Grrl Power #181 – Power UP!
:)
I’m so tempted to leave just the smiley as the comment but, well you guys know I can get a little verbose in these. I really enjoyed designing this, and yes, I know what all of the nodes do. I have an Illustrator file with a very spoileriffic text layer. :) It turns out that Maxima was correct about Sydney leveling up – just in a more literal sense than she knew.
I’m the sort of guy that enjoys designing skilltrees recreationally. Diablo II is one of my all time favorite games. It had a pretty basic skilltree in it, until the 1.10 patch that added the skill synergies. Personally I’m ambivalent about how skills worked in Diablo III. It has its merits but being able to swap skills out whenever you want dilutes player agency IMO. Currently I’m enjoying Path of Exile quite a bit – and it has a rather unique skill system. The actual abilities are either random drops or quest rewards, which I was leery of at first, but after a few playthroughs you start stockpiling skills and can build just about anything you want. The interesting thing about PoE’s skilltree is that it’s all passive abilities – a massive, interconnected web of abilities, rather reminiscent of the Final Fantasy 10 Sphere Grid.
After playing a little Path of Exile, I almost went back and redesigned Sydney’s skilltree and made it far more complicated, but decided to leave it as is for now. It’s not like she can’t discover additional features in the future. :)
Hi there, my name’s Halo! I’m a big time Superhero and this is my first big endorsement, so listen up!
Patreon, for those of you who haven’t heard of it before, is like Kickstarter for microtransactions. Instead of funding one off projects, Patreon is for giving ongoing support to independent artists you enjoy. It creates a steady source of revenue they can come to depend on to help support their projects or even just pay their bills so they can concentrate on making more of what you love.
If everyone who read the comic pledged $1 per month (much cheaper than XBOX Live, a monthly subscription to Xmen, or A sandwich) DaveB could live in a house made entirely of caviar and ponies. If one tenth of readers pledged that much, he could still make his living off the comic and produce extra pages on a regular basis. Granted he’s doing that right now, but until the Patreon campaign hits a certain level, his saving will eventually erode to the point that he will need to find a full time job. So please consider contributing even a small amount (or a big amount, we’re not picky) to support the comic if you’ve enjoyed it so far, and DaveB will continue to endeavor to improve his art and writing and will keep entertaining for many years to come! Thanks!
SuperheroThey're super, thanks for asking!
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Not UpdatingNo longer updating or only updates sporadically, but definitely worth reading.
SeriouslySeriously you guys. If you like Grrl Power the check these out.
"Mature"Mature subject matter and occasionally something explicit but usually safe. Can't guarantee the ads are safe though.
Dongs Ahoy!Full frontal and backal. Lots of skin, sex on some or all pages, explicit or otherwise.
One other possibility I don’t remember seeing being brought up is an alternative of the ‘default’ or ‘prior save’ mode and level ups required to access gray paths. That is the orbs are in a ‘tutorial/new user’ mode.
The new user gets a default, easy to use mode of use for the orbs, until some criteria is hit. Then the user gets access to the leveling up system. Once reaching a certain level, the points are reset, the new user gets out of tutorial mode, the full grid is accessible through leveling (some areas accessed through leveling like currently stipulated), and some paths now unlocked.
One further alternative is that the orbs are in a ‘demonstration’ mode, the grayed out areas are inaccessible until contact is made with the creators/sellers and a purchase is made.
Sydney, if they ask you to either sign the contract in blood, demand your first-born child or want your soul, just stick with the demonstration model.
Ad remember to read the small print too. lol
I may have missed this, in the earlier pages of comments, but I did not spot anyone mentioning that the very centre of the pattern has a coloured wedge in it. Corresponding to the two points lit up in alignment with the flight and force field orbs. Given its positioning this strikes me as being highly significant. Likewise the implication that more of the pie will get filled in as the other five points on that circle are illuminated.
Perhaps completing the set and highlighting all of the centre will unlock some uber power? Or summon Cthulhu? Or unleash a pack of prancing coloured ponies on the world!!!
Perhaps, but the wheel and the wedged center are not obviously connected to the orbs or their talent trees other than being in a similar seven-point circle. It’s possible that the seven-point wheel dictates an upgrade for the powerset as a whole, rather than for specific orbs. The most obvious link in my mind is that that wheel denotes the number of orbs that can be used simultaneously, the two filled points corresponding to Sydney’s ability to use two orbs at once.
As for the effect of getting all seven, tough to say, perhaps it unlocks remote orb control?
I think that Sydney will permanently be limited to using just two. One in each hand. Thus do not see any significance in the number 2 appearing in the pattern. I draw this mainly from a story writing point of view. Although Sydney’s lack of hands 3 to 7 do support my argument.
