freespace2dotcom Posted December 17, 2011 Report Share Posted December 17, 2011 Thankies! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freespace2dotcom Posted December 17, 2011 Report Share Posted December 17, 2011 Hehe... More questions. 1. If dragons supposedly taught humans magic, how do dragons use magic? Through a wandlike focus, or are they disciplined enough to not need one even for extremely complex magics? I know a wand is unnecessary but incredibly useful, but I can't imagine a dragon using one... 2. I remember somewhere that Glammour got a bunch of phemes and spells when Mastery was banned... Were there similar happenings with Gates? Incanting something out of nowhere seems suspicious to me in that light. 3. Regarding Aranaz, Was there a special reason that Orthography was folded into other disciplines? Or was it just Durand trying to dismantle it's rival? 4. Obviously, with Academagia being the prestigious institution it is, there must be many successful graduates... Do many return to their alta mater as staff or is this discouraged? I personally envision few returns in order to avoid being cloistered, and invite new people with new ideas, but would like to know one way or the other. 5. Regarding year 2, On my most recent playthrough, my character had a 10 on a few class skills, even though said character did not take those classes. Will there be an option to take, say, Advanced Negation even if you never took the original class? I assume of course that some sort of compentency test would be required if so.... 6. Is it really possible to work on two or more spells at once with one wand? I saw Orso Orsi flinging ice shards while hurling at least one plasma ball. Please explain!!! 7. If I was skulking about past curfew, and thus had to sneak past my regent in the middle of the dark, what spell/school would be best for allowing yourself to see in the dark. (as opposed to a position giving light spell) 8. Will second years have a somewhat relaxed curfew? Surely first years would know of this. 9. Can I get a pet fairy? Please!!!? I Promise to not let her out except for my own amusement! 10. If it is possible to incant something into existence, is the opposite possible? I'm not referring to something simple like burning a book, because the book would still exist in ashes and gases. I mean total molecular anihlation. Or would that be more like negating something's existance? Is it possible? 11. I know that there are animals that have been modified, but exactly what are the ethical/legal restraints on it? It's difficult to describe, but as a veteran of the "Geneforge" series of games, I liken this to "Shaping" from that. Of course in that game series they were revising even humans to a point where you might not call them that. Particularly toward the end. (overall, the whole story is also an excellent example of why it would be proscribed if it existed as is in this setting) I'm not looking for a long and detailed comparison, but I would like to know more on how it works in this setting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schwarzbart Posted December 18, 2011 Report Share Posted December 18, 2011 1) You know that in a Adventure a Human manage to do Magic just with his tongue? The wands are helping in doing Magic but are not absolut necesary! Maybe the tongue of the dragons are good enough suited to do this trick in oposit to the normal human who need this helping tool. ... 7) I suspect Glamour and revision could do the trick 8) To my knowledge yes because it was menitoned that we get more time slots aviable. ... 10) This would be Negation and I already asked if Negation a other human this way would work. The answear was that there is no known record of someone who have managed it but theoretical its posible. 11) Its mostly Revision magic but the problem is that you have to use spells with permanent effects for this. The other way is Gate to just call the "animal" you whant from somewhere ^^. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legate of Mineta Posted December 18, 2011 Report Share Posted December 18, 2011 freespace; Missed your questions! Here you go: 1. If dragons supposedly taught humans magic, how do dragons use magic? Through a wandlike focus, or are they disciplined enough to not need one even for extremely complex magics? I know a wand is unnecessary but incredibly useful, but I can't imagine a dragon using one... As Schwarzbart noted, a wand isn't strictly necessary. Dragons, however, are able to use magic in a way not fully understood by modern mages. They seem to be able to will Spells into being... 2. I remember somewhere that Glammour got a bunch of phemes and spells when Mastery was banned... Were there similar happenings with Gates? Incanting something out of nowhere seems suspicious to me in that light. Yes, to a certain degree- but in both cases the reason why some Phemes and Spells were reclassified is due to similar effects, not similar mechanics...if that makes sense. Magic is an academic study, and things are sometimes reclassified based on new discoveries as well. 3. Regarding Aranaz, Was there a special reason that Orthography was folded into other disciplines? Or was it just Durand trying to dismantle it's rival? Pursuant to Question 2, Orthography was found not to be a distinct Pillar, but instead an amalgam of other Pillars. As a result, after many decades, Orthography was dropped as a separate study. The Aranaz Regents, to say nothing of the Orthographer Societies, fought very hard against this, of course. 4. Obviously, with Academagia being the prestigious institution it is, there must be many successful graduates... Do many return to their alta mater as staff or is this discouraged? I personally envision few returns in order to avoid being cloistered, and invite new people with new ideas, but would like to know one way or the other. Yes, many do- almost all of the current Instructors are former Academagia students. 5. Regarding year 2, On my most recent playthrough, my character had a 10 on a few class skills, even though said character did not take those classes. Will there be an option to take, say, Advanced Negation even if you never took the original class? I assume of course that some sort of compentency test would be required if so.... Class selection is still being worked on, so I cannot answer definitively yet! It's possible, though. 