Question 18

[TwiLyghtSansSparkles she/her]

I think the problem is less it being too exotic and more how it relates to the core fear. I mean, obviously the sword isn't what he's afraind of here. From what we've been told the actual core fear is more something like abuse and in that case something reminding him of the abuser  (i.e. his father) would make the most sense. Of course, having the weakness be something that he himself regulary relies on, like a sword, is entirely paradox.

 

Right. If the sword reminded him of his father, and was thus his weakness, I'd be fine with that. 

[Elithanathile he/him]

It could be snakes then. I would prefer something unique, but not special. And I'm also confused on how swords are exotic. Sure, they're rare, but I've seen plenty of sword-totin'/makin' epics around here.

[TwiLyghtSansSparkles she/her]

It could be snakes then. I would prefer something unique, but not special. And I'm also confused on how swords are exotic. Sure, they're rare, but I've seen plenty of sword-totin'/makin' epics around here.

 

Yes, but Obliteration and Newton began using swords, so far as we can tell, after they became Epics. In modern-day America, people who learn swordsmanship are pretty rare. They exist, sure, but it's usually a hobby and not a lifestyle, and I can't think of any swordsmen who would teach it to their kids as their primary means of self-defense. Gun beats sword, every time. Just watch the third Indiana Jones movie for proof. 

[Elithanathile he/him]

Yeah, guns do beat swords, but his dad had been brought up with the sword when guns weren't around nearly as much, and so drilled it into him whether he wanted to or not, whether it was useful or not. It was more about passing it on than actual practicality

[TwiLyghtSansSparkles she/her]

Yeah, guns do beat swords, but his dad had been brought up with the sword when guns weren't around nearly as much, and so drilled it into him whether he wanted to or not, whether it was useful or not. It was more about passing it on than actual practicality

 

….how old is this dad? In the US, guns have been around—and commonplace—since the nation was born. 

[Edgedancer he/him]

Yeah, guns do beat swords, but his dad had been brought up with the sword when guns weren't around nearly as much, and so drilled it into him whether he wanted to or not, whether it was useful or not. It was more about passing it on than actual practicality

There weren't many guns around... in America?

Edited February 2, 2016 by Edgedancer

[Elithanathile he/him]

His dad was foreign. He came from the alps originally. There were mountain goats, but no guns. And swords. Because it's good for your health, mostly, but Dirk's dad took it too far. And then he was forced to move due to him not actually owning the land and whatnot.

[TwiLyghtSansSparkles she/her]

His dad was foreign. He came from the alps originally. There were mountain goats, but no guns. And swords. Because it's good for your health, mostly, but Dirk's dad took it too far. And then he was forced to move due to him not actually owning the land and whatnot.

 

Was it some sort of anti-gun, swords-only cult? Because I cannot think of a single person who would live off the grid without a gun. Even if you don't believe in using them for self-defense, they're storming useful for hunting. 

[Elithanathile he/him]

It's an alps thing.

[TwiLyghtSansSparkles she/her]

It's an alps thing.

 

Can I see your sources on that? 

[Elithanathile he/him]

I have no sources, but I'm pretty sure that creative license lets me have an alps thing. Correct me if I'm wrong. Or if I need to change the backstory, but I do think this falls under only mild suspension of disbelief.

[TwiLyghtSansSparkles she/her]

I have no sources, but I'm pretty sure that creative license lets me have an alps thing. Correct me if I'm wrong. Or if I need to change the backstory, but I do think this falls under only mild suspension of disbelief.

 

Creative license lets you come up with your own things, yes, but only so long as they fit reasonably into reality. Having people only use swords in the alps, where guns could mean the difference between having mountain goat for dinner and starvation, stretches my suspension of disbelief pretty thin. 

[Edgedancer he/him]

I have no sources, but I'm pretty sure that creative license lets me have an alps thing. Correct me if I'm wrong. Or if I need to change the backstory, but I do think this falls under only mild suspension of disbelief.

I'm pretty sure that we're talking abput a sterotypical goat herding alp person the extend of their martial prowess would be hitting someone with their herding stick and maybe using a slingshoot or you know, if they are the local hunter, using a rifle. No ninja or knight cults up there

[Paranoid King he/him]

Anywho, I have an epic idea, about an epic who can create space-bending portals of size ranging from infinitely small to person-sized. Can be various shapes as well but mostly ranging from circle to oval. He can have these appear anywhere in his sight, have up to 10 sets, and dismiss them at will. He can also hook up new portals to an old one. They don't fade away or anything like that. His portals retain momentum. (of course) Qualifies as a high epic due to his portals automatically appearing around his body to redirect attacks/bullets.

