While you wait for Chryssa to get back with something to eat, you pull out the two metamagic scrolls you've been lugging around ever since your last trip to the library. You're not sure if you want to start with leaping or blast first, but blast will probably be easier to learn so you might as well do that first. Leaping, you feel, will be rather more advanced than any of the effects you've learned so far.

You unfurl the vellum scroll gently, careful not to tear the material since you can still return this for a refund after all. Most of the scroll is dominated by a series of formulae you have a little bit of difficulty comprehending. Your best guess is that it is meant to help one visualize the expenditure of vys as a mathematical procedure. If X amount of energy is expended in this way, then Y will result. While you're familiar with this interpretation, your master had drilled it into your head when you were young, it was never really your forte. You'd always preferred a more mystical, esoteric view of magic. Thus you look to the top of the page to see if it will go a little more in depth about what the formulae are trying to represent.

Reading from the beginning, the scroll ask the reader to think about a burst spell as a simple expenditure of vys in a single direction. You're familiar with the concept, it's one of the first things an apprentice learns to do. The tricky part of the burst effect is finding a way to use energy efficiently enough to produce the desired effect. The scroll posits that to cast a spell the usual way requires at least four steps. One must gather the required amount of vys, transmute it into the desired element or effect, channel it into the palm, and then finally release the energy. This process is inefficient because at each step of the way some energy is lost.

The scroll then goes on to suggest that if one sacrifices precision they can improve efficiency. By simply releasing the energy after it has been gathered and transmuted, the spell becomes much more powerful while taking only slightly more vys than usual. Do with two what would normally require six. It then explains that the formula are meant to represent that, one showing the typical method and the normal amount of bleed off, the other showing the method suggested in the scroll and its amount of bleed off.

Finally it wraps up by talking about how one should go about meditating on this sort of effect. Really, according to the scroll, it seems like its just a matter of practice. Of breaking old habits and acclimating oneself to casting 'from the source' as the scroll puts it. About the time you finish reading, Chryssa returns with two plates of simple stew. It taste like guar, though you're admittedly no expert on what guar meat taste like. You gently roll the scroll up and set it aside before you start eating.
>Metamagic Scroll: Burst read.

Chryssa elects to break the silence with a question. “How long did it take you to master channeling?” You finish chewing before you answer. “Probably about... a month? I had a lot of trouble understanding how vys could be expended to enhance the mind. Most apprentices do.” She follows up with another question. “What helped you to finally figure it out?” You shrug. “I'm not really sure. One day my master dressed me in his finest robes, gave me a bag full of gold, and dropped me off in the slums. It just sort of clicked while I was trying to talk a homeless old man out of stabbing me.”

Good times.

The rest of the meal passes mostly in silence while Chryssa contemplates what you've said. After you've both finished your stew she resumes her meditation pose and you unfurl your next scroll. This one is... significantly longer than the burst scroll. You actually end up having to reroll a portion of it to keep it from falling off the edge of the table. As you begin reading, you quickly realize that a lot of what the scroll is talking about is building off of the ranged effect. Just like how a Vatis can control their vys even after it has been externalized, they can similarly control their vys even after it has been transferred to another living being.

The scroll goes on to explain that, with sufficient focus, a Vatis can prevent a spell from being fully discharged against one target, and can instead send it shooting towards another target, and a third, and a fourth, fifth, and sixth if enough vys is expended. However, the more targets a vatis tries to hit, the more expensive the spell becomes and the harder it is to force the spell to maintain coherence. Most people can only manage three targets before they lose focus. The extremely talented may be able to get up to four. As of the author writing this, he's heard of nobody managing to effect a fifth target with the spell.

After that it goes into a long explanation about why this is possible, reiterating many of the same things you learned for the Ranged effect. A vatis is tied to their vys reserves, even after those reserves have been turned into a spell and released. It puts forward an interesting hypothesis towards the end, that in theory this means a vatis should be able to recover some of the excess vys they expend in a spell by drawing it back into themselves. However, that's clearly a topic for another discussion.

It rounds the whole thing off by discussing methods for meditating on the leaping effect. The method suggested by the author is carving arcane symbols in various positions around a room, and focusing on trying to channel energy first into one symbol, then from that symbol to a second symbol, from that symbol to a third, and so on and so forth. Until such a time as one can reliably snap between three different targets without much difficulty.

You gently roll up the scroll and set it next to the burst scroll. All that you need to do now is sit down and actually meditate on what you've learned. You could probably resell the scrolls to the library now, but you've had an inkling of an idea that you could probably use that archeota you found in the ruin to copy books and scrolls quickly, and that aside you might want to reference the scrolls before you meditate.

Taking a glance outside, it's well and truly night by this point. The sun has gone down and the stars are out. You'd estimate it's about... ten or eleven o'clock. Chryssa is still meditating, and from what you can tell hasn't had much luck at all. While you can certainly tell that her reserves have grown, all her vys is very concentrated in a single point. Not diffused throughout her body as it should be. The fact you can sense this without even slipping into a meditative trance just goes to show how badly she's messed up.

>Rouse her, suggest she take a break and try again some other time.
>Leave her to meditate, even though she seems to be going at it completely wrong.
>Write-in

(Yeesh, sorry for the massive dump at the start of the thread.)

Also, a quick note on my schedule. I've recently acquired social obligations on Mondays and Fridays that will run from about 20:00-22:00 (Server Time) on Monday and about 19:00-21:00 (Server Time) on Friday.

My plan is to get home, start the thread up at the usual time, and then run for about 4-5 hours. Then go take a two-ish hour break to fulfill those obligations and have dinner. Then come back and run for another four-ish hours. If anyone is just violently opposed to this scheduling speak now and I can work something else out.

Wednesday and Saturday threads would run for the usual uninterrupted 10-12 hours.

>>30894754
I had an idea about the taking photos thing... have our AI do it, she can work on it nonstop. We should get her the body from the artificer

>>30894823
>Rouse her, suggest she take a break and try again some other time.
She'd probably do more harm than good if we just left her to it.

>>30894823
>Write-in
Rouse her, explain what she is doing wrong

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>>30894786
>my master dressed me in his finest robes, gave me a bag full of gold, and dropped me off in the slums
Heh.

>>30894823
>>30895086
This.

>>30895086
Writin' for this.

I'm so happy to finally be here for the live quest. I've been keeping up in the archives, but until now class got in the way of ADVENTURE

>>30894786
>One day my master dressed me in his finest robes, gave me a bag full of gold, and dropped me off in the slums. It just sort of clicked while I was trying to talk a homeless old man out of stabbing me.”
I really do love these samjan masters.

>>30895189
I am cautious of even more new players, but you seem to have the right idea.

>>30894808
>It puts forward an interesting hypothesis towards the end, that in theory this means a vatis should be able to recover some of the excess vys they expend in a spell by drawing it back into themselves. However, that's clearly a topic for another discussion.
Sounds like another Metamagic that we may be able to learn down the line

>>30895250
th-thanks

>>30895269
sounds like adding Leech to the spell without designating a target

>>30895333
Might work.

We should learn leech too, that shit's usefull for replenishing Vys on the fly since it can be used against animals and plants and shit.

You put your scrolls and books back into your courier's bag and stand up. After you've shaken a little of the stiffness out of your legs, you approach the little nest of pillows Chryssa has constructed for herself to meditate in. You gently place a hand on her shoulder and give her a shake, which seems to be enough to rouse her out of her trance. She look up at you mildly annoyed, still holding the pose. “What? Why did you wake me? I felt like I was getting close to a revelation!” She gripes.

“You were going about it all wrong. I could tell without even really focusing. All your energy was compressed to a single point, not diffused throughout your body like it should be.” She retorts with. “Isn't that what you told me to do? How am I supposed to channel it if I can't collect it?” You try to adopt a compassionate tone, though her irritability is starting to rub off on you. “While yes, that is the first step, you shouldn't be collecting the entirety of your reserves into a single point in your core. You should 'break off' a small portion and direct that into your arms or legs. If you'd actually channeled that tightly compacted ball of energy you would've lost control and probably blown this table across the room.” You pause, thinking back. “Come to think of it, I did the same thing a few times when I was starting out, except my master just let me waste the entirety of my reserves and pass out.”
(1/2)

Chryssa sighs deeply, rubbing her eyes. “Well... thank you, for not leaving me to just exhaust myself. I apologize for getting angry.” You wave it off, though she still seems to be in no mood to go back to quiet meditation.

