Khaos
Baguette, wine and cheese
Nothing says that the power output to calculation ration is linear.Iron Roby said:
Power Games (Nanoha fanfic)
- Thread starter Aleph
- Start date
- Location
- Estonia
I just meant that if the spell calculations the devices normally make can be done by human brains, then Raising Heart potentially being "equal to the total computing power of 21st century Earth" is ludicrous. Not that the claim isn't ludicrous enough on its own.Khaos said:
Khaos
Baguette, wine and cheese
I also think the claim ridiculous, but rather than Nanoha using her basic spell without a device, a better argument would be using the example of the Priest-Kings who had exceptionally powerful spells that didn't require devices. Do you remember if the familiar spell uses a device?Iron Roby said:
Which double post?
- Location
- Estonia
I haven't made any arguments about Nanoha herself in the first place, just about Yuuno and Lindy casting deviceless as complex spells as Nanoha has with RH.Khaos said:
And, fundamentally, no spell has to use a device, with the possible theoretical exception of a spell that needs its calculations done superhumanly fast under a very short time limit before it can't contain all the mana or sustain its structure anymore. And we don't even know if there are any with that short of a time limit like that. So far, it seems to me that the authors have implied you can just keep on chanting and calculating or even singing Ar Tonelico style for minutes at least. Maybe the original Familiar Uplift was used like that.
I have no idea what you are talking about. My post doesn't contain the sentence you are referencing.Khaos said:
Khaos
Baguette, wine and cheese
Or a theoretical spell that is too long to be remembered.Iron Roby said:I haven't made any arguments about Nanoha herself in the first place, just about Yuuno and Lindy casting deviceless as complex spells as Nanoha has with RH.
And, fundamentally, no spell has to use a device, with the possible theoretical exception of a spell that needs its calculations done superhumanly fast under a very short time limit before it can't contain all the mana or sustain its structure anymore. And we don't even know if there are any with that short of a time limit like that. So far, it seems to me that the authors have implied you can just keep on chanting and calculating or even singing Ar Tonelico style for minutes at least. Maybe the original Familiar Uplift was used like that.
I have no idea what you are talking about. My post doesn't contain the sentence you are referencing.
- Location
- Estonia
Since humans are able to memorize entire books worth of text (or just actually reading a spellbook while casting), I think the ability to keep calculating/concentrating/chanting/singing will come up first.Khaos said:Or a theoretical spell that is too long to be remembered.
Unless you can have multiple people casting and can switch individuals in and out, then you could theoretically keep it up forever or until the spell's mana structure dissipates or something.
Khaos
Baguette, wine and cheese
Enough speculation.Iron Roby said:
- Location
- Estonia
I know, I meant the Vita impersonators that will come after the A's/Power Games time.ecs05norway said:
Hayate will be proud.
Longer.horngeek said:
Though, now that I think about it, when and if Hayate and the Wolkenritter join the TSAB, how would the Wolkenritter be treated anyway? IIRC in canon Hayate joined the TSAB and the Wolkenritter followed her and was sort of just considered Hayate's responsiblity. But in the Gamesverse in particular, the TSAB seems to be heavy on precedents, and I can't imagine that there would be many of those dealing with sentient mana-based entities. So hiring the Wolkenritter just seems like the sort of things that requires some deliberation.
I think you are asking how culpable the Wolkenritter are for the acts they do/did under the control of the BoD?Chanthien said:
That depends I think in turn to how much independence of action they have, they are not mindless automatons but they probably must obey every order to the letter as well as the intent, unless it violates higher orders.
Plus, politics. While you can make a case that the Wolkenritter can be restrained simply by Hayate ordering them to comply from now on with TSAB laws (*), the TSAB would probably not mind giving Hayate the feeling she owns them a few big favors.
(*) as a corollary, they only need to do so until ordered otherwise by the TNS's master/mistress. Also, they are capable of ignoring some of Hayate's wishes if they find it necessary.
That's debatable, actually. Legally speaking, you could argue that the Wolkenritter functions the same way as a familiar does, but it would really depends on how internal politicking within the TSAB. Technically speaking, unless I remember wrong, familiars, or at least the familiars that were already shown are certainly not mana-based entities. For example, Vesta was just a simple(?) kitten before she was uplifted by Nanoha, and while I'm not sure just how exactly one should classify Vesta and Arf and Linith, they are most probably not that similar to the Wolkenritter since the Wolkenritter is literally mana structured in a certain way. Not that it matters, because in the end it's just politics. I'm just wondering because I don't remember if canon ever explain the exact spending of the Wolkenritter. It doesn't mean much in the bigger scheme, is what I'm trying to say.Jaertin said:
Bonus Material - Vesta Takes the Mary Sue Test
- Location
- The sixth circle of Hell (second on weekends)
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Right then. Stopping in here mid-hiatus to say hi again. My exams are now in full swing, and... well, let's sort of carefully step around the question of how they're going, shall we?
And... well... she sort of had her own views on what the answers to some of the questions are. To be honest, I think she may have failed to grasp the gist of the exercise somewhat.
But it was amusing to comment on, and comments and speculation on her reactions to said questions happened for a while in a sort of giggly blur, especially once the other characters started poking their heads in and commenting on her comments to. And so, after a bit of cleaning up, transcribing and rewriting, this happened.
I hope it will be a fitting apology-present for the delay.
Part 1 - All Characters
This area applies to RPG characters, fanfiction characters, and original fiction characters.
1. Is/does your character's name:
j) Belong to a country or culture your character does not belong to? (Adoption counts as belonging.)
k) Chosen specifically because you thought it had a meaning appropriate for your character?
Aleph: Yes, on both counts.
Vesta: "Wait, really?"
Aleph: Yup. Vesta was a common household goddess, along with Ceres. And you're an expy of…
Vesta: "… your puns are terrible."
Aleph: Many have told me so. Few have complained.
Vesta: "Anyway, my real surname is Takamachi, so nyah!"
3. Does your character look how you wish you look?
4. Is your character described, illustrated, and/or shown as exceptionally beautiful, cute, or handsome?
a) Does anyone fight or squabble over your character because of xir looks?
b) Is anyone (including you) jealous of your character's good looks?
c) Do any characters see xir attractiveness as a threat?
Vesta: "Clearly, everyone wishes they could look as good as I do! Many people are jealous of - or feel threatened by - my good looks and incredible taste in clothing. I am, after all, the single bestest most stylish superior being in this entire series. It comes from being a god and having access to fashion catalogues, you see. Unlike my mistress, who has no taste. Or Arf, who is a dog and thus inferior to a cat. Fate is a little better, but she is too goth and predictable, and doesn't have the right air of twee eccentricity about her."
Alicia: "What about me?"
Vesta: "You're adorable, and will grow up to be incredibly stylish and fashionable as long as you follow my advice."
Alicia: "Yay!"
5. Does anyone want to adopt your character, or wish that your character was their own offspring?
Vesta: "A cat is like a child, but better, so clearly everyone wants me as their own pet! But I would never abandon Mistress! Never for more than eight to ten hours a day, if they were giving me nice food and lots of petting!"
6. Do other characters frequently tell your character how sexy, cute, or beautiful xe is?
a) Does your character modestly deny it every time or refuses to believe that xe is attractive?
Vesta: "Nowhere near enough. And of course I wouldn't deny it. It's true!"
7. Does your character have a great body/physique, which you describe, show, and/or illustrate in detail?
Vesta: "No! Well, yes! But not enough detail!"
9. Do you use poetic and/or creative terms to describe your character, but virtually no-one else (aside from your character's love interest, perhaps)?
Vesta: "I believe it has been noted that the true description of my deeds is appropriately saga-like and epic, to better display my magnificence."
Aleph: You do know that was only for humour, right? It wasn't serious.
Vesta: "… I don't follow."
