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Spoiler QnA July!
🕑 Added 2022-07-09 19:24:21 +0000 UTCDuring the Moray Eel memory, does HG get glimpses of Step's own tank memories since they've dived too deep and are seemingly losing control until HG saves them?
It is a mutual feedback loop, yes. HG definitely saw some stuff.
Are Herald's powers developing into a type of telekinesis--just how extensive would his ability to "lift" things be? Could they be expanded into him not needing to touch those objects or people to make them float?
That will be something to explore in the future. Something is certainly changing. I'm looking forward to see what will happen, Daniel is one of the people with the greatest capacity for change depending on the path taken by people.
Not sure why we can't have access to the alpha build anymore
It should be there? I haven't removed it. Putting (an more updated) link here again: https://dashingdon.com/play/malinryden/fhrjwjejrwjelatestlatest/mygame/
I am also very close to the proper beta test, just trying to work out the last kinks with CoG, my save system is causing issues. Once that is done, I will of course post about it here as well so you can dive into the real thing!
Sidestep notes in some paths that Jake is easier to possess than most people, like he’s used to telepathic invasion. How does that work? Does telepathy create “holes” in peoples brains that allow for easier access to invasion? Does the mind get used to another consciousness taking it over? Or something else? (and did Heartbreak make any Grooves of access when they fought with Sidestep..)
Hmmm. Not in general. However, it is possible for a telepath to influence another mind to allow easier access. That's one reason why it is so easy to slip into the Puppet. It is doubtful Heartbreak had time to do that.
Will the reflection you choose to punch in the mirror at the end of Retri influence the nature of the impostor, or does it only impact immediate stats?
Hehehe.
Did anybody see Skyraider take sidestep out of the ranger hospital in the mortum "escape"?
Good question. Who else might have been there?
What triggers the nanos for taking over argent's body when she's knocked unconscious? it seems like sometimes they do when step and/or something else knocks her out and sometimes they don't.
It depends on Argent's control. Most of the time she manages to keep her last command to them to stay calm, but at times the situation throws her off enough that she loses it. Or, perhaps, it is the nanovores that makes the judgment.
Is there a link between nanovores and water? In the case of Angie, they've been shown to appear when she's near water / in danger near water (falling into the water on the bridge; threatened to be drowned in the sewers; obviously the nanosurge on the sea), and her mind also has an aquatic quality, but I don't know if this is a coincidence or not?
Good question. There is definitely something going on there, but it's mostly Argent.
If we go about plucking red strings, how many does it take until Hollow Ground notices the lack of… pressure, from their limits?
Maybe you'll see... So far, it's not been enough to be a danger.
In a prior QNA you said argent's nanos liked danny best. Is that like as a person or like as a snack?
With them, it's hard to tell the difference, and that is exactly why Argent is trying to keep him at a distance.
How long did it take the Farm to work out what Shroud’s boost was and how it worked?
It was during a fight with another Re-Gene, and she got her hands on them and drained them dry. At that point, they only thought it was a life drain. It took a long time before the fact that Shroud also ate memories became apparent...
Regina’s prize project. Is Sidestep themselves the prize project or are they a part in something bigger? (Example: Sidestep personally or Sidestep, a cuckoo, as a part of a cuckoo project) And did Sidestep become the prize project after the Heartbreak or was one from the very beginning?
Hmmmm I would say that they are a part of something bigger. And that was certainly not the case from the start, it is a relatively recent development.
After getting their hands back on sidestep, did the farm ever dig into what all their errant re-gene had done during their vigilante days? Requisition ranger records? Did the farm try to dig into their personal life? (find out about had-a-thing, if applicable, for example)? How deep did they dive into the life of sidestep?
Honestly? It wasn't that interesting to them. There was a cursory examination, but no real digging. Mostly collecting publicly available materials and making sure that none of the Rangers seemed to know what Sidestep really was. That was the important part, the risk of exposure for the Farm. They could care less about the private life of a runaway Re-Gene.
The regenerator regenerates everything, right? Are steps who choose to use it gonna come out of it bald/ only have baby hair for a while?
Exactly how it works is unknown yet. It might even vary depending on who puts it together. I would say that if it was applied on the scalp, yes, there is a risk that the hair might be damaged.
We know Argent wants it, but... Would anyone in the main cast be interested in getting their hands on the regenerator and use it on themself? Who, and why, or why not?
I think the only two who might be interested in it are Dr. Mortum and Chen. Not in a desperate way, and certainly not in a "I want to go first" kind of way, but if it works and they are aware of it, they might be interested in using it.
Would nocturne's powers work on argent?
I was going to say nope, and then I thought a bit more about it, and right now it is a solid maybe. It is complicated.
When rescuing Step with the crew, Pelayo knows what the Regene tattoos are, but doesn't let how he feels about them show. What were his thoughts on discovering them all over his Boss?
Shock. I think that was the strongest first reaction. Disbelief, thinking about it a bit more, realizing that yep, this is real, and then trying to work out how the hell he feels about it. I don't think he knows yet, this changes everything he thought he knew about a lot of things. The final reaction might depend on what Stats Sidestep has.
Considering the Rangers can arrest Step on suspicion of being a villain without having tangible evidence (i.e. just based on Step acting, in their opinion, suspiciously), I'm curious to know what sort of legal powers they have in regards to solving Enhanced crime.
They are pretty much in charge. They do have legal powers to arrest and detain, and while it is assumed that they will pass people off to the correct authorities (in the US or the various western territories authorities), there's not really any time limits set. No Miranda rights either. Their authority is a lot more akin to military in war, or intelligence services. Unless the target someone with influence or friends, nobody will bother to investigate if they have an adequate reason.