>Suggest you find a training room and do some light sparring. Maybe that will help her grasp the concept.
>Sparring Chryssa with her ridiculous strength is probably a bad idea. Have her strike a heavy bag instead.
>Call it a day and go see about finding Profectus. If he's not passed out in an alley you'd like to have him get started on snapping pictures.
>Go meet the Artificer and see about buying that vaguely feminine construct body.
>Write-in

>>30895425
>>Call it a day and go see about finding Profectus. If he's not passed out in an alley you'd like to have him get started on snapping pictures.
>>Go meet the Artificer and see about buying that vaguely feminine construct body.

>>30895425
>Call it a day and go see about finding Profectus. If he's not passed out in an alley you'd like to have him get started on snapping pictures.
>Go meet the Artificer and see about buying that vaguely feminine construct body.

Have Profectus start taking pics, then we buy shit, then we start meditating on Water in working torards Master. I suggest the House method for a 10+ method.

>>30895435
>>30895456
>Find Prof
>Then meet the Artificer.

>>30895456
Seconding

>>30895425
>Sparring Chryssa with her ridiculous strength is probably a bad idea. Have her strike a heavy bag instead.
>Go meet the Artificer and see about buying that vaguely feminine construct body.

Then have Fulva snap pictures, monotonous are what AI is built for.

I think we should offer to teach prof too... his arm seems to run on fire magic, maybe if he learned the element he wouldn't be passing out after 3 shots.

>>30895503
I was thinking of offering him that after he wakes up tonight.

>>30895526
>>30895503
We should probably also tell him that if he is going to stay with us there will be danger and fighting, so getting stronger is probably a good idea.

So can we all agree that once we finish this shit we meditate on Water?

I'd prefer to get the debate out of the way ahead of time.

>>30895425
>>Call it a day and go see about finding Profectus. If he's not passed out in an alley you'd like to have him get started on snapping pictures.
Have Chryssa pick up the new weapon and armor.
Read the last book we bought. the book about the basics.

“Well, how about this? You've made a lot of progress today. I can tell you right now, it took me a lot longer to figure out meditation, and a whole lot longer to figure out sensing and gathering vys. I think now is as good a time as any to call it a day.” She doesn't seem entirely happy about it, but nods her head without much complaint. You offer her a hand and help her up, then start heading for the exit. Looks like the front desk lady has nodded off.

“I'm going to go find Profectus, and make sure he hasn't passed out in a back alley somewhere. You can head back to the room if you'd like.” She shakes her head. “No, I think I'll come with you. From what I've seen of Profectus so far, he's probably gotten himself into a fight. Beating up some drunken thugs will help me relax.”

Well, can't argue with that. Still, she brings up a good point. If there is going to be a fight you may want to stop by the room and grab a few things.

Currently you are unarmored, and carrying the compact sword, dagger, and officer's pistol with you. You spear, Centurion's Armor, and Projection Sword are in the room.

Chryssa has her mace held in a sling attached to her belt, she also probably has her daggers concealed somewhere on her person. Her bow and mask are in the room.

>You probably don't need to be fully armed just to deal with a bunch of drunks. Go as-is.
>Better to be over-prepared than under. Go back to the room and arm-up.
>Write-in

Man, I'm glad I caught this thread and that the previous thread went as it did.

Please, for the love of God, do NOT BUY ANYTHING FROM THE ARTIFICIER!

Are you people really that blind to not see that we are being ripped the fuck off? Price ranges from 200-300 gold for simple as fuck artifacts? Really? Just after we bought artifacts from Sadik of similar and better quality for the fraction of the cost?

Manipulator gloves? Yes, they are handy but not ~300 gold worth handy. We can learn manipulator metamagic here in the academy if we want to.

And they are setting such ridiculous prices not because the Academy is so greedy but because they literally don't give a fuck about money. They have entire crates of gold coins which are left unattended so long that they become moldy.
As far as I can see the only reason why they set prices so high is to deter the buyers. They are not merchants and Artificier's workshop is not a retail shop.

We can spend similar amount of money and get amazing enchanted armor pieces of Prof for example. If armor enchantment works the same way like weapon enchantment it would mean that we could get boots, helmet, gloves, greaves and armor each getting two enchantments. That would mean +20 in stats which would turn Prof into a powerhouse.
Maybe we could craft a full suit of armor for Fulvia which besides being protective and enchanted would hide her true nature.


Trading in the sword construct is the only fair deal that they gave us.
Not amount of haggling bonuses and roll results will make their prices even close to fair. They are selling shit 10 times more worth than they actually are.

I understand the want to spend money on cool artifacts but this is not the way to do it. We are going to stay here for maybe a week. We should send out advertisement that a rich guy is looking to buy interesting magical artifacts for a fair price and maybe some people will come to us. Or we search the markets more thoroughly for anyone selling magical equipment

>>30895637
ALWAYS wear the centurian armor, all day, every day.
It magically improves your body over time.

>>30895637
>>Better to be over-prepared than under. Go back to the room and arm-up.

>>30895471
btw, we only need to make copies because we want to sell right?
As in we have already absorbed the knowledge from the tomes. We should be able to teach 'er by by our knowledge and possibly better since we comprehend it and can explain it better than a piece of paper.

>>30895638
>Maybe we could craft a full suit of armor for Fulvia which besides being protective and enchanted would hide her true nature.
Nobody knows how to craft items anymore, it is a lost art from a bygone age.
I agree in general about not buying the overpriced stuff from him... except we should at least test to see if that shell for the AI is what we are looking for, that stuff is EXTREMELY rare.

>>30895637
>>Better to be over-prepared than under. Go back to the room and arm-up.

>>30895638
This. I'm against buying anything form that dude.
Except the Mask, because I think it's really cool.

>>30895637
With the city in chaos, walking around fully armed will draw a lot of attention. We should grab the spear though since it's the only thing we're decent with

>>30895684
Yes, now that you've read the tomes and scrolls you can teach what you learned to Chryssa.

>>30895638
I think we should buy the Staff and that's it.

It isn't over priced and some haggling should bring it down even more. And that shit is invalueable for Nature magic.

>>30895637
>Better to be over-prepared than under. Go back to the room and arm-up.

>>30895711
the horrible mask of nightmare? why the fuck would we want that?

>>30895711
And you are a terrible person.

>>30895724
Because it's an interesting artifact. We don't need to wear it again just keep it close.

>Better to be over prepared than under.
Writin'

>>30895735
this is an awful waste of money

>>30895735
Clearly, this Anon has been influenced by the mask and can't be trusted.

>>30895717
Agreed. That staff is way more usefull than most of the other items, It buff all nature spells which is like spell enhancement for all spells, not to mention that we can master Nature crazy quick with our Water + Nature staff

>>30895752
Not even that Anon, but are you serious nigga? That shit was like 90 silver or some shit. Cheap as all Hell.

>>30895717

Yeah, the Staff is a real tangible boost that we won't be able to do better on our own eventually.

1/2 price Nature Magic + miscelleneous minor effects? Fucking fantastic.

>>30895735
>>30895760
>has been influenced by the mask and can't be trusted.
I bet they would think we have been influenced by it if we buy it... yes.

>>30895735
What is money

Unless it's free then we ain't buying it.

>>30895797
>>30895752
Tell him that it hosts a demon that is planning to get out and he'll give it to us for free for taking it away from him.

Look, I just really want that mask.

>>30895775
90 gold

>>30895794
Chryssa will be pissed as fuck at us if we buy it.

>>30895782
the reason 1/2 is useful is because even if we make grandmaster, it makes us 2x more powerful as a grandmaster.

