KnownParadox
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- Canada
The one we meet seems rather capable of messing with emotions just by being near it, I'd say we have non-zero odds of it happening. Maybe not likely, but I bet the possibility is there.
Trails of Tera Steel (Kiseki-inspired Pokemon Academy Quest)
- Thread starter ArvisPresley
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That seems considerably stronger than the xp bonuses we've seen so far, so yeah, sure!
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Oh I don't think it's impossible something happens to her mental state, I just don't think it'll be through possession specifically. I think the "Warped" or "Influenced" options you listed are much more likely.
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People won't be laughing anymore when she turns the cards she wins into moves and teaches her Honedge Dark Void, Shadow Force and Behemoth Blade.
It's not even being foreign that makes us a target. Mariana's just so bullyable.
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Shrimply prevent Team Star from getting off the ground by forming our own anti-bullying posse to go around and beat up any bullies we encounter, we could call it something catchy, like Team Sun or something idk
Toaster cult
I Am An Imaginary Living Body
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- Tokyo
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If we do get bonding actions pre-FE i do want to hang with Eri next week(and Astrid if we can swing it but i also want to see our cat)
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Triple Triad is a huge improvement over Blade. Although at least no one ever expects you to win at Blade. Vantage Masters...that's for later in the series.
Also I see I missed some fun speculation by going to bed at a reasonable hour.
My personal theory is free food items because we're kind, giving, and in cooking club. The Pokémon and Me action bonus is also reasonable but we've never actually done that action. We are also technically granting Elise advantage on her Ranger rolls when we show up but I figure that's a separate mechanic.
Nah. Getting possessed doesn't make us Crow. A possession plotline, or indeed whatever is already wrong with our brain since The Incident, would more reasonably be a parallel to the Curse of Erebonia, which hits a wide cross-section of characters, or perhaps an uncontrolled or artificial Stigma, a la Joshua or Backstory Kevin. This technically ties into late-series Gaius, even if he never really had to deal with the negative effects, and I'm trying to gather evidence that something like this is already going on in my deep dives.
Like I said it's probably not us, although I do appreciate the Golden Witch's talent to attract red herrings like a chunk of fishing bait in any universe. As well as the fact that ToCS's second most thoroughly spoiled plot twist is still giving us some suspense.
I'm definitely concerned with the Team Star plot given that aside from Arven and Nemona they're the only named student characters showing up from ScarVi......although that might just be because those are the only student characters from ScarVi base game with personalities. Still though, something is going to pop off here, and it's very possible that it will be something more significant than the group chat getting out of hand, given the tenser social situation in this crossover.
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It could be like Theodora's bonus but for Prowess? People she know's getting buff because she's ensuring they're properly fed.
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Oh, my, god. I hadn't even thought about that concept existing.
...Funniest thing I've ever had to think about, but if the closest concept to the Curse is the Ruinous Quartet, and the Curse itself is basically just Ishmelga, who is a Divine Knight. Does that just make the Quartet our Divine Knights? Think about it a lil bit. They're sealed in what could be classified as "Trial Grounds" you need to do certain actions to access them, and they are, by nature, objects of immense power that are somewhat sentient.
Honestly I'm surprised it took me 100 pages to realize this crack theory.
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Not to brag but this has been my guess since the first time we saw Chien Pao. I left it out of my big analysis post since the evidence is very circumstantial so far, buuuuut...it's there.
It's fine, don't worry about it, there's definitely not a salty artificial demigod hanging around cursing Paldea into being a cartoon supervillain of a country and really undercutting the franchise's otherwise solid grasp of historical materialist worldbuilding... What's this thing about a Curse I'm hearing about?
Many, many pages ago I made a joke about "Heed my call...Chi-Yu, the Beads of Ruin!".
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...Well that just shows the sheer power of ADHD when you're not locked in. AKA, apparently I was a couple steps behind in this instance.
Ah Curse, never stop ruining massive chunks of the plot and worldbuilding by your sheer existence. It's a charm point really.
- Location
- United States
Feel like there was something I wanted to mention involving the dlc locations but can't remember what it might've been.
But anyways, considering Team Star Mary has yet to meet all of the leaders. Still wish for more interactions with Mela but alas she was in the library action this week...
