Okay, yeah, if he can't do the discorporate-and-reform trick anymore it would be way out of line, was going to go with a psychically-augmented palm strike to the jaw and then as his head rocked back, spray a bunch of holy-water admixed napalm down his throat. :P

In other news, I think I have the first mission Zach wants us to do figured out. We'll see how things go in practice once we get going. Don't want to plan too far ahead.

Daaaaah. I'm still stuck on character designs. This is infuriating.

I figured blades in this time and era could probably be made to cut through both corporeal and spirit-y things, or one or the other, so that's probably the direction I'm taking if it isn't too overpowered. (To balance things out, Dante himself is completely vulnerable to psychic stuff because that cloak probably isn't going to be a thing.)

But I still need a way for him to have acquired the sword in the first place; any ideas?

Well, keep in mind, most corporeal things are vulnerable to stabbity-stabbing their spirit, so the either/or thing doesn't really work. I wouldn't consider it overpowered, though. Now if he somehow got his hand's on one of the Sariel's swords that can not only do that but is a.) invisible, and b.) absorbs every form of energy in the electromagnetic spectrum (which psychic attacks fall under), *that* would be a little much. :P

And it depends if it's some high-tech cutting-edge piece or an antique. Like I said, pretty much any kind of conceivable weapon is available here for the right price. Or he could have found it raiding some fallen sanctuary or whatnot. Depends on how it works, too, if it's consecrated or psychoactive (you don't have to be a psychic to wield psychoactive weapons, doing so just turns it from "really nice magic sword" to "freaking lightsaber" while your channeling psi into it.)

Or maybe there's some alloy that's been discovered that has an astral presence and allows the weapon to affect incorporeal beings. (Milton uses Ether, Adamant, and Electrum to describe angelic weaponry, if that helps at all...)

Or it could even be something like a katana that has a theurgic laser lining its edge, which would have the same effect.

About all I can think of for now.

...Let me sketch it out, and I'll see what I can do about it.

I mean, the smaller one is definitely doable. It'd just be a one- or two-piece alloy blade that can replace the HCN that Dante used to carry around. Has no non-physical component whatsoever.

The larger one (collapsible) is more problematic as to where the hell he'd pick it up from. Definitely not on par with a "freaking lightsaber" because he just isn't capable of that sort of psychic ability, but it's more than *just* a sword.

I'm leery of collapsible swords, having owned a few, they really lack the structural integrity of forged blade, mostly good for surprise. Not to mention if I understand the design right, he'd have to construct it at the beginning of a fight, no? Unless he feels like lugging it around put together. I'm assuming those cutouts on the back edge are to reduce weight and improve handling? Should make it at least usable without being a superhuman.

The second one is a lot more elegant to me, though why not give him both? I don't think you'd even need an explanation for the small one, it should be pretty simple to come by a weapon like that. As for the big one... maybe he got it from artificer friend/contact at some point? They're the ones who'd make something like that. Or it could have belonged to a demon maybe, some kind of hell-steel?

It should have worked as more of a wrist/arm flicking motion, and the individual piece lock into place on sliders, but yeah, structural integrity is a downside.

Or it could just be not collapsible and probably draw funny looks due to its rather intricate design XD

Out of curiosity, how *big* is that sword? Cause it looks kind of buster-sword sized to me, just wondering if Dante's even strong enough to wield it. :P

It's not that big, more or less like this, probably just a bit longer and broader. (The sword drawings from above weren't exactly to scale; the smaller one's probably a foot and a half.)

EDIT: Erm. Oops. It's not that visible here, but hopefully you get the idea?

Ahhh, okay, I was thinking it was scaled. :P

That works.

So like...3.5ft, -ish? I mean, handle included, and the handle's pretty long just for counterweight purposes... Er...I lost my ruler somewhere, so I'm using manila folders as a measuring tool...

Yeah, no, no. I had initially thought of making it bigger, but I already have a recent character with a giant sword (actually functions closer to a shield and a spell catalyst), and TBH, Dante's built more like a swimmer than you typical fighting videogame protagonist, so he wouldn't be able to handle that anyhow.

Oh, right. Diogenes reminds me of a certain character from a certain manga whose name I can't recall right now. Er...I'll have to find him later. But seriously, I can't see any of the three current guys getting along at all...this will be fun.

Hmmm... 42 inches? On the low-end for a two-hander, but perfectly reasonable. If my new longsword would ever come in I'd comment in greater detail, it clocks in at 49 inches and 3 pounds.

Actually, now that I think of it, I think I have a sword that's fairly similar in proportions to that thing.

http://www.kitrae.net/fantasy/KR25.html

For a fantasy wallhanger it feels pretty nice in the hand, the extended handle gives you a lot of control and power (and that pommel spike is *nasty*)

That handle and pommel are beautiful o.o I'm surprised it's only 3 lbs. Seems it'd be a lot heavier than that.

Which reminds me, I was going to go for a more curved designed, but for some reason opted against it. Huh. And okay, it was designed as a two-handed sword, but I shrunk it a bit after I figured out (not quite, yet) the glove so that given some momentum, he can swing it with just his right hand.

I think I made sense there. Not entirely sure. Tired.

EDIT: there was something else i was going to mention but forgot. oopsies..

Honestly, anything over 4 pounds is going to have you gasping after 5 minutes of swinging it, let alone be terribly unbalanced in most cases. The biggest zweihanders got up to 5 or 6, I believe.