6. Is it really possible to work on two or more spells at once with one wand? I saw Orso Orsi flinging ice shards while hurling at least one plasma ball. Please explain!!! Sure, but not at your level. There are a few ways to do this, and they mostly depend on your Palette. 7. If I was skulking about past curfew, and thus had to sneak past my regent in the middle of the dark, what spell/school would be best for allowing yourself to see in the dark. (as opposed to a position giving light spell) Revision, primarily, but Glamour, too, as Schwarzbart suggests. 8. Will second years have a somewhat relaxed curfew? Surely first years would know of this. I don't think so, no- I don't think your curfew is fully relaxed until your 5th year, although I might be wrong about that. Schwarzbart is correct in that there are more ways to do things, including additional time slots, but this does not mean that your curfew is relaxed. 9. Can I get a pet fairy? Please!!!? I Promise to not let her out except for my own amusement! Haha! We'll see what we can do. 10. If it is possible to incant something into existence, is the opposite possible? I'm not referring to something simple like burning a book, because the book would still exist in ashes and gases. I mean total molecular anihlation. Or would that be more like negating something's existance? Is it possible? What Schwarzbart said. It's recommended not to try it, although no one can say precisely why... 11. I know that there are animals that have been modified, but exactly what are the ethical/legal restraints on it? It's difficult to describe, but as a veteran of the "Geneforge" series of games, I liken this to "Shaping" from that. Of course in that game series they were revising even humans to a point where you might not call them that. Particularly toward the end. (overall, the whole story is also an excellent example of why it would be proscribed if it existed as is in this setting) I'm not looking for a long and detailed comparison, but I would like to know more on how it works in this setting. It's entirely possible (if you can make the Spell permanent!), and whether it is criminal or not depends on where you are, and who knows you are doing it. The Geneforge series is really cool, by the way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freespace2dotcom Posted December 18, 2011 Report Share Posted December 18, 2011 regarding 1, yes, I knew that they are unnecessary, but was curious. Willing spells into being sounds quite different than using a finger (or tongue). I think that that difference is a detail we will be learning more about.... regarding 2, so then, if, by some chance, Gates and Mastery were unbanned, said spells and phemes would get folded back into their original pillars because they share the same "mechanics"? regarding 10, Well, I won't be getting into negating people, just items. "destroy the evidence" if you will. Is it like trying to negate death?(theoretically, but too difficult) or does it have some nasty side effect? (unravel the seams of the universe?) regarding 11, so, in theory, if I had the prerequisite ability, I could A: incant a kitty out of nowhere, B: revise said kitty until I have a terrifying werewolf (with acid breath), C: repeat the process until I have an army? And if I happened to be in the middle of nowhere and didn't (intentionally) conquer anybody it would be okay? Let's hope they don't somehow gain sentience and rebel against their creator, causing a massive civil war which would escalate to the point that Monteon would look like a picnic. On the plus side I guess Gates is obsolete for that level of disaster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schwarzbart Posted December 18, 2011 Report Share Posted December 18, 2011 11) I doubt you can incant anything alive "out of nowhere", Incatation is mainly the control of elemental forces to my understanding. Summoning is Gate or "stumble upon the right animal" is Astrology. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freespace2dotcom Posted December 18, 2011 Report Share Posted December 18, 2011 Well I doubt getting my hands on a legion of kitties would be the hardest part of that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schwarzbart Posted December 18, 2011 Report Share Posted December 18, 2011 Even if you manage all this your sure that you can control them then? Or is it more likely that you get your self killed by your first sucessfull or failed catmonster you created? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legate of Mineta Posted December 18, 2011 Report Share Posted December 18, 2011 freespace; For your questions: regarding 2, so then, if, by some chance, Gates and Mastery were unbanned, said spells and phemes would get folded back into their original pillars because they share the same "mechanics"? Ah, I didn't make myself clear- in the case of the Spells transferred over, they were *not* similar in mechanics, just in effects. Glamour has a 'Mastery-like' ability to implant suggestions, as an example- but the mechanics of this are not those of Mastery. So, when Mastery was proscribed, many of these Spells went to Glamour, where they more properly belong (according to the science of the time.) regarding 10, Well, I won't be getting into negating people, just items. "destroy the evidence" if you will. Is it like trying to negate death?(theoretically, but too difficult) or does it have some nasty side effect? (unravel the seams of the universe?) Negating anything from existence seems to be bad . regarding 11, so, in theory, if I had the prerequisite ability, I could A: incant a kitty out of nowhere, B: revise said kitty until I have a terrifying werewolf (with acid breath), C: repeat the process until I have an army? And if I happened to be in the middle of nowhere and didn't (intentionally) conquer anybody it would be okay? Let's hope they don't somehow gain sentience and rebel against their creator, causing a massive civil war which would escalate to the point that Monteon would look like a picnic. On the plus side I guess Gates is obsolete for that level of disaster. As Schwarzbart notes, you'd have to use Gates to summon those kitties (or just buy them, I suppose!), what you suggest is possible. But permanent Revisions which are dramatically different are very hard to do; you'd have to Revise the kitties slowly, and breed the desired traits into them. You'd have to somehow survive this process, too. If you were far enough away that no one knew what you were doing, it would definitely be OK- as you say, it's possible that people wouldn't like the results later, though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freespace2dotcom Posted December 18, 2011 Report Share Posted December 18, 2011 ah, all is clear. Many thanks! All in all, animal revision seems extremely similar to "shaping" with the most important difference being that you cannot simply create life where none exists. The ingame lore of Geneforge implies that the creation of new animals is much this way. Possibly with less breeding though... ..I'm sure I'll be back with more questions later.