Well, thank you both very much for that this sort of feedback is exactly what I want for a long time. I do not agree on everything and some of your critiques are settings dependent. Yes, the quest I'm writing is set in Worms (and that won't change, no dimensional travel planned) in some other settings they might be useful.

Farmer: Yes, mostly Useless in the quest but it does stack with controlled reproduction.
Hunter: I would totally allow it to be used to track human in a wilderness environment at least, as for killing, knowing the weak point of a chimp translates pretty well to those of a human.
Survivalist: Apart from the toriko creature, who possesses this special feature you cannot eat your own creatures unless you also possess material extraction. So yes in worm the usefulness is debatable but in one piece or naruto, it could save your life.
Trainer: We don't need it to command our creature but training your creature with animal-level intelligence could improve their effectiveness a lot.
Veterinary: Again setting influences the usefulness a lot and if we gain permanent companions it becomes very usefull. (plus limited general healing knowledge)
Zoologist: This grants us knowledge about all your creatures, we automatically know all their power and ability without the need for a long testing period. I strongly disagree with you on that one.
Delay Summoning: We have a range of 500m by default, the ability to summon a creature after leaving the area could have its use, trap primarily.
Flashbang Summoning: Blinding someone just before he is attacked by an angry bear sounds cool to me.
Mindless Summoning: This one is important for the intelligent summons that may refuse to serve, yes our order is absolute but a loophole in the wording always exists. A Black dragon that want to screw us over just because he despises being in the service of a human is a good example.
Removal: Niche, that I agree with.
Calming Aura: Setting dependent again.
Grant Summoning: I disagree here too, at some point we have so many creatures that we can't really use them all. Giving a giant praying mantis to Taylor, a Foo dog to Bitch, or a replicator to Armsmaster seem like a good use of this power.
Mental Realm: This allows you to give order to a creature before summoning it, to learn from it without summoning it (elder scroll dragon), and to strategize with intelligent summon with no one the wiser (a pseudo thinker power).

There are plenty of powers I dislike their incorporation, I don't like like the boosts for instance, but I can understand their use.

What do you mean by incorporation of some power, limitation?

Friendly Fire though lets us be a lot more free with AoE attacks and given that flash stun our Redeye Watcher has it is a power that is useful right away as we can use that in close to ourselves without issue. Zoologist lets us maximize anything we get from the mundane category and potentially from other categories depending on how it is applied, which granted is dependent on what we roll. Survivalist is one I feel only has niche use for us if it includes tracking or if we get assigned to the country at some point.

Though were you making your list based on our current summons as opposed to future summons?

I suppose that overall I am not too impressed with the 50 and 100 point summons

You're not supposed to be impressed with them, it's normal. The spider bot is among the best ones in utility.
 
What do you mean by incorporation of some power, limitation?
It's simply means that let's go with the Boosts. For instance.

The Boosts Double but only effect one creature, I prefer an Augment Summoning boost, effects all creatures but to a lesser degree, increases in utility, but is less drastic. Say for instance a 1.2 * power boost for all summons, versus a single double. It's not as powerful for one powerful summon, but helps us just the same. This is a difference in incorporation. The Idea remains the implementation changes.
 
Well, thank you both very much for that this sort of feedback is exactly what I want for a long time. I do not agree on everything and some of your critiques are settings dependent. Yes, the quest I'm writing is set in Worms (and that won't change, no dimensional travel planned) in some other settings they might be useful.
I tried to evaluate based on use in Worm (and a city setting at that), the use of the powers change depending on the setting you are in (Farmer, Hunter and Survivalist are great in low-tech or wilderness settings for example)

For Zooloigist does it apply only to the mundane category or does it apply to some of the other potential summons?
 
I tried to evaluate based on use in Worm (and a city setting at that), the use of the powers change depending on the setting you are in (Farmer, Hunter and Survivalist are great in low-tech or wilderness settings for example)

For Zooloigist does it apply only to the mundane category or does it apply to some of the other potential summons?
oh and just to establish I did the same. Because we only care about the powers, and the creatures in how it actually effects us. It doesn't really matter if it would be omnipotent in setting x, since we're not in setting x.
 
It's simply means that let's go with the Boosts. For instance.

The Boosts Double but only effect one creature, I prefer an Augment Summoning boost, effects all creatures but to a lesser degree, increases in utility, but is less drastic. Say for instance a 1.2 * power boost for all summons, versus a single double. It's not as powerful for one powerful summon, but helps us just the same. This is a difference in incorporation. The Idea remains the implementation changes.

Okay, I can understand that. I prefer the strategic use of suddenly boosting a creature to surprise a foe and narratively it gives agency to the character because he must choose when to use it. But a blanket boost is another approach I considered, perhaps in a V3 I could add it.

