Honestly, this event had to have been by far the grindiest event I’ve participated in to date. Of course, it didn’t help matters that I missed two days because of severe weather shenanigans. But either way, I got all three Command Codes, and all of Erice’s ascension mats and additional copies. Now, whether or not Erice ends up being a part of my lineup remains to be seen.
What about the story? ÂŻ\_(ă)_/ÂŻ
Honestly, it was meh. I haven’t read Fate/Requiem yet (though it’s on my list) but I know who the major characters are. Erice’s personality as portrayed by this event wasn’t what I was expecting. If I had been more emotionally vested Erice as a Servant, then the event may not have been such a slog. But honestly, I had a feeling if I waited until near the end of the event when I had Erice permanent and leveled, that my odds of summoning Voyager would be better. It took three 30 pulls and a handful of single pulls before I got him.
Servant Coins and Level Cap Coming May 23rd!
Woke up to this bit of news yesterday morning. Holy hell! So, we’re getting these updates a year early, eh? Plus NP animation updates for 62 Servants. Last but not least: QP inventory cap. Just in time for the Las Vegas rerun where we’ll get more QP!
Servant Coins/Level Cap Increase a Year Early?
I had some thoughts on thatâactually, I’d been thinking about this since last fall.
Looking at the future of events in Fate/GO and what those of us on the NA server can expect for the next yearâeh, I dunno. They just seem rather lackluster to me. I guess we’re at the point where the NA server gets to see the effects that the pandemic had on the 2020 events.
While I don’t play on the Japanese server, I do pay attention to the event releases. What I noticed two years ago was there seemed to be a lack of new content after the Fate/Requiem event. Between May and September (Anniversary Event aside) there was only one new eventâJapan’s Summer 2020 event. I remember being worried that the pandemic was going to fuck up the story progression, or maybe even lead TYPE-MOON to scrap the entire project but thankfully, we know that never happened.
Anyway, the speculation amongst us NA players is that maybe we’ll get content early considering that Servant Coins and the level cap were 6th Anniversary releases. So, would that mean we’d get Lostbelt 5.5 early? Honestly, I wouldn’t count on thatâI’d still expect a December release, and still anticipate the Lostbelt 6 chapters to be next summer. What I do see happening is that some of the non-seasonal events could be moved up earlyâlike GUDAGUDA 5 coming in June instead of in October, or even better, Saber Wars II rerun in October instead of waiting until 2023.
Apparently, some of my speculation is offâwe’re still following the 2020 schedule from the Japanese server. The Summer 2021 Re-run starts Monday.
What About the Extreme Daily Quests in Chaldea Gate?
That’s a damned good question. It seems counterintuitive to release Servant Coins and Level Cap increases early, and not release the quests that drop the Hellfire Embers. Makes me wonder if they’ll be released sometime after the end of the Summer 2021 rerun.
Lostbelt 6.5 Thoughts
It looks it’s tentatively labeled “Traum”âwhich could be short-hand for “Trauma” OR (more likely), it’s the German word for “Dream.” The current unofficial translation for the chapter is “The Boundary Where Thoughts of Death Manifested – Traum: A Certain Phantasmal Life and Death” so I’d go with the German word, or perhaps both? Could it be something laying the path to Lostbelt 7âwhich is rumored to have something to do with the Mayan underworld Xibalbaâor possibly El Dorado?
Anyway, my focus is on the new Rider servant that was released as part of the pre-release campaign. Constantine XI is the latest 5đ Rider servant and first thing I thought when I saw his ascension art (lesser extent, NP animation): holy fucking shit and a half, he literally looks like a young Michael Praed. Which ties into my next remarks.
Plagiarism Isn’t What You Think It Is
Now, attention pleaseâbefore I continue with this, I am NOT accusing the artist of “copycatting” or “plagiarism” or anything like that. In fact, quite the opposite. My inner fangirl is squeeing so hard right now, it’s not even funny. Why? Because it’s awesome to see a potential call-out to another work, like in last year’s OĹku event. This time, I’m referencing Vanyel from Mercedes Lackey’s The Last Herald Mage series. I remember that Mercedes Lackey had said somewhere about Vanyel resembling Michael Praed because she was a huge fan of his. Also, I found that sometime after I rewatched Nightflyers. Me: dang, Royd looks like Vanyel. And well, that explains why đ¤Ł
Basically, where I’m going with this is I’m wondering if the artist, Kurahana Chinatsu, is either a fan of Mercedes Lackey’s books, or possibly saw Nightflyers (the 80s version), or even Robin of Sherwood (which was what Lackey had referenced as being the influence for Vanyel). Either way, I still think it’s awesome to find a Vanyel clone in a game that I enjoy playing! Even though his release on NA won’t be for another 2 years.
