Schooltime Gossip (Feedback)

[Zephyrus]

While having NPC backup is nice on occasion, I feel that it kind takes away the satisfaction one feels when downing an enemy yourself or with your fellow gamers. So, while I won't outright say not, I think that it would be best to not drag any NPCs into this fight unless absolutely necessary.

As for what Jin is going to do...there's only so much I could do. What I'm thinking is perhaps enlisting the aid of a family member who specializes in exorcism aka onmyodo (or whatever it's called, I'll get details later) and get him/her to load us up with buffs/AOEs/DOTs, etc., etc. Or maybe even some kind of barrier or spell that would weaken our enemy a bit before we fight? I dunno. I'm still thinking of ideas.

[Dracos]

Yeah, again, everyone's on the same wavelength there.  I would kinda vote Zero NPCs from anyone but yeah.

To me its obvious we should need more firepower.  Noriko's route is very obvious.  I dunno about the others.

[Dracos]

So we've got logs to post?  Zeph?

Anyhow, I'm trying to get some blog stuff going today :3  What I figured I'd also do is some myth takes on the rest of the cast.  Aisutori is hunting for Noriko-chan, Jin-san, and Enro-san to interview.  She's a very unreliable narrator though, so don't be surprised if she talks about how Noriko-chan is clearly the modern take on ancient puppet monsters and how that's totally awesome.

Aisutori has also had her grandma moved around a little more directly.  It's been sorta happening anyway in several sessions, but basically giving more excuse why 'having superpowered relatives does not equal they are coming in to save the day when we're over our head'.  Not really having it ruled out either, but it's not like they're right next door, just casually watching as we get our asses handed to us.  A short train ride away isn't a big deal, but it also puts it out of 'wave hi on the way home from school'.  Reachable, but not instant.  Also helps explain why she goes to random demons that are in the area.

Jin's family has the weakest excuse for not being more omnipresent (Yo, big bro, we could kinda use another sword!).  Pointing out not to jab at it, but to suggest it might be a fun imagination space for Jin to delve further into what else the Bunkou's are taking care of while he's doing the old family job of Neighborhood Safety.  His old man could be unfirm or "Too Old for this Shit"...or a Badass Grandpa.  His brother could be in town only so often and have a job out in tokyo handling major security stuff...  His sister could be 'too young for the field'.  Whatever, it could be totally ignored but just suggesting it might be a nice area to cover :3

Expanding further:
Noriko's folks are both present and involved so far.  But they've also been clearly non-combatants.  Leveragable for upgrades and supplies, not coming in with their own tanks.

[Anastasia]

Re: Board posting.

Do you guys want to add in an element of play-by-post to this game, to help soften the blow of missing weeks and general lagginess?

[Dracos]

Yes.

[Dracos]

While having NPC backup is nice on occasion, I feel that it kind takes away the satisfaction one feels when downing an enemy yourself or with your fellow gamers. So, while I won't outright say not, I think that it would be best to not drag any NPCs into this fight unless absolutely necessary.

As for what Jin is going to do...there's only so much I could do. What I'm thinking is perhaps enlisting the aid of a family member who specializes in exorcism aka onmyodo (or whatever it's called, I'll get details later) and get him/her to load us up with buffs/AOEs/DOTs, etc., etc. Or maybe even some kind of barrier or spell that would weaken our enemy a bit before we fight? I dunno. I'm still thinking of ideas.

I asked Grandma and she said something about the Onmyoji being terrible man stealing whores and then disconnected.  I don't think we should invite them!  Bidah!</silliness>

[Dracos]

Aside:

Where are we?  I might've screwed up on my last blog and put us near/in Osaka, mainly because the only in game ref has been Hyogo which is east of Kobe and Osaka. :P

I can go change that to tokyo easily enough.

[Anastasia]

That's fine.

[Iron Dragoon]

So we've got logs to post?  Zeph?

Anyhow, I'm trying to get some blog stuff going today :3  What I figured I'd also do is some myth takes on the rest of the cast.  Aisutori is hunting for Noriko-chan, Jin-san, and Enro-san to interview.  She's a very unreliable narrator though, so don't be surprised if she talks about how Noriko-chan is clearly the modern take on ancient puppet monsters and how that's totally awesome.

Aisutori has also had her grandma moved around a little more directly.  It's been sorta happening anyway in several sessions, but basically giving more excuse why 'having superpowered relatives does not equal they are coming in to save the day when we're over our head'.  Not really having it ruled out either, but it's not like they're right next door, just casually watching as we get our asses handed to us.  A short train ride away isn't a big deal, but it also puts it out of 'wave hi on the way home from school'.  Reachable, but not instant.  Also helps explain why she goes to random demons that are in the area.

Jin's family has the weakest excuse for not being more omnipresent (Yo, big bro, we could kinda use another sword!).  Pointing out not to jab at it, but to suggest it might be a fun imagination space for Jin to delve further into what else the Bunkou's are taking care of while he's doing the old family job of Neighborhood Safety.  His old man could be unfirm or "Too Old for this Shit"...or a Badass Grandpa.  His brother could be in town only so often and have a job out in tokyo handling major security stuff...  His sister could be 'too young for the field'.  Whatever, it could be totally ignored but just suggesting it might be a nice area to cover :3

Expanding further:
Noriko's folks are both present and involved so far.  But they've also been clearly non-combatants.  Leveragable for upgrades and supplies, not coming in with their own tanks.

