I like the show. A lot. I like the character of Yui even more.
And, more importantly, I like the music. So I went looking for mp3s.
Well, I found several. One of them, however, was from the character vocal collections.
It was so cool, I thought of Doug. The effect I see is giving him the power to summon (and, for a few minutes, control) one screaming howling hailing galeing mother-whopper of a thunderstorm.

Aoi Arashi
nemuru mori wo zawamekase
tori no mure ga nigete-iku
kowai kurai utsukushii hoshi no shita ni
saa tatsu no
A flock of birds flies away,
stirring the sleeping forest.
Underneath the almost frighteningly beautiful stars,
I stand
me wo tojite inoru toki
kono sekai ga owaru
When I close my eyes to pray,
this world shall end.
hashiridashita inazuma ga
watashi no koe matte-iru
shinjitai to omotteta
anata no kao utsushite'ru
The lightning that came racing out of the sky
is waiting for my voice.
Picturing your face,
I thought I wanted to believe you.
komiageru nikushimi ni
kokoro wo kimete-iku
With welling anger,
my heart was decided.
kiete shimae aisarete'ta maboroshi-tachi yo towa ni
uragirareta mune no itami
ima omoishireba ii
aoi arashi ga kuru
Vanish forever, illusions who have loved me.
It's best that I realize now
the pain of a heart that was betrayed.
A blue storm comes.
kaze wa ikari arekurui
sora wa koware kudakete mo
sou yo negai kanau nara
ashita nante hoshikunai
The wind rages angrily,
even if the sky is destroyed.
Yes, if my wish is granted,
I won't have any such desire for a tomorrow.
anata dake shiawase ni
kesshite sase wa shinai
I'll make it so
you alone will never be happy.
awaremarete ataerareru
ai nanka wa iranai
nido to daremo
watashi no koto kizutsuketari dekinai
unmei wa kono te ni
I don't need the kind of love
that gives me pity.
I can't let anyone
hurt me again.
I'll take fate into my own hands.
kiete shimae aishite-ita maboroshi-tachi yo towa ni
uragirareta mune no itami
ima omoishireba ii
aoi arashi ga kuru
Vanish forever, illusions I have loved.
It's best that I realize now
the pain of a heart that was betrayed.
A blue storm comes.
===========

===============================================
"V, did you do something foolish?"
"Yes, and it was glorious."

While taking care of a couple of chores yesterday evening, I dug out a tape I hadn't listened to in a long, long time, and discovered the perfect song to play over the "closing credits" of the entire series, when/if it is ever completed:

The Wild Rover
(Traditional)
CHORUS
And it's no, nay, never,
No nay never no more,
Will I play the wild rover
No never no more
I've been a wild rover for many a year
And I spent all me money on whiskey and beer.
But now I'm returning with gold in great store
And I never will play the wild rover no more.
CHORUS
I went into an ale-house where I used to frequent
And I told the landlady me money was spent.
I asked her for credit, she answered me, "Nay,
Such a custom as yours I can get any day."
CHORUS
And then out of me pocket I took sovereigns bright
And the landlady's eyes opened wide with delight.
She said, "I have whiskey and wines of the best
And the words that I said sure were only in jest."
CHORUS
I'll go home to my parents, confess what I've done,
And I'll ask them to pardon their prodigal son.
And if they caress me as ofttimes before,
Then I never will play the wild rover no more.
CHORUS X2

-- Bob
---------
Then the horns kicked in...
...and my shoes began to squeak.

Just what are the capabilities of Dougs Helmet? What are its limits? So far I know
- it contains a computer with
- an (at least) vaguely Unix-flavoured OS
- hosts a database on the UN
- hosts a lyrics database
- a sh*tload of music files in MP4
- multimedia capabilities, at least two audio channels
- speech recognition
- wireless LAN
- probably a software development environment of some sort
- it is sound proofed, has separate internal and external speakers
- visor HUD as a monitor for the helmet computer
- radio telecom
- tactical display? What tactical data (apart from music title and playtime does it offer?)
- is shock resistent and anti-static
- comes with an amazing power supply. Does it ever run out of power? Does it give off heat?
- any extras like light aplification / flare comp?
Greets,
Cal

A metal that's twice as hard as titanium, but can be molded like plastic at temperatures of only 750 degrees fahrenheight. It's currently competitive with titanium but they hope soon to have it competitive with stainless steel.

