Right. Got a few further thoughts on power levels.
1.) Rankings in MSLN are, collectively, a steaming pile of manure. Some of them cover power level, others cover combat ability, and others are unspecified. They're a nightmare to make coherent.
2.) Figured out a way to make them (somewhat) coherent. It starts with Shoot Barret, which is apparently the most basic shooting spell in the Mid system. Single shot, no guidance. We can define E-rank linker core size as "able to cast Shoot Barret", and E-rank mana capacity as "able to cast Shoot Barret without falling unconscious afterwards". If we make SB the unit of measurement, that makes an E-rank linker core a value of 1, and an E-rank mana supply equal to 1+(mana necessary to remain alive and conscious). That last part is a constant, so we can assume it from here on out.
There is another spell- Photon Lancer, Phalanx Shift. It's an AAA-rank spell, and it generates upwards of a hundred guided shots. From this, we can extrapolate that AAA-rank should be (number of shots, 100 or more)*(basic bullet + guidance cost + additional power). With a bit (well, a lot) of fudging, this can give us a target figure.
So if E-rank is 1, AA-rank is, say, 180ish (120 shots, with a 50% added cost for guidance and added power), and going from E to AAA is a 18-rank jump, we can easily do some fiddling with (1 + growth factor)^15 = 180ish. Going with a linear progression, I could just say each full-letter jump is 30, and then fiddle the pluses and minuses. Or, with multipliers, each partial-letter jump is 33.5% above the last, but that just gets awkward.
Maybe something like this? I want S to SS to SSS to be sort of crazy, in comparison to the earlier jumps. SSS is mythical. SS is rare as crap, and S isn't common, but crops up multiple times each generation. A and B-ranks are merely uncommon, C and D-ranks make up most of the population, and E-ranks are common outside the TSAB, but uncommon inside. Most of Earth would be E or E-, fitting with their description of Earth as basically non-magical. Still need to figure out the distribution for the demi-ranks, though. I want moving up a letter to be more substantial than gaining/losing a modifier. Going from A to A+ is notable. Going from A+ to AA- is a sizably bigger deal.
SSS+ ImmeasurableSSS 1920SSS-
SS+
SS 480SS-
S+
S 240S-
AAA+
AAA 180AAA-
AA+
AA 140AA-
A+
A 100A-
B+
B 70B-
C+
C 40C-
D+
D 20D-
E+
E 1
**********
"Aren't you a little young to be bounty hunting?"
I pulled myself up to my full (if limited) height, looking over the desk at the older man seated there, and gave him a glare. "Does it matter? I'm emancipated, and a qualified mage." With a thought, I had Mal send him my (faked) documentation to check.
The bounty officer snorted at that... then began to look over the documents I'd sent him. "...so you are. Whaddya know?"Thank you, Uno. Note to self- figure out what she likes, and get her some of it.
The guy straightened up a bit in his chair. "Looks like you can do this... but just because you can, doesn't mean you should. Bounty hunting isn't a game, kid- these people are dangerous. If you don't keep your eyes open and your head in the game, they'll chew you up and spit you out."
I nodded. "I know the risks, and I'm prepared for them." After a second, I chuckle, and put on a self-deprecating grin. "...well, I know some of the risks. There's always something else that can go wrong, and odds are it'll catch you by surprise.
At least I know that that can happen, and that I should be looking for it."
The bounty officer- I just now noticed the nameplate on his desk read DROPLITZ DAIMLER- gave me a long stare. I just stood there, looking right back at him.
After a few seconds, he nodded. "You've got the right attitude, kid. I'll give you a simple one this time. Do well with it, and I'll see about getting you something more difficult." Daimler raised one hand, causing a stack of holographic files to appear in front of him, and flicked one at me.
When I brought it up, I was greeted by a mugshot of a face only a mother could love. Sloped forehead... small piggy eyes... and get a load of that slack-jawed stare! Somehow, I get the feeling this guy's not the tallest bulb in the dishwasher. "Yugo Slavonovic", huh? How fitting. Last seen... dear Athena, this is even in the city! How much easier could it be?!
Daimler chuckled. "I see you're not impressed. Didn't you know? Bounty hunters get two types of targets- I call them fools and f-ers. On the one hand, you have yahoos like that Yugo guy- the fools. It's cheaper to put out a bounty than to send in a cop.
On the other hand, you have the real threats- the f-ers. Anybody who's strong enough to drop or dodge Ground Forces task groups, but not important enough to sic Enforcers on gets passed on to us. If they get lucky, they get their money back. If we get lucky, what the heck- it's still cheaper than mounting an op!
You're new, so you get to cut your teeth on a fool. Now get going!"
As I opened the door to leave, Daimler spoke up again. "Good hunting, Mr. Mercury!"
I turned to look back at him, my foot holding the door open. "Please... call me Freddie." Then I turned back, straightened my yellow jacket, and walked out into the city.
My Unitarian Jihad Name is: Brother Atom Bomb of Courteous Debate. Get yours.
