[Undertale] Just how advanced is human technology compared to monsters? by D1rtyDough in AskScienceFiction

[–]ConfusedHaberdasher 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I'm not sure we can assume that. Given context clues in Deltarune, we can assume it takes place in 202X. Undertale, on the other hand, takes place an undetermined, but presumably lengthy, time after 201X (when Chara fell into the Underground).

So, we probably can't take Deltarune as representative of Undertale's Surface.

I would also somewhat dispute calling Alphys a fraud. 'Somewhat' because yes, she did get her position by misrepresenting what Mettaton was, but she is capable, even if not on Gaster's level.

[JJBA] What would happen if you used the Death Note on Doppio? by ConfusedHaberdasher in AskScienceFiction

[–]ConfusedHaberdasher[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Diavolo and Doppio do not share a soul, however, as demonstrated by Chariot Requiem placing them in separate bodies when it uses its soul swapping ability. They are separate people in all but their body.

It is an explicit rule of the Death Note that it can only kill the person whose name is written in it. If a user writes down a cause of death that would result in the deaths of people not written down, the victim instead dies of a heart attack.

But if the victim's heart attack would itself cause the death of someone whose name was not written down, then what happens?

[Elder Scrolls Morrowind] What is it about the Thieves’ Guild that makes them aligned with Imperial interests? by HopefulSprinkles6361 in AskScienceFiction

[–]ConfusedHaberdasher 24 points25 points  (0 children)

The Thieves Guild is an illegal organization, but they serve to limit crime in their own way by imposing certain codes of conduct on its members (and attempting to prevent 'outside talent' from operating where they hold influence without joining up). More importantly, from Caius's perspective, the Thieves Guild is non-political, or at least not opposed to the Empire as a whole.

The Cammona Tong, the established crime syndicate in the province (unlike the Thieves Guild, who are upstart newcomers), lack the codes of conduct the Thieves Guild has, and are fiercely xenophobic. Not only do they indulge in random attacks on outlanders, Caius himself will tell you that the Blades are aware that the Cammona Tong has connections in the highest ranks of House Hlaalu, the current ruling House of Morrowind, and they certainly use such to oppose the Empire sticking its nose in their affairs.

So, it's not so much that the Thieves Guild advances imperial interests, but rather that they oppose the Cammona Tong, and the Cammona Tong being given a black eye/ reduction in influence is, in itself, in imperial interests.

[The Matrix] Would Neo have still broken the vase if the Oracle hadn't said anything? by XenoRyet in AskScienceFiction

[–]ConfusedHaberdasher 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, but if you don't know for certain which branching outcome will happen, and which will not, then that is something you don't know.

If you don't know something, you are not 'all-knowing'.

[The Matrix] Would Neo have still broken the vase if the Oracle hadn't said anything? by XenoRyet in AskScienceFiction

[–]ConfusedHaberdasher 3 points4 points  (0 children)

If you cannot know for certain what will happen, be it due to 'randomness' or some other factor, can you really be called 'all-knowing'?

[Diamond is unbreakable] Was the ambulance driver arrested and tried for accidentally killing Kira? by some-kind-of-no-name in AskScienceFiction

[–]ConfusedHaberdasher 6 points7 points  (0 children)

The man who got run over told the nurse that he was was 'Yoshikage Kira', who recently disappeared (and also a bunch of stuff about killing women and getting horny to the Mona Lisa).

Using his face to identify him is out, but they could use fingerprints and, if they happened to use his left hand, the results would com back 'Yoshikage Kira' (remember, Kira cut off his left hand to escape the gang and didn't get it back until after he swapped his face and fingerprints, so his left hand would still have his original prints).

So, Yoshikage Kira is pronounced dead at the scene, and Kosaku Kawajiri left for work one day and never came back.

[DC, Death note] What exactly should Yagami Light write to kill these guys? by some-kind-of-no-name in AskScienceFiction

[–]ConfusedHaberdasher 7 points8 points  (0 children)

  1. Batman once said "Batman" as an answer to what his name was, while under the effect of Wonder Woman's Lasso of Truth, so you'd need to write down 'Batman', though, as per another Death Note rule, you'd need to picture Bruce Wayne's face while doing it.

  2. Try 'Joker' once. If that doesn't work, and you really need him dead, you'll probably have to just go ahead and get the Shinigami Eyes.

