Question 8

[Kobold King he/him]

From the Files of Koschei the Deathless:

 

...Nothing here. What did you expect? Dead Epics don't write files, fortunately.

 

 

The world is not ready for the battle of two such overwhelming forces of destruction. 

 

And that's what happened in Oregon.

[Voidus]

Thanks everyone for adding summaries to the doc, the master list of characters is finally starting to live up to its name.

Also new Epic and potential candidate for the coveted 'And then they died' list:
Epic Name: The hated one (He has never adopted a name of his own, this is simply what everyone else calls him)
Appearance: Unknown, if the hated one's appearance ever became publicly known then all the forces of the world would unite in an attempt to destroy him.
Primary power: Darkness-lego conversion: The hated one is capable of turning any patch of unseen darkness into lego blocks to stick into the feet of the unwary.
Secondary power: Shoe removal- The hated one passively destroys all shoes within a 10km radius of himself, leaving feet completely unprotected against his malicious powers.

[Mailliw73 he/him]

Oh, I added mine, I don't know if you saw.

[TwiLyghtSansSparkles she/her]

Thanks everyone for adding summaries to the doc, the master list of characters is finally starting to live up to its name.

Also new Epic and potential candidate for the coveted 'And then they died' list:

Epic Name: The hated one (He has never adopted a name of his own, this is simply what everyone else calls him)

Appearance: Unknown, if the hated one's appearance ever became publicly known then all the forces of the world would unite in an attempt to destroy him.

Primary power: Darkness-lego conversion: The hated one is capable of turning any patch of unseen darkness into lego blocks to stick into the feet of the unwary.

Secondary power: Shoe removal- The hated one passively destroys all shoes within a 10km radius of himself, leaving feet completely unprotected against his malicious powers.

He is so evil.

Imagine if he teamed up with Writer's Block. The world would fall.

[Voidus]

Oh, I added mine, I don't know if you saw.

Just saw and added them, thanks Mailliw!

Also it reminded me we should probably include Vanillas of importance since it's more of a who's who than just a powerlist, so if I could get some profiles of team Funacid that would be amazingtastic.

*Imagine a picture of a cute pug with pleading eyes here since I'm on my phone*

[Voidus]

Edge got some answers

Hello Mr. Sanderson, given that I can’t go to signings this is actually pretty exciting. Anyway, on to the questions.

1. Concerning the terminology for Epics, the definitions given for High Epics and a prime Invincibility are effectively the same, meaning every High Epic should have one. However, in Steelheart David says that only a couple of the hundredths of High Epics in Newcago have one. Did David change his terminology between books or is there another reason. (I would also appreciate definitions for what differentiates a minor from a lesser Epic.)
2. While Epics already age slower can their powers protect them from aging completely, be it by simply negating it or for example returning them to a specific age, upon resurrection.
3. What exactly is needed to make a motivator? In Firefight they operated on Obliteration to build the bomb, yet people still trade with any amount of Epic cells. Does the amount simply relate to power or is there something else?
4. Why doesn't Nighwielder's weakness penetrate his blanket over Newcago when it does pierce the shadow tendrils he attacks David with? Could the reason be that his clouds act as some kind of “security blanket” if for example he got his weakness from being stranded in the dessert clouds like his would have protected him from the sun, which keeps the UV-rays of the sun from triggering his weakness, because they can’t recreate the situation it originates from.

1. Prime invincibility is the cream of the crop of High Epic, in David's estimation. The hardest of the hard to kill. However, other people define things differently. "High epic" means "I have a power that, if you stand there and try to shoot me, it doesn't work." That's why in his definition, Regalia doesn't fit the bill--though many others would say her power of keeping herself hidden as she does would totally count. All a matter of semantics, but to him, there's a specific gradation.

