#die freischutz

[titleknown]

...You know, as an enthusiast of the public domain it will forever annoy me that, as far as enchanted weapons go, there's no real good magic firearms/magic bullets in folklore (Silver/glass bullets don't count) and public domain literature aside from Die Freischutz...

[renzaslasher]

I started playing lobotomy corp again and I already know who my best employee is lol

the only one that can be trusted to work with der freischutz, the guy who can single handedly kill every enemy in a green dawn and the guy with enough health to not instantly die when she does work on little red riding hooded mercenary

I swear to god my entire facility runs off her back and if she ever dies I'm entirely fucked lmao

[opera-ghosts]

OTD in Music History: Historically consequential pianist-composer Carl Maria von Weber (1786 - 1826) is born in Germany. Weber was a crucial figure in the development of German Romantic opera. His best-known opera, “Der Freischutz” (“The Marksman”) (1821), was a smash hit when it first premiered and still ranks among the most significant German operas ever written. Weber’s other mature operas – “Die Drei Pintos” (“The Three Pintos”) (composed c. 1820/1821 but left incomplete at his death and only finished many years later by Gustav Mahler [1860 - 1911]), “Euryanthe” (1823), and “Oberon” (1826), also exerted a tremendous influence on later German opera composers including Giacomo Meyerbeer (1791 - 1864) and Richard Wagner (1813 - 1883) In addition to his important operatic output, Weber also produced a substantial body of instrumental music including two symphonies, a viola concerto, a bassoon concerto, and several popular virtuosic piano pieces including the famous “Invitation to the Dance” (1819) and the ���Konzertstuck in F minor” (1821). Indeed, Weber's solo piano pieces were carefully studied by both Frederic Chopin (1810 - 1849) and Franz Liszt (1811 - 1886) in the next generation. In a remarkable twist of fate, Weber was actually a cousin-in-law to W.A. Mozart (1756 - 1791) through Mozart’s wife, Constanze. PICTURED: A handwritten "calling card" that Weber penned featuring the Anglicized version of his first name ("Charles") and a London address ("91 Portland Street"), which dates it to his final few months which he spent in London before tragically succumbing to tuberculosis at the age of just 39. This card has been framed with a mid-19th Century "carte de visite" copy of an etching of Weber, showing him in a rather stereotypically fanciful and dramatic "Romantic" pose.

[relevant-catnik]

Jenny Lind Paper Dolls

Jenny Lind, the famous “Swedish Nightingale” was incredibly popular in her day.  This paper doll set dates to somewhere ~1850, and is held at the Cooper-Hewitt Museum, part of the Smithsonian Institution.

As “Norma”

“In Concert-Toilette”

Valentine from the opera "Die Hugenotten" (The Huguenots)

“Alice” from “Robert de Teufel”

The cover of the box:

Jenny Lind

“Vielka” from the opera... “Vielka.”

More Vielka

“Daughter of the Regiment”

(A poster of the same show)

Dona Anna from Don Juan

Agathe from the opera "Der Freischutze"

Amine from the opera "Die Nachtwandlerin" (The Somnanbule)

[thetstandsfort]

My main nuggs (and those who I haven't remembered for a long time... and just a rundown of my LC playthrough)

When I first played LC, I got two employees who I grew in love for. Asera and Kobenri.

Underneath Asera's Today's Expression mask, they just have a tired expression including a stubble (thank the Wellcheers crew). Asera is calm, collected, works dilligently and fights alright. I envision them hating work since they just rule at it.

Kobenri, a custom employee, is kind of similar to the Kobeni she was based off. Scared shitless, but can fight a really good fight. Later she became a Twilight wielder, contrasting with BongBong's Paradise Lost.

Asera was also an employee who died thanks to Portrait of another World linking them with someone who was working with Justice Bird. It also marked my first big reset, as I had some unfortunate abnormalities close together.

Also going through my screenshots, it comes to my attention that Kobenri once got selected for Baby Duty.

So, first reset. Installed some mods to make custom employees free. Here's Mari.

Mari... I forgot everything about her.

Anyways, later on, Kobenri reached Quintuple V

Ain't that nice? Way later she did decide to smoke thanks to Freischutz giving her an E.G.O. gift.

But then, way later, when Kobenri was wielding [CENSORED] and wearing Mimicry... a legend was born

BongBong, an agent of chaos, a creature beyond our comprehension, maybe even a humanoid abno in disguise. I really like her, unfortunately, she doesn't get the spotlight yet

However, one employee who I mocked when I was building the facility is the one named Xavier.

Xavier looks... in my honest opinion, a bit ugly. It's thanks to Wellcheers, but even despite that, he slays magical girls, pulling the Queen of Hatred out of hysteria multiple times.

Meanwhile BongBong was wielding the Magical Bullet, causing some days to take some trial and error.

About Asera, they got covered by [CENSORED]

Same went with Kobenri, but with eyes.

So after taking care of Asiyah's problems, I restarted again.

