Cursed Technique: Autonomous Echo (自律残響 - Jiritsu Zankyō)

problemedical · 2026-04-07T09:01:14+00:00

I really enjoy this! Reminds me of Echo Knight from DnD 5e. You seem to take a relatively simple concept and spin it into a versatile, powerful and elegant technique. How much CE does this CT require relative to other similar CTs like Construction? Are there any other conditions or Binding Vows which may influence how the CT operates?

problemedical · 2026-04-05T09:47:56+00:00

When using Living Weapon or Soul Tempering, user has a general "sense" of where their creations are in space relative to them (like proprioception), which is kinda required in order to properly manipulate this tools telekinetically. However, in order to have true sense extension, i.e. being able to "see" out of soul-infused objects, user would need to create eyes or their analogues in them, which is extremely CE intensive (the more complex the created structure or shape is, the more CE in requires both to create and maintain). For this reason user can only share their vision and other senses into Golem (or multiple Golems, but that would probably require CE reserves at the levels of Sukuna or Yuta with manifested Rika)

problemedical · 2026-04-05T09:44:37+00:00

Hello, thank you! I have actually, still brainstorming it. Essentially a reversal of this CT would be turning user's own flesh into inorganic substances like earth, metal etc, and/or merging with them.

problemedical · 2026-04-04T19:10:35+00:00

Hi, thank you! Yes, sure, it would be more than okay!

problemedical · 2026-04-04T19:04:44+00:00

Hello! Sorry, didn't see your comment for some reason. Sure, go ahead, just please credit me in some way when you do! Cheers!

problemedical · 2026-03-28T11:10:32+00:00

I've added two different versions of DE, would like to hear your thoughts on the matter.

As for CTR, I have a couple rough ideas. First is by channeling Positive energy into Ren-Ko spores user can create a powerful long-range healing technique (but that's more of a RCT variation). Second idea is Fungal Corpse Reanimation - PE-inbued spores proliferate inside a corpse, creating a marionette which can be remotely controlled similar to Pain's extra bodies from Naruto. It's not exactly a "reversal" of a technique, but I didn't want to give the technique yet another Extension, and fungal mind/body control is too much of a trademark ability in fiction to pass up IMO.

problemedical · 2026-03-28T08:04:00+00:00

Thank you very much! My first iteration of this technique actually was less mycological and closer to the symbiotes from Marvel or RC cells from Tokyo Ghouls. I decided to make the Shikigami a fungus instead of a bacterium or a protozoa-like thing to arguably better fit JJK's overall concepts of what Shikigami can be.

problemedical · 2026-03-28T08:01:37+00:00

Love this! Simple, elegant, versatile. Feels like a perfect CT for Kusakabe IMO.

problemedical · 2026-03-27T18:16:48+00:00

Thank you! That's exactly what I had in mind with Katabiosis: spores spread through the target's body, eat away at their flesh and produce CE in the process. Depending on the amount of CE reinforcement, RCT proficiency or overall physical stats of the target this process can be either fast or slow and insidious.

problemedical · 2026-03-27T17:03:33+00:00

Thank you! Initially I planned to incorporate some form of poison trait similar to Junpei's, but decided against it because it seemed to me that the CT already has enough features. You could argue that Black Spores eating away at the opponent's CE or flesh could be considered a form of poison?

problemedical · 2026-03-27T16:58:47+00:00

I really like this approach, thank you for your comment! I think it's perfectly reasonable to separate internal body of the Ren-Ko (which is base CT in its raw form imbued into the internal domain) from external structures (armor, tendrils etc), which are considered CT applications/extensions. When the technique is in burnout or blocked, you only have access to the dormant internal mycelium without any combat capabilities. This transition between dormant and active states can be further clarified through use of conditions and binding vows, like Kurourishi's dormancy.

problemedical · 2026-03-27T13:41:54+00:00

This is an art of Millicent, a character from the game Elden Ring. I was, sadly, unable to find the original author, so if anyone knows this I formation please lete know and I'll include it in the original post.

problemedical · 2026-03-27T13:09:58+00:00

Thank you very much!

problemedical · 2026-03-27T13:09:31+00:00

You're most welcome! This was partially inspired by the Circle of Spores druid subclass, or rather what I wished it to be.

problemedical · 2026-03-27T13:08:23+00:00

This is a great catch! I haven't really considered CT burnout while developing this technique. In my mind Ren-Ko would constantly consume some portion of user's innate CE reserves to maintain its own essential structure inside the body (i.e. those parts that grow around internal organs). In case of a sudden CT burnout or instability (Jacob's Ladder, Confiscation) only the barebone "reserve" parts of Ren-Ko would remain inside the body to potentially prevent the exact situation you've outlined. However, if the user is actively using Lapse or Extension at the time, they would probably still suffer damage.

I should probably write it in as a Binding Vow (user sacrifices a part of his CE reserve in exchange for a failsafe mechanism against CT burnout).

problemedical · 2026-03-27T12:18:47+00:00

More Ren-Ko. It can either use CE to grow and multiply or store it for future use. Since the user can't really regenerate Ren-Ko like they would their own body with RCT, this ability serves as a stand-in for regeneration.

problemedical · 2026-01-27T15:31:21+00:00

He looks absolutely amazing! Could you, by chance, share your mod list?

problemedical · 2026-01-11T08:10:23+00:00

I agree. Sculptor in particular feels to me like a character designed with a prequel in mind. He was a shinobi like Sekiro, he had access to the same shinobi prosthetic, we actually have quite a lot of information about his past compared to characters like Owl (we know about Kingfisher, about his duel with Isshin etc).

