... I didn't understand that! I should probably just edit my post then

EDIT: also, we were actually just about to wrap up the fight.... D:

Yeah, I just wanted to make sure this was clear for everyone. I thought I'd best speak up now with those quite mild examples to prevent something potentially disruptive happening later.

Mauve, yeah, its fine for people to just jump into this fight. This will probably apply to most fights unless one of the people in the fight requests otherwise. Hate to break up a good duel after all.

There's a slight problem coming up I think I should mention. I'm going away for a two week holiday to Vietnam on New Year's Day and I doubt I'll have internet access during this time. We might have to put the RP into hiatus for this period.

I'm still in this. It's just that Ponpon can in no way awaken Shimizu to get her to join the fight, and even if it could, there's no way Shimizu would clue in. Ponpon's just a spell shaper and tactical assistant that cannot yet communicate with Shimizu.

Eh, look on the bright side: Shimizu will be well rested for the next fight.

Might?

Yeah, you might.

Trying a different approach to dealing with Anzu. Mainly because it might actually work, and because Alex is getting a little sick of this reactionary fight. But, if Anzu's set on fighting, then she'll get one.

Just trying to change things up a little.

In the interim of incapacitation and the relative saftey of being carried away by Rei, Ceres takes a moment to explain herself and the nature of their partnership to Akari to calm her nerves about blowing someone up.

Like the exchange between Picky and Panko, Ceres points out common magical girl beam weapon modulation, aswell as (presumably taught earlier) it's similarity to the Phantom Zone magics. She highlights the differences between these and mass/contact weapons such as the sword clash actually harming Rei. Also, catching Alex's comment to Anzu has a side effect of telling Ceres that they're just as bad off as the Autekkans are.

Edit: For Mauve's benefit, Koto probably knows about this too.

Seeing I've gotten a few parameters about Mitsuko's spells defined, I might write them here so people know the logic behind them. The base description is pretty non-specific after all.

Celestial Sphere is a magical explosive charge wrapped in a protective barrier. The barrier means it is reasonably resistant to counter measures - attacks typically will either get stopped by the barrier or penetrate and blow the missile up. This shield also lets it burrow into defenses before exploding and is somewhat destructive (Such as punching right through mudmen being used as living shields >> <<). It has a slower than average speed for a ranged attack however.

Celestial Sphere Expansion is the same but more. It's faster, blastier and much better armoured, as well as longer ranged (yet to come up!). I'm debating eventually adding some firing options, like a paralysing burst it can release before being launched.

While I think of options, since a little training for skill sets is likely to come up soon, is everyone happy with their magic set-up so far? I know quite a few people haven't finished learning all the spells their sign-up sheet describes, so I was more looking to see if people have any areas they've overlooked and would like to fill in or if they have some refinements they'd like to make?

Relm, I would like to get something sorted out with you about Demi's draining ability. Basically, about how it interacts with defenses.

Now, it seems fairly obvious that defensive shields would reduce its effectiveness. Siphon Strings obviously wouldn't be able to directly attack the mage (assuming an omnidirectional barrier!) and it would act as an insulating layer against her more general Drain the World ability.

On the barrier itself getting drained, I'm a little more uncertain. Obviously its cast from the mage's reserve of energy, but it seems fairly ridiculous if draining it weakens the mage as quickly as directly attacking them. I'm guessing it's a fair bit weaker than how much an attack hitting it would weaken the barrier, but has more possibility for attrition through sustained contact?

Does this seem about right?

Actually, just to make it more clear for me, could you also give me a little information about how effective you think Demi's different forms of draining would be?

That's actually fairly helpful Phoenix, thanks.

Still, seems like we're painting the familiars (and devices, to a lesser effect) as the real bad guys here.

Oh well, I wasn't exactly making Miranda a saint.

And I think I've gotten all my basic spells, but there have been some changes in practice. So, I'll make a post with those outlined later.

It's a little too early to paint anyone as the real bad guys, because after all the familiars and devices in question are relatively still-sane creations of a decaying self-destructive society.

A lot of the "Bad guys" in this sort of thing aren't responsible for what they're doing, or don't know anything else.

Yeah, the story is getting a bit more outlined, and I like it. Anyway Arhra, I'll catch you on aim sometime and we can talk about it there, just to make sure I can actually get m thoughts across... and because I don't have the time at the second to do an explanation. Though, just to make clear, Siphon is far stronger than her Drain Aura, unless her drain aura were focused to the size of a thread or something. But thats way out of her league right now.

Well, if I could make Princess Kiss into a catch-all "make things better" spell like we discussed, that'd help. It would make more sense than unsealing things by blasting them with cuteness as well as making it stop being one of those "spell the heroine uses once when somebody's a goner, then never again because it wouldn't be dramatic a second time"-type things.

Other than that, I have some more refined techniques for the two offensive special powers, but that won't come up for a long time.

Everyone else, I will read your exciting battle on the morrow.

Edit concerning the last sentence: Oops, maybe not, after x-mas drinking. Sorry.