>>30895775
We looted a pair of extremely valuable ruins and got really stinking rich. You shouldn't judge normal wealth by the amount we had, or assume that all ruins will be this profitable in the future

>>30895638
>Manipulator gloves? Yes, they are handy but not ~300 gold worth handy. We can learn manipulator metamagic here in the academy if we want to.
think about this, ranged + manipulate = controlling a creature.
manipulate is what will cost us vys per turn. so we can control a target free of cost after the initial spell.
I honestly don't think it was a fair trade for the constuct swap.

>>30895829
Not exactly 2x more powerful, spells just cost 1/2 as much, that does not mean 2x more powerful.

>>30895840
We can't even use them

>>30895845

It's not as simple as 2x, but it's still an undeniably large boost.

>>30895840

Stop talking.

>>30895840
It ain't worth it to spend all that cash just to give them to Prof because neither us nor Chryssa can use them.

>>30895886
Both of these statements are true and should be followed.

>>30895700
>xcept we should at least test to see if that shell for the AI is what we are looking for, that stuff is EXTREMELY rare.

Actually I touched that in the end.

I think the deal for that shell is the only one that is fair if it works as we suspect it does. In fact, if it does, then we are actually getting better deal because that construct has a portable energy source on its back, Fulvia told us how they were researching into it and that would suggest that the female looking construct is one of the most advanced prototypes.

Yes, we should trade for it. I wholeheartedly agree


>>30895717
>>30895782

hopefully we will be able to lower the prices because of the test drive we did on the mask and if we bring up the fact that the prices are insanely high (though I'm not sure they would care)

>>30895829
>We looted a pair of extremely valuable ruins and got really stinking rich. You shouldn't judge normal wealth by the amount we had, or assume that all ruins will be this profitable in the future

I feel this is a problem that permeates this quest. We've been really lucky several times in a row. Maybe that means that every ruin we'll visit will make us even richer or maybe later on we wont find anything great. We shouldn't make our plans based on variable income which we cannot reliable recreate.

>>30895845
>spells just cost 1/2 as much
Effectively making us 2x as powerful.
We can cast spells that cost 2x as much, or we can cast 2x more spells

>>30895910
>I feel this is a problem that permeates this quest. We've been really lucky several times in a row. Maybe that means that every ruin we'll visit will make us even richer or maybe later on we wont find anything great. We shouldn't make our plans based on variable income which we cannot reliable recreate.
And we are explicitly told we are "stinking rich", and the library attendant was actually SHOCKED at how much money we threw around on books.

>>30895888
They're gloves..
We're wearing armor how the he'll can we not use em.
The gauntlets is what we couldn't use.

>>30895840
if they were fairly priced then I would jump on that deal even if it means we cannot use them with our armor.
But they really aren't. We are still a novice Vatis in grand scale of things. I suspect that the end-game grandmasters have Vys pool in several hundreds or even thousands so few spare vys points wont be much of a deal.
I mean, those gloves become WORSE the stronger we become.

>>30895886
How much does the staff cost?
If the price is right, we should probably get that and the construct

>>30895936
Gauntlets and gloves use up the same magical item slot. You'd need to ditch the armor to use the gloves.

>>30895936
oh, i almost forgot about that... we can't stack all items forever. the two masks we came across so far were incompatible iwth our armor, i bet the gloves aren't either

>>30895935

On the plus side, at least it's realistic behaviour judging by the fates of Lottery winners IRL.

>>30895936

Centurion Armour explicitly takes those "slots". Perhaps some fancy reengineering would work, but...

>>30895936
Soma specifically said that they won't work with our armor.

Our armor covers most of our body,

>>30895954
ok than, no way in hell is that a worthwhile tradeoff

>>30895936
The armor takes up the "hands" slot.

Soma said that we can only equip rings and amulets if we have the armor on.

>>30895503
I was thinking the same. He did mention that he had potential of becoming a Fire Vatis

>>30895936

>The Centurion Armor takes up the helmet, mask, boots, gauntlets, and torso magical item slots. Rings, amulets, weapons, and a few other things are still open.

straight from Somas mouth

>>30895951

Couldn't spot a price given, but here's the description: "This basically makes casting nature spells a little bit easier. Cost about half the normal amount of vys to cast any nature spells. Also allows you to manipulate plant growth without casting anything. Do all that fancy chair weaving what not the Archmagos does."

>>30895951
We didn't ask but it was not said to be expensive so between 250 and 100.

i feel like it is 100,

Then we can haggle and get a discount

>>30896026

I get the feeling pricing is all over the place - the Staff might have been made by the Archmagos, so it's not as valued as the actual relics, despite rocking our world.

>>30896021
So we can ask about the price when we see him.

I really really hope that Soma doesn't give us any Plot Hooks while we're out getting Profectus

>>30896021
I would like to point that while it is NICE. it is not strictly necessary. We can use water mastery to learn nature magic rapidly. And nature seems to be more about utility than combat.

>>30895954
that being said..
The staff. guys the nature staff would be boss. it would make nature spells 1/2 price. making us 2x strong when using a nature spell by using x2 more vys * which is equal to normal use*
use our discount of the staff, and haggle that shit down.

>>30896053
How many times must this be said, MAGICAL ITEmS CANNOT BE MADE ANYMORE.

>>30896053
>the Staff might have been made by the Archmagos
Making magical items is a lost art, nobody in the world knows how to make them anymore.

Also, we saw the prices listed on each item in gold before we talked to him

>>30896069
This has been said at least half a dozen times already.

>>30896093
We "saw" them but we don't know it exactly.

>>30896067

Sure, not necessary - but cheap utility magic is totally worth it.

Every utility spell we use cuts into our "survive combat" spells.

Nature magic will probably have combat worthy applications - entangling, thorns, and so on.

>>30896063
I really hope we can spend some time here, in the academy simply reading and training.
Honestly, we have simple means at our disposal right now which would make us 2-3 times stronger if we just relax for a while and don't go for more adventures and shit.
Remember, the library still has bunch of useful books which we didn't buy and I'm sure that there are many master-level Vatis teachers which could teach us a thing or two not found in the library.

Also, I'd like Chryssa to be at least somewhat useful Vatis before we set out again.

>>30896130
I say that we spend a month here Mastering Water and becoming a Vatis in every other Element at least. Maybe Expert in Fire and Nature as well.

>>30896127
It still isn't worth it.

>>30896086
this.
>>30896067
and yes since water compliments us nature quite nicely. + we can easily ask our archmage buddy over a cup of coffee some nature tips.
Nature while not out right combat we can have branches snag on enimies making them fall root them in place.
and ents..fucking ents will be made possible in a forest when we're a master possibly.
using the staff while we meditate will be a HUGE bonus, like creating a tree out of an acorn for like a + 8

>>30896127
We rarely use utility magic when in combat situations. We almost always have time to meditate and regain whatever small amount of Vys we did expend.

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You head for the staircase that leads up to your suite. “Lets stop by the room real quick before we leave. If we're going to be getting in a fight I'd rather be over-prepared than under.” She responds deadpan. “Oh, I didn't realize you were afraid of a few drunk men.” Wait a minute, is she actually teasing you? You weren't sure she even understood what it was to tell a joke. You shoot back. “Please, if I wanted to I could take care of a dozen drunks at once without even using a weapon. I'd just rather be prepared.” She simply responds. “Whatever you say, Mikhael. Whatever you say.”

Well, you'll show her if it actually comes to a fight what it means to be a competent Vatis. It doesn't take long for you to reach your suite and collect your things. You pull on your armor and attach the Projection Sword to your belt, even though actually using the Projection Sword in an enclosed space is probably a horrible idea. You also grab your spear and then you're ready to go. Chryssa is waiting for you by the door, mask donned and bow slung over her shoulder. Thus equipped, the two of you set off.

You pass through the main hall and leave through the front door, finding that your guar are still tied up to the post in front of the slop trough. The two of you untie them and mount up, setting off for the front gates. This time the guards just open the gates, you don't have to put up with any hassle on your way into the city.

The Upper Quarter, while certainly more neat and organized than the rest of the city, is still quite the urban sprawl. Profectus has to be on foot, so he can't have gotten just too terribly far.

