63||0|3998|0|yes 0|0|0|||1||Ask G Anything%3A The Director%27s Cut|McFortner||11:07:22|05/31/2008|Ok%2C over 50 in the last one%2C so time for a new thread.%0D%0A%0D%0AWere there any dead Jedi involved in the Twilight Incident%3F You would figure there would be a bazillion of them in Valhalla available to fight. %0D%0A%0D%0AMichael%0D%0A%0D%0A%5Btable border%3D%220%22 cellspacing%3D%220%22 cellpadding%3D%220%22%5D%5Btr%5D%5Btd colspan%3D%222%22%5D%5Bhr%5D%5B%2Ftd%5D%5B%2Ftr%5D%5Btr%5D%5Btd width%3D%2265%22%5Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.railroadforum.com%2Fupload%2Fmcfortner%2Fsabrina.gif%5B%2Ftd%5D%0D%0A%5Btd%5D%5Bfont color%3D%22black%22 size%3D-1%5DMichael C. Fortner%5B%2Ffont%5D%5Bfont color%3D%22red%22 size%3D-1%5D %0D%0ARCW %232%5Bsup%5Dn%5B%2Fsup%5D%2B1%5B%2Ffont%5D%0D%0A%5Bfont color%3D%22green%22 size%3D-1%5D%22I smoke in moderation. Only one cigar at a time.%22%0D%0A-- Mark Twain%0D%0A%5Bfont%5D%5B%2Ftd%5D%5B%2Ftr%5D%5Btr%5D%5Btd colspan%3D%222%22%5D%5Bhr%5D%5B%2Ftd%5D%5B%2Ftr%5D%5B%2Ftable%5D %0D%0A 1|1|0|||||RE%3A Ask G Anything%3A The Director%27s Cut|Star Ranger4||13:20:43|05/31/2008|I would think that whole becoming one with the force thing after death would kinda preclude returning to Valhalla 2|2|1|||1||RE%3A Ask G Anything%3A The Director%27s Cut|Gryphon||14:56:24|05/31/2008|%3EI would think that whole becoming one with the force thing after death %0D%0A%3Ewould kinda preclude returning to Valhalla %0D%0A%0D%0AQuite.%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0AIf I%27d known how fast the last one would fill up%2C I%27d have called it %5Bi%5DAsk Me Anything%3A Hypervelocity%5B%2Fi%5D%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Admin%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D 3|3|2|||1||RE%3A Ask G Anything%3A The Director%27s Cut|McFortner||20:48:16|05/31/2008|[updated:LAST EDITED ON May-31-08 AT 08:49 PM (EDT)]%3E%3EI would think that whole becoming one with the force thing after death %0D%0A%3E%3Ewould kinda preclude returning to Valhalla %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EQuite. %0D%0A%0D%0ABut to quote Kor%2C It would have been glorious....%0D%0A%0D%0AMichael%0D%0A%0D%0A%5Btable border%3D%220%22 cellspacing%3D%220%22 cellpadding%3D%220%22%5D%5Btr%5D%5Btd colspan%3D%222%22%5D%5Bhr%5D%5B%2Ftd%5D%5B%2Ftr%5D%5Btr%5D%5Btd width%3D%2265%22%5Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.railroadforum.com%2Fupload%2Fmcfortner%2Fsabrina.gif%5B%2Ftd%5D%0D%0A%5Btd%5D%5Bfont color%3D%22black%22 size%3D-1%5DMichael C. Fortner%5B%2Ffont%5D%5Bfont color%3D%22red%22 size%3D-1%5D %0D%0ARCW %232%5Bsup%5Dn%5B%2Fsup%5D%2B1%5B%2Ffont%5D%0D%0A%5Bfont color%3D%22green%22 size%3D-1%5D%22I smoke in moderation. Only one cigar at a time.%22%0D%0A-- Mark Twain%0D%0A%5Bfont%5D%5B%2Ftd%5D%5B%2Ftr%5D%5Btr%5D%5Btd colspan%3D%222%22%5D%5Bhr%5D%5B%2Ftd%5D%5B%2Ftr%5D%5B%2Ftable%5D %0D%0A 4|3|2|||1||RE%3A Ask G Anything%3A The Director%27s Cut|BlackAeronaut||07:05:09|06/01/2008|%3E%3EI would think that whole becoming one with the force thing after death %0D%0A%3E%3Ewould kinda preclude returning to Valhalla %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EQuite. %0D%0A%0D%0AStill... Makes me wonder if there were any Jedi %28or even Sith for that matter%29 that somehow opted out of the whole becoming one with the Force thing and wound up in Valhalla %28or maybe somewhere else%29 instead.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EIf I%27d known how fast the last one would fill up%2C I%27d have called it %0D%0A%3E%5Bi%5DAsk Me Anything%3A Hypervelocity%5B%2Fi%5D %0D%0A%0D%0A%2ASnrk%21%2A Indeed%21 I was pretty surprised myself%21%0D%0A%0D%0A%5Btable%5D%5Btr%5D%5Btd%5D%5Bhr%5D%5Bfont size%3D%222%22 face%3D%22Arial Narrow%22%5D%5Bb%5DBlack Aeronaut Technologies%5B%2Fb%5D%0D%0ACreative aerospace solutions for the discerning spacer%0D%0A%5Bi%5D%22Here at the Advanced R%26D Center it%27s not a normal fiscal year until we have to save the universe.%22%5B%2Fi%5D%5B%2Ffont%5D%5B%2Ftd%5D%5B%2Ftr%5D%5B%2Ftable%5D 5|4|4|||||RE%3A Ask G Anything%3A The Director%27s Cut|mdg1||08:40:08|06/01/2008|It may depend on whether or not %22Force Ghosting%22 is a learned or automatic process in the UFU.%0D%0A%0D%0AFor all we know%2C Tyr has a whole honor guard of Jedi %28I was going to say Balder at first%2C but Master Locke reminds me more of Tyr%2C and there is this thing about Jedi losing arms all the time....%29 6|1|0|||||RE%3A Ask G Anything%3A The Director%27s Cut|Star Ranger4||14:10:24|06/03/2008|You know%2C thinking about how many older shows have gotten at least a passing reference%2C Is there a Car 54 in the NAPD inventory%3F and are they always Lost%3F 7|2|6|||1||RE%3A Ask G Anything%3A The Director%27s Cut|Mephron||10:19:45|06/04/2008|The NAPD uses a more complex numbering system than just %27Car 54%27.%0D%0A%0D%0AAnd with GPS systems in emergency vehicles%2C they don%27t get lost unless they want to. Admittedly%2C some people don%27t have them in their cars%2C but those are people like the Chief%2C who like the challenge of learning the city that way.%0D%0A%0D%0A--%0D%0AGeoff Depew - Darth Mephron%0D%0AHaberdasher to Androids%2C Dark Lord of Sith Tech Support.%0D%0A%22And Remember%21 Google is your Friend%21%21%22 10|3|7|||1||RE%3A Ask G Anything%3A The Director%27s Cut|Gryphon||12:00:39|06/04/2008|%3EAnd with GPS systems in emergency vehicles%2C they don%27t get lost unless %0D%0A%3Ethey want to.%0D%0A%0D%0AOf course%2C %22GPS%22 is a bit of a misnomer in a place like Avalon County%2C but that%27s terminology for you. People still refer to %22taping%22 television shows when they%27re actually capturing them with solid-state DVRs%2C too%2C and even in the 25th century the process of principal photography for motion pictures is called %22filming%22.%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Admin%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D 8|1|0|||||RE%3A Ask G Anything%3A The Director%27s Cut|Gau||10:58:23|06/04/2008|In general%2C UF seems to have a strong theme of redemption %28compare%2C for example%2C the development of Sara Sidle%27s CSI%3ANA persona to that of her CSI%3ALV persona.%29 Is this a conscious attempt to bring characters that you like back from the brink of oblivion%2C a side effect of this being space opera%2C or something else entirely%3F%0D%0A%0D%0AAlso%2C a while back you mentioned working on some stuff besides fanfic%2C both fiction and non-fiction. Is any of this stuff still in the pipes%3F 9|2|8|||1||RE%3A Ask G Anything%3A The Director%27s Cut|Gryphon||11:58:02|06/04/2008|%3EIn general%2C UF seems to have a strong theme of redemption %28compare%2C %0D%0A%3Efor example%2C the development of Sara Sidle%27s CSI%3ANA persona to that of %0D%0A%3Eher CSI%3ALV persona.