12. Does your character have any of the following?
a) Natural eye coloration not normally found in xir race/species?
b) Eyes with any other unusual qualities?
c) Natural hair color not normally found in xir race/species?
Vesta: "I will have you know that my fur and my eyes are both perfectly natural, in colour and in other qualities!"
Nanoha: "For a cat."
Vesta: "Which I am! It counts! Or… doesn't count. Drat! That means I lose points!"
16. Does your character have a particularly piercing (EG, "can stare straight into your soul"), haunting, captivating, or dazzling gaze?
Yuuno: "She stares at you like you're prey."
Vesta: *genuinely surprised* "You aren't?"
17. Does your character's personal choice of clothing frequently include:
a) Clothing that you deliberately picked from your own wardrobe?
b) Clothing chosen because you really wished you owned it or could get away with wearing it in public?
c) Clothing chosen because it makes your character look super sexy and/or badass?
d) Clothing that is realistically impractical or improper for the character's situation, but looks cool?
Vesta: "Ah, clothing. While mine is in no way impractical - Barrier Jackets really are wonderful things - it is entirely true that it looks cool and badass, and that not many people could get away with pulling it off. I doubt that the silly author owns anything like it, though - my fashion sense is infinitely superior to hers, after all."
Aleph: Hey!
Nanoha: *eyeroll*
Vesta: "What? Don't look at me like that! You have no taste, it's a proven fact! You go for long dresses like I do, yes, but you modelled yours off your school uniform! Where are the subtle hints at obscure influences? Where are the slightly twee and eccentric elements that are both amusing and stylish? And you, Arf! I mean, really? Daisy dukes and a crop top with cleavage? Fine, sure, if you've got it flaunt it, whatever. But what's that… mantle thing? It looks like you put on a couple of Fate's capes that she'd outgrown! And the colour coordination, really? Hmph! You probably learned it from Fate, too. She's a little better - the whole "goth" thing sort of works for her, but again, the cape? What was she thinking? Clearly, I'm going to have to protect poor little Alicia from you all! She may still be a bit bland and unoriginal - the sundress is nice, but even at her age she could be starting to diversify into her own unique style a bit - but at least she's not tasteless like all of you are!"
Nanoha: "… are you finished now?"
Vesta: "For the moment, yes."
19. Is your character impervious to any of the normal limitations and/or weaknesses of xir species?
Vesta: "YES! Proof of my godhood is in my power to navigate obstacles that are impassable for mere normal cats! I can open the closed cupboard! I can operate the rounded doorknob! I can unlock doors and open tins of cat food!"
Nanoha: "You still can't get through Yuuno-kun's barriers, though. Or mine, for that matter. You look like a cat being stymied trying to get through a glass door."
Vesta: "Hush! Lies! Slander! I went easy on Mousey to make the game more interesting! I could have got through if I'd really wanted to!"
Aleph: Uh huh. Sure. Hey… is that a laser dot over there?
Vesta: "Wait, what? Where? Oooo! Moving light! Moving light! Quick, it's getting away! Vesta POUNCE!"
Aleph: Yeah, immune to cat weaknesses. Sure.
Fate: "Are you allowed to abuse your author powers like that?"
Aleph: Is anyone complaining?
Fate: "Point."
20. Does your character belong to a species whose members are generally extremely attractive by human standards?
Vesta: "Yes!"
Aleph: You're a cat.
Vesta: "Humans love cats! Look at what the internet is used for! Look at how you squee over cute pictures of kittens!"
Aleph: Well. Uh.
Aleph: …
Aleph: … dammit.
Vesta: : 3
22. Is your character a cross-breed/hybrid of any kind?
e) Is your character supposed to be part something furry, yet shows no sign of being anything but human save for a furry tail, animal ears, fangs, and/or claws?
Vesta: "Uh… I'm not sure. Mistress? Am I a crossbreed, or… what? My human form is human except for the tail and ears, though. And I can cover my ears with my stylish-yet-retro hat! Or just by not growing them, but that's society repressing who I am! And that means I'm being oppressed!"
Aleph: I'm gonna go with… nah. You're still a cat. You just happen to be a sapient, shapeshifting cat.
Vesta: "In other words, the best kind of cat ever."
Aleph: … riiight.
24. Does your character become a genetically, scientifically, cybernetically, or magically altered/enhanced being, possibly with new powers?
a) Is xe happier this way?
b) Do people like xir better this way?
Aleph: … okay, I'll concede this one. On all three counts, though she was pretty damn adorable as an ordinary kitten.
Vesta: "Naturally. I was still me, after all. But I wasn't a god like I am now."
Aleph: You know, someone should really try to point out to her that having opposable thumbs isn't a mark of godhood.
Nanoha: "Are you volunteering?"
Aleph: Hell no. Knowing her, that conversation would take hours. And still not get through.
Vesta: "Have you heard of a single god without the ability to pick things up? No? I thought not. My case is proven."
25. Do people think of your character as a role-model?
Alicia: "I do!"
Fate: "I'm not sure I should be allowing this…"
Vesta: "It'll be fine. I'm a great role model."
Arf: "Me too!"
Alicia: "Yup! Yesterday we all went and mmmph mm mph!"
Arf and Vesta: *covering her mouth to shut her up*
Arf: "Ahahaha! She means we responsibly did our homework! Haha! Ha! Hahaha! Pleasefallforit."
Vesta: "Yes, and also studied our schoolwork and stayed in our rooms!"
Alicia: "Mmph? Mmm mn mphmph."
Vesta: *sotto voce* "Stop giving it away and play along!"
Alicia: "Mph? Mmmmmmph. Mmphmy."
Alicia: "Yeah! We were really responsible and good and definitely didn't go anywhere near the kitchen to mmph mmph mmmmmph mph."
Linith: "Huh. So that's what happened to the batch of cookies I baked."
Arf: "Uh oh."
Vesta: "Expeditious Withdrawal Prana!" *grabs Alicia and legs it*
Arf: "Hey, wait for me!"
26. Does your character voice political, social, and/or religious opinions or beliefs which you share?
a) Does xe convince others that xir way of thinking is right?
b) Is spreading these views one of your character's biggest motivations, or even xir sole motivation?
c) If religious, does your character explicitly have divine support or assistance in gaining converts and/or confronting nonbelievers?
d) Do characters who disagree with your character's views/beliefs simply do so out of spite, stubbornness, and/or ignorance?
e) Does anyone who doesn't adopt your character's ideals by the end of the story end up beaten up, humiliated, miserable, and/or dead?
Vesta: "Yes!"
Aleph: What? No I don't. I don't think you even voice many… Vesta, "the world should be set up for the greatest benefit of Uplifted kittens named Vesta who are you" is not a political opinion or belief. Though it… may be a social one, I suppose. Still, I don't share it even if it does meet the criteria.
Vesta: "Look, just because you're too silly to know what you really believe…"
Aleph: What?
Vesta: *talking louder* "… DOESN'T MEAN that I'm still not completely right! And it's a religious belief, because I'm an all-powerful god, and I have explicit divine support in the form of me and everyone who disagrees with me is clearly either misguided, deluded, ignorant or evil. Also? Prejudiced. Against poor innocent little kittens!"
Aleph: … ten seconds ago you were an all-powerful god.
Vesta: "Yup!"
Aleph: … and you see no logical contradiction in this?
Vesta: "Nope!"
Aleph: … I give up.
Vesta: "I knew you'd come round to my way of thinking!"
28. If your character has a short temper, sharp wit, snarky attitude, or is otherwise prone to verbal assaults, are the tongue-lashings and/or snarkings xe gives other characters always deserved and/or justified?
29. If your character is openly defiant or disrespectful toward authority figures, is your character always justified and in the right?
30. Are any other actions that get your character into trouble with authority always justified from your point of view?
31. Do authority figures punish your character more harshly than they would have punished his or her peers under the same circumstances?
