Move Approval V

[Jade Harley]

I'm doing a pretty big overhaul/upgrade of Aetherblades to vastly increase the versatility. So I'm reposting the whole move instead of just writing additions. I'm aware this will put me over my cap in terms of approval OM, since I had to add some stuff to other moves to collaborate with this. The changes to the other moves should be fairly simple though. It's not some super essential change, but if anyone gets time to look through this, I'll be grateful. I was depating making a new move for it all, but because the changes mesh greatly with the base attributes of the swords, I decided it probably wasn't possible to.

Original:
[spoiler]Aetherblades (600) Requires: Ranged Proficiency, Ranged Control

Viola can create up to four floating magical swords appear within 3m of her. Each sword takes 2 seconds of concentration to create, during which she can move. The swords are created one at a time, so it would take 8 seconds to make all 4. Creating the swords is not tiring. The swords are translucent blue-violet, have 0.9m long blades, are straight, and have a crossguard like a typical longsword. While they have handles, Viola is not physically strong enough to use them so has to control them with her magic. Usually, Viola can comfortably move the handles at up to 30m/s* within 60m of her, but while rotating them to attack or parry she would struggle to move them at 10m/s*. The swords can spin very fast while the handle is moving below 10m/s*, and if she had the reaction time and skill they would have a good shot at deflecting a bullet if in the right place.

The blades are durable and very unlikely to break - but, a strong hit to the handle will cause the sword to disperse into the air. Viola can destroy the swords with 2 seconds of stationary concentration per sword. They also disintegrate if Viola falls unconscious, or if they are ever moved more than 60m away from her. She can also destroy one instantly by touching its handle

The swords don't inherently require a lot of focus to move - no more than one has to focus to move an arm. But, in intense combat, using all four at once quickly and effectively does require her to stand still and dedicate all her concentration towards them. In a slower drawn-out fight, however, she can usually move and use/charge less demanding attacks while still controlling her swords - and using one or two swords at once doesn't notably inhibit her at all unless she is being very aggressive - or forced to put all her efforts towards defending from a fast attacker. The swords are generally weak (but still very sharp) - at least compared to what Viola's magic is capable of - they trade off raw strength for versatility, durability, and speed. So, if continuously harassed, the damage will build up. Furthermore, beyond 30m, wounds caused by the swords tend to be weaker, dropping off in strength until they reach 60m away where they can barely replicate a paper cut. In addition to being sharp, the blades of the swords are also hot - enough to leave minor scorch marks from a direct hit on both living targets and the terrain, but not enough to cauterise wounds. They also tend to make audible whirring noises while moving through the air, halfway between how a lightsaber and helicopter blades sound.

An opponent could technically grab the handle of one of the swords and try to use it against her as an incidental weapon, or as an actual weapon if they have mimic - although they're unlikely to find it an effective weapon. The swords may swing through the air quickly, but they are also very light. In addition, Viola would still have control over the weapon, so unless they're considerably stronger than her (their ATK against hers), she'd likely be able to make their attacks miss, or wrench the sword from their grip if she focuses.

*The speeds of the swords are relative to Viola's own movements. So if she was somehow moving 10m/s one direction, the swords would be unable to move faster than 20m/s in the opposite direction.[/spoiler]

New (and improved):

Aetherblades (1800) Requires: Ranged Proficiency, Ranged Control

Reference image (the shape and decor match Viola's swords, the colour does not):
[spoiler]