%29 Is this a conscious attempt to bring characters %0D%0A%3Ethat you like back from the brink of oblivion%2C a side effect of this %0D%0A%3Ebeing space opera%2C or something else entirely%3F %0D%0A%0D%0ABit of both%2C depending on the particular case. In Sara%27s case it%27s probably more B than A%3B in the UF universe%2C at least when the camera is watching%2C people%27s lives rarely disintegrate in primetime-drama fashion.%0D%0A%0D%0AThere have been others where it%27s been much more of a deliberate decision%2C sometimes as a kind of thought experiment. I sometimes like to see how thoroughly%2C starting from a canonical starting point%2C I can redefine a character%27s trajectory without losing that character%27s essential qualities. Of course%2C with such a nebulous concept as a character%27s %22essential qualities%22 involved%2C it%27s often impossible to tell in any quantifiable manner whether I%27ve actually managed to do that%2C but that%27s life.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EAlso%2C a while back you mentioned working on some stuff besides fanfic%2C %0D%0A%3Eboth fiction and non-fiction. Is any of this stuff still in the pipes%3F %0D%0A%0D%0AI%27m still poking at a few things%2C but I wouldn%27t stake out my local Borders just yet or anything if I were you. It%27s very slow going.%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Admin%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D 14|3|9|||1||RE%3A Ask G Anything%3A The Director%27s Cut|MOGSY||18:35:11|06/04/2008|%22There have been others where it%27s been much more of a deliberate decision%2C sometimes as a kind of thought experiment. I sometimes like to see how thoroughly%2C starting from a canonical starting point%2C I can redefine a character%27s trajectory without losing that character%27s essential qualities. Of course%2C with such a nebulous concept as a character%27s %22essential qualities%22 involved%2C it%27s often impossible to tell in any quantifiable manner whether I%27ve actually managed to do that%2C but that%27s life.%22%0D%0A%0D%0A-- Was that the case with UF-Anakin Skywalker%3F %28re%3A not Darth Vader%29%3F I think you%27ve worked in that there is a basic heroic quality to the character%2C but there is a healthy ambiguity%2Fcould go either way...%0D%0A%0D%0AI know you%27ve also said that many of the characters %22take over%22 the story in their own voice as it were - you mentioned that years back with NXE specifically%2C how DJ and Asuka turned out.%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0A 15|4|14|||1||RE%3A Ask G Anything%3A The Director%27s Cut|Gryphon||18:43:06|06/04/2008|%3E-- Was that the case with UF-Anakin Skywalker%3F%0D%0A%0D%0AWell... not really%2C no%2C because in-story he hasn%27t done much of anything that needs redeeming. In his case the experiment was more seeing what he could do when not stuck in a slaughterhouse chute of a plot that was devised long before the character himself.%0D%0A%0D%0ANow%2C the UF version of %5Bi%5DDarth Vader%5B%2Fi%5D%2C on the other hand... that%27s a %5Bi%5Dhuge%5B%2Fi%5D thought experiment. %22Okay%2C let%27s see. Let%27s try keeping the fright mask%2C the participation in a Jedi extermination%2C and... well%2C that%27s basically it%2C drop %5Bi%5Dthat%5B%2Fi%5D guy into the modern universe%2C and see what happens.%22%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Admin%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D 11|1|0|||||RE%3A Ask G Anything%3A The Director%27s Cut|BZArcher||13:08:53|06/04/2008|[updated:LAST EDITED ON Jun-04-08 AT 01:09 PM (EDT)]Given his love of fast cars and crazy driving%2C has UF-Gryphon ever seen %28or%2C hell%2C seen and tried to replicate%29 %5Bi%5DC%92%E9tait un Rendezvous%5B%2Fi%5D%3F%0D%0A%0D%0A%28Note - Video is here%3A http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DM3RUtJhhxPg - LOUD%2C SFW as long as your boss doesn%27t mind the sound of a Porsche going flat out around city streets%29%0D%0A%0D%0A 12|2|11|||1||RE%3A Ask G Anything%3A The Director%27s Cut|Gryphon||14:47:25|06/04/2008|[updated:LAST EDITED ON Jun-04-08 AT 02:49 PM (EDT)]%3EGiven his love of fast cars and crazy driving%2C has UF-Gryphon ever %0D%0A%3Eseen %28or%2C hell%2C seen and tried to replicate%29 %5Bi%5DC%92%E9tait un Rendezvous%5B%2Fi%5D%3F %0D%0A%0D%0ABy an odd coincidence%2C I just discovered that film a couple of weeks ago. I think it%27s the best French film ever made %28and possibly the best short film of any nationality%29. In retrospect%2C I think it%27s likely that the Chief had it in mind when he was driving across New Avalon in %5Bi%5DLocard%27s Exchange%5B%2Fi%5D. He hasn%27t actually tried to replicate it in Paris%2C as far as I know%2C but then%2C you%27d have to be utterly out of your mind to try and do that stunt in Paris %5Bi%5Dtoday%5B%2Fi%5D %28especially the part at the %C9toile%29%2C let alone in the Probably Even More Crowded Future. Still%2C who hasn%27t wanted to blast down the full length of the Champs-Elys%E9es from the Arc de Triomphe to the Place de la Concorde at full throttle%2C without lifting once%3F%0D%0A%0D%0AMaybe after the liberation of Earth in 2412%2C before civilian traffic is allowed to resume in Paris...%0D%0A%0D%0A%28Come to think of it%2C in a fictional world where the huge convulsions to city traffic it would cause can be handwaved away%2C it%27d be fun to stage a %5Bi%5DC%27%E9tait un Rendez-vous%5B%2Fi%5D commemorative road race. %3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%28Note - Video is here%3A http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DM3RUtJhhxPg - %0D%0A%3ELOUD%2C SFW as long as your boss doesn%27t mind the sound of a Porsche %0D%0A%3Egoing flat out around city streets%29 %0D%0A%0D%0AHeh - the soundtrack is from a Ferrari 275 GTB%2C though word has it the film was actually shot from a Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9 %28which is why there%27s a 6.9 in the Paris chase scene in %5Bi%5DRonin%5B%2Fi%5D%29.%0D%0A%0D%0ASuch beautiful music. Especially the bit starting at around 2%3A47%2C climbing through all those gears on the way along the edge of the Tuileries. Lovely.%0D%0A%0D%0A%28How%27d you like to have been that guy in the 2CV at about 3%3A12%3F It%27s oh-God-thirty in the morning and I%27m on my way to work - %5Bi%5Dsacre merde%21%5B%2Fi%5D%29%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Admin%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D 13|3|12|||||RE%3A Ask G Anything%3A The Director%27s Cut|BZArcher||15:38:01|06/04/2008|%28How%27d you like to have been that guy in the 2CV at about 3%3A12%3F It%27s oh-God-thirty in the morning and I%27m on my way to work - sacre merde%21%29%0D%0A%0D%0AYeah%2C that%27s probably better than coffee right there for an instant wakeup call. %3A%3E 16|1|0|||1||RE%3A Ask G Anything%3A The Director%27s Cut|BlackAeronaut||06:44:31|06/08/2008|Jager Monsters%21%21%21 Please tell me that we%27ll be seeing those guys around in the UF-verse%21 They%27re just too wacky not to exist.