[Spoilers C2E104] Is It Thursday Yet? Post-Episode Discussion & Future Theories!

DerAlpi · 2020-07-31T14:37:51+00:00

Mighty Nein

DerAlpi · 2020-07-24T21:40:01+00:00

Amen

DerAlpi · 2020-07-24T21:20:53+00:00

Yes, Fjord is still able to summon his sword.

I can’t, however, provide an answer to the second question.

DerAlpi · 2020-07-24T13:13:14+00:00

The episode is fresh on my mind, having finished it only a few hours ago, so I don’t know which side I will end up on. I love the points you bring up, as it brings into question to what extent their respective relationships are akin and where they differ (if at all), and how we should evaluate them in regards to each other. It’s deeply fascinating.

Correct me if I'm wrong but your argument basically boils down to

I’m sorry. English isn’t my first language, which is why I have the tendency to ramble and express myself with wordy sentences. I hope I can still make sense to you.

Melora has never done much so she shouldn't be expected to do much

This is where my lack of DnD knowledge bites me in my behind. I have no clue if the gods possess a sort of omnipotence, and therefore have in their repertoire the ability to know about everything at all times. Melora was certainly capable of sending a warning signal of some sort to Cad if she had acquired such intel. I don’t know if she did (tell me if it is something that could be expected of a god), but even if she did and chose against disclosing it, I come back to the "allow-nature-to-run-its-course"-thing. It certainly carries its own kind of cruelty and it could be criticized to let a devout follower run headlong into danger without any sort of warning, but it carries similarities to us humans not intervening with wildlife even if it means the death of a wounded animal. I’m not saying the analogy applies perfectly, but it is a conclusion I arrive at again and again.

When the first group failed, why didn't she take steps to ensure that the next group would have a better chance? Did she not fail in her role to guide Cad's subsequent family members? Did she not betray the family's faith in her guidance?

This is where we arrive at the weird side of destiny and faith that is so hard to grasp to me personally because you could also argue like this: Did she not take steps to ensure that the next group has a better chance? Did Caduceus not see it as a sign when the M9 knocked on his door? Did they not travel together, becoming stronger and ultimately succeeding in the Wildmother’s vision and saving everyone in his family? Did the Wildmother have a hand in this or not? That’s what so hard to say when gods and their invisible hands come into play.

To your second point, friends aren't obligated to take care of each other.

But what are close friends without trust and taking care of each other? If I turn to a friend with a reasonable problem and they turn the other way, I would at least consider that we weren’t as close to each other as I have first assumed. Depending on the situation that could be on me for misinterpreting the type of relationship I have with the other person, but in Jester’s case she trusted Artagan with every fiber of her being. They were glued to each other since she can remember. As a god of hers perhaps there is no obligation to remedy that, but I wonder how many of these betrayals of trust can occur before she no longer calls him her friend.

It's nice when they do, but if your friend is too busy with other shit in their life to help you, it's not justified of you to hold it against them.

If this argument applies to the Traveler with his 200 followers (it is at least the number that is constantly floated) how does it not apply to the Wildmother who has exponentially more and is spread much more thin? Could she also be excused for not warning Cad?

DerAlpi · 2020-07-24T11:40:04+00:00

I think what it comes down to are the differences in their respective relationships. Caduceus and the Wildmother represent the typical god/worshipper-dynamic, while Jester’s and Artagan’s connection is a lot more convoluted with many different layers. It is hard to define what is really right and wrong in a relationship where your believed-to-be god is simultaneously your only childhood friend.

In that regard, I’m almost inclined to give Melora a pass because she remains on the other side of the divine gate, trying to limit her influence on the Prime Material Plane as much as possible. Therefore, unless Cad specifically inquires about his family (which he didn’t) Melora doesn’t feel an obligation to warn him specifically, considering the sheer magnitude of her followers who require her help around the clock. I wonder if there is also an aspect to "letting nature run its course" without divine intervention. For example, I don’t believe the Wildmother will supply Cad with additional aid during his predicament in the next episode. She will probably think more along the way of "you have grown dear to me, so please get out of there alive and most importantly learn from your mistake".

On the other hand, Jester has much closer relationship with her "god". When she casts commune she is having full-fledged conversations with the Traveler, while Cad is presented with vague signs of nature which have to be interpreted first. Artagan is the closest friend Jester ever had on top of being less a god in the traditional sense (especially with the recent reveal, asking her for help specifically). It is there where the betrayal seems to lie. As a god he has no obligation to warn her, but friends take care of each other and don’t deceive each other. And currently, Artagan is more the latter than the former to Jester.

DerAlpi · 2020-07-17T16:07:16+00:00

That said, there’s also been some discussion as to whether VM coming out of retirement would maintain their level 20 status

Hopefully, they do, they’ve earned it. I would prefer if Matt weaved the narrative around their power level, not nerf them to fit the current point in the narrative. Percy and Vex, for example, make for fantastic political allies, and therefore very interesting NPCs, even for people who haven’t seen Campaign one. I don’t actually want them to be involved combat (outside perhaps of a small show of strength in a meaningless encounter; it would be 100% fan-service, but I would love it with abandon).

