160 replies to this topic

[huumdinger]

http://www.egscomics...date=2012-06-15

Since no-one else here's made a reaction thread yet, I figured I'd put one together myself. I've got no idea how I'm supposed to make one of these, so hopefully I don't screw up horribly.

As for the comic itself - there's not a whole lot to say, really. It brings up the ways in which spare magical energy could manifest itself, and establishes hair as the most susceptible part of the body. Oh, and Sarah made another self-image joke. I thought Elliot liked her hair?

[The Anon]

I don't think the hair stuff was self image based and was more magic envy. She's wanted magic and never got it, and so far she's had nothing but weirdness with it. The hair spell was probably the first practical spell she's heard of.

[Jorbun]

I don't think she saw it as practical, I think she just thinks it's an incredible spell to have. Possibly due to her self-image issues.

[sonicthunder]

Huh. Guess Dan got other people commenting on the "then why didn't Nanase look like Lou Ferrigno after she burned out" idea Showler and I were discussing in Wednesday's reaction thread.

I kind of like muscled Nanase, if for no other reason than it's a body type Dan usually doesn't draw, as opposed to the other alternate-Nanase (well, not since Painted Black at least. Between Elliot, Hedge, Guineas, Damien, and Lord-Tedd's Shade Tail, there was significant bulkiness back then. Closest Dan usually gets nowadays is the rare glimpse of male Elliot or Tony, and neither are quite this big).

I'm surprised Dan didn't link to this comic in the commentary. Seemed more relevant, given the 'punchline'.

[Tricia]

So...Sarah turned into a combination of Justin and Grace, apparently.

[Unforgiven]

Sarah's reaction is kind of weird. I could see Justin mourning the loss of the hair spell like this, but Sarah? She never seemed the type to care about cosmetics that much. She's just getting shallower and shallower, isn't she? First the self-image issues over chest size, and now overreacting to the loss of a spell that changes superficial appearance?

Or maybe I'm overthinking this and Sarah just really hates hairdressers?

[Jorbun]

Or maybe she really appreciates how convenient a spell like that really is. The fairy doll is basically a phone that makes Nanase unconscious, for example. Having any hair style and color at will is something she can really appreciate.

I expect she'd get similarly excited over the clothes swap spell.

[Haylo]

Maybe stopping the excess hair growth wouldn't be such a good idea after all.

If the hair growth is a "safe" outlet for the excess energy, does that mean that because of her recent burn-out some of her other spells aren't safe? Is her post-burnout inability to use magic a protective reaction until she "heals up" from some sort of overload injury?

-- also --

I don't think the hair stuff was self image based and was more magic envy. She's wanted magic and never got it, and so far she's had nothing but weirdness with it. The hair spell was probably the first practical spell she's heard of.

Or maybe she really appreciates how convenient a spell like that really is. The fairy doll is basically a phone that makes Nanase unconscious, for example. Having any hair style and color at will is something she can really appreciate.

I expect she'd get similarly excited over the clothes swap spell.

Yeah, I see this as a spell where she actually knows a little bit about what it feels like (a fresh memeory, yet).
The rest of Nanase's spells she only knows about second-hand or from observation. Emotional reactions are a lot stronger with things you know about personally.

[showler]

I'm now kind of hoping that Tedd really does have a "magical energy dispersing watch (not a watch)" to give her.

And that releasing that raw energy into the world results in bizarre events happening wherever Nanase spends a significant amount of time.

Although it might be cooler if he had a way to transfer Nanase's magical energy to someone else until her burnout heals.

[Snowyowl]

I'm now kind of hoping that Tedd really does have a "magical energy dispersing watch (not a watch)" to give her.

And that releasing that raw energy into the world results in bizarre events happening wherever Nanase spends a significant amount of time.

Although it might be cooler if he had a way to transfer Nanase's magical energy to someone else until her burnout heals.

Building on that idea, if magic energy is something that can be stored and manipulated in that way, he could put it into a "battery" of sorts. Among other uses, such a battery would help prevent burnouts by making large amounts of magic energy readily available so you don't have to use your own reserves.

