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Micaiah_Chang comments on Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, part 9 - Less Wrong Discussion

10 Post author: Oscar_Cunningham 09 September 2011 01:29PM

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Comment author: Micaiah_Chang 18 September 2011 10:50:40PM 2 points [-]

One thing that I've wondered about-and note that I'm not entirely sure if this is the right venue for asking- is what Eliezer thinks about the Visual Novel format a storyline structure (obviously not for MOR, that increases the entry barrier way too much for a cute and pop introduction to Rationality. ) I know that he decided to use the Normal/True ending for the Three Worlds Collide story, but what does he think about, let's say, the relatively long common route into different story branches format, the three "distinct" story format (Fate/Stay Night), or the "controlled redo format" (sort of like Tsukihime, where in order to get a complete idea of the setting, characterization and themes you need to finish all the routes in a certain order).

I half wish there's a magical encyclopedia for MoR like there was in Fate/Stay Night, but that's understandably not as fun to read or write as actually showcasing the powers.

Although talking about made me think: I totally want to see an Omake where Harry gets Bad Ended by getting addicted to video games after he goes back to his parents for the summer...

Comment author: pedanterrific 18 September 2011 11:15:59PM 17 points [-]

I seem to recall there was some playing around with Suzumiya-style Anachronic Order in earlier MoR chapters, but it was pretty self-contained and easy to follow. Plus there's some just downright confusing parts- chapter opening quotes that are never referenced again, Aftermaths that don't seem to have anything to do with the previous chapter, stuff like that.

And there's definitely some real potential for an omake chapter of Bad Ends: Harry accidentally destroying Dumbledore's ability to cast the Patronus Charm, Harry insulting his mother to Snape just a little more, Harry saying the wrong thing to Lucius in King's Cross, Harry realizing aloud to Quirrel what the ritual to summon Death really was...

Harry successfully transfiguring nanotech.

Comment author: thomblake 28 December 2011 04:59:27PM 27 points [-]

I had actually been tossing around the idea of a fic where each chapter is a bad end for MoR, possibly one for each chapter. Working title: 'Everyone dies'.

Comment author: Eliezer_Yudkowsky 25 January 2012 12:22:18AM 9 points [-]

One for each chapter? I'd read that.

Comment author: Alicorn 28 December 2011 05:13:18PM 4 points [-]

Not "Rocks fall, everyone dies"?

Comment author: thomblake 28 December 2011 05:23:23PM 5 points [-]

I was thinking the first chapter should feature rocks falling.

Comment author: Asymmetric 25 September 2011 06:37:06PM 0 points [-]

How would successfully transfiguring nanotech be bad, exactly?

Comment author: pedanterrific 25 September 2011 07:01:19PM *  5 points [-]

The bit I'm referencing is from Chapter 28:

Earlier, Harry had very secretly - he hadn't even told Hermione - tried to Transfigure nanotechnology a la Eric Drexler. (He'd tried to produce a desktop nanofactory, of course, not tiny self-replicating assemblers, Harry wasn't insane.) It would have been godhood in a single shot if it'd worked.

Now, try to imagine Chapter28!Harry - after learning to lose, but before going to Azkaban and reconciling with his dark side - attaining "godhood in a single shot". How well do you imagine that might have worked out?

(This is leaving aside the myriad ways this scheme could have gone horribly wrong, of course. The point is, even if everything went according to plan it most probably would have been a Bad End.)

Comment author: Eliezer_Yudkowsky 26 December 2011 02:06:24PM 12 points [-]

When I'm done with the Hermione Granger route, I'm going to write the Luna Lovegood route, then the Bellatrix Black route, then the Draco Malfoy route, and then the harem ending!

Comment author: Anubhav 21 January 2012 05:01:41PM 5 points [-]

.... Now you've got my hopes up.

Goddammit Eliezer, demonstrate that you're capable of finishing one route before laying out your awesomecool plans for the future.

Comment author: MBlume 20 January 2012 07:12:41AM 0 points [-]

Won't you have to brainmod before you write the Draco Malfoy route?

Comment author: Anubhav 22 January 2012 02:38:32AM 0 points [-]

From a literary point of view, why would that have any advantages that several weeks of watching yaoi anime would not?

Comment author: Pavitra 22 January 2012 03:22:38AM 2 points [-]

I believe what you're proposing is a brainmod.

Comment author: MBlume 22 January 2012 07:38:02AM 1 point [-]

I seem to recall when Eliezer mentioned Sirius/Pettigrew, people complained that the story was now slash and therefore horrible. Eliezer suggested that he would like to actually insert some m/m porn, just to upset these people further, but that writing such would be too actively unpleasant.

Comment author: Anubhav 22 January 2012 10:23:01AM 3 points [-]

A Draco route doesn't require m/m porn any more than the True Route requires straight porn. -_-

Comment author: [deleted] 22 January 2012 10:41:19AM *  3 points [-]

On the other hand, the Draco route could very well require mpreg, from all we've heard about it so far.