Notch Item Theories

[Jabbo]

Alright, I know there's a lot of [more-or-less redundant] theorization about the storyline and who everyone is, etc, so why don't we post a few ideas on what Lun's going to do with Notch Items, Blade Arts, and Auras in later episodes?

First off, we know that there's one more Nova Stone to get. I'm thinkin' it'll be in episode 6 (this is given that there will be 8 episodes), although three notches does seem to suffice.

Secondly, I think there're going to be two or three more gold stones and three or four more silvers. Since we know that when you absorb an excessive gold or silver stone, you instead get +1 Plunge, I think Lun'll include extras to help out the people who missed one or two along the way.

As far as mend stones go, I don't think Lun will climb all the way up to Heavy Mass Mend, although he might.

Third, I think Kritar Shells and Lell Rocks will become a LOT more common in the next episode. I'm expecting a good four or so of each. As of now, criticaling in Plunges is just kind of an "Oh wow crazy... never mind didn't really help" kind of deal. Plus, with the Blade Art (forgot which one) that relies Crit Strength, it gains even more significance. By the end of the game I expect 15-20 Crit% and about 20 CritStr.

Fourthly, where will Link Attacks cap? I'm guessing that the surge of link items in episode 5 will peter off now that links are pretty reliable. Lunge and Drop will move up to Cross's level, but I think Links will never actually go above 80 or 90%.

Fifth, is Lun going to create new Notch Items? If so, what will they be? I've been wondering, now that stats are high and that, for example, +3 HP is kind of useless, will Lun simply throw tons of Heart Stones at us, or will he create a (working title) Cardio Stone for +15?

For Auras, we know that the Photon Spiral quadrafecta is still in coming, but there aren't any more Sword Auras slots. Will Lun just leave us at 8 and give us time to get the insane amount of AR needed to max out the latter four? After all, Ripper and Smasher would be awful auras, as would most of the Oneness auras (although Flesh and Blood might be neat), and Wind and Fire ARE the best (read: coolest) elements... Plus I don't think Lun will be creating any new groups, so my bet's on no more Auras that aren't yet in the game.

Blade Arts, well, we do know that they're a pretty good indication of just how much more game we'll be getting, and we know what the first four steps do. I've seen from somewhere a list of Step 5s but I've found no actual indication of that anywhere in Rm2k, although it looked legitimate. I'm thinking Rhue will finish off step 3 and maybe start on step 4 in episode 6. It'd be interesting if Lun put them out of order slightly, so Rhue gets the first of the step 4's before the last step 3...

So yeah, are there any ideas on anything related to this?

[cybercyborg04]

8 episodes where did that come from? Interesting theory though.

[Sage Of The Wise]

As far as new notch items go, I'm pretty sure we'll see more, I know theres atleast afew slots on the third page for more places to hold items, and I'm pretty sure Lun left the variables were they would be blank, incase of future use.

[Telephalsion]

there are only 24 (out of 25 possible) blade arts named. think there is a list of them in the walkthrough.

[Silvercrow]

I believe there may be step 6 Blade Arts. In the Switch/Variable Control Panel there are switches for Step 6 Blade arts.

[Sephiroth555]

Nah, I dun think so. Probably something Lun had to scrap...

I would definetly like to see better Heart Stones and more, but I'd like my Rhue to have more then the crappy Light Mend he has. I want more healing power!

[Impossible]

I think 8 episodes sounds right for a few reasons, actually, although there's no guarantee it won't be 7, 9, or perhaps even 10 (not likely at the pace we're going now).

Rhue could go through about 2 and a half steps of Blade arts in three episodes fairly well, without them being too spaced apart or squashed together.

Also, I believe the end of Episode 4 felt like a halfway point. It was first in E5 where we began to get some answers to our questions, and learn a lot more about what was going on - this seems like the beginning of the long road to the end of The Way (Not to be confused with the End of the Way, which has clearly different capitalization in two places, as we're already there as of E5). It just feels impossible to me for us to not be in the second half by now.

Of course, whether there are 7, 9 or 10 episodes, we're into the second half now, and perhaps it could be 7 if the latter part of the plot is shorter - heck, it wouldn't even have to be shorter; E6 will probably be more than twice the length of E1, or perhaps the length of E1 and 2 combined. But still, E5 being exactly the beginning of the second half sounds most likely to me.

