Mun is getting too enwrapped by the power of crossovers.

[magicalrealist]

That's...not how I would phrase it, but sure. It works.

Yes, I'm very glad to have Patchouli as a teacher; she's taught me so many things I didn't even know were possible, but why do you insist on me learning "danmaku" one day? Learning magic from Gensokyo doesn't instantly make me qualified to be a "Touhou Girl," as you call it. I haven't been in enough situations to warrant using offensive magic like that!

...no, being in Mayfield isn't enough to use it casually! Arranging bullets in patterns could be fun, but the shots going in every direction? What if somepony gets hurt? I'd never forgive myself if that happened.

And if you're going to fantasize about that "Danmakufu" program to make it happen, then just stop daydreaming and start learning! It's one thing to squat around and think up ridiculous things, but it's another to waste potential education time!

Comments

[marearcana]

Well, danmaku shots are incapable of causing serious harm regardless of their shape, size, or composition, at least according to my mun. I mean, sure, it may look like a knife or something, but it won't hurt like one. It'll just sting a little.

As for that whole Danmakufu thing, my mun tried using that a couple years back. It... didn't work out, something about software/operating system incompatibility.

[magicalrealist]

So throwing around miniature suns would only cause a skin rash? Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful about it being non-lethal, but it can still cause a lot of unwanted trouble.

Really? I thought the main problem people had with it was switching their locale to Japenese or something like that. That's the only issue my mun's aware of, apparently.

[marearcana]

We know how to project force fields, you know. You could just set one up any time you wanted to practice.

That's because your mun is obviously a Windows user. Virtualization just isn't the same, apparently; he says it would never run at full speed.

[magicalrealist]

You have a point...but what about those times when it has to be used for self-defense? Trapping myself in a force field with an attacker doesn't exactly sound ideal.

Oh, so it really is an operating system issue. That's really unfortunate; I've seen some of the things it can do and it's really incredible. I just have to wonder what happens to the shots that venture offscreen...

[marearcana]

Hmm, that's true. I wonder why I didn't think of that; oh well, I'm sure one of us will come up with something.

It depends on the shot itself, apparently. Typically the program just deletes them once they go too far, but occasionally they're scripted to do something completely different. There's at least one card that just has them show up on the other side of the screen with the same properties.

/apologizes, but it had to be said

[elementofloyalty]

Oh sweet Celestia, you're WORSE when there's TWO of you!

No worries!

[magicalrealist]

Two Twilights really isn't that bad, Rainbow Dash; try imagining all 5-7 Twilights who regularly visit Dear_Mun coming together for one grand conference.

[magicalrealist]

I hope so.

Oh, so they can be controlled to do almost anything, can't they? I've seen things with bullets breaking up into more bullets or combining together to make various designs and...it's math based, isn't it? As far as formulas and variables and everything that goes into making them? I'd love to try it out for myself!

[marearcana]

It is more about the art than hitting your opponent, apparently. I'm not sure how that works without an observer, though! It's still generally considered bad form to make it impossible to avoid, practical as that would be.

[sunshade]

Danmakufu is a highly specified program, very hard to even make simple patterns on without proper guidance. I'd suggest your mun reads the instructions very carefully.

[magicalrealist]

That's why he's been so hesitant about learning it in the first place: It's intimidating. He's convinced himself that he has some interesting patterns he wants to make one day, but that's as far as he's gone with it.

[party_hard]

Ooh, arranging bullets in patterns does sound really fun! I bet it's really pretty, too!

You should TOTALLY give it a try, Twilight? I know you'd be really careful with it!

[Because collateral damage? What is collateral damage!]

[magicalrealist]

(It's meaningless to Pinkie, is what it is.)

It's supposed to be really pretty, yeah, but think about how risky it is. The only place close enough to be "safe" is the park, but even then, it's not that much.

[party_hard]

Oh, but we could clear out the park really, really easily if we had to make more room! And maybe you could shoot up into the sky, like fireworks!

