@Draken I mean, you never know. Could've been like the Hunger Games. Different arena every time.

Well I mean, that implies that there's official procedures and neutral parties involved... Then again, I could see duels being common enough for the Seminary to have rules about them, and accommodations, so probably.

@shylarah As far as Rodion and his workshop goes-- each inquisitor is highly individualistic in terms of their ether ability. It's not like there's a 'metalworking class' in the seminary. In fact, I think Rodion is one of the few inquisitors who can do what he does. He showed talent with machines so a curriculum was created specifically for him, just as one was created for Tatiana and her summoning, Astraea and her healing abilities, Ziotea and her ether manipulation, ect.

Did each student get a room for them, then? I imagine more "basic" magics would have near identical rooms, but I love the idea of there being a sort of water/zen room for Ilya, with the capacity for dozens of flying targets and hazards to whiz out of nowhere at a moment's notice.

Incidentally, if each Warband is meant to be a highly cohesive unit, should we talk a bit about how combat goes? I think of Father Ilya as a mostly stationary, center figure. A sort of offensive support, taking shots and things trying to threaten the group and landing blows when allies manage to break a foe's guard for a second. He'd use his water abilities sparingly, as an emergency shield and distraction to prevent blows from landing him or his warsiblings. Heck, I could see the whole group having what basically amounts to a fanny pack of water on their back for him to utilize.

That said, the weight placed upon whole warbands makes it even more interesting that a select few members of Leviathan have been chosen to join the invasion of El.

@Draken Well, unless the protector was incapacitated, I don't believe that Ilya would need to use the water shield on anyone other than himself. Not to mention, unless we're in a relatively warm area, that water will be ice. And by relatively warm, I mean not freezing, since freezing is the common temperature. It does make sense, though.
As for Oren, he'd be somewhere that the other inquisitors are at. While the enemy is distracted by another opponent, he'll blindside them. He can hold his own one-on-one, but his focus is to eliminate them quickly, not anything else.

And when it comes to separating the warbands... the Empire can't be left defenceless, but the attack is too much for one Warband alone.

@Draken@lovejoy I think Draken has a good point, we should figure out how we're fighting together. Ziotea is definitely a frontliner, but she does have the capacity for some ranged nastiness in a pinch. I imagine she and others in her group might have trained so she could throw them around with her ether, in a pinch, and they knew how to handle it and stick landings. She'd need to warn them, obviously, unless they could just sense her power gathering. I wouldn't be surprised if most could, and they learned to do it without her needing to actually say in many cases -- particularly if they asked (I figure just calling her name might be enough, maybe a simple phrase like "get me" or "push" -- something not too obvious for opponents that havent' encountered the group before). Might be best to restrict this to just a couple members that she has a closer rapport with, actually.

...Of course practicing this initially was probably rather...uh...unsafe. They're pretty lucky she never blew anyone up by mistake.... <.<

We'd need a way to carry water or to melt snow and ice so we have something to drink. There's also ways to mix water with other things (like salt) to lower the freezing point. So it's possible. There's also warming suits, so there is a technological basis for keeping it not frozen.

From what I know of Rodion, he would be more support. Madrys the wolf would be in the fray, though.

Incidentally, if each Warband is meant to be a highly cohesive unit, should we talk a bit about how combat goes? I think of Father Ilya as a mostly stationary, center figure. A sort of offensive support, taking shots and things trying to threaten the group and landing blows when allies manage to break a foe's guard for a second. He'd use his water abilities sparingly, as an emergency shield and distraction to prevent blows from landing him or his warsiblings. Heck, I could see the whole group having what basically amounts to a fanny pack of water on their back for him to utilize.

If we want to talk combat in the common team fighting game terms (tank/offtank, DPS, support/off support), I designed Stina to be the main tank - the one who initiates an attack and has a big shield to protect his buddies.

@The Angry Goat are we sure h3's not ziotea's projectile weapon? *gigglinf"*

Talking about tactics... I very much designed Galahad's combat style off of the classic Final Fantasy Red Mage or a sort of spellsword build. In a combat role, he's fairly flexible, either as a light frontline fighter with sword and spell, or a backline DPS with his bigger, heavier hitting spells. He'd either be at Stina's side (or a bit behind) jumping in when an opening appears with his gunblade and telekinetic spells during a skirmish, or in the back with the other mages raining hell in larger scale combat. I guess in a way he'd also work well as a sort of bodyguard for the other backline characters.

