Erfworld thread IV: In memory of King Saline

[TheWombatOfDoom]

Erfworld is an online comic about a table top gamer named Parson Gotti that is summoned from our world to the world of Erf, a world based on its own rules that function similarly to a table top game. This makes Parson a valuable player in a game that may very well threaten his life. Does he want to go back to his own world at all, or is this world the perfect place for a gamer such as himself? Is he really dreaming? Will he be there forever? Who knows! What we DO know is that in this world, the pieces are living things, and the stakes cannot be higher. Join Parson on this wild ride filled with real world references and puns, gaming references and glory, fate and chance.

Previous incarnations:
GitP: Erfworld Forum section (Locked)
Erfworld thread I
Erfworld thread II: Finally thinking with portals, over a year later
Erfworld thread III: As the Erf Turns

Currently we are on page 20 of book 3, and update 10 of the Forecastle text story!

Also, please SPOILER your comments about an update that has occurred within a day or two, or at least until someone posts that there is a new update, so someone doesn't get a spoiled page.

[NEO|Phyte]

So, my thoughts on Forecastle update:

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I am thinking that the battle has been going poorly because that double eagle has been passively soaking in Luckamancy for its reserve, and the new captain with his lack of superstition will actually make use of the unit, resulting in neat things.

No particularly interesting theories as to what Anchorbar's secret weapon/tactic may be, outside of fighting enemies dumb enough to pick engagements in poor hexes.

[Rogar Demonblud]

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I'm wondering if Foolamancy is involved.

[Anteros]

I'm not sure why the hobgobwins defected to Charlescomm, rather than to FAQ. If that was the only option, somebody probably would have associated Charlie with natural ally weirdness before now - he uses this trick rarely, but he does use it enough that somebody would have noticed if natural allies suddenly appeared in Charlescomm livery. Whereas if the hobgobwins defected to FAQ, it still wouldn't be general knowledge that this was Charlie's trick and not Vanna's. Parson would figure it out, but I think Charlie could have maintained plausible deniability to the rest of the world. Seems like he unnecessarily tipped his hand here.

He's been openly aiding the coalition against Gobwin Knob for ages now. Everyone involved already knows his allegiance. I don't think he cares if his involvement isn't a secret.

[Landis963]

Spoiler: Forecastle

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So who called that Forecastle would eventually take command?

[Rogar Demonblud]

Most of us, at one point or another. We've also switched positions, because this is the internet. :P

[TechnoWarforged]

Most of us, at one point or another. We've also switched positions, because this is the internet. :P

You can say we are "jumping ships".

[Landis963]

You can say we are "jumping ships".

I thought that referred to relationship speculation.

[Killer Angel]

So, my thoughts on Forecastle update:

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I am thinking that the battle has been going poorly because that double eagle has been passively soaking in Luckamancy for its reserve, and the new captain with his lack of superstition will actually make use of the unit, resulting in neat things.

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I hope so. That Chekhov's eagle must be of some good use!

[MReav]

Marking thread.

[The Glyphstone]

I thought that referred to relationship speculation.

But who can we ship Forecastle with? the Eagle?

[Radar]

But who can we ship Forecastle with? the Eagle?

He obviously married his Duty.

[ryuplaneswalker]

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I hope so. That Chekhov's eagle must be of some good use!

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It could also be a Red Herring.

[Legato Endless]

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It could also be a Red Herring.

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Or it could turn up later in the main plot line. Though being used in the battle here is most likely.

[ryuplaneswalker]

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Or it could turn up later in the main plot line. Though being used in the battle here is most likely.

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Oh I know, I just figured...we have Chekov's Eagle, A Red Herring...all we need is Schrodinger's Cat and we have the League of Memetastic Animals

[Legato Endless]

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Oh I know, I just figured...we have Chekov's Eagle, A Red Herring...all we need is Schrodinger's Cat and we have the League of Memetastic Animals

Bit too literal, but my first thought for that would have the cat as a kind of griefing unit. After the battle 'ends' you don't gain any experience for croakng it without closing in and performing natural lookamancy. At which point you may or may not get slashed in the face.

[ChowGuy]

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Oh I know, I just figured...we have Chekov's Eagle, A Red Herring...all we need is Schrodinger's Cat and we have the League of Memetastic Animals

Don't be silly. Everyone knows you can't get Schrödinger's cat unless you croak a Quantum Mechanic. Then it may or may not be in the box he drops.

Sidenote: I was once killed in Dwarftown by a (pet) Master Mind Flayer named "Schrödinger's Cat" when I foolishly let him blunder into a Black Light. Gave new meaning to the term "you feel really stupid."

[Math_Mage]

Spoiler: c3p21

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Welp. Ansom shenanigans are the only tool Parson has at this point.

