In Progress [LP CYOA] Tower

[Tigranes]

AII, IV
B>E>C
A

We can take some forays into books and stuff, but at some point we actually have to level up on our class skills, or we will really end up someone who's not good at anything. Sure, Tlalli is a melee/astra specialist. But are we going to learn melee from her for 3 hours, and then next time we meet a poledancing specialist, we'll pick up poledancing for three hours?

When we meet someone who has a specific skill that we can pick up quickly, then we might do so even if it's not in our core skillset - such as, I don't know, basic lockpicking. But right now we are a level 1 noob with a slingshot, and I'd like to hope that we know one combat skill well enough to actually fend off the next threat we encounter without another round of "Stare at them stoically".

 

[Tigranes]

When it comes to towerspace, I expect the only rule is that there are no rules, or at least none that there aren’t exceptions to.

While it’s possible the book might contain information on a shortcut or similar, but I would rather stick to a safer path. If our last shortcut was any indication, dangerous creatures live in the shortcuts.

We don't even know where the 'safer paths' are though, and we don't even know what is contained in each of the known floors. I think we aren't looking for magic shortcuts, just filling out our basic knowledge.

 

[a cut of domestic sheep prime]

But are we going to learn melee from her for 3 hours

We could at least get one point in it, since we’re constantly using it.

We can take some forays into books and stuff, but at some point we actually have to level up on our class skills, or we will really end up someone who's not good at anything.

As for class skills, we’re ten. Our class is 10-year-old. Level 1.

 

[a cut of domestic sheep prime]

We don't even know where the 'safer paths' are though, and we don't even know what is contained in each of the known floors. I think we aren't looking for magic shortcuts, just filling out our basic knowledge.

We are on the safer path. The stairs, the main entrances and exits to the floors, those are the safe paths. Or at least as safe as one can be in the tower.

edit: I’m not saying the towerspace book is a bad choice though. Just that I’m not sure it will be as useful as you are expecting it to be.

 

[Grimgravy]

Books
A
III. Flora and Fauna of the Tower
IV. A Primer to Astras

Training: All of them are good.
E

Conversation:
A. The association that she belongs to, the Hunters. > D. Her personal history.

 

[Nevill]

next time we meet a poledancing specialist, we'll pick up poledancing for three hours?

...what would you do if I said "yes please"?

We could use some moves!

 

[Tigranes]

We can take some forays into books and stuff, but at some point we actually have to level up on our class skills, or we will really end up someone who's not good at anything.

As for class skills, we’re ten. Our class is 10-year-old. Level 1.

I'll let Tigranes from 30 minutes ago answer:

But right now we are a level 1 noob with a slingshot

Why, yes indeed! Perhaps we should form a committee to investigate this assertion.

 

[Baltika9]

It's funny how we're debating SWORDS! vs GUNS!, when MAGIC! has a pretty solid lead (even with conditionals after a quick estimate).

P.S.: vote for 2A, let's take from Tlalli that which she knows best and improve our most used skills.

P.P.S.: we should totes get to know our Grandma better, too.

===Poll w/o conditionals for now===

==First Choice==
I - 5
II - 4
III - 10
IV - 11
V - 2
VI - 0
==Second Choice==
A - 5
B - 4
C - 7
D - 1
E - 1
==Third Choice==
A - 9
B - 2
C - 3
D - 3
E - 0

Votes

Kz3r0 - I+III C C

Orbit - IV+V C A

asxetos - III+IV C>B A

CappenVarra (bruh) - (III>II>IV>I>V>VI) (D>B>E>C>A) (B>A>D>C>E)

Egosphere - I+V C A

Nevill - III+IV B C

Baltika9 - I+IV A>B D

hello friend - IV+VI A>E D

Azira (bruh) - (IV>III>II>I>V>VI) (C>E>D>A>B) (A>D>C>E)

Kipeci - IV C B

Absinthe - I>IV>V A>C !E

Kalarion - II+III B>C A>B

Esquilax - I+III A>B D

baud - II+IV C A

ItsChon - II+III B A

Lambchop19 - III+IV A C

Tigranes - II+IV B>E>C A

Grigmgravy - III+IV E A

 

[Tigranes]

Why is melee suddenly our "most used" skill? Because we got into an almighty scrap versus the shadowbeast, and then shiv'd that wolf or whatever it was after the cave exit? IIRC, on that second instance, we didn't even have any ranged weapons in our inventory, no? We lost most of our luggage in the waterways.