2. There are no known epics who don't age at all.

3. This is covered in detail in book three. I've been pretty sneaky about some of this stup, on purpose.

4. I've been dodgy about answering this one, as I thought I might get into it in Book Three, but as I work on it I don't know that I am. The answer is actually pretty simple--it's for the same reason that someone manifesting Regalia's weakness in Babilar doesn't make the waters suddenly retreat. Or that Steelheart's powers didn't leave pockets of open material around anybody who hadn't ever heard of him. (Which is where this exception started in my mind, as without it, the first book would never have worked.)

Basically, I had to make the rule that a large scale, general use of the powers had a kind of immunity to the weakness--one of diffusion. But the general spreading of the powers on the large scale were also far less precise. (For example, Nightwielder could cloud the sky with darkness, but not stop rain from falling.)

Otherwise, you could just find the pockets where the Epic's powers on the grand scale were not working, and easily figure out their weakness. Hence, engaging Nightwielder directly ruins his immediate powers, but on the grand scale the darkness remains in place over the city.

It's the only way I could make the powers work on the grand scale I wanted, in turning Newcago to Steel or sinking NYC.

[TwiLyghtSansSparkles she/her]

Edge got some answers

Hello Mr. Sanderson, given that I can’t go to signings this is actually pretty exciting. Anyway, on to the questions.

1. Concerning the terminology for Epics, the definitions given for High Epics and a prime Invincibility are effectively the same, meaning every High Epic should have one. However, in Steelheart David says that only a couple of the hundredths of High Epics in Newcago have one. Did David change his terminology between books or is there another reason. (I would also appreciate definitions for what differentiates a minor from a lesser Epic.)
2. While Epics already age slower can their powers protect them from aging completely, be it by simply negating it or for example returning them to a specific age, upon resurrection.
3. What exactly is needed to make a motivator? In Firefight they operated on Obliteration to build the bomb, yet people still trade with any amount of Epic cells. Does the amount simply relate to power or is there something else?
4. Why doesn't Nighwielder's weakness penetrate his blanket over Newcago when it does pierce the shadow tendrils he attacks David with? Could the reason be that his clouds act as some kind of “security blanket” if for example he got his weakness from being stranded in the dessert clouds like his would have protected him from the sun, which keeps the UV-rays of the sun from triggering his weakness, because they can’t recreate the situation it originates from.

1. Prime invincibility is the cream of the crop of High Epic, in David's estimation. The hardest of the hard to kill. However, other people define things differently. "High epic" means "I have a power that, if you stand there and try to shoot me, it doesn't work." That's why in his definition, Regalia doesn't fit the bill--though many others would say her power of keeping herself hidden as she does would totally count. All a matter of semantics, but to him, there's a specific gradation.

2. There are no known epics who don't age at all.

3. This is covered in detail in book three. I've been pretty sneaky about some of this stup, on purpose.

4. I've been dodgy about answering this one, as I thought I might get into it in Book Three, but as I work on it I don't know that I am. The answer is actually pretty simple--it's for the same reason that someone manifesting Regalia's weakness in Babilar doesn't make the waters suddenly retreat. Or that Steelheart's powers didn't leave pockets of open material around anybody who hadn't ever heard of him. (Which is where this exception started in my mind, as without it, the first book would never have worked.)

Basically, I had to make the rule that a large scale, general use of the powers had a kind of immunity to the weakness--one of diffusion. But the general spreading of the powers on the large scale were also far less precise. (For example, Nightwielder could cloud the sky with darkness, but not stop rain from falling.)

Otherwise, you could just find the pockets where the Epic's powers on the grand scale were not working, and easily figure out their weakness. Hence, engaging Nightwielder directly ruins his immediate powers, but on the grand scale the darkness remains in place over the city.

It's the only way I could make the powers work on the grand scale I wanted, in turning Newcago to Steel or sinking NYC.

 

YES! He didn't skip Reckoners questions after all!  

[Voidus]

I am really happy with the answers too, and I can't believe I didn't think of that with Steelheart as a clue for the Nightwielder question.