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legate of Mineta Posted December 18, 2011 Report Share Posted December 18, 2011 Have fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schwarzbart Posted December 18, 2011 Report Share Posted December 18, 2011 But if your fare enough away then probably also no one mind if you use gatemagic to summon Monster at last till they attack the nearest village. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legate of Mineta Posted December 18, 2011 Report Share Posted December 18, 2011 Also true. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freespace2dotcom Posted December 18, 2011 Report Share Posted December 18, 2011 OOH, I just got a great idea! Are there any volcanoes in Elumia? I know the odds of one on a floating island are pretty low, but even an extinct one will do? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legate of Mineta Posted December 18, 2011 Report Share Posted December 18, 2011 freespace; There are several 'live' volcanoes, in what remains of Monteon, yes. There are a few extinct volcanoes in Elumia- the most famous and prominent one is on the isle of Dona Adria, where the caldera houses a city. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Posted December 19, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 19, 2011 Oh just a quick question. There is no such thing as mana in our kind of spellcasting is there? Whatever power we wield can 'just' be plucked from the aether (or what you would prefer to call it). (I'd hate to state that there isn't and then there actually was!) Also, are there any museums in Mineta? (there likely is, but any public-open-to-say...-students?-museums? - if yes then which kind? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legate of Mineta Posted December 19, 2011 Report Share Posted December 19, 2011 Adrian; Correct- there is no resource similar to mana. There are definitely museums in Mineta- there are two galleries on the campus of the Academagia itself, in fact! Most museums are not open to the public, though- you need to have the proper credentials, or know the right people. Students generally find an easier time getting in than others, though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schwarzbart Posted December 20, 2011 Report Share Posted December 20, 2011 What kind of methodes are aviable for duplicate writings. There is one in a event where you destroy the orginal and get X replicas but what other methodes are aviable and how exact/ time consuming are they? I also suspect that at last some of this metodes are not working for many magical tome's. One of the reason I wonder is the "work" copy the player can get his hand on in my half finished adventure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legate of Mineta Posted December 20, 2011 Report Share Posted December 20, 2011 Schwarzbart; Via spells, there are several ways to do it, but the most common is an Enchantment based device that copy text. If you needed to do it yourself, you could use Incantation (if you are careful), Revision (but over time it will fade) or Glamour (as with Revision, and it can't be entirely trusted.) Copying magical tomes is significantly more difficult because the original enchantments must also be copied. It is possible to do it, but...difficult. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freespace2dotcom Posted December 21, 2011 Report Share Posted December 21, 2011 What/how many planets are there in the sky? How many are visible to the naked eye, and what are their names? I'm working on Mr. Pebbles' adventure and this is somehow slightly relevant to the story. (Seriously!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legate of Mineta Posted December 21, 2011 Report Share Posted December 21, 2011 freespace; I could easily see how that could be important, actually. The only planet visible I can recall off-hand is Dox- I'll check with the Content Team and let you know! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeatTalon Posted December 22, 2011 Report Share Posted December 22, 2011 Merry Christmas! also wanna ask are there some sort of santa for Elumia. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legate of Mineta Posted December 22, 2011 Report Share Posted December 22, 2011 Merry Christmas! There is no Santa, per se, but there is a tradition of gift giving under the auspices of the Wedding Feast. For the planets, from the closest to the star Perios to the outermost: 1) Fax. 2) Eora. 3) Cyve. 4) Dox. 5) Ocupater. 6) Ianuus. 7) Hiberna. 8) Vigil. 9) Tumultus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freespace2dotcom Posted December 22, 2011 Report Share Posted December 22, 2011 Huh... to my eyes, it seems like a pretty close analog to Sol. I suppose it's just the nine planets and the third one happens to be the one all the action takes place on..... I assume that if this assessment is correct, then you would need a telescope to see anything further than Ianuus..? Or are the compositions completely different? (ie. is Tumultus not equivalent to pluto at all, instead being a gigantic brown dwarf, far larger than Jupiter, thus easily seeable for example?) I have all I need for the adventure, I just need my to sate my curiosity! Also, while discussing heavenly bodies, Cyve is a single-mooned or multiple-mooned planet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Posted December 22, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 22, 2011 (Can't resist) I wonder if Tumultus will lose its planet-privileges like our Pluto has Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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