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Mod edit to add this convenience link to Girl Genius. Original OP below:


Last thread vanished with the crash...

So, the Weasel Queen interlude is over. Is this Storm King opera another one?

Edited by wingedcatgirl on Feb 19th 2025 at 1:51:41 PM

Nomophilos Since: May, 2013
#50926: Nov 20th 2017 at 5:00:15 AM

Basically it is a bit of working with the idea of : What if: Mad science was around since ancient times and ruled the world. The answer is very poorly as a lot of the issues for the mad scientists are their own downfall.

I see GG Verse more as the extrapolation of a "typical" fantasy world with monsters and wizards, where the wizards discover science & technology and it becomes their main mode of action. In effect, sparks are very much like traditional wizards - they have an inborn ability to defy the laws of physics - and it seems that even in-universe characters talk about the two as if it was a natural continuity; Pandorus Omnisiens being "the first modern spark", the old Heterodynes being called wizards, etc. Not to mention Master Payne and his magical powers.

In effect, it's a world with wizards, it's just that they get called "sparks".

Mauri Absent-Minded Professor from Where was I again? Since: Mar, 2012
Absent-Minded Professor
#50927: Nov 20th 2017 at 5:09:59 AM

[up][up][up] Do note that there are genetic variants and other stuff. Although if you have zero genetic Sparks in the making it doesn't means that you cannot end up with the alteration to make one out of no Sparky heritage. In fact there are some in the setting that had no place for good upbringing, such as the Circus, and end up doing small time stuff which also helped cover their skin.

The industrial capacity thing is something which reminded me of two things:

  • Some places had better chances to get up to industrialization due to food and goods trade movement. This I could delve upon a bit but it is something a bit long and I am not in my coffee time and it requires me recalling plenty of history. Think of almost a week of classes summarized on history and transportation history to say the least.
  • A part of Breath of Fire III near the end when Myria asks Momo, the machine user and repair woman of the party, that even in the case of the dessert going out of control and the access to the materials were getting shot out to hell and even if she as a gadgeteer genius were able to pull it off... What were the chances of her to make a weapon to destroy most of what is left? (yeah kinda like comparing her to a mad scientist as well, who makes a doomsday weapon and aims that to an army; villains sometimes can put the finger on the right spots)

What is possible is that several places got a bit of a haven for normal science and the mad scientists in those places got along in a more cordial way because of numbers.

edited 20th Nov '17 5:14:10 AM by Mauri

Well here goes nothing
Candi Sorcerer in training from Closer to rimward than hubward Since: Aug, 2012 Relationship Status: They can't hide forever. We've got satellites.
Sorcerer in training
#50928: Nov 20th 2017 at 6:35:03 AM

O how yeah, just the history of industrialization is this big (and interesting) thing. note 

Considering some of the Sparks seem to have the ability to manipulate genetics, it's an interesting theorywild mass guess to wonder if someone could turn a low Spark into a high one, or even make a Spark out of a non-Spark.

(There's no logical reason for the Heterodynes to produce 90%+ boys, unless genetic manipulation or drowning is involved. And then there's whatever Lucrezia got up to with the Knights of Jove and the Sturmvarous and all.)

Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving. -Terry Pratchett
crazysamaritan NaNo 4328 / 50,000 from Lupin III Since: Apr, 2010
NaNo 4328 / 50,000
#50929: Nov 20th 2017 at 7:30:54 AM

I think that's the line of inquiry Klaus was working on with Othar in the early parts of the story.

Link to TRS threads in project mode here.
DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#50930: Nov 20th 2017 at 10:01:07 AM

I like how everthing is under impossible sparky glass domes. I don't know what's going on inside the tower with the British flag on it, but if the tunnel is any indication, that's where Agatha is going next.

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
FuzzyBoots from Outlying borough of Pittsburgh (there's a lot of Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
#50931: Nov 20th 2017 at 12:09:54 PM

[up][up] And, to some degree, people like the Doctor / Janitor (Krosp's creator) who apparently got a lobotomy to remove his Spark.

shigmiya64 Somebody get this freaking duck away from me! from a settlement that needs our help, General Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Non-Canon
Somebody get this freaking duck away from me!
#50932: Nov 20th 2017 at 1:27:02 PM

[up] Any sort of scientific study needs more than one data point. I always assumed Klaus did the same thing to Krosp's creator he was going to do to Othar.

Mauri Absent-Minded Professor from Where was I again? Since: Mar, 2012
Absent-Minded Professor
#50933: Nov 20th 2017 at 1:38:31 PM

However manipulating to neutralize Othar is quite a feat, even for a memetic badass such as Klaus. Do note that not only you have to keep Othar captured and under personal observation during the operation but the universe seems to give Othar a chance to escape and wreck the rails and throw them into the foundry, as scrap metal, because it is the equivalent in universe of having a Henderson.

Even if Othar is a hero, for any value of the word, he is basically impossible to stop due to how narrativium works around him.

As pointed out at other points minor sparks are useful for higher sparks and one of the options is such as:

  • Spark related research such as Wulfenbach, dealing with the construct and living matter stuff that is in Klaus' backstory it is no wonder that the family could produce a big spark but keeping to their own lands because they like the Heterodynes just wanted to make sure "Home Base" clear.
  • Spark understanding such as Mittlemind and Diaz (not sure as of now) which talked that Tarvek had the "makings of one of the great".
  • Focus on some projects, or keeping them in the loony box such as in the case of the Siege of Mechancisburg that these are non standard threats and DK would waste more energy dealing with a Spark, even a minor one, than a platoon.

Well here goes nothing
Candi Sorcerer in training from Closer to rimward than hubward Since: Aug, 2012 Relationship Status: They can't hide forever. We've got satellites.
Sorcerer in training
#50934: Nov 21st 2017 at 12:21:10 AM

Most normal humans follow predictable-for-their-era patterns.