I tried to evaluate based on use in Worm (and a city setting at that), the use of the powers change depending on the setting you are in (Farmer, Hunter and Survivalist are great in low-tech or wilderness settings for example)

For Zooloigist does it apply only to the mundane category or does it apply to some of the other potential summons?

That's fair.

And yes Zoologists apply to all categories and all creatures (even mechanical ones). So if you have Zoologist the first time you summon a bulbizarre you know all the attack it can learn, when it will evolve and its talent based on the size of its leaves. A xenomorph everything about its acid blood. A Guardian you'll know the power of its laser. Etc...


EDIT: Seeing that nobody is voting anymore, vote closed early. I may be able to have the next chapter up soonish, but no promise.
 
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Chapter 5: Rider
[x] The abandoned mall at the edge of town, but I need to find a way inside.
[x] Power

Creature roll: (150 points)
Roll, D85=3 Rider
Power gained
Banked 50 points.

Author Note: Lot of luck with the rolls so far, Alex become a perfect Rider and It just got a creature big enough to ride. It's not normally ridable, but with this power that's not an obstacle.

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I stopped before the Medhall building a few minutes later, I parked my bike and secured it to a streetlamp. Even here it was better to be careful.

Taking out the dish from the trunk I move toward the door of the tower. It was the biggest building in town, employing hundreds of people, perhaps more than a thousand. The glass and concrete structure was gleaming in the sunlight, it wasn't an architectural masterpiece but it was a very nice sight.

I give a nod to the security guard, who nodded back at me and I advances toward the reception. It was Kelly today, a very cute brunette, a little smaller than me, with a pixie cut, elegant rectangular glass framing her hazel eyes. She was wearing a black ensemble accentuating her figure, some descent curve but nothing excessive.

I smiled upon seeing her and she return it. "Hello, Alex It's nice to see you. I see that you have some order for my co-worker."

Seeing her smile make butterfly appear in my belly, and this has nothing to do with my power. I ignore that feeling with practice ease. "Hello, Kelly a pleasure to see you. And yes I have two orders here, for Ms. Krane and Mr. Donal. Can I leave them here with you?"

She lowered her eyes to check a sticky note on her desk, "Yes, I'll ask someone to bring it to them."

I hand her the two boxes, my hand brushing hers and sending goosebumps in my arms. "Here you go then, always a pleasure to speak with you but sadly I have more delivery to make. Have a good day."

She smiled at me again "Have a good day Alex."

I turn back toward the door and take a deep breath. Talking to Kelly was always difficult because I have a not so small crush on her. I never managed to gather enough courage to ask her out and I learned not long ago that she had a boyfriend. A missed opportunity but I put it out of my mind while unfastening my bike and getting back on it. Romance wasn't the order of the day and I probably didn't have much chance with a beautiful girl like her anyway.

Riding on the road toward the next restaurant, I was suddenly assaulted by something new, not a feeling in my chest but a flow of knowledge directly in my brain. This time I didn't deviate a millimeter from my path. That was because this knowledge, this skill, and the reflex coming with them were all about riding. Not riding a vehicle, but riding animal and beast, I knew how to ride a horse, an elephant, or even, despite never even seeing one, a dragon. The skill on how to best position my body on their back to maximize speed and control, how to transmit instruction with the smallest twitch of my muscle, and how to hold onto them without hurting them, or risking being dismount. This doesn't translate directly to biking but the reflexes were close enough that it didn't matter much, despite the onslaught of knowledge I continue on my way as if nothing happened.

I was in turmoil about the latest happenings, my power just granted me out of the blue all the skills of the best riders in the universes, combined. I had the sudden urge to summon my latest creature immediately just to see if it was big enough to ride, but I resisted, barely.

The rest of my delivery run passed in a rush, alternating between going searching for orders in various restaurants and delivering them to my client working in various businesses. Meanwhile, my mind was busy planning my afternoon.

I managed to return home a two pm, I don't think I ever managed to finish a run so fast before. My plan was set, the first thing was testing this power I got this morning, then take the bus toward the abandoned mall, hoping that I could find a way inside. Once there I would finally summon this metal kangaroo thing, perform a few tests, and hopefully return home before six pm for my second shift.

I return to my bedroom and check my desk drawer. As expected the spider bot and the smartphone have disappeared, so either a time limit or a distance limit. I'll need to test that at some point.

Going to the bathroom, I remove my clothes with the exception of my boxer in case this experiment destroys my clothes.

Facing the mirror above the sink I close my eyes and concentrate on that bundle of power in the middle of my chest. I take the time to really focus on it. It clearly conveys the idea of transformation of the self, it's link to one concept or idea, something green? I'm not sure, but I get the feeling that it could be linked to another concept, absent for now, or even multiple ones.