I don't think we've really established that melee suits our character best, or that it is the most useful tool in the situations we run into. We know that our affinities are with the ability to stay calm, quiet and sensible, and some basic wilderness knowledge, all of which lends itself to ranged weaponry.... which, by the way, is the weapon we specifically voted to take.

We started out by rolling a hunter, then we picked a slingshot, and now we're saying we will spend our first combat point on melee, as well as possibly an Astra book. I'm cool with melee & Astras, but it just seems like we're constantly ADHD'ing picking all sorts of different shit and then people just rationalise.

 

[Azira]

That Astra book thing will become more powerful, if we level up our astra affinity and proficiency skills. So we can learn more of our surroundings, and lay better traps and find better spots for ambushes.
Who knows, it might even evolve into an advanced radar that lets us easily identify creatures around us, like the Marauder's Map from Harry Potter.

That would be super useful.

But nooo.. People don't want to learn how to wield magic. Nope. They want to learn how to swing a big stick.

 

[ItsChon]

This poll took a long fucking time so be grateful. Kipeci I didn't understand your book vote, as it seems you only placed one for one book? Would you mind clarifying. I left you out of the vote till the clarification.

===Poll===

Books:

I. Stars, Cosmos, Gods - 4

II. Towerspace: A Topological Study - 7 (6)

III. Flora and Fauna of the Tower - 11 (12)

IV. A Primer to Astras - 11 (12)

V. Mathematics Part I - 2

VI. How to Make Friends - 1 (0)

Skills:

A. Melee and unarmed combat - 5 (2)

B. Ranged combat - 5 (8)

C. Astra usage - 6 (7)

D. Alchemy - 1 (0)

E. Traps - 1

Conversation:

A. The association that she belongs to, the Hunters - 8

B. The monsters that she hunts - 2

C. The Cannibal Duke, John Bull - 3

D. Her personal history - 4

E. Nothing - 0

Votes

Spoiler

Books:
Kz3ro - I & III
Orbit - IV & V
Asxetos - IV & III
CappenVarra - III > II > IV > I > V > VI
Egosphere - I & V
Nevill - III & IV
Baktika9 - II & III
hello friend - IV > VI > III
Azira - IV > III > II > I > V > VI
Absinthe - I > IV > V
Kalarion - II & III
Esquilax - I & III
baud - II & IV
ItsChon - II & III
Lambchop19 - III & IV
Grimgravy - III & IV
Tigranes - II & IV
Kipeci - II & IV

Skills:
Kz3ro - C
Orbit - C > E
Asxetos - C > B
CappenVarra - D > B > E > C > A
Egosphere - C
Nevill - B
Baktika9 - A > B
hello friend - A > E
Azira - C > E > D > A > B
Kipeci - C
Absinthe - A > C
Kalarion - B > C
Esquilax - A > B
baud - B > C > A
ItsChon - B
Lambchop19 - A
Grimgravy - E
Tigranes - B > E > C

Conversation:

Kz3ro - C
Orbit - A
Asxetos - A
CappenVarra - B > A > C > D > E
Egosphere - A
Nevill - C
Baktika9 - D
hello friend - D
Azira - A > D > C > E
Kipeci - B
Absinthe - > E
Kalarion - A > B
Esquilax - D
baud - D
ItsChon - A
Lambchop19 - C
Grimgravy - A > D
Tigranes - A

EDIT: God damn it Baltika. Well my poll still shows individual breakdowns on each subsection, so vote accordingly. It's looking like the first and third choice are a lock, but there is still room for the standings to change in the skills section if some fortuitous flops occur.

 

[Baltika9]

We started out by rolling a hunter, then we picked a slingshot, and now we're saying we will spend our first combat point on melee, as well as possibly an Astra book. I'm cool with melee & Astras, but it just seems like we're constantly ADHD'ing picking all sorts of different shit and then people just rationalise.

I was going to do a paragraph-by-paragraph reply, but I think this one summarizes your argument against us picking melee. To elaborate my position: I don't think that we should lock ourselves down to one fighting style and restrict ourselves to ranged combat only; we also should use this training opportunity to get a foundation from a master in her field. A foundation that we can then build on as we grow up.

I'm not super hyped about learning ranged fighting from her because that's like walking into a whisky distillery and ordering their best water: water is good, but wouldn't it be better to get it from the grocery store?

But are we going to learn melee from her for 3 hours, and then next time we meet a poledancing specialist, we'll pick up poledancing for three hours?

