Esquestria: The House of the Sun - A pony cultist experience

[spiderhellian]

I think scrying All In is kinda pointless. We have the heads up it's difficult and/or dangerous, and besides, we're going to be bringing everything we can… I don't really see how scrying changes our decisionmaking at all.

 

[Wise Wolf]

I think scrying All In is kinda pointless. We have the heads up it's difficult and/or dangerous, and besides, we're going to be bringing everything we can… I don't really see how scrying changes our decisionmaking at all.

Click to shrink...

Well, we do have to choose what influence we bring, with both Winter and Moth being kind of low without it. If we knew one of those was more relevant to All-In, we could optimize slightly better.

 

[ses]

Well, we do have to choose what influence we bring, with both Winter and Moth being kind of low without it. If we knew one of those was more relevant to All-In, we could optimize slightly better.

Click to shrink...

Kinda funny but Velvet's AP is mostly burnt on Help Cadance on turn 23, and will be mostly burnt on Smiles on turn 24. But if we reach turn 25 as our "This is our final turn" turn our best move is to spend that Moth 4 reagent we've got sitting in our inventory on a Moth Influence and spend the entire rest of the turn on making Torn Risen for Winter levels.

But the actual reason to toss an overpowered scry at All In is that we do in fact have multiple pieces of precedent for scouting expeditions giving +10 or +20 bonuses.

 

[Earth-Destroyer]

Well, we do have to choose what influence we bring, with both Winter and Moth being kind of low without it. If we knew one of those was more relevant to All-In, we could optimize slightly better.

Click to shrink...

We only need influences for lores we don't have have Befriended name for.

 

[Greymere]

But the actual reason to toss an overpowered scry at All In is that we do in fact have multiple pieces of precedent for scouting expeditions giving +10 or +20 bonuses.

Click to shrink...

Do we? I only recall us ever getting a bonus to the expedition in BtRC Part 2, which was from reading that one book, not from scouting.

 

[ses]

Do we? I only recall us ever getting a bonus to the expedition in BtRC Part 2, which was from reading that one book, not from scouting.

Click to shrink...

We got several hurdle bonuses from Jade's scry on the Copper Assault

 

[Pittauro]

Speaking of scrying, if we summon a MITL this turn and the game lasts until turn 25, we probably can afford Baldomare sacrificing the expiring MITL on turn 25 at All In. We know that scrying All In is supposed to be nearly impossible but Baldomare with a 5 Lantern sacrifice should probably be able to get something.

Click to shrink...

Good point. If we're going to scry, we should give it our best effort.

THAT SAID, rather than lose the MitL which we could bring to the expedition, maybe we could just... make a lantern 4 reagent and use that? 10 less points, but we get to bring the summon with us instead of sacrificing it.

We can judge then, depending on if we have other uses for the Bits or the reagent. For example, we might want to summon an influence with the ritual, as THAT one would persist for both All In and the Mansus expedition right after.

That's great and all but... what purpose would that serve? Unless the doom clock gets defused or extended even further, it's not like we can really do anything additional to prepare at that point.

Click to shrink...

when we went for Copper, having scried saved us from having to do some rolls, didn't it? I think we got some auto-successes that way.

It could also help narratively in other ways. For example, if we know that a specific room will have a combat challenge, we could leave Baldomare and Velvet behind and let Smiles, Axe and Mareinette take point. Or knowing there's guards inside BEFORE going inside might allow us to forge some fake documents to get through, or something like that.

There's many ways in which some intel could make things easier.

Well, we do have to choose what influence we bring, with both Winter and Moth being kind of low without it. If we knew one of those was more relevant to All-In, we could optimize slightly better.

Click to shrink...

Also this I suppose.




and

Information acquired:
1 – Copper Secateur's location has been confirmed to be in Manehattan. (Scouting the city for whereabouts of her presence is no longer necessary)
2 – Copper Secateur's precise location has been discovered. (Searching the city for her location is no longer necessary)
3 – The precise location of her moveable assets has been discovered. (Searching her stronghold for said assets, during the assault, is no longer necessary)
4 – The general layout of her defenses has been scouted. (General information acquired)
5 – The finer details of her defenses have been scouted. (Useful information acquired, plus situational bonuses)
6 – The precise location of an important item (Velvet Covers' original Manuscripts) has been discovered. (Additional options available during the assault)
7 onwards – [THRESHOLD NOT REACHED]

Click to shrink...

[Infiltrating the inner sanctum, CD 120]

[Roll: 28 + 50 (Axe, leader) + 30 (Moth total 6) + 20 (Jade's scrying - fifth threshold) = 128]

[Finding critical evidence]

[Auto-success due to Jade's scrying - sixth threshold]

[Finding moveable assets]

[Auto-success due to Jade's scrying - third threshold]

Click to shrink...

Here is what scrying could have done, depending on thresholds, for Copper Assault. And damn, i saw again how her last words were basically about how we'd use Selene like we used her... and then she realizes that Selene is LUNA, and she calls us mother, which VERY REASONABLY implies we already brainwashed her to follow us.

Truly, Copper's life AND death was suffering.

In any case, the point is that scrying can allow us to avoid some challenges, save time, avoid dangers... maybe find extra loot? Like, it's possible Discord is NOT there alone as a statue. Maybe Celestia is also holding some extremely valuable artifact in there that could help with the Mansus? Admittedly that's unlikely to matter because we don't GET a turn to study them...

 

[Greymere]

Something I noticed but forgot to point out ealier, but the neutral traits for the two Edge Names feel almost... inverted?