This is where the nuggetsplosion happens

Yes, BongBong got misspelled, but the rest is here, including some not-so important custom nugs. A lot of them were from DMC, Evangalion, Yakuza, Genshin Impact, but all misspelled in a little way.

We also have my girlfriend, who looks more like Zato-1. I love her to bits, but she's not really an "OC", I would say. She's just along for the ride.

Waay later, after Tiphereth got ice cream, Chesed got coffee and Gebura did the facility in, I created Chiyo-Chan

From Azumanga Daioh, I created her as a disposable employee, although she sticked by my side for a long part of the game. She even went through Hokma's little tantrum, which was easily contained by repressing the urge to press space.

Still, Asera got killed again.

After this, I did another reset, got BongBong's name correct and decided to finish this game, going for all the other abno's left. So while abusing time and trying to lure three birds and a plague doctor

So. as my main blorbo's (if I use this term correctly), we have Asera, Kobenri, BongBong and Xavier. It's time for my final one.

Born with a bit of an unfortunate name and sent to the team with a weird sephiroth, here's my final blorbo: Poussey. While Asera knows their shit, Poussey does not and does not care. She can punch, kick, and turn you into a book before you can say that I'm referencing the wrong Project Moon game.

After getting a lost paradise, I restarted for the final time.

Remember when I said I had some DMC characters? Dio was the replacement for one of the characters, and has a keen refusal to die ever since. KiKi is supposed to be the perfect rival of BongBong, but it did not work out. But other than Courtney, the rest just had to be made on my own.

As for BongBong being an agent of chaos, I mean it.

BongBong and Kobenri are also a thing.

Their relation even made them sprout wings (Note, whitenight was not available at the time, thus the console was used. I regret nothing.)

I erm... ran out of screenshots. Boo-womp

So, after LC, where are they now?

(the other floors have nothing of note)

They are loyal parts of the Library, Xavier still has to be pulled from somewhere, but we might be able to find him in no time when the writer actually plays Ruina further again for Pete's sake.

Thank you for reading to my inner machinations of my mind, I hope you enjoyed my coverage of LC a bit using the hook of nuggets.

[hirokiyuu]

ok when i started lobocorp i was like. im not gonna get attached ot my agents and make them into ocs. tehyre just gonna die. adn now i have played myself.

anyways roundup under the cut solely so i dont lose them. im only on day 25 and abt halfway thru most of the sephirot missions so if i am wrong abt anything do not tell me. if these are disproved later i will just repurpose these ocs for something else LMFAO

xavier (they/them)

safety team captain, takes the position very seriously

fortitude iii, prudence v, temp v, justice ii

serious, responsible, level-headed. the type to volunteer to take care of the aleph class abnormalities during qliphoth meldowns.

child of a single mother, who grew deathly ill. when she passed away, her medical debt did not go with her. wound up at the corporation to try and pay it off

hannah (she/her)

safety team member

fortitude ii, prudence v, temp v, justice iii

playful + light-hearted prodigy. fucking nuts also

madly in love (?) with xavier. managed to survive blue star solely bc she views xavier as her god and therefore was unswayed by it.

joined lobocorp bc she was bored of everything else around her. too easy, too boring. wanted to do something interesting with her life, and tends to look down on ppl who bemoan being there

void dream sheep horns. Very Fitting.

gabriella (she/they)

safety team member

fortitude iii, prudence iii, temp iv, justice iv

serious and sharp-tongued. "security guard" of the safety team during breaches/ordeals.

long-time friends with xavier. joined the company at the same time. thinks hannah is fucking nuts.

gambling habit.

basil (she/her)

safety team member, former control team captain

fortitude iii, prudence ii, temp ii, justice ii

anxious, Does Not Want To Be Here

well aware she's only part of this team to fill out the numbers. tends to cling to xavier and/or gabriella. Deeply Afraid of hannah, who hates her also

couldn't find work outside for one reason or another, wound up at lobocorp as a last resort. Regrets This.

tim (he/him)

former training team captain, current control team member

fortitude iv, prudence v, temp iv, justice v

quiet, laid-back but takes his job seriously. seems normal but actually a blueberry shot kind of guy

formerly in charge of dealing with der freischutz. they are Somewhat Homosexual. still uses that awful pipe given to him by the guy

orphan. fought Very Hard to become a member of Society despite this, managed to land a white collar job at a semi-decent small company. thought life was looking up, until he found out his boss had used his name for loan fraud and he was now in a fuckton of debt he couldn't contest. joined lobocorp as a last resort.

juliet (she/her, any pronouns)

control team member

fortitude iii, prudence iii, temp iii, justice iv

a little tetchy. generally patrols for ordeals/suppressions

charged with assault. lobocorp was one of hte only places that would hire her as a result.