[ryuplaneswalker]

Spoiler: c3p21

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Welp. Ansom shenanigans are the only tool Parson has at this point.

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Part of me is really hoping we get to see some unknown bit of Arkenhammer power here, they seem incredibly under powered compared to the other 3 we know of.

[Killer Angel]

Spoiler: c3p21

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Welp. Ansom shenanigans are the only tool Parson has at this point.

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Well, Ansom is climbing more and more the megalogwiff's back, so I really hope so. +1 for the shining knight that saves the day!

[TheStranger]

Have we seen Jillian be so overtly Royalist before? That was a bit jarring, I had thought she was kind of agnostic on that point.

[Math_Mage]

Have we seen Jillian be so overtly Royalist before? That was a bit jarring, I had thought she was kind of agnostic on that point.

I think she just doesn't appreciate being looked down on.

[Kornaki]

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If this is the culmination of Jillian's ascent into proper acceptance of her royalty and subsequent De-Stanleying of the world, I think I might puke.

She has done literally nothing to deserve this victory. Nothing.

[TheStranger]

I know she's been moving towards being more royalist, I just feel like she skipped a step or something. "Jarring" is the best word I can come up with for that outburst. If she's been building to it, and I just wasn't paying attention, that's one thing. But if it was supposed to be a milestone in her character arc, I feel like it missed the mark. We know Stanley is annoying, and an angry reaction would definitely be in character, but from Jillian I'd expect that to be "I'm a better warlord than you and you're not half as smart as you think you are," not "I'm better than you because I'm a Queen and you're a commoner." Her self-image has always been tied more to her capabilities than her station. If that's changed, or if this was supposed to be the moment where it changed, I don't think it was set up well. But again, I'm open to anybody who wants to link updates building to this.

[Bird]

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Well, I was dead wrong thinking that the "new significant development" was about more than hobgobwins on peeps.

Have to agree that Jillian going full-out royalist now is odd. Classism isn't the most endearing look for her, either. The worst thing she's able to say about Stanley on this page is that he isn't high-born ("dungeon-lackey," "piker puke").

[Alex Knight]

She could be talking like that just to aggravate Stanley. Hurt his morale even more by reminding him of their starting stations. Stanley, IIRC, is sensitive about being a non-Royal.

[HandofShadows]

She could be talking like that just to aggravate Stanley. Hurt his morale even more by reminding him of their starting stations. Stanley, IIRC, is sensitive about being a non-Royal.

Yeah, seems much more in character for her.

[Legato Endless]

She could be talking like that just to aggravate Stanley. Hurt his morale even more by reminding him of their starting stations. Stanley, IIRC, is sensitive about being a non-Royal.

No, but that actually makes your explanation even better. Considering Stanley's inferiority superiority complex, Toolism almost certainly originates from his desire to feel special. If this were heartfelt, I would expect Jillian to be more foul mouthed and natural sounding. The taunts here sound rather strained and invented for her. Jillian has a big affinity for pushing her opponents buttons to get what she wants, but despite her seething hatred for Stanley she does not know him at all. The irony is Jillian has bought into Slately's propaganda about the Tool, and is thus focusing on the one prominent aspect of Stanley's character he doesn't actually feel threatened about. One good short joke would do so much more.

[hajo]

Considering Stanley's inferiority superiority complex, Toolism almost certainly originates from his desire to feel special.

Toolism was mostly Ansom's idea, after Wanda decrypted him.
Diplomacy, Propaganda etc. are not Stanley's strong points.

[Miklus]

reg: Schrodinger's Cat

Bit too literal, but my first thought for that would have the cat as a kind of griefing unit. After the battle 'ends' you don't gain any experience for croakng it without closing in and performing natural lookamancy. At which point you may or may not get slashed in the face.

This gives me an idea for a unit, behaps a sub-race of the CopyCat?

EtherCAT:
A powerful and intelligent scout unit resembling a ghost-like feline creature. They are very
observant and can monitor disturbances with fast and precise detection. They can safely transfer
information using a so-called "black channel". EtherCATs are usually slaves, but beware, they
sometimes "lose" information because in each EtherCATs heart, he dreams himself a Master and
will assert himself as such at the first opportunity.

Group organization:
If two EtherCATs meet, they will usually synchronize information.
When more than two EtherCATs gather, they sometimes form a ring and if conformity can be
achived, they elect one of the members Master or "Top Cat".

Specials:
Can be fully transparent aka invisible, but usually show their real-time communication interface.
Can migrate into new areas and insert themselves while integrating into the environment seamlessly
Can tunnel though objects.
CANopen locked doors.

Items:
Although an EtherCAT does not require special hardware they can have up to two unique items:
A DeviceNet for capturing packets and inslave other small units or devices.
A Fieldbus, usually a Profibus, for fast migration.

The EtherCATs only known natural enemy is the Wireshark.