33. Is your character easily provoked to violence - but only gets into fights with characters who truly deserve the beating they get?
Vesta: "Well, while I am of course never rude or uncouth, I must say that the occasions where I do see fit to use my rapier-like wit are always completely justified, obviously. Alas, if only my mistress understood that! But whenever mean in-charge people provoke me into reminding them of their place, she always groans at me or tells me to stop! It's so unfair. I swear, they have it in for me, all of them. So mean to poor little me."
36. Is your character mainly driven by completely-justified revenge?
Vesta: "Sometimes! When Arf beats me at something through cheating, lying and deceit which doesn't count as real winning!"
Arf: "… I caught you cheating and you got disqualified."
Vesta: "That's cheating and lying! If I'd been really cheating, I've have never been caught and since it's only cheating if you get caught it is impossible for me to cheat."
37. Does your character have a past xe cannot remember?
Vesta: "Uhm… does being a kitten count? Because I don't remember anything of my mortal life before Nanoha made me into a god."
Aleph: You were a non-sapient kitten for about six weeks, so no, I don't think it counts.
Alicia: "Lies! She was the bestest most intelligentest kitten ever! That's why humans brought her food!"
Vesta: "Well done, Alicia-chan! You are learning wisdom."
Alicia: "Yay!"
40. How many animal companions does your character keep? (Ordinary, non-magical pets like cats and dogs - or any pet considered ordinary within the canon, such as non-legendary Pokemon in a Pokemon story or an owl in Harry Potter do not count.)
a) Is said animal a wolf, bird of prey, big cat, or mythical creature?
Vesta: *starts counting on fingers* "One… two, three, four… five… and I don't think Precia counts. I mean, she could be, but… uh, it would hurt Fate and Alicia's feelings if I said she was, not that I'm terrified that she would tell Linith to dump me in the bath if she found out. Oh, and Arf isn't actually a wolf. She's a kind of fox which is very similar to a wolf."
Nanoha: "… wait, are you counting me as your animal companion?"
Vesta: "Humans are animals. Do you deny that?"
41. Does your character habitually share profound wisdom and knowledge?
Vesta: "All the time. Everything I say is profound, and a boon to the ignorant humans of this fallen era."
Alicia: "Yeah! Vesta says really neat stuff a lot! But why is this a fallen era?"
Vesta: "Ah, well. You see, long ago on Earth, there was a place called Egypt which understood that cats are actually gods, and worshipped them as was proper. But they are long since gone, and so this is a fallen era where you no longer comprehend your place in the world; to serve catkind. And especially me."
45. Is your character unusually accomplished for xir age, time period, place, occupation, and/or social status?
Vesta: "Yep! Name one single person who'd done everything I had by the age of six months! Also, my mother wasn't married, and she had never been paid in her life." *tilts head* "Hmm. Although, in fairness, I have always had slaves waiting on me."
47. Is your character simply the best or among the best at anything xe does? One box for each:
a) Is xe famous/reknowned for any of these?
b) Are other characters extremely impressed or astonished at your character's skills and/or virtues? (Does not count if they are easily impressed due to their own inexperience.)
c) Do they impress even the most cynical, jaded, exacting, and/or experienced?
d) Does your character modestly dismiss or deflect well-earned compliments?
Vesta: "Silly question! Obviously, I'm the best at everything I do, no matter what. And people should be lauding me with praise and awe for my every action, but as I said, this is a fallen era and they are too foolish to understand.
Aleph: Uh huh. Sure. And I suppose you're very modest about your incredible skill and talent, too?
Vesta: "Yup!"
Vesta: "…"
Vesta: "… wait, what does 'modest' mean again? Mistress? Didn't you mention it once?"
49. Ah, the sound of music! Does your character:
a) Have an exceptionally good singing voice?
Vesta: "Y-"
Aleph: No, Vesta, you don't.
Vesta: "I do s-"
Aleph: No, trust me, you don't.
Vesta: "But-"
Aleph: I don't care what you think of your late-night yowling sopranos, everyone here agrees with me on this, you really don't.
Alicia: "You… are kind of loud when you do that, Vesta. And ear-hurty."
Vesta: "Traitor!"
53. Does your character have a telepathic/empathic connection or the ability to communicate with any kind of animal?
Vesta: "Cats! Because I am one!"
Nanoha: "I don't think that counts…"
Vesta: "Also, I can communicate with prey! Through fear."
54. Does your character have the ability to shapeshift?
a) Into multiple animals?
Vesta: *smirks*
Aleph: … okay, fine, I'll grant you that one. War form and human form count as two.
56. Does your character possess power that can take out entire cities/legions of soldiers/general all-around-evil?
Vesta: "YES!"
Nanoha: "No."
Alicia: "She could if she did it… like, one by one!"
Nanoha: *raised eyebrow*
Alicia: "Sneak, sneak, sneak! And then, wham! She puts the sleeping person to bed so they're nice and comfy, and then goes and gets the next one!"
Vesta: "… okay, she's too cute to disappoint with that. Can we just move onto the next question?"
59. Not counting his or her first language, how many languages does your character fluently speak? Click one box for every language:
Vesta: "Well, my first language is Cat. So… Japanese, Mid-standard, and the weird Belkan-y dialect they use on Schzenais which I wasn't listening when Precia-sama told us where it came from, so far. But I'm a familiar, so it's easy for me to integrate them."
60. Does your character succeed at virtually everything xe tries?
61. Do the first plans, strategies, ideas, etc. your character comes up with always (or nearly always) work?
Vesta: "I can categorically state that I have never failed at anything in my entire life."
Fate: "Even modesty?"
Vesta: "I am the queen of modesty! No one ever has been better at modesty than me! My talent for modesty is unrivalled among all the worlds!"
Vesta: "Whatever it is. Nanoha still hasn't explained that. Maybe it's a way of catching mouseys?"
64. Is anyone envious of your character's talents and/or abilities?
Alicia: "I am! I want to be able to turn invisible like that!"
Nanoha: "… okay, I kind of have to agree on that score. It's really useful."
Vesta: *preens*
Alicia: "Also, I want to be able to lick my knees!"
67. Does your character frequently carry knives, daggers, or other little sharp pointy objects concealed within xir clothing for no other reason than that they might come in handy?
Vesta: "When I have my hands in my pockets and I have claws, then I do! Oooh! Oooh! And when I wear a scarf, then my teeth are hidden by my clothing!"
69. Does your character have unfairly restrictive parents/guardians?"
Vesta: "Yes! Mistress is mean sometimes when she won't let me chase the birdies or have more catfood!"
73. Is your character extremely popular or positively renowned where xe comes from or frequents?
Vesta: *nod nod nod*
Nanoha: *shake shake shake*
Vesta: "I'm expecting a biopic any day now."
Nanoha: "Who's going to play you?"
Vesta: "Ben Kingsley."
78. On the subject of your character and xir family…
a) Was your character orphaned, abandoned, kicked out, or at least raised by a family/person that was not xir own family?"
j) Adopted by another species/racial group?
Nanoha: "I guess that kind of counts…"
Vesta: *looks hurt* "No it doesn't! You're my family, Mistress!"
Nanoha: "… awww. I love you too, Vesta." *cuddles and strokes*
Vesta: *purrrrr*
Vesta: "I was kidnapped though. By an evil electric human of evil."
Alicia: "How horrible! I give you full Alicia Permission to hunt them down and punish them! In the name of the moons!"
86. If your character has to prove xirself, does xe completely pwn everyone else and make them look like buffoons in the process?
Vesta: "Oh, I will. Just you wait. I will."
89. Is your character ever spared by an otherwise-ruthless villain?
Vesta: "The dark scary electric human of evil spared me when I was but a kitten!"
Alicia: "She sounds horrible!"
