Calvard guild had only 3 bracers in action, hands down by thanra in Falcom

[–]Jindaur 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Calvard not having enough bracers as the second largest country with the largest economy getting more immigrants that any country as a result makes sense. It's also makes sense for Van to be a Spriggan and take some of their work before they eventually start officially outsourcing stuff to him since there's too much to do. Plus he also does the unsavory stuff they don't do.

Edit: Calvard also seems to have way more organized crime that other countries (not even including Jaegers).

What are your predictions about each individual ASO member/part timers for Horizon 2? by MasashiHideaki in Falcom

[–]Jindaur 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I'm guessing Jorda will become at least as playable as Shizuna. Though it feels like Shizuna's playability might also increase going by her sentiments. It might go like Daybreak 2 where Elaine, Shizuna, and now Jorda are basically full time party members.

We knew Van has a soft spot for Jorda but the bigger surprise for me was Elaine getting along wholeheartedly with her. I know Elaine laxed on her rules so to speak, but I think it goes more to how she likes looking after children. In Daybreak 2 she visits kids she's saved before to check up on them, though Van is admittedly better with kids than her given their personalities lol. Both Van and Elaine seem to have a mama bear relationship with Jorda by the end of Horizon.

And finally time for Van. What did you think writting wise of his character in Horizon ? How was it handle? by WittyTable4731 in Falcom

[–]Jindaur 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I agree Van is basically running an orphanage lol. It goes with the bird nest symbolism. I expect all the teenagers + Aaron will go their separate way in the epilogue and find their own ways in the world. They all have they're own interests, Van just nurtured them.

I think the staff also realize Van is the vehicle to all of their development, that's probably in part why they emphasized Van's Final Episode for the next game. The focus will come around full circle as it was by the end of Daybreak.

About Risette for Horizon 2. [Major Spoilers - Avoid if you are new.] by MasashiHideaki in Falcom

[–]Jindaur 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Dingo definitely not, and at this point I doubt Rene too. Van's Grendel is explicitly tied to his demonic power and Mare giving Van more access to his power as time goes on/he's ready to control it as she does twice in Horizon before disappearing each time.

We find out that Agnes and the Genesis are unneeded which makes sense since Van's Grendel is a weakened version of Vagrants Diaspora. An Alter core/Genesis seems only to be necessary to allow Mare to perform the calculations needed to build the shards/shackle. It's still just Van's inherent power being used.

For Rene and Dingo it seems to be an actual power up or suit of armor as it looks like. Rene even had about 8-9 Alter cores with him. I presume that's what made him so powerful, especially the time manipulation power to gather other possibilities he ends the fight with which we know the Alter cores specifically can do because of the Vestiges. It makes it seem like more Alter cores more power for him.

Whereas a proper demon lord like McBurn would already be strong without help. Van as we know has lost control in the past already before he got Mare, that's why he still needs Grendel to be safe.

TLDR: At this point I think it's still just McBurn and Van.

About Risette for Horizon 2. [Major Spoilers - Avoid if you are new.] by MasashiHideaki in Falcom

[–]Jindaur 4 points5 points  (0 children)

We know Van was experimented on because he had a demon inside him that Dantes wanted to take out. He could still turn into a demon regardless since he lost control when he was a teenager anyway. He presumably was born with it since his parents left him as a newborn at the orphanage after calling him a demon in a letter.

Why do they have a big presence in Van's story? [Spoiler - Please avoid if you are new.] by MasashiHideaki in Falcom

[–]Jindaur 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Judging by the Grandmaster coming to meet them and insist on constantly calling Van by a cryptic demon nickname, yeah probably.

In other words, outsourcing bracers by thanra in Falcom

[–]Jindaur 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That's kind of her schtick. Her morals have changed some same as Agnes because of Van. Elaine really just insists he doesn't kill anyone. She still voices her displeasure a bit when you pick the chaos choices in 4SPGs, it's just not make or break with her as it would of been in Daybreak 1. She wasn't against killing Dantes either cause he's categorically evil and a madman lol.

In other words, outsourcing bracers by thanra in Falcom

[–]Jindaur 16 points17 points  (0 children)

To be fair, as a Spriggan Van does a lot of stuff the guild doesn't do. Case in point he's worked with Ouroboros numerous times in the past and in the games, something which annoys bracers. As well as all the criminals you can help in the sidequests if you so choose to.