Are the portals linked up to each other in the same direction, or can they be turned? As in, can he hook up two portals such that if you drop something down into one portal, it flies up out of the other portal? Because without turning those portals, he's incredibly powerful. If he's able to turn those portals any way he chooses, he's impossibly powerful.

Can the portals transmit energy, or just matter?

How far away from himself can he create these portals?

Are entire objects transported (as in, someone doesn't go through the portal until their center of gravity is through it) or do parts of objects go through portals? (as in, half in one portal, half out of the other)

 

Despite never having played portal, I've put a lot of thought into how portals would work in real life.

[Elithanathile he/him]

Do you guys know of a way that I could make this work then? I'm trying to stick with the core of my guy, without changing too much, and have him come from a swordsmanship background, while having it make sense, and I'm really grabbing at goat straws here.

[Edgedancer he/him]

Do you guys know of a way that I could make this work then? I'm trying to stick with the core of my guy, without changing too much, and have him come from a swordsmanship background, while having it make sense, and I'm really grabbing at goat straws here.

Well, it isn't that swordsman ship isn't a thing anymore. It just isn't done primarily for self-defense but more out of tradition, discipline and that sort of thing.

[TwiLyghtSansSparkles she/her]

Do you guys know of a way that I could make this work then? I'm trying to stick with the core of my guy, without changing too much, and have him come from a swordsmanship background, while having it make sense, and I'm really grabbing at goat straws here.

 

Well, one type of abuser is known as "The Terrorist." They're the ones who'll end a heated fight with their partner by getting a rifle from the closet and cleaning it in front of them. Maybe his dad did something similar with his swords? 

[Paranoid King he/him]

You could have him come from a prestigious training school in the alps, where monks perfect their swordsmanship skills through constant training. Often the monks are isolated and separated to strengthen their bond with their sword. His sword became his only companion, as friendly companions were separated from him and neutral monks betrayed him.

[Elithanathile he/him]

Are the portals linked up to each other in the same direction, or can they be turned? As in, can he hook up two portals such that if you drop something down into one portal, it flies up out of the other portal? Because without turning those portals, he's incredibly powerful. If he's able to turn those portals any way he chooses, he's impossibly powerful.

Can the portals transmit energy, or just matter?

How far away from himself can he create these portals?

Are entire objects transported (as in, someone doesn't go through the portal until their center of gravity is through it) or do parts of objects go through portals? (as in, half in one portal, half out of the other)

 

Despite never having played portal, I've put a lot of thought into how portals would work in real life.

You haven't read from 23-25 have you. I've answered quite a few of these questions already. He has to see them, but it's only limited by his sight, so he could create one far away. He can turn/rotate them. I said that they retain their momentum, so yeah, they transmit energy as well. Part of something cannot be ported.

[Elithanathile he/him]

How are they "neutral" if they are betraying him?

[Paranoid King he/him]

You haven't read from 23-25 have you. I've answered quite a few of these questions already. He has to see them, but it's only limited by his sight, so he could create one far away. He can turn/rotate them. I said that they retain their momentum, so yeah, they transmit energy as well. Part of something cannot be ported.

If he looks at the sun, he can create a portal there and incinerate an entire city with little effort? Yowzers.

[Elithanathile he/him]

Yeeeess..... I did not think of that. But he wouldn't. Because looking at the sun would burn his eyebulbs. Looking at something through sunglasses or a telescope doesn't work. And why would he want to destroy the city?

[Paranoid King he/him]

Can he hook up a larger portal to a smaller one? Say, a portal that he can walk through on one side and emerge from the other side, but can't go back through because it's too small?

[Elithanathile he/him]

He couldn't. The linked portals can be different sizes, but he couldn't enter if the other side was too small. He would be able to see through though, which I used in an earlier post.

[Paranoid King he/him]

 

I haven't put too much thought into this character yet, I literally thought him up last night, but right now, I think he's powerful enough with them just moving objects. Did you have anything in mind that they could do?

Some things he can do with his powers are:

1. Walk on air, by moving a portal connected with the ground underneath him.
2. Glide, by jumping off of a building and portaling himself to travel sideways.
3. Strand other epics in space, by portaling them out there, then cutting off the portal.
4. Grab a sword from anywhere, by keeping an armory that he creates a portal to when he seems about to lose his previous sword.
5. Become unhittable, by creating a portal system around himself that traps shots fired into it. When he releases the outer portal, all shots fly out in a rain of lead.