Part 2 - Original Fiction Characters
Only answer these questions if your character is for an original fiction. (For a new character you plan to add to an established original fiction universe, see the Fan-Character Specific Area.)
Aleph: Uh, Vesta? This doesn't even apply to…
Vesta: "Hush! I won't let you deny me any points!"
5. Are most (if not all) characters who don't like your character merely mean, shallow, spiteful, and/or jealous of xir?
6. Do characters who criticize or don't like your character from the start like xir by the end, or at least have a grudging respect?
7. Does anyone who doesn't like or respect your character by the end of the story end up beaten up, humiliated, miserable, and/or dead?
Vesta: "Yes."
Yuuno: "No."
Chrono: "No."
Mei: "I think she's pretty cool…"
Vesta: "Vindication!"
Mei: "… not! Ha! I have been studying your Earth-culture! Take me to your leader! Lueceh! Eyem yaw farzer!"
Vesta: "…"
Vesta: "… see! So mean and spiteful!"
Part 3 - Fan Characters & Newcomers
Only answer these questions if you are taking this test for a fan character (fiction or non-MMO RPG) OR for a new character whom you plan to add to an established original series (consider the original cast as canon and the newcomer as a fan character).
9. Is your character just as good or even better at the jobs and/or skills of one or more canon characters? (EG, better hacker or smarter than the nerd character, better fighter than the tough character.)
Aleph: … okay, I suppose this counts. Not right now, of course, but by the time of StrikerS, Vesta will have ten years of experience in illusions, she'd steamroller canon!Teana.
Vesta: "Clear evidence of my superiority!"
11. If the last question did not apply, does your character have a gadget, weapon, or power that can rival that of a canon character?
b) Alternatively, did you deliberately choose your character's skill/power/doodad to "complement" or contrast with that or those of a canon character? (EG, a Fantastic Four fan character with ice powers to contrast Johnny Storm's fire powers.)
Vesta: "Ha ha! Indeed! My talents complement Nanoha's perfectly!"
Fate: "You know, I'm not sure that's something either of you should be proud of, given what your talents are."
15. If your character is the child of one or more canon characters:
a) Does xe rapidly age and mature beyond infancy for any reason?
Vesta: "Yes to both!"
Nanoha: "You're not my child! I'm nine! And you're a cat!"
Vesta: "I was born of your mind. Like Athena was born of Zeus. Also a goddess, I might note. Hint."
Fate: "How do you even know these Earth cultural things?"
Vesta: "The internet. Duh."
Mei: "I've learned all kinds of things about Earth-culture from the internet."
16. Is your character liked by all the canon characters you like?
Aleph: Hmm… no, I think we can fairly safely say that at the very least, Yuuno hates her.
Vesta: "Aww. But Mousey liked our games!"
Aleph: No, he really didn't.
Vesta: "But if he didn't like it, why didn't he stop being a mousey?"
Yuuno: *twitches*
e) Or does anyone who criticizes or doesn't like your character end up getting beaten up, humiliated, miserable, and/or dead?"
Yuuno: *fumes*
Aleph: … okay, that might… wait, no. The Elites didn't have any particular liking for her, and Lotte kicked her ass.
Vesta: "She did so such thing! I expertly distracted her while mistress saved Linith, and then obeyed her decision to make a tactical retreat even though I could totally have won!"
Lotte: "Uh huh. Keep telling yourself that, kitten. And maybe come try again, if you believe it."
Vesta: "… I would totally beat you up if I didn't have better stuff to do. Like… uh… like the rest of this test! Yeah. Let's get on with that. Now."
17. Do any of the main characters look up to your character?
Vesta: "Alicia does!"
Alicia: "Yeah!"
Fate: "I can't help but think that this is probably a bad influence of some kind."
Arf: "Actually, wait. That shouldn't count. Alicia looks up to a lot of people."
Alicia: "I do?"
Arf: "Yeah. You're short."
Alicia: "… hey! So mean!"
22. Does your character become the significant other/partner of a canon character?
Vesta: "I'm Mistress' partner! We work together all the time!"
Aleph: … that's not what that's asking, Vesta.
Vesta: "Don't deny me points!"
25. Does your character end up moving in with or living fairly close to any of the canon characters?
Vesta: "Yay! I like living with mistress! Even if it was the Evil Shooty Electric Bolts of Doom Human who catnapped me to take me to her. Grrr."
32. When your character makes xir first appearance, do most or all of the canon characters notice xir right away?
a) Does this scene occur in a crowded place?
Aleph: Well, if you count cats, it was definitely crowded. And as for noticing her… it was kind of hard not to, given the method of her entrance.
Yuuno: "I remember that. Urgh. Even as a non-sapient animal, she had it in for me."
38. Is your character ever taken, threatened, and/or endangered by the villain/villains?
Vesta: "Not a chance!"
Quint: "I broke several ribs."
Lotte: "I kicked your pathetic arse."
Vesta: "… nooooo! I get more points if I lie and I say they beat me, but that would be lying to make me worse! An impossible dilemma!"
Linith: "I washed you."
Vesta: "… I was defeated most cruelly!"
Part 5 - De-Suifiers
Answer for characters of any fiction type. These will subtract from your final score.
1. Do you ever poke fun at your character's faults/weaknesses and/or use them as plot devices or gags?
Aleph: Oh, do I ever.
Vesta: "Meanie."
2. Has your character ever been honestly selfish, petty, lazy, shallow, or pointlessly cruel?
Aleph: … well, she's a cat. So… um… yes to basically all of the above, fundamentally. But if you mean on-screen… you could make a case for 'petty, lazy and shallow', but-
Vesta: "You could do no such thing!"
Aleph: Yes you could, hush. But I'll leave it as a "no" anyway, since it hasn't really had much in the way of major screentime.
5. Does your character get into a fight or rush into a situation without preparing for it - and get xir butt completely owned?
Aleph: So, shall we just chalk up "every Vesta Pounce ever attempted" here, or shall we list them chronologically?
Vesta: "Those times were intentional, dammit!"
10. Does your character have a truly debilitating phobia that does not disappear at a crucial moment?
Vesta: "Noooooo! Mistress! The scary metal lady… she has a plant mister this time! Help meeeeeee!"
Aleph: … amusing, but probably still a no.
17. Is your character ever manipulated or used as an unwitting pawn by someone without the aid of mind-control technology, magic, or drugs?
Aleph: Does Precia count? Precia probably counts. I'll put it down as one.
22. If your character is all or partially non-human, does xe react in very non-human ways or in ways more appropriate to xir species that are not meant to be perceived as cute and endearing by the audience?
Aleph: Not sure how much onscreen time it's had so far, but… yes, she does. If nothing else, she's brought Nanoha back a few dead birds.
Vesta: "Mostly dead! And mistress got it all wrong, the silly thing, she was meant to play with them as hunting practice. Instead she just screamed a lot and then told me off. And then squirted me with water. A lot. Every time she saw me. For two days."
23. If your character is vampire, is xe…
a) A mindless killer?
b) Maybe not mindless, but has no significant moral or emotional issues with killing/murder?
c) Unable to have sex?
d) Unattractive?
e) Unable to overcome xir dependence on blood?
Vesta: "Ha! The only one which applies is b)! Come here, baby birdies!"
Nanoha: "Vesta, you're not a vampire."
Aleph: So, the final score is…
Vesta: "One hundred and thirty four! Ha! I win at everything ever!"
Aleph: … Vesta, I can't help but feel like you've slightly misunderstood the point of this exercise. Being a Mary Sue isn't a good thing.
Vesta: "… I don't follow."
Aleph: Look, listen to this summary from the site;
Aleph: *eyeroll* Cats. Anyway. With that, dear readers, I shall leave you once more, in favour of revision. I hope you enjoyed this little diversion! And I'll aim to get the next chapter out by the end of the next month!