[/spoiler]
Viola can create up to four floating magical swords appear within 3m of her. Each sword takes 2 seconds of concentration to create, during which she can move. The swords are created one at a time, so it would take 8 seconds to make all 4. Creating the swords is lightly fatiguing. The swords have 0.9m long blades and 0.15m long handles, are straight and have a crossguard. While they have handles, Viola is not physically strong enough to use them so has to control them with her magic. Her Aetherblades are very versatile, and can be created with various different parameters (see below). The velocities of the swords are relative to Viola's own (non-rotational) movements. So if she was somehow moving 10m/s one direction, her speed would be added to the sword's if they move in that same direction, and subtracted if they move in the opposite. When turning, the swords pivot about the crossguard. Her swords are capable of spinning fast enough to potentially deflect/block normal bullets (400m/s speed) fired from ~3.66m (12ft) away or further, but she can't actually do that consistently - even with foresight. Under normal conditions, she wouldn't even be able to see her own swords move at this speed - just a blur. Receiving a vast boost to her reactions could allow her to block/deflect easily, however, but without a specialised move, she can't reflect something back at someone. Thrusts with her swords usually tend to be stronger, due to being harder to land than a swing and carrying a bit more force.

Viola can destroy the swords with 2 seconds of stationary concentration per sword. They also disintegrate if Viola falls unconscious, or if they are ever moved more than 60m away from her. She can also destroy one instantly by touching its handle. When her swords break, they shatter into polygons of their colour, which disintegrate harmlessly into the air. Her swords also have three main mechanical properties she can modify, with the fourth being a consequence of these. As well as a fifth, more subtle, property. She can choose each of these parameters upon creation, or recalibrate her sword by focusing on it for a fraction of a second and expending a small amount of energy, then leaving it inactive for a full second (which leaves it vulnerable to being broken, and unable to be used to attack). During this time, it will appear grey-white and translucent, brightly glowing its colour (not bright enough to blind anyone). This is the default appearance of a sword with no properties. This doesn't cost any energy or concentration, but the sword will stop moving relative to Viola (so if she moves further than 60m away from it, it will disintegrate). Recalibrating a sword also repairs it fully.

Durability. Viola can create swords on a varying scale of durability. A strong hit to the handle will always cause the sword to disperse into the air, but she can vary the strength of the blade. At its weakest, it will shatter after hitting an enemy or blocking an attack a single time. This varies up to being able to attack without breaking, but shattering if hit by any force, and slowly getting damaged over time, or simply being able to take a few good hits. Then, at its peak, her sword blades are basically indestructible. Only breaking if they get hit by a very strong attack (or by one of the reasons mentioned above). The more durable a sword is, the less translucent it is. The least durable option is not translucent enough to be hard to see, and will still glow.

Speed. Viola can adjust the speed of her sword handles (not impacting the rate they can spin). At their slowest, the handles can only move at 2m/s when not spinning or twisting quickly, and at a third of that if spinning and twisting quickly. At their fastest, Viola can move them up to 60m/s, and at a third of that speed when twisting or swinging quickly. This is all based around a property of the sword binding, so moving and spinning the slow ones at max speed takes just as much concentration as doing the same with the fast ones (at their max speed) - and is just as tiring. The faster a sword is, the bluer it and its glow become. The slowest sword option gives no colour change.

Strength. Viola's swords are naturally sharp and have a good cutting edge, but she can boost their damaging potential by adding additional magical energy around them. At their weakest, there is no extra energy and they damage opponents in a 'death by one thousand cuts' fashion, so she needs to harass someone to do the damage. This will build up quickly if they simply ignore them, however. Especially if Viola's ATK is much higher than their DEF. When at their strongest, the magic makes them very hot, damaging to even Viola upon physical contact. They're hot enough that, with enough time, Viola can pierce most reinforced walls and doors by stabbing and twisting the sword into them. Combat-wise, this will vastly increase the strength of her swords, but this will usually still be light-moderate damage (based on Viola's ATK and the target's DEF) with a lucky stab doing a bit more - if it hits. These damage descriptions assume the swords have the minimum mass. For increased mass, see further below. The heat tends to amplify how well they can cut, partially or completely incinerating things the sword swings into, but can lead to wounds cauterising. Only the blade gets hot, the crossguard and handle do not. The stronger a sword is, the redder it and its glow become. The weakest sword option gives no colour change.

