In message <Pine.SOL.3.91.951022151734.20103A-100000@hops.cs.jhu.edu>, Harvey Torrance Griffin writ
es:
On Sun, 22 Oct 1995, Daniel A Root wrote:
Anyway, just start tossing out ideas. If you need any clarification, just
ask publicly on fanfic@andrew.cais.com so I can reply for everybodies benefit.
<another snip>
<Summary, Akane's too short tempered to have that level of power>
I disagree, it seems that during the course of the story she is
calming down conciderably (caring for a severely traumatized/effectively
brain damaged Ranma is teaching her how much she actually cares for
him). As for anyone else, I think Cologne is smart enough to try to
teach her some more self control when she realizes how powerful Akane is
becoming so I think there is little if any reason to power her down (some
close calls with someone she cares for might be in order though).
An important thing about this storyline which some people might be
overlooking is that, at least for now, Ranma the Protecter does not exist;
I suspect Akane will run into a situation where she will have to take care
of herself before this is over. It would be _very_ interesting, however,
to see how Ranma deals with these developments when he/she gets his/her
head together.
Forgive my rant, I should let the author deal with such questions.
Rant forgiven :).
I was not thinking in terms of the story I must admit, as I haven't read it yet
(I only subscribed to the fanfic ML a couple days ago, someone want to mail me a
copy or point me at the archive number?). In this case, yes, having the power
might be good, but I still think it needs some sort of limit over what I've
interpreted from the Andrew's description. From what I see I think there's to
much power for Akane (or any of the Ranma-verse characters) to deal with on a
daily basis. Forget the occaisonal burst of temper, I'm just thinking in terms
of pure accidental or non-thought out uses of it. (Of course if Akane can boil
water just by putting her hand in it, her cooking may improve :)
[The following is not against giving Akane ki powers, just random wondering
about what will happen when she discovers them.]
The other thing to consider, aside from if the power should be changed is the
effect it will have on Akane's relationship with others. Up until now she's
held her own more less with pure martial arts and some above average strength.
Now with her new ki powers (toned-down or not) she's suddenly going to increase
in relative power compared to everyone else. Shampoo and Kodachi now can't hold
a candle to her in a fair fight, which pretty much puts them out of the fiancee
picture. Ukyou never really fought with Akane, but now Akane is going to have a
lot more respect (in martial arts at least) from Ranma, which I can't imagine
would make Ukyou happy. How would Ryouga react to Akane now that she's at
least an equal in skill, if not superior? The other characters would have
lesser, but by no means insignificant reactions (Mousse may now see Akane as a
true threat to his beloved, Gosunkugi might worship Akane more or be frightened
off etc). And of course, as mentioned, how Ranma will react to this, and how it
will affect his relationship with Akane. These may fall outside the scope of
the story at hand, but it might be something to consider for future installments
in this version of the world.
-DaR
--
Dan Root - dar@andrew.cmu.edu