Post by Igor on Jul 22, 2017 12:55:35 GMT -6
Social LinkS
Our role in the Velvet Room is a specific one: we seek only to provide our guests with the tools and knowledge necessary for them to awaken the endless possibilities that dwell within their hearts and minds.
But perhaps the greatest power available to you, or anyone who exists within the human spectrum, is the strength one gains from the experiences that are shared with another individual.
Such is the power of Social Links: the crystallization of a person's community and cooperation with others similar to themselves, turned into the energy necessary for their Persona to become that which it was meant to be: the truest reflection of yourself.
The creation of a Social Link is as simple as playing out a scenario with any other character in a thread with no fewer than ten posts between each involved individual. Threads must meet this minimum posting requirement to qualify for contribution to an ongoing Social Link. This also applies to any situation where a guest wishes to simultaneously advance multiple Social Links, as well.
The growth of every Social Link a character forms with other characters is represented by the assigned Arcana of the character that the bond was formed with, and a number Rank to indicate how strong the bond between them is. An example would be as follows: "(Fool) John Smith, Rank 1".
Guests must contribute a specific number of threads between their linked characters if they wish to elevate their Social Link to a higher stage, ensuring that every character involved will always grow and develop their Social Links at an equilateral level. A table for each Rank and the required number of threads to achieve them has been appended below for reference.
Should a character form a Social Link with another character whose Arcana matches their own, simply by having an affinity for the same Arcana enables the Social Link to grow somewhat faster than others. These particular Social Links follow the growth table below instead.
When a certain number of threads have been contributed to the development of a character's friendship with others, numerous advantages come from the rapport that is shared between these individuals. Whether one is aware of it or not, there is a greater order behind the supposed chaos that comes with the mere act of entangling oneself in the web of another person's life, and simply by being involved, even in subtle ways, people have the potential to experience momentous change — some of which are more transparent than others.
Quid pro quo: actively contributing to the lives of other characters grants them, as well as yours, access to numerous benefits and privileges that enhance the way they are able to interact with the game's environment.
The list below provides you with a list of all the available abilities or benefits that any two characters who have a Social Link with each other are permitted to use at any given time, provided the Social Link is active between the two.
Alas, with the formation of a Social Link comes the possibility that it could deteriorate if certain actions or feelings are taken or expressed. Perhaps there simply isn't enough free time to spend with others, or a falling out might have occurred that caused damage to their perceptions of someone they once confided in.
When this occurs, a Social Link "reverses". Unlike the typical procedures involved with developing a Social Link, a reversal is largely dependent on the characters involved and the choices that all parties make, meaning it is entirely up to you as to whether or not a Social Link reverses. All one must do is simply denote whether the Social Link is reversed, and vice versa if all involved characters have reconciled their differences and are willing to bury the proverbial hatchet.
Do note, however, that expressing a Social Link as reversed comes with mild consequences; more specifically, a reversed Social Link requires characters to contribute an additional five threads in order to advance a Social Link to its next Rank, regardless of whether the characters share an Arcana or not.
Just as the possibility of a Social Link undergoing a reversal exists, so too is there the potential for it to completely shatter. It might result from irreconcilable differences, a complete absence of contact, or perhaps a death has occurred which prevents it from growing any further.
When this occurs, a Social Link is considered "broken". Unlike a reversed Social Link, which grows at a somewhat slower pace than usual, broken Social Links have completely stopped developing altogether and can no longer have its Rank raised any further than where it currently rests.
Furthermore, far more serious penalties arise whenever a Social Link becomes broken, the most obvious of which is the immediate loss of any bonuses or abilities gained from previous advancements to the broken Social Link, alongside whatever potential enmity or animosity might be lingering between the affected characters.
But perhaps the greatest power available to you, or anyone who exists within the human spectrum, is the strength one gains from the experiences that are shared with another individual.
Such is the power of Social Links: the crystallization of a person's community and cooperation with others similar to themselves, turned into the energy necessary for their Persona to become that which it was meant to be: the truest reflection of yourself.
how to form a social link
The creation of a Social Link is as simple as playing out a scenario with any other character in a thread with no fewer than ten posts between each involved individual. Threads must meet this minimum posting requirement to qualify for contribution to an ongoing Social Link. This also applies to any situation where a guest wishes to simultaneously advance multiple Social Links, as well.
The growth of every Social Link a character forms with other characters is represented by the assigned Arcana of the character that the bond was formed with, and a number Rank to indicate how strong the bond between them is. An example would be as follows: "(Fool) John Smith, Rank 1".
Guests must contribute a specific number of threads between their linked characters if they wish to elevate their Social Link to a higher stage, ensuring that every character involved will always grow and develop their Social Links at an equilateral level. A table for each Rank and the required number of threads to achieve them has been appended below for reference.
| Rank | Threads Needed to Rank Up |
| Rank 1 | 1 thread |
| Rank 2 | 3 threads |
| Rank 3 | 4 threads |
| Rank 4 | 6 threads |
| Rank 5 | 8 threads |
| Rank 6 | 10 threads |
| Rank 7 | 12 threads |
| Rank 8 | 15 threads |
| Rank 9 | 17 threads |
| Rank 10 | 20 threads |
| Rank | Threads Needed to Rank Up |
| Rank 1 | 1 thread |
| Rank 2 | 2 threads |
| Rank 3 | 3 threads |
| Rank 4 | 5 threads |
| Rank 5 | 7 threads |
| Rank 6 | 8 threads |
| Rank 7 | 9 threads |
| Rank 8 | 11 threads |
| Rank 9 | 13 threads |
| Rank 10 | 15 threads |
benefits of social links
When a certain number of threads have been contributed to the development of a character's friendship with others, numerous advantages come from the rapport that is shared between these individuals. Whether one is aware of it or not, there is a greater order behind the supposed chaos that comes with the mere act of entangling oneself in the web of another person's life, and simply by being involved, even in subtle ways, people have the potential to experience momentous change — some of which are more transparent than others.