With all of these traits maxed out, using all four swords at once feels like sprinting in terms of fatigue, so Viola cannot do it for very long without severely tiring herself out (30 seconds tops). This is based on controlling and moving them though, so having the swords exist and not using them to do anything doesn't cost any energy. Alternatively, Viola can have 'one and a half' of these traits maxed out (e.g. all of them at half strength, or one at full strength and one at half strength, or any other distribution) to reduce the fatigue cost down to her prefered 'light drain', with swinging and moving two swords at max speed only being about as tiring as swinging her arm to hit someone with a light weapon - so unless she goes really overboard she could use them like that for a whole fight easily. Viola could reduce the swords parameters further, but this is mostly pointless unless she's incredibly tired or intentionally holding back. The fatigue scales between the 'easy' and 'like running' levels linearly between the 1.5 and 3 traits maxed out. So if Viola capped out two traits and used the other as a 'dump stat', using them would probably feel like a light jog. A general list of configurations Viola prefers is listed at the end of this move. It is perfectly possible for each of Viola's swords to behave differently, and this can up the concentration requirements a bit. The more fatiguing a sword is to use, the blacker its colour and glow (capping out at dark red/blue/etc. never fully black, just dark). The easier it is to use, the more vibrant, and brighter, it and its glow is.

Viola can also increase the mass of her swords. This is done during reconfiguration (or during creation) but has no impact on the fatigue to use. In short, Viola trades out the swing speed of a sword for damage. By default, they can spin fast enough to block bullets. Viola can adjust the mass all the way up to the level of, 'can only spin in a full circle once per two seconds', or anywhere between the two. This makes the sword much easier to dodge, and much harder (or near impossible) to block with. But, in doing so, it vastly increases the blade's cutting power allowing even a weaker sword to deliver a good slash (but particularly if the blade was also made hot). Swinging a heavy sword at its maximum speed effectively requires the same concentration as swinging a light one at its maximum speed. In general, assuming every attack hits, a heavy sword can do more damage than a light one during the same time frame. Viola can choose to make all of her swords heavy, or just some of them, all by varying amounts. Increasing the mass of a sword also makes it harder to control, meaning if also made fast it will tend to have a larger turning circle, and there might be a bit of a lag before they get moving. Heavier swords don't have any visual change but leave little ripples in the air behind them (corresponding to their colour). Heavier swords leave larger ripples (these look similar to a heat haze over a fire, but with colours added).

The swords don't inherently require a lot of focus to move - no more than one has to focus to move an arm. But, in intense combat, using all four at once quickly and effectively does require her to stand still and dedicate all her concentration towards them. In a slower drawn-out fight, however, she can usually move and use/charge less demanding attacks while still controlling her swords - and using one or two swords at once doesn't notably inhibit her at all unless she is being very aggressive - or forced to put all her efforts towards defending from a fast attacker. Simple or repetitive actions are not mentally demanding, like simply telling a sword to move in a straight line or to spin (but this won't change the associated fatigue cost). Beyond 30m, wounds caused by the swords tend to be weaker, dropping off in strength until they reach 60m away where they can barely replicate a paper cut. They also tend to make audible whirring noises while moving through the air, halfway between how a lightsaber and helicopter blades sound.

Someone could technically grab the handle of one of the swords and try to use it against her as an incidental weapon, or as an actual weapon if they have mimic - although they're unlikely to find it an effective weapon. Enemies cannot, however, use the base telekinesis power to manipulate them (unless they have a move allowing them to manipulate others or their weapons). The swords are usually very light to hold (almost like a feather), so a normal swing as opposed to a magical one by Viola is not going to have the same potential. That said, if they get a heavy one, it will feel about as heavy as a sword of twice its size (made of steel), so it could be useful to some - but it'll still be incidental. In addition, Viola would still have control over the weapon, so unless they're considerably stronger than her (their ATK against hers), she'd likely be able to make their attacks miss, or wrench the sword from their grip if she focuses.