How's hollow ground on the self defense front? Any particular styles they favor if trained? Are they able to protect themself or have they been relying too much on hired muscle and their forced anonymity?
Hollow Ground is not much of a fighter, as some Sidesteps might already have realized. They do rely on hired muscle and anonymity, but they are a pretty good shot.
What kind of relationship did Hollow Ground have with their siblings? Were they the sort to, say, dote on their youngest sibling?
Oh Hollow Ground is 100% someone to dote on people. Massively. And they felt hugely protective about them.
If Sidestep got regene-revealed to the Rangers but decided not to work with the entire team, is wiping that info from their sweet brain on the table or not at all?
I don't know. We'll see. It's not entirely off the table for me, but I have not detail planned book three.
We know telepaths + villain and hero corpses have been disappearing conveniently for a while, and we know Argent would be a PRIME subject for research and experiment, so… is Argent under any kind of scrutiny she isn’t aware of? Have Shady Organisations found a way to keep an eye on her / watch for a moment of weakness despite her technopathy?
Possibly. Argent doesn't think so, but despite what she thinks, she isn't perfect.
Who was Ortega jealous of if they see Sidestep and Argent having a thing? Why?
Knowing Ortega, it might have just been a bit of jealousy not being the center of attention for once. But, that will be explored more in game, so I won't spoil it too much.
Why is HG so… prone to sleeping/relaxing? Does it have anything to do with their telepathy?
Yes. Sidestep has their own vice to deal with to recharge, Hollow Ground needs their nap time.
Is there any reason why Steel doesn’t plan on acting on his crush on Step without Karen’s prompting? I can understand Ortega, given the power difference in Marshal status and his reputation as a straight man. What about Step?
Steel is not an impulsive man by nature. He would most likely have done something about it, but it might have taken a few more months. Also, he is far too aware of how bad it would be to be turned down, and how easily it would be to ruin what he sees as a fragile, rebuilt friendship. Better safe than sorry. As for Sidestep, that is up to the reader.
Is the puppet’s name actually ‘Ace’??
It is their taken name, the one they used in their past life.
Do any of the Rangers know that Danny’s powers deal with gravity manipulation? Or is it just flight to them?
It is just flight to everybody, even Danny. What it might turn into the future is a different thing.
If Ortega and Steel had to get glowing mod tattoos, what designs would they go for? What about when they were first modded? What spinal tattoos would Ortega have chosen? (I’m pretty surprised that’s a thing in-game. I’m also sappy and want to imagine a scenario of them getting mod tattoos in solidarity with Step’s Re-Gene tattoos. 🥰)
Ortega would go for neon/lightning blue. If they would be able to make them glow, that would be sweet. As for patterns, I don't really know. I think abstract, probably circular base to connect to the spinal ports, with collecting lines. Like a fashionable electricity diagram.
Steel would go dark green. Probably patterns radiating out from his mods, maybe fracture lines or something more organic.
What do Daniel’s parents think of their son becoming a hero? Does anyone in their elite circles know he’s a boost/Herald? What was his parents’ cover story as to where their surviving son went?
As far as Daniel know, they deeply disapprove of his choices. I do think that people in their circles knows, Herald is on the television enough for that, but they don't talk about him. It's the polite disapproval, nobody really brings it up. That would be gauche.
If our MC is trans, does that mean that Hollow Ground is also trans?
No. HG is not trans, at least not if you want to include being genderqueer in that label (some do).
What was it like for Daniel when he rescued civilians from the California fire? Did he get any vivid flashbacks to Josh?
Some. But the scale was big enough that he could push it back. It wasn't nice though, but he did like that this time he could save people.
Would HG and Jake have ever gotten together without Nocturne in the picture?
Probably not.
What’s the extent of Nocturne’s education? What subjects does she like/is good at? Are there any that she dislikes/needs help with?
She's got a decree in accounting and business law. She's good at math and numbers. She didn't use to be good with people, but she has gotten a lot better at it. She's still prone to bad self-confidence though.
Does Jake ever cheat when he gambles? How does he feel about it?
Hmm. I don't think so.
What would Ortega have liked about Ace, pre-Shroud?
Caustic and competent. A risktaker.
How did Mitchell end up working for HG?
He was running a hero-ranking site on the side, and got recruited because his research and theories were impeccable.
Did HG see Dr. Finch for therapy or did they have other reasons they might have wanted to approach her?
Other reasons.
What had been Nocturne's motivation for deciding to become a villain?
Love.
How well does Herald think he knew his brother?
Too well.
In the first game you could go the whole game never being hurt. While in the second, unless I'm incorrect, there is no way past Steel without taking a hit. If this is the case, would you mind telling why this is?
Good point, I should adjust that. It will be in the beta.
You said regenes get AI, is it possible for Sidestep to survive even if his chip gets fried? Do you think Sidestep ever formed his own "organic consciousness" independent of AI and thus became a human being? Will we learn about this in the future or would that be a spoiler to say?
We will get into that in the future! It is a big plotpoint.
Would the HG trio consider getting married if poly marriages became legal? How long have the three of them been dating?
Possibly. Jake would be the doubtful one should it ever come up. And hey, poly marriages are legal in the Free Western territories! All three of them has been dating for a couple of years, HG and Nocturne longer, and Jake and Nocturne also slightly longer.
How did people find out/come to suspect that Jake was sleeping with Nocturne/HG? I can’t imagine he’d be talking about it willy-nilly.
People gossip. And he doesn't have that good a poker face.