>Just sort of wander at random, hopefully you'll run into him eventually.
>Look for some sort of 'Entertainment District'. That seems like the place he'd be.
>Look for a seedier part of the Upper Quarter. He seems rather fond of gambling after all.
>Write-in

>>30896172

If you can't understand why the Staff is far and away the most potent item he had available, then you should hand in your Vatis robes and become a dirt farmer.

>>30896192
That probably takes at least GrandMaster.

>>30896211
>>Look for some sort of 'Entertainment District'. That seems like the place he'd be.
nigga gay

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>>30896172
>not knowing the worth of utlity focused nature magic.

>>30896211
>>Look for some sort of 'Entertainment District'. That seems like the place he'd be.

>>30896212
He was talking about the Gloves. I'm saying that the gloves aren't worth it.

>>30896127

Wouldn't it be unwieldy to have the staff and the combat spear at the same time?
That's what worries me, that we wont be able to use them efficiently at the same time, we'd need to spend actions changing equipment.

>>30896172
I somewhat agree but if we haggle a lot we might bring it down to just "jew bloodsucking" level price. Even if we cut the price half it still will be extremely expensive.

>>30896249

No, I'm pretty sure I was talking about the Staff.

>>30896211
>>Look for some sort of 'Entertainment District'. That seems like the place he'd be.

>Write-in

Ask people and the guards if they saw a guy with rocky arm. He would be hard to miss and anyone who saw him should remember him

>>30896256

True, I'd considered that - but the Staff may not require full on wielding.

A more modern approach of having it slung across our back, so we can just reach up and touch it for the boost could work.

Staff and Spear is an odd combination, but we also have a magic sword - and Staff and Sword is a classic (if not perhaps super optimal).

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>>30896211
>>Look for some sort of 'Entertainment District'. That seems like the place he'd be.

>>30896263
My apologies then, it sounded the opposite.

>>30896256
No, we can sling them both across our back, or leave one on the guar, or dual wield the shit outta those, because it is totally possible.

>>30896206
>We rarely use utility magic when in combat situations. We almost always have time to meditate and regain whatever small amount of Vys we did expend.
exactly.. we wouldn't have to bother because we could spend an even smaller amount.. for more powerfull utility spells.
>>30896211
>>Look for some sort of 'Entertainment District'. That seems like the place he'd be.

>Entertainment District
Writin'

>>30896294
Utility isn't about power. dumping a ton of Vys into pressing a button is pointless.

>>30896293

S'cool. Hard to be annoyed when it looks like sanity* is prevailing.

*defined as "most posters sharing my opinions"

>>30896156
I agree. Also, as much meta-magic we can learn.

We should also try our hand at teaching pupils just for the experience. Every time we visit this place the MC becomes curious how this place functions even for one day without being blow up.

>>30896286
Staff and Spear would be ranged based with the spear for anyone foolish enough to get close.

>>30896256
I'm picturing us wielding it like Gandalf wields his sword + staff.

>>30896322
We can focus on teaching Chryssa and Prof, we learned in one on one so that is how we shall teach, or one one two.

>>30896339
We actually have to get good at hand-to-hand combat first. We can do that sparring with Chryssa, but most people don't seem up for it.

>>30896320
Staff and spear is possible, it's just that thrusting with the spear wouldn't be as effective, which we don't even need since we just use to channel Paralysis amd Poison

>>30896372
We should spar on the way to the Water Temple, we've just got a bunch of time-sensitive stuff to deal with while we're in town though.

While we are talking about the equipment, anyone else think that our hidden, compact sword is rather sub-par? An enchanted small dagger would be better, imo and could be similarly hidden.
The times when we need to use our back-up weapons is usually when we get disarmed from our main weapon. If our back up weapon has enchantments which make us faster and more maneuverable it would make it much easier to retrieve the main weapon.

Maybe we could ask the blacksmith if he can forge a new blade for the compact sword? Iirc, the blade itself wasn't anything special.

>>30896372
We don't need hand to hand combat combat for spear and staff and sword fighting.

>>30896319
>Utility isn't about power. dumping a ton of Vys into pressing a button is pointless.
when you can create a huge wall of tree's at half the cost of normal. and Defend your self from multiple attackers, utility is important.
And yes the potency of spells is increased based on the amount of vys you put into them.

>>30896212
he didn't say there was a better item, he said it wasn't worth the price even if it is the best item on offer

>>30896414
That'd require another 4 days of screwing around before it gets made. Not opposed to the idea, just saying it'll tie us down to this city more.

>>30896357
Of course we must do that, I never thought the opposite.
I just think that the education methods employed by the academy might give some valuable insight for Mikhael.

>>30896414
It is subpar, which is why it is a last resort, we shall keep it because it can be hidden so fucking well, but we'll also look for more shit like we have been.

>>30896414

The sword is pretty great.

It's extremely high quality - practically an enchantment in itself. It's fast as a dagger and more dangerous.

>>30896425
That isn't utility, Utility is what the gloves would do, that is nature magic.

We're getting the Staff not the Gloves.

>>30896420
What? Are you saying that we don't need to practice using a sword/spear/staff to actually BE GOOD at using a sword/spear/staff?

>>30896440
But I'm sure we are going to spend about a week taking the advantage of the library books and educating Chryssa and Prof.
Maybe even more depending how much we could gain here.

>>30896462
No it isn't, it is equal to a standard sword, this has been said many times.

>>30896474
We should practice with the Sword/Spear/Staff to get good with them. We don't need Hand to Hand combat for that.

>>30896472

Some people are talking about Nature as a primarily Utility-magic type.

>>30896452
>>30896462

Still, I think we should ask the blacksmith if it would be possible to forge an enchanted blade for the compact sword just to see our options.

I would like to point out we don't HAVE to be an adventurer forever. its just what we chose thus far. We can settle down as a teacher here, we can strive to become a rich fuck (invest our money in a business and use magic to expand it), we can become a warlord...
We have a lot of options to choose from.

That all being said, I LIKE the idea of being a dungeon delving murder hobo

>>30896482
This is okay,

Spend some time here then head to the Water temple. We are not going to forget about the Water temple, it probably has clues on how to reach Grandmaster.

>>30896414
its actually a really good blade.
What I would recommend is that it gets enhanced, via the blacksmith etching the same pattern onto it if possible. Small high quality blade + magical enhancement would be nice when casting poison or some paralysis or some shit.

>>30896531
I would like to check it out too... this btw means going back into the desert and again through the bandit area... hell we might meet the same bandit group as before. Only now we can throw fireballs and have more party members

>>30896526
HOW MANY TIMES MUST THIS BE SAID, ENCHANTED ITEMS CANNOT BE MADE ANYMORE.

Jesus fucking christ.

>>30896472
Since their whole arguement agains nature magic is that it is mostly utility, we were trying to show that utility magic is indeed very useful.

>>30896541
This isn't ENCHANTING. nobody knows how to enchant.
The blacksmith is etching patterns on it which allow us to better focus our vys through it, they aren't magically enchanted patterns though.

>>30896527
Take your treacherous ideas away from this place.

This is the only Quest on /tg/ about adventuring and you shall not take that away.

>>30896578
>Failing basic reading comprehension this hard
Which part of I like being a dungeon delving murderhobo do you not understand?

So, if we combine Leech (which I'm assuming allows us to leech vys from others) and Leap, it could be pretty devastating, or can two metamagic skills not be combined?

>>30896562
It isn't mostly utility though.

Binding, poison, paralysis, creating plant life, extrasensory abilities.

>>30896556
he is possibly just getting mixed up with the words like i did.
enchanted.. special in some way w.e you would like to call it, that the blacksmith does to enhance the effects of a spell via channeling it though the weapon or holding it how ever it works.
>>30896576
>This isn't ENCHANTING. nobody knows how to enchant.
when did i say it was?

>>30896541
It isn't a high quality blade, it has been said to be on par with any standard blade.

>>30896608
I read it, i am just saying to not even bring up the idea of not adventuring.

You shall not plant he seed.