[vexarii]

i havent been playing much lobcorp recently and still havent done tipereth suppression but every time i try i play for like 10 minutes and then all my employees instantly die to something random and then i sit there and go "tch. mannnnn." and lose all motivation and alt f4 for example literally 30 seconds ago 3 of my best employees died to a completely random shot from Der Freischutz even though LITERALLY NOTHING HAPPENED THAT COULD'VE POSSIBLY LOWERED HIS QUIPHOTH COUNTER COME ONNN I DIDNT EVEN WORK WITH HIM

guys how do you do tipereth suppression i am going to cry my best employee wearing Nothing Here's full ego gear died to literally nothing and i just seem to lose to random chance

[voi-che-sapete]

no rest for the wicked ~

prepping the chorus for my first big-girl-professional-company-and-not-school opera, Die Freischütz! Then in a few weeks it’s off to Oregon for some Dritte Dame goodness in Die Zauberflöte. It’s a very Deutcsher Sommer for me 🇩🇪

[trapdoornumberthree]

This is all I can focus on right now please send help I have work to do 

[managerialtips]

Mod Headcanon Corner: Funeral of the Dead Butterflies

- Funeral is the most benevolent abnormality out there. He doesn't actually mean harm to employees, he actually wants them all to live long and fulfilling lives.

- He breaches when he can sense someone is going to die soon. He tries to protect them from whatever threat is going to kill them, but more often than not he grants them a painless death as an act of mercy. It's all he can do for them.

- Generally treats those who work with him well, he wants them to be comfortable rather than afraid.

- Enjoys listening to classical music, and his favorite instrument is the violin.

- Gives his favorite employees nicknames! They're all based on flowers he thinks suits them.

- His butterflies act as his eyes and ears to goings-on outside his unit. They can be seen fluttering around all corners of the facility, and like to congregate on his favorite employees.

- In regards to the rest of the gun trio, Funeral is neutral to Little Red. She’s a mercenary and does kill people, but she doesn’t do it out of malicious intent and seems pretty mindful of him, so he’s cool with her. With Der Freischutz he’s far less kind, he has a lot of disdain for the marksman yet the two have some sort of mutual respect for one another.

[de-sterren-nacht]

Day 49 is kicking my teeth in. Any suggestions beyond 'take the hills at all costs'

if you have red riding hood, use her as much as you possibly can; same with der freischutz, although hes way harder to use properly.

spread your employees out before arbiter spawns, maybe like 3 in each room at most, as close to the abnormality theyre supposed to work with as possible, because the spikes she summons can stack on top of each other. when arbiter spawns, have about eight people ready to fight her, all in ALEPH ego, and prioritise working on the abnormalities you never want to escape under any circumstances (nothing there, mountain of smiling bodies). you can let breaching abnormalities rampage through the facility on day 49 as long as they dont kill anyone important. however, do NOT fight arbiter unless shes stunned from you undoing her meltdowns of gold, otherwise her pillar attacks will cause more meltdowns. just have your eight guys waiting in a room nearby for her to be stunned, rush in, deal as much damage as possible, then fuck off when she gets up.

i know clockface kills/panics someone when you pause. you are going to need to pause anyway. try to avoid pausing too much, because the amount of employees he kills/panics increases every time you pause, but if you absolutely need to pause (arbiter spawns meltdowns that are too far away, too many dangerous abnormalities breach at once, etc) do it and pray he makes someone panic and not die.

dont worry about resources, or lives lost. day 50 is a victory lap. you can throw away every single employee but as long as you still have one at the end of the day to prevent an autoloss, youre golden. throw absolutely everything at the arbiter and the white ordeals.

if arbiter spawns at the same time as white noon, the runs lost. just restart

[fgodestinyawakenings]

EOR Shinjuku Singularity: Section 17~END

And... I’m fucking done!!!! I’m FUCKING DONE FROM THIS TUTORIAL STAGE OF HP BAR! But most importantly, I’m done with Shinjuku story!! Emiya Alter now unlocked and can be spooked anytime... I’m... Going back to grind for QP OTL

Section 17

Greeted by Other James upon entering... Though there’s not much difference between the two, Other James commented he’s surprised that he even had a good side that opposed him. While Guda commented our James is a good friend, Other James doesn’t care as it was meant to be thrown away.

His focus was onto the Gudas, who got captured yet rescued with Holmes help. And now, returned back here to face him for the final fight. Wait? 3000 years? We only just met like now? Why would you have a 3000 grudge against us?

Either way, the meteor is definitely on its way into the gun barrel. A strange thing he chanted that he doesn’t want to die but yet values his plan more than his own life... Regardless, our first round of fight with Moriarty is here!!

Merlin definitely died at some point... But Leonidas’s taunt been keep both Vlad and Merlin alive for a long while! The RNG for skill and np seal, is not as headache as compared to JP.  However... The Buff Removal RNG can still be shitty when it landed on the wrong person OTL

The defeat of the Evil Moriarty... Now the meteor shouldn’t be coming any closer to Earth! Huh? What do you mean it’s not over?! That’s right... There’s no Holy Grail around powering the meteor to come... What the... Da Vinci? What’s going--?!