[Edgedancer he/him]

Edge got some answers

Hello Mr. Sanderson, given that I can’t go to signings this is actually pretty exciting. Anyway, on to the questions.

1. Concerning the terminology for Epics, the definitions given for High Epics and a prime Invincibility are effectively the same, meaning every High Epic should have one. However, in Steelheart David says that only a couple of the hundredths of High Epics in Newcago have one. Did David change his terminology between books or is there another reason. (I would also appreciate definitions for what differentiates a minor from a lesser Epic.)
2. While Epics already age slower can their powers protect them from aging completely, be it by simply negating it or for example returning them to a specific age, upon resurrection.
3. What exactly is needed to make a motivator? In Firefight they operated on Obliteration to build the bomb, yet people still trade with any amount of Epic cells. Does the amount simply relate to power or is there something else?
4. Why doesn't Nighwielder's weakness penetrate his blanket over Newcago when it does pierce the shadow tendrils he attacks David with? Could the reason be that his clouds act as some kind of “security blanket” if for example he got his weakness from being stranded in the dessert clouds like his would have protected him from the sun, which keeps the UV-rays of the sun from triggering his weakness, because they can’t recreate the situation it originates from.

1. Prime invincibility is the cream of the crop of High Epic, in David's estimation. The hardest of the hard to kill. However, other people define things differently. "High epic" means "I have a power that, if you stand there and try to shoot me, it doesn't work." That's why in his definition, Regalia doesn't fit the bill--though many others would say her power of keeping herself hidden as she does would totally count. All a matter of semantics, but to him, there's a specific gradation.

2. There are no known epics who don't age at all.

3. This is covered in detail in book three. I've been pretty sneaky about some of this stup, on purpose.

4. I've been dodgy about answering this one, as I thought I might get into it in Book Three, but as I work on it I don't know that I am. The answer is actually pretty simple--it's for the same reason that someone manifesting Regalia's weakness in Babilar doesn't make the waters suddenly retreat. Or that Steelheart's powers didn't leave pockets of open material around anybody who hadn't ever heard of him. (Which is where this exception started in my mind, as without it, the first book would never have worked.)

Basically, I had to make the rule that a large scale, general use of the powers had a kind of immunity to the weakness--one of diffusion. But the general spreading of the powers on the large scale were also far less precise. (For example, Nightwielder could cloud the sky with darkness, but not stop rain from falling.)

Otherwise, you could just find the pockets where the Epic's powers on the grand scale were not working, and easily figure out their weakness. Hence, engaging Nightwielder directly ruins his immediate powers, but on the grand scale the darkness remains in place over the city.

It's the only way I could make the powers work on the grand scale I wanted, in turning Newcago to Steel or sinking NYC.

Yes, go and steal the upvote for my questions.

 

I am really happy with the answers too, and I can't believe I didn't think of that with Steelheart as a clue for the Nightwielder question.

I'm not that much. Number one still doesn't answer my question of Davd himself being inconsistent throughout books. Heck, he condradicts himself in the answer, first saying that the considers PI the cream, which means Regalia would still count as a "lesser" High Epic and then going to say that a border case like her doesn't fit for David.

The fourth, while it makes sense feels kind of like a cop-out to serve the plot.

Oh, well at least he didn't say outright no to the aging.

[Voidus]

Yes, go and steal the upvote for my questions.

 

I'm not that much. Number one still doesn't answer my question of Davd himself being inconsistent throughout books. Heck, he condradicts himself in the answer, first saying that the considers PI the cream, which means Regalia would still count as a "lesser" High Epic and then going to say that a border case like her doesn't fit for David.

The fourth, while it makes sense feels kind of like a cop-out to serve the plot.

Oh, well at least he didn't say outright no to the aging.

