any observers, and while time surely passed for Joe, it was in a timeless space where normal mortal limitations aren't brought into play.
The bigger use of this is should be be attacked by something bigger. Let's say he's found March and she's doing some really janky attempt to kill him with her version of Sting. He invokes his NP and uses the Countercraft option. Same situation happens, only it now includes details about the attack trying to hit him in depth, and lets him consider, design, and build a counter for that attack all while it's currently en route to his not-so-squishy flesh. He completes a work, this time instead of being for whatever purpose struck his fancy, this time it's a dedicated work against whatever he is facing, and for the purposes of facing this his Mana and Item Creation stats went up. Mind you, Item Creation was already maxed out at A+++. This is the true power of his Noble Phantasm and that's the one that will eat through his Mana, even boosted up a rank, pretty fast. That said, Countercraft is straight up broken as an ability. Facing the Golden Beam of Death? Countercraft, now you have Anti-Stilling protection, or just straight up Scion-killing weaponry if you decided that was a better bet. Simurgh showing up? He already had defenses, but this will give him the time and capacity to make something that would most likely protect an entire city because, of course, she targets an entire city and he's one of those targets. He gets an item that he puts down and activates and the Simurgh won't be able to do anything with her telekinetic tricks. Since she uses those to warp people's minds, no scream, no Simurgh bombs, no chunks of buildings flying at you.
Similar results can be expected for other Endbringers if Joe shows up to them. On top of that, the way this Noble Phantasm works, he could literally be a split-second away from getting squashed by Levi or his water echo and be able to review the information, design a countermeasure, and create it before those strikes hit home.
EDIT: So with further Discussion on the Discord I've come to the conclusion that this is basically Avalon: The Crafting Station with a focus on being able to make something when used instead of hiding out in Avalon instead and preventing any sort of combat damage. If he hadn't rolled Master Craftsman before this perk there would likely be nowhere NEAR the level of synergy present with the perk. Probably would have some similar benefit but not remotely as powerful because he didn't have any sort of patron he learned from beforehand such as the Fae. But, he did learn and that synergy is really brought to the forefront when you're looking at the description of his experience of getting the perk, being in the therapy session, being in Avalon, and being in the Throne of Heroes at the same time.
I can see why Lord took another week on this chapter, and it was well worth it!