From a story perspective I agree, she’ll likely not use more than two unless it’s in a crowning moment of awesome. From a purely lore perspective, we don’t know the origin of the orbs, perhaps they’re from a place where seven hands is typical.
oooh, idea! what if one of the orbs lets her grow more arms
You might want to take into account that there is more than one ring. There are in fact, 4. The highlighted ring you’re talking about, two rings outside of that, and one on the inside. I find the outermost and innermost the most interesting. The outermost ring is so wide that the nodes are on the lines connecting each orb to its neighbors. I have a feeling that those upgrades affect how the each orb interacts with the connecting orbs. The innermost ring is most confusing. Either one of the nodes is star-shaped (possibly denoting it is unique?), the drawing is difficult to make out due to Sydney’s hair and there are seven ordinary nodes, or there are only six nodes.
I concur.
Agreed, but the spacing of the points in panel 1 very strongly supports it being 7 and it looks to me like the 7th is there in front of her hair.
The confirmation being in panel 5. Note that all the orbs have rotated anti-clockwise by that stage, along with the the power-up display itself. So in that picture you are not looking for the bottom-most point of the inner circle (which appears on Sydney’s forehead), but at the one just above her hair on our right (her left). Bearing in mind you are looking for the point that lies between the green and brown orbs in their new position on that side. And the point is there, albeit faint against the blue sky.
One other item of note is that the two highlighted points I mentioned in my initial post are still keeping their relative positions pointing towards the blue and purple orbs. Although I concede Saneatali‘s observation that there is no direct connection from those points to the orb. So that might just be a co-incidence.
Although if there was no relationship between the orbs and the four inner circles then one might expect them not to rotate to keep in alignment with the orbs. As the whole power up grid is following around in the same pattern in time with the orbs, it seems that they may be significant.
It’s not just that outermost ring. The entire inner structure, excepting the highlighted “pie” ring, is constructed of connections between pairs of orbs. Presumably it means there’s some sort of synergy between the two, though I don’t know what that would be. I haven’t observed anything special between the flight and PPO yet.
That makes four general structures:
1 – the central “pie ring”
2 – the inner “connection rings”
3 – the one double-connected node that each orb has
4 – each orb’s individual skilltree
1 has been theorized to be equip numbers, which is possible but not confirmed.
2 is probably some form of synergy, though what sort we can’t be sure yet.
3 we have no idea, since it’s only on one of the unknown orbs.
4 is fairly obviously just the usable skills. Could go into more detail here, but it’s not particularly useful. It is however the easiest portion of the tree to decipher.
1 might also be which ones she is currently or has most recently used.
Reasonable point, if a bit out of place on what appears to be a pick list for her next power-up. Thinking it through though, if purely there for information, one might expect it to be visually distinctive to prevent the user thinking it was something they could choose to upgrade.
On the other hand though, it may just auto-allocate to whatever would be the next default choice for a particular orb if she did attempt to place the ‘glowie thing’ in one of the inner circle positions. Or perhaps upgrading the most recently used function of the corresponding orb, if there is an upgrade still open?
It’s possible that each orb’s active ability only becomes noticable when it has 4 or more glowies in the skill tree. All of the actives have 4 or more glowies, while the two unknowns have only 3 and 2 respectively.
With the linking, maybe Syd will only have to hold one orb and use one of the other off-hand, aka not in her hand, but by sheer combo-points.
I don’t think there are 4 rings, at least not in a meaningfull way. The way I see it, there are two diagrams:
* layer 1: the level up diagram consisting of the 2/7-dot circle and 2/7-wedge
* layer 2: the upgrade diagram, with the combo links (double lines with dot in middle) on the inside and upgrade paths on the outside
At first I thought it was something about synergy.
But than I realized every orb is already connected to each other orb through those lines, and THOSE are probably to unlock combo powers with 2 orbs.
In that logic, Flight and PPO are the only ones that currently have a combo available.
Maybe combining Shield and PPO would allow her to shoot out of the shield
The flight orb is really more of a gravity redirector. The PPO seems to fire focused beams of light and/or heat. Considering that it may be possible to use the two to create a micro sun. Just imagine the possibilities of that! Micro nova, anyone?
clearly, she has to fill all 7 slots before she can move to the center space, answer the question of the opposing team’s choosing, and win the game
Why am I thinking that these balls are one of several sets? That seems like this is not an accidentally created artifact, nor do I see that as a sentient artifact (sentient artifacts would be more interactive than ‘map of power set’). Being not an accident, and having a progressive unlock, they weren’t meant to be used by their creator (the creator would start them off fully unlocked, with safeties, if using the orbs directly). No, these were made. Made for someone other than the maker. Why stop at making just one set?
They may find add on orbs later or even defeat an opponent who has a full set with same or different powers. There is clearly more out there.
I call a multi armed alien being in the story later with there own set and being able to active one for each hand.
Oh, it could ultimately be just one set….to a planet. Or, given Dabbler’s instant recognition (ahem, lack thereof) of the orbs, one per sector/quadrant/galaxy/universe. These orbs have an origin. A history. A story all their own that they fit into.
I just don’t know if we’ll ever see that here.
I’m fine with that. I see this webcomic more as what Individuals do with super powers than a vast power-struggle on which balance the fate of multi-verses.
