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Ray
2012-07-23, 12:37
Wow, this is turning out very exciting. I'm so looking forward to the rest of this arc. Has it been definitively stated anywhere that Alicization is the final arc or not?
It hasn't been "definitively" stated that it is, but it was the final arc in the web novel version, so it more than likely will be the final arc in the light novels, unless Kawahara plans on changing the ending.

Xellos-_^
2012-07-23, 16:47
My bad :heh: I'm not up to date with SAO's progress on BT >.<

Here, have my impression of the 1st chapter of Chinese translation of Alicization Running as compensation (YES, it was done :D still reading this through right now, might post more tomorrow)

In the 1st chapter alone I've probably said "HOLY ****" a dozen times... if this is the last arc of the SAO LNs I wouldn't mind, as I doubt later events can top this arc.

Major events:
-Kirito's revealed to be 'kidnapped' by the JSDF in making combat AIs (basically what Project Alicization was about). They took Kirito as the chance to do so arisen from Johnny Black's attack, replacing the ambulance personnel with their people. Kirito's importance was his influence in-game can make the AIs who cannot deviate from the Underworld's laws into breaking them, something that the researchers can't do. Ironically it was breaking the rules to save another life, in direct contrast with their original problem of getting AIs around the law of not killing people. Major back-story about SAOverse's US, and how unmanned weapons developed from the US citizen's distaste of soldier casualties in Iraq, leading on from Vietnam and other military involvements. AIs are developed because citizens don't want to see human casualties.
In the beginning, JSDF wanted a independent weapon source from the US so they won't rely on foreign influence too much. VR was suggested like Kirito thought to train soldiers, but after SAO beta started true AIs was thought to be eventually possible. When players were stuck in game preparations were made for this project.

-Fluctlight is the device/program involved in this project. Supposedly capable of making a copy of a person's soul. Copies however are unable to handle they're just a copy, with the same memories and everything of the original. Human babies had their mind copied and using the first 16 as a base, each eventually paired into 4 pairs and giving birth to ten kids in each set, which eventually formed a population of 80,000.
The Seed is used to form the Underworld, and can accelerate 1000x the normal time. It's not the brain nerves being accelerated but the consciousness/soul, so supposedly no negatively effects like burning the brain out. Getting the kids to adulthood, 18 years, in Real time was only 980 hours (approximately one week).

Oh, and the ruling inhabitants in Underworld managed to access the 'laws of the world', manipulate what laws people can or cannot break. It's equivalent to game characters able to hack into your computer and make changes to the game. Skynet, anyone? >.>

-Asuna sneaked into the heavily defended R&D department/base by asking for help from the person who developed the Medicuboid (Kayaba's assistant). Found her address from Kirito's files. Said person was asked to be part of the project many times by Raase, and Asuna disguised herself as her assistant. Hacked the photo earlier and the real assistant is currently on holiday.

- Kayaba may still be alive. o_O His assistant didn't get charged with helping Kayaba because he implanted a bomb inside her that would blow her head off from the neck up. The assistant kept the 'bomb' as a keepsake, knowing Kayaba would have never used the bomb on her and only did that as a excuse so when the game is over she won't be blamed by the authorities. Final line in the 1st chapter suggested Kayaba's mind is in there and can still influence things, heating up and giving her a burn.

so the company Kirito was working for is a front for the JSDF?

kyp275
2012-07-23, 19:59
Just finished reading myself :)


Additionally, what about the civilian applications of Alicization technology? Surely the implications extend way beyond the military, and to the Economy itself, arguably the foundation of any nation's Political and Military might.

Also, did Asuna find a way to make it into the Underworld too?


atm the JSDF's main goal is the creation of practical combat A.I. for use with unmanned weaponry, there's no talk of non-military applications so far.

and no, while Asuna is at the main research facility, the real world portion of the story ends shortly after she arrives.

I'm a bit disappointed by the JSDF being this assholish though, i was hoping for a more positive portrayal. Ah, well, could be a splinter faction.

yes and no, while they did "acquire" him from the hospitals (No one other than Asuna, Suguha, and Shino suspected anything was amiss as they covered their trail), it was also the only way to save Kazuto - he suffered brain damage from prolonged lack of oxygen, which apparently can be repaired by reviving his fluctlight through the Soul Translator tech.

And A.Is can't be more destructive than nukes already are.

Skynet would like to have a word with you :D

so the company Kirito was working for is a front for the JSDF?

Basically yes, the place that Kirito worked at was just an off-site small laboratory.

Over all it's a good read, the story is up and running along just fine, and a lot of questions that people have from vol.9 should be answered.

Netto Azure
2012-07-23, 23:34
OH CRAP, IN ORDER TO GET THROUGH THIS WEEK'S WAITING FOR SAO, THE TRANSLATIONS FOR THE CALIBER - FAILURE TIMELINE IS OUT ON BT.

