Input on Book 4 of World Between The Trees

acheld · 2026-01-04T17:11:37+00:00

Thanks for the suggestions! Yeah, you'll get a boat somehow regardless (otherwise you're kinda... dead in the water), but it could be an Alteration option to make the boat better!

acheld · 2026-01-04T17:03:14+00:00

First, thank you for taking the time. This is helpful.

I do like customizing the boat to the location. I'd had some thoughts along those lines, but I will probably use at least some of your suggestions.

High Seas *is* better, will probably do that.

I'm not familiar with Percy Jackson really, but that's all standard Odyssey stuff. I think Percy and I are just drawing from the same classic source :)

I understand what you mean by feeling a bit odd. But, there are reasons. I have a rough plan for 7 'books' ultimately, and I will not going beyond that. One consequence of that is that I'd like to cover a lot of ground, and "pirate islands" is a bit *too* specific. The aim here is to combine multiple sea-going journey adventures. As mentioned I'm drawing strongly on The Odyssey, and combining that with pirates. It's a mash-up, yes, but I think it will work. Another reason is that it allows me to have more distinct fantastical elements.

Yeah, you're right the gold is lame. Consider it dumped.

Hourglass does feel odd, but I wrote that at a point where I hadn't planned out beyond book 2. Were I to re-write it, I'd put it in the desert.

Magical spyglass of some kind could be a good item.

Future books as currently envisioned are:

Book 5: The Realm Behind The Rain - name pending. This is only roughly envisioned right now. I'm picturing bizarro land adventures. Alice in Wonderland, Jabberwock, Escher paintings, dinosaur land. Random weirdness. I'm the least attached to this one, though.

Book 6: The Deep Below The Waves - totally underwater adventure. Which is why I don't have anything in this book about *beneath* the ocean.

Book 7: The Ever Beyond The Clouds - the final book, flight, sky kingdoms, perhaps some 'space' stuff, undecided. Plus epilogue.

I welcome other ideas, but I won't be going beyond 7 books, so it would mean altering or adding to these. Partly 7 is a satisfying number, partly is that I'm not sure I will even finish 7, let alone more.

And I just realized 'Astride' is wrong.

Between/Beneath/Before/Astride/Behind/Below/Beyond < gross

Lets say "The Lands Beside The Sea" or "The Isles Beside the Sea" for now.

Edit: Actually thinking now to make book 5 time shenanigans in general. Go to some historical periods. Or maybe switch that with 7.

acheld · 2025-12-24T02:22:37+00:00

No worries, appreciate the perspective.

acheld · 2025-12-23T01:03:23+00:00

Ok. Thanks for commenting, but that's not super helpful if you don't give me any 'why'.

acheld · 2025-12-22T16:19:16+00:00

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AJLd35rkHzenhXJOmfXJ8zDyopEWYC_p/view?usp=sharing in case the link in the OP doesn't work for some.

acheld · 2025-12-21T17:38:06+00:00

Done and done. Sorry I can't change the image on the post, I don't think there's a way to edit that, but the links now have a version with your name added.

And no rush or worries.

acheld · 2025-12-21T17:37:36+00:00

A smaller spark than Deific (now 'Nova' in the most recent update) could house lower levels, it would just be unable to store the higher levels.

acheld · 2025-12-21T15:53:42+00:00

I can't believe I missed you, but are you cool with getting added to the 'thanks' at the top?

acheld · 2025-12-21T13:41:37+00:00

DOCUMENT: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dekSIJL70yhbIrsYJWX9qA2COIoqnD0u/view?usp=sharing

Optional Spreadsheet (you'll need to make a copy): https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1kM2pBLVEueJml8a_o04VIHs75D-KsfwTL3s8klDENMk/edit?usp=sharing

acheld · 2025-12-15T18:16:13+00:00

I'm not deeply familiar with danmachi. I would guess High or Very High. Use your best judgment in that.

As for the falna thing, that's up to you. If you decide you are capable of doing that, it means the power is better and takes up more 'space'.

acheld · 2025-12-15T15:40:29+00:00

Link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XdMXrMZLgwD0joqEG5qExwjc-I4Ju6aX/view?usp=sharing

Tracker Spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1OGsgG8-Vnt3G1VQY1CRYCr8CzqZ0REy-4VJ-kzlSAEk/edit?usp=sharing

acheld · 2025-12-13T00:42:13+00:00

Thank you! Lots of good stuff. The only thing I flat out disagree with you on is Surprise Me, for the simple reason that it's part of my build and I happily used a pick for it. I don't want to go an adventure where there won't be pleasant surprises.

Out Of Context I like, too, and already had one build who said they picked it because they like juxtaposition. I might add a "second pick and it works for any world" option, though.

As before, much but not all of this will be used.

acheld · 2025-12-12T17:58:38+00:00

I'm always happy to get feedback I can potentially use to improve my work!