%0D%0A%5Bsmall%5D%0D%0A%22Who the hell are these guys%21%3F%22%0D%0A%22Jager monsters. Don%27t worry too much about them%2C just let them work. It%27s what they do.%22%0D%0A%22At least they seem to be really happy.%22%0D%0A%2ACRASH%21%2A %22WOO-HOO%21 Vat a goot hit%21%22%0D%0A%22Maybe a little too happy%3F%22%0D%0A%5B%2Fsmall%5D%0D%0A%5Btable%5D%5Btr%5D%5Btd%5D%5Bhr%5D%5Bfont size%3D%222%22 face%3D%22Arial Narrow%22%5D%5Bb%5DBlack Aeronaut Technologies%5B%2Fb%5D%0D%0ACreative aerospace solutions for the discerning spacer%0D%0A%5Bi%5D%22Here at the Advanced R%26D Center it%27s not a normal fiscal year until we have to save the universe.%22%5B%2Fi%5D%5B%2Ffont%5D%5B%2Ftd%5D%5B%2Ftr%5D%5B%2Ftable%5D 18|2|16|||||RE%3A Ask G Anything%3A The Director%27s Cut|mdg1||09:09:09|06/08/2008|Genegineered soldiers from the Wulfenbach colony on Europa%3F 20|2|16|||1||RE%3A Ask G Anything%3A The Director%27s Cut|Gryphon||11:57:19|06/08/2008|%3EJager Monsters%21%21%21 Please tell me that we%27ll be seeing those guys %0D%0A%3Earound in the UF-verse%21%0D%0A%0D%0AWow. Two of this question type in one morning%2C both by people who%27ve been on these boards long enough to know that they don%27t get answered. The mind boggles.%0D%0A%0D%0A%28Even better%2C in neither case do I have any idea what the questioner is asking %5Bi%5Dabout%5B%2Fi%5D. %3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Admin%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D 26|3|20|||1||RE%3A Ask G Anything%3A The Director%27s Cut|Mephron||06:15:02|06/10/2008|%3E%3EJager Monsters%21%21%21 Please tell me that we%27ll be seeing those guys %0D%0A%3E%3Earound in the UF-verse%21%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EWow. Two of this question type in one morning%2C both by people who%27ve %0D%0A%3Ebeen on these boards long enough to know that they don%27t get answered. %0D%0A%3E The mind boggles. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3E%28Even better%2C in neither case do I have any idea what the questioner %0D%0A%3Eis asking %5Bi%5Dabout%5B%2Fi%5D. %3A%29 %0D%0A%0D%0ALooks like I%27m going to have to bite the bullet and fix this the same way I fixed your incomprehension of the joy of Jaime Reyes.%0D%0A%0D%0A--%0D%0AGeoff Depew - Darth Mephron%0D%0AHaberdasher to Androids%2C Dark Lord of Sith Tech Support.%0D%0A%22And Remember%21 Google is your Friend%21%21%22 17|1|0|||1||RE%3A Ask G Anything%3A The Director%27s Cut|Terminus Est||06:56:08|06/08/2008|I%27ve got a few questions... though%2C admittedly%2C most of them are specific to one game and its relation to UF.%0D%0A%0D%0AFirst off%2C given the references already made %28Shion Uzuki%2C for example%29%2C are we going to see anything in UF similar in nature to the Gnosis threat in Xenosaga%3F Perhaps an extradimensional race whose physiology is radically different from the usual carbon-based lifeforms we all know and love or loathe%3F Or is the cosmology just too different%3F%0D%0A%0D%0ASecondly%2C the subject of UF Gryphon%27s armor. It%27s stated that%2C outside of Asgard%2C he cannot call on his new suit%3B has he given any thought to%2C perhaps%2C making a second suit that he can use elsewhere%2C using a similar system%3F Or is that just overkill now%3F%0D%0A%0D%0ANext up%2C and back to the original vein%3A Are we going to see any starships similar in design - perhaps using similar propulsion methods%2C bridge layouts%2C or weapon arrays - to those seen in the Xenosaga series%3F Admittedly%2C rehashing pre-fab concepts tends to push aside creativity%2C but some of those designs%2C you have to admit%2C looked pretty darn good.%0D%0A%0D%0AI think that about covers it for the moment%2C though I%27m sure I%27ll come up with something else later.%0D%0A%0D%0A---%0D%0ARCW %23 X-91873 19|2|17|||1||RE%3A Ask G Anything%3A The Director%27s Cut|Gryphon||11:55:47|06/08/2008|%3EFirst off%2C given the references already made %28Shion Uzuki%2C for %0D%0A%3Eexample%29%2C are we going to see anything in UF similar in nature to the %0D%0A%3EGnosis threat in Xenosaga%3F%0D%0A%0D%0ACome on%2C you%27ve been around here long enough to know that I don%27t answer these.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3ESecondly%2C the subject of UF Gryphon%27s armor. It%27s stated that%2C %0D%0A%3Eoutside of Asgard%2C he cannot call on his new suit%3B has he given any %0D%0A%3Ethought to%2C perhaps%2C making a second suit that he can use elsewhere%2C %0D%0A%3Eusing a similar system%3F%0D%0A%0D%0AThought%2C sure%2C but then%2C he%27s given thought to a lot of things he hasn%27t got round to doing. He%27s a very busy man.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3Esome of those designs%2C you have to admit%2C looked %0D%0A%3Epretty darn good. %0D%0A%0D%0AActually%2C I don%27t have to admit anything%2C primarily because I haven%27t the slightest idea what you%27re talking about. I%27ve never played any of those games and know practically nothing about them. I believe Larry%27s responsible for the references to them you%27ve seen.%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Admin%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D 21|3|19|||1||RE%3A Ask G Anything%3A The Director%27s Cut|Terminus Est||17:19:52|06/08/2008|%3ECome on%2C you%27ve been around here long enough to know that I don%27t %0D%0A%3Eanswer these. %0D%0A%0D%0AFair point. Hadn%27t occurred to me that this was touching on that%3B sorry.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EThought%2C sure%2C but then%2C he%27s given thought to a lot of things he %0D%0A%3Ehasn%27t got round to doing. He%27s a very busy man. %0D%0A%0D%0AThought that might have something to do with it.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EActually%2C I don%27t have to admit anything%2C primarily because I haven%27t %0D%0A%3Ethe slightest idea what you%27re talking about. I%27ve never played any %0D%0A%3Eof those games and know practically nothing about them. I believe %0D%0A%3ELarry%27s responsible for the references to them you%27ve seen. %0D%0A%0D%0AAs they say in Swahili%2C %27Zing%27. I should know by now not to assume%2C considering what it does to me.%0D%0A%0D%0A---%0D%0ARCW %23 X-91873 22|1|0|||1||RE%3A Ask G Anything%3A The Director%27s Cut|trigger||21:21:11|06/08/2008|Inspired by this month%27s %5Bi%5DDiscover%5B%2Fi%5D%3A%0D%0A%0D%0ADid the UF crew bring on Freeman Dyson as part of Project Hero%3F%0D%0A%0D%0Athanks%2C %0D%0At.%0D%0A%0D%0ATrigger Argee%0D%0Atrigger_argee%40hotmail.com%0D%0AManon%2C Maccadon%2C Orado%2C etc.%0D%0ADenton%2C never leave home without it.