[/fanboys]

astray71
2012-07-23, 23:46
It hasn't been "definitively" stated that it is, but it was the final arc in the web novel version, so it more than likely will be the final arc in the light novels, unless Kawahara plans on changing the ending.

So since volume 10 is the last volume in the Light Novel, is there anything decided on the KiriAsu relationship? Asuna's parents' thoughts? I'm sad to see it end... even though I've known about the series for about 3-4 weeks. Loved the SAO arc and all of its side stories.

Sixth
2012-07-24, 00:04
So, Kirito finally found ajob that he likes? So, what's the salary range? :D

Flere821
2012-07-24, 00:19
Also, did Asuna find a way to make it into the Underworld too?
No, she didn't get inside UW.
So the JSDF kidnapped Kirito to use him to make AIs. I guess someone was watching Stand Alone Complex and realised that spontaneous AI development due to natural oil isn't reliable. :p

Also,going by what has been shown, it looks like Asuna's getting a chance to shine. Awesome.

I'm a bit disappointed by the JSDF being this assholish though, i was hoping for a more positive portrayal. Ah, well, could be a splinter faction.
To be fair, the military had cutting edge medical equipment, if Kirito was treated at a normal hospital he would have been stuck in a coma for who knows how long. They took him at least half out of humanitarian reasons, the other half though, yeah they want him to help influence AIs.
Perhaps the JSDF did ask him directly in the Underworld. It's possible to sell the idea to him, if you told him that the aim was to cultivate friendly A.Is.
No. Asuna figured out their plan was to make unmanned weappns and the AIs behind it, and Kirito has the same knowledge. According to Asuna, she had a conversation on the 56th Floor of Aincrad with Kirito about the rights of AIs and Kirito treated the NPCs in SAO like they were alive and had their own life. Kirito would have never agreed to help make AIs if there's a possibility of them being turned into weapons, and he actually cares about the rights of the AIs. The JSDF and Kirito's handler are of the opinion tens of thousands of AIs can die but it still can't match the value of a real human's life (AIs life isn't 'real' in their view), but Kirito might disagree. Other front line fighters in SAO laughed about this when Kirito mentioned his views, but even so Kirito still believes that.
so the company Kirito was working for is a front for the JSDF?
Yes.

kyp275
2012-07-24, 00:21
So since volume 10 is the last volume in the Light Novel, is there anything decided on the KiriAsu relationship? Asuna's parents' thoughts? I'm sad to see it end... even though I've known about the series for about 3-4 weeks. Loved the SAO arc and all of its side stories.

err, vol.10 is not the last volume. People who have read the Alicization arc says it isn't likely to be concluded 'til vol. 14 at the earliest. As a matter of fact, much of vol.10's Underworld portion of the story wasn't even in the web novel, Kawahara wrote in extra material to expand the story that was passed over by a time skip.

So, Kirito finally found ajob that he likes? So, what's the salary range? :D

it was a part time job, so probably not very high :P

Netto Azure
2012-07-24, 00:24
So since volume 10 is the last volume in the Light Novel, is there anything decided on the KiriAsu relationship? Asuna's parents' thoughts? I'm sad to see it end... even though I've known about the series for about 3-4 weeks. Loved the SAO arc and all of its side stories.

Actually no, Volume 10 is PART of the Alicization Arc. SAO is expected to go on up to Volume 14-15.

Caliber-SS route was a fast read. It's short, but illuminates some things.


Finally read this good stuff. Now we get a few confirmations on some things.

1. The "Gods" found in the end of Caliber are actually GM's, so Klein could now be shipped properly. :3

2. This was "all a dream" meaning something of a prelude to Alicization's Fluctlight tech. Or more than likely a foreshadowing/warning in one of Kirito's memories.

3. Aincrad is apparently "The world of Humans" or what was mentioned as "Midgard."

4. LOL this whole entire scenario was due to the quest generation powers of Cardinal being accidentally put into accelerated mode by a new GM.

5. The company that owns ALO nowadays is called "Ymir." LOVE U FOREVER RAGAROK ONLINE. <3

But yeah this was all a fun read, would be nice to find out more about the "golden apple" and the completion of the second quest. I've been wanting to see a full scale server wide battle with all the 7 Fairy races working together anyways, just like Kirito wanted in Fairy Dance. :3

TJP1600
2012-07-24, 02:20
Yay, time to look through the Chinese translations. Those Japanese to Chinese people work fast but it sounds so terminology heavy that I think I'm going to dread it. There better be some good romantic moments because from what Flere said it seems quite actiony. And tbh SAO should probably end after this volume(at least within 2 volumes), imo i feel like this whole story is being dragged on too long

