Threads Of Destiny(Eastern Fantasy, Sequel to Forge of Destiny)
- Thread starter yrsillar
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Interesting that formations can fall under Dreaming Moon going by that side story. Hidden/Dreaming formation combos well probably.
- Location
- The Space Between
because all art is expression and formations are constructs painted in patterns of all kinds and reality and dream are the same thing we're actually just the byproducts of the most beautiful formation formed of Mother and Father and the moon and sun tend to it as best as they can til the sequence devolves into entropic or unified re-starting of the universe! Weeee! Lunacy Abounds! Madness is my medium! Wahahahah
fictionfan
Please sir, may I have some Meows?
- Location
- Tempe, AZ
Maybe we could. endings becoming new beginnings is part of our way, but I would expect it to be traumatic.
That would break too, a Way Break is pretty complete in how it fucks your foundation up. No way to game that
fictionfan
Please sir, may I have some Meows?
- Location
- Tempe, AZ
I can imagine a violet Qi Ling who's way breaks for whatever reason. She gets a choice either go on with a broken way and basically retire or go all the way back to green and start over building her foundations again.That would break too, a Way Break is pretty complete in how it fucks your foundation up. No way to game that
It becomes no surprise at all if you have seen a Taoist talisman before(and know enough old-script chinese to identify that its not just random doodles).
The basis of xianxia formation is magic calligraphy, where words, usually framed in the form of an edict or bureaucratic form, ideally structured as poetry, are then deformed and interlaced, sometimes with the same physical word position being used in multiple reading orders without making the words illegible.
Its both puzzle and art
fictionfan
Please sir, may I have some Meows?
- Location
- Tempe, AZ
We already have C rank formations which is as good as it gets without specializing. We definitely don't have room to fit a formation helping art into our build.
On Way Breaks, as I understand it, if your Break is on your 'latest' dantian, you can reformat with great pains. If your Break is on a previous core then you're just utterly fucked, because you can't really undo the transcendence step, not and stay alive.
Like, after you divested your bodily functions into pearls, you simply can't go back to fix errors in your first dantian anymore, because your interal organs don't work anymore.
Its probably a good incentive to have your Yellows learn a variety of elements and your Greens a diverse variety of experiences. Someone who is utterly certain in their path at that stage will have very few options for recovery if their Way turns out flawed later. The old clans have the benefit of knowing what works reliably at least.
Ling Qi's mess of elements means that she could pivot to some extent upon their concepts to justify insights, and her Insights pulling her in different directions lets her emphasize one or the other if theres a flaw.
The drawback is she's going to eat a lot of Way conflicts at this stage as a result. Its good for later on, hard to break outright rather than be just impeded.
- Location
- Somewhere.
Close but no cigar, I think. Because it's still made from the wrong root.
I guess spousu it is.
DeusExBritannia
Red-White-Black-White
- Location
- Texas
Well, if we're going with exact Japanese pronunciation, it would be spelt: "supausu."
- Location
- Staring into the void
I prefer the succinct: "Mine"
Varder
Tired Cultist
- Location
- Hell
It was also mentioned by CRX that unless we spec into a security formation maker, we'll have to employ a professional. It's good that we're friends with the Xuan.
I'd kind of like to mess around with stuff in keeping with our Lunar patrons. Grinning is misdirection, snares, and general tricksome obstacle. Hidden is obscurity, observation, and misdirection. Dreaming is Dream stuff, delusion, and the most obviously Music-related. Formations are established characters which influence the flow of qi in the world, but I'd be surprised if they hadn't been formulated to express musical notation effectively, and vice-versa, at some point by someone.
The key difference between Art and Formation is the former is the user controlling energy with themselves as medium, while formations involve the creation of an independent medium of channeling, though they still need powering either by the user, spirit stones, or some other source. I think it's plausible that Music or Dance could imprint ripples on an environment that do successfully form formation effects. These methods would have downsides. Limited duration seems likely, weaker effects without getting a feel for the environment prior too. Persistent effects would probably need mediums like talisman wind chimes or carefully cut channels for the wind to play certain sounds through as it blows by, or water drips through, or whatever. It'd be cool though. Stylish. Concerning to imperial conservatives. All the good stuff, really.
Twisting Dream into formations is another possibility, but I'd expect effects in the material world to be strooongly muted. Could pair with Sixiang's new techs, though.
The who? Li Suyin's the only formations expert we know.
the way I understand it, Formations come in 2 parts (3 if you want to craft items):
the Formation skill determines how good Ling Qi is with the basics of Formations and our C there is actually quite decent, given that it isnt really our focus.
The second part is actually having specific formations to use. We dont have any good ones as it is, so to get them we would need to go into the archive and search for some.
However, this does have 2 Problems:
1) we are not just talking about spending a few skill dice here, like we would with other side-projects like Art, Blades, Beast Handling or whatever other skill. We would need to spend AP and maybe SP and that means we would need to cut those AP from something else and this 'something' will likely be our arts.