I love the open world of possibility, it is without the confining limits that can be imposed by Cannon. (Hint Dave: I don’t see the origin or over-arching role as something that needs filling in. Oh, if it fits the story and makes sense, please do, but I enjoy stories where vast swaths of it are left open to speculation and wonder – that speculation and wonder is probably driving much of the commentary today)
Why did Sauron only make one of the Ring of Power? Most of the time, there is a limit of 1 on very powerful objects to be made. That, or every item is unique, like the Rider’s swords.
Lots of rings of power but one ring to rule them all.
You got a LOL on that one.
Don’t you mean a “LotR”?
Sauron: I actually made two rings to rule them all, but it just doesn’t sound the same.
Also the backup ring ate the other one.
Video game/Green Lantern logic: you can only have 1 ring at a time unless the story demands it.
Green Lantern is part of a greater galactic organisation, each member having a ring and defending their sector. (There’s even a living planet Green Lantern.)
Don’t forget the Other Lantern Corps,
Guess no-one told The Mandarin that rule
That’s the “Where the story demands it” rule.
There where quite a few who had enough in them to wield two in the black lantern plotline. They however seemed to be less stable.
Bloody hell, if you thought Hiro Nakamura was geeking out when he got super powers….well, Sydney just beat him hands down in the “OMGHOLYCRAP” category.
Super-Hiro was one thing.
But really, wouldn’t you get a nerdgasm (up to 11) if you not only became a superhero, then a member of a Justice League/ Avengers and THEN got an awesome level-up sequence with a friggen skill-tree?
I looked at the skill tree, and thought “That looks like a Path of Exile skill tree. Is that the Path of Exile skill tree?” Then I read the blog post and I was like “Yes, yes it is. Sort of. Vindicated!” It’ll be interesting to see what sort of “perks” she gets… and what exactly gives her experience (Does only actually using the orbs work, or do other character-developing events also give her exp?)
Maybe the seven dots in the middle, with five unlit, is like equip slots. She can currently use only two orbs at a time, but unlock a third slot and she can use three?
Theory time.
1. Node common to all orbs is hands-free option: set function, lock on, let go.
2. Green orb is stealth: locked on, as a default or due to a prior owner.
3. Sydhas been “leveling up” subconsciously through her experimentation, but the “system” is still learning how to “interface” with her conscious mind. Max’s comment about “level up” was a breakthrough, allowing Syd conscious & (possibly) informed control of her advancement by a method she understands.
4. Dave has more tree on his labeled version than we have yet seen.
5. Dave is either a genius, a sadistic bastard, crazy, or any combination thereof.
And yes, Dave, someday you’ll have to publish the complete labeled tree.
Sorry, theory 2 references yuffiek’s comments on pg. 2.
I really hope theory three is right. It makes sense and gets rid of the likelihood of multiple orb packs.
This begs the question, what do the orbs do baseline? Are they all inert until you allot points or did they come with some points as factory default?
The addition of a skill tree makes this comic reminiscent of the relatively new Korean webtoon The Gamer:
https://www.batoto.net/comic/_/comics/the-gamer-r9967
Its an interesting development.
As far as I know The gamer doesn’t have a skill tree?
so basically this is a setup for expansion and DLC jokes… hurra for RPGs.
so Syd’s gonna have to pay 6 Interstellar Trade Credits to unlock one of the “Secret” Orbs?
ooh SKILL TREE!!!! take the +2 to tentacle range!!!
And just hope that it is not measured in millimetres.
2 points.
1st – I will add my request to the others who want that 1st panel as a wallpaper, sans the bubble & Achilles.
2nd – The “skill tree” as it is, probably doesn’t even require leveling in the traditional sense. You notice after Sydney used the FOrb & powered down, she got to see her personal upgrade. I would imagine the “skill tree” is personally based, showing all the potential powers the Orb Set the current owner can use – However, as every user is different and imagination & willpower always would begin at a different starting point, Sydney would “level up” based on her own personal experiences & uses of the orb. Eventually, if she ever needed it other points would light up as Sydney would expand her powers but, she wouldn’t ever light up her full board unless she actually NEEDED those aspects of her mental Orb powers. The short version, is Sydney could use the full power of every light on the “Skill Tree” right now, but she doesn’t know the other abilities she could already use. (like a Jedi, there is no try, only do)
In pannel 3 Sydney is holding a little ‘orb’ in/near her hand.
I’d asume that that is a skillpoint that she has to put somewhere in the tree.
So probably still things she actually needs to unlock
And she’s still holding it when she clocks Dabbles in the last panel
As an after thought – some of the Skill Tree is a solid color (blue) – abilities already available to the orbs, and some in different colors – abilities that are “new” to the orbs because of the way Sydney’s mind works & grows after any extreme uses or the Orbs.
*Available to the Orbs & used is in the colored in blue, while available but not used is only outlined.
Given that we (and Halo) are taking this as being a level-up screen analogous to a game, we can take the conventions followed in those. Which would be as follows:
* Those points glowing in light blue are already allocated, one way or another, and can be used at will.
* Every other point in dark blue (and not glowing) is free for her to place the level up glowy thing in her hand to pick as her current power-up.