That's what you get for refreshing the page less often than once every 1.5 seconds

I think with one he's kind of trying to adapt to the other system by equating the term 'High Epic' with what he'd previously called a 'Prime Invincibility' so while according to that definition of a High Epic some lorists still might classify Regalia as a High Epic due to her Astral projection he doesn't classify her as having a PI and so doesn't translate that as being a high Epic. Or at least that's how I took it.

I do kind of feel like it's a bit handwavy but I'm happy to accept that it was necessary to avoid weaknesses being too obvious and try to rationalize it somehow.

[Edgedancer he/him]

I think with one he's kind of trying to adapt to the other system by equating the term 'High Epic' with what he'd previously called a 'Prime Invincibility' so while according to that definition of a High Epic some lorists still might classify Regalia as a High Epic due to her Astral projection he doesn't classify her as having a PI and so doesn't translate that as being a high Epic. Or at least that's how I took it.

Read the answer cearfully, the first sentence (and Steelheart) states: David considers Epics without PI High Epics.

The rest (and Firefight) states: While some people consider Epics without PI High Epics, David doesn't.

How does this not contradict itself?

Edited March 13, 2015 by Edgedancer

[Blackhoof]

Hello, I was wondering how I might get involved with one of your RP's, the Dalles one in particular 

I have a few Epics in mind that I would love to play with a bit. 

[TwiLyghtSansSparkles she/her]

Hello, I was wondering how I might get involved with one of your RP's, the Dalles one in particular

I have a few Epics in mind that I would love to play with a bit.

Welcome!

Post your character bios here so the other players can give feedback, and PM me their weaknesses.

[Voidus]

Hello, I was wondering how I might get involved with one of your RP's, the Dalles one in particular 

I have a few Epics in mind that I would love to play with a bit. 

Welcome to an insane world of ponies, random jokes and insanely powerful Epics who can tell the time. I hope you enjoy it.

And if you're ever stuck for ideas for Epics feel free to ask, because I have a list of ideas which grows every day because I'm obssesed. care deeply that people have new Epics for the RP. 

[Kobold King he/him]

Hello, I was wondering how I might get involved with one of your RP's, the Dalles one in particular 

I have a few Epics in mind that I would love to play with a bit. 

 

Welcome to the RP, Blackhoof. I'm the deputy GM for The Dalles, but it's primarily a title I use to make myself look important in front of newcomers. Can't wait to hear about your characters!

 

 

Concerning what's on everyone's minds--the AMA--does the affirmation that all Epics age mean that I need to tweak Lightwards a bit? The way I have it worked out now, he ages normally but is "reset" into a middle-aged body every time he resurrects.

[Voidus]

Welcome to the RP, Blackhoof. I'm the deputy GM for The Dalles, but it's primarily a title I use to make myself look important in front of newcomers. Can't wait to hear about your characters!

 

 

Concerning what's on everyone's minds--the AMA--does the affirmation that all Epics age mean that I need to tweak Lightwards a bit? The way I have it worked out now, he ages normally but is "reset" into a middle-aged body every time he resurrects.

He's also a Necromancer so I think not aging could fall under the banner of 'all evidence of Lightwards was destroyed along with Oregon', although I do think we should perhaps think about changing it for some other characters since from memory we have a few that don't age.

[TwiLyghtSansSparkles she/her]

As I recall, Timeport's aging is reset with each resurrection, and I think there were one of two others.

[Edgedancer he/him]

As I recall, Timeport's aging is reset with each resurrection, and I think there were one of two others.

*waves another flag symboling Nighthound's guilt.*

[Kobold King he/him]

As I recall, Timeport's aging is reset with each resurrection, and I think there were one of two others.

 

So either we allow them or we don't. I vote we keep them, as technically those Epics do age. They're just "de-aged" as part of their power profiles every so often.

 

 

This isn't a Reckonerverse question, but the Bandersnatch did answer somebody who asked whether something his character had done magic-wise in a Mistborn RPG was valid:

 

1)...This was a really cool way to use the magics, by the way. I commend you for it! In your version of the story, you're playing an alternate timeline, and what your characters discover is possible is totally valid there.