Don't use strawmen, bro, you're better than that. Tlalli will be teaching us on the journey, not just for a short night after which she'll give us a slap on the back and tell us 'ok junior, go tackle a bear.' This is enough time to properly learn whatever she will teach us. Also, I'm down for poledancing, as it will help us transition into the career of our dreams: Azteca lucahdor wrestling.

That would be super useful.

But nooo.. People don't want to learn how to wield magic. Nope. They want to learn how to swing a big stick.

Perhaps, but it won't be of immediate use on our way home, unlike the boring combat skills. Didn't you see our grandma dropkick a cannibalistic monster? No, why would we ever want to do that?

ItsChon, thanks for making that, bro, we can make sure our counts agree. I also like your format more than mine. And a shoutout to our boi Kz3r0 for putting the votes into one post.

P.S.: don't be lame, bros, flop to 2A 3D. Pretty please? I'm cool with our book choices.

 

[Absinthe]

I III: Picking the loredump option, in this case, the book about Gods and Astras, is always a winner. On the other hand, I'm torn between the Alchemy book and the Primer on Astras. They are both really useful, and I could be persuaded to flop to the latter, but learning how to brew potions seems like an interesting focus for our budding witcher.

My preference for the astra primer is that it came from the Hunter Association and astra lore is harder to come by for us, whereas we're already studying from the local apothecary and not at a level to have outgrown what we can learn from village medicine. Since we're going back to the villlage, I assume we can resume studying alchemy there, but I'm less confident we can just pick up astra lore as a random nobody.

 

[a cut of domestic sheep prime]

Why is melee suddenly our "most used" skill? Because we got into an almighty scrap versus the shadowbeast, and then shiv'd that wolf or whatever it was after the cave exit? IIRC, on that second instance, we didn't even have any ranged weapons in our inventory, no? We lost most of our luggage in the waterways.

The shadow beast, the lizards, actually every combat encounter we’ve had.

Can you name one time we’ve actually used ranged combat?

Im not saying that I want to be melee only or that I want it to continue to be our most used skill, but it seems to come up a lot. I think that’s an incontestable fact, whether you’re personally displeased by it or not.

I just think it’s obviously a useful skill to us and we haven’t a single point in it. And the fact that she’s a master of it will help us learn all the more.


There may even be some moves she can teach us that we couldn’t otherwise learn. An Aztec fighting style or something. When are we going to have this opportunity again?

 

[Tigranes]

Lambchop19 I specifically addressed all of that in the post you quoted.

We've basically only had two combat encounters. One was a pretty exceptional circumstance (Child v. Shadowbeast), while in the other, ranged weaponry could have been useful but we had lost our inventory. There isn't much evidence that melee is exceptionally useful above ranged or magic. It's just a question of what we want to be good at.

Do we want to invest into melee long term? I'm OK with that! I'm saying we need SOME measure of coherence even for a hybrid build with melee or magic. Right now we're chasing after the newest shiny thing every single update. If we pick up the Astra book here and ask Tlalli about magic, I'm OK with that. We don't gotta fire bows 18 hours a day. But I'm not sure we want to pick up a slingshot, then learn a bit of melee, then read a book about astras.

 

[ItsChon]

ItsChon, thanks for making that, bro, we can make sure our counts agree. I also like your format more than mine. And a shoutout to our boi Kz3r0 for putting the votes into one post.

Appreciate the love, right back at you. And yes, thank you to Kz30 indeed, I was going to write it in my post but I forgot, the help is also appreciated.

Why is melee suddenly our "most used" skill? Because we got into an almighty scrap versus the shadowbeast, and then shiv'd that wolf or whatever it was after the cave exit? IIRC, on that second instance, we didn't even have any ranged weapons in our inventory, no? We lost most of our luggage in the waterways.

The shadow beast, the lizards, actually every combat encounter we’ve had.

Can you name one time we’ve actually used ranged combat?

Im not saying that I want to be melee only or that I want it to continue to be our most used skill, but it seems to come up a lot. I think that’s an incontestable fact, whether you’re personally displeased by it or not.

I just think it’s obviously a useful skill to us and we haven’t a single point in it. And the fact that she’s a master of it will help us learn all the more.


There may even be some moves she can teach us that we couldn’t otherwise learn. An Aztec fighting style or something. When are we going to have this opportunity again?

You're not wrong about anything you've said, but to be honest I just prefer the ranged archetype more, and failing that, I'd rather work on our Astras. Treave did say we'd be getting better at everything while training with Tlalli, so it's not out of the realm of possibility that we'll get multiple points in different categories, and perhaps the one we focus on will just get another point or an extra boost so the next point will be quicker. The way I see it, getting two points in ranged and possibly another single point in Astra or Melee, is better than just getting a single point in melee, with the possibility of the other skills going up by one as well.