[MY SCARS ARE LESSONS]: If Biedde is wounded during combat, he will receive a "+5 personal combat" for each wound received. Until he defeats, or is defeated by, the creature that wounded him, or until the combat ends.
[PROFESSIONAL SOLDIER]: Biedde will always perform a "Guard" action for free, on top of whatever orders he receives for the turn, unless his actions specifically require him to be totally unavailable for the turn.

[TERRIFYING OPPONENT]: Creatures that are capable of feeling fear will avoid combat with him as much as possible. They will not flee or refuse attacking him, but they will avoid "dogpiling" him whenever possible.

Click to shrink...

[CRUSHING STRENGTH]: If Smiles causes at least one wound to an opponent during battle, he causes an additional wound.
[TROUBLEMAKER]: Once per turn, Smiles may lead one assault (or one Short Expedition) without spending any action points.

[LAUGHING GIANT]: During combat, Smiles will try to taunt, attract and engage as many enemies as he can at the same time. He does not receive any mechanical advantage when attempting to do so, but foes will naturally try to "dogpile" him whenever possible.

Click to shrink...

Biedde gains strength with every wound, but actively discourages situations where that wound bonus would persist to apply against multiple combatants. Smiles wants to crush a singular opponent as quickly as possible, but has a trait to draw in multiple combatants.

Though that gives me a thought @OurLadyOfWires considering we got our Sacrament from Smiles, does that mean he also Heals Without Scars?

 

[ses]

Good point. If we're going to scry, we should give it our best effort.

THAT SAID, rather than lose the MitL which we could bring to the expedition, maybe we could just... make a lantern 4 reagent and use that? 10 less points, but we get to bring the summon with us instead of sacrificing it.

We can judge then, depending on if we have other uses for the Bits or the reagent. For example, we might want to summon an influence with the ritual, as THAT one would persist for both All In and the Mansus expedition right after.

Click to shrink...

A MITL summoned on turn 23 wont be able to go to All In if we go at end of turn 25, which is why I only mention it in the context of us reaching Turn 25. 23 24 and 25 is three full turns, so it wouldn't get to go between 25 and 26. Same with Risen, only risen created on the turn we commit to all in can come.

Here is what scrying could have done, depending on thresholds, for Copper Assault. And damn, i saw again how her last words were basically about how we'd use Selene like we used her... and then she realizes that Selene is LUNA, and she calls us mother, which VERY REASONABLY implies we already brainwashed her to follow us.

Click to shrink...

Not only that, but implies that Velvet has been brainwashing Luna in her secret basement for months while keeping it a secret from the cult and the Master, long before the cult split up and that Velvet had been betraying them all all along. The Most Precious Jewel of the Heavens indeed.

Of course, that is in fact literally what happened. The only missing piece of mitigating information is Velvet's own Lima Syndrome.

And then there is the other one. Because you might tell yourself that you raised her, but oh no… that is not the right word, is it? You did not raise her. You groomed her. You molded her fragile, broken mind into something useful to you, and then you told yourself that she forgave you out of love. Your own little moon, who you stole away, and damn the world and the sun.

Click to shrink...

 

[Pittauro]

Of course, that is in fact literally what happened. The only missing piece of mitigating information is Velvet's own Lima Syndrome.

Click to shrink...

I mean, her parents LITERALLY asked us to take care of Luna, so there's that too.

Also how we opposed the cult on moral principles rather than JUST because we wished for Glory.

But she'd have no way to realize that. From the outside, you quite literally can't tell.

 

[Greymere]

Kinda funny but Velvet's AP is mostly burnt on Help Cadance on turn 23, and will be mostly burnt on Smiles on turn 24. But if we reach turn 25 as our "This is our final turn" turn our best move is to spend that Moth 4 reagent we've got sitting in our inventory on a Moth Influence and spend the entire rest of the turn on making Torn Risen for Winter levels.

Click to shrink...

Could also summon a Windigo or two. Sure they're destructive and we don't really have a use for them 'after' All In, if there is an after, but we can just banish them once we finish clearing it.

 

[Mage_of_Eyes]

Here's a little sketch! The weird thing behind her collar is supposed to be the knife, probably should be more visible after I upscale it a bit.
My third time drawing this particular drawing because I keep losing these

Spoiler: You have failed Equestria

I wanted to put a joke about her having half-chaps because she's from horse police, but it's "mounted police" in English

The preview doesn't load for me, but the link does.

 

[dcoconeo]

When you have a warning that scrying/scouting is difficult and/or dangerous, and possibly both, I would rather not risk it.

What if we trip the Forge defenses from The Old Days after scrying it?

 

[Mage_of_Eyes]

If scrying is dangerous, I imagine that going without scouting is even more dangerous.

 

[dcoconeo]

If scrying is dangerous, I imagine that going without scouting is even more dangerous.

Click to shrink...

It's obviously possible or the QM would not have recommended we go down this route; and how would you even scout without triggering the exact same problems hinted in All-In?

 

[Greymere]

When you have a warning that scrying/scouting is difficult and/or dangerous, and possibly both, I would rather not risk it.

What if we trip the Forge defenses from The Old Days after scrying it?

Click to shrink...

The warning is also written with the fact that you can send someone to scout in person rather than scry it in mind, not that we've ever actually used that option. I imagine scouting in person would be both difficult and dangerous, but I think scrying is more likely to just be difficult.

That being said, I'm not necessarily entirely on board with scrying All In, mostly because I'm rather dubious of getting any real benefit out of it, but we'll see how we decide to cross that bridge when we get to it.