I'd go with Ritual and Incite Effect rather than Channelling.
Ritual accurately sets out the greater circle effects like those that Father set up while Incite Effect (Alchemy) is more than enough to cover Edward's ability to instantly transform things. Other State Alchemists would be more restricted, of course. I'd tie Incite Effect into Lore or Discipline, probably Discipline. Lore would be used to work out new alchemical circles. The Philosopher's Stone would be a form of Sponsored Magic.
Oops, must have forgotten to click Post on that last one.
It looks good, except for one part. Edward tends to transform his automail arm into a blade when fighting, so I'd swap out Fists for Weapons.
Looks pretty good to me too. However, I'd pick up the Armed Arts stunt for short swords and spears (his two weapons of choice) over swapping skill. He's shown that he's equally capable of fighting with just his hands and feet; plus I think the Natural Weapons power Sancraphrax gave him was representative of that automail sword, which could be wielded with Fists.
It might be worth him picking up Inhuman Speed, too. At one point, once he gets his automail upgraded, there's mention that's he's even faster than Scar--who is far and away faster than any other pure mortals in the series. Only some Chimeras and Homonculi are faster than him...seems like even a high Athletics skill doesn't fully represent that.
Yes, the Natural Weaponry Power was intended to represent stuff like that. I didn't remember him using real weapons, though.
He rarely does so, and maybe it's just in the anime (never read the manga), but he likes to transmute a sort of spear-like weapon with a longer/wider blade than typical. I can't remember the other times, but he definitely does it fighting when Father Cornello.He did it once or twice (I get the two anime's confused), and Im pretty sure his sensei did as well, which is probably where he got it.
The big question here is whether you'll have other alchemists running around. Some of these solutions work great for Ed's unique abilities, but might break down a bit when there is somebody around to directly compare him to. The rules for alchemy might looks much different if you were modeling the Flame Alchemist for example (more Evocation oriented Id expect).
The issue of energy use still crops up. I mean, Mustang and other State Alchemists have performed enormous transmutations or transmutations involving huge amounts of energy--all without appearing the least bit tired after it's done.Well, part of that at least can be explained by the Red Stones that were hidden in the State Alchemist Watches, so their energy use would be subsidized in that case.
Well, Incite Effect and Natural Weaponry work fairly well for the majority of alchemy and alkahestry. You don't really need evocation for either. Ritual (Alchemy) is good enough to cover everything else. If you want to adapt DFRPG to the setting then Ritual (Speciality) can be split between the various schools of alchemy.Oh, Right, Alkahestry... Irrc the main functional difference was that Alkahestry could be operated at range, yes? Users were typically granted a 6th sense for energy that let them track Homonculi, but was there any difference in the magic itself that would need to be reflected in the mechanics?
Well, part of that at least can be explained by the Red Stones that were hidden in the State Alchemist Watches, so their energy use would be subsidized in that case.
Oh, Right, Alkahestry... Irrc the main functional difference was that Alkahestry could be operated at range, yes? Users were typically granted a 6th sense for energy that let them track Homonculi, but was there any difference in the magic itself that would need to be reflected in the mechanics?Not really, that I can see. Also, that 6th sense wasn't just for Homonculi; people from Shing, or at least those trained (including non-Alkahestry users) can sense Chi in all its forms (-1 Supernatural Sense), but the Homonculi have so many souls inside them they're like beacons and easy to home in on. Other than that, they can justify healing (Alkahestry's main purpose) where with Alchemy you really can't without a Stone.
Oh. I never made that connection...That explains a lot. That never came up in anime to my recollection. Very interesting.I dont think she got tired, but then I also cant recall her doing anything particularly large scale so it's hard to be sure.I can't recall if Mae ever got tired or not, using lots of the (differently-powered) alkahestry, but I don't think she did.(click to show/hide)
IIRC...the manga's alchemy was powered by plate tectonics and geothermal energy. Except Father had some kind of massive underground working set up to seal off the real power source, forcing alchemists in Amestris to use his Philosopher's Stone instead of energy from underground. Which let him choose whether to let other alchemists transmute, until his seal was broken during the story's climax.
That's what Brotherhood said, which I understand is pretty close to the manga. Alkahestry is powered by the "Dragonlines"--Ley Lines, as I interpreted it.interesting. So, absent Father's manipulation, how would the two have been different? Ive heard Ley Lines be used as the mystical equivalent to tectonic energy often enough that I'm unclear on the distinction.
interesting. So, absent Father's manipulation, how would the two have been different? Ive heard Ley Lines be used as the mystical equivalent to tectonic energy often enough that I'm unclear on the distinction.
No idea; they're similar enough at least. Presumably the Dragonlines' connections to the world around the user (as opposed to just being an energy source like grinding tectonic plates) is what allows Alkahestrists to do "ranged" alchemy. Probably no other real difference except the user's perspective.
If you think about every single State Alchemist's alchemy it looks like an avalanche of some form, whereas Mae's is like lightning (following the path of least resistance)Im not sure I see it that way, all alchemy has lightning effects around the circle if nothing else, and the only state alchemist that had the avalanche effect that I real were those messing with specifically with solid objects (like Armstrong or the Gun guy) where more energy based attacks went to lightning (like the Flame or Crimson Alchemists).
Im not sure I see it that way, all alchemy has lightning effects around the circle if nothing else, and the only state alchemist that had the avalanche effect that I real were those messing with specifically with solid objects (like Armstrong or the Gun guy) where more energy based attacks went to lightning (like the Flame or Crimson Alchemists).
What I meant in my metaphor is that all of the alchemy begins at the feet/hands of the alchemist and roars out from there in a wide patter (Mustang is the only exception to this now that I think about it, but that is because he is burning Oxygen streams in the air to get to the cluster at the target). The Crimson alchemist (when he is not using a stone) has his explosions begin from where he touches the ground and then they flow outward from there. The Elric brothers, Armstrong, Scar's destruction alchemy the Iron Blood Alchemist, and the Silver Alchemist all repeat this behavior in some form. I guess I was just always reminded of avalanches and landslides whenever I saw them doing alchemy, which I like to believe is on purpose on the part of the animators since Marco says that it works off of tectonic activity.Ah, gotcha, I thought you meant the physical effect, the crawling rectangle bit, that was supposed to be indicative of Alchemy use. Still, I took that to be a purely practical matter, in that all alchemy requires a physical circle that needed to be touched to activate (barring rule-breaking elements like stones).