%0D%0A%0D%0A%22I hate to advocate drugs%2C alcohol%2C violence%2C or insanity to anyone%2C but they%27ve always worked for me.%22 - HST 25|2|22|||1||RE%3A Ask G Anything%3A The Director%27s Cut|Gryphon||14:35:23|06/09/2008|%3EDid the UF crew bring on Freeman Dyson as part of Project Hero%3F %0D%0A%0D%0AHe%27d have been shortlisted for sure.%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Admin%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D 23|1|0|||1||RE%3A Ask G Anything%3A The Director%27s Cut|Sofaspud||13:49:47|06/09/2008|[updated:LAST EDITED ON Jun-09-08 AT 02:02 PM (EDT)]We%27ve seen the various Earthside %5Bi%5Dgovernment%5B%2Fi%5D reactions to Zeta Cygni and it%27s principal characters%3B what about Joe Average%3F%0D%0A%0D%0AI guess what I%27m asking is%2C as seen from a typical mundane perspective of somebody on earth%2C what do they think of Zeta Cygni and it%27s people%3F Is their attitude dismissive%3F Or do they consider it the land of milk and honey%2C if they could just get there%3F%0D%0A%0D%0AI%27m wondering what the common man thinks of all of it%2C I guess. %3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0AEdit to add%3A forgot the second question%2C and rather than start a new reply...%0D%0A%0D%0AIs there a Grand Unified Timeline or something%2C maybe hanging on the wall or taking up filespace or whatever%2C that you refer to when working on UF pieces%3F Or do you just trust your memory and catch it during revisions if you happened to misplace the piece%3F%0D%0A%0D%0ABack before the Symphony explosion%2C I tried to put one together for my own reference%2C and ended up with a five-foot-long banner %28yay dot-matrix printers%21%29. I shudder to envision it nowadays. %3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0A--sofaspud%0D%0A-- 24|2|23|||1||RE%3A Ask G Anything%3A The Director%27s Cut|Gryphon||14:32:52|06/09/2008|%3EI guess what I%27m asking is%2C as seen from a typical mundane perspective %0D%0A%3Eof somebody on earth%2C what do they think of Zeta Cygni and it%27s %0D%0A%3Epeople%3F Is their attitude dismissive%3F Or do they consider it the %0D%0A%3Eland of milk and honey%2C if they could just get there%3F %0D%0A%0D%0AWell... looking for a %22typical%22 reaction in a population of six billion spread across five continents is a bit fallacious. Some people on the street hold one view%2C some the other%2C and most of them%2C I suspect%2C are just trying to get through the day - they don%27t have the time or the energy to have a particularly well-formed opinion.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EIs there a Grand Unified Timeline or something%2C maybe hanging on the %0D%0A%3Ewall or taking up filespace or whatever%2C that you refer to when %0D%0A%3Eworking on UF pieces%3F%0D%0A%0D%0AThere used to be%2C but it%27s heinously out of date now. It turned out to be more work to maintain it than it was to just try and remember stuff %28and get things wrong occasionally%2C but that%27s life%29.%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Admin%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D 27|1|0|||||RE%3A Ask G Anything%3A The Director%27s Cut|Star Ranger4||12:28:11|07/10/2008|Hmm. We know Top Gear still survives%2C and in the time of UF FI it at present has the hosts we are familiar with.%0D%0A%0D%0ASo%2C did it ever occur to those crazed mavens to try and do something like recreating the Daytona from Hell or even crazier.. turn say a Mercedes or whatever into an asteroid racer or some such%3F 28|2|27|||1||RE%3A Ask G Anything%3A The Director%27s Cut|WengFook||15:10:54|07/10/2008|%3EHmm. We know Top Gear still survives%2C and in the time of UF FI it at %0D%0A%3Epresent has the hosts we are familiar with. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3ESo%2C did it ever occur to those crazed mavens to try and do something %0D%0A%3Elike recreating the Daytona from Hell or even crazier.. turn say a %0D%0A%3EMercedes or whatever into an asteroid racer or some such%3F %0D%0A%0D%0ARecreating the Dautona from Hell%3F %0D%0AThis sounds more like a job for the Mythbusters %3AP%0D%0A%0D%0A_____________________________________________%0D%0A%22Walls are meant to be broken.%22 - makes sense both figuratively and literally.%0D%0A 29|2|27|||1||RE%3A Ask G Anything%3A The Director%27s Cut|Gryphon||16:04:15|07/10/2008|%3ESo%2C did it ever occur to those crazed mavens to try and do something %0D%0A%3Elike recreating the Daytona from Hell or even crazier.. turn say a %0D%0A%3EMercedes or whatever into an asteroid racer or some such%3F %0D%0A%0D%0AOne imagines they%27ve gotten up to all sorts of wacky stunts%2C though many are necessarily limited in scope by the unique way in which the BBC is funded.%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Admin%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D 30|2|27|||1||RE%3A Ask G Anything%3A The Director%27s Cut|Pasha||03:07:19|07/11/2008|%3ESo%2C did it ever occur to those crazed mavens to try and do something %0D%0A%3Elike recreating the Daytona from Hell or even crazier.. turn say a %0D%0A%3EMercedes or whatever into an asteroid racer or some such%3F %0D%0A%0D%0AWell...how hard could it be%3F%0D%0A%0D%0A-- %0D%0A-Pasha %28%22OLLLLLLIIIIIIVEEEERRRRRRRRR%21%21%21%21%21%21%22%29%0D%0A%22I invented Warp Drive%2C whatta ya got%3F%22%0D%0A%22I%27m the Norse God of Mecha.%22%0D%0A%22Well%2C I guess you win then.%22 31|3|30|||||RE%3A Ask G Anything%3A The Director%27s Cut|Star Ranger4||11:35:06|07/11/2008|%3EWell...how hard could it be%3F %0D%0A%3E%0D%0AI guess that depends on if you%27ve got access to Lord F%27s bag of Overtech Tricks... Zoner and Gryph do %28or did%29%2C the Top Gear mavens dont... 32|4|31|||||RE%3A Ask G Anything%3A The Director%27s Cut|BZArcher||14:42:54|07/11/2008|%22Hammond.%22%0D%0A%0D%0A%22Yes%2C Jeremy%3F%22%0D%0A%0D%0A%22We%27re going to be in an Asteroid field.%22%0D%0A%0D%0A%22Yes.%22%0D%0A%0D%0A%22Filled with very big%2C very deadly rocks.%22%0D%0A%0D%0A%22Yes.%22%0D%0A%0D%0A%22Which we will need some sort of laser%2C blaster%2C phaser%2C sort of thing to destroy rather than collide with them.%22%0D%0A%0D%0A%22I do understand that.%22%0D%0A%0D%0A%22And you have installed...%3F%22%0D%0A%0D%0A%22A torch with some coloured plastic on it.%22%0D%0A%0D%0A%22Right.%22 33|5|32|||||RE%3A Ask G Anything%3A The Director%27s Cut|Kathy||16:38:03|07/11/2008|%2Alaughs pert little butt off%2A%0D%0A%0D%0Aplease%2C warnings%21 I can just SEE this challenge%2C and my poor little mind melted %5E_%5E 34|6|33|||||RE%3A Ask G Anything%3A The Director%27s Cut|Croaker||23:20:14|07/11/2008|Makes me wonder %28especially combined with the recent mention of Wall-E elsethread%29 what the 25th-century version of %5Bi%5DScrapheap Challenge%5B%2Fi%5D %28aka %5Bi%5DJunkyard Wars%5B%2Fi%5D in the US%29 is like... %3A%29 35|7|34|||||RE%3A Ask G Anything%3A The Director%27s Cut|Tabasco||09:49:42|07/12/2008|I%27ll bet a dozen donuts Corwin%27s a co-host%2C if only to keep him from competing. 