A laughter from an unknown being appeared before them. And he knows the Gudas?! Goetia!!!?!?!! No, that’s not him, he’s definitely defeated... A DEMON GOD PILLAR?!?!?!!?!?!?! Yeah, I thought those were gone when we defeat Goeta!!

The Demon God Pillar before them confirmed they were indeed wiped out. So, the reason it came back was because... It hated us, a normal human like Gudas, destroyed all their plans. A normal human Guda that chanced upon joining Chaldea and eventually saved Humanity. Because of that, it wanted to destroy the whole world to kill us...

Apparently, Charles Babbage of this world was supposed to be one of the Demon God vessel! From there he calculated the knowledge he received of when the incineration of humanity will take place.

With its hatred, Demon God Bael planned and gained powers from 3000 years so this would happen. And for James... What...? James...? What are you...? He shot Holmes and...

Everything from this from the start... All of this... Even his splitting himself into two... Was to... HOLMES!!! He was shot right into his spirit Origin... HOLMES!!! What? His Spirit Origin isn’t gone? Moriarty took his Spirit Origin... And now he’s more complete than ever

Betraying us until this point... From the start with Shinjuku being told like out of a storybook, cutting off from the world and humanity. A fictional city when anything impossible can happened and exist... From there, both met and forged alliance in making their respective goals to get what they want.

Using the logic behind the 21 game,  Holmes win by going second that’s how in their story James always lose. A story in their world, good always win and evil always lose. Because of their story that restricted them, that’s when James created the plan in joining us so he could win from there

As Artoria Alter vexed at not seeing sooner, something that no one could see. He erased his memory, hence resetting his own existence. Creating two version of himself, or using Bael was the evil one, they both played their role. Well, thanks for the help as always, Jerk!

Emiya Alter arrived and shot at Bael! Which... That was his goal all along?! Among the league that was summoned, he was without a doubt still on his role as the counter guardian to defeat the evil in this Singularity! With Emiya Alter joining us... He handle Bael, while we, got a round 2 to settle a score with Moriarty!

While I’m lucky most NP of them both hits either on Invincibility or Taunted target... The longest and worst is still fighting Bael himself. AOE Berserker could’ve been preferred... But I’m not risking it with James and Bael gimmicks in this

The defeat of the Demon God Pillar Bael is done! As Moriarty bid farewell to Bael... Bael too lament in regret and furious that he can’t killed the Gudas, yet laugh...? What do you mean the fate is sealed?!

It disappeared now leaving James who’s still on his plan for the meteor. It’s here right at the sky!! And we’ve moved?!!

Section 18

As James comments about this Singularity being a story... He mentions again about Der Freischutz being able to hit his target with six out of seven bullets. The seventh bullet was the grim reaper that killed the one he loved, one bullet that he was forced to shoot even he doesn’t want to.

The meteor confirmed being the seventh bullet and James with his Phantom Spirit... So the bullet.... IT WILL HIT THE GUDAS?! From his plan that involve Bael needing to kill him seriously... That way he earned Guda’s trust, and considered Gudas to be someone very precious to protect... AND THE SEVENTH BULLET WILL HIT THEM NO MATTER WHAT!

Now that it’s really coming towards Gudas, and Holmes is still being inside James... Both Emiya Alter and Artoria Alter left to intercept the bullet. The latter consoling they did nothing wrong, while Emiya Alter complimented at their calm determination despite what they learned

Chaldea is now able to force rayshift onto the Gudas now that the Shinjuku has a locked on their existence with the incoming bullet. Gudas asked if Moriarty regret this, both having no regrets to everything that come so far... A breeze... And blue-black flame with a well known laughter.... It’s the real Count of Monte Cristo, Edmond!!

And Jeanne Alter too! Thanks to Holmes’s advice in watching her feet, she saved herself by diving into the manhole to escape from Lobo! Not only that, Shakespeare is rescued! Hans is also here!! And something for us?

Confirming from James that Sherlock’s power is still within him, both William and Hans uses their Noble Phantasm to summon all the Detective spirits they could summoned to help us! Wait us? Sherlock planned for you guys in aiding us one way or another to defeat Moriarty?!

... Understood. As James finally took out the Holy Grail of this Singularity, the final battle of this Singularity began... James Moriarty, this is the end, it’s time to face your defeat! Your giant ghost of riddles vs our phantom ghost of detective to solve this mystery!!

Thank god for Xuangzang’s NP twice in killing Enigma first! That thing is a pain in the ass after my lesson learned in JP... But the real MVP of this fight, Leonidas. Cu helped in being the DPS later... But Leonidas is the real man, tanking and criting James until his death!

Compared to the fight Bael... Yeah, this one is more easier compared to Bael. Though near end... Merlin died since I ran out of options to stall James from his NP.

