The Streetwalker's Guide to the Hierarchy
- Thread starter Birdsie
- Start date
If we go back to start, the comments Headphones made implied there are multiple fear beings imprisoned beneath the Providence. A hint, perhaps. In any case if vampire spoke truth then we are truly in a pickle. At first I was happy because this meant we were rubbing shoulders with top tiers, but this guy is well beyond even that level. Using Headphones carelessly is something we might want to refrain from doing in the future since it might alert whatever we are trying to scry, even if Jukah probably had other means to detect us anyway.
Ultimately I think that this is too much heat. If this guy is anywhere as powerful as he claims, then any deal would be no deal at all, as his own mental acuity and manipulation skills would render us but a puppet in a short while. Currently I am really just in favor of fucking right off from Providence.
[X] Flee Providence
Just get out, we did well so far but we are clearly well over our head. We lose nothing.
[X] Scholasticism
[X] Lightning-Within-Atoms×2
[X] Greater Midnight×2
[X] Talented Skill(Biology, Research)
Ultimately I think that this is too much heat. If this guy is anywhere as powerful as he claims, then any deal would be no deal at all, as his own mental acuity and manipulation skills would render us but a puppet in a short while. Currently I am really just in favor of fucking right off from Providence.
[X] Flee Providence
Just get out, we did well so far but we are clearly well over our head. We lose nothing.
I would take skills over mental buff, supernal skills are just nutty. Biology and Research might yield some very useful Visceral advancements for us.
[X] Scholasticism
[X] Lightning-Within-Atoms×2
[X] Greater Midnight×2
[X] Talented Skill(Biology, Research)
ThatGuyWithIdeas
Treize died for our sins
- Location
- Romania
[X] Flee Providence
[X] Scholasticism
[X] Lightning-Within-Atoms×2
[X] Greater Midnight×2
[X] Talented Skill(Biology, Research)
[X] Scholasticism
[X] Lightning-Within-Atoms×2
[X] Greater Midnight×2
[X] Talented Skill(Biology, Research)
Agreed. Jukah is Dangerous. Maybe he won't hurt us, maybe he genuinely doesn't intend on hurting anyone, but one should never bring up that which he cannot put down, and Jukah is so far beyond us it's not even funny. He might be interested in the Gamaliel Contamination, but in all likelihood the moment he's out, he won't need us anymore, and then all bets are off.
I am tempted to stick around a bit more for more Barakah, but I recognize the risk, so I'm going to change my previous vote.
[X] Refuse
[X] Flee Providence
In regards to Andrei, I like the current vote, but I really like the idea of supernal engineering
[X] Scholasticism
[X] Lightning-Within-Atoms
[X] Greater Midnight×2
[X] Talented Skill(Biology, Research, Engineering)
I am tempted to stick around a bit more for more Barakah, but I recognize the risk, so I'm going to change my previous vote.
[X] Refuse
[X] Flee Providence
In regards to Andrei, I like the current vote, but I really like the idea of supernal engineering
[X] Scholasticism
[X] Lightning-Within-Atoms
[X] Greater Midnight×2
[X] Talented Skill(Biology, Research, Engineering)
Birdsie
Sharp Talons Cleave The Worthy
- Location
- Poland
Hah! There is no way you can ever take him! He's nearly as good as me!
(Not really, though, I'd outscale.)
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] Flee Providence
[X] Scholasticism
[X] Lightning-Within-Atoms×2
[X] Greater Midnight×2
[X] Talented Skill(Biology, Research)
[X] Scholasticism
[X] Lightning-Within-Atoms×2
[X] Greater Midnight×2
[X] Talented Skill(Biology, Research)
Bro
Musurov deadass has more than 100+ in physical stats. Weakest class and no buffs whatsoever btw.
Zampano
🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈
- Location
- Simping for DSB
The Bishop vote is going to be an absolute mess if we don't vote by plan.
Regardless of build, Encouragement is the most relevant physical & durability advancement. It stacks with Pawnwall to provide multiple (reciprocal?) buffs to the entire party. Giving Andrei the ability to heal himself is as close as we are going to get to making him a combatant who can survive a peer-level fight.
Greater Midnight is the natural advancement for synergy with Gamaliel Coil experimentation. We need to be able to target specific effects and getting fundamental knowledge of the matter that we are changing can only improve our precision.