* The greyed-out points are ones that need to be unlocked at a later date and are unavailable for her to place her upgrade in at this point. Perhaps placing enough points in key areas will unlock them. Or, alternatively, they require some specific actions to unlock. Slaying the white rabbit, saving the world or some such task, for example.
* The greyed-out lines that fade out to nothing are possible future upgrades. Perhaps requiring a trip back to the Bermuda Triangle to have the upgrade patch installed.
Seeing all those power-up options on the Fly Ball, and bearing in mind the fact that it is actually a gravity control orb, has it struck anyone previously just how Halo went fast when flying with Maxima? With conventional flight you increase the power of the engine and you get propelled faster. But with gravity control, presumably you increase the gravitational effect to go faster.
Yet Sydney was not feeling any adverse effects from increased gravity. I am sure one of our physicist readers can crunch the numbers but my gut feeling is that to increase her rate of free fall through atmosphere to keep pace with the speed Max was travelling at, she would have had to been experiencing significantly higher gravity. And even with no floor to be pushed down against, that force would still be playing on her internal organs and the like.
We know, albeit from comments by DaveB, that the Fly Ball provides limited protection from the adverse effects of flight through an atmosphere even without the Forb shielding her. So perhaps another aspect of that protection is to immunise her against the harmful effects of using directional high gravity for flight.
Assuming that the four points highlighted are indeed a representation of the flight power as folks have previously suggested, this would actually indicate her relative strength in gravity control. Presumably the two points already highlighted on the adjacent branch will be in relation to the protective effects of the Fly Ball? Maybe one being the ‘protection from wind buffeting’ and the other being ‘personal gravity protection’.
Gravity means acceleration. You do not need increase gravity to go faster, while you are inside a gravity field you WILL go faster anyway. Syd need just find a constant gravity that match Maxima’s acceleration rate.
Acceleration thru gravity do not have the same effects that thru rockets or the like, cause the former affects all the atoms at the same time, i.e. there is not inertia effects at all.
Thanks to drag from the atmosphere, at some point gravity DOES mean speed, rather than acceleration.
That point is the therminal velocity.
On that note with the ‘gravity protection’, there is no need for that. During flight she is in free fall (falling sideways, but that’s just cause her personal point of gravity is there). During freefall you experience no effect from gravity, other than the acceleration. So it can’t crush you even if there is a very strong gravity source close to you.
The thing with G forces are not pure gravity, but CHANGES in acceleration.
So it’s still possible that the Flight orb offers internal dampning, as protection against G forces, to improve Sydney’s agility. (suddenly turning 90 degrees while going 400mph would knock her uncontious or kill her from G forces in a normal situation)
If you do not mind, I will insist. Changes in gravity do not generate G forces
Once again you are thinking about rockets or flight spoilers, about something pushing in a new direction while your blood, organs and so keep moving along the previous direction due inertia.
Gravity do not work like that, when gravity changes EACH atom of your body is affected in the same way at the same time, you are moved as a coherent block and there is no damage, you will not even be aware of that.
We all are actually going on a close curve at 1.000 mph (one thousand miles per hour) and we do not notice a thing, do we?
By the way, a very strong gravity source near you can not crush you, but CAN tear you apart due tide forces. Fortunately Syd is short :)
Fair enough. Change to innertia is what causes G forces.
Changing acceleration, especially in a different direction than where you are going, results in a change in innertia though.
To put it into practice: A centrifuge (something that spinns) generates G forces outwards. In space, this can generate artificial gravity. If it goes fast enough, you get high G forces. That’s how they test fighter pilots
“It is not the fall that kills you…”
Ok :) there is no problem at all, really, but I give up, may be next time. Enjoy ;)
Thanks for the info from both of you. I must admit that as I typed ‘free-fall’ it did make me doubt whether gravity would actually cause her problems at all in that state. But I always prefer to ask a question (or subtly different provoke an answer) than to remain in ignorance.
Along that vein, I am still not totally convinced that an intense change in local gravity would not cause problems in a human body. I understand the point about all the atoms being affected at once, so generally follow the point. But still feel that there is an interaction between gravity and inertia which would cause at least discomfort and maybe damage if extreme gravity were being applied at right angles or the like.
Putting it another way, we do not experience problems being in close proximity to Earth because we and it are all going in the same direction under a status quo. But if somebody were to start shooting micro-black holes * which missed you enough that you were not sucked in past the event-horizon but did rapidly move you towards first one then another in a different direction. Instinctively it makes me feel your guts would not be happy at this stage.
* please ignore any nasty effects to atmosphere or planet for this question.
The only places gravity becomes a problem are when either the gravity is applied unequally to an object (tidal forces), and the differential in the forces causes damage (called, I think a Roche limit?). Or when the gravity force is met with another force (walking on a neutron star, that ground pushes you up hard enough to kill you).