But anyways, considering Team Star Mary has yet to meet all of the leaders. Still wish for more interactions with Mela but alas she was in the library action this week...
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Thanks for the info lol, and to be entirely fair, fantasy settings undercutting otherwise good worldbuilding by introducing supernatural elements is standard fare I'm used to honestly. The "Malicious Demon of Evil" is easier to punch in the face than "the various sociopolitical and economic factors that lead to the rise of feudalism and serfdom/slavery/fascism/whatever" after all.
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I think the main thing that throws people off about it when they're playing the Trails games in order is that
In the Sky and Zero/Azure stories, the big divine MacGuffins are being used by the very human bad guys (or in Sky 3rd's case, unconsciously by the good guys) who want very material things. In Sky, the Aureole and the Recluse Cube effectively act like computers, responding to the will of humans, villainous or virtuous. Even in the case of Zero/Azure where the MacGuffin in question is definitively a person with will, she's still being manipulated by a couple of different overlapping conspiracies, not influencing things of her own accord.
Cold Steel breaks this formula by making the MacGuffin itself be the main villain with its own will and ability to act through manipulating agents to do basically whatever it wants. It's a compelling idea - an evil god subtly influencing history to bring about its own apotheosis - but the way it's actually implemented is "a bunch of people who did terrible but reasonable things were actually just being possessed all along and can't be blamed for it" which just feels...cheap.
Cold Steel breaks this formula by making the MacGuffin itself be the main villain with its own will and ability to act through manipulating agents to do basically whatever it wants. It's a compelling idea - an evil god subtly influencing history to bring about its own apotheosis - but the way it's actually implemented is "a bunch of people who did terrible but reasonable things were actually just being possessed all along and can't be blamed for it" which just feels...cheap.
KnownParadox
Not a sphere
- Location
- Canada
If the Treasures of Ruin end up being Divine Knight equivalents, can we call dibs on Chien-Pao? It's the first one we met, we're the closest to them (aside from any potential antagonists or conspiracies) currently, and Chien-Pao specifically is a sword (pr pair of swords) for our character with pretty good Prowess.
Imagine wielding an icy greatsword with a dark aura, or two broken blades, made whole by ice. The tip of one being replaced with ice to form the rest of the blade, and the other having its handle being formed out of ice.
Imagine wielding an icy greatsword with a dark aura, or two broken blades, made whole by ice. The tip of one being replaced with ice to form the rest of the blade, and the other having its handle being formed out of ice.
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If someone shoots the Emperor while doing the chicken dance, I'm leaving the thread.
I think Elise is the only one who gets to call dibs, sadly. And there doesn't appear to be anyone buried under Mesagoza so even that's up in the air.
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On one side, it makes a good narrative, bonding with the first one we saw, and the Sword (Literal Cold Steel) with the Prowess makes sense.
However, I like the snail? And before you ask, no I don't have any other reason but "I like the snail."
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That is the correct reason to want to catch and use a Pokémon, at least. Even if it's a demonic murdersnail.
And now I can imagine her friends just wondering but not quite daring to ask if the food is made of pokemon...
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"Listen. You drink Moo Moo Milk, right?"
Also on the topic of the Treasures of Ruin, I was wiki-walking and reminded that there might actually be another parallel here besides the big boss robot.
Zoro-Agruga (《暗黒竜(くらこくりゅう)》ゾロ・アグルーガ), also known as the Dark Dragon of Ruination (廃都の暗黒竜), was a dragon-like Cryptid that appeared in Erebonia during the Dark Ages. It is said to have the power to shake space itself.
Of course, in a technical sense he's related to Ishmelga. Sort of. I guess. But the point remains, *points at title*
Of course, in a technical sense he's related to Ishmelga. Sort of. I guess. But the point remains, *points at title*
- Location
- England
Karen: "Strong Pokémon. Weak Pokémon. That is only the selfish perception of people. Truly skilled trainers should try to win with their favorites."
You: "My favourite is this big snail literally made out of grudges!"
Karen: "Not like that."
I think the important question is going to be if we expect the main fantastical threat to be a Pokémon itself, or are things going to go PMD: Gates to Infinity/Super on us?