(I have Electromagnetism and Quantum Mechanics on Tuesday. It will be most fun, I'm sure.)
Anyway, ES and I stumbled across this site a while ago, and checked out a few of our characters on it, as one does. And then I checked out Vesta.And... well... she sort of had her own views on what the answers to some of the questions are. To be honest, I think she may have failed to grasp the gist of the exercise somewhat.
But it was amusing to comment on, and comments and speculation on her reactions to said questions happened for a while in a sort of giggly blur, especially once the other characters started poking their heads in and commenting on her comments to. And so, after a bit of cleaning up, transcribing and rewriting, this happened.
I hope it will be a fitting apology-present for the delay.
Power Games
Vesta Takes the Mary Sue Test
Part 1 - All Characters
This area applies to RPG characters, fanfiction characters, and original fiction characters.
1. Is/does your character's name:
j) Belong to a country or culture your character does not belong to? (Adoption counts as belonging.)
k) Chosen specifically because you thought it had a meaning appropriate for your character?
Aleph: Yes, on both counts.
Vesta: "Wait, really?"
Aleph: Yup. Vesta was a common household goddess, along with Ceres. And you're an expy of…
Vesta: "… your puns are terrible."
Aleph: Many have told me so. Few have complained.
Vesta: "Anyway, my real surname is Takamachi, so nyah!"
3. Does your character look how you wish you look?
4. Is your character described, illustrated, and/or shown as exceptionally beautiful, cute, or handsome?
a) Does anyone fight or squabble over your character because of xir looks?
b) Is anyone (including you) jealous of your character's good looks?
c) Do any characters see xir attractiveness as a threat?
Vesta: "Clearly, everyone wishes they could look as good as I do! Many people are jealous of - or feel threatened by - my good looks and incredible taste in clothing. I am, after all, the single bestest most stylish superior being in this entire series. It comes from being a god and having access to fashion catalogues, you see. Unlike my mistress, who has no taste. Or Arf, who is a dog and thus inferior to a cat. Fate is a little better, but she is too goth and predictable, and doesn't have the right air of twee eccentricity about her."
Alicia: "What about me?"
Vesta: "You're adorable, and will grow up to be incredibly stylish and fashionable as long as you follow my advice."
Alicia: "Yay!"
5. Does anyone want to adopt your character, or wish that your character was their own offspring?
Vesta: "A cat is like a child, but better, so clearly everyone wants me as their own pet! But I would never abandon Mistress! Never for more than eight to ten hours a day, if they were giving me nice food and lots of petting!"
6. Do other characters frequently tell your character how sexy, cute, or beautiful xe is?
a) Does your character modestly deny it every time or refuses to believe that xe is attractive?
Vesta: "Nowhere near enough. And of course I wouldn't deny it. It's true!"
7. Does your character have a great body/physique, which you describe, show, and/or illustrate in detail?
Vesta: "No! Well, yes! But not enough detail!"
9. Do you use poetic and/or creative terms to describe your character, but virtually no-one else (aside from your character's love interest, perhaps)?
Vesta: "I believe it has been noted that the true description of my deeds is appropriately saga-like and epic, to better display my magnificence."
Aleph: You do know that was only for humour, right? It wasn't serious.
Vesta: "… I don't follow."
12. Does your character have any of the following?
a) Natural eye coloration not normally found in xir race/species?
b) Eyes with any other unusual qualities?
c) Natural hair color not normally found in xir race/species?
Vesta: "I will have you know that my fur and my eyes are both perfectly natural, in colour and in other qualities!"
Nanoha: "For a cat."
Vesta: "Which I am! It counts! Or… doesn't count. Drat! That means I lose points!"
16. Does your character have a particularly piercing (EG, "can stare straight into your soul"), haunting, captivating, or dazzling gaze?
Yuuno: "She stares at you like you're prey."
Vesta: *genuinely surprised* "You aren't?"
17. Does your character's personal choice of clothing frequently include:
a) Clothing that you deliberately picked from your own wardrobe?
b) Clothing chosen because you really wished you owned it or could get away with wearing it in public?
c) Clothing chosen because it makes your character look super sexy and/or badass?
d) Clothing that is realistically impractical or improper for the character's situation, but looks cool?
Vesta: "Ah, clothing. While mine is in no way impractical - Barrier Jackets really are wonderful things - it is entirely true that it looks cool and badass, and that not many people could get away with pulling it off. I doubt that the silly author owns anything like it, though - my fashion sense is infinitely superior to hers, after all."
Aleph: Hey!
Nanoha: *eyeroll*
Vesta: "What? Don't look at me like that! You have no taste, it's a proven fact! You go for long dresses like I do, yes, but you modelled yours off your school uniform! Where are the subtle hints at obscure influences? Where are the slightly twee and eccentric elements that are both amusing and stylish? And you, Arf! I mean, really? Daisy dukes and a crop top with cleavage? Fine, sure, if you've got it flaunt it, whatever. But what's that… mantle thing? It looks like you put on a couple of Fate's capes that she'd outgrown! And the colour coordination, really? Hmph! You probably learned it from Fate, too. She's a little better - the whole "goth" thing sort of works for her, but again, the cape? What was she thinking? Clearly, I'm going to have to protect poor little Alicia from you all! She may still be a bit bland and unoriginal - the sundress is nice, but even at her age she could be starting to diversify into her own unique style a bit - but at least she's not tasteless like all of you are!"
Nanoha: "… are you finished now?"
Vesta: "For the moment, yes."
19. Is your character impervious to any of the normal limitations and/or weaknesses of xir species?
Vesta: "YES! Proof of my godhood is in my power to navigate obstacles that are impassable for mere normal cats! I can open the closed cupboard! I can operate the rounded doorknob! I can unlock doors and open tins of cat food!"
Nanoha: "You still can't get through Yuuno-kun's barriers, though. Or mine, for that matter. You look like a cat being stymied trying to get through a glass door."
Vesta: "Hush! Lies! Slander! I went easy on Mousey to make the game more interesting! I could have got through if I'd really wanted to!"
Aleph: Uh huh. Sure. Hey… is that a laser dot over there?
Vesta: "Wait, what? Where? Oooo! Moving light! Moving light! Quick, it's getting away! Vesta POUNCE!"
Aleph: Yeah, immune to cat weaknesses. Sure.
Fate: "Are you allowed to abuse your author powers like that?"
Aleph: Is anyone complaining?
Fate: "Point."
20. Does your character belong to a species whose members are generally extremely attractive by human standards?
Vesta: "Yes!"
Aleph: You're a cat.
Vesta: "Humans love cats! Look at what the internet is used for! Look at how you squee over cute pictures of kittens!"
Aleph: Well. Uh.
Aleph: …
Aleph: … dammit.
Vesta: : 3
22. Is your character a cross-breed/hybrid of any kind?
e) Is your character supposed to be part something furry, yet shows no sign of being anything but human save for a furry tail, animal ears, fangs, and/or claws?
Vesta: "Uh… I'm not sure. Mistress? Am I a crossbreed, or… what? My human form is human except for the tail and ears, though. And I can cover my ears with my stylish-yet-retro hat! Or just by not growing them, but that's society repressing who I am! And that means I'm being oppressed!"
Aleph: I'm gonna go with… nah. You're still a cat. You just happen to be a sapient, shapeshifting cat.
Vesta: "In other words, the best kind of cat ever."
Aleph: … riiight.
24. Does your character become a genetically, scientifically, cybernetically, or magically altered/enhanced being, possibly with new powers?
a) Is xe happier this way?
b) Do people like xir better this way?
Aleph: … okay, I'll concede this one. On all three counts, though she was pretty damn adorable as an ordinary kitten.
Vesta: "Naturally. I was still me, after all. But I wasn't a god like I am now."