>>30896562
>Since their whole arguement agains nature magic
this isn't an argument against nature magic, its an argument against spending a fortune on a staff that lets us do nature magic cheaper.
Remember that basic effects are FREE due to exponential nature of growth. This means that the staff is not going to help us entangle people in combat, because with a little training we could do this for free. It will help us with doing major stuff though... but those are going to be utility things that we can take breaks in between.
It WOULD be nice to have the staff, it just costs a freaking fortune

>>30896527
True but I think the majority of the players want to travel the world and see more of the setting which is a great idea.
I wouldn't mind making an investment so that we have a steady source of income though. Maybe we could ask Archmagos for advice, he should know something. It would need to be something really hands-off though, nothing we need to worry about and certainly not necessary to manage any aspect of the business we invest to.

>>30896556
?
Yes, they can. Did you forget the spear we commissioned? Enchantments are not permanent. I think they wear off after few years.

>>30896576
Well, whatever it is. For the purpose of game mechanics they are enchantments since they give a certain boost to our stats while we wield them.

>>30896625
>when did i say it was?
Oh, I misread enhanced and enchant

>>30896656
I brought it up in the context of the argument on whether or not we spend some downtime here teaching/learning.

>>30896662
You are the only one arguing against the Staff.

I was arguing against the gloves.

We are getting the Staff and not the Gloves.

>>30896610
That should work, we can put ranged+paralysis on a crossbow. In fact, some people talked about adding Leech here

>>30895269
>>30895333
>>30895394

>>30896676
>Invest some money
I actually like this idea

>>30896662
No price has been listed for the Staff.

And the Staff halves ALL nature magic costs. I don't think you get how good that it.

We can Deep Forest Emergence that shit.

>>30896689
>You are the only one arguing against the Staff.
No I am not, several other anons argued against it.

>We are getting the Staff and not the Gloves.
the fuck we are, we can't even use the gloves because they conflict with our armor.

>>30896662

Pretty sure it's not expensive at all.

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Well, knowing what you do of Profectus, he seems to have his vices but he probably isn't languishing about in some drug den shooting dice and gambling away the clothes on his back. He's not that devoid of sense... you don't think. So with that in mind you head off in search of some place big and bright and probably somewhat respectable.

It takes some searching, and you get hassled by quite a few guards along the way. They're all in different uniforms, you note. It's really rather odd. Eventually though you can faintly pick up cheering and music in the distance. Heading towards that direction you find the amount of pedestrian traffic picking up, a few small, hole-in-the-wall taverns start to appear here and there. It isn't long before you're navigating your guar through the packed streets of what you think is some kind of street festival. There are floats, and confetti. Musicians playing a different tune at every corner. A Vatis performing simple tricks for a crowd of onlookers. It's really rather overwhelming, and you can't imagine finding Profectus in this throng of people.

Until your recall he's an elf with a glowing stone arm. He probably sticks out like a sore thumb. To confirm your suspicions, you pull your guar towards some sort of booth where a man in uniform is languidly slumped with his elbow on the counter. You call out in Rhynian. “Excuse me! Have you seen an elf with a glowing arm made of stone?” The guard shoots back boredly with. “Left arm or right arm?” To which you respond. “How many people do you see with stone arms every day that you need to ask that question?”

He seems to think about that for a moment, then shrugs. “Good point, looked like he was headed for the Golden Cat. It's a bathhouse over...” He waves a hand in the general direction of further into the throng of people. “That-a-way. You'll know it when you see it.”
(1/2)

>>30896676
The Spear is not Enchanted.

Our sword and the staff and our armor is enchanted, but the spear isn't.

>>30896696
>That should work, we can put ranged+paralysis on a crossbow
It has been stated before that we can only channel magic through a weapon we hold. If we channel through an arrow it will dissipate when fired and before hitting the target, making this a useless endeavor.
Also, putting magic in a weapon cost the same as just using the ranged metamagic to put the magic directly where we want without the weapon attack

>>30896718

And it grants some passive free effects. Especially as we're headed to some island paradise, it'll be a lot more valuable to be able to control vegetation.

Well... a bathhouse hardly seems like the kind of place you shoot dice and drink. Still, you push onwards. People at least have the good sense to get out of your mount's way, so you make somewhat quick progress through the crowd. Before long you see a truly massive stone building surrounded by a high wall, with some sort of flowering vines crawling its way up the front of the building. You see some people carousing under sheltered verandas and on balconies, and the whole place is lit up by lanterns. A (bronze, you note) sign out front declares it The Golden Cat.

You get the feeling this place offers more than just baths.

>Well... leave your friend to enjoy himself, hopefully he wanders in by morning.
>You don't think Profectus actually had any money. Better go in to make sure he hasn't made a complete ass of himself.
>Write-in

>>30896662
the staff is well worth. it cuts the cost in half. so instead of being able to entangle a a man's feet in roots, we'll be able bury him in them.

>>30896632
> Whatever metal the blade is made of is unlike anything you've ever seen before, it's the thinnest blade you've ever seen, but seems just as sturdy as the iron blade of the scimitar on your hip
yes.. a standard blade.. that's thin as fuck and as strong as iron.

>>30896722
The other shit was me arguing for the Staff.

And i think you fail at reading comprehension. The Gloves cost a fortune and we ARE NOT getting them.

We don't know how much the Staff costs and WE ARE getting it.

File: 1395090471213.gif-(294 KB, 500x352, habrabarsausdhfbejaneuıh.gif)

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We are getting the Staff and not the Gloves.

>>30896722
>the fuck we are, we can't even use the gloves because they conflict with our armor.

>>30896752
the ranged metamagic lets us maintain the spell once it leaves us

>>30896754
Elaudia

>>30896718
Name some examples of a use for it. Not for nature magic, for the STAFF.

>We can Deep Forest Emergence that shit.
Not without being a grandmaster, at which point we don't actually need the staff anymore.

>>30896754
the free effects it grants we could do for free anyways once we learn it.

>>30896762
>>Well... leave your friend to enjoy himself, hopefully he wanders in by morning.
Maybe he'll learn

>>30896762
>>You don't think Profectus actually had any money. Better go in to make sure he hasn't made a complete ass of himself.

>>30896779
>We don't know how much the Staff costs and WE ARE getting it.
lol..makes me laugh cause "The Gloves cost a fortune and we ARE NOT getting them."
and we don't know about price.
I am very pro getting the staff but it does depend on our money.

>>30896762
>>Well... leave your friend to enjoy himself, hopefully he wanders in by morning.

Rolled 20

>>30896762
>You don't think Profectus actually had any money. Better go in to make sure he hasn't made a complete ass of himself.

Rolling for spaghetti

>>30896806
Cost of ranged metamagic: 1 vys
Cost of weapon metamagic: 1 vys
Cost of both combined: 2 vys
Point of both combined: None whatsoever, waste of vys.

>>30896762
>You don't think Profectus actually had any money. Better go in to make sure he hasn't made a complete ass of himself.
The last thing we want to hear tomorrow is that the place burned down.

>>30896811
IT HALVES ALL NATURE MAGIC COST. EVERYTHING NATURE MAGIC COSTS HALF F WHAT IT WOULD.

>>30896762
You can't cockblock in a whorehouse, won't hurt to check on him

>You don't think Profectus actually had any money. Better go in to make sure he hasn't made a complete ass of himself.

>>30896834
It'll be less than 280, probalby far less. and more than 100

>>30896811
All nature magic costs half of what it would. How do you no understand how amazing that is?

Since people seem confused about what the staff does.
If you cast a Ranged Nature spell, using the staff, it will cost 1 Vys instead of two.
If you cast a Ranged, Leaping, Nature spell (Although there aren't many that would work for this sort of thing), it would cost 2 vys.
If you cast a Ranged, Leaping, Nature spell with Weapon Affinity, it would also cost 2 vys... though I can't think of when you would use those three effects in conjunction with Nature.

>>30896844
Well yeah, but I was originally arguing that spell effects, specifically Leech and Leaping, could be combined.