Overpowering him, we can defeat him this time! But, he uses the Holy Grail one last time to give him more strength... Not like we’re going to let it happen! By the power of the detective given to us as a borrowed Noble Phantasm... James Moriarty....

THE CULPRIT BEHIND THIS WHOLE FICTIONAL SINGULARITY IS YOU! Now that he’s been forced to admit he’s the culprit... The magical energy is now leaving him! James knows that even with all the detective on Gudas’s side, he could’ve win. Yet... Because he pretended to be a good guy, he acted so deeply into it... Without realizing, he became the mask of a good guy and had fun from it

The memories of their shenanigans from James, made him attached the feeling what was it like on the side of Justice. 

And at Artoria’s and Emiya’s end, both are now able to destroy the meteor coming to them. Chaldea’s end, they still can’t get the Gudas out from the Singularity. A single shot imbued with his Noble Phantasm, Emiya’s bullet fired and destroyed the large meteor into smaller ones! Artoria Alter’s Excalibur Morgan blasted away the remaining pieces into nothingness! They saved the whole world!

Now at the League, James chuckled at even if they’re able to reach their goal. They were still content at what was the end result. James is about to return to the Throne of Heroes, apologizing for his action and admitting he really does enjoy their time together in his anmesia self. He also cursed at the Detective Spirits for causing his downfall

The detective spirits also took their leave too. James wondered if one of them meant sarcasm on finding happiness in the future. Though, that’ll mean you coming home to people’s chaldea despite being a fucking limited Servant here! YEah, we’ll entertain you big time so do come home then, James!

Now that he left, both Shakespeare and Hans left with their work overdue again. As for Edmond... He returned back to his tower, assuring if we need his help, he’ll come down again.

Leaving Jeanne Alter now... Well, you can be summoned anytime if you also don’t make yourself limited to. But oh well... Emiya Alter returned with giving message Artoria already riding off to somewhere once their mission completed. Emiya Alter bid us farewell not without saying we’ll need to pay him a fee if we needs his help once he’s summoned

On purpose without attempting to be honest herself... She’s finally honest in getting a dance with the Guda. Don’t even try to lie you want to get back at Artoria Alter. She’s doing a favor of trying to get what she wanted.

With a dance entertained, we rayshifted back home at last... Guda left off without telling Mash what happened, so she chase after them. Da Vinci orders the staff to analyze the Singularity now that it’s cleared... HUH?! WHAT THE HELL?! WHY THE FUCK ARE YOU HERE, HOLMES?!

Wait... Okay while he gets to stay... There’s still other pillars out there?! Three or rather four with an event counted as the main story.. They survived and escaped after the last Singularity. Even with Incineration of Humanity and this solved... is this foreshadowing of Part 2?!

Oh well, at least you can go do a favor in falsifying data to keep the Gudas safe. Even the staff agree on having genius will be a handful here...

Now in Shinjuku street, Artoria feeds Cavall II one last time before leaving. Here’s hoping a new owner or a free life will give him happiness! After than a narration about Shinjuku and the world ordeal itself... It’s over, Shinjuku Phantom case is finally solved!

Thoughts & Observation

Aniplex, couldn’t you just fucking give us this Singularity first instead of that fucking spartan lesson?!

Expected of tutorial stage, if you got majority of your Servants level at a decent one, it shouldn’t be that hard to fight against the gimmicks for this Singularity

The second round of Singularity with the use of Avenger Servants as enemy before a certain class kicks in. By the time with practice against Kingu and Gorgon... There should be ideas for team composition to deal neutral damage

Phantom & Christine

Apparently HP break for Christine doesn’t really equivalent she’s changing her class to shorten NP gauge

But dealing with both Berserker is hell regardless what version you’re in

Amusing that Phantom’s charm keep landing on the male support instead of Ishtar right there

Servants wise:

Your best AOE NP Servant from either Welfare or 3* should suffice to wipe them one shot

Healers definitely needed or support that buff defense because the moment Christine turned into a giant ghost, it’s when things start going shit when she fucking crits

CEs:

Kiyohime CE: I equipped this on Ishtar, so it helps a lot in killing Phantom once Christine is down

Charm resist CE: I don’t use it but well either skill of debuff resist or anything should suffice if Phantom’s charm does land on your Female Servant

Yan Qing

My only problem with him is his sudden NP tick. The front mobs weren’t an issue with Leonidas killing them asap

Gimmick on draining wasn’t also that much of a problem... Well except I need to start afresh because of needing Leonidas NP taunt to do so

Crit damage still a little painful... But whole problem is his NP charge giving either less time to get taunter ready or Merlin to pull up his AOE invincibility because no one where he’s going to hit

Servants wise:

If you don’t have Xuangzang, your best Servant in this is Medea. With the right team, you can get her to spam her NP often to remove his crit buffs. Her first skill also gave instant full NP charge when Yan Qing activated his gimmick upon entering his wave

For the front mobs, AOE Lancer or so should do the trick in wiping them out

AOE Caster can still work though their damage wise may not be as effective ST Caster