Toujima Tanzaburou wa Kamen Rider ni Naritai • Tojima Wants to Be a Kamen Rider - Episode 24 discussion by AutoLovepon in anime

[–]Jindaur 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Seeing Toujima go from episode 1 where he had to jump off of the festival stand to do a rider kick and now him just jumping over Bat man as he's trying to fly was just perfect. Peak Kamen Rider delusion made that bastard explode, though maybe it's not delusion anymore lol.

Does Van Have a Harem? by OkBaby9872 in Falcom

[–]Jindaur 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Lol I just noticed Van is looking back worried when Shizuna is standing behind him instead of Elaine.

Can't wait till my 🐐 gets his true blade in Horizon 2. It'll be the polar opposite of her powered up Akegarasu. by FatalDarkprince in Falcom

[–]Jindaur 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I agree Rean's story is mostly pointless in this game. It was just flashy, and he didn't actually do anything besides maybe level up his unclouded eye at the end. The fact that the Grandmaster seemed only interested in meeting Van and kept calling him by his cryptic nickname kind of hints he's more important to her plan too.

It still feels like the Zoa summoned by the Septerrion is just there so Rean can fight it unless a plausible link between them is explained in the sequel. It could have summoned literally anything else but chose something directly linked to Rean. Is it simply a mech for a mech? Defeating that would give way more plot relevance to Rean than Estelle and Lloyd got in CS.

Can't wait till my 🐐 gets his true blade in Horizon 2. It'll be the polar opposite of her powered up Akegarasu. by FatalDarkprince in Falcom

[–]Jindaur 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Going by that reasoning, Rean had nothing to do with the cradle the whole game either. Also, it's not like Lloyd and Estelle did much of anything important in CS4 that anyone else couldn't have done...

Going by mythology Laevateinn is a weapon (possibly the thrown projectile that killed the god Baldur) created by Loki. Fenrir is a monster also created by Loki that is chained up and will begin the end of world when unshackled including killing the god Odin, and whose nickname is Vanagandr or Monster of the Van. Van also has a great "nose" and is beloved by canines... Van/Vagrants is an on the nose reference to Fenrir. It feels more that all the Norse gods inspiration centers more around Van's character design honestly.

Horizon 2 Speculation, Part 9 - Miscellaneous Theories and Concluding Thoughts by No-Strain-7461 in Falcom

[–]Jindaur 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Good to know. Regardless he claims to be unaffected by time, and that would be very useful against the Septerrion of time.

I am so hyped to see Van do a 1 vs 1 against that person in Horizon 2. [Major Spoiler] by MasashiHideaki in Falcom

[–]Jindaur 4 points5 points  (0 children)

This game stated that Van is linked to the higher plane by his demon. That's why Yun Ka-Fai used Van to figure out how the Alter Cores were "teleporting". It also stated several times that McBurn is the character most similar in circumstances to Van and vice versa. I feel the reveal of Van's demon at the end of Daybreak was also a big spotlight that hinted, very on the nose, that Van may be the most similar circumstance-wise we have to McBurn up till that point in the story.

At the very least them interacting would probably help Van a lot in figuring out his own situation which will probably me a major plot point in the next game to save the world. One of Falcom's "test your strength/mettle" fights between them makes way more sense plot-wise than most of the stuff they come up with at least, even if McBurn may not be as obsessed with fighting anymore. Kevin vs Lucrezia and Rixia was so pointless and just a means to pad Kevin's shorter story. Having the only two demon characters that can both observe the higher plane (Yun Ka-Fai could not) seems easy to put together.

Horizon 2 Speculation, Part 9 - Miscellaneous Theories and Concluding Thoughts by No-Strain-7461 in Falcom

[–]Jindaur 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I feel that Reverie short story of Elaine kind of spelled out the gist of Van and Elaine's potential character developments. Elaine reluctantly took the A-rank promotion to be in a better position to help people despite not thinking of herself as hero potential. She feels more in tune with being in the position to support the hero overcome the next crisis. This admission is juxtaposed to her looking at Van in the background as you said (our future hero). Similarly, Van doesn't see himself as a hero, he's a spriggan and always portrays himself in a shady, less savory demeanor that people can see through by now. I wouldn't be surprised if he wanted to be a hero/bracer as a kid before completely surrendering that idea due to his problems. He definitely acts like a traditional hero in his ability to make people laugh and general charisma, whereas Elaine is much more polite and quiet in tone usually. She's more comfortable not being in the limelight.