36|8|35|||||RE%3A Ask G Anything%3A The Director%27s Cut|Star Ranger4||21:25:54|07/12/2008|%3EI%27ll bet a dozen donuts Corwin%27s a co-host%2C if only to keep him from %0D%0A%3Ecompeting. %0D%0A%0D%0ADepends on if its set pre or post Arena... prior%2C he%27s pretty much an unkown... after%2C definatly get him as host. Especially since he cleaned up real nice after he grew up and married Utena and Anthy. Heck... there%27s your three main hosts right there. Utena does the out in the heap reporting while Anthy stays back and does the %27cleaner%27 jobs. 37|7|34|||1||RE%3A Ask G Anything%3A The Director%27s Cut|Peter Eng||14:05:08|07/14/2008|[updated:LAST EDITED ON Jul-14-08 AT 02:05 PM (EDT)]%5Bi%5Dthe 25th-century version of Scrapheap Challenge%5B%2Fi%5D%0D%0A%0D%0AI%27m imagining something like a cross between %5Bi%5DScrapheap Challenge%5B%2Fi%5D and %5Bi%5DSurvivor.%5B%2Fi%5D%0D%0A%0D%0A%22Last year%2C we dropped three five-sentient teams on 03F8. The challenge%3A Make it to Tattooine with no resources except for a toolkit and tricorder for each person. As you may remember%2C all of the teams made it%2C with the winner arriving five months after the drop.%22%0D%0A%0D%0A%22This year%2C we%27ve expanded the field to six teams%2C reduced the team size to three%2C and they%27re being stranded on Junkion...%22%0D%0A%0D%0APeter Eng%0D%0A--%0D%0AI%27m only a Charter Member because of the DCForum upgrade%2C and because there%27s no rank below %22Clueless F%21wit.%22 38|8|37|||||RE%3A Ask G Anything%3A The Director%27s Cut|Star Ranger4||21:46:54|07/14/2008|%3E%5Bi%5Dthe 25th-century version of Scrapheap Challenge%5B%2Fi%5D %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EI%27m imagining something like a cross between %5Bi%5DScrapheap %0D%0A%3EChallenge%5B%2Fi%5D and %5Bi%5DSurvivor.%5B%2Fi%5D %0D%0A%3E%0D%0Aactually%2C thats rather Evil%2C and an entirely different show to boot. besides%2C you%27d need slightly more rules than that to keep them from just building something that would get them a ride with someone rather than building their own vessel... though that would be JW meets the Great Race%2C not Survivor...%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0A 39|9|38|||||RE%3A Ask G Anything%3A The Director%27s Cut|Rickdominated||17:59:14|07/17/2008|%3E Not Survivor%0D%0AClearly you%27ve never met the Junkion Locales%0D%0AWhile they may dare to be stupid%2C they can be a little unneighborly if you start taking thier junk for yourself without asking%2Fengaging in a danceoff%2Fgiving the universal greeting.%0D%0AWell%2C that and the fact that Junkion has NO AIR %28I%27m reaching on this one%2C I can%27t remember if Daneil ever took off his helmet or not..%29 40|10|39|||||RE%3A Ask G Anything%3A The Director%27s Cut|BZArcher||18:53:56|07/17/2008|Can%27t have that nice junky patina of rust without Oxygen%2C mate%21 41|1|0|||||RE%3A Ask G Anything%3A The Director%27s Cut|Star Ranger4||19:43:21|07/20/2008|Then again%2C this might fall under one of the %22Rules%22%2C but...%0D%0A%0D%0AThanks to Reassigned we know what%27s going on with Janice%2C Master Chief%2C etc...%0D%0A%0D%0ABut what about the BTL case%2C anyway%3F Was there anything more to it than giving them a case that also kept throwing Janice%2C Niel and company in contact with the other Symphony memebers from time to time during their schooling on Tomodochi%3F 42|2|41|||1||RE%3A Ask G Anything%3A The Director%27s Cut|Gryphon||00:44:33|07/21/2008|%3EBut what about the BTL case%2C anyway%3F%0D%0A%0D%0AThat was part of the setup for %5Bi%5DX20%5B%2Fi%5D%2C which then ended up not happening%2C leaving Janice and company in need of%2C well%2C reassignment%2C in-story and out.%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Admin%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D 43|1|0|||1||RE%3A Ask G Anything%3A The Director%27s Cut|WengFook||02:56:16|07/30/2008|Right after reading Clarion Call%2C I%27ve got a question about Akio.%0D%0A%0D%0AThat mark of failure on Akio%27s brow... is it really working as intended%3F I mean is it still going to bring all his big plans down around him%2C or does his position as Duke of Hell kinda give him immunity from it%3F%0D%0A%0D%0Abecause despite how %27badass%27 or %27clever%27 or %27manipulative%27 he appears on screen%2C I%27m kinda left with a feeling like he won%27t get far ahead to matter anyways. Yeah I realize that this being a story%2C the good guys will eventually win no matter how deep in the poop they get%2C but when faced with Akio%2C who%27s supposed to BE their arch-enemy... %0D%0A%0D%0AI think what I%27m trying to say is that being predestined to lose kinda kills the tension whenever one of his %27plans%27 surface %3AS %0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0A_____________________________________________%0D%0A%22Walls are meant to be broken.%22 - makes sense both figuratively and literally.%0D%0A 44|2|43|||1||RE%3A Ask G Anything%3A The Director%27s Cut|BlackAeronaut||10:28:11|07/30/2008|It doesn%27t mean that he can%27t do some serious damage in the process. Only that his ultimate goals - those which would grant him the greatest satisfaction and sense of completion - are innatainable.%0D%0A%0D%0A%5Btable%5D%5Btr%5D%5Btd%5D%5Bhr%5D%5Bfont size%3D%222%22 face%3D%22Arial Narrow%22%5D%5Bb%5DBlack Aeronaut Technologies%5B%2Fb%5D%0D%0ACreative aerospace solutions for the discerning spacer%0D%0A%5Bi%5D%22Here at the Advanced R%26D Center it%27s not a normal fiscal year until we have to save the universe.%22%5B%2Fi%5D%5B%2Ffont%5D%5B%2Ftd%5D%5B%2Ftr%5D%5B%2Ftable%5D 45|3|44|||||RE%3A Ask G Anything%3A The Director%27s Cut|Meagen||10:43:27|07/30/2008|Also%2C note that his plan to ruin the wedding %22failed%22 because of Tau Ceti getting attacked. It%27s not exactly something that Utena would%27ve planned or agreed to in order to twhart him. 46|2|43|||1||RE%3A Ask G Anything%3A The Director%27s Cut|Offsides||12:18:46|07/30/2008|Remember%2C it%27s specified in %5Bi%5DSympathy for the Devil%5B%2Fi%5D that the curse is still there %28twice%29%3A%0D%0A%0D%0A%5Bcode%5DThe only flaw in his countenance was the small%2C coal-black%2C%0D%0Aslightly irregular dot in the middle of his forehead%2C beteween the red%0D%0Aslashes of his brand. No surgery nor sorcery could repair that scar.%0D%0AIt was the seal of an Aes%27s blood curse%2C and it had endured through%0D%0Aeven its wearer%27s death and resurrection. Only its author%27s%0D%0Aforgiveness could erase it.