Heartache 101 ~Sour into Sweet~

author=triad2
I find it's sometimes easier to work on two at the same time. Then it is only focusing on one. Marrend, it seems to me you need a "Eureka!" moment. You are thinking in circles and over analyzing everything about Fran. Step back and look at the whole picture. I'm sure the best solution will come to you.

I'm not sure if you're aware of this, but I do stuff on RMN that does not involve Heartache 101 - Sour Into Sweet? Saying that, I'm certainly looking for some form of epiphany when it comes to Fran. I usually find it in stream-of-consciousness thinking ("Idea dumps" if you will). Which was the style I was writing in with the last two posts I made here. More or less.

author=Dozen
Note to self: Pointing out mistakes of avoidant people will crush their confidence.

...

Note 2: Should think for a second so to realize the obvious. Also, learn to be nicer to others, Dozen. Not cool.

Somehow, I'm reminded of when you commented on my review of Joruri. Whatever. Let's just put that aside, and focus on the current situation.


This post isn't big enough. More streams:
The initial focus for Fran seems to be this repeating dream. I have no wish to emulate what happens in Weird Dreams in Heartache 101 - Sour Into Sweet. So, it appears that I will have to come up with something else. Wait. A repeating dream? Prompt 18!? I mean, that's for something completely different, but I can use that idea in a different way. Probably.

The first time the player meets Fran, I imagine that she should come off as being bored/tired. She's done this millions of times (literally), and an end isn't in sight. She doesn't currently have a tachie to support those particular emotions, but that's not a huge issue. My query is, at what point would Fran realize that the player might be able to find a way out for her?

It seems plausible to me that Masako is already aware of Fran's existence before the game starts. It might be possible that she was dream-speaking with Fran, since, well, MYSTIC POWERS. To say that Fran asks Masako to be released from her torment at least once during their conversations would be a sure bet.

So, wait, is Masako ultimately responsible for getting the player involved with Fran? If so, why? Perhaps she sees something within the player than others cannot? Perhaps. She does, after all, have MYSTIC POWERS.

If I follow through with these ideas, the best way to go about this is to have the player make Masako's first SOUL/MIND check from her original story file. If that happens, Masako would sense that the player would have an empathic ear to Fran's plight. Or something like that!

Oh yeah. The case of Tsubasa and the missing homework. I'm not totally sure that's still going to happen.

author=triad2
Why have Masako drag the player into whatever is going on with Fran when Fran is perfectly capable of dragging the player into it?

I have to think about this a bit. According to the theory that is presented in Matsumori Days, the boundary between realities can be accessed anywhere, but only if one has the power of an Arbiter. Those who are not Arbiters can still have access, but only at a very specific point: the Door of Possibilities. The boundary between realities has weakened, so perhaps those whose lives have been touched by Arbiters have limited access to said boundary. Which is to say that Masako has said access. Though, saying that, there has not been much contact from the "other world" to the "real world". In that respect, if Fran does cause weird dreams, that would be it's own anomaly.

author=triad2
@dozen would you mind if we carried discussed this in pm from now on?

From what I can tell, we're having a three-way discussion, which is not conducive to PMs. Unless you're talking about something else? In which case, please ignore this comment.

I've always had the impression that strange things happen to the player character because of the people he gets involved with. The goings-on would happen without his presence, but the player (the person actually playing the game) doesn't see the happenings unless he/she/it/whatever choose a certain route (no pun intended). In this respect, whatever Fran is going through is going to happen, and indeed has happened several times, despite the presence of the player character.

Well, that's my going theory, anyway.

author=Marrend
I have to think about this a bit. According to the theory that is presented in Matsumori Days, the boundary between realities can be accessed anywhere, but only if one has the power of an Arbiter.

On a loosely related topic, what is the other reality called? I'm getting some really nice feed for future campaigns here.

Onto the point. My research have been a success. There is, in fact, a kind of ghost from the dreamworld who eats minds. Forgive me for a second while I grieve over realizing just how fucked up D&D is.


In hindsight, this thingy shoulda been a dead giveaway.

Thank you.

Now, the proper, Tabletop-wise reasonable explanation would be that Fran is stuck in the Region of Dreams, either by accidentally getting through a temporary tear in the interdimensional fabric or by being asleep for far too long, a la the Sleeping Beauty. Over time, her torment/boredom/wishes/will/whatever(Depending on the nature of the dream, you know better which one) have managed to take control over her Dreamscape, and her consciousness materialized as a ghost; a Dream Vestige, specifically.

Without getting into the really nerdy science of it, vestiges are phantasms; that is, imaginary... But they were imagined so hard, they can interact with reality, and can be binded to an individual(In this case, the Player) and/or summoned as a spirit. I recommend just binding her for the sake of originality. We don't want to steal from Fate/Stay Night.


I mean, just look at them! These guys would fuck us up!

So the Player binds Fran to himself(because Masako can't be expected to multiclass or waste a feat out of the blue, can she?;). While Masako scans the planes for the body, he takes care of our dreamspawn, fighting down the urge to to munch on someone's midterm. Finally, the Player shooves her back into her body. And it all makes sense now. Cheers!

I firmly believe the player character should have a certain amount of SOUL before he comes in contact with Fran. I could do this with a CONDITION = SOUL X, but I'm more inclined to having players succeed with Masako's first stat-check.

One question, though. Why should I care what exists in D&D? It seems pretty clear to me that I'm following my own rules. Also, wow, that was mean.

It was not my intention to create this level of hostility. For however much it's worth, I am sorry.

author=triad2
@dozen marrend may still be helped by that even if on a subconscious level and even if not it may help someone else nothing you put your whole heart and effort into is a waste you may never see the results of the work but that doesn't mean they aren't there

having said all that i apologize to both of you for stepping into something that isn't any of my business and i will try to keep it from happening in the future.

Don't you apologize for telling what you believe is right again. You're missing the point, but I don't expect you to understand a madman's thought process. Thank you for helping me calm down.

author=Marrend
It was not my intention to create this level of hostility. For however much it's worth, I am sorry.

Of course it wasn't. Thank you for reminding my emotions you're a nice person so I can say what I actually want to say. It just...hurts, you know? It hurts so bad. I'm relying on other people to tell me how much I'm worth, and this made me feel so worthless. Please don't do this again. I'm sorry if I hurt you.

author=Marrend
Though, I'm kinda liking the whole "explain nothing" idea that triad2 brought to the table. At least, I think that's what he said? That's how I was reading him, anyway.

I'm not sure what he said either. And no explanation? I dunno about that. I definitely wouldn't let Masako get away with casting spells on me without running me through the basics at least. I know the Player is an idiot, but is he so much? And from the real-life player's standpoint, not knowing what's going on is annoying.