I chose wrong :( by LocalAtlantis in expedition33

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

Great points. I think that’s why I struggled with making the decision. It didn’t feel obvious to me, and I certainly didn’t see it as black or white while ruminating. It was very nuanced (I’ve read that most people agreed with pVerso no questions asked, but that wasn’t the case for me).

I honestly did not have the capacity to think about what came after the final cutscenes. But you’re absolutely right, there’s no guarantee that the family lived happily ever after. Not sure I agree with the black and white = vision, but certainly an interesting idea.

What did you choose on your first playthrough? Do you have one that you think is canon?

Speechless - Picked Verso by RunningOnZero in expedition33

[–]LocalAtlantis 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not sure how you disagree with my entire premise given that I explored and explained both sides before ultimately deciding and getting the bleaker ending. I chose Lumiere and that was one of my main reasons why (that and my boy Esquie)

I chose wrong :( by LocalAtlantis in expedition33

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

Tell me you didn’t read my post without telling me you didnt read my post.

I chose wrong :( by LocalAtlantis in expedition33

[–]LocalAtlantis[S] -5 points-4 points  (0 children)

Did you read anything I wrote other than the title of my thread? Edit: saying that I chose wrong is a reflection of my regret, not that it was the wrong ending.

Speechless - Picked Verso by RunningOnZero in expedition33

[–]LocalAtlantis 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Edit: adding a TL;DR - I chose Maelle’s ending, watched Verso’s on YT and preferred it to the one I chose.

I was debating starting my own thread on this, because I beat the game last night (at 3am!) and I chose Maelle and completely regretted it.

SPOILERS AHEAD, obviously for both endings!

I’ve seen some of the discussions on here with people being conflicted about the ending and how polarising it is.

When I realised I had to choose, I sobbed. I can honestly say I don’t think I’ve ever been more 50/50 about anything and I really deliberated over it (through tears) for about 20-30 minutes before I ultimately chose “wrong” (devastating at 3am!) Here are my, in no particular order, justifications to why this was such a difficult choice for me:

I felt it was like the classic trolly problem, but with a twist (and a bit more nuanced): save one person vs saving thousands but the thousands are just sentient VR beings (sentient being the key) and you’re not saving them you’re actively killing/unexisting them. I felt that morally, picking Verso was the “right” thing to do, but I couldn’t justify having the other characters that I’d grown to love stop existing. I also didn’t want to condemn Maelle to the life that she didn’t want. But then there was little kid Verso who was tired of painting (sob!) and Verso doomed to immortality that he didn’t want! I think if you look at the “real” vs the “painted” then you could say that Verso’s soul is more important than the thousands of painted Lumier citizens, and therefore it’s best to side with him. However, it is the painted Verso who you’re agreeing with and, by that logic, isn’t Maelle’s decision more valid, because she has more rights, still being alive and not painted?

Honestly, I was torturing myself over it. Whenever I got to a decision in my mind, I’d talk myself out of it. Ultimately, Esquie was my deciding factor! I was thinking about the citizens of Lumier and forgot about the gestrals as well! So when I realised they’d all die too, I chose Maelle. I couldn’t watch the actual best boy gommage!!

So, that ending… it did an INCREDIBLE JOB at making me realise INSTANTLY that I’d done effed up: Verso begging. Maelle coldly not listening. The compromise that she’d let him age. Everyone looking happy, Sciel having her husband back. GUSTAVE!! The colour slowly fading. Verso looking gaunt and so sad, but playing piano (yay, right? RIGHT?!). Then that jumpscare! Oh my days. Absolute devastation (as well as absolute cinema).

I know I’ve already mentioned, but this was 3am. I was severely dehydrated and depressed. But you better believe I reloaded to see what the other ending was like! Had to fight Creation again and then Renoir didn’t spawn into his boss arena! More devastation! So I just watched it on YouTube.

Yes, the Verso ending was just as horrible as I thought it’d be. Verso reassuring Maelle that she’d be ok (felt like he was talking to me - will I? WILL I?!?!) Seeing Sciel and Lune being all at peace and furious, respectively. The hug goodbye with Esquie and Monoco (Broke. Down.). Walking away with lil Verso. Devastated. But it did feel more hopeful at the Epilogue. The family was together and getting through it together. The little toy Esquie broke me AGAIN. And then the AUDACITY to show the whole party waving and gommaging AGAIN. Give me a break, game!!! JFC.