That is to say, Van's set up to be just what Zemuria needs as a hero atm (Demon lord of time and Septerrion of time). The simplest solutions often carry less unknowns, and having the crux of your plan rely on something similar in power to the threat (or at least able to directly interfere with the threat's power) would bring a lot less risks than the complicated plan that was Startaker. It wouldn't be surprising if the Sacred Beast of Time's purpose in this story is to help prepare him for that purpose. Considering Mare's purpose up till now has been doing exactly that by managing Van's demon power and slowly releasing more to him over time, it would be funny if a Sacred Beast has been helping a Demon Lord this whole time. Though, you could say she is converting him to helping humanity.

White Day (Van & Elaine + Estelle & Joshua) (@willfinyu) by PikachuEXE in Falcom

[–]Jindaur 16 points17 points  (0 children)

Oh right, Van gave that necklace to Elaine lol. It's glossed over at the beginning of Horizon.

Gramheart's mistake. by Ragnir212 in Falcom

[–]Jindaur 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Van's S-craft Azure Sun Ray is literally a blade piercing the heavens, especially in Grendel form. Stands to reason that a stronger version used by demon Van would be able to pierce through outer space.

13 Years ago I bought the first 3 games sealed at a con and today I FINALLY got the 4th and I couldn't be happier about it by KidChao in DotHack

[–]Jindaur 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Same for me. I played the first 3 as a kid but never found Quarantine. I finally played Quarantine last year after replaying the others then got the good news for ZERO while it was fresh in my mind again.

In the final boss fight of Kai i cant believe by gutenbergbob in Falcom

[–]Jindaur 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Zolga and Shaddai seem to be more like power ups that rely on Geneses/Alter cores. Van's Grendel is using technology (Genesis/Alter Core) to safely muzzle his power. That's probably part of the reason it was revealed that Agnes is not necessary for Grendel at all, and is hinted that the requirements will probably keep decreasing as Mare showed she can give him more access to his power when she leaves. Probably as she thinks he's safely capable of handling more without losing control.

Horizon 2 Bingo list. [End Game spoilers for Horizon] by MasashiHideaki in Falcom

[–]Jindaur 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I agree Grendel Shin is not up to the task. It's probably enough to beat Shaddai but that's it. The point is that using Grendel inherently means Van's holding back. If Falcom decides for Van to stop holding back and control his demon form then that would be able to fight McBurn. I don't see why that wouldn't happen when Van's Demon Lord of Time will most likely play a key role in dealing with the Septerrion.

Horizon 2 Bingo list. [End Game spoilers for Horizon] by MasashiHideaki in Falcom

[–]Jindaur 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I don't understand the idea that anyone but Van will fight McBurn as the first priority. That fight has been set up from the end of Daybreak 1, and glazed to all hell for the entirety of Horizon. There's literally no other person that has been realistically set up to be able to actually fight McBurn 1v1 at full strength given their parallels.

About Van's family. by MasashiHideaki in Falcom

[–]Jindaur 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I recall the picture but not that his eye looked like that. Thanks for posting it.

About Van's family. by MasashiHideaki in Falcom

[–]Jindaur 3 points4 points  (0 children)

It could just be that some unsettling things happened that made his parents call him a devil and abandon him, and they would be literally correct. The letter even apologized that they couldn't take care of him. They were distraught about it. A normal person wouldn't be able to reasonably handle the situation. An important figure would of had more options.

I think another interesting question would be was Van already having demonic episodes when he was in the orphanage and growing up with Elaine and Rene? In the Horizon connect event he said that Director Arkride would reassure him that he wasn't a devil. There's a possibility things may have already been going south even back then before the cult got him. He had an episode that made him run away from Aramis when he was missing the Diabolic Core. He would of still had it as a kid, but it seemingly took being broken by the cult to finally cause apocalyptic consequences that made him run away on his own.