Taunters are definitely preferred in this fight, more or less to avoid Yan Qing’s NP to hit on your support & DPS

Support wise... I’d say 1 staller if you have, more or less to either stun or drain his NP if your taunter or AOE defense Servant isn’t ready

CEs:

Kiyohime CE: Practically this CE is mostly needed for this Singuarity

NP Seal: Works well for me, especially stalling wise on his NP

Taunts CE: In the case if you want him to focus on your taunters longer

Lobo

For his first round, DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE AND BRING A FULL TEAM FOR BOSS FIGHTING OTL

Even if his gimmick on defese down debuff failed, his normal attack let alone his crit hurts like a fucking bitch for an Avenger

Second round thank god being Rider still... Jeanne is my savior to protect from his NP + healing from Jeanne Alter’s burning field

Third round and fourth round... Taunters are really your best friend

This is definitely one of the most difficult fight thanks to his Avenger class and gimmicks

Servants wise:

Rider version: Shiki or your best ST NP Assassin to do the job in killing him. But taunters is needed still, because majority Assassin evasion isn’t effective with his NP effect.

Jeanne is viable for only Rider version with her NP to keep your team alive + healing together

Avenger version:

Euryale: Your best bet by far with Charm + NP staller, she can helped in delaying from his NP activated. But with her low HP on the problem, a good Caster support and Taunter can keep her alive

Proto Cu: My own Cu isn’t that good and needs more work... But effectively with his skills at the decent level + stats maxed out, he should be your best DPS against him

ST Berserker: At your own risk as the moment an Avenger crits.. It can be insta-death on them

CEs:

Kiyohime CE

NP Seal CE

Taunt CE: Because sometimes a normal attack will kill your support Caster in a blink of an eye

Insta-death resist CE: This is mostly if your RNG screw you badly on the final round... But otherwise if you’re lucky, it’ll always be a miss.

Emiya Alter

A one-time boss fight but... Don’t waste your time kill ALL 200 Hornets

Unlike a certain event coming, he doesn’t have any gimmicks. The battle ends with his HP bar break

Servants wise:

AOE/ST Lancer: Take your pick as your main target is to clear off his first HP layer

AOE/ST Berserker: Same as the reason above... Though the Hornets with Emiya Alter will kill them quickly before they can kill him

Taunters: With his NP being an ST type, bring one in to keep your DPS alive for this whole fight

CEs:

Kiyohime CE

Taunts CE

Defensive CE: If needed against the Hornets together

James Moriarty & Bael

NA feels easier... But among the 3 round, the worst one is still the one with Bael

Enigma was actually better this time unlike NA, but the party cost gave me limited setup choices for this fights

Bael:

The first unique Demon God Pillar that becomes the Avenger class in this EOR Singularity

His AOE normal attack helps a lot in buffing your team’s NP quickly, along with his crits too

I don’t remember him charging his NP by 1 tick... But at least thank god his NP has always landed on the taunted targets before the effect runs out

Servants wise:

AOE Lancer/Berserker: Being the second round fight with James, your AOE Lancer is preferred to fight with Bael and James. Unlike Berserker, if you picked Lancer for DPS, put your focus onto Bael since AOE NP from your Servant will hit James at the same time. But also unlike Berserker, they aren’t prone to dying faster from the class affinty

Taunters: His NP is immediate insta-death unless you got permanent Guts buff on your Servant. Use them as suicide scapegoat to avoid your support and DPS dying

CE:

Taunt CE

Attack Boost CE: This is before a certain class arrival, basic damage increase is welcome to deal against him

Defensive CE: For your AOE Berserker in this fight

Enigma:

I got no comments since I immediately two-shotted this giant ghost before anything can happened

Though thanks to this ghost, it’s the reason the final fight my party is having limited choice for Lancer DPS

Other than its AOE attack, it acts as Moriarty support for this whole fight. From draining your party’s NP, sealing them and their skill to charging James’s NP full when needed... Your main priority is to get rid it first before going after James

Servants:

Medea if you don’t have Xuangzang. Xuanzang is more of together with borrowed support Merlin + Shakespeare to 2 shot it gone

But Medea wise, can either double Tamamo (if you do have your own), or borrowed Waver to support her attack damage to kill it

AOE Caster also works... But not that recommended as preferred most damage will hit on Enigma to kill it quickly

AOE Berserker: If you’re using them, you’ll definitely want Enigma dead immediately or ASAP because class affinity

Martha Ruler & Scathach: For the Undead Trait it has for stronger Neutral damage

CE:

Starting NP CE: With the gimmick buff of charging your NP by 20% every turn + borrowed Support’s NP charging... It helps to use 

James:

After JP’s lesson learned... He isn’t that difficult once you can keep your whole team alive against him

The first round is really RNG that’s thankfully kind to me... Skill and NP seal on random front-line Servant is tricky if you don’t where it lands.