>>30896762
>>You don't think Profectus actually had any money. Better go in to make sure he hasn't made a complete ass of himself.
Also, this quest has the most disagreements I have ever seen in a quest thread.

>>30896762
>We deserve to have some quality time in a nice bathhouse. Go in and relax. We can check on him while we are there too.

>>30896844
Cost of ranged metamagic: 1 vys
Cost of weapon metamagic: 1 vys
Cost of spell: 1 vys
Cost of both combined: 3 vys

Or we could

Cost of ranged metamagic: 1 vys
Cost of spell: 1 vys
Cost of both combined: 2 vys

>>30896905
Ranged leaping flower garden.

>>30896894
>>30896858
>Hurr, you so stupid
I get it, I get it fucking halves all nature magic. but guess what? Basic effects are free anyways. Only the top tier effects have a cost. So, what top tier effects do we actually need or want from nature magic? Nothing in combat really, those are all basic effects. Out of combat we can just REST to regain our vys between casts.

Also, what do you not get about "it is an awesome item that isn't worth the cost"?

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/30834186/#p30839282
Cheapest item is 100 gold, and it isn't the staff.

>>30896927
Is this your first quest or something?

>>30896905
Most of us get it, It's just one guy who refuses to read.

If we start pumping out serious Vys like Create + Nature and make a forest or other create shit it becomes crazy usefull.

>>30896762
>>You don't think Profectus actually had any money. Better go in to make sure he hasn't made a complete ass of himself.

Also, a question. Is our entire fortune on us at the moment?
If so, hide it more thoroughly and be wary of pick-pockets.

>>30896912
and? what does that have to do with wasting 1 vys to make a crossbow bolt be involved in the process?

>>30896927
>>30896861
>>30896857
>>30896842
>>30896828
>Go in

>>30896834
>>30896812
>Leave him to his fate.

>>30896933
>Enjoy the baths.

Writin' for go in.

>>30896927
Really, I'm okay with the level of bickering at the moment. This is pretty civil by a lot of quest's standards. Plus, it hasn't devolved into shitflinging (yet).

>>30896905
Ranged Leaping Vines. You can stop alot of people with that shit.

>>30896949
The first one I have seen with over 100 posts that are arguing what low level gear to buy.

>>30896935
>Hurr, you are wrong
>Here is a correction that in no way fucking shape or form actually corrects you about anything
The cost of a spell is variable, it could be 0, it could be 1, it could be 20.

>>30896979
Well since we are already going in, let's also enjoy the baths then.

>>30896905
>If you cast a Ranged, Leaping, Nature spell with Weapon Affinity, it would also cost 2 vys... though I can't think of when you would use those three effects in conjunction with Nature.

Nature can enhance our senses right? Can we extend that to sensing what others see/hear/smell?

If so, we could hit a baddy with a magicked dart and then leap it to all his allies. Suddenly we're aware of everything they are, like MGS series radar.

>>30896948
You are so stupid that it hurts.

Creating and controlling 50 vines in comabt won't be free until grandmaster. It will cost a nice chunk of Vys, That Vys will now be halved.

>>30896990
Go check out AoPH's arguement about what graft to get for passing the test.

>>30897001
see>>30896976

>>30896976
Absolutely nothing other than the fact that another Anon asked if metamagic spells could be combined. The vys crossbow bolt was an example that Soma himself used in one of the first few quests.

>>30896905
>It affects metamagic costs too
Ok, that is actually a big difference, because metamagic costs do not become negligible. so making a trivial spell with 0 vys cost become ranged will have the vys cost of the metamagic.

>Although there aren't many that would work for this sort of thing
>though I can't think of when you would use those three effects in conjunction with Nature.
This is basically my gripe. Nature magic is great, but the staff is very very situational.

>>30897017
Nature doesn't really work with weapons much. IT's main thing will be creation and controling of plant life.

We should also talk to the Archmagos about Nature magic and what it can do.

>>30896894
>All nature magic costs half of what it would. How do you no understand how amazing that is?
I honestly don't see why we didn't all rejoice when we saw this.
we may not be heavy nature now but with magic at haf the cost i don't see why not.

think about creating roots and hold on to enemies, getting to master nature much faster cause we can cast twice as strong/or twice as many nature spells. and meditating with nature will be a joke.
>>30896948
Entangeling enimies in roots, having tree's branches lash out at you. having a bush of poison smash into your face.
knowing where the enemy is by sense the nature around you. finding an enemy hidden behind tree's or even just around nature.
so many countless things.
Casting a wall of tree's to shield us from on coming magic/arrows
>So, what top tier effects do we actually need or want from nature magic
No imagination.

>>30896948
See it this way. At no point will a Vatis become so great that ALL magic will be free to cast. A grandmaster nature vatis will still have to expend vys for some spells, like moving an entire forest or something and in such cases having vys cost be halved would be rather useful.

I'm personally against the staff though I wont be bothered if we get it anyway

>>30897041
1. I made both posts
2. this doesn't actually answer anything at all whatsoever.

>>30897009
this
we really should

>>30897060
Then be creative. There are fuck tons of things that we can do with nature.

Also we should talk to the Archmagos about what Nature magic can be used for.

>>30897071
>>30897023
1. Water can be used to rapidly gain levels in nature up to current level in water
2. we are a water master
3. top kek at entangling someone with vines when we have a half a dozen ways to kill them and half a dozen way to paralize them. We can just use paralysis, or frost.

>>30897009
>>30897099
Yeah, some relaxing time would be nice. Get a good soaping too.

>>30897122
We are not a master of Water.

And Water is almost purely healing and buffing.

Notice how we have only ever used Water in combat once?

>>30897157
Actually, we have reached Master level in water magic.

>>30897122
then paralyze + Vines will drop battalions of people.

>>30897122
>3. top kek at entangling someone with vines when we have a half a dozen ways to kill them and half a dozen way to paralize them. We can just use paralysis, or frost.
spending vys when we have a very limitied amount atm. no thanks. when it might fail, just because we cast it doesn't mean it will hit.
>2. we are a water master
We're not. we're half way there.
>1. Water can be used to rapidly gain levels in nature up to current level in water
Yes and do you think that casting stronger nature magic while meditating at half the cost of the spell we're using will not help us level our nature understanding.

Anyone think it would be a great idea to start writing Vatis books? With that recorder artifact we found we could even narrate them.
Like, take the grandmaster journals we have read already. They are full of unnecessary shit like recipes, talking about pet dogs, genocide, etc. If we edit them, add our own experiences we could write rather stream-lined books which are easy to understand.

Not right now or even in the near future of course but it would be a good goal, I think. We might become a respected scholar.

>>30897157
>We are not a master of Water.
1. We are halfway there, we need one good roll on a meditate attempt to reach master
2. Which part of "frost" or "paralysis did you not udnerstand?
3. Which part of " Water can be used to rapidly gain levels in nature up to current level in water" did you not understand?

>>30897122
>Water: Mostly healing and buffing spells. Knit wounds together, stop blood loss, remove
exhaustion. A few attack spells if near a water source or at high levels.

>>30897140
>>30897099
>>30897009

We could Meditate with the bathwater too

>>30897176
>>30897157

Scratch that, ignore me. We're 1/2 of the way there.

>>30897190
>spending vys when we have a very limitied amount atm. no thanks. when it might fail, just because we cast it doesn't mean it will hit.
We are spending vys either way, since growth is exponetial and we don't plan on respecing out of water being our top discipline, then nature will lag behind in terms of efficiency compared to water even with the staff

>>30897176
>Expert Rank Water Affinity (1/2 to Master Rank)

please read the pastebins.

>>30897209
Huh, you're right
while skimpy clothed young attendants scrub our back and massage us

>>30897201
see>>30897204

>>30897209
I like the way you think anon, we can use the currents training and cut our wrists at the same time

>>30897176
no you dumbass are you new to the quest or something? we're not master level, please read the archives before spouting shit all over the thread thanks

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>>30897178
We could use this to steal the gem from the Warlord

>>30897209
>>30897245
Remember with are here with chrys

>>30897270
We have gotten a lot of new people recently.