%5B%2Fcode%5DAnd%0D%0A%5Bcode%5D%22My curse still stands%2C you scum%2C you -nithling-%2C%22%5B%2Fcode%5D%0D%0A%0D%0AHowever%2C how it works is never specified%2C other than that it simply does and there%27s nothing short of Corwin%27s dismissal of it that will take it off. %28I%27m sure there %5Bi%5Dare%5B%2Fi%5D other ways%2C but probably none that Akio would have access to%2C short of a major personal favor by Surtur himself...%29. Akio intended to ruin the wedding%2C and in spite of all the chaos he caused%2C he didn%27t. The fact that wedding was called off on account of Interstellar War is in no way a reflection of his actions%2C and indeed did thwart them because there%27s no way he%27ll be on the guest list next time...%0D%0A%0D%0AOffsides%0D%0A%0D%0A%26%2391%3B...%26%2393%3B in order to be a realist you must believe in miracles.%0D%0A -- David Ben Gurion%0D%0AEPU RCW %26pi%3B%0D%0A%23include %3Cstdsig.h%3E%0D%0A%0D%0A 47|3|46|||||RE%3A Ask G Anything%3A The Director%27s Cut|clg||12:50:01|07/30/2008|%3EAkio intended to ruin the wedding%2C and in spite %0D%0A%3Eof all the chaos he caused%2C he didn%27t. The fact that wedding was %0D%0A%3Ecalled off on account of Interstellar War is in no way a reflection of %0D%0A%3Ehis actions%2C%0D%0A%0D%0AWell%2C I think that%27s kind of WengFook%27s point%3B aside from Nanami showing up on the Wonder%2C Akio%27s been%85 I don%27t want to say %5Bi%5Dextraneous%5B%2Fi%5D%2C as seeing everyone else%27s reaction to him has been instructive. But there%27s no real sense that he%27s an threat%2C at least not in %5Bi%5DClarion Call%5B%2Fi%5D.%0D%0A%0D%0AI%27m just going to be patient. We know that Gryph can write Akio as an effective villian%3B look at %5Bi%5DSymphony 2%5B%2Fi%5D%3B look at %5Bi%5DBlood Ties%5B%2Fi%5D. Hell%2C even %5Bi%5DSympathy for the Devil%5B%2Fi%5D%2C even if Akio failed miserably. We%27ll see what he%27s planning soon enough.%0D%0A%0D%0AAs for the mechanics of the curse%2C I have no idea.%0D%0A%0D%0A - Chad 48|4|47|||1||RE%3A Ask G Anything%3A The Director%27s Cut|trigger||20:21:53|07/30/2008| We know that Gryph can write Akio as an %0D%0A%3Eeffective villian%3B look at %5Bi%5DSymphony 2%5B%2Fi%5D%3B look at %5Bi%5DBlood %0D%0A%3ETies%5B%2Fi%5D. Hell%2C even %5Bi%5DSympathy for the Devil%5B%2Fi%5D%2C even if Akio %0D%0A%3Efailed miserably. We%27ll see what he%27s planning soon enough. %0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0AYeah%2C just because he%27s doomed to failure doesn%27t mean he won%27t take down the innocent with him when he tries. Look at what%27s going on Saionji - willing sacrifice or not%2C it%27s still a sacrifice. %0D%0A%0D%0At.%0D%0A%0D%0ATrigger Argee%0D%0Atrigger_argee%40hotmail.com%0D%0AManon%2C Maccadon%2C Orado%2C etc.%0D%0ADenton%2C never leave home without it.%0D%0A%0D%0A%22I hate to advocate drugs%2C alcohol%2C violence%2C or insanity to anyone%2C but they%27ve always worked for me.%22 - HST 51|4|47|||1||RE%3A Ask G Anything%3A The Director%27s Cut|MOGSY||16:47:01|07/31/2008|%3E%3EAkio intended to ruin the wedding%2C and in spite %0D%0A%3E%3Eof all the chaos he caused%2C he didn%27t. The fact that wedding was %0D%0A%3E%3Ecalled off on account of Interstellar War is in no way a reflection of %0D%0A%3E%3Ehis actions...%0D%0A%0D%0ATrue%2C but who%27s to say the effects of the curse all have to be immediate%2C or obvious%3F I don%27t recall anything that says the curse can%27t be subtle %28okay%2C Interstellar War isn%27t subtle%2C but it did ruin his plans for the evening%2C so the curse was kinda fulfilled - collateral damage as it were - Akio still got something out of it in that he ruined Raven%27s day%2C for sure%29 %3B%29 %0D%0A%0D%0AAllow me to engage in a little wild speculation. Almost every time I can recall reading about a curse in myth or folklore%2C the lesson about it seems to be along the lines of either a%29 the law of unintended consequences b%29 n-th order effects %28like ripples in a pond I guess%29 or c%29 actions sometimes come back to haunt you later.%0D%0A%0D%0AI don%27t know the if the Curse was intended to be that %22deep%2C%22 but with someone who tends to plot as comprehensively%2C and as deep as Akio%2C I don%27t see how it couldn%27t as a result affect some things and people out there in ways Corwin never would have predicted or understood...%0D%0A%0D%0AActually%2C the whole curse thing to me%2C as undeniably noble of Corwin and so richly deserved by Akio as it was still struck me as..rash believe it or not. But%2C for all we know%2C it might have been something Corwin had thought and brooded about for a long%2C long time prior to casting it. On the author knows. Like I said%2C just based on some old school stories%2C these curse and prophecy things always seem to turn out in unexpected ways%2C taking years%2C centuries%2C whatever before their results become fully known...%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E...Akio%27s been%85 I don%27t want to say %0D%0A%3E%5Bi%5Dextraneous%5B%2Fi%5D%2C as seeing everyone else%27s reaction to him has been %0D%0A%3Einstructive. But there%27s no real sense that he%27s an threat%2C at least %0D%0A%3Enot in %5Bi%5DClarion Call%5B%2Fi%5D... We know that Gryph can write Akio as an %0D%0A%3Eeffective villian%3B look at %5Bi%5DSymphony 2%5B%2Fi%5D%3B look at %5Bi%5DBlood %0D%0A%3ETies%5B%2Fi%5D. Hell%2C even %5Bi%5DSympathy for the Devil%5B%2Fi%5D%2C even if Akio %0D%0A%3Efailed miserably. We%27ll see what he%27s planning soon enough. %0D%0A%0D%0AHere%27s what I think about Akio%2C and a few other things%2C if I can engage a bit more in some WAG-ing..%0D%0A%0D%0AAkio%27s half-truths and manipulated truths are just as deadly%2C if not more so%2C than his lies. There%27s a couple things that have really stuck with me in Symphony%2C and whether I%27m looking down a rabbit hole because of my %28continued%29 unfamiliarity with RGU in any of its incarnations or looking too far into things%2C well then I%27ll be really surprised in a good way as the story moves on. %0D%0A%0D%0AThe first incident that bugs me is when Akio tells Corwin something to the effect of %22Anthy%27s not entirely blameless%2Flittle miss sweetness and light as you think she is%22 - sorry for lacking the exact quote. %0D%0A%0D%0AAnthy%27s thoughts which came about - I think - after she and Corwin conceived their child%3A something to the effect of her residing happily in a little cocoon with Corwin%2C Utena%2C and her child all in one neat little package...something bugs me about that too. If she gets that %22no one is ever going to hurt me again%2C ever%2C%22 attitude and takes it too far...