[IC] Myriad Reality

[Balance]

<Snipped quote by Balance>

Does that mean we're not the first ones to talk about this, or even the only us?

@Techspert

Not quite. There are many, many versions of us, but those are from Path universes, and technically should not be able to get out. Evil David is an exception, but that's another story. When we from Source universes escape as Tier Fours, our choices no longer have any bearing on what Paths exist, or something like that. There aren't any Path Existences floating around--that would be weird.

[whizzball1]

<Snipped quote by whizzball1>

Nix- Well, making use of our enviorment, i was thinking of causing a canyon to form by having the ice that's wormed it's way deep down expand and the disappear along multiple points, forcing it to fracture. Given the chaos though, it might work against us. Unless...
*goes deep into thought while still easily holding the shield.*

@Stabby

I can set up a magical matrix so that the power exerted by the chaos will all flow into fracturing the right points, and then you or I can drain the beast's movement speed if he jumps.

[Techspert]

<Snipped quote by Techspert>

Not quite. There are many, many versions of us, but those are from Path universes, and technically should not be able to get out. Evil David is an exception, but that's another story. When we from Source universes escape as Tier Fours, our choices no longer have any bearing on what Paths exist, or something like that. There aren't any Path Existences floating around--that would be weird.

@Balance

But you said that every possible situation is played out.

[whizzball1]

<Snipped quote by Balance>

But you said that every possible situation is played out.

@Techspert

I never said that. I was saying that even if every possible situation were played out, we wouldn't have infinite dimensions.

[Techspert]

<Snipped quote by Techspert>

I never said that. I was saying that even if every possible situation were played out, we wouldn't have infinite dimensions.

@whizzball1

Can't one small thing always be changed?

[whizzball1]

<Snipped quote by whizzball1>

Can't one small thing always be changed?

@Techspert

What do you mean?

[Techspert]

<Snipped quote by Techspert>

What do you mean?

@whizzball1

To make an infinite number? Can't you just change one small detail and have infinite possibilities?

[Ignacious]

<Snipped quote by Ignacious>

<Snipped quote by Stabby>

What was it? If I decrease the thing's ability to jump in some way, it could work.

@whizzball1

Why aren't you using dark magic!!

[whizzball1]

<Snipped quote by whizzball1>

To make an infinite number? Can't you just change one small detail and have infinite possibilities?

@Techspert

Those would manifest as Path Dimensions, and the subsystem clears out possibilities that are too similar. But then again, that doesn't necessarily make it so that there aren't infinite possibilities... So maybe Existence is infinite, at least when it comes to Paths?

[Techspert]

<Snipped quote by Techspert>

Those would manifest as Path Dimensions, and the subsystem clears out possibilities that are too similar. But then again, that doesn't necessarily make it so that there aren't infinite possibilities... So maybe Existence is infinite, at least when it comes to Paths?

@whizzball1

What's a Path?

[whizzball1]

<Snipped quote by whizzball1>

What's a Path?

@Techspert

So you have Source dimensions, and then you have Path dimensions. Source dimensions are the main version of a dimension, which is free to go any way it wants. A Path dimension is a locked version fo that dimension which will only ever go in one direction and will never deviate from that. There is a Path for every non-minor path that the Source could follow.

[Techspert]

<Snipped quote by Techspert>

So you have Source dimensions, and then you have Path dimensions. Source dimensions are the main version of a dimension, which is free to go any way it wants. A Path dimension is a locked version fo that dimension which will only ever go in one direction and will never deviate from that. There is a Path for every non-minor path that the Source could follow.

@whizzball1

So they don't even have free will?

[Balance]

<Snipped quote by whizzball1>

So they don't even have free will?

@Techspert

It depends on how you define free will. If it's the ability to make decisions that look like they change things, then yes, they all do. If it's the ability to make decisions that literally change things, then no, they don't, but in that case, you might be able to say that nobody has free will.

[Techspert]

<Snipped quote by Techspert>

It depends on how you define free will. If it's the ability to make decisions that look like they change things, then yes, they all do. If it's the ability to make decisions that literally change things, then no, they don't, but in that case, you might be able to say that nobody has free will.

@Balance

But they can't choose. It's paved for them.

[Balance]

<Snipped quote by Balance>

But they can't choose. It's paved for them.

@Techspert

Even if all the other paths are still illusions, you have to choose a path. They still choose what they want to choose with their minds. To them, it seems like they made a free choice, and that's all that matters to free will.

[Techspert]

<Snipped quote by Techspert>

Even if all the other paths are still illusions, you have to choose a path. They still choose what they want to choose with their minds. To them, it seems like they made a free choice, and that's all that matters to free will.

@Balance

So if they believe they're free, that's just as good as truly being free?

[Balance]

<Snipped quote by Balance>

So if they believe they're free, that's just as good as truly being free?

@Techspert

Not at all. It's not as good as being actually free, but they're free enough to be individuals.

[Techspert]

<Snipped quote by Techspert>

Not at all. It's not as good as being actually free, but they're free enough to be individuals.

@Balance

Isn't that the same as living in ignorance?

[Balance]

<Snipped quote by Balance>

Isn't that the same as living in ignorance?

@Techspert

Does it really matter?

[Techspert]

<Snipped quote by Techspert>

Does it really matter?

@Balance

That's a good question, but I don't have an answer.