Let me also say this. If we're going to go with C learning about Astras from Tlalli, is it really wise to pick up the Astra primer? The definition of a primer is this.

But if we're going to focus be learning from Tlalli, logic goes to show she'll be teaching us all of the introductory material we need, so why are we taking a book to read about it? I'd much rather pick either the first or second book instead of the fourth, to go along with our choice of Flora & Fauna. I'm not sure how many people are open minded about changing their vote, but this is a really solid argument imo. Perhaps we can double check and ask treave if the primer will cover more in depth subjects that Tlalli won't be able to get to with us?

I say we either pick a non-astra related skill, or change the book. I'm fine with picking the Astra book or learning about Astras though they might not be my first choice, but I think picking both would be a wasted opportunity.

 

[Orbit]

We started out by rolling a hunter, then we picked a slingshot, and now we're saying we will spend our first combat point on melee, as well as possibly an Astra book. I'm cool with melee & Astras, but it just seems like we're constantly ADHD'ing picking all sorts of different shit and then people just rationalise.

I was going to do a paragraph-by-paragraph reply, but I think this one summarizes your argument against us picking melee. To elaborate my position: I don't think that we should lock ourselves down to one fighting style and restrict ourselves to ranged combat only; we also should use this training opportunity to get a foundation from a master in her field. A foundation that we can then build on as we grow up.

Let's put some points into traps and turn our astra book into an enemy radar and we will be able to evade most melee encounters down the road. And if we get surprise-sexed a smoke bomb from our alchemy will save our ass. I just don't see a long term benefit in going melee.

IMHO we should build a proper foundation for our hunter before diversifing into some kind of hybrid.

Why is melee suddenly our "most used" skill? Because we got into an almighty scrap versus the shadowbeast, and then shiv'd that wolf or whatever it was after the cave exit? IIRC, on that second instance, we didn't even have any ranged weapons in our inventory, no? We lost most of our luggage in the waterways.

The shadow beast, the lizards, actually every combat encounter we’ve had.

"Every combat encounter we've had". Yep, all two of 'em. The first fight was obviously plot armor'ed and in the second fight we didn't even have a ranged weapon and Tlalli had to save our ass. Great showcase for our melee skill. And it's not like we'll ever be able to assemble proper equipment and come to a fight prepared, right?

Also treave: Does Tlalli know anything about the people of Rain's race?

 

[Tigranes]

We use textbooks even when we have teachers, and vice versa. And if we take a textbook to read with us, Tlalli's instruction can help us get the most out of the book on our own later.

I don't think there's some super special synergy from picking the two together, but I also don't think this is some kind pedantic trap where we lose out. We should just get a sense of what couple of skills we find the most interesting, and then invest in that.

 

[ItsChon]

We use textbooks even when we have teachers, and vice versa. And if we take a textbook to read with us, Tlalli's instruction can help us get the most out of the book on our own later.

I don't read my textbook if I can help it Tigranes.

I'm not trying to frame it as some weird trap, I just think that much of the stuff in the book will already be covered by Tlalli, and I feel like we stand to gain a lot more from reading through either the Astrology Book or the Topography Book. If you disagree fair enough, there is something to be said about focusing in one ability, but eh.

 

[baud]

We use textbooks even when we have teachers, and vice versa. And if we take a textbook to read with us, Tlalli's instruction can help us get the most out of the book on our own later.

I don't read my textbook if I can help it Tigranes.

I'm not trying to frame it as some weird trap, I just think that much of the stuff in the book will already be covered by Tlalli, and I feel like we stand to gain a lot more from reading through either the Astrology Book or the Topography Book. If you disagree fair enough, there is something to be said about focusing in one ability, but eh.

Having done some tutoring this year (high-school level math), having a book on hand was really useful, both as a reference and to have definitions of basic stuff that I've mastered a long time ago. And mastering a skill is not the same as being able to explain clearly to a teenager, even if Wrinkly is more brillant than my pupil.



I'll flop on the skill and on the discussion subject.

A =>
II. Towerspace: A Topological Study
IV. A Primer to Astras

B > C > A

Being able to defend ourselves while we go back home seems like a good idea. But I prefer learning about Astra rather than learning melee combat

D. Her personal history.

We might get information on the Hunters from elsewhere, but her personal history only from her.