Viola's perfered setups (if not mentioned, assume a parameter is at 0%):
[spoiler]
Group Defensive (for group fights) - Bright Blue - Durability (100%) - Speed (50%)
Standard Defensive (for 1v1s) - Bright Purple - Durability (100%) - Speed (25%) - Strength (25%)
Agressive - Vibrant Red - Durability (100%) - Strength (50%)
Mixed - Bright Translucent Purple - Durability (50%) - Speed (50%) - Strength (50%) - Mass (25%)
General Grevious - Darker Purple - Durability (100%) - Strength (100%) - Mass (25%)
Anti-Tanks - Translucent Vibrant Red - Durability (50%) - Strength (100%) - Mass (100%)
Death Swords - Translucent Darker Purple - Speed (100%) - Strength (100%) - Mass (100%)

But if you think something fits a situation better, go wild!
[/spoiler]

Cost/summary:

300 - Base swords
300 - More swords (Varying concentration per number of swords used)
^original move stuff

300 - Variable Durability (Viola can vary how easy/hard her swords are to break, the handle is always a weak point though)
300 - Variable Speed (Viola can vary how fast her sword handles can zoom about relative to her, caps at 60m/s)
300 - Variable Strength (Viola can vary how strong her swords are)
^increasing all these parameters makes the swords more tiring to use.

300 - Mass Changing (Reduces spin/swing speed and makes them easier to dodge/harder to block with, but increases the damage, fatigue stays the same)

=1800 OM (+1200 OM from the original)

For the record, her original move would fit under 'Group Defensive' (see the spoiler). Also, can I edit the 'prefered setups' part without reapproval? It's just a footnote rather than part of the move.

---

I also have a relevant change to this (to clarify some stuff, as it uses her swords - while it's implied, I'd like to make it obvious). It's just to make it obvious it's independent from her sword move in terms of strengths.

Yo Dawg I Heard You Like Swords (300) Requires: Aetherblades, Ranged, Ranged Materialise

For four seconds of stationary charge, during which Viola has limited control over her swords but can't concentrate on any other moves or powers, Viola can cause all of her Aetherblades to shoot a new sword of the exact same size and appearance (~3ft blade) that travels in the direction they're pointing. These new swords travel at the speed of an arrow (~150mph or ~67m/s) and carry a lot of momentum behind them. After being fired, they disintegrate into polygons (which are the same colour as the sword was) 5 seconds later (regardless of whether they hit something or not). Each sword does moderate damage, so when put together this can be very strong. This move can be fairly tiring if used too often so Viola is unlikely to use it repetitively. Her swords glow during the charge period - bright enough to illuminate a dark room yet dim enough to look at. After shooting these swords, Viola's Aetherblades remain intact and she can continue to control and use them as usual. These new swords are always the same strength, regardless of how Viola's Aetherblades are calibrated. The only difference the sword variability has on this move is the colour.

---

The clarifications here are just saying that 'Borrowed Time' will utilise the sword modifications. 

Borrowed Time (300) Requires: Aetherblades, Time Manipulation, Foresight

When there comes a moment that Viola is in dire need, for a small amount of energy, she can instantly call upon her future self to aid her. When this happens, all of her Aetherblades start acting of their own accord for five seconds, allowing Viola a change to get out of harm's way or concentrate on other moves. They make full use of her foresight where possible. If any of her Aetherblades weren't summoned, they are all temporarily summoned at once for an increased fatigue cost, then shatter after the duration. If any break during this move, they are resummoned automatically one second later (again for an increased fatigue cost). While seemingly acting automatically, the swords fight as if Viola was dedicating her full attention to them. At the start of this move, the configuration of all of Viola's Aetherblades are instantly changed to better suit the situation. Any resummoned ones are made with whatever settings Viola may find useful. Afterwards, any remaining swords are kept and given to Viola to control normally again, keeping their new calibration. Utilising this move is moderately draining overall, and every second the swords fight like this is tiring. She is unlikely to use this more than once per fight.

To be able to use this again, Viola has to concentrate intently for five seconds, during which she has to stand still and can't use any moves or power (including non-passive ones that don't require concentration). During this time, she 'loans' her mind to her past self, although none of her experiences bleed over.

Hoo boy, that was a massive read. All of these updates are approved. Also, yeah you can edit the preferred setups section if you want!