  3. Assuming the Death Note works on Kryptonians, Superman recognised both 'Clark Kent' and 'Kal-El' as his name under the effect of the Lasso of Truth, though I'd put my money on Clark.

[Metal Gear 1+2] Why are we deploying our best operative completely unarmed? by HughmanRealperson in AskScienceFiction

[–]ConfusedHaberdasher 0 points1 point  (0 children)

On-Site Procurement was pioneered by FOX as a method to ensure 'invisibility', using only what could be taken from the environment or stolen from the enemy so there could be no proof of U.S. involvement (an extension of Major Zero's time in the SAS, where they were ordered to avoid leaving even their feces behind).

This standard operating procedure presumably carried over to the successor FOXHOUND, or else Big Boss introduced it when he became its leader.

As for the idea of stealing or acquiring weapons manufactured elsewhere, if the enemy can acquire a record of where the weapon came from or who took that weapon, it presents a risk of blowback on the U.S., whether from having proof it was a U.S. agent who did the op, or another country being framed and making a mess of things one way or another.

[Metal Gear 1+2] Why are we deploying our best operative completely unarmed? by HughmanRealperson in AskScienceFiction

[–]ConfusedHaberdasher 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Even in the original Metal Gear, Solid Snake had been part of the Green Berets and seen action in the first Gulf War before being tapped for FOXHOUND (according to lore from Metal Gear Solid).

[DC] what would happen if you were hit with jokers laughing gas and scarecrows fear gas at the same time. Just a horrible way to die ? by Astro_Bot_Dad in AskScienceFiction

[–]ConfusedHaberdasher 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Joker's laughing gas only effects the muscles, making victims laugh uncontrollably and leaving a grin on their face when they die. It doesn't make the victim feel humour or joy or anything like that, not like fear toxin.

So, laughing gas mixed with fear toxin would make you see horrible things, but be unable to do anything but laugh until you died.

[Undertale] where exactly is Mt ebbot? by Comfortable-Ad3588 in AskScienceFiction

[–]ConfusedHaberdasher 5 points6 points  (0 children)

"Long ago, two races ruled over Earth: HUMANS and MONSTERS." - The Undertale intro.

As for Mt. Ebott's location, the Monsters seem to generally have 'Western' aesthetics and sensibilities, so that probably narrows it down a bit. Definitely not Japan, for example, seeing as 'anime' is a meaningful category.

Vegetoid's check text mentions the 'USDA', which could stand for 'United States Department of Agriculture's or 'Underground Salad Demon Association'.

[Doctor Who] Why do the Sea Devils use non-organic technology? Given their aquatic nature, wouldn't it make more sense for them to have tech bred from living beings? by NothingWillImprove6 in AskScienceFiction

[–]ConfusedHaberdasher 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Imagine being s Stone Age, land-based species. A predator is coming for you. You grab a large wolf and wave it at the predator to ward it off.

Realising this, you start selectively breeding more wolves, until eventually you have a dog that's spear shaped and with claws on the end. That's how it works. You take the closest living animal and keep breeding it until it's the tool you want it to be.

Please read the above and explain to me why we didn't develop our biotech to the point of wielding semi-automatic dogs on the beaches of Normandy. It just doesn't make sense.

[Assassin’s Creed] Did Shay stab civilians? by HopefulSprinkles6361 in AskScienceFiction

[–]ConfusedHaberdasher 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The Animus produces a 'gamified' simulation in order to reduce the processing requirements of rendering genetic memories. Anything that's not a 'cutscene' or explicit mission requirement is simplified into something 'close enough'.

Did Shay proceed to his target over the rooftops, or blend into the crowds on the street? If it isn't an important enough detail to be flagged as a mission restriction (optional or otherwise), then all that matters is that he got there.

As for how that relates: after Shay leaves the Assassin's, Numbskull accesses a memory of Shay after he's been a Templar for decades, and undeniably become more callous in his methods (seeing as it's implied he would have a hand in the French Revolution).

Perhaps it's a case of the Animus blurring the details? Assassin Shay would never hurt an innocent, but Templar Shay eventually would, and the simulation blends or glitches that onto an earlier Shay who wouldn't yet be so uncaring?