I am slightly disappointed that no one else in the Fate/Go community has caught that resemblance, either.
Also, since I’m on the subject of plagiarism and copycatting, and Mercedes Lackey’s work, I thought I’d draw attention to an essay she wrote a few years ago on the subject of plagiarism1. Anyway, I wholeheartedly agreed with that assessment because that’s basically what I was taught in Junior High, all the way into college.
Edit: 2023-04-02 Unfortunately, it looks like this article has been taken down. I did find a thread on Reddit that references it, though.
Where I’m going with this is that it ties into what I’ve seen in the online artists community about using references. A lot of us older artists were taught that using references were fine, and even encouraged but somehow, anyone younger than 30 seems to think that using references are the same as wholesale copying. Hate to burst y’alls bubble, but it’s not. I’m really sick of seeing attempts to drag artistsâestablished or notâthrough the mud because people nowadays can’t tell inspiration, referencing, and homage apart from outright copying.
Basically, just because one thing looks like something else, doesn’t mean it was copied outright or “stolen” as people like to claim. In fact, it’s perfectly natural for two different people to arrive at the same idea or similar idea for a creative work. I’ll even go out on a limb and say that the same thing applies to software developmentâexcept us developers are a more open community in that respect. We’re willing to share our knowledge and learn from each other.
A good example of referencingâthat no one bats an eye at, btwâis that iconic motorcycle slide from Akira. That slide and camera cut has been referenced so many times by different artists, yet do you hear anyone whining about “copycat?” No, you probably don’tâexcept for a few brain-dead individuals looking for attention.
Frankly, the copycatting bullshit should have been left in Elementary Schoolâwhere it rightfully belongs.
Whewâanyway, I’m getting off my soap-box now. I’m still watching for more information on Lostbelt 6.5âwhich I suspect is going to be out in the next two weeks. Once it comes out, I really hope that the awesome Neobenedict spends time translating it like he did for Avalon and Tunguskaâthat’s strictly for those of us who don’t give a rat’s ass about spoilers and want to see how Arc 2 ends.
Holmes Interlude
Thar be spoilers ahead!
Ironically enough, since I mentioned Mercedes Lackey, several of her Elemental Masters books features Sherlock Holmes. I have not had a chance to read them yet, but they are on my list.
With the recent Interlude Campaign 13 release, I got a chance to play through Sherlock Holmes’ interlude. Honestly, I didn’t get the same vibe that Holmes is going to betray humanity or the protagonist, or endanger the protagonist in any way the way everyone else seems to be getting. What I could see happening is Holmes doing something that horrifies our protagonist’ sensibilities. Also, while I could see that having something to do with Olga Marie, somehow I doubt it. There’s an already established story for thatâHolmes’ killing one of the assassins that were after Blavatsky. Plus, what the hell is up with Moriarty? Is he protecting the protagonist like the other Chaldean Servants or is he there as a foil to irritate Holmes? Orâis he a meme character like Black Beard?
And the final question is what is BB’s roll in all of this. It’s implied that BB and Altera (Santa) have something to do with the main storylineâcrossover with Fate/Extra, perhaps? The background music for the final scenes in the Christmas 2019 event was from Fate/Extellaâwhich is basically a continuation to Fate/Extra. That would go with the speculation that Charlemagneâaka “Charlie”âis going to be one of the servants released later when Lostbelt 6.5 is released (yet another Servant to save for if the speculations are true).
Frankly, I need to get off my ass and level up Moriarty. I have him but he’s been sitting in Second Archive for a year or so because I already have a hefty group of Archers. His Interlude is out and it may shed some light on what Holmes is up to.
Also, it’s not noted anywhere if the interlude takes place after Olympus, or before. The timing is rather important, I’d say. Blavatsky was part of the God-slayer Alliance, who were all dead minus Caligula when our protagonist and co appeared on the scene. It’s never actually specified if the Blavatsky that was summoned to Olympus is “our” Blavatsky.
Anyway, that’s it for me. Watch for my republished guide on the Las Vegas Championship Rerunâwhich should be up tomorrow morning.
You must be logged in to post a comment.