The only pattern Sparks fit is each one tends to specialize on some level. Within that framework, it's Calvinball.

What Klaus was doing was brain research, but it didn't look like genetic research. (And I still maintain, with all the Sparks and their creations in his employee, that that was a lousy way to do it.)

edited 21st Nov '17 12:21:38 AM by Candi

Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving. -Terry Pratchett
Mauri Absent-Minded Professor from Where was I again? Since: Mar, 2012
Absent-Minded Professor
#50935: Nov 21st 2017 at 4:33:57 AM

Well Klaus was doing it in a lousy way but considering the setting and other stuff it is like certain early brain research as in real life. If I am not getting the names wrong from memory it is like when Delgado put the self zapping device on the brain to keep some people happy. All the lobotomies in the Bedlam style hospitals and so on.

While I won't deny that Sparks are playing Calvinball with the rules and setting, the chances of more things going haywire goes through the roof.

Well here goes nothing
Daremo Misanthrope Supreme from Parts Unknown Since: May, 2010 Relationship Status: If it's you, it's okay
#50936: Nov 21st 2017 at 9:54:33 PM

Comic for Wednesday, November 22, 2017

edited 23rd Nov '17 1:53:28 AM by Daremo

Creed of the Happy Pessimist:Always expect the worst. Then, when it happens, it was only what you expected. All else is a happy surprise.
NinjaDragon Since: Nov, 2010
32_Footsteps Think of the mooks! from Just north of Arkham Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
Think of the mooks!
#50938: Nov 22nd 2017 at 6:41:06 AM

Heh, nice play on a pair of classic advertisements.

Also, oh, Brits bragging about their engineering skills. That's a stereotype that surprisingly persists.

Reminder: Offscreen Villainy does not count towards Complete Monster.
AnotherBear I used to be Ol Bear from Too far away Since: Jan, 2015 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
I used to be Ol Bear
#50939: Nov 22nd 2017 at 8:09:27 AM

"Lovely Day for a Guinness"! [lol][lol][lol][lol]

If it moves, eat it. If it doesn't move, kick it—then eat it!
Euodiachloris Since: Oct, 2010
#50940: Nov 22nd 2017 at 8:19:44 AM

Totally Guinness' thing, that. Who needs a poster toucan or panda when you can use an actual whale? [lol]

edited 22nd Nov '17 8:20:17 AM by Euodiachloris

32_Footsteps Think of the mooks! from Just north of Arkham Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
Think of the mooks!
#50941: Nov 22nd 2017 at 9:08:35 AM

I mean, it's worth noting that, albeit with a different tagline, Guinness did use a picture of a whale in one of their roughly contemporaneous ads (though the tagline was "Guinness for strength!").

Reminder: Offscreen Villainy does not count towards Complete Monster.
Candi Sorcerer in training from Closer to rimward than hubward Since: Aug, 2012 Relationship Status: They can't hide forever. We've got satellites.
Sorcerer in training
#50942: Nov 22nd 2017 at 9:27:22 AM

That last speech balloon. Famous last words?

Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving. -Terry Pratchett
Geoduck Bivalve from Pacific NW (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: What is this thing you call love?
TheUnsquished Filthy Casual from A youngun between two oldies Since: Nov, 2014 Relationship Status: Married to the job
Filthy Casual
#50944: Nov 22nd 2017 at 12:28:02 PM

I'm kind of hoping that this being Girl Genius, that doesn't come into play.

(Annoyed grunt)
God_of_Awesome Since: Jan, 2001
#50945: Nov 23rd 2017 at 1:33:31 AM

Daremo's link lead to previous page when I linked

Here's Nov 22 then

Candi Sorcerer in training from Closer to rimward than hubward Since: Aug, 2012 Relationship Status: They can't hide forever. We've got satellites.
Sorcerer in training
#50946: Nov 23rd 2017 at 4:52:00 PM

Ah. I viewed the latest page, then came here. (Chrome keeps a shortcut on New Tab...)

Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving. -Terry Pratchett
Daremo Misanthrope Supreme from Parts Unknown Since: May, 2010 Relationship Status: If it's you, it's okay
#50947: Nov 23rd 2017 at 9:25:37 PM

Comic for Friday, November 24, 2017

Creed of the Happy Pessimist:Always expect the worst. Then, when it happens, it was only what you expected. All else is a happy surprise.
Euodiachloris Since: Oct, 2010
#50948: Nov 24th 2017 at 3:40:21 AM

Who needs a hook when you can have a Swiss army transformer?

Mauri Absent-Minded Professor from Where was I again? Since: Mar, 2012
Absent-Minded Professor
#50949: Nov 24th 2017 at 5:08:32 AM

Well while Tarvek is going through what seems to be a Redemption Arc for his life and a lot of his sins, I cannot but feel for the option of toothbrush cleaning. I just figured this thought though:

In years to come when they make the wandering circuses and make the plays of Agatha Heterodyne the actor who plays Tarvek will say: Tarvek tries to keep his dignity. That is what makes him amusing/interesting.

Well here goes nothing
Candi Sorcerer in training from Closer to rimward than hubward Since: Aug, 2012 Relationship Status: They can't hide forever. We've got satellites.
Sorcerer in training
#50950: Nov 24th 2017 at 5:19:09 AM

As long as he doesn't wind up the Klaus figure. (Even if the Baron thought being the doofus character was funny.)

(Does a double take at the captain's tattoos.)

I suspect the delay will involve/result in much plot messiness.

Ah, the the tiny stowaway. So what's Dinky DK up to?

Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving. -Terry Pratchett

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