Aleph: You know, someone should really try to point out to her that having opposable thumbs isn't a mark of godhood.
Nanoha: "Are you volunteering?"
Aleph: Hell no. Knowing her, that conversation would take hours. And still not get through.
Vesta: "Have you heard of a single god without the ability to pick things up? No? I thought not. My case is proven."
25. Do people think of your character as a role-model?
Alicia: "I do!"
Fate: "I'm not sure I should be allowing this…"
Vesta: "It'll be fine. I'm a great role model."
Arf: "Me too!"
Alicia: "Yup! Yesterday we all went and mmmph mm mph!"
Arf and Vesta: *covering her mouth to shut her up*
Arf: "Ahahaha! She means we responsibly did our homework! Haha! Ha! Hahaha! Pleasefallforit."
Vesta: "Yes, and also studied our schoolwork and stayed in our rooms!"
Alicia: "Mmph? Mmm mn mphmph."
Vesta: *sotto voce* "Stop giving it away and play along!"
Alicia: "Mph? Mmmmmmph. Mmphmy."
Alicia: "Yeah! We were really responsible and good and definitely didn't go anywhere near the kitchen to mmph mmph mmmmmph mph."
Linith: "Huh. So that's what happened to the batch of cookies I baked."
Arf: "Uh oh."
Vesta: "Expeditious Withdrawal Prana!" *grabs Alicia and legs it*
Arf: "Hey, wait for me!"
26. Does your character voice political, social, and/or religious opinions or beliefs which you share?
a) Does xe convince others that xir way of thinking is right?
b) Is spreading these views one of your character's biggest motivations, or even xir sole motivation?
c) If religious, does your character explicitly have divine support or assistance in gaining converts and/or confronting nonbelievers?
d) Do characters who disagree with your character's views/beliefs simply do so out of spite, stubbornness, and/or ignorance?
e) Does anyone who doesn't adopt your character's ideals by the end of the story end up beaten up, humiliated, miserable, and/or dead?
Vesta: "Yes!"
Aleph: What? No I don't. I don't think you even voice many… Vesta, "the world should be set up for the greatest benefit of Uplifted kittens named Vesta who are you" is not a political opinion or belief. Though it… may be a social one, I suppose. Still, I don't share it even if it does meet the criteria.
Vesta: "Look, just because you're too silly to know what you really believe…"
Aleph: What?
Vesta: *talking louder* "… DOESN'T MEAN that I'm still not completely right! And it's a religious belief, because I'm an all-powerful god, and I have explicit divine support in the form of me and everyone who disagrees with me is clearly either misguided, deluded, ignorant or evil. Also? Prejudiced. Against poor innocent little kittens!"
Aleph: … ten seconds ago you were an all-powerful god.
Vesta: "Yup!"
Aleph: … and you see no logical contradiction in this?
Vesta: "Nope!"
Aleph: … I give up.
Vesta: "I knew you'd come round to my way of thinking!"
28. If your character has a short temper, sharp wit, snarky attitude, or is otherwise prone to verbal assaults, are the tongue-lashings and/or snarkings xe gives other characters always deserved and/or justified?
29. If your character is openly defiant or disrespectful toward authority figures, is your character always justified and in the right?
30. Are any other actions that get your character into trouble with authority always justified from your point of view?
31. Do authority figures punish your character more harshly than they would have punished his or her peers under the same circumstances?
33. Is your character easily provoked to violence - but only gets into fights with characters who truly deserve the beating they get?
Vesta: "Well, while I am of course never rude or uncouth, I must say that the occasions where I do see fit to use my rapier-like wit are always completely justified, obviously. Alas, if only my mistress understood that! But whenever mean in-charge people provoke me into reminding them of their place, she always groans at me or tells me to stop! It's so unfair. I swear, they have it in for me, all of them. So mean to poor little me."
36. Is your character mainly driven by completely-justified revenge?
Vesta: "Sometimes! When Arf beats me at something through cheating, lying and deceit which doesn't count as real winning!"
Arf: "… I caught you cheating and you got disqualified."
Vesta: "That's cheating and lying! If I'd been really cheating, I've have never been caught and since it's only cheating if you get caught it is impossible for me to cheat."
37. Does your character have a past xe cannot remember?
Vesta: "Uhm… does being a kitten count? Because I don't remember anything of my mortal life before Nanoha made me into a god."
Aleph: You were a non-sapient kitten for about six weeks, so no, I don't think it counts.
Alicia: "Lies! She was the bestest most intelligentest kitten ever! That's why humans brought her food!"
Vesta: "Well done, Alicia-chan! You are learning wisdom."
Alicia: "Yay!"
40. How many animal companions does your character keep? (Ordinary, non-magical pets like cats and dogs - or any pet considered ordinary within the canon, such as non-legendary Pokemon in a Pokemon story or an owl in Harry Potter do not count.)
a) Is said animal a wolf, bird of prey, big cat, or mythical creature?
Vesta: *starts counting on fingers* "One… two, three, four… five… and I don't think Precia counts. I mean, she could be, but… uh, it would hurt Fate and Alicia's feelings if I said she was, not that I'm terrified that she would tell Linith to dump me in the bath if she found out. Oh, and Arf isn't actually a wolf. She's a kind of fox which is very similar to a wolf."
Nanoha: "… wait, are you counting me as your animal companion?"
Vesta: "Humans are animals. Do you deny that?"
41. Does your character habitually share profound wisdom and knowledge?
Vesta: "All the time. Everything I say is profound, and a boon to the ignorant humans of this fallen era."
Alicia: "Yeah! Vesta says really neat stuff a lot! But why is this a fallen era?"
Vesta: "Ah, well. You see, long ago on Earth, there was a place called Egypt which understood that cats are actually gods, and worshipped them as was proper. But they are long since gone, and so this is a fallen era where you no longer comprehend your place in the world; to serve catkind. And especially me."
45. Is your character unusually accomplished for xir age, time period, place, occupation, and/or social status?
Vesta: "Yep! Name one single person who'd done everything I had by the age of six months! Also, my mother wasn't married, and she had never been paid in her life." *tilts head* "Hmm. Although, in fairness, I have always had slaves waiting on me."
47. Is your character simply the best or among the best at anything xe does? One box for each:
a) Is xe famous/reknowned for any of these?
b) Are other characters extremely impressed or astonished at your character's skills and/or virtues? (Does not count if they are easily impressed due to their own inexperience.)
c) Do they impress even the most cynical, jaded, exacting, and/or experienced?
d) Does your character modestly dismiss or deflect well-earned compliments?
Vesta: "Silly question! Obviously, I'm the best at everything I do, no matter what. And people should be lauding me with praise and awe for my every action, but as I said, this is a fallen era and they are too foolish to understand.
Aleph: Uh huh. Sure. And I suppose you're very modest about your incredible skill and talent, too?
Vesta: "Yup!"
Vesta: "…"
Vesta: "… wait, what does 'modest' mean again? Mistress? Didn't you mention it once?"
49. Ah, the sound of music! Does your character:
a) Have an exceptionally good singing voice?
Vesta: "Y-"
Aleph: No, Vesta, you don't.
Vesta: "I do s-"
Aleph: No, trust me, you don't.
Vesta: "But-"
Aleph: I don't care what you think of your late-night yowling sopranos, everyone here agrees with me on this, you really don't.
Alicia: "You… are kind of loud when you do that, Vesta. And ear-hurty."
Vesta: "Traitor!"
53. Does your character have a telepathic/empathic connection or the ability to communicate with any kind of animal?
Vesta: "Cats! Because I am one!"
Nanoha: "I don't think that counts…"
Vesta: "Also, I can communicate with prey! Through fear."
54. Does your character have the ability to shapeshift?
a) Into multiple animals?
Vesta: *smirks*
Aleph: … okay, fine, I'll grant you that one. War form and human form count as two.
