-----Original Message-----
From: S�bastien [mailto:sebastien.renon@free.fr]
Sent: Friday, April 15, 2005 7:28 AM
To: jbw@WPI.EDU; FFML
Subject: Re: [FFML] [Fanfic][Ranma/XCOM] The Road to Cydonia (Chapter
3:3)

I have no knowledge of XCom, but except if it states that psionics can
be learned by anyone (instead of being a special gift enjoyed by
precious few), I find it somewhat disturbing to assume ki wielding
martial artists such Ranma and Ryoga can do what they can because they
are psions.
I did the same kind of double take when you first used TK as a
scientific explanation for the ki blast. The idea behind a ki blast is
that the martial artist directly uses his own life force to make an
attack. The light show is just special effects.

I know I am somewhat nitpicking, but Japanese and Chinese lore are very
specific about this.

In XCOM, psionic ability is based on two things: �psi skill� and �psi
strength.� Psi skill is gained through training and some gain points in it
 faster than others. Psi strength is more a natural resistance to psionic
manipulation, and it is unchanging; thus a character is �born� with it.
So it is a little of both.

Of course, the connection here is primarily for the purpose of the plot,
and the crossing over of two very different genres. Besides, the �nature�
 of ki/chi/life force, and psionics, are somewhat tangible. Does
acupuncture work because of the needles and the flows of ki, or does it
work because of the specific release of chemicals, or does it work because
 of a psychosomatic reaction, or does it work at all?

So, I modified things slightly, and tied ki and psionics together. They
aren�t exactly the same thing, but like gravity and electromagnetism, they
 are two similar forces in the same field theory. And while I respect the
lore, of course, no one really knows what ki is, or if it exists, so tying
 it with something similar isn�t a huge leap, I think.

Plus, the connection between the two is a cornerstone of the plot! It is
something I really can�t change or retcon.

	"Retinal Scan complete. DNA records complete. Fingerprints on
file. Voice imprints processed. Non-disclosure agreements...

I would tend to believe these are worth about as much as the paper
they're printed on for the two boys (they are legal papers. I don't
think they'd feel bound by such. A personal oath, on the other hand...)

Very true.
But the bureaucrats love their paperwork. Something to copy, scan, and
put in a file cabinet somewhere. This is actually a point I was going to
bring up later, when the two get �deeper� into things.

Thanks for your work, it's been an interesting read so far.

Thanks!
I�ll try and keep it interesting, and I�ll keep updating on a semi-regular
 basis. Some chapters just write themselves faster than others.

 - The Capn
jbw@wpi.edu

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