Quid pro quo: actively contributing to the lives of other characters grants them, as well as yours, access to numerous benefits and privileges that enhance the way they are able to interact with the game's environment.
The list below provides you with a list of all the available abilities or benefits that any two characters who have a Social Link with each other are permitted to use at any given time, provided the Social Link is active between the two.
| Rank 1: Arcana Affinity Through the newly formed bonds of friendship, you have become attuned to the energies of your Social Link's assigned Arcana, and will inflict additional damage to enemies that share it. |
| Rank 2: Baton Pass As you become more acquainted and grow closer to one another, the seeds of trust begin to blossom. You and your Social Link can now perform a Baton Pass with each other in combat, enabling one to defer their turn to their partner. |
| Rank 3: Motivational Support Training oneself is a rigorous challenge on its own, so it is always a fulfilling and rewarding experience to grow alongside a companion. Training threads earn you and your Social Link 1.5x more experience points when both characters occupy the same thread. |
| Rank 4: Recovery Slap Sometimes, inspiration must be delivered using a more direct approach—but this, too, may just be what is needed to pull a friend from the brink of no return. If you or your Social Link is afflicted with a status ailment on the other character's turn, a d100 may be rolled by them. If the result is 20 or lower, the affliction is automatically removed. |
| Rank 5: Social Influence You and your friend have spent a considerable deal of time with each other, enough to where certain traits have now begun to rub off. When you and your Social Link choose to spend time with each other, there is a chance that your character will acquire a single point in the other character's highest social parameter. This only applies if that character's parameter is already higher than yours, and no longer takes effect if both parameters are of the same grade. |
| Rank 6: Tag-Team Attack You and your friend are intimately familiar with each other's fighting style and have learned to coordinate attacks with aplomb. When both you and your Social Link perform a basic attack together, it becomes a Tag-Team Attack that inflicts 1.5x more damage against single targets. |
| Rank 7: Treasured Memories The experiences shared by you and your friend are palpable, helping to paint the future and all it brings to both characters in a sweeter note. Both you and your Social Link will earn 10% additional experience points in combat; this effect is cumulative for every additional Rank the Social Link advances, up to a maximum value of 40%. |
| Rank 8: Shared Power Your connection to your friend is powerful enough that both characters are now able to momentarily draw upon a fraction of power from each other's Personas. At the start of any thread, you and your Social Link may choose one active skill known by the other character's Persona and employ it as an eleventh active skill. Only one skill can be picked in this fashion per thread, and the choice cannot be reneged at a later point. |
| Rank 9: Guardian Angel The trust in your companion has become so strong that it is now capable of acting as a literal shield to protect them from harm. Once per battle, you and your Social Link are able to intercept a fatal attack meant for the other character and simultaneously negate all damage that would have resulted, whether to you or the other character, had it connected. |
| Rank 10: Fusion Spell You and your friend have established a permanent bond, a thread of destiny that can never be broken or severed. Both you and your Social Link gain access to a single shared technique referred to as a "Fusion Spell" that can only be performed in battle when both characters are present and conscious. All Fusion Spell submissions must be approved by a Velvet Room attendant before they can be registered as valid for combat. |
reversed social links
Alas, with the formation of a Social Link comes the possibility that it could deteriorate if certain actions or feelings are taken or expressed. Perhaps there simply isn't enough free time to spend with others, or a falling out might have occurred that caused damage to their perceptions of someone they once confided in.
When this occurs, a Social Link "reverses". Unlike the typical procedures involved with developing a Social Link, a reversal is largely dependent on the characters involved and the choices that all parties make, meaning it is entirely up to you as to whether or not a Social Link reverses. All one must do is simply denote whether the Social Link is reversed, and vice versa if all involved characters have reconciled their differences and are willing to bury the proverbial hatchet.
Do note, however, that expressing a Social Link as reversed comes with mild consequences; more specifically, a reversed Social Link requires characters to contribute an additional five threads in order to advance a Social Link to its next Rank, regardless of whether the characters share an Arcana or not.
broken social links
Just as the possibility of a Social Link undergoing a reversal exists, so too is there the potential for it to completely shatter. It might result from irreconcilable differences, a complete absence of contact, or perhaps a death has occurred which prevents it from growing any further.
When this occurs, a Social Link is considered "broken". Unlike a reversed Social Link, which grows at a somewhat slower pace than usual, broken Social Links have completely stopped developing altogether and can no longer have its Rank raised any further than where it currently rests.
Furthermore, far more serious penalties arise whenever a Social Link becomes broken, the most obvious of which is the immediate loss of any bonuses or abilities gained from previous advancements to the broken Social Link, alongside whatever potential enmity or animosity might be lingering between the affected characters.