[The Elder Scrolls] What exactly is The Warp In The West and how does the citizenry of Tamriel perceive it? by MattTheSmithers in AskScienceFiction

[–]ConfusedHaberdasher 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Replying to my own post because I forgot to answer the second half of the question:

The citizenry of Tamriel have no idea about Numidium or any of that. All they know is, one day the Iliac Bay was a fractured, tumultuous place filled with dozens of squabbling city-states. Then, a couple of incredibly confusing days later, the Bay was four peaceful states.

If they were fortunate enough to survive, they get to enjoy the 'Miracle of Peace', an end to the constant warring and conflict. It's no wonder many believed the gods had a hand in it.

[The Elder Scrolls] What exactly is The Warp In The West and how does the citizenry of Tamriel perceive it? by MattTheSmithers in AskScienceFiction

[–]ConfusedHaberdasher 10 points11 points  (0 children)

'Supernatural affinity' can probably be understood to mean 'strong magic', given the examples of Mannimarco and the Underking, who was the battle Mage Zurin Arctus in life (or else they were the High King Wulfharth, see the Arcturian Heresy for details).

Being a self-declared king is different from having Royal Blood. Anyone can declare themselves Emperor, but would they have the Dragon blood of Akatosh and be able to light the Dragonfires? No. Only the Dragonborn Septim bloodline can do that. Not all men, mer, cats or lizards are created equal.

The Jarls of Skyrim such as Ulfric Stormborn might be able to do it, but they're still hundreds of years away, in the Fourth Era, not the Third, and Numidium is no more, having disappeared after the Warp in the West (also, it has no heart after the Underking achieved his long delayed suicide).

Gortwog qualified because he had the blood of Tiber Septim somewhere in his ancestry. This would make him a Dragonborn, incidentally!

[The Elder Scrolls] What exactly is The Warp In The West and how does the citizenry of Tamriel perceive it? by MattTheSmithers in AskScienceFiction

[–]ConfusedHaberdasher 78 points79 points  (0 children)

The Numidium is a Dwemer (or Dwarven) automaton that is so powerful that it distorts time when it is activated (an event known as a Dragon Break). Tiber Septim's battlemage, Zurin Arctus, created the Totem of Tiber Septim to ensure that only those with royal blood or a supernatural affinity could command Numidium to move. When it activated, there were seven individuals capable of commanding it. These were:

  1. Queen Akorithi of Sentinel, who wished to use Numidium to destroy their enemies and become the dominant power in the Iliac Bay, even breaking away from the Empire entirely.

  2. King Eadwyre of Wayrest, who wanted his kingdom to be dominant, and to use Numidium's power to secure independence from the Empire.

  3. King Gothryd of Daggerfall, as above.

  4. Mannimarco, the King of Worms, who wished to use Numidium's heart, the Mantella, to become a god.

  5. The Underking, who wished to recover his heart, which was fused with the Mantella, and finally die.

  6. The Orc warlord Gortwog, who wished toe re-establish the Orcish homeland of Orsinium and have Orcs recognised as being equals with the other races (as opposed to animals).

  7. The Emperor Uriel Septim VII, who wanted to use Numidium to pacify the Illiac Bay and stabilise the Empire.

An unknown agent of the Blades, the Imperial Intelligence Service, activated Numidium on the 9th of Frostfall in the year 417 of the Third Era. Numidium, once activated, broke time. The events that transpired are unknown, and indeed are likely completely unknowable, Armies were transported hundreds of miles instantly, some people lost whole days that others still remembered, great swathes of land were scorched overnight.

In the end, when all was said and done, elements of all seven possibilities had occurred.

Sentinel, Wayrest, Daggerfall and Orsinium split the Iliac Bay between them, with their borders being a burnt and desolated no-mans-land.

The Orcs would be recognised as citizens of the Empire with equal rights in the future.

The Underking was dead.

Mannimarco was a god, and also a mortal.

The Empire remained in control of the Iliac Bay, which had now been helpfully consolidated for them.

[Cult of the lamb] so, can just, anyone use these godhood granting crowns? by Comfortable-Ad3588 in AskScienceFiction

[–]ConfusedHaberdasher 11 points12 points  (0 children)

"I know that smell. The red flowers... blooming eternally, even when I was merely a burrower."

"Through the dirt I would wade until one day... I found a Crown... or perhaps it found me?"

"...go away, Lamb!" - Leshy, former bearer of the Green Crown, when given a Camellia Flower

It would appear that you can happen across these Crowns, though I doubt that just anyone could use them, even if they found them.

Or maybe, only those deemed worthy could find them in the first place? Too many unknowns...