...What?

[Telephalsion]

the lun menu:
_____upper
left__middle__right
_____lower


hwere would number 6 go?

[Strayed Wanderer]

It would be a 3D button that pops out at you.

[Jabbo]

I don't really think step 6's are likely because a) there's only so much you can do with blade arts before you start overlapping, b) there's only 6 usable buttons on the keyboard, one being the cancel key, and c) the event in question doesn't leave space for step 6's (not to say he wouldn't add them). It has 30 slots, 25 are blade arts, and interspersed between each step is a finisher attack (5 finishers in all, not including finisher #1, which occupies slot 0).

I'm assuming 8 episodes for a couple of reasons. One is the rhyming episode titles. They provide for an even number of episodes, although it's possible that there could be a non-rhyming line after the last one. Honestly though, who could argue with an octet? Another reason is blade arts. Namely, the current lack of them. Now that Rhue is winning Plunges, blade arts are probably going to be more important and there will be a greater number. But that number isn't going to be so high as to end the series in episode 6. I mean, that would just be strange. Episode 7 is an odd number, thus conflicting with the rhyme, plus the blade arts are too high anyway. Episode 8 feels about right. Nine is possible, but eight is just a more solid number.

Storywise, I think with the end of episode 5, the can of worms has opened. Rhue will, for the first time, actually start trying to figure out who he is. And I'm pretty sure that the characters' collective knowledge will let him figure that out, he just has to get that. Also, episode 4 did seem like a good half-way point because I think episode 4 did introduce the last of the major characters.

But yeah. I hope that Lun does come out with new Notch Items. Maybe like one that increases your XL Draw or something, and maybe FP gain in Plunges... although both of those would be pretty massive upgrades (efficiency 1, woo!). I know Lun's got slots for 60 Notch Items in Rm2k, although there's only space for 24 in-game, so he's not going to go too high.

[Sage Of The Wise]

I don't think notch items will riase your XL gain, XL+3 isn't enough for you already? FP gain is a possibility, but so far everything that a notch items raises is a stat that is listed somewere on a menu, and FP isn't anywere, this also goes for XL gain too.

[DSOK]

I don't think notch items will riase your XL gain, XL+3 isn't enough for you already? FP gain is a possibility, but so far everything that a notch items raises is a stat that is listed somewere on a menu, and FP isn't anywere, this also goes for XL gain too.

If there are new notch items, it wouldn't surprise me at all if Lun changed the menu systems a bit to reflect it. After all, if he'd know he was going to be including further notch items from the beginning, they'd have been in there from the beginning.

Personally, however, I doubt there will be any new notch items that raise stats. There may be specialty one though....

[Dr. Casey]

Of course, whether there are 7, 9 or 10 episodes, we're into the second half now, and perhaps it could be 7 if the latter part of the plot is shorter - heck, it wouldn't even have to be shorter; E6 will probably be more than twice the length of E1, or perhaps the length of E1 and 2 combined. But still, E5 being exactly the beginning of the second half sounds most likely to me.

...What?

Ah, I think Episode 6 is going to be way more than twice the length of E1. That would only make it... like... two or three hours or something. =P TW5 had about four times as many maps as TW1 did, and if TW6 is at least twice as big in file size, it'll probably be a good six or seven hours, at least. I wish I'd have played through at least one of the episodes in one sitting, that way I could compare the early saves with the final one.

[fwacho]

Of course, whether there are 7, 9 or 10 episodes, we're into the second half now, and perhaps it could be 7 if the latter part of the plot is shorter - heck, it wouldn't even have to be shorter; E6 will probably be more than twice the length of E1, or perhaps the length of E1 and 2 combined. But still, E5 being exactly the beginning of the second half sounds most likely to me.

...What?

Ah, I think Episode 6 is going to be way more than twice the length of E1. That would only make it... like... two or three hours or something. =P TW5 had about four times as many maps as TW1 did, and if TW6 is at least twice as big in file size, it'll probably be a good six or seven hours, at least. I wish I'd have played through at least one of the episodes in one sitting, that way I could compare the early saves with the final one.

i think you may be correct... E6 is massive. my alhpa test at barebones with no side quests ran about 6 hours

[Impossible]

Yeah, that does sound about right, I think I was going too far low with that estimation. E6 could be the closer to the length of the first three episodes combined. >_>