%0D%0A%0D%0AOther things%3A %0D%0A%0D%0A1%29 Akio and Anthy%27s origins - svartelven background - lots of baggage with that. %0D%0A%0D%0A2%29 A relationship as messed up as theirs was...yeah%2C Akio is the evil abusing monster %28especially since he tried an even MORE vile and disgusting repeat with Raven%29 but there seemed to be at least a little hint of codependence there too. In short%2C I think there%27s more to it than what we%27ve seen on camera%2Fstage%2Fprint. Don%27t take this to be any sort of sympathy or defense for Akio%2C it%27s not%2C or some kind of %22blaming the victim%22 thing on Anthy%2C it%27s not that either. But I don%27t get the impression that things are neat and tidy. Some of this I guess%2C is because outside of the conclusion of the Tournament%2C and with the presence of two other %22perfect Earth Mother Goddess%22 characters in Belldandy and %28sorta%29 in Frigg%2C I don%27t see Anthy%27s role in the story. She%27s a wtich%2C copy that%2C and she%27s part of the Trinity of the Tenth World%2C copy that too%2C but other than that...%0D%0A%0D%0AI don%27t think Anthy is going to sprout horns and turn evil%2C but I am pretty convinced by the attitude she takes on after the tournament%2C the training and skills she%27s demonstrated%2C her desire to have a child with Corwin%2C I think she%27s got her own agenda%2C and I would not be surprised if it%27s pretty removed from anyone else%27s and I think she views it all as %22for the best.%22 If push comes to shove%2C I can see her getting pretty dang ruthless in carrying it out. Maybe not with the consent of everyone affected by her decisions. I think she%27s more of an independent mover than anything else%2C her own column. Odds are she%27s only going to get more powerful over time%2C and no one ever%2C ever%2C seems to question her%2C her motives%2C or what she says or does. %0D%0A%0D%0AMaybe I%27m just an old jaded cynic%2C but somethin%27s just not right%2C and few if any of the heroes%2C for a minute%2C would probably give Akio the consideration that he might just be telling the truth for once%2C because of the potential rifts and fallout that would create...%0D%0A%0D%0AAkio%27s creation was tragic%2C and I%27m not even sure I understand fully%2C exactly what the hell he in fact is%2C and how he came to be after Anthy%27s brother %22died.%22 Duke of Hell - I get that one loud and clear%2C but what if there was some element of Akio%27s %22creation%22 that Anthy%2C however unintentional%2C played a role in%3F%0D%0A%0D%0AAdmittedly%2C it could just be that I just don%27t like the character of Anthy %3A%29 but we%27ve also seen a lot of brother%2Fsister discord or unusual relationships in UF%2C period - %28Kozue%2FMiki%2C Frey%2FFreya%2C Amanda%2FGaron%2C I know there%27s more%29.%0D%0A%0D%0ASymphony%2C as I%27ve read it%2C has seemed to be about two things. The first is %22taking charge of one%27s life%22 - making decisions - this was the first half. The second half really seems to be about seeing those decisions through%2C and living with the consequences of them. That%27s where Corwin comes into this.%0D%0A%0D%0ACorwin has taken on a LOT of responsibility as a very young man%2C god or no god%2C and a lot of while he was still an adolescent. He%27s got a %28presumably%29 long%2C long time to live%2C and the consequences of those decisions for good ill%2C have a long time to play out. Let%27s see%2C he%27s married%2C became a living embodiment%2Fprotector of the Tenth World%2C he%27s going to be a dad%2C he%27s a god%2C and he pretty much rushed into an entire cosmic mess %28the Tournament%29 out of nowhere %28from the perspective of those who were playing in it%2C originally%29%2C and made himself a critical part of it. Hey%2C he%27s a hero%2C it%27s to be expected%2C but man when you poke the universe in the shoulder like that%2C sometimes it pokes back. Sooner or later%2C one of his decisions might just backfire on him%2C noble intentions or not. I don%27t think things are likely as cut-and-dry as he thinks they are. Good thing he%27s got a lot of friends.%0D%0A%0D%0AI think that between Corwin getting involved in the entire Tenth World mess %28it is a mess%2C no matter how you slice it%2C and as much as the entire Cephirean contingent is healing%2C no matter how heroic they become%2C there%27s still some great big permanent scarring there%29%2C getting Anthy and Utena together%2C marrying them%2C getting Anthy pregnant%2C marrying Utena%2C and still carrying on the fight against Akio%2C here%27s hoping that the kid hasn%27t let himself be played%2C or bitten off more than he can chew one way or another. %22Fate%22 is typically nasty to heroes and gods both %28according to Bullfinch and Campbell anyway%29.%0D%0A%0D%0AI%27m looking forward to being wrong %3A%29 or not...%0D%0A%0D%0AEither way%2C I%27m looking forward to the ride.%0D%0A%0D%0A%22A good plan executed now is better than a perfect plan next week%22 - Gen George S. Patton%2C Jr. 52|5|51|||1||RE%3A Ask G Anything%3A The Director%27s Cut|Ardaniel||19:57:35|07/31/2008|%3E 1%29 Akio and Anthy%27s origins - svartelven background - lots of baggage with that.%0D%0A%0D%0AHey%2C are you being racist%3F Urd%27s gonna want to talk to you about that.%0D%0A%0D%0AArd Collier%0D%0Athat Janice chick%0D%0AUsual Suspect and general menace 53|6|52|||1||RE%3A Ask G Anything%3A The Director%27s Cut|MOGSY||00:51:33|08/01/2008|Maybe I%27m just getting my drow and svartelves merged due to faulty memory%2C but I seem to remember lots of kill-or-be-killed type politicking%2Cintrigue%2C and a general %22all%27s fair in love and war%22 approach to things as part of the local way of doing business. So no%2C no I didn%27t think I was being racist%2C as little culturally suspect...mebbe.%0D%0A 50|3|46|||1||RE%3A Ask G Anything%3A The Director%27s Cut|BlackAeronaut||10:12:42|07/31/2008|%3E%28I%27m sure there %5Bi%5Dare%5B%2Fi%5D other ways%2C but probably none %0D%0A%3Ethat Akio would have access to%2C short of a major personal favor by %0D%0A%3ESurtur himself...%29%0D%0A%0D%0AI%27m not sure that even Surtur can do anything to get him out of it - it%27s not his curse to break%2C you know%3F Besides%2C he probably gets a perverse sense of amusment from watching Akio struggle against the curse. That may even be another reason why Akio rose through the ranks so quickly %28aside from being an effective thorn in the sides of Surtur%27s enemies%29.%0D%0A%0D%0A%5Btable%5D%5Btr%5D%5Btd%5D%5Bhr%5D%5Bfont size%3D%222%22 face%3D%22Arial Narrow%22%5D%5Bb%5DBlack Aeronaut Technologies%5B%2Fb%5D%0D%0ACreative aerospace solutions for the discerning spacer%0D%0A%5Bi%5D%22Here at the Advanced R%26D Center it%27s not a normal fiscal year until we have to save the universe.%22%5B%2Fi%5D%5B%2Ffont%5D%5B%2Ftd%5D%5B%2Ftr%5D%5B%2Ftable%5D 49|2|43|||1||RE%3A Ask G Anything%3A The Director%27s Cut|Gryphon||20:31:18|07/30/2008|[updated:LAST EDITED ON Jul-30-08 AT 08:36 PM (EDT)]%28Matter of fact%2C you know what%2C I%27m going to repost this over on the SOS board in case there%27s folks who aren%27t following the doings in private-mail.