Axiszero
2012-07-24, 03:52
Wow i mean just wow for SAO vol 10Firstly i would like o funk Red's for the spoilers, thx man
Secondly, i mean why do you think A.i. are called such i mean sure in certain senses they are a bit stupid in some games like L4D2 but yah they still have rights because in a sense they have a right to exist because they are unique existance similar to us unique to our own world
Thirdly, Incarnate system, although incarnate was clearly present, I just felt something was different IDk what it it is maybe it was the phrasing :D

kyp275
2012-07-24, 04:11
Yay, time to look through the Chinese translations. Those Japanese to Chinese people work fast but it sounds so terminology heavy that I think I'm going to dread it. There better be some good romantic moments because from what Flere said it seems quite actiony. And tbh SAO should probably end after this volume(at least within 2 volumes), imo i feel like this whole story is being dragged on too long

eh, it's not that bad, though there isn't much romantic elements in this volume.

and if the web novels were any indication, chances are there will be another 3-5 volumes just to conclude Alicization, it's by far the biggest arc in SAO.

Wow i mean just wow for SAO vol 10Firstly i would like o funk Red's for the spoilers, thx man
Secondly, i mean why do you think A.i. are called such i mean sure in certain senses they are a bit stupid in some games like L4D2 but yah they still have rights because in a sense they ave a right to exist continued later

You mean why A.I. are called A.I.? :confused: if so then that's because... that's what they are, Artificial Intelligence. It's like wondering why humans are called humans...

Ray
2012-07-24, 05:11
So, um, why is chapter 16.5 no longer up on BT? s:

Shinji103
2012-07-24, 05:24
So, um, why is chapter 16.5 no longer up on BT? s:The BT page's update section says it was deleted for now and refers to a link to a forum discussion page for why, but I didn't really see anything on that discussion page that warranted getting rid of the chapter translation. Unless they deleted it because the discussion on the forum page talks about how it wasn't actually the author's work? (I think)

The forum discussion page in question as linked on BT's SAO page. (http://www.baka-tsuki.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=3128&start=2025)

Wild Goose
2012-07-24, 05:35
Meh, if anyone wants it, the Epub version that Simon (BT forumite) put out has 16.5 merged in Chapter 16 proper, which is why I initially thought it was part of the published release. If anyone wants it... I suppose I could provide delicious copy pasta. :p

Ray
2012-07-24, 05:43
The BT page's update section says it was deleted for now and refers to a link to a forum discussion page for why, but I didn't really see anything on that discussion page that warranted getting rid of the chapter translation. Unless they deleted it because the discussion on the forum page talks about how it wasn't actually the author's work? (I think)

The forum discussion page in question as linked on BT's SAO page. (http://www.baka-tsuki.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=3128&start=2025)
Aha. I see.

Apparently it's because some people felt it wasn't appropriate for Baka Tsuki, amongst some other things. And that's fair enough, I suppose.

It's still canon in my eyes. *shrug*

Awrya
2012-07-24, 05:54
Last time I checked it was moved from Vol. 1 to side stories, now it has been deleted? It has been around for a long time, so most readers know 16.5 by now.

Just finished Caliber SS, now I'm with the 'Klein-san's so cool!' faction, he saved two worlds, Alfheim and Midgard:heh:

Netto Azure
2012-07-24, 06:06
So, um, why is chapter 16.5 no longer up on BT? s:

It was sacrificed for the sake of volume 10.

And that apparently they "are translating the light novels and not the web novel" xD

But otherwise it's not much of a loss, probably will become an inside joke that divides the LN and new anime fans lol. Hell glopping is becoming a forced meme of all things. :heh:

novalysis
2012-07-24, 06:50
I wonder how the JSDF are going to ensure that their A.Is don't turn upon them. Failing to recognize A.I rights is a surefire way to create trouble down the line. Plus, who are they going to send those A.Is up against? Somali Pirates? Terrorist Groups? Surely not the Koreans or Chinese, nor the Russians, war in East Asia would likely end up in local mushroom clouds that'd knock 10 years off the regions' development at least, and likely would lead to the toppling of most of the region's governments. A.I or no A.I.

In my view, Kirito is right. A.I rights need to be established as early as possible, else humanity is going to be in a world of hurt down the line. The biggest thread to the SAO world are A.Is who end up hating humanity.

Hell_ping
2012-07-24, 08:19
Sometimes I wonder whether you guys are just driven by the PLOT instead of the plot...

Anyway, I don't intend to argue about it since it's gone, just that I feel it's 2 years overdue.

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But again, I'm not motivated to argue about it or do anything about it.

It was sacrificed for the sake of volume 10.

And that apparently they "are translating the light novels and not the web novel" xD

But otherwise it's not much of a loss, probably will become an inside joke that divides the LN and new anime fans lol. Hell glopping is becoming a forced meme of all things. :heh:

It's not actually a sacrifice for volume 10 since I was planning to finish that up and be done and over with it, and I only said that partly in jest. But when I have Kyubey as my avatar, it has far-reaching consequences...

