There was something that just came to mind, while writing this post. Is becoming a mage/having a linker core a hereditary thing? Because I was wondering why it might be a rare development on Earth and not so elsewhere. Or is it dependent on cultivation, because every human has mana but it's a rare condition for someone to start out with their mana developed to the point where they have a linker core? I mean, where mages are common, is it/could it be because their society knows how to cultivate one's mana until they develop a linker core? Because that would explain why mages on Earth tend to be of higher grade, because the ones that are found naturally start out with a linker core.
Pale Wolf wrote:Sure, controlling them will be fairly similar. Making them actually do anything won't be.
I actually don't plan for Ranma to do anything flashy with mana. He might learn a simple spell or two (probably defensive), but he'll ultimately use it instead of the moko takabisha, in order to reserve his overall strength and stamina. That shouldn't be so difficult to do. I mean, I can see where you'd need a device to help conjure up multiple shots to attack targets spread out all over the place, but a single beam on a single target shouldn't be a problem.
... I think I'm about as confused as you are right now. And to be sure, you can work with a mix, but you'd have to establish precisely what the nature of each of them is, and what you can do with one but can't with the other and how well, and frankly it's a massive, massive headache, just to get to say 'yeah, this one mysterious force that allows me to pull awesome feats is, in fact, a completely different force than the one that allows you to'. Especially since the feats are, themselves, fairly similar.
(Though I should note, your examples are matters of relative judgement. There is here to someone who's there, left and right swap depending on which way you're facing... So that's not quite what you were trying to get at if you're talking about two distinct types of energy - you should be looking more at the difference between heat and motion and electricity.)
As if I'd ignore how they differ from one another. ;p Actually, Fitzgerald's idea of how they could operate is what I've been considering. I've seen ki used more internally and passively than anything, with only the strongest examples of fighters being able to project their ki. Likewise, I've seen mana used for more external applications than anything else. I was thinking of bringing the two concepts together in the same way as the yin and yang are in the
Tao.
*Blinks*
... Um, how's it hard? If Ranma is, himself, kidnapped or willingly signing up, that's plenty of reason right there to say 'this is why he's the only one the TSA is interested in'. And if he politely requests 'please don't take the rest of these loons along, they kind of want to kill me and while that's entertaining on its own, I'd rather not have to deal with it while engaging in combat', that's plenty of reason for Ranma rather than everyone.
Ah well, if you find something else more interesting, go for it. Just pointing out that it's not as hard as all that
It's just that being kidnapped isn't exactly how I operate, and being able to "sign up" sounds like I'd need to set up a lot of things that I likely don't know how to pull off. I mean, Nanoha and Fate are special cases, and I don't think that either went to mage schools, so I have no idea how someone like Ranma could be signed up. At best, all I've been able to think of, that I could actually pull off with what I'm sure I know, is Nanoha witnessing his skills and becoming interested enough in him to invite him back with her for unofficial reasons, perhaps to be made official later.
Fitzgerald wrote:1] In the Triangle Hearts/MSL Nanoha world Ki Users Already Exist. One example of which would be Nanoha's own family who among other things have an instant movement technique.
Shiro, Nanoha's father, in particular was noted as having great potential as mage in contrast to Kyouya, Nanoha's brother.
This suggests that Ki and Magic are not the same thing at all.
Is the OVA enough to go by? Because it seems like it's mainly a series of hentai games... X_X
2] Ranma 1/2 Martial Artists are stupidly tough. As in shatter their bodies and they are up bouncing around a week or two later tough. Not to mention Ranma's endurance, he and Genma swam to China, strength, and pure speed.
A good example of this is that while Fate in Sonic Drive sacrifices everything for speed and offensive abilities aka a Glass Knife, Ranma is a strong example of a Lighting Bruiser; eg He's really fast (hundreds of punches in a second), really strong, and really tough.
I'm wondering if ki could offset the physical problem that almost did Nanoha in, for pushing her limits with the use of mana. (Or whatever happened to her between A's and StrikerS.) That might be an interesting addition to the story, where Ranma finds his calling in teaching a culture that relies upon mana to use their ki, because it does have benefits for mages. Which could also explain why ki is more developed on Earth, because the rarity of mages means that they have to fall back on to something else, if not only technology. And advancement of the body usually precedes the great conveniences of science in human development, so...
If Ki is not Magic, then AMF's and other such things should do nothing against Ki. Partially for story reasons, ie it gives Ranma a chance to shine, and partially to showcase the differences between the two.
That's what inspired the idea that I had, but mostly to get Ranma into the StrikerS storyline. Figuring out what Ranma does with both ki and mana is going to be the key to his presence and involvement, though. An ongoing development, to be sure. I may not know what I'll do with it until I get around to writing the story.
Ranma actually comes by the Takamachi's some point in Nanoha's early teen years, that is Post A's but before she leaves Earth for Mid. Why Ranma is visiting the Takamachi's could range from Dojo Challenge, something Genma / Soun / Happosai did, Nodoka being acquaintances with Momoko [s]Ranma and Nanoha are Cousins![/s], to something completely off the wall.
Ranma happens, leaves a real impression on the Nanoha cast [s]Graf Eisen left its own on Ranma ~ Uncute Tomboy![/s].
Cue Ranma learning about a whole society of mages "Cure my Curse!" and somehow ends up joining / working with the TSAB developing among other things a real reputation as a close combat / anti AMF / [s]Criminal of the worst for Seducing my Daughter! - Colonel Gaiz[/s] / and trouble maker who uses two systems of magic, one of which is really unfamiliar.
Striker's S happens, and Ranma cheerfully causes chaos, including getting under the skin of say Tre.
That's a possibility. Nanoha could come into contact with him after A's, and then think of him when she begins to encounter the AMF. Although I'd have to consider Ranma's age, and what all happens in ten years, because Nanoha might not consider Ranma unless he was old enough to really show how strong a ki user could be -- especially if she also gets to see a ki blast.
And I certainly don't want his curse to be cured. XD