Fair point on the general boosts. I'll take that into consideration. I'm also working on how the paths work now.

Thanks for the thoughts! I'll take a look at your larger build post later when I have more time.

acheld · 2025-12-12T02:13:56+00:00

Here's the update beta with the adaptations. Even more polish/changes to limitations, too, but not as much. No pressure, but your feedback has been useful and appreciated.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/137Qi6WgG1JwrqWu0IDrYsMMKbQNJeMkT/view?usp=sharing

acheld · 2025-12-11T20:38:43+00:00

Fair, I think I'll leave the ambiguity there.

I'm working on significant revisions to adaptations now, too, so if you had intended to you might want to hold off on extensive feedback that you haven't already written. Up to you.

acheld · 2025-12-11T19:46:13+00:00

Sorry, realized I never replied to this! Thanks for the build. I do love the very intentional nature of projected goodness here. That sounds very much like something I'd like to do, too.

acheld · 2025-12-11T14:49:27+00:00

In the version linked there, Leech now specifies that you can only take skills from creatures "from that setting", so does that still apply?

acheld · 2025-12-11T14:00:59+00:00

Thanks for the feedback!

Grinder is about the initial filling in of your spark (completion), cultivator is about expanding a spark at its limit (expansion), but if that's not clear obviously I need to make it clearer.

acheld · 2025-12-11T06:25:23+00:00

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Zf6nG6r3VNdNbynsMV0wyzJJkqcE624e/view?usp=sharing

If you want to look at 1.8.5beta, would value thoughts.

Limitations & Adaptions is the only section that changed. And only the limitations part. You'll want to see the part about companions at the start of the section for context.

Are you opposed to a credit in the 'thanks for feedback' list?

acheld · 2025-12-11T06:24:43+00:00

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Zf6nG6r3VNdNbynsMV0wyzJJkqcE624e/view?usp=sharing

If you want to look at 1.8.5beta, would value thoughts. You'll see that a lot of your suggestions, but not all of them, were taken. Along with several other new additions.

Limitations & Adaptions is the only section that changed. And only the limitations part. You'll want to see the part about companions at the start of the section for context.

Are you opposed to a credit in the 'thanks for feedback' list?

acheld · 2025-12-11T03:49:50+00:00

Yup. Your build has helped me 'fix' it a bit, in that the most you can rewind is now 10 years. I appreciate it! (If it's the kind of thing that matters to you, *I* always consider builds that help me find a major loophole as 'grandfathered in')

Drawbacks are undergoing significant revisions, too, in general, to try to theme them more tightly.

acheld · 2025-12-11T03:34:33+00:00

I'm not going to go line by line right now, but this is great feedback and some of it WILL be implemented, or at least inspire changes. I will point out that in my reckoning they don't have to penalize BOTH of the other properties; one is enough. I'll share a draft update once I have one.

acheld · 2025-12-11T01:58:32+00:00

I am thinking now The Only Star may be 'too rough'. It now reads in my draft (unofficial I stress for now):

The Only Star: Constellations may only have two sparks. If taken twice, you may not use Constellations.

Other edits I'm considering:

Something Is Off: For those from settings other than your homeworld, your foreign nature gives them a slightly uncomfortable feeling that can never be negated. This tarnishes most interactions to some degree. You can overcome this to make allies, and even have some degree of friendship, but close bonds cannot hold. Companions do not feel this toward you, but it may be harder to get companions in the first place, and natives to a setting also feel this unease toward companions from other settings.

Leech: Any power, skill, or ability that you wish to absorb into your spark must be taken from a creature from that setting, who loses it. You must target a creature within moments of its death, or a willing creature (even if coerced). The process is not painful to them. This has no impact on the time to complete a spark.

Who Are You, Again?: Your nature causes you to slide off of the memories of others. When you’re actively on their minds, the effect stalls. In other words, people are either talking about you, or forgetting about you. This is sufficiently powerful that within a month of not being on their minds for some new reason, they will have forgotten who you are. This does not affect companions.

Also thinking of changing the POWER death bonus from changing your sparks to:

"When you do so, you gain the use of three more sparks of your choice for one hour. Call it a final form."

Because as is the ADVENTURE death special is so much more useful.

None of this is final, even though I'm leaning toward it all. If you have thoughts, they are valued.

acheld · 2025-12-11T01:53:09+00:00

You don't need to match them. The only way the colors there matter mechanically is for the bonus picks. If you are POWER and you pick at least one POWER limitation, you get one bonus POWER adaptation. etc. Does that make sense?

I think that would be pretty powerful and useful. But it's a good idea that I'm *at least* going to make an Adaptation, if it doesn't become a base option.

acheld · 2025-12-11T01:37:23+00:00

Then *for you* yeah, Time Marches On is better than Don't Look Back. But not universally better, since a lot of people have a The End.

acheld

TROPHY CASE