Finally, both Lightning-within-Atoms or Bonecraft give Andrei an extra portion of finesse within his own magical domain. Lightning explicitly pairs with Midnight, but Bonecraft allows Andrei to maximize the Viscerality given to him by Crimson King.
That leaves only the Mitre advancements, which each have something to be hyped about. Right off the bat, I think that people are sleeping on Clergydom. With Encouragement 3 / Bonecraft 3, could Clergydom enact the miracle of resurrection, maybe by regenerating Dorian wholesale from a single fragment of finger bone?
How about Mystic / Midnight / Lightning to lean into experimentation and acquisition of whatever dross / midichlorians / essence is required to induct the rest of the party into each magic system?
I haven't even discussed just taking all 6 advancements in one category (Mitre / [advancement 6]). 6 ranks of encouragement could plausibly be more relevant to the party's survival than any complicated build engine.
Picking advancements here should be in service of a particular archetype or party role. Don't just grab whatever you think is shiniest.
Regardless of build, Encouragement is the most relevant physical & durability advancement. It stacks with Pawnwall to provide multiple (reciprocal?) buffs to the entire party. Giving Andrei the ability to heal himself is as close as we are going to get to making him a combatant who can survive a peer-level fight.
Greater Midnight is the natural advancement for synergy with Gamaliel Coil experimentation. We need to be able to target specific effects and getting fundamental knowledge of the matter that we are changing can only improve our precision.
Finally, both Lightning-within-Atoms or Bonecraft give Andrei an extra portion of finesse within his own magical domain. Lightning explicitly pairs with Midnight, but Bonecraft allows Andrei to maximize the Viscerality given to him by Crimson King.
That leaves only the Mitre advancements, which each have something to be hyped about. Right off the bat, I think that people are sleeping on Clergydom. With Encouragement 3 / Bonecraft 3, could Clergydom enact the miracle of resurrection, maybe by regenerating Dorian wholesale from a single fragment of finger bone?
How about Mystic / Midnight / Lightning to lean into experimentation and acquisition of whatever dross / midichlorians / essence is required to induct the rest of the party into each magic system?
I haven't even discussed just taking all 6 advancements in one category (Mitre / [advancement 6]). 6 ranks of encouragement could plausibly be more relevant to the party's survival than any complicated build engine.
Picking advancements here should be in service of a particular archetype or party role. Don't just grab whatever you think is shiniest.
Some things are just more useful than others. Healing is a crapshot when we can heal people with Kingship Viscerality thing, for example. The combination of Research and Biology should have immense impact on our own Viscerality advancement so it is probably just the best thing around, and then double radiation/Midnight and mental improvement just give doc a lot of utility and advancement to go with that.
Like sure you could do more specialized build, but none seem all that impressive.
Like sure you could do more specialized build, but none seem all that impressive.
i feel like its starting to become a pattern that we have to leave the world before our time runs out.
and to be honest i dont like that. i wanna see more of providance! i will not be bullied off this world! arent we fearless? cmon guys!
and to be honest i dont like that. i wanna see more of providance! i will not be bullied off this world! arent we fearless? cmon guys!
The most compelling argument may be that he is rumored to be dead
Rihaku
The Internet
Okay, rationally given his objectives and total inability to put any kind of reliable fetter on Jukah, Dorian should flee providence. But that would merely exacerbate the logistical issues fundamental to the quest - the building up of plotlines and characters only for them to be severed by our Street departure. So, can we make a decision here that respects Dorian's characterization while preserving all the screentime Birdsie has expended on developing Providence, the Caliph, the Jafar plotline and so forth? I think this is important to the coherence and interest level of the quest.
Given that Jukah is not in control of the entire world, either there are beings here who can counter him or he is not a complete omnicidal monster. Had he desired to he could simply have strolled right into the Caliph's court, mind controlled Dorian with hypercompetent persuasion, and strolled right out onto the Street. The fact that he has not done this lends considerable credibility to at least his short-term trustworthiness, or points to opposed beings that would prevent this occurrence.
So, we can conclude that we are, if not safe, at least not in mortal danger while remaining on Providence. Presently we need to gather more information. Perhaps even without taking him with us, we can make a useful trade such as offering to Coils his Barakah into a less antisocial form (if desired) in exchange for some raw power or a cool magic system that Birdsie wants to show us. This would allow him to more effectively approach future Streetwalkers that aren't fear immune.
[X] Temporize
We need to think long and hard about this decision, I'm sure he understands this.