With some apprehension, I activate it. The change is immediate and instantaneous I can feel it. My body responds slightly differently but the change is negligible, I'm still in a humanoid shape, I was half afraid to transform into a spider. I open my eyes and gasp upon seeing my image in the mirror.

I transformed into some sort of plantsman. My skin was made of entwined light green vines, from my face up to the tip of my finger, with bark for fingernails. My hair was replaced by strands of dark green moss, my eyes were dark red flowers. Opening my mouth I could see that my teeth were made of wood and my tongue of some sort of fungus.

Looking down I could see that my boxer was still there but transformed into a sort of grass skirt. Touching the various part of my body and moving around, I didn't feel any problem, I could move normally, no pain, no discomfort. Slowly looking into the mirror again, I smiled, a middle disturbing sight with my wooden teeth. I had the perfect disguise, not need for a costume.

After a few tests, I discovered that I could change back and forth easily and at will. If I'm wearing clothes they transformed with me but not if I put them on afterward. And If I removed some pieces of clothes after the transformation they revert back to normal after leaving my body.

Not wanting to waste too much time I turn back to normal and after leaving a note for Mom saying that I would be back later, I exit the house and advance toward the bus stop.

Wordcount: 1110
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No story vote this time, I didn't know what to propose and I was hoping to at least reach the mall, but the story got away from me. Alex somehow got a crush on the desk clerk. Sorry.
I closed the vote one day earlier than planned but seeing no more vote coming and with the urge to write I decided to go for it.

For the roll, 150 points:

[] Creature

[] Power

Voting will be closed Monday at 2 PM GMT.
 
[X] Creature
We can summon 10 creatures at once we have 2 having less creatures than possible means we can never do things optimally.
 
[X] Creature

I was wondering if redeye was big enough to ride but could not find any images of it next to a human, also neat to see that it has bleedover to our motrocycle. Time to try and grab a creature or bank points. Excitement intensifies, also curious if we try to join the PRT after we test out our new buddy.
 
[x] Creature

I love the power now we need a animal that really allow us to show off, like a dragon or a Giant Butterfly
 
Not riding a vehicle, but riding animal and beast, I knew how to ride a horse, an elephant, or even, despite never even seeing one, a dragon.
...does anyone else have a sudden urge to go find a certain gang leader?

[X] Creature
We can summon 10 creatures at once we have 2 having less creatures than possible means we can never do things optimally.
I wasn't aware we had a summoning limit, but that does make a lot of sense. Must have missed it somewhere.

[X] Creature
 
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It is on the document it self. Be default we can summon creatures once every 24 hours and have up to 10 out at a time. To my knowledge there are powers to increase the times per day but not the number out at one time.

There's one power, Improved Limit 200 points, double the number to 20 and can be gained twice to reach 40.
 
Also one question, since this power depends on Word Count and you have mostly done Short Chapters
Could we have Bank our points as a choice in the future?
You seem to prefer 1k updates and while they are good if we can´t bank our points we may not be able to get some of the better summons
 
Also one question, since this power depends on Word Count and you have mostly done Short Chapters
Could we have Bank our points as a choice in the future?
You seem to prefer 1k updates and while they are good if we can´t bank our points we may not be able to get some of the better summons

Good question, I with 1k chapter because I don't trust myself to write much more per week (Yes this week prove that I can write more but it may not last) and because I like the randomness of rolling every chapter.
Second, you got really lucky so far, if you check the very first post I need 7 rolls to gain a 100 points creature. And on the discord, I made a test roll for a starter creature and need 14 rolls. I'm pretty sure that reaching 300 or 400 points will happen at some point soon, particularly if you choose creatures multiple time in a row.
Also in the power category, you have Rejection that allows you to refuse something and keep your point.

Finally, my chapters are a little more than 1k word each time, not much but I'm keeping track and when that excess reach 1k you'll have 100 bonus point.
 
Chapter 6: The Mall
[x] Creature

Creature roll: (150 points)
Roll, D35=22 Fell Seal, no secondary roll nothing worth 150 points or less.
Banked 150 points.

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The bus stop wasn't far from the house thankfully. I didn't encounter anyone on the way, being the middle of the afternoon in a residential neighborhood it was normal. Upon reaching the bus stop I look at the schedule and after checking the hour on my phone I could see that I only need to wait a few minutes.

While waiting I look around me, my neighborhood wasn't the greatest in town, barely middle class. Still, I've grown up there and I was attached to it. It was in that street that I learn biking. Not far from there I could see the sidewalk where I scrapped my knee when I was seven.

Lost in thought I nearly missed the bus arrival. Climbing inside and giving a friendly nod to the bus driver, I pay my fee and make my way toward the first available seat. Apart from a young couple sitting in the back, the bus was empty.
The buses in Brockton Bay were a sort of weird neutral ground, nothing official but all the gangs recognize their utility. After all, not every gang member possesses a car. When members of opposing gangs found themselves in the same bus at the same time, they mostly ignore each other. Incidents still happen from time to time, the Merchants in particular, but it was mostly safe.