 

Can we use that to justify our canon-defying stunts in this RP?

[Voidus]

I mean I don't think it'll particularly impact anything one way or another, none of the characters would age significantly anyway, I mean at the ratio of game days: real days we have atm we'll all be like 80 before any of the characters show signs of aging

[Sirce Luckwielder he/him]

I went under for an opperation yesterday, so I am behind about ten pages. Is there anything that I need to know?

[Edgedancer he/him]

I went under for an opperation yesterday, so I am behind about ten pages. Is there anything that I need to know?

Brandon did an AMA at Reddit. Answers to most question are still out but we got an evasive "no known Epics can evade aging" (Now I wonder if Calamity would died from old age) and a handwave weakness-immunity for thinks like Nightwielder's blanket.

Also we might get someone new joining.

 

How did the op go?

Edited March 13, 2015 by Edgedancer

[Sirce Luckwielder he/him]

Mostly good.  I went to get my wisdom teeth out.  The actual operation only took 30-40 minutes, but I had to stay at the Maxillofacial office for an extra two because I had a bit of a reaction to the anesthesia. I had to have another IV in to get it out of my system, so no crazy stories.  The worst of it was me trying to spell out the words "vanilla" and "Arctic Circle" in the air.  I apparently gave up on "Arctic Circle" halfway through.  Now I am just laying around sleeping, checking 17th Shard, and trying to read Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell. That's cool about the AMA.  I don't really have any questions that won't be RAFOed full out from the Reckoners universe.  I do have one from outside though if somebody wants to ask it.  "If you use a Hemalurgic spike to give a skaa with only skaa ancestors Allomancy or Feruchemy, could they pass that power through blood to their children?" I don't know if that has already been asked, or if anybody even wants to ask it, but there it is.

[Edgedancer he/him]

Mostly good.  I went to get my wisdom teeth out.  The actual operation only took 30-40 minutes, but I had to stay at the Maxillofacial office for an extra two because I had a bit of a reaction to the anesthesia. I had to have another IV in to get it out of my system, so no crazy stories.  The worst of it was me trying to spell out the words "vanilla" and "Arctic Circle" in the air.  I apparently gave up on "Arctic Circle" halfway through.  Now I am just laying around sleeping, checking 17th Shard, and trying to read Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell. That's cool about the AMA.  I don't really have any questions that won't be RAFOed full out from the Reckoners universe.  I do have one from outside though if somebody wants to ask it.  "If you use a Hemalurgic spike to give a skaa with only skaa ancestors Allomancy or Feruchemy, could they pass that power through blood to their children?" I don't know if that has already been asked, or if anybody even wants to ask it, but there it is.

From memory, it has been asked and the answer is yes.

[Kobold King he/him]

Mostly good.  I went to get my wisdom teeth out.  The actual operation only took 30-40 minutes, but I had to stay at the Maxillofacial office for an extra two because I had a bit of a reaction to the anesthesia. I had to have another IV in to get it out of my system, so no crazy stories.  The worst of it was me trying to spell out the words "vanilla" and "Arctic Circle" in the air.  I apparently gave up on "Arctic Circle" halfway through.  Now I am just laying around sleeping, checking 17th Shard, and trying to read Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell. That's cool about the AMA.  I don't really have any questions that won't be RAFOed full out from the Reckoners universe.  I do have one from outside though if somebody wants to ask it.  "If you use a Hemalurgic spike to give a skaa with only skaa ancestors Allomancy or Feruchemy, could they pass that power through blood to their children?" I don't know if that has already been asked, or if anybody even wants to ask it, but there it is.

 

I'm glad the operation went well.

 

Though for the record, if anyone can't figure out any questions to ask about the Reckonerverse, you can always come to us for suggestions. Practically anything he tells us about the Epic despots we haven't seen yet is useful, especially if we can get info about the tyrants on the West Coast.