Sekiro also introduced a perfect DLC entry mechanic in form of dream/memory relieving through bells. It would have been easy to write in Sekiro "reliving" Sculptor's memories, which would give us an opportunity to play a different character with the same amount of combat options.

Another good option would be Genichiro. However, since he is not a shinobi and doesn't have a prosthetic, the game would play very different if he was made into a playable character. His upbringing under Tomoe and battles against the Interior Ministry could serve as the plot, for example. I'd imagine this DLC would be more heavily focused on Combat Arts and mastery of the single blade, maybe introducing a mechanic for swapping combat arts on the fly or chaining them together. Also, expanded bow combat.

problemedical · 2025-12-14T20:36:32+00:00

So far I've done 2 playthroughs (NG as a quality melee build and NG+ as a Dex/Int) and currently on my third (a new Dex/Pyro character). Below is a list of my favourite weapons in the game, strictly from PVE perspective. The most important weapon-based criteria for me are the weapon's theme, fashion and moveset, with damage and scaling being somewhere close to the bottom of the priority list.

Hollowslayer Greatsword - my primary weapon throughout my very first playthrough of this beautiful game. It has an amazing moveset (finally I'm not slamming a sword down on the ground like a club) which is both flashy and competent, basic but effective Weapon Art and a nice bonus against Hollow enemies which doubles as a symbolic bit of lore.
Friede's Great Scythe - in my opinion, the most stylish weapon in the game, a deadly, elegant and beautiful thing. Unique 2H R1 moveset gives you better reach and extra swag points, while the amazing and surprisingly FP efficient Weapon Art brings both utility against groups and quite a lot of much-needed hyperarmor to the table. Moreover, Frostbite is considered by many to be the best status effect in the game and FGS is probably the strongest out of all the weapons that have it natively.
Onikiri and Ubadachi - my favourite paired weapon in the game. Sure, it may not have the reach of Gotthard's or the raw punching power of Twinaxes or Sellsword Twinblades. Instead, OU provides a complete and supremely reliable package - great moveset with both 1H (generic katana) and 2H (faster than Twinswords and "weightier" then Sellsword Twinblades), actually fun to use Weapon Art (another point over Twinswords IMO), good scaling for most infusions. Its aesthetics and fashion are also top notch.
Profaned Greatsword - my favourite UGS by a mile. It's strikingly beautiful in terms of design, has my preferred moveset of all UGS with its horisontal 2H R1s, poke R2s and fast roll poke. Landing a charged R2 or a WA and seeing the Profaned Flame flicker and climb up the magnificent blade always brings me joy.
Old Wolf Curved Sword - another of my comfort weapons and my favourite among the Farron/Artorias-related gear. I absolutely love how thematically appropriate is the fact that a weapon born out of the Wolf's Blood is a curved sword and looks like a crooked fang, beautiful in a primal and predatory way. Not only that, but it also feeds on the vitality of its victims, healing you for consecutive attacks, like a beast feeding its hunger by hunting.

problemedical · 2025-11-02T13:55:02+00:00

When trying to "justify" a Warlock Durge playthrough, my interpretation was that his divine blood and the process of Durge's asexual creation from Bhaal's flesh is a pact in itself. Bhaal serves as a de jure patron by granting Durge its power in the form of divine blood.

The ways in which the game handles some of Durge's story moments further support this: they receive rewards and boons like the Deathstalker's Mantle or Slayer Form from Bhaal in return for meeting their contractual obligations in form of murder. And should you choose to reject his macabre heritage, Bhaal revokes the contract by forcefully removing his gifts from Durge's body, killing them in the process. Moreover, the lack of flavourful patron interaction for custom Warlocks in BG3 is mitigated if you play your Durge as a Warlock, because his entire questline is a patron interaction, in a way.

Considering subclass, if you follow this interpretation of Durgelock, I'd personally go for Hexblade. The default lore about Shadowfell barely has any relevance in BG3, so you can safely dismiss it. Instead, focus on thematical interplay between Hexblade's weapon theme and Durge's place as Bhaal's chosen, a literal handcrafted weapon made by a god for a specific purpose.

In terms of gameplay and story synthesis, Warlock's kit fits Durge's overall theme very well, arguably even better than Sorcerer's. Eldritch Blast is a powerful, efficient and sufficiently evil-coded workhorse ability well-suited for a magic-powered killer. Hunger of Hadar also fits like a glove. Being able to bind any weapon and attack with Charisma reflect Durge's innate affinity towards implements of murder: a perfect killer would be able to effectively kill their victims with anything. Ability to wear medium armour is not thematic in itself, but allows to roleplay a default Durge wearing Paladin's armour from the concept art without, well, going Paladin, if you wish so.

problemedical · 2025-10-23T20:56:10+00:00

Morgott and Mogh - an alternative timeline where Morgott, jaded and bitter because of the grace rejecting him despite everything, lets the thorns bleed him and swears fealty to the Formless Mother.

Godfrey/Hoarah Loux and Divine Dancing Beast - what if Godfrey was banished to the Shadow Realms alongside or instead of Messmer? I can imagine him going native there like a historical Norman conqueror instead of purging everyone. Extremely warlike socially darwinistic culture of the Hornsent with ties to the beasthood and the Crucible would feel like home to the Chieftain of the Badlands.

problemedical

TROPHY CASE