BleachITP Reborn: Discussion & Setup Thread 5

[tgva8889]

In a natural setting, Taiki's a bit more stern and proper than the typical trickster. The thing is, how Taiki appears really depends on the setting, as he is truly a consummate actor. He can act like a trickster in a fight or when he decides to go undercover himself (which is rare), but when he's sitting in the Captain's chair he can act like a stern general giving orders to his men. With Natsuko he can be an incredibly caring husband while with his buds he can be some kind of party animal. He loves it like that.

So, really, it doesn't matter how you draw his face, as long as it fits the setting.

[horngeek]

That's what I meant. I wasn't sure what his usual demeanor was so I ended up making him feel a little bit more like a trickster. Actually, that reminds me, HG, I did one of Izumi a while back while I was bored and I just tried (and failed) to ink it digitally yesterday, would you like to see it?

Yes, please!

For Natsuko's expression in the wedding pic- content, really.

So, where's the pic of Taiki?

[tgva8889]

Yes, please!

For Natsuko's expression in the wedding pic- content, really.

So, where's the pic of Taiki?

Krazd did some awesome sketches of Taiki and sent them to me. Up to him if he wants them up here.

[The Librarian]

I might want to end up doing that. tgva, did you like my depiction of Taiki? I think maybe I messed up on his face/head.

I didn't think your picture was bad. I'm sure none of us here are near Piccasso artists. Note any possible mistakes and improve on them.

For example, I have for two years, struggled to draw hands correctly and/or proportionately.

@ HG: I think that white kimono would look real nice on the front page.

Also Deadtime Picture status'

Katisugo: Wire figure drawn
Misaki: Body drawn
Izumi: Deciding Appropriate Character Model
Kayi & Isara: Waiting List
Taiki & Natsuko Wedding: Waiting List

[Krazddndfreek]

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Its good to hear people like my work. Here are sketches of both Taiki and Izumi respectively.

EDIT: Now I remember why I didn't like his face. I couldn't get the mouth right so I drew it and redrew it a bunch of times and after a while it darkened the paper and made it look like he just finished a messy pbj sandwich.

[horngeek]

@ HG: I think that white kimono would look real nice on the front page.

Front page of what?

Also, wow. Izumi seems to be a popular subject for drawing.

[tgva8889]

Actually, Krazd, the darkened mouth just makes it look like he's smirking to me. Which is perfect for a fight. Despite all his talk, Taiki does enjoy a truly good battle every now and then, one where he can truly deceive his foe and perform the killing stroke with Genei.

[horngeek]

<.<
>.>

I'm considering something...

If a Captain was unable to go into combat for about nine months or so...

hmm... problem is, that could cover the majority of the period actually covered by the entire storyline. >.<

Unless we did some major timeskips.

[tgva8889]

<.<
>.>

I'm considering something...

If a Captain was unable to go into combat for about nine months or so...

hmm... problem is, that could cover the majority of the period actually covered by the entire storyline. >.<

Unless we did some major timeskips.

Oh god, don't get her pregnant...

[horngeek]

Oh god, don't get her pregnant...

<.<
>.>

All right, scratch that idea.

[Krazddndfreek]

Front page of what?

Also, wow. Izumi seems to be a popular subject for drawing.

Initially that sketch was meant to have Ryo there too, but I forgot about him halfway through

[tgva8889]

Well, she can get pregnant, but I would advise that it come as a surprise like a month in or something. Then she's only out of duty for 8 months. And then Taiki becomes Captain Overprotective, because he totally would.

[horngeek]

Good point.

Hmmm... maybe after one of the timeskips.

And she wouldn't be out of duty entirely- just out of COMBAT. She'd still manage the division for as long as she could before the birth.

[tgva8889]

Heh. If for some reason we ever need an extra Captain on the front lines, we'd probably be near screwed anyways. I think we'll be fine with the 7-8 other Captains we do have.

[horngeek]

If we do need the extra Captain, Natsuko will probably pull something like in this strip.

[KnightDisciple]

With Edge's Candidate up, we have 10 out of 12 Captain candidates.

[tgva8889]

With Edge's Candidate up, we have 10 out of 12 Captain candidates.

This simply emphasizes the fact that if we ever need 1 more Captain that we have, we're probably screwed.

[Kuroimaken]

What are the free spots? I remember someone claiming the 11th.

[Krazddndfreek]

I'm not sure if anyone has 6th yet and... I think the 9th hasn't been claimed yet either.

[KnightDisciple]

I believe 6th (Reinforcements?) and 9th (Recon?) are unclaimed by any candidates right now.

[Zarah]

So I've been doing some more thinking about the Hougyoku, and while it's definitely sensitive ground to be treading, given how ridiculously overpowered it is, I've come up with an idea to be presented. It's not as crazy as my first idea, and might actually work in this setting.

I don't really like giving away plot details, but when dealing with a subject like this, I suppose there isn't much choice. It needs to be discussed as a whole. So, here's the general idea:

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The Hougyoku has existed as a myth for as long as history can remember and has been referenced across the entire world by various sources. The name "Hougyoku" is only the one given to it by Soul Society (and will be the one most used by us). It functions in almost the same way as it does in canon, though most believe that it doesn't necessarily have a "will of its own." It depends on who you talk to. In short, it is widely regarded as a tool for molding fate into whatever shape one desires. No one is really sure where it came from, or who created it (if it was created at all), but it is universally agreed upon that it is an item of unbelievable worth.