I was looking at the scenery but not really seeing anything, I was just waiting for my stop, the terminus in fact. On the way, we passed by Mom's shop but sadly I didn't spot her.

The bus did not go all the way to the old mall, but close enough for my purpose. Finally, after half an hour of travel, I reached the end of the line. Starting from this point I need to be careful, despite it being the middle of the day this part of town was largely deserted.

I tried walking confidently as if I wasn't afraid of anything. It was far from the truth, I was more than a little apprehensive. I didn't consider myself a coward but I never been really confronted with danger before. Besides that one time seeing a cape fight from afar, an encounter between Stormtiger and Mush, and running in the other direction. A smart decision in my opinion.

After a few minutes of walking, I spot the mall. Another tragedy of the Bay, it opened barely six months before the dockworker's protest and the sinking of the container ship. With the economic decline that followed it starts to lose money fast and definitively closed a year and a half later. Since then it's been used a few times for illegal rave parties. It's was just a little too far on the edge of town for the gangs to be really interested in it and it was the same for the homeless population.

The mall was set up in a U shape. A main rectangular building and two rectangular wings joined at a 90° degree angle at each extremity. Upon entering the parking lot I could see that the entrances, three in totals, were all blocked by tick metal shutter. No hope to enter that way, I began to slowly circle the building. What I need was either an emergency exit left open or a service door. All the while I keep looking around, but I couldn't see anyone around. A good thing but if anyone saw me they'll wonder what I'm doing there. I could only hope that nobody would see me.

After trying at least a dozen doors I manage to find one that was open, the lock was completely broken. Looking around I could see a lot of trash around this particular door, most likely the remnants of one of those raves. It was a service door and after opening it slowly I could see that it opened toward a loading area.

Entering I hesitate for an instant, summoning my metal kangaroo here was possible now that I was hidden on all side and there was sufficient room, but if anyone saw me and follow me just opening the door would out me.

I move further inside, the room was big and full of tall metal shelves, to the side was some sort of supervisor office with a glass wall. Further inside I found another door this one leading to the shop proper. From the decor, I guessed that it was a toy store at some point. All the shelves have been pushed against the walls and multiple wooden boxes assembled into a crude stage.

Seeing that this door could be closed and after pushing a few boxes against it I decided I was secure enough and that it was time to see my new creature.

I concentrate on a spot on the floor in front of me and trigger the feeling inside my chest. But the creature didn't appear immediately, instead, it linked with the concept behind my other power and wait for, I want to say, my approval? I paused at that point, this suggested that I could apply the concept to the creature, presumably transforming it like me. My sample size was way too small to be sure but the feeling seems right.

Do I want to do it? From a scientist's perspective no I should not, you need to establish a baseline before attempting any experiment. But this could allow me to test two things at once, and coming here each time I need to test something wasn't practical. I've decided, yes I'll try to combine both the creature and the concept.

Refocussing I trigger again the feeling inside my chest and this time allow it to link with the concept. The creature appeared before me and it definitively wasn't a kangaroo. Two legs yes, a very long tail yes, but the resemblance stopped there, a neck nearly as long as the tail and a big boxy head with one enormous eye, shaped like a sort of raptor. I could guess where the concept transformed metal part into woods and vine, and the eye into some sort of spherical mushroom. I could only guess at his normal appearance.

Unlike the spider this one was moving on its own initiative, it seems to be looking at me curiously but not aggressively. After a few moments where I refrain to move just in case, its eye flashes green, it turns around and began looking all around the room curiously.

I breathe a little easier upon seeing that. I speak up "Can you hear me?" Immediately it turns toward me again as if waiting. "Okay, so you hear me, great. Do you obey me? Turn around and stop moving." It turned immediately and stopped all movement. It was a little creepy and unnatural. The robot theory seems to be gaining ground. I approached to touch it. No visible reaction. "Your legs are a little small but my new skill is telling me that if you are strong enough to bear my weight I could definitively use you as a mount."

"You can move again and walk around, I want to see you move more." The creature obeyed and began walking and observing all around the room. "Hum, need to find you a name at some point, but not before seeing your real appearance. I'll call you raptor for now."

"I have enough time to test your capability a little but what to do after?"

[] Have the creature stay there, it allows you to test if you feel it disappear when you reach a certain distance.

[] Transform into plantsman and take it for a ride around town.

Wordcount: 1243
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I have a feeling that I already know what vote will win.
I'm pretty sure I've lifted the idea of the bus as neutral ground and the abandoned mall from other fanfic but I can't remember which one. (Mauling snark?)

For the roll, 250 points:

[] Creature

[] Power

Voting will be closed Wednesday at 3 PM GMT.
 
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