I've been writing a bit.
1.) Rankings in MSLN are, collectively, a steaming pile of manure. Some of them cover power level, others cover combat ability, and others are unspecified. They're a nightmare to make coherent.
2.) Figured out a way to make them (somewhat) coherent. It starts with Shoot Barret, which is apparently the most basic shooting spell in the Mid system. Single shot, no guidance. We can define E-rank linker core size as "able to cast Shoot Barret", and E-rank mana capacity as "able to cast Shoot Barret without falling unconscious afterwards". If we make SB the unit of measurement, that makes an E-rank linker core a value of 1, and an E-rank mana supply equal to 1+(mana necessary to remain alive and conscious). That last part is a constant, so we can assume it from here on out.
There is another spell- Photon Lancer, Phalanx Shift. It's an AAA-rank spell, and it generates upwards of a hundred guided shots. From this, we can extrapolate that AAA-rank should be (number of shots, 100 or more)*(basic bullet + guidance cost + additional power). With a bit (well, a lot) of fudging, this can give us a target figure.
So if E-rank is 1, AA-rank is, say, 180ish (120 shots, with a 50% added cost for guidance and added power), and going from E to AAA is a 18-rank jump, we can easily do some fiddling with (1 + growth factor)^15 = 180ish. Going with a linear progression, I could just say each full-letter jump is 30, and then fiddle the pluses and minuses. Or, with multipliers, each partial-letter jump is 33.5% above the last, but that just gets awkward.
Maybe something like this? I want S to SS to SSS to be sort of crazy, in comparison to the earlier jumps. SSS is mythical. SS is rare as crap, and S isn't common, but crops up multiple times each generation. A and B-ranks are merely uncommon, C and D-ranks make up most of the population, and E-ranks are common outside the TSAB, but uncommon inside. Most of Earth would be E or E-, fitting with their description of Earth as basically non-magical. Still need to figure out the distribution for the demi-ranks, though. I want moving up a letter to be more substantial than gaining/losing a modifier. Going from A to A+ is notable. Going from A+ to AA- is a sizably bigger deal.
SSS+ ImmeasurableSSS 1920SSS-
SS+
SS 480SS-
S+
S 240S-
AAA+
AAA 180AAA-
AA+
AA 140AA-
A+
A 100A-
B+
B 70B-
C+
C 40C-
D+
D 20D-
E+
E 1
**********
"Aren't you a little young to be bounty hunting?"
I pulled myself up to my full (if limited) height, looking over the desk at the older man seated there, and gave him a glare. "Does it matter? I'm emancipated, and a qualified mage." With a thought, I had Mal send him my (faked) documentation to check.
The bounty officer snorted at that... then began to look over the documents I'd sent him. "...so you are. Whaddya know?"Thank you, Uno. Note to self- figure out what she likes, and get her some of it.
The guy straightened up a bit in his chair. "Looks like you can do this... but just because you can, doesn't mean you should. Bounty hunting isn't a game, kid- these people are dangerous. If you don't keep your eyes open and your head in the game, they'll chew you up and spit you out."
I nodded. "I know the risks, and I'm prepared for them." After a second, I chuckle, and put on a self-deprecating grin. "...well, I know some of the risks. There's always something else that can go wrong, and odds are it'll catch you by surprise.
At least I know that that can happen, and that I should be looking for it."
The bounty officer- I just now noticed the nameplate on his desk read DROPLITZ DAIMLER- gave me a long stare. I just stood there, looking right back at him.
After a few seconds, he nodded. "You've got the right attitude, kid. I'll give you a simple one this time. Do well with it, and I'll see about getting you something more difficult." Daimler raised one hand, causing a stack of holographic files to appear in front of him, and flicked one at me.
When I brought it up, I was greeted by a mugshot of a face only a mother could love. Sloped forehead... small piggy eyes... and get a load of that slack-jawed stare! Somehow, I get the feeling this guy's not the tallest bulb in the dishwasher. "Yugo Slavonovic", huh? How fitting. Last seen... dear Athena, this is even in the city! How much easier could it be?!
Daimler chuckled. "I see you're not impressed. Didn't you know? Bounty hunters get two types of targets- I call them fools and f-ers. On the one hand, you have yahoos like that Yugo guy- the fools. It's cheaper to put out a bounty than to send in a cop.
On the other hand, you have the real threats- the f-ers. Anybody who's strong enough to drop or dodge Ground Forces task groups, but not important enough to sic Enforcers on gets passed on to us. If they get lucky, they get their money back. If we get lucky, what the heck- it's still cheaper than mounting an op!
You're new, so you get to cut your teeth on a fool. Now get going!"
As I opened the door to leave, Daimler spoke up again. "Good hunting, Mr. Mercury!"
I turned to look back at him, my foot holding the door open. "Please... call me Freddie." Then I turned back, straightened my yellow jacket, and walked out into the city.
My Unitarian Jihad Name is: Brother Atom Bomb of Courteous Debate. Get yours.
I've been writing a bit.