As for Musurov, my thinking is this:
*We have a large and varied court. Specialization is key, especially when we're working together. Given he was just kidnapped, we don't intend to send Andrei off by himself anytime soon, so we should make him really good at one or two things.
*Andrei is already a very smart and competent man. In simpler situations, the returns to intelligence and wisdom are diminishing. So too are the returns when one already has an equally-competent boss. This is not to say that Scholasticism isn't incredibly potent - he would be a very useful number two - but the opportunity cost is fairly major. Clergydom directly gives Andrei a powerful magic system that synergizes with our own. Mystic makes him a powerful magus in general.
With that in mind, two plans:
[X] Plan Master Spark
[X] Scholasticism
[X] Encouragement
[X] Lightning-Within-Atoms x2
[X] Greater Midnight
[X] Talented Skill - Research, Engineering
This plan focuses on the raw creation of superhuman technology. We don't need Greater Midnight x2 as Musurov can easily build microscopes or other wear a sense amplifying mask for delicate work. It's more important to get capabilities we can't as easily replicate, such as the Skill supernals andEncouragement passive (which also the affects entire team, very important!). With premier mastery of both research and engineering, and Lightning-Within-Atoms to turn his visions into reality, Musurov will become a veritable Heterodyne, complete with aura of manaical vigor!
[X] Plan Vast Lorde
[X] Clergydom - Masks
[X] Encouragement
[X] Bonecraft x2
[X] Greater Mind
[X] Talented Skill - Research, Biology
This plan adds a powerful lateral synergy to Musurov's build - the ability to directly manipulate Maskcraft means we may finally be able to achieve non-progresing Fixation (I'm hoping Severe, but Moderate would be good too) with King in Crimson. This would also amp the Masks of all our followers. Bonecraft and Clergydom may combine to allow Musurov to spontaneously manifest Masks sculpted from bone, an aesthetically pleasing and highly versatile ability that grants him on-demand superpowers. This may also allow for mass-production of Bone Masks via the same, allowing us to outfit an army if necessary. Finally, the combination of Research and Biology will allow us to perform Visceral miracles when working together, especially with the aid of Pawnwall Linneas, Coils, Encouragement, True Excellence, and the Clergydom-enhanced King in Crimson. Musurov is already a highly intelligent and capable man well able to comport himself competently in most situations, so unlike the reckless Dorian he doesn't need absurd levels of wisdom to perform his core job.
This also synergizes incredibly well with Nameless Mask - Clergydom Musurov might be able to directly amp its power level or Mask access history, and short of Coils usage Nameless is our most versatile party member by far.
Given that Jukah is not in control of the entire world, either there are beings here who can counter him or he is not a complete omnicidal monster. Had he desired to he could simply have strolled right into the Caliph's court, mind controlled Dorian with hypercompetent persuasion, and strolled right out onto the Street. The fact that he has not done this lends considerable credibility to at least his short-term trustworthiness, or points to opposed beings that would prevent this occurrence.
So, we can conclude that we are, if not safe, at least not in mortal danger while remaining on Providence. Presently we need to gather more information. Perhaps even without taking him with us, we can make a useful trade such as offering to Coils his Barakah into a less antisocial form (if desired) in exchange for some raw power or a cool magic system that Birdsie wants to show us. This would allow him to more effectively approach future Streetwalkers that aren't fear immune.
[X] Temporize
We need to think long and hard about this decision, I'm sure he understands this.
As for Musurov, my thinking is this:
*We have a large and varied court. Specialization is key, especially when we're working together. Given he was just kidnapped, we don't intend to send Andrei off by himself anytime soon, so we should make him really good at one or two things.
*Andrei is already a very smart and competent man. In simpler situations, the returns to intelligence and wisdom are diminishing. So too are the returns when one already has an equally-competent boss. This is not to say that Scholasticism isn't incredibly potent - he would be a very useful number two - but the opportunity cost is fairly major. Clergydom directly gives Andrei a powerful magic system that synergizes with our own. Mystic makes him a powerful magus in general.
With that in mind, two plans:
[X] Plan Master Spark
[X] Scholasticism
[X] Encouragement
[X] Lightning-Within-Atoms x2
[X] Greater Midnight
[X] Talented Skill - Research, Engineering
This plan focuses on the raw creation of superhuman technology. We don't need Greater Midnight x2 as Musurov can easily build microscopes or other wear a sense amplifying mask for delicate work. It's more important to get capabilities we can't as easily replicate, such as the Skill supernals andEncouragement passive (which also the affects entire team, very important!). With premier mastery of both research and engineering, and Lightning-Within-Atoms to turn his visions into reality, Musurov will become a veritable Heterodyne, complete with aura of manaical vigor!