Everything else, gravity is harmless. Hum. Lots of small, fast moving black holes? Those might kick up some shrapnel in passing. Could even have some of it moving towards relativistic speeds, simply from a sling-shot style effect. Black holes let you easily apply insane amounts of energy to objects, just by dropping stuff toward that event horizon. Come to think, the gama and x-ray emissions won’t be too healthy.
Something to consider, I don’t thing the gravity control Sydney uses works on a point source like a candle. I’ve not seen it tug furniture around near her, or ruffle others hair. I bet it works ignoring th 1 over d-squared rule. I bet it works more like a gravity laser…
I think it works as many other superpowers (teleport, Maxima’s clothes protection, etc), it affects the user and all their thingies, but nothing more ;)
Gravity laser? I did not hear about that. Or do you mean like the Zero Gravity Laser toys?
It is a pretty healthy policy you have there :)
I see what you mean :) it is highly counterintuitive, but the fact is that while you be in free fall (ie, nothing against to be pushed) whatever change in the direction or intensity of the gravity force(s) will not be noticed. Even taking account of inertia :)
In your black hole machine gun scenario (that is a good one :) there are a few other points to take care off, as Torrenal pointed out, but leaving those aside (especially tide forces) the answer is again “no”, you will be just revolving the total gravity vector around but the subject will not be aware.
As a separate point gravity always means acceleration, not speed.
Terminal velocity do not means no acceleration, but gravitational acceleration equals atmospheric draw deceleration. Speed remains constant but gravity is still accelerating.
If you are now sitting at your desk, you can say that your are not falling, that you have speed zero, but anyway you are accelerating at 1G, always, constantly, non stop… It is called weight ;)
It’s probably not anti-gravity but an advanced form of quantum locking. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ws6AAhTw7RA
Interesting video. I do note though that the effect only held the object in place. It still required the demonstrator to push it in order to start moving. So it would explain her ability if she did not move. But there would have to be some other effect in play to provide her the push to get moving. It would convincingly explain a super-jumper but not someone flying at the kind of speeds they were going. Not without a propulsion unit involved anyhow.
I’m going to be a pedant for a minute. Apologies in advance.
Gravity will cause acceleration. It is not the same thing as acceleration. When you’re sitting at your desk you are experiencing gravity but no acceleration (relative to the Earth that is). When in freefall you’re experiencing gravity (like always) which is causing 1G of acceleration (give or take), until you hit terminal velocity at which point your acceleration is zero, because your velocity is constant. It might feel weightless but you weigh the same during freefall as at rest (until you start with relativistic effects at crazy high speeds), and gravity is exactly the same throughout (ignoring the minor fluctuations over the Earth’s surface).
We haven’t really seen whether Sydney experiences any acceleration when using the flight orb – Max allowed her to speed up gently during the flight over. I don’t think you can automatically say she won’t merely because of the floating-hair-when-spinning event. Maybe the popping tags scene. Negating gravitational attraction and negating all acceleration are two different things. I mean, it might do both but I’d say that’d be two separate dings on the skill tree. It’s unlikely to be making her entirely weightless because her hair would go floaty and she’d probably throw up if it occurred suddenly. Although trying to apply science to the orbs is kinda hard when you’ve no idea how they work :) Sci-fi has tricks with relativistic effects that allow you to ‘smear out’ sudden changes in acceleration so that the effect lasts longer but is less severe throughout.
In fact we don’t even know that the flight and the floatyness have the same cause. An acceleration dampening effect would explain being able to float and not lose it during barrel rolls, but not how she actually moves. A mass effect (causing localised gravitational changes) would allow flight and the spinny trick but she’d experience G forces like a fighter pilot unless in conjunction with the above. Some sort of warping of the dimensions would probably allow all of the above and I’m massively overthinking it – although I’d like to think we’d see some sort of eye-watering visual effect if that’s what was happening.
I am going to be a pendulum for a minute.
*oscillates back and forth for 60 seconds*
I’m guessing the center ring is either some kind of mastery bonus given they correspond to the flight and barrier orbs, which seem to be the strongest and most well controlled, or an indicator of how many orbs she can use at once.
Based on the pattern and the nature of the interface, I think that the green and red orbs might correspond to something like mana and health, giving her some kind of passive healing or damage resistance and how the orbs maintain power. Maybe healing powers.
The filled in ring between flight and the PPO is probably some kind of super kickawsomecal combo attack. Hopefully Space Lasers.
Maybe the center dot is an exp. “bar”?
+1
That is the best alternate explanation yet.
I think Sydney should get a new SUperhero name. “Swiss” Because as that matrix fills in, she is going to be the new Swiss Army Hero.
But they might call her “Swiss Miss” which she would HATE.
Personal theory- and I’ve not read through the previous pages, so forgive me if someone has said this already.
I notice that there are at least 4 ‘skill points’ placed in the orbs that Syd already knows how to use, and the two orbs that are labeled as ‘unknown’ have less than 4- until now. Syd has placed her ‘new skill point’ into the orb with the smoky center- making it have 4.
My theory is that in order to use the orbs, you have to have a minimum of 4 points invested in it, or it is unavailable to you. Now that the smoky centered orb has the extra point in it, I hypothesize that Sydney will find herself able to do things with it.