But the main thing you want to spam often is your support’s NP rather than your DPS’s NP in all three round

Of course there’s buff removal by RNG luck.. Yeah, even Leonidas/George’s taunt are removable at that point

Second round, other than draining your stars, he isn’t much of a threat except acting like a support to Bael. With a good AOE DPS, you can focus on killing Bael first while the NP will then deal the damage on him

Third round with him being the DPS, he’s still a threat but as said above, your main focus is the massive ghost before going after him.

His HP Break will give him two times unexpected NP charge by 1 tick, so prepare your defense once he’s close

Servants wise:

Cu Chulainn: Everyone’s favorite doggo! Though I didn’t use him for this whole fight against James. I have Vlad that hit harder, but Cu is definitely the budget choice... Except be careful of his one turn that spams his ignore invincibility

Leonidas: My MVP for the whole fight with him. His own taunt NP and generating stars... He’s the real DPS before Cu kicks in the final round with his nice crit dealing damage at James

Other ST Lancers: Benkei (budget staller) & Diarmund (buff remover ST DPS, his second skill against female will definitely not work on him)

ST Berserker: First round should be fine.. But it’s still at your own risk, especially the second round onwards he has an ally with him on the field

Other Taunters: You definitely need them especially from his NP

CEs:

Kiyohime CE

His Rightful place/starting CE: This is mainly for Leonidas if you do plan to bring him on the field. He was initially a support just to get his NP start while generating stars... But become a DPS once Xuangzang died in the final round, with Merlin + Waver 2030 CE generating hell lots of stars for crit fest

NP Seal: For second round especially, if you can land it on James to delay his NP while killing Bael

 And... I need QP because CBC is going to be very expensive or not if anyone is coming home. Or using that for Nobunaga event rerun because I got Waver and Dantes to raise!

[titleknown]

BTW, a question for the folklore/mythology side of Tumblr, do you know of any magic firearms in folklore/myth/legend?

I mean, it’s a rare thing; and all the folklore I’ve seen mainly focuses on the bullets; whether they be the classic Silver Bullets, the glass bullets required to defeat a Fext, or the seven magic bullets given by the devil in “Die Freischutz” legend (Famously adapted by Tom Waits as “The Black Rider”)

[opera-ghosts]

Karel Burian (1870-1924) was born in Rousínov near Rakovník in what is now the Czech Republic. He initially aspired to be a lawyer and began his studies in Prague. However, a music professor who heard Burian’s voice convinced him to take up singing. After a period of study and a few local engagements (including a stint in the Maisel Synagogue choir), Burian made his debut in Brno in the spring of 1891 as Jeník in The Bartered Bride. The 21 year old tenor made a big impression on the management of the theater and was offered a long term contract. However, Burian was rather disappointed with the lack of projects given to him and left the theater to seek his fortune elsewhere. He made his way to Germany, where his reputation as a Wagnerian spread quickly. He was engaged by Cologne Opera as its principal Heldentenor from 1894-1896. Throughout the 1890s, Burian was much in demand in Berlin, Hannover and Dresden, and even returned home for an engagement in Prague. However, the tenor preferred the German theaters, where he could command much higher fees than in his homeland. Burian created the role of Herod in the world premiere of Strauss’ opera Salome in Dresden in 1905. He also sang the role in the London and New York premieres two years later. However, it was as a Wagnerian that Burian made his mark and he sang nearly all the principal Wagner roles during his years with London’s Covent Garden (four scattered seasons between 1904-1914) and in his seven seasons with the MET in New York (1906-1913). Oddly, his presence at Bayreuth was limited to a single Parsifal in 1908. Among the greatest of Burian’s nearly one hundred operatic roles were Max in Der Freischütz, Florestan in Fidelio, Canio in Pagliacci, Herod in Salome, Loge in Das Rheingold, Siegmund in Die Walküre, both Siegfrieds and the title roles in Dalibor, Tristan und Isolde, Lohengrin, Tannhäuser and Parsifal. In addition to his reputation as a great Wagnerian Heldentenor, Burian had a reputation as a man of excesses. The tenor enjoyed eating, drinking and the company of women. An oft repeated story, probably apocryphal, has it that Burian was enjoying a bottle of beer during a recording session when he began to choke and sputter. The beer had reportedly been poisoned by a vengeful recording technician, the cuckolded husband of one of the tenor’s many conquests. While certain details of this tale can probably never be verified, it IS known that Burian accidentally ingested bleach in 1920. Although the results were not fatal, the tenor received serious burns to the inside of his mouth and throat from this mishap. While being treated by his physician, it was discovered that Burian’s lifestyle was beginning to catch up to him. The years of heavy drinking and overall disregard for his physical condition had taken a toll on his health. It was discovered that he was suffering from diabetes as well as heart and liver disease. Burian’s doctor warned him to curb his appetites but the tenor was dismissive of this advice. After his voice recovered, he began to perform again, despite his deteriorating health. While receiving a shave from his barber in early 1924, Burian’s face was nicked and he contracted streptococcus. In his already weakened condition, the tenor was unable to fight the advancing infection. He retreated to his farm in Senomaty, where he spent his final months in a critical state. Tragically, Karel Burian succumbed to his illness in September of that year at the age of 54.