2) This is admittedly a bit more of a meta-problems, but I think yrs mentioned that he didnt make a real formations system yet? If this is still true, then going into Formations ourself, would mean that yrs has to make and balance said system. This would be fine if we then actually make and keep our formation side-project relevant. On the other hand, I think it would be quite unfair of us to make yrs work on that system, if we dont actually intend to keep using it.
So overall, going into formations would only make sense if we want to keep it as a relevant side-project and then we would need to talk about what art(s) we are willing to discard for this to work.
the Formation skill determines how good Ling Qi is with the basics of Formations and our C there is actually quite decent, given that it isnt really our focus.
The second part is actually having specific formations to use. We dont have any good ones as it is, so to get them we would need to go into the archive and search for some.
We could do that in plan votes with the above option, which would cost an AP and maybe SP depending on the floor we want to get something and I guess we can then spend AP to train/improve them like we do with arts? Of course, playing with formations as a hobby would not make us as good at them as a real specialist (like Suyin) would be, but i guess we could make it work, if we keep a narrow focus on the kind of formations we use/make.
However, this does have 2 Problems:
1) we are not just talking about spending a few skill dice here, like we would with other side-projects like Art, Blades, Beast Handling or whatever other skill. We would need to spend AP and maybe SP and that means we would need to cut those AP from something else and this 'something' will likely be our arts.
2) This is admittedly a bit more of a meta-problems, but I think yrs mentioned that he didnt make a real formations system yet? If this is still true, then going into Formations ourself, would mean that yrs has to make and balance said system. This would be fine if we then actually make and keep our formation side-project relevant. On the other hand, I think it would be quite unfair of us to make yrs work on that system, if we dont actually intend to keep using it.
So overall, going into formations would only make sense if we want to keep it as a relevant side-project and then we would need to talk about what art(s) we are willing to discard for this to work.
Varder
Tired Cultist
- Location
- Hell
Wrong. Xuan Shi is a better formations expert than she is (and than we are). After all, in FoD, we've asked for his expertice; and his production project for the Outer Sect tournament? It was based on formations afaik.
The system will never materialize if we don't poke at it at all. Besides, I think the system issue is kind of... besides the point? It could be significantly more vague than it is and perfectly functional, especially since it's likely to be a supplemental ability.
Weird. Ling Qi went to Li Suyin for help with the Ling household defensive formations. Now that I'm reminded of this character, checking the front page reveals that he's a rank 2 positive relationship, placing him as a friend. Looks like a discrepancy if she wanted the best protection for her family and she was willing to pay fairly for it.
Varder
Tired Cultist
- Location
- Hell
Yeah, I agree. Maybe she wasn't comfortable to ask for it? We're not that close, rank 2 is more like a close acquaintance, not yet a friend.
- Location
- Greece
That would break too, a Way Break is pretty complete in how it fucks your foundation up. No way to game that
Citation? it seems to me that Way breaks vary in severity and effect, depending on how important the thing that breaks is and how easy it s to correct it.
My point about the system is more that I think that this will be quite a bit work and time investment for yrs.
This is not a problem if we actually use it afterwards.
However, it would be unfair to yrs, at least in my opinion, to ask him to put in the work to implement formations, if we dont actually intend to keep using it.
Regrding how vague the system can be: I think that depends a lot on how relevant we want our formation work to be for fighting. If our formation work would be purely non-combat, I could see this working with a vague system, but if our formations compete with our arts for an application, then I think the Formation system would need to be as specific as the art system to make the balancing work.
I think the closest to combat it should get is pre-combat prep, with them basically being environmental effects in a fight if relevant at all. Out of combat enemy disruption/delay/early warning/warding can all be handled with a mostly loose narrative framework.
From the Discord this was basically Jiao's Domain Quest for Green -> Cyan transition.
Picking at the deets sounds Fun.
Also apparently quite full of himself with smug.
Hidden Moon having those fit.
Big dreams.
It occurs to me that the name may be a bit more literal, if the dragons had gone for planting bits of the heavens on the earth.
Necessity does not refute hubris.
Guiding Moon makes a fine doorkeeper on this path, to warn away those who do not quite intend to go this far.
Wonder how a devotee of the Guiding Moon would pass this barrier. None can be truly without flaw, after all, but ignoring Guidance does not speak well of them either.
...wonder if this relates to his reluctance to have children, given the choice of what to forsake back here.
Young Jiao seems to have turned a test of character into a test of resolve.
Possibly even a Lotus Eater trap.
He cut the Gordian Knot here.
Jiao still holds to this somewhat, with his tinkering with his chariot.
Something more here, it points to some family issues which made him so certain that his is the only path, that he cut ties without regret.
If he loved formationcraft so much, why did he take the path of the assassin instead? Why WOULD society object to that?