A well-forged sword should feel practically weightless in the hand. If you had someone freakishly strong, you could give them a slightly heavier weapon as long as the mass distribution was on par with a lighter blade, but for the average fighter, the general rule is 2.5-3 for a 2hander, 1.5-2 for a 1hander.

I mean, that makes sense. -has been swinging around a length of padded PVC piping and even that feels heavy-

...Please don't ask why I'm swing around a length of PVC pipe <.<;; Or why I need glow in the dark and neon paints ">.> I swear I'm not doing anything (too) dangerous.

That's a point I never got with videogames and such. Like...Cloud's sword is BASICALLY a giant five-foot tall thick-ish sheet of metal. Could've been a better design for it, but I guess it /looks cool/. Ichigo's sword is also a giant sheet of metal. Sephiroth's is a katana that's altogether too long, too unwieldy, too unbalanced, and too likely to get stuck in the ground or in a wall during a fight. And the list goes on.

...I have a thing against impractical armor and weaponry, for the most part. Mostly the armor. Occasionally the weaponry. -coughs-

You know what's the worst? War hammers. To note: a war hammer is *not* a giant 20lb meat tenderizer.

An actual war hammer.

A meat tenderizer.

Warhammers were meant to completely ignore armor, right? -doesn't know too much about them-

I wouldn't say "ignore" precisely. You'd use the blunt end to deform the plates so they couldn't move their limbs as well, and if you got an opening, a power swing with the spike had a good chance of piercing through, and the top spike could be used to stab at the mail protecting the joints, which, even if it didn't penetrate, would generally *hurt*.

Oh, and if you walloped someone in the head with the blunt end, they'd probably end up with a concussion. (Which is one of the principles behind fighting someone in plate armor with a longsword -- you flip the sword around and swing it like a warhammer, pommel strikes to the head could at the very least disorient.)

Hm. Interesting. I forgot that there's usually mail at the joints, haha...

...aaaand I just remembered how heavy plate and chainmail are.

Plate's heavy, but the way it's distributed over the body makes it fairly light in practice -- the main issue with fighting in it is overheating, which can happen very quickly. As long as it's well-made for the person wearing it, though, it allows full range of movement, up to cartwheels and backflips @_@ . (There are videos on youtube demonstrating exactly that...)

Chain on the other hand is about as heavy as plate, and all the weight rests on your shoulders and hips (assuming you belt it, which you'd be insane not). It's a lot more restrictive and tiring to fight in, but on the other hand, it's a lot stronger than movies make it look, too. Proper riveted steel chain with a padded gambeson under it can pretty much laugh off cutting weapons, and it provides solid protection against piercing, too, even arrows from anything but an English longbow. (Plate could shrug those off, but only if they were arc-fired. A direct shot could punch through, though it'd still waste a lot of momentum doing so.) Blunt force trauma is, of course, the main answer to chain, could even end up driving the links into the skin. That's what you had a shield for, though...


But yeah, chain's a lot better than Hollywood likes to portray -- they wouldn't have worn the stuff if it could hacked through with such contemptuous ease. There's an old Icelandic saga describing a duel between two champions, one of whom is rich and has chain armor, and it basically describes the match as "unfair" because the other guy literally can't hurt him with his sword.

Had an hour-long conversation about impractical armor, swords, warhammers and spears, and scale armor with a friend of mine. That was interesting. He's apparently seen the same videos you have.

(And then we ran into fencing club at the Activities Fair, which I somehow forgot to sign up for.)

I'm assuming "fencing" as the modern sport and not fencing as the Renaissance masters knew it? :P

And you need any more help for Dante at this point? Would like to get this going soon.

Nah, just need to find time to write stuff down. And TBH, we all know him well enough that this could probably get going before I finish his profile.

This is a good point.

Ari, unless you're going to make major changes to Ei'lycia, I'm fine with just going of her old profile until you can a new one worked up.

So... anyone opposed to having this begin with everyone getting called before Zach for a new mission?

Go for it.

All right, working on intro scene now.

Also, just found this, and it is just so insulting. Paradise Lost is one of the most badass stories ever written... this is not badass. We have emo!Satan whining and complaining, and Beelzebub openly weeping... these are the goddamned Princes of Hell! Where is the indignation? The wrath? The stoic fatalism? The haughty pride and sense of supremacy? Just pathetic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nogd1NWSWVw

o.O;;

And alright, looking forward to it.

Okay, it's up. Have at it.

Oy! I nap all day and I miss the beginning? Have to catch up. And remember how to navigate.

LOL, you didn't miss anything, I just posted it. But glad you're on!

-runs around like crazy before rushing off to actually read-

Burgh, unsure of what to write already. Will have set down the ice cream and actually think. This feels good.

To be back, that is.

Any particular name for Zaccheus's...building...thing?

It's actually the original church at Thyat'ria. Hmmm.... let's call it the Synod (of 1, lol).

Oh, and if anyone feels like it'll help with interaction, I can add an NPC to the team, too, let me know.

Yeah, I don't think there will be major changes so go ahead. :)

And I'm halfway done writing up her new profile.

SHIT

I HAD HALF A POST TYPED OUT

AND THEN ACCIDENTALLY CLOSED THE BROWSER

....Aaaaand the window just expired on me. Again. This time, I had the whole goddamn post.

Sounds like you should maybe write these in a word processor first, Espy. That's just damned unfortunate.

Yeah...I just keep forgetting to copy-paste. And I got so tired of writing that one post that it turned out kind of crappy.

Beeeeh, I forgot to mention that Lev also had binoculars. Is that too late?