[hoffstyle]

Originally Posted by valondar

Episode 19
Mechanics time.

Race names: Caith Sith, Salamander, Spriggan, Sylph, Undine. Have I missed any that have been said in the show so far (not counting Alfs)?

I like having to memorize spell names and shout them out appropriately. Given the Nervegear's focus on doing things rather than just hitting buttons, it seems a good way to gameify the otherwise impractical nature of magic.

This said Alfheim Online is a little unclear about how magic, class and race work. For example, that the tracer was a fire elemental confirms to Leafa that it was sent by the Salamanders, and Undines obviously have a benefit from being in water. We're reminded again that Spriggans basically are known for illusion magic. But we also see that Salamanders are capable of earth magic, so any hopes that maybe there are four of the nine races who each have an element is out the window.

There's also a clear distinction between Slamander 'mages' and their infantry. It seems that I guess players specialize in one or the other based on their talents (as some RPGs have you do) rather than choosing set classes, but would that mean that lancers and infantry have some basic Salamander fire spells, as Kirito had a pretty practical illusion spell?

Speaking of. While Leafa dismisses the illusion spell as useless in combat, the leader of the Salamanders explicitly says that what the Minotaur spell gave Kirito was greater reach, and a melee player getting greater reach is totally a worthwhile combat thing.

Also, this episode confirms that you respawn at your capital city. This means if Kirito dies he'll return to the Spriggan town he never really landed in. It also confirms part of the reason why there's no NPCs - in many MMOs, non-player characters serve as the 'faction leaders' for the different races, but here in Alfheim Online apparently there are players who serve in this role.

This may explain why they have 'parties' but not 'guilds', Sigurd may represent a faction of Slyphs which Leafa and Recon were both once members. And while I was surprised that there seemed to be no encouragement at all to raid enemy cities, that hostile races can lord it over rival races after killing their appointed leader makes the PvP framework have a lot more sense.

And this is portrayed as character growth. This is an example of how Kirito has changed from the aloof person he was in Sword Art Online. Only in Sword Art Online when you abandoned people to their fates you were literally abandoning them to die, here you're abandoning them to the horrors of having to respawn at their capital city.

I mean I get where the show wants to go here. Kirito needs to invest in the game's politics as Important for us, the viewers, to care about the outcome of the game's politics, and having a MMO arc with an emphasis on the politicking between different player factions is a good idea and something I want to see - and thus am really looking forward to next week - but it's not been presented as well as it could have.

But as Leafa points out Kirito could probably join up with the Salamanders as a mercenary, and since they seem to be a powerful faction going with the big players in in-game politics may be the best way to get to the World Tree. We know, of course, that Kirito's choice will pay off in the end but that's only because this is a TV show.

Character growth is ok with me, as is his new "Never leave a party member behind" philosophy. My biggest issue with this is the fact that the clock is ticking. He knows he has a limited amount of time to get Asuna out...and I don't think it's so much the marriage thing, her life is at stake. Creepy McMolestor could fry her brain at any moment.

Which brings me to my concern. If he is indeed thinking that injecting himself in this inter-faction squabble will bring himself closer to the world tree, he is making assumptions and taking a huge risk considering his knowledge of the game. This arc has made it more than clear that he is out of his element, and has to rely on someone else to guide him through it. Which brings me to this:

I see the setup coming from a mile away because of all this. While he's involving himself in the politicking, Asuna is going to make her own getaway. Cue emotional accidental reunion in the middle of the Faction War. Cue "Who the hell is this girl" misunderstanding, Cue it's ok, love conquers all, Cue Sughu crying herself stupid in her pillow afterwards.

I have been one of the biggest defenders of SAO, and I am still loving it..but sometimes things are painfully obvious.