I know this comes a little late to be of any use in giving any neat speculative ideas on Boomers and the like, but who knows? It might come in handy in some other step. Maybe they make the plating for the Evangelion armor out of this stuff? Progressive knives? Maybe Skuld is working with the stuff in the OMG step? Whatever - This is just damn nifty. Check it out!.
-Logan

The Powers That Be have decided that the Shifters playtest will be extended, at least long enough for me to catch up with all the digests my lead has sent me. It was supposed to end yesterday. Now I don't know when the anticipated end will be.
More on this as it develops.

-- Bob
---------
Then the horns kicked in...
...and my shoes began to squeak.

I just had a truly sick idea for a song and effect. I'd put it in the thread for songs that Doug should *NEVER* play, except for the fact that it's... well... sick. Have I mentioned that this idea's just plain sick? Anyway... scroll down for it.

Do Not Scroll below this Point if Under 18.

"Every Sperm is Sacred", by Monty Python.
Possible Effects: General increase in fertility rates, including an increase in multiple pregnancy, in the area, sudden disappearance of condoms... you get the idea.

Since I haven't been lurking on the forums for all that long, I don't know if this question's been asked before. Still, I'm curious, enough to -stop- lurking. It's assumed that Doug isn't jumping entirely randomly every time he hits on a successful gate song - he's getting closer to his home universe with each step in the Walk.
So, what's the rationale for that? Does it have anything to do with the Laws of Sympathy and Contagion, as described in Chapter Seven of DW2? Or is his subconscious control of his metagift giving him some kind of vague directional compass each time he gates out of a universe?
Considering how much planning seems to go into the writing of Drunkard's Walk material, I assume it ain't just authorial Deus Ex Machina at work. =D

= Acyl =
-- Acyl

I have to wonder: what happens if Doug lands on a world with fundamentally different laws of magical physics? I know that you managed to conspiracy-theory it away in the Harry Potter universe, but what do you do when that's not possible?
Take Robert Jordan's "Wheel of Time" series, for example. Magic apparently splits itself into five separate elemental flows, and has separate sources aligned with male and female gender. Additionally, there's the madness-inducing taint on the male half of the source. In a situation like this, what happens with Doug's Metagift?

I don't know if it has been released is USA but what the hell.
Clawfinger
"Clawfinger" (1997)
Biggest & The Best
Nobody perfect but I'm pretty fucking close
and I'm here to give you all a heavy heavenly close
I think you better listen cos I know who you are
and I think that you should treat me like a superstar
because I'm more than just a human I'm the gift to all of you
and I'm here to make sure that my message gets through
I wonder if you're really all as dumb as you look
or are you smart enough to learn the rules in my book
I hope you understand that the knowledge I bring
puts me in the position of a good or a king
'cos I blessed with the gift of the magic touch
and I wouldn't say that I'm asking too much
all you have to do is get down on your knees and prey
and I promise you the remedy is on its way
but you can never be like me so don't waste your time
because I reign supreme and my position is divine
What's wrong with being self possessed?
nobody satisfied with being second best
I've got the gift and I know that I'm blessed
and I've got to get it off my chest
I'm the biggest the best
better than the rest
better than the rest
I'm not afraid of competition cos I'm know that I'm best
and you haven't got a chance to even pass my little test
even if you wanted to you couldn't pay the price
there ain't no room for losers in my perfect paradise
'cos life is always based upon the weight of your success
so I'll make sure that I get the most and nothing less
if I love myself then everyone will love me too
and there's nothing you can do for me that I can't do
So welcome to my kingdom and enjoy your little stay
even if you can't afford it I'll still make you pay
so you better come and get it and enjoy it while you can
don't tell me that you're dumb enough to think I give a damn
I couldn't care less about what you achieve
and there's only one thing that you have to believe
the only thing important that you have to understand
is that no matter what you say it's still a god I really am

It came to me in a flash as I was driving to work this morning. I won't go into the details here -- not until I get a chance to type it all up, and probably not even then. (Gotta preserve the dramatic tension and all...) But it feels right -- just like the end of DW2 presented itself to me five years ago.

-- Bob
---------
Then the horns kicked in...
...and my shoes began to squeak.