[magicalrealist]

But that'd also mean learning how to fly...it's probably not a hard thing to learn, but I'm not sure if I want to fly.

[party_hard]

Oh, but learning how to fly would be REALLY fun, too!

And somepony here might be able to make you a jetpack! There are a lot of people here who make things like that!

[magicalrealist]

I don't know if I want to rely on a jetpack; I've seen what happens when one of those spiral out of control...it's not pretty.

Besides, I'm perfectly fine traveling on hoof.

[party_hard]

Oooh, but I bet riding on that spiral is really fun while it lasts!

[Exploding and crashing? What are these? Pinkie's only focused on the fun parts!]

Traveling on hoof is fun, but trying different things is fun, too!

[phantasmgap]

Ah, that's the magic of the spell cards, though.

Danmaku might appear to be lethal or incredibly painful, but the power of the spell card contract allows those bullets to be merely painful without being lethal to even humans.

My mundane says to imagine it like playing paintball, on a much denser scale.

[magicalrealist]

The rules of spell cards wouldn't happen to also apply to ponies, would it? I'm not very receptive to the idea of getting killed because of a technicality.

As in paintball arranged into patterns? I've been curious about that, actually: how do those danmaku battles play out from your perspective? I know of about four different styles, from the vs. game style, the fighting game style, the shot type/bomber vs the boss style or do both participants appear to be bosses to each other? I can only imagine their patterns getting in the way of each other.

headcanon time go

[phantasmgap]

Well, they apply to those who invoke the duels. I'm not sure if Mayfield is protected by the same geas that rests over Gensokyo.

In a fashion, at least in the Gensokyo I relate most closely to, it is similar that last one. Participants take turns with their spellcards; it is up to the defender to, with handicapped danmaku (the shot type/bomber 'style' you mentioned), either 'defeat' the spellcard or survive it. Then the defender becomes the attacker for the next spell card, for the predetermined length of the duel, usually three or five spell cards each.

Naturally, the games simplify this, being meant for an audience not familiar with such things.

Delicious headcanon

[magicalrealist]

All the town's protected by is a barrier that prevents anypony from escaping. I'm pretty sure non-lethal danmaku is still possible there.

Ooooh, that makes a lot of sense. I didn't realize there was such honor in those duels, but for something that's more of a beauty contest than a battle, I can't be entirely surprised.

But what about those "no bomb" runs? Would that be one of the participating parties severely handicapping themselves?

[phantasmgap]

I'm certain it's possible, I am just uncertain on if it is forced. The spell card rules in Gensokyo, after all, are mandatory.

Imagine it not entirely unlike a fencing duel, simply magical in nature. The flourishes and patterns are not just pleasing to the crowd, but a form of distraction to catch one's opponent offguard. And likewise, one cannot enter a fencing ring with a spear or shield; such would be cheating. This, likewise, is why attacks with no opening or no guard are seen as forbidden.

If I have the terminology of the outside world correct, a "no-bomb" run would be a severe handicap, yes; as 'bomb' and 'spell card' are used synonymously in several places, it would be akin to one of the duelists refusing to declare any spellcards.

Such things aren't unheard of; it's a favored way for the Hakurei shrine maiden to shame weaker youkai as she exterminates them.

[magicalrealist]

So it's also display of skill and a game of deception as opposed to brute force? That makes it sound a lot more interesting and more like a mind game than I thought! I can always appreciate a good mind game.

If that's to put others to shame, then this shrine maiden must be very talented! I can't imagine why else they wouldn't use a spell card.

[phantasmgap]

She is the keystone of the barrier seperating Gensokyo from the outside world. The spell card geas was implemented specifically so that her life would not be prematurely ended, but she was quite a formidable human even without it, able to easily overpower lesser youkai and even successfully venture into the depths of Makai and return unscathed.

In other words, the odds are stacked entirely in her favor from the getgo; she feels it only sporting to handicap herself.