Event wrap-up and updating the FAQ

[cosmods]

 Gena here again! Just wanted to point everyone to the battle/wrap-up on the last event, which is right over here!  
I will be tagging it once I get back from work later today, and I'll continue with the threads above it as well.  I apologize for the delays on this event, a lot of it was due bad planning on my part. I'm going to be more careful with how the next one is set up!

Also, I've been wanting to update the FAQ, but before I did, I wanted to see if anybody had any big questions that aren't on the list yet. As an example, I've seen some occasional confusion about whether a Gem Weapon counts as one of the earned powers, or if it's a freebie! (For the record, it is an earned power!) Of course, you can always ask the mods privately if you have any questions. I just figured it'd be good to ask here before any new edits were made.

Comments

[revvinguptheharley]

Question RE: Gem Weapons

In canon we've seen two particular aspects of Gem weapons I'm curious about

1. Summoning multiple copies of the same weapon at the same time

2. Sending energy through the weapon, Pearl blasting things, Amethyst's whiplash attack or Garnet using her gauntlets to power Greg's van. Or alternatively Garnet's Rocket Punch attack I suppose.

Are those things that are still possible or do the weapons need some kind of upgrade?

[nailed_it]

Adding to this that it should probably be clarified whether characters can come in with weapons separate of the Weapon Summon power?

Like, I'm pretty sure they obviously can (hello RWBY cast and several other heavily armed characters), and it seems like Weapon Summon just avails them of the ability to keep the weapon literally on their person and able to summon or dismiss it at will but it would definitely be good to get an official mod answer on how that power specifically works. Particularly since it's one I'm considering. >.>

[blindfoldcode]

Vaguely on the same topic, what about nonpowers like Cartoon Logic (where the frick frack does mabel put her grappling hook that she can whip it out in gideon rises?) or organic bodies that were built to be more durable than the average person?

[stigematize]

Pulling items out of nowhere would be a Hammerspace power! As an example, Pinkie Pie could always pull her stuff out of thin air in MLP, but once she got here it became a Gem power! It's an ability, even if it's just because of the cartoon setting she comes from.

As for the durability, I think that'd be a little more wishy-washy? It'd be a case-by-case issue, I'd say. Some characters are naturally stronger than others physically! Whether through their own fitness or species advantages, whatever.

And since we have that thing where "characters that didn't bleed before still don't have to bleed when they're hurt", a cartoony character probably WOULDN'T sustain a horrible, realistic wound if they got injured. But I also don't think they would be able to get hit in the head by an anvil without poofing. They can sustain injuries stylistically, but if it would totally kill a normal person, I think it's fair for them to have the same limitation. Durability to that level should be a power!

I might have to ask more about this, though! I don't think that issue has come up specifically yet.

[stigematize]

Each weapon summon would count as it's own power! So it'd be like "weapon summon: knife, and "weapon summon: gun". And of course characters can always carry non-gem weapons on themselves whenever they want!

I'm... not sure if that's exactly what you were asking, though, so clarification may be needed!

[nailed_it]

Yep! That's what my understanding of it was, I just figured I should double-check and get it in writing so to speak. XD

Thank you very much!

[stigematize]

Both of those would be "upgrade" powers! So you'd need to wait for another power-gaining opportunity to get those.

[revvinguptheharley]

Thanks for clearing that up <3

[blindfoldcode]

It might be useful to explain what is a freebie and what isn't! Because I know bubbling is a freebie, and fusion is too, but what else is there, if anything, and if bubbling is the only freebie that actually came free, why is that? I AM A CURIOUS SOUL HELLO.

Another one that came up AND I MIGHT HAVE MISSED i am curious but also oblivious, do the gems know what gem they are when the arrive? Like Kido is a white sapphire, but would she know that or is she going to assume she's a diamond or something? Is that something the heartrock tells people? (this one came up on my plurk to no one having the same answer)

If the first or second power on the app isn't chosen, then are they okay to be gained back later? that one's just a curiosity because i've seen situations where i'm like WELL I HOPE THEY CAN GET THAT LATER but i don't know if this means the mods think it's overpowered or what like idkidk.

this is a comment of airi asks a lot of questions pls feel free to tell me off for having too many of them.

[stigematize]

-YES that is a thing that commonly confuses people! I think fusion and bubbling are the only freebies? Though I've also heard that they can communicate to each other through their gems if they want, but I will ask about this because I haven't seen it used much. It'd be a useful thing to start implementing! But like bubbling, I'd guess it's a power that anybody could use, but not everybody has tried or even knows that they can do it.

-That is also a common question! It's up to you, really! Asking the heart would make the most sense, but you can also have your character in the dark about it indefinitely if you want. There's also the Jeweler NPC now, so at some point she might identify people's gems for them if they want to know.

- Yes, your other powers on your app can be gained whenever you want! Which is really handy for event-gained powers that you don't want. Because then you can swap that out with something else you had in mind in the first place!

-If something sounds overpowered, I think we would probably mention it in the apping stage- or in game, if it's not clear until it's been put in use. But considering that some of the canon powers are SEEING THE FUTURE and CONTROLLING THE OCEAN, it's kind of tricky. As long as it's not straight-up "bending reality with zero limitations", we're not too concerned. And besides, most of the fun of the setting is having characters struggle with their powers!

[finished]

I had a mod give the okay on this on Plurk, but I feel it would be a good idea to get it in writing on the FAQ:

A major aspect of my character is his ability to use and master many different kinds of weapons. (In Pit's case, it's 108 different weapons, broken into nine major types!) Am I allowed to have him learn to summon each of these weapons?

The answer I got was a yes, with the contingency that a regain is spent on each and every one (which was already planned).

[stigematize]

YEAH, that'd be a good thing to add! o/ Thanks for letting me know about it here!

[alightpitstop]

One question:

Can a gem voluntarily retreat their projected body back into the gem? I know that's what happens when poofing, but I want to know if that's a thing they can do on a whim or if it would be considered a separate power.

Palutena's asked this ICly for reasons involving Pit and a slingshot, but hasn't gotten an answer as of yet. Figure I should ask OOCly before getting too far into it.