That, and it would be a really cool thing for Sarah to have.

[Haylo]

I'm now kind of hoping that Tedd really does have a "magical energy dispersing watch (not a watch)" to give her.

And that releasing that raw energy into the world results in bizarre events happening wherever Nanase spends a significant amount of time.

Although it might be cooler if he had a way to transfer Nanase's magical energy to someone else until her burnout heals.

Leading to huge angst when the "receiver" runs out of energy. Or does it last long enough for the obvious receiver to lean an Aesop about power she isn't suited for?

One Aesop I can see coming is for Sarah (or Tedd, if he draws the short straw) to have a near-breakdown after realizing how few things are solid and reliable when Magic is messing with reality and/or some exploring of what things are still stable in EGS despite magic.

[Jorbun]

I'm pretty sure he's just going to give her a watch like the one he's giving Sarah, with the logic that if she has magical energy, then she can power the device, regardless of whether she can use her natural spells.

[Yosarian2]

Sarah's reaction is kind of weird. I could see Justin mourning the loss of the hair spell like this, but Sarah? She never seemed the type to care about cosmetics that much. She's just getting shallower and shallower, isn't she? First the self-image issues over chest size, and now overreacting to the loss of a spell that changes superficial appearance?

Or maybe I'm overthinking this and Sarah just really hates hairdressers?

I think it's just a running joke that the spell Nanase didn't really want is one that everyone else thinks is awesome.

[ZeDingo]

I think you're generating magic you can't use

Called it.

[showler]

...such a battery would help prevent burnouts by making large amounts of magic energy readily available so you don't have to use your own reserves.

That would depend on whether the burnout is caused by exceeding your reserves capacity or your throughput.

[Youwillneverknow]

Poor sarah, every turn she makes just shows she is the universes butt monkey

[Amy-t]

Sarah's reaction is kind of weird. I could see Justin mourning the loss of the hair spell like this, but Sarah? She never seemed the type to care about cosmetics that much. She's just getting shallower and shallower, isn't she? First the self-image issues over chest size, and now overreacting to the loss of a spell that changes superficial appearance?

Or maybe I'm overthinking this and Sarah just really hates hairdressers?

I am thinking the same thing.

[jmucchiello]

Sarah's reaction is kind of weird. I could see Justin mourning the loss of the hair spell like this, but Sarah? She never seemed the type to care about cosmetics that much. She's just getting shallower and shallower, isn't she? First the self-image issues over chest size, and now overreacting to the loss of a spell that changes superficial appearance?

Or maybe I'm overthinking this and Sarah just really hates hairdressers?

Cosmetics or Appearance? She's always cared about appearance. She was called in to help Grace shop for girl stuff. She was disappointed at not be as studdly as the other "boys" at Grace's gender swap party. Self-image issues seem to have always existed. They are just getting more play now as she's been given more spotlight.

And there's a difference between being shallow and liking to look good. A spell that can instantly change your hair saves a lot time if it can also clean and dry your hair instantly. Long hair requires maintenance and eliminating that maintenance would save her time. The added bonus of being able to restyle the hair on a whim is just icing on the cake.

[AHR]

I can see that spell being cool, but in a "yeesh, that sucks" way, not a "OH YOU POOR SOUL LET ME CRADLE YOU IN MY ARMS" way

[sonicthunder]

Sarah's reaction is kind of weird. I could see Justin mourning the loss of the hair spell like this, but Sarah? She never seemed the type to care about cosmetics that much. She's just getting shallower and shallower, isn't she? First the self-image issues over chest size, and now overreacting to the loss of a spell that changes superficial appearance?

Or maybe I'm overthinking this and Sarah just really hates hairdressers?

I refer you to this comic again. Basically, Sarah likes playing with hair just like Justin, so it setup the 'punchline' in today's comic (granted the reaction was overdone, though I wager it was more for an attempt at comedy than Sarah actually being that distraught).

I do agree though. Said reaction probably would have worked better if it had been a Nanase and Justin comic.

I think you're generating magic you can't use

Called it.

Not to be rude, but... what? Thought that was pretty much confirmed back during One Way Road.