Okay, couple things.

First, I sorta agree with the no NPCs thing. Running extra characters = extra work. However, I wouldn't rule out a familiar type NPC. Something basic that can be used to augment nominal abilities.

Second, Aisutori not being able to hit up grandma for training. Well, your train ride *used* to be a decent excuse. Until you made friends with a teleporter.

Third, the family being more present/tapped for upgrades. I like this, but I think it can be expanded further. Try *cross expanding.* Have Noriko's mom hook Jin up with some top line armor/gadgets ala Batman style. Jin, see if your family has any mystical ninja items Aisutori can use, or something that Noriko can use for a back-up power device or something similar.

As for Enro.. Well, he's fairly hoss when he hits, but he's not very tough. That's about all I can really think of for him.

Also, we need to figure out how to make our abilities work together. I mean, right now, we're just a group of people who fight in the same area, but individually. We need to consider how our abilities effect the world and how the others in our group can take advantage of it.

Like, Aisutori can freeze things. Doing so makes them brittle. Noriko can capitalize on this. Jin is a melee fighter, but I can help move him around the field for positioning and to act as interference. I can juggle forced teleports to act as crowd control and sow confusion.

Just a couple pennies.

[Dracos]

Yay, chatter!

Okay, couple things.

First, I sorta agree with the no NPCs thing. Running extra characters = extra work. However, I wouldn't rule out a familiar type NPC. Something basic that can be used to augment nominal abilities.

Oh, I totally wouldn't rule that out.  Getting minor youkai to help out with chores and stuff would be the sign of an advancing Yuki Onna~! :p  But at the same time, while I like having relevant cast available, I wanted to avoid the obvious question "Why aren't you going and having the local big badasses that your backstory references handle this?"

Second, Aisutori not being able to hit up grandma for training. Well, your train ride *used* to be a decent excuse. Until you made friends with a teleporter.

Oh, the time for training was never travel time.  It was "We are not DBZ monsters with time chambers, training with Grandma is a work of days to weeks at least.  Not an hour walk to pick up my rocket launcher!"  In other words, if it's heavily out of time matching with the other firepower tricks, it isn't very good for the moment.

Third, the family being more present/tapped for upgrades. I like this, but I think it can be expanded further. Try *cross expanding.* Have Noriko's mom hook Jin up with some top line armor/gadgets ala Batman style. Jin, see if your family has any mystical ninja items Aisutori can use, or something that Noriko can use for a back-up power device or something similar.

Heh, not a bad idea really tossed out there. 

As for Enro.. Well, he's fairly hoss when he hits, but he's not very tough. That's about all I can really think of for him.

You're fragile in a lot of ways really.  Aisutori out-staminas you on both magic and hp fronts.  Everyone else heavily out-hps you.  Pretty much if I had your build, I wouldn't be looking for teleport to melee it up, but teleport "I throw ranged stuff and teleport it so it appears at high velocity right in front of their eye".  You're the smartest in the party, so really being a party strategist seems a sensible role?

Also, we need to figure out how to make our abilities work together. I mean, right now, we're just a group of people who fight in the same area, but individually. We need to consider how our abilities effect the world and how the others in our group can take advantage of it.

Like, Aisutori can freeze things. Doing so makes them brittle. Noriko can capitalize on this. Jin is a melee fighter, but I can help move him around the field for positioning and to act as interference. I can juggle forced teleports to act as crowd control and sow confusion.

Just a couple pennies.

Well, this is a 'how complex does dune want things to go?'  So far it's been 'not much'.  Which is fine.

[Anastasia]

Third, the family being more present/tapped for upgrades. I like this, but I think it can be expanded further. Try *cross expanding.* Have Noriko's mom hook Jin up with some top line armor/gadgets ala Batman style. Jin, see if your family has any mystical ninja items Aisutori can use, or something that Noriko can use for a back-up power device or something similar.

That's not a bad idea, you guys could look into this. Nice cross pollination.

Also, we need to figure out how to make our abilities work together. I mean, right now, we're just a group of people who fight in the same area, but individually. We need to consider how our abilities effect the world and how the others in our group can take advantage of it.

This. Work on synergy, ways to use your powers together, things like that. Make shit up, by all means.

[Dracos]

Like I totally hear that we're on in another 26 hours.  Has Enro gotten out of bed yet?

Also, the general lack of ever seeing chatter from either Jin or Noriko makes a solid mark against us being able to do light board play to deal with slow sections.  It can work really nicely but if we're holding a 'we only think about looming for 4 hours a week tops' then it won't really be any different than it is now.

[Anastasia]

To be fair I keep meaning to club them and forgetting. Still yeah, it's not a good sign.

[Dracos]

It saddens the Dracos, as it seriously makes mid-week banter hard.  But anyhow, see everyone tonight :)

[Sierra]

I just find myself without a lot to add right now, really. Missed sessions always throw me off.