Grinning Moon probably would love the wandering Cultivator Hero trope, though the Empire wouldn't.
So different from how irreverent he is now.
The Dead know much, but tells their secrets to none.
Also that looks like something which branched off the Curious Diviner's Eyes.
Goes a fair bit beyond curiosity.
But also a hint as to how to interest spirits of the Hidden Moon. They're Curious, but to grab their interest would take something hidden from their understanding.
Different facets from different perspectives
The empire has indeed been set on a different path, but if its a better one...the jury is still out.
Still, that grabbed Xin's curiosity.
Makes sense when you think about it. The Moon is a reflection. You see yourself. The Eight Sisters are all masks reflecting the one looking upon it, in different facets.
This particular one seems like its the Moon Undivided approached through the Hidden Moon, so it takes the form of absolute self knowledge. All secrets laid bare and self deceptions scoured clean.
/Rambling
To impose upon him without a closer, reciprocal tie is socially very difficult.
However, since cultivation has a number of distinct breakpoints, past which unbuilding isn't possible...the only way out is probably through.
Picking at the deets sounds Fun.
Once upon a time. He did not make you wish you were blind.
Sword and Dagger, the choice of a street duelist.
Also apparently quite full of himself with smug.
...Shoggoths?
Hidden Moon having those fit.
The Hidden Moon has a base under a mountain?
...he wasn't the Ling Qi of his generation. He was more like Gan, absolute faith in his liege's ideals.
Big dreams.
Literal moonstone?
It occurs to me that the name may be a bit more literal, if the dragons had gone for planting bits of the heavens on the earth.
Guiding Moon's advice fell upon deaf ears.
Necessity does not refute hubris.
Guiding Moon makes a fine doorkeeper on this path, to warn away those who do not quite intend to go this far.
Wonder how a devotee of the Guiding Moon would pass this barrier. None can be truly without flaw, after all, but ignoring Guidance does not speak well of them either.
Mother Moon is about the ties that bind.
...wonder if this relates to his reluctance to have children, given the choice of what to forsake back here.
Young Jiao seems to have turned a test of character into a test of resolve.
Reflecting Moons...possibilities? Or choice?
Possibly even a Lotus Eater trap.
He cut the Gordian Knot here.
Invention and inspiration. Fitting realm for the Muse. And a spark of madness, as inspiration and insanity are very close siblings.
Jiao still holds to this somewhat, with his tinkering with his chariot.
Something more here, it points to some family issues which made him so certain that his is the only path, that he cut ties without regret.
If he loved formationcraft so much, why did he take the path of the assassin instead? Why WOULD society object to that?
"Let it go~ Let it go~"
Grinning Moon probably would love the wandering Cultivator Hero trope, though the Empire wouldn't.
And the Bloody Moon. He's definitely subscribed to Bloody Moon then, I think, considering the difference he handled this segment, as a pain he must withstand rather than ignore.
So proud and formal.
So different from how irreverent he is now.
We got a hint of this with the Hidden Moon's quest, with the lake of liquid Death.
The Dead know much, but tells their secrets to none.
...and Xin was right. He straight out went to seduce her.
Theres an unspoken "Yet" I feel here.
Also that looks like something which branched off the Curious Diviner's Eyes.
Goes a fair bit beyond curiosity.
But also a hint as to how to interest spirits of the Hidden Moon. They're Curious, but to grab their interest would take something hidden from their understanding.
Naturally its a well kept secret, but after experiencing it from Sixiang's perspective, it seems more that the moon spirits are all one with their progenitors, but not without an individual identity even so.
Different facets from different perspectives
Spiritblooded huh? With a gift of prophecy.
The empire has indeed been set on a different path, but if its a better one...the jury is still out.
Still, that grabbed Xin's curiosity.
Huh.
Makes sense when you think about it. The Moon is a reflection. You see yourself. The Eight Sisters are all masks reflecting the one looking upon it, in different facets.
This particular one seems like its the Moon Undivided approached through the Hidden Moon, so it takes the form of absolute self knowledge. All secrets laid bare and self deceptions scoured clean.
/Rambling
Xuan Shi doesn't flaunt it but he's the scion of a ducal clan.
To impose upon him without a closer, reciprocal tie is socially very difficult.
More like WHERE it breaks. If you suffer a break in your foundation everything above it is destabilized, and the only way to fix it, barring resolving the break philosophically, is to unbuild everything you built over the break, patch it up, then rebuild.
However, since cultivation has a number of distinct breakpoints, past which unbuilding isn't possible...the only way out is probably through.
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- Location
- United States
Yikes. If that's the case, it doesn't make sense to teach teenagers how to cultivate in the middle of their formative years. By middle age people's personalities are more fixed, so it'd be easier for them to form a solid foundation.
- Location
- Location: Location!
"supauzu", actually