%29%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EThat mark of failure on Akio%27s brow... is it really working as %0D%0A%3Eintended%3F%0D%0A%0D%0AAn %C6sir curse is a curious thing and difficult to fathom. There is a certain element of rhetoric in the wording%3B in fact%2C when you get right down to it%2C what you say out loud when you invoke it is irrelevant%2C because you don%27t %5Bi%5Dhave%5B%2Fi%5D to say anything at all. So what Corwin said ought not to be taken literally.%0D%0A%0D%0AAt the same time%2C such a curse does represent one of the most significant karmic burdens a soul can be compelled to carry. The undying hatred of a god is a very heavy thing to carry uphill%2C metaphorically speaking%2C and it%27s given all of Akio%27s endeavors since a kind of Sisyphean quality. It takes a very determined spirit%2C one willing to endure a great deal of punishment%2C to accomplish anything hauling such an anchor behind.%0D%0A%0D%0AStill%2C it clearly hasn%27t crippled Akio entirely. Since receiving that curse%2C he%27s built an %5Bi%5Dentire plane of existence%5B%2Fi%5D - a fairly small one in terms of absolute square-mileage%2C but still%2C when was the last time %5Bi%5Dyou%5B%2Fi%5D created even a small universe%3F Yeah%2C he%27s had a lot of shit go wrong in frustrating ways%2C and even Oriphos didn%27t quite come out the way he wanted %28that red sky%2C for instance%2C isn%27t what he was going for at all%29%2C but still%2C he%27s getting some stuff done.%0D%0A%0D%0AAs Corwin and his friends have learned to their cost too many times to forget it again%2C only a fool %5Bi%5Dever%5B%2Fi%5D counts Akio Ohtori out before the absolute end of the game.%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Admin%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D 54|1|0|||1||RE%3A Ask G Anything%3A The Director%27s Cut|E_M_Lurker||03:52:18|08/06/2008|Rereading Symphony and the new movement got me to thinking about Nanami.%0D%0A%0D%0AThe last few times we saw her alive... she knowingly went back into that den of vipers%2C to try to keep a girl she hated safe. I don%27t know if I would have had the strength to do that%2C in her place.%0D%0A%0D%0AAnd they drove her mad%2C and wound her up and launched her at the Rune Knights%2C and she died... and went to Hell.%0D%0A%0D%0AAfter deliberately sacrificing herself in what I can only describe as a stunningly heroic act.%0D%0A%0D%0AI just don%27t get that. It doesn%27t sit right with me at all. After the fact%2C Corwin laments not having offered her asylum... but to me that%27s kinda trumped by the visceral certainty that %5Bi%5DNanami should never have been there in the first place%5B%2Fi%5D. Okay%2C she was a bitch%2C and she drowned a kitten. Does that really qualify her for eternal damnation%2C in the face of her character growth and outright martyrdom%3F%0D%0A%0D%0A--The Evil Midnight Lurker what Lurks at Midnight%0D%0A%22An object at rest--CANNOT BE STOPPED%21%21%21%22 55|2|54|||||RE%3A Ask G Anything%3A The Director%27s Cut|BZArcher||16:44:46|08/06/2008|As Corwin said in Sympathy for the devil%3A A lot of things were NOT working right that day because of what Akio was doing.%0D%0A%0D%0AIt%27s entirely possible that Surtur was able to grab her without the Valkyrie%2C Forseti%2C or Teluete having any idea what was going on until it was much too late.%0D%0A%0D%0ANow%2C that said....her story isn%27t over%2C yet. Let%27s not consign the girl to eternal torment so quicky. I have a feeling that things could easily change for her in either direction right now%2C depending on coming events. 56|3|55|||||RE%3A Ask G Anything%3A The Director%27s Cut|clg||18:58:42|08/06/2008|Not going to search for the post%2C but I think this is pretty close to Word Of God on this matter.%0D%0A%0D%0A - Chad 58|4|56|||||RE%3A Ask G Anything%3A The Director%27s Cut|Star Ranger4||23:07:48|08/06/2008|%3ENot going to search for the post%2C but I think this is pretty close to %0D%0A%3EWord Of God on this matter. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0ADunno about that part%2C but let us not forget that redemption has always been a strong and recurring theme throughout the EPU multiverse%0D%0A 59|4|56|||||RE%3A Ask G Anything%3A The Director%27s Cut|BZArcher||14:32:21|08/07/2008|Eaaaaaasy there%2C slugger.%0D%0A%0D%0AI am proud to be friends with several members of The Management here%2C but I am NOT part of the EPU team and certainly not intending to speak for them. %3AD I just have a very good memory and a tendency to try and think around the pieces of the puzzle. %3A%3E 60|5|59|||||RE%3A Ask G Anything%3A The Director%27s Cut|clg||19:42:12|08/07/2008|By %22Word Of God%22 I meant %22I think Gryphon has already said this%2C%22 not %22I%27m going to give BZArcher a promotion.%22 %3AP%0D%0A%0D%0AIt%27s another tvtropes title%2C I just didn%27t feel like giving the link this time. 61|6|60|||||RE%3A Ask G Anything%3A The Director%27s Cut|BZArcher||23:52:57|08/07/2008|We apologize for not speaking your Moon Language%2C sir%2C and I bid you a good day%21 57|3|55|||1||RE%3A Ask G Anything%3A The Director%27s Cut|Peter Eng||19:03:24|08/06/2008|%3E%0D%0A%3ENow%2C that said....her story isn%27t over%2C yet. Let%27s not consign the %0D%0A%3Egirl to eternal torment so quicky. I have a feeling that things could %0D%0A%3Eeasily change for her in either direction right now%2C depending on %0D%0A%3Ecoming events. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%0D%0AConsidering her actions in %5Bi%5DRaven%3A Blood Ties%5B%2Fi%5D%2C it%27s pretty clear that her loyalties are not with Surtur or Akio%2C regardless of what she%27s become in the afterlife.%0D%0A%0D%0APeter Eng%0D%0A--%0D%0AI%27m only a Charter Member because of the DCForum upgrade%2C and because there%27s no rank below %22Clueless F%21wit.%22 62|1|0|||||RE%3A Ask G Anything%3A The Director%27s Cut|Star Ranger4||23:01:30|09/22/2008|I was just finishing up a re read of Symphony%2C originally triggered by the release of Clarion call%2C when I noticed that we dont have any annotations for Out of the Blue.... Are there not any for it%2C or did they get lost somewhere%2Fsomehow%3F 63|2|62|||1||RE%3A Ask G Anything%3A The Director%27s Cut|Gryphon||23:20:10|09/22/2008|%3EI was just finishing up a re read of Symphony%2C originally triggered by %0D%0A%3Ethe release of Clarion call%2C when I noticed that we dont have any %0D%0A%3Eannotations for Out of the Blue.... Are there not any for it%2C or did %0D%0A%3Ethey get lost somewhere%2Fsomehow%3F %0D%0A%0D%0AHuh. Looks like I forgot to do that one.%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Admin%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D