Correction- it just looked like Syd had placed the point. But my theory still remains the same.
Yeah, thought that as well, the fact the camera-angle changed threw me off
OMG! Sydney’s Orbs have a Sphere Grid! Like the one from Final Fantasy X!
Hey, so, this might sound odd…
But I’d love to have that skill tree as a shirt. :D
Join the chant
I have only one thing to say… “Preeettttyyyyyyy” -crouches like a cat and bats at the shinies-
DAMN IT. NOW I WANT TO BE ABLE TO LEVEL UP SO I CAN SAY “DING, MOTHA FUCKA” every time it happens.
Also, that is a lot of skill tree. It explains why some of her powers are super strong and others are just “meh.” Are you going to be doing this often? Can we have a follow along chart? Can you “spoil” what the current points are for (except for the unknowns of course.) I want to design video games, and I love character potential, so of course I love skill trees as well. XD
…I am especially curious as to that point that joins the 5 other points in the flight orb, and then has like 4 or 5 more upgrades.
I”d really like to have a reader-only (personal on request maybe) handbook for the orbs or something, or at least tooltips.
Everytime you finish a class or get a promotion just say ding.
And when you graduate you can call it a prestige class.
Each of the nodes is connected in some way to one or two orbs. The exception to this is the central ring of seven nodes, which has two of seven nodes lit. Perhaps this corresponds to the number of orbs Sydney can simultaneously access?
Also, a number of nodes are connected to two orbs. It looks like there are some effects that Sydney can “train” which require two nodes to activate.
Both of the other greyed-out areas have double lines. In their case though at the start of them rather than for the final option in the sequence. The art is slightly different to too, when comparing it to all the other double lines. For instance any of the connectors between orbs. And the various single choice options on each orb (including the lit one on the green mystery orb).
To me it looks like those grey double lines are actually composed of a single line and one of the wispy fading out lines. To continue my game analogy in an earlier post, where I proposed that the single grey fading out lines were possible future upgrades that had to be obtained (‘purchased’ or ‘downloaded’), it may be that once they have been added, any new sequence would gain a single grey bar next to the fading grey one, which then led to all the new content nodes in grey.
Presumably the grey will change to blue once the upgrade paths are unlocked, by whatever means that is done. Perhaps some faded greys can be upgraded to blue nodes. Especially if the pre-requisites to unlocking that path have already been met at the time of ‘purchase’.
So my explanation for the exception to the rule that ‘all grey sequences start with a double-grey line’ (ie the four greys that come off the partly illuminated line from the blue ball) is that they are the only built-in unlockable options. And that the remaining two (namely the one grey pick in the pink ball’s tree and the other group of four greys in the blue tree) are optional upgrades that have already been provided but not yet unlocked. “In addition to the unlockable space flight content, your purchase comes with two optional extras already provided totally free, just play to unlock them”
On the forcefield orb with the line of 3 empty blue nodes and the telepresence orb with 5 nodes and only the first 1 active, it looks like the last two nodes are connected by two grey lines.
The other grey lines are connected on one end by a blue node and the other end is either a grey node or nothing.
I mean last 2 ‘blue’ nodes are connected by grey lines
Oops, I meant to reply to this post when talking about double grey lines in my reply that I actually connected to Leewei‘s above.
I was just wondering if two empty blue nodes connected by grey lines meant anything
Ahh, I see what you are getting at. It does have a bluish tinge to it. Although I think that it is just because the background sky is prevalent there, whereas the others have grey cloud behind them.
I just realized that the dots on the lines between orbs are probably for double orb combo powers.
Also that her power level may be able to go up as high as 7,8 or 9 in future depending on what she can unlock with that orb skill system.
It seems to be a consensus over the connections between each two orbs are related to the holding of two orbs at a time.
Then I see two possibilities.
One, the setup can sense the currently owner amount of hands and adjust itself to that, i.e. (taking “Nobody” suggestion) if the owner were Dabbler we would be seeing connections between triplets.
Two, the orbs were bulding for/by humans or at least beings with compatible holding apendices.
Both wonder me a lot :)
Yea, thought provoking. Although I feel for a balance/interest point of view that Halo will always be limited to two orbs, I can see interesting possibilities from that line of thought. I am not sure which of Dabbler’s various ancestral races have four arms, but if one of them got hold of their own set of orbs they could provide a very nasty opponent!
Most species fall under “4 limbs” with 2 on the front and 2 on the back, whichever race created them might also fall under that.
I think the word “terrestrial” should be inserted in that sentence somewhere.
From our certain knowledge of alien races, six limbs seems to be the norm (ignoring tails). Four arms and two legs. Ok we only have a sample of one known alien, but the statement it true nonetheless.
Dabbler’s also an extreme crossbreed, who might as well tell us nothing at all.
However, evolution is true everywhere, and 2 or 4 limbs is usually enough to stand on, with most animals starting with 4 thanks to being evolved from fish here, however any race without a means to manipulate their suroundings to a certain level of precision, likely the lower limit being two 2-digit pincers or 2 tentacles, cannot be said to be likely to achieve technology.