>>30897178
paralize is a spell not metamagic.
You don't combine different spells, you combine a spell with metamagic.
Also, there is no reason to use vines in there instead of just leaping paralize

>>30897281
Basic Vatis have ways to stop Paralysis.

This guy is a grandmaster in several elements.

>>30897282
She can meditate too

>>30897303
we don't actually know that, we just know he is extremely powerful and experienced warlord who conquered himself a small nation.
So, he is probably a grand-master in at least one discipline

>>30897282
Chryssa can enjoy baths too. I'm sure they have female-only baths too.

>>30897281
That's a really, really bad idea. If we cannot gain the gem with legimate means then we should drop the mission.

>>30897300
you must be new here. please read the pastebins.

Water/Nature is an element

Paralyze/Poison is an affect

Range/Blast is a Metamagic

The can all be combined in any combo. Even Fire + Water can be combined.

You sigh. Of course he'd go to a whore house. Drinking, gambling, prostitutes... at least he hasn't tried to steal anything yet. Then again, you didn't give him any money before he left. Just how in the world did he expect to afford a place as luxurious as this?

You dismount your guar as you approach, and guide it the rest of the way to the front gate. The guards standing there look you and Chryssa over briefly before pushing the gates open. “Leave mounts with stablehand.” They direct you in heavily accented Rhynian while ushering you along. The gates shut themselves behind you, and you're left following the winding flagstone pathway towards the great stone building. It ends up leading behind the bathhouse proper, to a set of small stables that seem rather over crowded. A haggered stableboy shoveling hay over the fence.

Before you leave your mounts with the stableboy, you open up your saddlebag and make sure all your money is locked away securely in the lockbox you found at the Fortress of Eshnuk. What you can't fit in the lockbox, you carry with you.
>Carried Wealth: 2000 silver (100 gold, 500 silver)

The stableboy leads the guar into the enclosure and you're left somewhat at a loss as for what to do. This place is packed, and a little overwhelming. You suppose you could ask around after an elf with a stone arm, but maybe it would be nice to rent out one of the baths and relax for a while? You've been on the road an awful long time after all. Of course, that might make Chryssa feel rather awkward.

>Just try and find Profectus, lets not get distracted here.
>Rent out a bath and stay a while. If he makes an ass out of himself you'll probably hear about it.
>Write-in

Guys, we should find a way to replicate bullets. We might want to ask the Artificier guy about that, maybe other 'scientists' in the Academy, he cannot be the only one.

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>>30897245
>>30897209

>>30897224
lol we can't respec.. we are naturally good at water.
>then nature will lag behind in terms of efficiency compared to water even with the staff
doing what... you can't do all the same things you can do with water as you can with nature and vice versa.
and as for >lag behind in terms of efficiency
you're wrong. at the same level we may be more inclined to use water morer out of the characters preference. But never does spending 2vys on having a tree uproot it self and fall on some one * at the cost of 1 vys < spending 2 vys trying to do something similar.
but i mean thats just my 2 cents. 2 vys is never equal to 1 vys.

>>30897282
Remember that this is a bathhouse, not a whorehouse. We never said to buy whores. Just spend relaxing time in the bath. Also soaping and scrubing. That shit is really relaxing.

>>30897359
>>Just try and find Profectus, lets not get distracted here.

>>30897359
>Rent out a bath and stay a while. If he makes an ass out of himself you'll probably hear about it.

>>30897300
>>30897358
There is still no point in combining vines with leaping paralysis.
Leaping paralysis = enemies paralized
Leaping paralysis vines = enemies paralized and also encased in vines. Greater cost
waste of vys

>>30897359
>Just try and find Profectus, lets not get distracted here.

>>30897359
>You sigh. Of course he'd go to a whore house.
Wait, this is a whore house?
I actually thought this was a normal bath house.

Eh... I change my mind.
>>Just try and find Profectus, lets not get distracted here.

>Write-in
Maybe ask Chryssa if she wants to? .... no, that would be a bad idea.

>>30897359
>Rent out a bath and stay a while. If he makes an ass out of himself you'll probably hear about it.

If we used Leech and permanent would it permanently lower their vys pool, or would it constantly feed their vys to us?

>>30897373
apparently it is

also, I feel rather vulnerable with so much money. We really should find a place to safely store it.

>>30897359
Check in on Prof to let him know we're here, then rent out a bath

>>30897359
>>Rent out a bath and stay a while. If he makes an ass out of himself you'll probably hear about it.

>>30897401
Actucally it would be this

Leaping + Range + Paralysis

Or

Range + Vines + Paralysis

If we imbune the Vines with paralysis and then just hit multiple foes with them they all get it.

>>30897403
it is both. it is a bathhouse and you can buy some time with whores too if you want.

>>30897359
>Just try and find Profectus, lets not get distracted here.

>>30897359
>Just try and find Profectus, lets not get distracted here.

>>30897372
>lol we can't respec
respec as in "stop learning water entirely, learn nature to a greater extent than we currently have with it"

not "unlearn and reuse the XP to learn something else"

>But never does spending 2vys on having a tree uproot it self and fall on some one * at the cost of 1 vys < spending 2 vys trying to do something similar.
You are assuming water and nature are the same level. Costs are only similar if level is the same, if level of water is higher then it can be done cheaper

>>30897359
>>Just try and find Profectus, lets not get distracted here.
I wanna hit up that artificer

>>30897401
no, just paralysis vines
and all the vines have to do is touch the enemies' ankle

Does no one want to try meditating with a large bath by creating currents?

>>30897469
>>30897468
>>30897403
>>30897402
>>30897383
>No distractions.

>>30897384
>>30897411
>>30897450
>What's the rush? Relax a little.

Writin'

If we end up renting out a bath explain to Chryssa that it is for meditating or some other Vatis shit. Which would actually be true.

>>30897429
that was a poor choice of wording on Soma's part i guess. It is not a whorehouse. From what i understand, it is one of those bathouses that you can buy whores. We can just choose to have a relaxing bath time without sex.
or maybe i just understood it wrong.

>>30897457
You are assuming multiple simultanous vines will not require metamagic

Range Metamagic + Vine + Multiple/leaping/something metamagic + Paralysis
is more accurate because we will only get one vine without a metamagic to make it plural

>Well Made Oud (+4 Perform, should you know how to play)

When are we going to make some bitching performance?

>>30897546
When we learn how to play.

>>30897516
Nothing so far implies that at all, not to mention that it wouldn't be a metamagic it would just cost more Vys through Nature and that would be halved by the staff. Not to mention that The Staff allows us to control Vines freely.

>>30897480
we will not stop learning water entirely ever until we hit grand master. And even then we will experiment with it from time to time i am sure.
>>30897480
ofcourse i am you can't compare the two at different levels. clearly that makes no point.
you might as well compare a novice and a grand master.
>>30897546
>>30897586
yeah soon enough.. OR we could sell it off for a profit..considering wer don't know how to play and think it might be a waste of a turn/turns to practice playing a musical instrument.
but know knows being a Gun toting Mage bard..might be good for Moral?

>>30897516
You're grasping at straws

>>30897603
>Nothing so far implies that at all
every single other spell we have come across needed metamagic to affect multiple targets.
Why do you assume this particular effect will just let you bypass the metamagic cost of plural attacks?

>>30897586
I think we are somewhat experienced in that regard, I mean, it says in the description.

>>30897620
>it might be a waste of a turn/turns to practice playing a musical instrument.
It shouldn't take 6 hours like Vatis meditation usually does. Performing once in a while during travels would be nice for a change and once we become really good at it, we could entertain other people.

>>30897620
>we will not stop learning water entirely ever until we hit grand master.
gee, its almost EXACTLY WHAT I FUCKING SAID.

> clearly that makes no point.
The point is that with water being our primary and highest level, its more efficient than a lower level skill using a "half off" bonus.

>>30897627
>>30897603
>>30897516
We could also using vines as leech+leap+ranged. But that sounds complicated as fuck.
But basically with any element we get to grand master and have such an item is amazing.

>>30897657
Because controlling Vines is already completely free with the staff.