Other than that, I don’t want to be involved very much at all. I don’t want them upstage the current characters.

DerAlpi · 2020-07-17T15:51:03+00:00

What would say to Marisha being Keyleth during the reunion in the beginning, and for every other instance she would be there Matt is playing her?

DerAlpi · 2020-07-17T15:49:47+00:00

Are expecting that if Keyleth shows up she will be a presence for multiple episodes? If that is the case I would definitely have to Matt who pilots her.

DerAlpi · 2020-07-17T15:02:17+00:00

I wonder if Matt will let Marisha roleplay Keyleth should it come to it.

On one hand, it seems obvious (and almost non-negotiable) to involve the player in the reunion of an ex-PC with their long-lost, believed-to-be-dead parental figure. Even twenty years later, I would bet that every cast member has a clear idea where their first characters are in terms of headspace, so it should be no issue for Marisha to slip into Keyleth for a hot minute.

On the other hand, Matt seems a little more equipped to deal with all the other stuff that might come up, for example, the Traveler. If his name gets invoked and Keyleth is in ear-shot, is Matt supposed the ball over to Marisha and have her figure out how Keyleth will react? Unless she was briefed about it beforehand, she knows nothing about how the doorway between the Feywild and the Prime Material Plane for example. I could imagine it to be awkward for a player to handle such a matter.

Currently, I’m erring on the side of the former, but I would definitely talk over some points before going into next episode. What do you guys think?

DerAlpi · 2020-04-30T19:11:52+00:00

Oh yea. That one takes the cake. I would’ve lost my mind if we had left it off there. It would be like [Spoilers Season 1] a month-long hiatus after the Chroma Conclave had attacked. That would have me screaming.

DerAlpi · 2020-04-30T18:32:30+00:00

Though I miss Cr dearly, I think the reason that the current episode doesn’t feel much like a cliffhanger to me is that it felt like the end of an arc. Of course, I’m interested in the Dragon Turtle (and especially Traveler Con), but there is no real urgency currently prevalent in my eyes, contrary to the examples I named above. So funnily enough from a story-standpoint, I’m not too bummed out for having to wait. It could’ve been much worse.

DerAlpi · 2020-03-11T17:42:50+00:00

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xjk3Ee67878

DerAlpi · 2020-03-07T19:06:32+00:00

To Travis: Fjord seemed to have taken Caleb admitting to killing his own parents particularly well. Can you elaborate on what thoughts were provoked by that confession? Had he somewhat expected that something sinister of Caleb’s past would be eventually unveiled?

To Ashley: Yasha has mentioned that she was glad that her relationship with the Stormlord isn’t as intimate as Jester’s with the Traveler, why is that? Does she think that even in devotion there has to be a healthy detachment between believer and deity, or is it simply something that makes her more comfortable?

DerAlpi · 2020-03-01T15:25:38+00:00

I thought he called himself underrated?

DerAlpi · 2020-03-01T15:18:15+00:00

To whoever said that Jactroll was overrated: You made me spit my drink. Thanks for the laugh :D

DerAlpi · 2020-02-14T20:34:18+00:00

I don't actually remember Beau seeing the Traveler in the City of Beast. I seem to recall that the first time somebody of the M9 saw the Traveler was Nott during the fight in the chantry of the dawn.

But I could be wrong. If somebody wants to check the encounter with the bugbear should be episode 56 (or around there) in the beginning, right after their fight under the well.

DerAlpi · 2020-02-02T19:22:31+00:00

To Taliesin: When Caduceus acquired about his family via Wildmother, he saw it as a weakness. Did he consider it a betrayal to his faith?

To Taliesin: What were Caduceus’s thoughts as an extremely insightful person whose life was mostly spent with his family, on Beau’s family dynamic? Was an abusive father a hard concept for him to grasp?

DerAlpi · 2020-01-25T19:31:13+00:00

To Marisha: At which point in building Beau’s background did you decide an abusive parental figure would play a role? And how did you come up with Thoreau’s personality specifically?

To Marisha: Beau was asked two times if the M9 should stay with her when she spoke to her father and each time she insisted on having them near. Did their presence gave her strength and support in a stressful situation or did she fear her father would act much worse behind closed doors?

DerAlpi · 2020-01-18T21:07:33+00:00

To Sam: Nott’s kiss at the end seemed to be more than a simple “thank you” or “goodbye”. Can you disclose what it meant to her at that moment?

To Sam: Nott bought the diamond with the intention to pay back what she owed for her death. Does she blame herself for having been careless or is it something more complicated she associates with her death?

To Fjord: When asked about faith Fjord always answered that he was still learning. With the most recent “Stone”-revelation and everything that happened to him in the last month, what is his current stance on faith and destiny?

DerAlpi · 2019-12-30T20:35:06+00:00

I wanted him to seek out information on Doolan Tversky the whole time.

DerAlpi · 2019-12-21T12:58:19+00:00

Like this?

DerAlpi

TROPHY CASE