In any event, the story of the Hougyoku has lived on for ages as just that; a story. No hard evidence has ever been brought forward to prove its existence. Some people say it exists and is merely so well hidden that no one could ever possibly find it while others simply dismiss the idea as nothing more than fantasy to tickle the minds of those dreaming for power.

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That is until we learn the truth. At some point in the future, it's revealed that the Hougyoku is, in fact, not a tool to be used by any one person: It is a person itself. Rather, a person is chosen in a way to bear the power and responsibility of the Hougyoku, whether or not they are aware of it. The power cannot be separated from them by any means other than death and cannot be controlled by any other person in its then-current incarnation, though the host could potentially be subjugated by others and abused indirectly. There are many examples throughout history (that we can brainstorm afterward) of people who had these sorts of abilities, though most of them were unaware of such a fact.

This brings us to the current host of the Hougyoku. Serena Dacre. She had the powers buried within her her entire life, but once her mind was broken, they manifested themselves without anyone ever realizing it. Throughout the entire game, everyone just believed the girl to be predicting the future with startling accuracy. However, it eventually becomes apparent that she wasn't predicting anything. She was actually shaping the future into whatever it is she saw. Of course, she remains completely oblivious to the fact, even after others discover the revelation. Potentially, if her mind was ever healed, she may become aware of her own powers, but that's something that would be most likely saved for the endgame.


Okay, so I went from ripping off Mass Effect to ripping off The Matrix.

Again, this is something that would be saved for much further plot development, such as leading into the final parts of the story, though subtle hints can be dropped often throughout the game. Like I said, it's dangerous ground to be treading in a "lower-powered" game, and I honestly don't expect the idea to take off for that very reason. Still, I sort of like the idea of the macguffin of ultimate power and/or doom being held by the good guys the entire time, and they never once knew about it.

[horngeek]

...I LOVE the idea.

[Innis Cabal]

I think we should avoid getting tangled up in anything related to it. Its not a bad idea. But...we don't really need it involved do we?

[horngeek]

Because it's a great idea? Because it would make for a great potential end-game scenario?

If we just went by what we 'need', then this game would be a lot less interesting.

[Frozen_Feet]

I think it's a good idea. I think it can be easily worked into the plot, without making it overly dominating.

There are few questions regarding the damn orb that I think has to be answered now, though. It's been alluded in character pasts that it has been used before, it was locked away in mutual understanding between Las Noches and Seireitei, and so there are few people who know where the "physical manifestation" of the orb is. I think the involved parties should now decide when and why it was used, what trouble it caused and what is locked up where.

This doesn't need to be made public, but setting it in stone now could avoid some problems in the future.

[horngeek]

I also just realized that in my history of past Captains for 12th division, there is an individual with the surname Hayashi. Horngeek, you alright with this?

Crud, missed this. Can someone direct me to the writeup in question?

But I have no inherent problems with it.

Found it... and the man probably would have been an embarrassment to the family, quite frankly. I don't mind that, but it should be considered.

Also, on this note, the Central 5 are almost done with our picks for Captains. We'll be making the announcements soon. I swear.

<.<
>.>

[Frozen_Feet]

About Nasumi's pregnancy... I think you should get it in the works immediatly at the start. She could likely function just fine for the first month, and if the game goes on for long, we'll even get to see little Hayashi before the end! Besides, she has superhuman physique; there's nothing saying she can't kick some Hollow butt mid-term.

[horngeek]

Natsuko's.

And yeah, possibly.

In fact... hmmm...

*scribbles down calculations*

I'm of the opinion that the events of Reborn should cover a longer time-span than the first BleachitP, in any case. The first one all happened over... about four months, and I'm counting timeskips- remember, in-game time happens considerably more slowly than RL time.

I think we should try to have this one go longer than the first one- maybe more stuff happens that isn't entirely related to the main 'plot'. Side-stories, if you will.

But back to Frozen's comment- yeah, I probably will do that in any case.

[Frozen_Feet]

About the empty divisions... I have some ideas for the 6th, but I don't feel like making a captain character. So I'll just put up those ideas here, in the odd case someone finds inspiration from them.

Extended basic training: Some Shinigami pass the academy, and that's the best you can say about them. Not everyone is ready for the more specialized divisions immediatly after. To concerve resources of other divisions, such persons are usually sent to the 6th to keep training their basic skills untill they find what they're really good at.

Rehabilitation: Injury, family, psychological issues, rebellious demeanor... many things can put a Shinigami out of commission. Luckily such isn't always permanent, but people returning to service often can't be reinstated to their former position. If there isn't a suitable position in their past division, or if they need practice to get back to shape, they usually spend the interim serving in 6th.

Gotei Reservoir: Not all spirits can muster the willpower to stay eternally youthful, and thus waning strenght due to old age is not foreign even to Shinigami. Gotei members past their prime who don't want to retire yet are often transferred to 6th, where their experience is put to use in training younger warriors.

Because 6th division is the place where most Shinigami either start or end up in, it's numerically the largest. In the case other divisions need compensation for casualties, or reinforcement is otherwise mandatory, veteran Shinigami accompanied by those in extended training are send to fill in the gaps.

(As such, 4th and 1st would likely be the only divisions that don't supply 6th with grizzled old people, as they require least physical prowess overall. 6th would also compete with 4th to an extent of those delicious bottom-of-the-heap persons.)

Academy Instructors: Reservoir members are usually the most available Shinigami to give training to new recruits, and thus that duty mostly falls on them.

[horngeek]

Hmmm... sounds like an interesting idea, at least... but in that case, they might be considered a 'disgrace posting', and I don't think we want any of the Divisions to be like that.