[manager-manager]

Another memory I had... when I accidentally fell asleep today...

I (Binah) passed Freischutz in a hall and asked him what he was doing. He answered with "One Chesed Must Die" and fired a bullet. I was fucking SHOOK. I found Cheesey in another part of the facility and while I was warning him, the bullet ZOOMED PAST. A minute later, Hod announced over the speaker that Nothing There had been successfully contained.

#thatjusthappened

In case you're wondering, and I know you are because you all love that edgy gun fireball boye, his voice is deep, sounds like he's talking through a metal pipe and is accompanied by flames crackling.

[blood-fangs-talons]

On the Devil archetype

Devils and damnation are all metaphorical, and I’ll be using a lot of christian language here, since most of my interaction with devils in Western media are from a christian standpoint.

That said, devil stories definitely don’t have to be supernatural. The devil could be an idea, or an ambition, or an invention. it could be wealth itself, and the corruption that power brings. 

Devils are specific, stereotyped characters that appear in fiction, and act as tempters, offering power, wealth, influence, fame, revenge, etc. Stories that include devil contracts as the main source of tension are called Faustian tales, after the story of Faust.

Depending on the theological beliefs of the writer, the Signee’s soul is on the line in different ways. Sometimes the soul is damned from the moment they sign the contract. Sometimes all it takes is repentance and rejection of the devil and their power. Basically, as long as you repent, realize your wrongdoing, and accept the Light of God, you can reach Salvation. These wasted opportunities are what makes tragedies tragedies, and it’s what makes devil stories tragic and human. 

These are just some tropes I personally have noticed; I’m sure a quick google on Google Scholar or TV Tropes will net you about a hundred other stereotypes.

1) The Lucky or The Cruel. Everything goes great, if violently, the signee gets what they want, and then get dragged to Hell. The signee tends to be an unsympathetic bastard to begin with, and sees the suffering around them and ignores it. Usually their lives start to unravel before they actually die, the effects of the diabolical magic turning ironic. (Ever heard of Robert Johnson?)

2) The Repentant. The wish isn’t granted the way the signee wanted or expected. They spend the story trying to minimize or reverse what their contract has done. (Basically any evil jinn story ever.)

3) The Wasteful. The Signee signed the contract with good or pure intent, but either use the power for evil or waste it completely. (Faust wastes omniscience by using it to get laid at parties.)

4) The Reluctant. The Signee signs, but is very reluctant to use the power they’ve been granted. Either they’re aware of the danger their soul is in, or they become aware of the person they’re turning into when they use the power. If they act, they are damned. If they don’t act, they are condemned sort of situation.

There are several Devil archetypes I’ve seen too. 

1) The Willful Tool. “I didn’t do it, I’m just the gun. Guns don’t kill people, people do.” The willful tool is a devil that offers its service and places itself in the signee’s power. They provide a false barrier between the signee and their actions. They tend to provoke or encourage the signee to command it to do things, claim that the devil will be solely responsible, but ultimately the blame and the punishment will fall on the signee’s head. “Things didn’t work out? I was just doing what you wanted, you should have been more specific.” (Think Sebastian from Black Butler, Certain scenes from Hellsing.)

2) The Tempter. They give the Signee power directly, and it becomes the signee’s incompetence or ignorance that brings suffering. 

3) The Gracious. They gift the signee with an item that grants power. A common trope here is that the gift ends up in the wrong hands, and wreaks havoc elsewhere. (Like the Hand of Glory, or the blessed bullets from Der Freischutz)

I feel like Devil stories are meant to be Tragedies in the classical sense. Tragedies are marked by fate, inevitability, and missed opportunities.  No matter what, if you make a deal with a devil, there will be suffering. Any story that has a devil that fails to bring ruin--by killing the devil with no consequences, by slipping the noose of the contract, by a deus ex machina that says everything is suddenly okay, or by beating a devil in a fiddling competition--is missing the tragic point of devils. All along the way, there were opportunities to avoid suffering or damnation, but the character missed or ignored them. NOT because they’re stupid people, but because they’re blinded by ambition or hubris or grief. Human Nature (and the trappings of our culture) leads us to suffer and commit suffering on other humans--the devil is just the gun that makes those sufferings more visible. 

That’s the difference between a Devil Story and A Story With A Devil, I guess.

Additionally, it’s not the interaction with the devil that brings about damnation, or the use itself. You can buy a gun, but unless you use it (or it is used by someone else) it’s harmless.  It’s the result of use that results in damnation, because the power is designed to bring suffering to others. As soon as that bullet exits the chamber, your soul is on a bloody waterslide to  Phlegethon, the lake of boiling blood.