Thus, it will likely be either a snake or 2-4 leg based creature with atleast 2 arms, likely the least nessicary since that would mean less nutrients needed for growth compared to actual effect gained.
Heh. Again you are still arguing based on our knowledge of Terrestrial evolution. Ok, a reasonable restraint, given that we know nothing else. But still one that we should recognise as limiting our knowledge of the universe.
As an example the instant I got my hands on Spore, the first creature I wanted to create was a totally sessile one. Ie a critter that had no means of locomotion. In terms of rationalising a critter that evolved in such a state I visualised a corral dweller that was anchored in position but which had tentacles to grab things that came within reach.
As it was, even if you did not give the creature in Spore any legs it still could move. Just at a reduced rate. But it still allowed me to explore a game version of my conceptual idea. And it worked fairly well. Although if I chose not to move, despite being allowed to, the creatures would not have survived and evolved under those game mechanics. But even limited movement, without limbs, worked ok.
Clearly Spore does not work the same way as actual evolution, so it is just an interesting story. And it is possible that evolution on other planets might work exactly the same as on Earth. But equally it might not. Planets where intelligent life stemmed from coral dwellers, balloon creatures in a hydrogen or methane atmosphere or thinking beings that evolved from an energy state, such as might exist in stars, may have no concept of limbs, let alone a defined number as being optimal for civilised life.
I don’t know if this was asked yet, but I would love to see a wallpaper of the orb web by itself.
I noticed a small issue with the grid from frames 1, 4 and 5 , frame one the graph under the orange orb has 2 on the left and one on the right set, in frame 4 its 2 on the left and 1 on the right, then in 5 its back to 1 2 on left and 3 on right. Just seems like hte 4th frame kinda swapped which path had two lights on it, wasnt sure if you noticed.
It is just our perspective, as the viewers, that changed. Initially we see it with us looking at Sydney. But in panel 4 we are looking from Sydney’s point of view. So everything is, correctly, mirrored when compared to the first viewpoint.
n/m I noticed now its just a perspective change that caused it.
Oh sorry, I was just replying in sequence and did not see you had already spotted the issue.
I know it just a skill tree but I have a bad feeling that when it fills up it a bomb. At the very least she going to get attacked by something that has an idea what the orbs are when they get stronger.
Naa, it is a game, not a ticking clock. Click to reveal what will actually happen when the centre is fully lit up:
Congratulations! LEVEL 2 UNLOCKED… Deleting old world…completed…Loading Hell…completed. SUDDEN DEATH MODE ACTIVATED…Number of lives remaining: 1
Someone, anyone, who waits for a dangerous thing to fully charge up before attacking is a FRACKING IDIOT!!!!
Don’t wait! Attack while they are still weak/ignorant of their full powers
Lots to think about.
* Sydney has leveled up! Woot! Dave stated it. And now we’re seeing the updated stat screen with certain ability dots filled in. My theory is that the extra sparkly ones were filled in with this increase in level. The two unknown orbs are particularly sparkly. Meaning their abilities may now be available.
* The grey nodes, I believe, are newly revealed sections made available by this level up. And it seems there is more to come.
* Several people have suggested that Sydney is playing someone else’s saved game. I, on the other hand, agree with Yorp that this is not the case. I sense that when the orbs bond to a new a new owner they start at the default levels.
* I noticed (and Yorp noted) that there are wedges in the middle. I think this is the level indicator. And the node ring would be progress to the next level. If I’m right Sydney is at level two with five points until next level up.
* I agree with the suggestion that the inter orb nodes are for abilities that activate when the two are used together.
* Some people have been suggesting that the orb nodes with double lines open up the possibility of a hands free ability for each orb. I disagree very strongly. I think it indicates and ability for each orb that requires the use of TWO hands.
Well, that does it for my speculations. For now.
Which is why I think Sydney is not visible in the restaurant scene. She is somewhere somewhere trying out every option she can think of to find out what the new features are. Likewise for if she applied her power-up choice by that stage. Either that or she has collapsed from exhaustion in attempting such after a long, eventful day.
Congratulations, I think you may have hit on the explanation for the double-lines! Which satisfies on several levels at once. Plus it feels better than my attempt at explaining the double grey lines. Although the slightly differing art on those may indicate that an alternate explanation is called for.
My theory is slightly different, that nodes are blue when you can drop skill points (shinies) into it.
From the looks of it, you could skip a skill you don’t want to take, to take one further up the chain.
This is not the case however with the grey nodes. They need to be enabled first. So for each node connecting to it, you need to aquire that skill first.
Look at the branch off of the blue orb. There are 5 links to a grey node / subbranch. 4 of these are blue – the skills are already aquired, with just the final link in grey.
Where there are two lines, it is showing that the node is a direct pre-requisite.
This is the case across the skill tree, but with two exceptions:
One blue node connected by grey lines to another blue node, and a grey chain straight off an orb. (Special rules maybe)
Ah! I see what you’re saying.