 

[Baltika9]

Do we want to invest into melee long term? I'm OK with that! I'm saying we need SOME measure of coherence even for a hybrid build with melee or magic. Right now we're chasing after the newest shiny thing every single update. If we pick up the Astra book here and ask Tlalli about magic, I'm OK with that. We don't gotta fire bows 18 hours a day. But I'm not sure we want to pick up a slingshot, then learn a bit of melee, then read a book about astras.

It sounds like you're treating this training opportunity as a singular stat boost that automatically commits us to becoming a 'jack of all trades, master of none' with emphasis on the latter part. I don't agree with this viewpoint. I'm treating it as both a short- and medium- term investment that can benefit us along our journey home and provide a training avenue once we get back home and settle down. We are a young boy, who is an eager and disciplined student, so it is wise to let Tlalli sow the seeds of her teachings in us so that we can cultivate them ourselves later.

You also accuse us of being all over the place with selecting our skill-ups, then it's for a good reason: I think it is best to secure as broad of a base as we can for further self-education once we get back to our base of operations in the village. We already know the basics of archery, and we can practice that ourselves if we must. We do not have such a base for Astra training, or for unarmed and melee combat.

And as I recall, we picked the slingshot because we had no skills in melee or unarmed combat, and someone didn't have the guts to, ahem, diversify our knowledge stock into firearms. I see a pattern emerging.

 

[Kz3r0]

BOOKS

I. Stars, Cosmos, Gods
5 votes
2 conditionals

II. Towerspace: A Topological Study
5 votes
1 conditionals

III. Flora and Fauna of the Tower
10 votes
1 conditionals

IV. A Primer to Astras
12 votes
1 conditionals

V. Mathematics Part I
2 votes
3 conditionals

VI. How to Make Friends
1 vote

B. You do not take any books –



SKILLS:
A. Melee and unarmed combat.
5 votes
2 conditionals

B. Ranged combat.
5 votes
5 conditionals

C. Astra usage.
6 votes
6 conditionals

D. Alchemy.
1 vote
1 conditionals

E. Traps.
1 vote
5 conditionals

CONVERSATION:
A. The association that she belongs to, the Hunters.
9 votes
1. conditionals

B. The monsters that she hunts.
2 votes
2 conditionals

C. The Cannibal Duke, John Bull.
3 votes
2 conditionals

D. Her personal history.
3 votes
3 conditionals

E. Nothing.

 

[ItsChon]

I updated my count to reflect Baud's swap. Only thing that really changed is Ranged and Astra are tied now in the Skills section. I honestly can't really understand Kz3r0s count though, as it seems to be wrong in several places? Either me and Baltika fucked up really bad, or Kz3r0 did, or I can't understand his method of showing the votes.

Either way, come on melee-fags. Might as well flop over to ranged, as I think it's preferable to the Astra winning.

 

[Baltika9]

Either way, come on melee-fags. Might as well flop over to ranged, as I think it's preferable to the Astra winning.

No, you flop to melee, ranged-fag. We're in one of the greatest whisky-distilleries in the world, and you want to order water? C'mon, man.

Also, most melee voters have ranged as backup, so we stand in solidarity with you against magic. Can you say the same, comrade?

 

[ItsChon]

Either way, come on melee-fags. Might as well flop over to ranged, as I think it's preferable to the Astra winning.

No, you flop to melee, ranged-fag. We're in one of the greatest whisky-distilleries in the world, and you want to order water? C'mon, man.

Also, most melee voters have ranged as backup, so we stand in solidarity with you against magic. Can you say the same, comrade?

Ranged is tied at first with Astra focus, so why would I flop to a losing option? Oh, and since A is outright losing between both the Astra focus and the Ranged focus, the vote would actually be this.

Skills:

A. Melee and unarmed combat - 5 (2)

B. Ranged combat - 5 (8)

C. Astra usage - 6 (7)

D. Alchemy - 1 (0)

E. Traps - 1

Votes:

Spoiler

Skills:
Kz3ro - C
Orbit - C > E
Asxetos - C > B
CappenVarra - D > B > E > C > A
Egosphere - C
Nevill - B
Baktika9 - A > B
hello friend - A > E
Azira - C > E > D > A > B
Kipeci - C
Absinthe - A > C
Kalarion - B > C
Esquilax - A > B
baud - B > C > A
ItsChon - B
Lambchop19 - A
Grimgravy - E
Tigranes - B > E > C

Since you and Esquilax both had flops to B, and Absinthe had a flop to C. Ranged is winning by a margin of one vote. If y'all would like to change these votes to give A a better chance of winning fair enough.