56. Does your character possess power that can take out entire cities/legions of soldiers/general all-around-evil?
Vesta: "YES!"
Nanoha: "No."
Alicia: "She could if she did it… like, one by one!"
Nanoha: *raised eyebrow*
Alicia: "Sneak, sneak, sneak! And then, wham! She puts the sleeping person to bed so they're nice and comfy, and then goes and gets the next one!"
Vesta: "… okay, she's too cute to disappoint with that. Can we just move onto the next question?"
59. Not counting his or her first language, how many languages does your character fluently speak? Click one box for every language:
Vesta: "Well, my first language is Cat. So… Japanese, Mid-standard, and the weird Belkan-y dialect they use on Schzenais which I wasn't listening when Precia-sama told us where it came from, so far. But I'm a familiar, so it's easy for me to integrate them."
60. Does your character succeed at virtually everything xe tries?
61. Do the first plans, strategies, ideas, etc. your character comes up with always (or nearly always) work?
Vesta: "I can categorically state that I have never failed at anything in my entire life."
Fate: "Even modesty?"
Vesta: "I am the queen of modesty! No one ever has been better at modesty than me! My talent for modesty is unrivalled among all the worlds!"
Vesta: "Whatever it is. Nanoha still hasn't explained that. Maybe it's a way of catching mouseys?"
64. Is anyone envious of your character's talents and/or abilities?
Alicia: "I am! I want to be able to turn invisible like that!"
Nanoha: "… okay, I kind of have to agree on that score. It's really useful."
Vesta: *preens*
Alicia: "Also, I want to be able to lick my knees!"
67. Does your character frequently carry knives, daggers, or other little sharp pointy objects concealed within xir clothing for no other reason than that they might come in handy?
Vesta: "When I have my hands in my pockets and I have claws, then I do! Oooh! Oooh! And when I wear a scarf, then my teeth are hidden by my clothing!"
69. Does your character have unfairly restrictive parents/guardians?"
Vesta: "Yes! Mistress is mean sometimes when she won't let me chase the birdies or have more catfood!"
73. Is your character extremely popular or positively renowned where xe comes from or frequents?
Vesta: *nod nod nod*
Nanoha: *shake shake shake*
Vesta: "I'm expecting a biopic any day now."
Nanoha: "Who's going to play you?"
Vesta: "Ben Kingsley."
78. On the subject of your character and xir family…
a) Was your character orphaned, abandoned, kicked out, or at least raised by a family/person that was not xir own family?"
j) Adopted by another species/racial group?
Nanoha: "I guess that kind of counts…"
Vesta: *looks hurt* "No it doesn't! You're my family, Mistress!"
Nanoha: "… awww. I love you too, Vesta." *cuddles and strokes*
Vesta: *purrrrr*
Vesta: "I was kidnapped though. By an evil electric human of evil."
Alicia: "How horrible! I give you full Alicia Permission to hunt them down and punish them! In the name of the moons!"
86. If your character has to prove xirself, does xe completely pwn everyone else and make them look like buffoons in the process?
Vesta: "Oh, I will. Just you wait. I will."
89. Is your character ever spared by an otherwise-ruthless villain?
Vesta: "The dark scary electric human of evil spared me when I was but a kitten!"
Alicia: "She sounds horrible!"
Part 2 - Original Fiction Characters
Only answer these questions if your character is for an original fiction. (For a new character you plan to add to an established original fiction universe, see the Fan-Character Specific Area.)
Aleph: Uh, Vesta? This doesn't even apply to…
Vesta: "Hush! I won't let you deny me any points!"
5. Are most (if not all) characters who don't like your character merely mean, shallow, spiteful, and/or jealous of xir?
6. Do characters who criticize or don't like your character from the start like xir by the end, or at least have a grudging respect?
7. Does anyone who doesn't like or respect your character by the end of the story end up beaten up, humiliated, miserable, and/or dead?
Vesta: "Yes."
Yuuno: "No."
Chrono: "No."
Mei: "I think she's pretty cool…"
Vesta: "Vindication!"
Mei: "… not! Ha! I have been studying your Earth-culture! Take me to your leader! Lueceh! Eyem yaw farzer!"
Vesta: "…"
Vesta: "… see! So mean and spiteful!"
Part 3 - Fan Characters & Newcomers
Only answer these questions if you are taking this test for a fan character (fiction or non-MMO RPG) OR for a new character whom you plan to add to an established original series (consider the original cast as canon and the newcomer as a fan character).
9. Is your character just as good or even better at the jobs and/or skills of one or more canon characters? (EG, better hacker or smarter than the nerd character, better fighter than the tough character.)
Aleph: … okay, I suppose this counts. Not right now, of course, but by the time of StrikerS, Vesta will have ten years of experience in illusions, she'd steamroller canon!Teana.
Vesta: "Clear evidence of my superiority!"
11. If the last question did not apply, does your character have a gadget, weapon, or power that can rival that of a canon character?
b) Alternatively, did you deliberately choose your character's skill/power/doodad to "complement" or contrast with that or those of a canon character? (EG, a Fantastic Four fan character with ice powers to contrast Johnny Storm's fire powers.)
Vesta: "Ha ha! Indeed! My talents complement Nanoha's perfectly!"
Fate: "You know, I'm not sure that's something either of you should be proud of, given what your talents are."
15. If your character is the child of one or more canon characters:
a) Does xe rapidly age and mature beyond infancy for any reason?
Vesta: "Yes to both!"
Nanoha: "You're not my child! I'm nine! And you're a cat!"
Vesta: "I was born of your mind. Like Athena was born of Zeus. Also a goddess, I might note. Hint."
Fate: "How do you even know these Earth cultural things?"
Vesta: "The internet. Duh."
Mei: "I've learned all kinds of things about Earth-culture from the internet."
16. Is your character liked by all the canon characters you like?
Aleph: Hmm… no, I think we can fairly safely say that at the very least, Yuuno hates her.
Vesta: "Aww. But Mousey liked our games!"
Aleph: No, he really didn't.
Vesta: "But if he didn't like it, why didn't he stop being a mousey?"
Yuuno: *twitches*
e) Or does anyone who criticizes or doesn't like your character end up getting beaten up, humiliated, miserable, and/or dead?"
Yuuno: *fumes*
Aleph: … okay, that might… wait, no. The Elites didn't have any particular liking for her, and Lotte kicked her ass.
Vesta: "She did so such thing! I expertly distracted her while mistress saved Linith, and then obeyed her decision to make a tactical retreat even though I could totally have won!"
Lotte: "Uh huh. Keep telling yourself that, kitten. And maybe come try again, if you believe it."
Vesta: "… I would totally beat you up if I didn't have better stuff to do. Like… uh… like the rest of this test! Yeah. Let's get on with that. Now."
17. Do any of the main characters look up to your character?
Vesta: "Alicia does!"
Alicia: "Yeah!"
Fate: "I can't help but think that this is probably a bad influence of some kind."
Arf: "Actually, wait. That shouldn't count. Alicia looks up to a lot of people."
Alicia: "I do?"
Arf: "Yeah. You're short."
Alicia: "… hey! So mean!"
22. Does your character become the significant other/partner of a canon character?
Vesta: "I'm Mistress' partner! We work together all the time!"
Aleph: … that's not what that's asking, Vesta.
Vesta: "Don't deny me points!"
25. Does your character end up moving in with or living fairly close to any of the canon characters?
Vesta: "Yay! I like living with mistress! Even if it was the Evil Shooty Electric Bolts of Doom Human who catnapped me to take me to her. Grrr."
32. When your character makes xir first appearance, do most or all of the canon characters notice xir right away?
a) Does this scene occur in a crowded place?
Aleph: Well, if you count cats, it was definitely crowded. And as for noticing her… it was kind of hard not to, given the method of her entrance.