“It has its merits but being able to swap skills out whenever you want dilutes player agency IMO.”
Says the dude who decided it would be a great idea to only let Halo use 2 powers at a time.
Don’t blame DaveB for that, blame the guy that only designed earth humans with 2 hands
If I were Syd, I’d probably use the this Ding to fill the one branch of the flight orb, since it seems the full branch is needed (see the connection to the non-active branch) to unlock the non-active branch, and the next ding for the sole spot at the flight orb. Why? Because they’re there!
Imagine what the light-orb could do.
Most probably including inter-planetary to inter-galactic travelling, like the Lanterns can do with their rings.
Or maybe carry stuff / people with you.
But really, flying is one of the most useful powers.
Imagine the transportation costs you will save.
Remember Son-Gohan in high-school?
Though I have to admit, jumping / swinging between skyscrapers and other stuff would be megatons of fun as well (and to me that is out of the question when you can fly, sadly).
As for the PPO, the straight branch could be the power setting, while the bubble could be for setting the firing-mode.
One of the branches of Telepresence just HAS to activate the interactivity for the image.
Forcefield? Projecting it off-self and modulating it to shape and usage against specific stuff.
Possibly project the flying onto stuff (like telekinesis).
Exactly as I used to think. But with long-term access to both, in City of Heroes, I have got to tell you that there is nothing like bounding across a city, leaping over buildings. It provides an immediacy that you loose when flying around all the time. Flight was the best means of getting somewhere. But jumping turned out to be much more fun.
Then again, I have a hunch what Syd will do when she finds out she can travel to other planets with her flight-orb and/or force-field.
Fly to Mars: “Mine, b+#*hes!”
And any other solid planet in the solar system, of course.
At least it’s what I’d find myself very much tempted to do.
Like the jumping from X/1999 (using skyscraper-fassades as footwalks, and jumping across highways effortless) combined with the agility of Spider-Man and swinging of Spidy/ Bats.
Yeah, that’s gotta be better.
Still, for longer-distance travelling, temporary flying would be nice.
Oh, what the heck, give me my super-sonic cloud or flight-ring.
I loved that ability since I saw it in Starship Troopers. Mechanical means, but cool anyway.
Just in case, I am talking about the book, by Heinlein, published in 1959.
I approve of this update.
*nod*
Nice avatar. Which matches your comment well.
Anyone else get that “What does this button do?” feeling all of a sudden?
With Sydney? That’s her basic behavior.
Then again, she probably read the Guide for Evil Overlords long ago, and other similar works.
;)
So. Pretty sure nobody is going to believe me on this, but I was in the early testing for PoE. And the first thing that I said to my friends over skype when I initially saw the Skill Tree was “My god, it’s like the World Tree of Skill Trees. It’s Skilldrasil.” Was playing in-game, and saw someone comment about how large the skill tree was, told them “Yes, my friends and I have started calling it Skilldrasil.” Logged in a couple of days later and that’s what everyone was calling it. You’re welcome, PoE players.
“Skilldrasil” Yggggg….
Never mind the story. Somebody tell me how Achilles is clean shaven. Trivia chasers want to know.
His body does not change, thats why he is stuck with his hairs, they dont grow but cannot be cut down either.
I think Achilles trying to think in the first panel is somewhat adorable. In a disturbing kind of way…
He does not think, he lick his fingers to get off the marshmallow, look at the fifth panel
Sweet, Love it.
Althought the eye twitch in panel 6 while Sydney Dings! seems to indicate she loves it but is also hoping that this is not a stroke dream.
Also as the indecisive type having access to an unlabeled real-world skill tree would be my own special kind of hell. I might well starve to death making my choice.
Likewise. But what if you were worried that it might have a limited time to make the choice before it was lost? Want to re-think the cause of the eye-twitch?
Syd is a hyper-gnerd, she’d probably focus on stuff she can have fun with for sure, like flying, shield and PPO.
Then again, you’d probably want to at least 1-point every skill-tree to activate it.
On the other hand, that probably includes filling that one tree from flight-orb (see the lines connecting to the other tree?).
Else, this calls for absolute power-levelling!
No wonder Anvil calls syd ‘Big Guns’ in the future.
Hah hah, one of the problems with playing loot-fest action RPGs in co-op is having to wait for your co-op partner while they’re selling loot and comparing equipment. Path of Exile also has the added problem of always wanting to spend 10 minutes looking around the skilltree for potential upgrade paths.
As well as my previous donations I set up a patreon payment.
Now to wait and see what those other orbs do!
Nice one.
Over 300+ posts more than there were yesterday when last posted, going to come back and read the repeated observations (because seriously, only a handful of people read the comments of others) when not so tired
I note that there is no longer any sign of red lightning in the background. You can stand down the impending apocalypse alert.
Nope we are at the eye of the storm now. It the inter-dimensional gate is now opening …. 1.25% Open calculating length of time in current dimension … 2.5 years
2.5 years is an awful long time for emergency services and troops to remain on optimum alert status. I think my call is still good.