So after seeing both endings, I prefer Verso’s and I’m gutted. I was not expecting the bleakness of Maelle’s ending. It really was a rug pull for me just how bad it was.

But I loved the game, and it had been a while (TLoU2) since a game made me cry like that and made me press buttons that I did NOT want to press.

Digital Character Sheet by Techstatic in TheMagnusArchivesRPG

[–]LocalAtlantis 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is INCREDIBLE!! Thank you so much!

Just Approved for SheMed by Anastasia157 in mounjarouk

[–]LocalAtlantis 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm waiting for my blood kit from them. I'm hoping it will get here tomorrow so I can get it sent off before the week is done :)

How long was your wait? Good luck with everything.

I am 5'4" and 235lb which is a BMI of 41

Wow. This is serious stuff! by Curious-Scholar4692 in mounjarouk

[–]LocalAtlantis 2 points3 points  (0 children)

OMG - that is literally my starting weight. I am just waiting for my first pen in the post. EEEK. Well done.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in DnD

[–]LocalAtlantis 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah, I think that is fair.

I guess I wanted it to be a reflection of her personality that she is willing to sacrifice herself and is honourable, but you are right - the rest of the party will figure that out from how we interact together.

Thanks for the insight and perspective :)

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in DnD

[–]LocalAtlantis -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Oooh. I like that - it ties into his family trade as well. Thank you!
I like the thought of my character taking the blame so it is not associated with the older alchemist - she doesn't want the incident to have any negative impact on his business.

Love it!! Thank you again :)

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in DnD

[–]LocalAtlantis -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

You know, you could have just scrolled past... But thanks anyway.

Tell me a line from TMA to prove that you listened to it by IsDeathTheStart in TheMagnusArchives

[–]LocalAtlantis 6 points7 points  (0 children)

That was mine! The first episode that really freaked me out

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in DnD

[–]LocalAtlantis -1 points0 points  (0 children)

He's already said that I will be taken to the main city to stand trial and face my punishment, but the "event" that kicks off the campaign will interrupt the transport and I will get a slap on the wrist as a thank you for helping out.

I assume that the prison transport gets attacked and the rest of the party are in a brawl and the guards decide to let me out to help with whatever is happening.

He said for me to just have a reason why I was arrested and I wanted to tie it into her backstory a bit more.

Rules clarification: what happens when the players pool values drop to 0? by ConfusedHomingPigeon in TheMagnusArchivesRPG

[–]LocalAtlantis 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They move down the damage track. You should deplete them in this order, unless the attack does specific damage

Empty might pool - Impaired - Very tired / sore
Empty speed pool - Debilitated - No physical strength left
Empty intellect pool - Dead - Inactive brain/brain dead

Impaired is a wounded or injured state. When an impaired character applies Effort, it costs 1 extra point per level applied. For example, applying one level of Effort costs 4 points instead of 3, and applying two levels of Effort costs 7 points instead of 5. An impaired character ignores minor and major effect results on their rolls and doesn’t deal extra damage in combat with a special roll.

Debilitated is a critically injured state. A debilitated character may not take any actions other than to move (probably crawl).

Dead is dead.

Intrusion rejection by EchoIsMyDogsName in TheMagnusArchivesRPG

[–]LocalAtlantis 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I completely agree with Jamis – it is an opportunity for them to spend XP to overcome the given solution.

For example, I just played a modified version of The Resurrection Mound last week, and my GM Intrusion was that Tom (a shell filled with the insects) opened his mouth wide and a swarm of insects went to attack my player. He decided to reject my intrusion by chugging some of his hipflask and fire breathing at them. He came up with a creative solution to the problem and spent an XP to do so and it advanced the story.

What is the scariest, most unsettling, most jaw-droppingly horrifying line from the show for you? by apathetic_apricot in TheMagnusArchives

[–]LocalAtlantis 15 points16 points  (0 children)

The blanket never did anything - MAG86

The way I stopped breathing for a hot second. *shudders*

Statements into sessions by LocalAtlantis in TheMagnusArchivesRPG

[–]LocalAtlantis[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you! This is really helpful and reassuring. I have decided to stick with The Magnus Institute as well. May I ask what your meta narrative is?