I think Egan just snuck in for that last Gang.
ALRIGHT
OUR GANGS ARE
SHADOW ALLIANCEA gang's Permanent words: (Fire Forward, Air, Delay, Mark Whole Body, Dome), (Darkness, Shockwave, Aura), (When Inflicting Damage, Black Biometal), (Distortion Dust)
DEATH'S FRIENDSA gang's Permanent words: (Animate) (Dead, Machine) (Vehicle, Erupt from ground, Solid) (blood, Spike, Air, When near death/dies, Wall)
MURDER OF BAD MOTHERFUCKERSWords: Feathery, Mark Caster Heart, Ornate, Ornate, Ornate / Crow, Flesh, Clothing / Human, Controller / Intelligent
Pledge your allegiances now!
Gang leaders, PM me to talk about where you want to set up HQs.
Thanks for the answers pw. However, I have another question that might be a little harder: from a bit of chatting with people who played perplexicon, which this system resembles, it seems that there are at least some rules in terms of syntax to get different results, and when you can assume certain things and when you can't. So, my general question is: could you give some guidelines/pointers as to how the word system works, for people who didn't play perplexicon? Perhaps with some practical examples?
To give a simple example, words that can be either a verb or a noun, how do I know which is which? Does 'metal controller' give me a tv remote made of metal, or something that controls metal? How do I differentiate between the two? Can I just say it and explain how I interpret the meaning?
Also, some terms on that list, such as 'distortion dust' are foreign to me (somebody explained it to me, but I can imagine there are others who don't have lore fairies).
If all that is too much work, I'll just learn by experimentation, no sweat, but I can imagine it'd give a very uneven playing field between different players.
Sure.
1. If you give me a mass of gibberish, you're gonna get my best guess as a result.
2. Word Order Matters, but isn't set in stone. In general, the material that makes up a form goes before it, and other materials and forms are added on to that first one. For instance "Steel Ammo Fire" would produce incendiary ammo for whatever gun you have. But "Steel Fire Ammo would instead produce an ammo made of a combination of fire and steel, something like bullets that always glowed red hot. However, "Fire ball" and "Ball Fire" would probably produce about the same results.
3. Words have strict meaning. There's no varience based on usage, no noun that works as a verb. Controller denotes a particular thing and Controller Steel will always produce a device to control steel, never a tv remote. "Fire" always produces combustion; "Fire Ice Ball" will produce a ball of fire and ice, not propel a ball of ice forward. This is the nature of things.
4. Context and intent DO matter. They can't completely change things, but if you state your intent with a spell, it can help shape my interpretation of it. Without intent and context I will simply interpret it as best, and as literally, as possible.
5. If you don't know what a material is, you can ask about it specifically. I won't reveal all secrets but I'll give you the Gist.
Hey Piecewise, what stat do I use to do charisma-y things, like intimidate people? What if I want to, say, brag about my life story in a way that's not entirely true?
Intelligence seems most connected, though thats only if you're speaking alone. If you were intimidating by flexing, that would be Str and so on.