From a tactics perspective, its a bit weirder. Especially when it comes to small unit tactics in a non-homogenized military group (commanding the warband is a lot different than commanding a US Army rifle squad). In a Rifle Squad, since everyone is expected to have similar if not identical capabilities- most squads in the US Army consist of 2-4 fire teams, which are then broken up into individual, but similar roles- so its easier to divide a 12 man squad into a base of fire element and a flanking element. But the Phoenix warband is not 12 riflemen, we're some 8 diverse specialists. With that in mind, tactics for the warband would depend a lot more on individual skill than a traditional guns heavy military unit.

@vietmyke, exactly why we should discuss it now. But keep in mind, everyone, that Leviathan and Phoenix were not trained to fight together. Trained to adapt, yes, but not specifically in concert. As such, most of you will not be accustomed to Ilya's supporting fire. As for Galahad specifically, it sounds like he's a flex character. Filling in gaps where needed or as is advantageous. Stina should generally thinking about interference and interception in combat. He could never land a blow and have been a huge success.

There is also the issue of formation, but with all the mobility magics and angles of attack, I'm not sure it really applies. There may be general patterns, but the advantage of 8 individuals who have trained for a decade together is that they have chemistry and cohesion. We'll have patterns, but forget any detailed battle plans unless we're talking about a planned battle on the scale of an entire building. (At which point is it really a "battle" or a siege/invasion/etc?)

@Draken If we're attacking the defenders of a building, or defending from attackers, then it's a siege. An invasion is if we're attacking a community, such as a village. But if the building just so happens to be the battleground, it's a fight, plain and simple.

Making notes to myself for members of the Phoenix in regards to combat... These are just my own observations and thoughts, feel free to correct me if I'm getting something wrong or forgetting some abilities

• Rodion - armed with long range rifle and mechanized attack hound/motorcycle. Backline combatant or forward reconnaissance
• Hassan - lightly armed face/infiltrator. Backline/non-com role.
• Astrea - CQC/combat healer. Front/midline combat role.
• Stina - armed with a axe, rifle, daggers, bigger axe, and big shield. Melee and defensive specialist. Frontline. Just. Frontline.
• Ragnar - twin picks and aegis. Skirmisher or non-com role depending on whether an aegis is needed.
• Galahad - gunsaber and combat spells. Flexible Backline/skirmisher combat role
• Tatiana - summoned demon. Backline combat role.
• Ziotea - explosions and telekinesis projectiles. Frontline/midline caster role

I will be writing down some general battle plans (Galahad would have probably suggested) for scenarios Phoenix may have come across soonish

@vietmyke Ziotea also strengthens herself to hit the living daylights (or shish kabob and shield smash) whoever is in front of her. She might have some ability to work as a battlefield controller, as she is suited to hurling opponents around, and moving swiftly to support whomever needs it.

@vietmyke
As logical as it seems for Tatiana to be a backline combatant, I am under the impression her personality lends itself to charging in and acting as a vanguard. Her style centers around as much destruction as possible, I'd say.

@OppositionJ Maybe her demon charges in and she hangs back a little? I mean, they'd be trained to do what suits them but also is a viable tactic...

Loving all of this discussion about battle tactics!

Sorry for the delay in replies everyone. This week + weekend has been busy. I'll try to get in some replies tomorrow.

@Lovejoy *wave pompoms for Love*

*throws pompoms at Lovejoy*

*Joys love at Pompoms*

As a (former?) weirdo goth kid, I have -50 resistance to pompoms. Please don't throw them at me.

@shylarah @CollectorOfMyst

Will try to have a post for you two tomorrow. This next one is proving a bit tricky to write, but I'll get it done!

@Lovejoy I am willing to talk if you need talking to help! or whatever else! Or random ideas! AAAH!

@shylarah Aw, thanks! It isn't really a lack of ideas that's the problem, it's trying to impart a substantial amount of info while making it easily digestible and not overwhelming. I'll figure it out though. :p