Yuuno: "I remember that. Urgh. Even as a non-sapient animal, she had it in for me."
38. Is your character ever taken, threatened, and/or endangered by the villain/villains?
Vesta: "Not a chance!"
Quint: "I broke several ribs."
Lotte: "I kicked your pathetic arse."
Vesta: "… nooooo! I get more points if I lie and I say they beat me, but that would be lying to make me worse! An impossible dilemma!"
Linith: "I washed you."
Vesta: "… I was defeated most cruelly!"
Part 5 - De-Suifiers
Answer for characters of any fiction type. These will subtract from your final score.
1. Do you ever poke fun at your character's faults/weaknesses and/or use them as plot devices or gags?
Aleph: Oh, do I ever.
Vesta: "Meanie."
2. Has your character ever been honestly selfish, petty, lazy, shallow, or pointlessly cruel?
Aleph: … well, she's a cat. So… um… yes to basically all of the above, fundamentally. But if you mean on-screen… you could make a case for 'petty, lazy and shallow', but-
Vesta: "You could do no such thing!"
Aleph: Yes you could, hush. But I'll leave it as a "no" anyway, since it hasn't really had much in the way of major screentime.
5. Does your character get into a fight or rush into a situation without preparing for it - and get xir butt completely owned?
Aleph: So, shall we just chalk up "every Vesta Pounce ever attempted" here, or shall we list them chronologically?
Vesta: "Those times were intentional, dammit!"
10. Does your character have a truly debilitating phobia that does not disappear at a crucial moment?
Vesta: "Noooooo! Mistress! The scary metal lady… she has a plant mister this time! Help meeeeeee!"
Aleph: … amusing, but probably still a no.
17. Is your character ever manipulated or used as an unwitting pawn by someone without the aid of mind-control technology, magic, or drugs?
Aleph: Does Precia count? Precia probably counts. I'll put it down as one.
22. If your character is all or partially non-human, does xe react in very non-human ways or in ways more appropriate to xir species that are not meant to be perceived as cute and endearing by the audience?
Aleph: Not sure how much onscreen time it's had so far, but… yes, she does. If nothing else, she's brought Nanoha back a few dead birds.
Vesta: "Mostly dead! And mistress got it all wrong, the silly thing, she was meant to play with them as hunting practice. Instead she just screamed a lot and then told me off. And then squirted me with water. A lot. Every time she saw me. For two days."
23. If your character is vampire, is xe…
a) A mindless killer?
b) Maybe not mindless, but has no significant moral or emotional issues with killing/murder?
c) Unable to have sex?
d) Unattractive?
e) Unable to overcome xir dependence on blood?
Vesta: "Ha! The only one which applies is b)! Come here, baby birdies!"
Nanoha: "Vesta, you're not a vampire."
Aleph: So, the final score is…
Vesta: "One hundred and thirty four! Ha! I win at everything ever!"
Aleph: … Vesta, I can't help but feel like you've slightly misunderstood the point of this exercise. Being a Mary Sue isn't a good thing.
Vesta: "… I don't follow."
Aleph: Look, listen to this summary from the site;
50+
It's probably a lost cause either way, or you didn't read instructions properly (some people don't do this, which causes freakishly high scores). If it's the latter case, read the instructions and take the test again.
Aleph: Now, let's calculate it again, without your input. And we get… fifteen.0-16 Points
Most likely Not-Sue. Characters at this level could probably take a little spicing up without hurting them any.
Vesta: "Bah! You're just jealous because your version didn't score as highly as mine did! But I suppose that's only to be expected. Nobody can reach quite the same heights of general awesomeness as me, especially not a human. Not even Nanoha."Aleph: *eyeroll* Cats. Anyway. With that, dear readers, I shall leave you once more, in favour of revision. I hope you enjoyed this little diversion! And I'll aim to get the next chapter out by the end of the next month!
- Location
- Estonia
Heh, Mary Sue tests might be passable about indirect things, like do you only use purple prose for that character and how the other characters and the narrative treats them, but those tests generally fail at the appearance and powers part.
They might be good for the author to have some self-reflection, but they certainly shouldn't be followed too seriously. Especially with the point range categories being arbitrary - some Mary Sue signs are generally much, much more horrible than the others, while some can be written quite well actually.
That being, now I know what other thing, that I really wouldn't have guessed before they are good for - brilliant comedy!
They might be good for the author to have some self-reflection, but they certainly shouldn't be followed too seriously. Especially with the point range categories being arbitrary - some Mary Sue signs are generally much, much more horrible than the others, while some can be written quite well actually.
That being, now I know what other thing, that I really wouldn't have guessed before they are good for - brilliant comedy!
Great, now I can't stop thinking about how some time in the future Alicia would coax Yuuno into helping her "make sure that the Lost Logia inside her is safe".Drakeneisen said:
Alicia (hovering in the sky, with lightning shooting everywhere from her body) : Power! UNLIMITED POWER!!!
Yuuno (with a completely blank look on his face): Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.
Chrono (to Yuuno): Now we're all sons of bitches.
I would almost say Vesta is a parody of the Mary Sue - she certainly thinks she's one in the fanfic that is her life, but...
Revlid
blob of bugs
- Location
- England
As ever, I am written out of history. But like Tesla and others carefully excluded from the spotlight by their intellectual, physical and spiritual inferiors, my genius will be recognized years after I am dead, garnering me a vast following of future-hipsters who have me star in their pseudo-historical comics, exaggerate my exploits for comedic effect, and put my quotes on t-shirts.Aleph said:
Bah. Cold comfort! I shall correct this error now, while I still draw breath!
'Twas I, not blind chance, who directed you to yonder test, having found that Nanoha Takamachi and Usagi Tsukino both flew off the fucking charts when examined.
Shanejayell
Yuri Fan without a Pause
- Pronouns
- He
Ha!
Good luck on the tests too.
Good luck on the tests too.
Specially when the cat has been turned into a magical God who can fly?Aleph said:Strange Rules of cat behavior 20:
Gravity is just a guideline.
The whole test left me with just one question: will Vesta ask Nanoha and Fate for help to track the Evil Shooty Electric Bolts of Doom Human who catnapped her?
FunkyEntropy
Occasionally insightful, possibly grumpy
- Location
- Los Angeles
Sotto voceAleph said:
[/music pedantry]
Actually, this sort of compartmentalized thinking is par for the course as far as religions are involved, especially in terms of the character qualities of their deities. See, Vesta? You were right all along!
I can post without the chance of being a necro? Nice
I just wanted to note a line in the last chapter I found interesting ever since I first read it for Vita's characterization (which I suppose could be extended to the rest of the Wolkenritter):
I just wanted to note a line in the last chapter I found interesting ever since I first read it for Vita's characterization (which I suppose could be extended to the rest of the Wolkenritter):
I don't see Vita being sarcastic or lying here, so I think she honestly doesn't understand it. Does that mean she only considers magical power as a possible value of people? It could fit into their backgrounds, and also as all masters of the book have high magical potential (in canon, does it also applies to the Gamesverse?).Aleph said:
- Location
- Estonia
I'm pretty certain that Vita is just simply using an opportunity to insult Arisa out of great annoyance and actually isn't suffering from some weird linker-core-strength-sociopathy.Filraen said:
It seems to me that after the / I put in text, there's a tonal shift and she has switched the subject in her mind to bitching about wasted effort, not really wondering about Nanoha's supposed feelings anymore.
- Location
- Third planet from the star named Sol
- Pronouns
- He/They
Necro!
- Location
- Estonia
Yes, a 2-3 days necro.NotAlwaysFanfic said:
Look, I understand how you might have gotten your hopes up, but people post after 2-3-4 days all the time in CrW, the lowest proposed limit here for necro I have seen is one week, better just get used to it.