[X] Plan Vast Lorde
[X] Clergydom - Masks
[X] Encouragement
[X] Bonecraft x2
[X] Greater Mind
[X] Talented Skill - Research, Biology
This plan adds a powerful lateral synergy to Musurov's build - the ability to directly manipulate Maskcraft means we may finally be able to achieve non-progresing Fixation (I'm hoping Severe, but Moderate would be good too) with King in Crimson. This would also amp the Masks of all our followers. Bonecraft and Clergydom may combine to allow Musurov to spontaneously manifest Masks sculpted from bone, an aesthetically pleasing and highly versatile ability that grants him on-demand superpowers. This may also allow for mass-production of Bone Masks via the same, allowing us to outfit an army if necessary. Finally, the combination of Research and Biology will allow us to perform Visceral miracles when working together, especially with the aid of Pawnwall Linneas, Coils, Encouragement, True Excellence, and the Clergydom-enhanced King in Crimson. Musurov is already a highly intelligent and capable man well able to comport himself competently in most situations, so unlike the reckless Dorian he doesn't need absurd levels of wisdom to perform his core job.
This also synergizes incredibly well with Nameless Mask - Clergydom Musurov might be able to directly amp its power level or Mask access history, and short of Coils usage Nameless is our most versatile party member by far.
He did already try out everything in this world so he doesn't really have a reason to conquer it, and it could be that Street wouldn't accept him if he tried to coerce us. Ultimately he is the guy that can superhell us, which makes trust difficult. Although I agree that Temporize is probably the best option here, if only make sure that he is real and not just a Djinn sent to scare us.
Regarding Bishop, I think that Biology/Research/2x Midnight(for molecular scale understanding of subject for Biology) is just too good to pass up on. Visceral upgrades are just too powerful. You are correct that Clergydom would be much better choice if we were to specialize i.e. Clergydom(Bone)/Bonecraftx2/Midnightx2/Biology/Research is just maximum Visceral synergy. Although I dislike how it pigeonholes Andrei into something he dislikes.
[X] Temporise
[X] Plan Master Spark
Dorian Croft is no coward.
[X] Plan Master Spark
Dorian Croft is no coward.
HoratioVonBecker
Imperfectly Aligned
Oh interesting, I'd wanted Practice access.
I'm pretty sure we won't be commanding his power level any time soon - the Anti-Hubris Principle would bother us for it - so he's a temporary party member. Possibly it'd work out if he was going to be like Faust Windfallow, and just be a transcendant overbeing who crashes on our couch and annoys people on purpose, but I'm not counting on it.
[X] Accept - He's not a trustworthy individual, but that needn't matter: mutual gains are often the better method than binding vows or belief in human nature anyway.
[X] Temporize - You'll give him a more concrete answer once you're across the sea in Surirah. You could use this time to talk your teammates around to this.
As for Doctor Morozov, it seems that other people have made the points I wanted to. @Birdsie, I'd really like to know what sort of adcanvements Doctor would have offered, though. (Perhaps they could be accessed through Coils?)
[X] Plan Master Spark
Is the 'you' in question Orden circa the Ordination CYOA? I'd outscale too. Heck, the Big Game Hunting build could beat him directly.
(Also if this is against spoiler policy tell me and I can delete; said policy is unpleasantly obtuse in practice.)
He's probably dead, and also I'm not sure he even was using the Street? He was called the Voyaging King, not the Wandering King.
Well, the Somber Man suggests that the Street has some measure of antipathy for mind control. Although it didn't mind the deathknight, so if it's a real safeguard it's probably more concerned with authorization than with ethics.
Tbh I'm kinda not sure what is Master Spark supposed to actually do. Like Viscerality package has chance to give us powerful augments(which we can improve with Coil, and Coil is indeed a superlative version of what they can accomplish) and even Vast Lorde has great potential since getting Fixation on Crimson King translates to ton of power. Master Spark is sorta just there?
HoratioVonBecker
Imperfectly Aligned
Hypertech advancements. Notice that the highest-elevation stuff we've seen - possibly including Jukah - was the hypercapitalist (which I guess helps with Import) hypertech Neonclave.