[Zolda]

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Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

His name reads as "black metal spanner", so his surname is either conveniently fitting, or he changed that as well to fit his given name. Who knows?

It could be a nickname due to the fact that he made the Valvarad suit himself. But if a mid-level alchemist like Spanner can use alchemy to make his own battle suit, then could there be other alchemists that wear their own man-made suits similar to Valvarad?

So far, Spanner's characterization is a combination of Keisuke Nago's snobby elitism and Kusaka's hubris and creepy infatuation, although his infatuation for Rinne is not necessarily romantic. It'd be quite predictable if it were romantic.

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Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

I think Renge is the Kaido with her attempts at bargaining, while Sabimaru is the Keitarou with his "rotten people allergy". I wonder who'd be the Kiba and Yuka in this comparison.

Sabimaru isn't as straight as Keitarou is. He's at least as eccentric as Renge is. Or maybe Keitarou is more eccentric than I thought he was?

As far as I know, Keiichi Hasegawa tends to prefer intrapersonal drama to interpersonal drama, so we probably won't get a Kiba or a Yuka in Gotchard.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

The Level 10s for astrology and mythology are also known to somehow be a pair, even though they don't add up to 10. So that's at least 46 forms for the group of 101, in addition to 3 forms for power-up cards and the Final Form, increasing the total to 50. If the 10+blank sounds are actually canon, then it's 58, although I'm inclined to believe those are just for merchandise play value since they don't make a face in the Driver and "adding" 0 feels like a cheat.

The 9th category is not astrology, but astronomy. The mythology/10th category cards that they're paired with are exactly 10 numbers higher than its number. For example, astronomy card #81 is paired with mythology card #91, #82 with #92, etc.

Astronomy is the study of celestial bodies, which are things in the heavens/sky. The kanji for the heavens/sky is, surprise surprise: 天 (ten). That's the pun at work here. So yeah, it's another form of rule of ten. Mythology also often has religious overtones.

So, 36 base forms + 10 astrology/mythology base forms + 3 super forms + 1 final form = 50 forms. Still way too many forms. I also think it'd be really underwhelming if level 10 cards for category 1-8 don't grant actual forms.

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Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

This is what makes Decade Violent Emotion so intimidating, since he looks similar to the base form but can use all the Attack Rides he wants. Guys like Ryoutarou and Sento (especially as Katsuragi) aren't the most naturally adept fighters, so yeah, they need those form changes/inventions/Imagins to compensate and even then, there's some trial and error for them figuring out what works and what doesn't, like alchemy. Houtarou has strong reflexes and dexterity though, so number of forms isn't inherently reflective of a Rider's talent. In Hibiki's case, his first form change is proof of training hard.

I think it'd be better if some of those 46 base forms are allocated to Spanner and the 3rd/4th/5th Rider and can only be used by them. It will take away much of the burden of mediocrity from Houtarou.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

Yeah, like, I can understand why Rinne feels like it's a hypocrisy, which it is, but Fuga's high regard for the rules is probably why he had the conviction to act against them. I think he made a moral judgment based on weighing those rules against what needed to be done and that's probably what he really wanted to teach Rinne. The importance of knowing the limits and where and when it's appropriate to push them. But Rinne was only a kid at the time, so she didn't read the subtext. At least now she realizes that she doesn't truly resent him and wants him to be okay.

Yeah. It only looks like hypocrisy because she doesn't know the whole picture. I don't think she actually resents him, because she still doesn't know his actual reasoning for breaking the rules. She was probably shocked, confused, and disappointed. Now, if it was already proven that he did it out of malice, then she deserves to resent him.

There are times and situations when rules must be broken, and it can only be done in very very very rare, highly consequential cases, and it must also be done with the very highest level of prudence and ethical standard. There are rare times when fire must be fought with fire, or violence must be fought with violence.

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Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

What I meant is that chaotic good types can be super efficient at preserving freedom, but their actions may inadvertently make it easier for chaotic evil to thrive, which they'll have to take care of later. However, like you said, sometimes neutrality is impossible and either chaos or law must win, so I admit the fault with neutral good types is that they take longer to make a decision than their lawful and chaotic counterparts. Like Wataru's half-and-half nature and lack of confidence making him conflicted between Fangire law and human law, until he eventually settled on his own chaotic ideals of co-existence (Kiva Emperor is a literal Golden Mean). Depends on the situation, I guess. Ultimately, good is good, so I can't claim that any philosophy of good is "better", only which one I prefer.

Be careful. Good is not equal.

Some people choose to sacrifice liberty to achieve petty goodness.
- "Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety." (Benjamin Franklin)
- "He who gives his freedom for safety gets none of them." (Thomas Jefferson)

Tyrants mask their tyranny as something that benefit their victims.
- "Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." (C.S. Lewis)

Quote #3 is the reason why Ace Ukiyo is the worst character in the history of this franchise. He's the perfect antithesis of heroism.