>>30897676
But not if it is something that Water can't do, which is a lot of things.

>>30897686
we wouldn't need Leap

>>30897498
QM, can you confirm whether or not nature magic has a "multiple vines" spell that can be used to deliver paralysis to multiple opponents cheaper than using paraylsis + metamagic?

>>30897667
I'd be cool with practicing in the downtime, but I think that reading books might be more useful.

Side question, doesn't reading a tome increase our vys pool? Has it gone up from the cramming we did in the library, or do those not count as tomes?

Imagine being a Grandmaster Nature vatis, with the staff. Imagine the things we could do, but seriously, the staff isn't going anywhere, not for that price. We can come back for it later after we completely (grand)master water.

>>30897690
>Because controlling Vines is already completely free with the staff.
holy fucking shit! the first actual coherent argument I have seen for the staff!
Yea, if this can be used to deliver touch attacks then it is useful

>>30897733
We can afford it no problem. We son;t have anything else to buy and there is no way in hell we are getting those gloves.

>>30897711
Paralysis+Leaping would be easier to do and cheaper than casting some form of nature spell+paralysis. You would probably end up needing a Nature spell that cost 4 vys+Ranged+Paralysis for a total cost of 6. Leaping would cost, at most, 5 vys.

The staff would knock the cost down to 3, making it cheaper if you were fighting more than 2 enemies.

>>30897741
It halves all nature magic cost, including affects and metamagic attached to the nature spell.

There is all the reason you need for that staff, even if it costs 250.

>>30897771
we can buy books, which will increase our vys pool as well as unlock the ability to reach higher ranks via meditation (remember, you hit a wall and must read books on a magic type to bypass that wall)

>>30897712
I just don't think we really need to invest hours and hours for practice.
We could just perform once for 5-10 minutes a day and that would be enough practice for us. I think we already know to play, so it should be enjoyable for everyone.

>Side question, doesn't reading a tome increase our vys pool? Has it gone up from the cramming we did in the library, or do those not count as tomes?
It should. I think scrolls count too.

>>30897796
How many vines could we freely control? and ca we paralyze multiple enemies with 1 vine?

>>30897796
Isn't controlling Vines free with the staff?

>>30897806
Oh God, please don't suggest wasting more money buying books from the library when we can simply go there and read them for free.

>>30897800
I would like to point out that "halving the metamagic cost" is an argument only the QM made, not anyone on your side.

>>30897796
Alright then, we have confirmation that
1. It is more expensive to use vines to deliver paralysis (settling one argument)
2. The staff would half that and as a result it would become cheaper overall to use the staff to cast such a spell. (settling a different argument)

So, thank you for the info.

>>30897806
Actually, this is a key point. Every gold we spend on staff is gold we don't spend on books or scrolls. Which increase our vys pool and raise our mastery level

The MC's Vys Pool grows by
+1 point for every level they gain in a major element.
+1 point for every magical tome they finish.
+1 point for every effect they learn.
+2 points for every metamagic feat they learn.

We should have gotten 1 from the grandmasters journal.

>>30897800
Goddamn this. And idiots are still stuck on magic or vines thing.

>>30897860
We can't read books in the library, its only allowed if we become faculty.

Our options are:
1. Buy books
2. Buy classes
3. Become a teacher, get free book access
4. Become an archeologist, get free book access, university gets the lion share of the loot we find in ruins.

>>30897860
Better yet, take pictures of them and read on our own time.

>>30897862
>I would like to point out that "halving the metamagic cost" is an argument only the QM made, not anyone on your side.
so?

and we can read books for free as long as we stay in the library.

>>30897822
>>30897847
Parlor tricks are free with the staff. You could control small vines, enough to catch somebodies foot and trip them, or weave yourself a chair, or tie someone down, for free. A large number of sturdy, thorned vines, which is what you'd need to deliver paralysis, would cost vys. Granted, at a reduced cost.

>>30897676
>The point is that with water being our primary and highest level, its more efficient than a lower level skill using a "half off" bonus.
I agree.
I also pointed out that you shouldn't compare power levels of a almost master class to an element we have no control over. But using water as a crutch and having the staff attaining master in nature will become a joke compared to being master in water.
>>30897667
just saying it might be worth it to sell for a profit.
>>30897741
you should have picked up on that.
but as we do with any element we know and can use the element to it's fullest extent.
Having that not sounds really nice.
>>30897733
I think most people are thinking things like this that want the staff.
People who don't want the staff just don't seem to care much about nature.
Staff = cool utility spells.
Feeding us by growing plants in soils.. having apple tree's spring out a meal in seconds.
possible communing with nature for exits/entrances/ communicating with nature/animals. not sure about the last one. x.x

>>30897886
That was never said anywhere.

We just spent like 18 hours chillin in the library and no one said shit.

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>>30897862
>I would like to point out that "halving the metamagic cost" is an argument only the QM made, not anyone on your side.
your stupidity hurts. really.

>>30897894
>so?
so see >>30897741
and >>30897800

>>30897894
> we can read books for free as long as we stay in the library.
No, we can't. see >>30897886
We were explicitly told only faculty gets free access to read in the library.

>>30897895
How much is the base price for the staff?

>>30897915
we were reading our own books there.

>>30897924
see>>30897915

You decide it would be best not to get distracted, besides you have a bath in your suite. If you just wanted to relax it would work just as well.

Stepping inside you're immediately insulted by the overwhelming scent of perfume and incense. There's a man in drag waiting inside... or, well, you think it's a man in drag. It may just be a particularly hideous old woman. Whoever they are they're speaking with someone you assume to be a customer, he's wearing an obnoxiously poofy silk shirt and not much else. He seems to be completely sozzled drunk and the... you're going to go with hideous old woman seems about ten minutes away from having him throne out. No stone arm though, so at least it's not Profectus.

You also note a few woman in, really, rather conservative dress for what you expect of prostitutes. You're used to lots of transparent silk and outright nudity. These women are paraded about in some sort of stiff, tight fitting... the closest word you have to describe it would be a vest. Most of them are even wearing some form of undergarment. Chryssa, for her part, still seems rather scandalized. She's been tense and hasn't said a word since you arrived.

The half naked man finally wanders off and you gently clear your throat. “Excuse me...” You're going to have to take a guess. “Miss?” The old woman turns to you and nods her head curtly. “Mistress, if you will. What can I do for you, sir?” Well, it is a woman after all. Maybe. “I'm looking for an elf with a stone arm. He's a companion of mine.” She raises an eyebrow at the word 'companion' but doesn't say anything about it. “Yes, that ruffian wandered in drunk and proceeded to try and run off without paying one of the girls. He's locked up in a holding cell below.” She pauses. “We were going to hand him off to the guards of House Perasius, but if you'd like to pay his tab we can release him to you instead.”
(1/2)

>>30897886
I think Archmagos gave us permission to visit the library while we stay here.
I might be wrong though.

Another thing we could do is simply find teachers and students and ask them about things we don't know yet. We could equally exchange our knowledge or if they ask for a payment it should be much lower than waht the books would have costed

>>30897961
We paid for those though, that's completely different

>>30897947
We could have easily grabbed any book without anyone noticing.

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That sounds distinctly like they planned to sell him into slavery. It rather offends your sensibilities that a man can be stripped of his freedom for something like an unpaid tab.

>Just pay his tab and get out of here.
>Don't pay his tab, he needs to learn his lesson.
>Write-in

Shoot, forgot my picture.

>>30897981
They don't know that.

see>>30897982

>>30897982
or caring

seriously, I think it is established that we are a friend of archmagos or at least an important guest. No one is going to harass us about such minor shit

>>30897999
>>Just pay his tab and get out of here.

>>30897999
>>Just pay his tab and get out of here.

Well, his punishment can be spending a few hours taking pictures of books.

>>30897966
>throne out
Meant thrown out. Obviously.

Also, I saw someone mention that you should've gotten a bump from completing the Grandmaster's Journal. I took that into account and updated your character sheet, but seem to have forgotten to announce it in thread.

Thus
>Vys Pool: (22/22)