You better start praying that I finish Baka Test 9.5 and Unicorn 3 fast though unless you can get another translator to help It's 339 pages long as far as I know, shorter than v9 by around 70 pages.

Wild Goose
2012-07-24, 08:27
Last time I checked it was moved from Vol. 1 to side stories, now it has been deleted? It has been around for a long time, so most readers know 16.5 by now.

Just finished Caliber SS, now I'm with the 'Klein-san's so cool!' faction, he saved two worlds, Alfheim and Midgard:heh:

And he did it totally by accident, following his own Bushido code.

I'm in the "Klein-san's so cool faction now." :cool:

Anyway, anybody who wants 16.5 - who hadn't actually read it before - can PM me for details and I'll send it to y'all.

What amused me the most is Kirito blaming his lack of know-how on focusing all his sexual energy into the SAO beta test. :p That said, I can totally understand his position - there's a group of friends I play ME3 with, and the consensus is we'd rather farm credits on Firebase White than indulge in other activities. :p

Sekiryuutei
2012-07-24, 09:28
So chapter 16.5 isn't official huh.. that's good news for me since I kinda hate it how Kirito and Asuna relationship was already seemingly set in stone because of that specific chapter :p

Ray
2012-07-24, 09:33
That.. depends on what you mean by "official", I guess.

I'd say it was chapter 16 and the few that precede it that set their relationship in stone; 16.5 just further solidified it? *shrug*

kivredia
2012-07-24, 09:45
Even without it their relationship was/is already completely set in stone.

Sekiryuutei
2012-07-24, 09:50
Oh right.. kinda forgot what's the content of chapter 16 since I always read it as one with chapter 16.5, but still.. it's not like it was told explicitly that they did that in chapter 16.. just saying that there's still some chance for the other girls. Altho if this is the last arc then it would be really weird if Asuna position as the main heroine suddenly got shifted to another heroine *shrug*

Netto Azure
2012-07-24, 09:55
It's not actually a sacrifice for volume 10 since I was planning to finish that up and be done and over with it, and I only said that partly in jest. But when I have Kyubey as my avatar, it has far-reaching consequences...

You better start praying that I finish Baka Test 9.5 and Unicorn 3 fast though unless you can get another translator to help It's 339 pages long as far as I know, shorter than v9 by around 70 pages.

QB does that, we take the utterings of that darn alien pretty seriously.

I'm praying. Heck I'm willing to donate money if it would make things go faster LOL.

At first I was like:
http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m7nm9cXOhO1qcij8f.gif
"IT EXISTS"

Over this thing, Then I was like "Icing to mah KiriAsu OTP"

kivredia
2012-07-24, 11:02
Oh right.. kinda forgot what's the content of chapter 16 since I always read it as one with chapter 16.5, but still.. it's not like it was told explicitly that they did that in chapter 16.. just saying that there's still some chance for the other girls. Altho if this is the last arc then it would be really weird if Asuna position as the main heroine suddenly got shifted to another heroine *shrug*

Have you read up to Vol. 9? Cause there are like 100 things which already make it pretty clear there is no chance in hell.



Vol.3 Chapter 1
"It does not matter how many times she is trapped or imprisoned or how many times I have to do this."

Vol.4 Chapter 7
What kind of eyes were those, she thought. They were the eyes of a traveler that sought his eternally fated partner... No matter how long it took, in this life or the next, no matter how many times he was reincarnated. Eyes filled with such a gentle, calm light, containing within them a crazed feeling of love. Even their color seemed different than usual.

At that moment, Suguha knew what her heart truly wanted, and at the same time, she understood that she would never be able to reach it.

The Fairy Dance Ending in general.

Vol.9 Interlude

The other girls still have a chance, huh?

kyp275
2012-07-24, 11:21
I wonder how the JSDF are going to ensure that their A.Is don't turn upon them. Failing to recognize A.I rights is a surefire way to create trouble down the line. Plus, who are they going to send those A.Is up against? Somali Pirates? Terrorist Groups? Surely not the Koreans or Chinese, nor the Russians, war in East Asia would likely end up in local mushroom clouds that'd knock 10 years off the regions' development at least, and likely would lead to the toppling of most of the region's governments. A.I or no A.I.

In my view, Kirito is right. A.I rights need to be established as early as possible, else humanity is going to be in a world of hurt down the line. The biggest thread to the SAO world are A.Is who end up hating humanity.

1. If movies taught us anything, it's that attempts to control A.I. never ends well :D

2. It's about achieving conventional military parity and away from reliance on the US for its defensive needs. Also, I think you overestimate the chance of a nuclear war, most nuclear capable country has little reason to actually use their nuclear arsenal, as it does little other than guaranteeing their own destruction.

Sekiryuutei
2012-07-24, 11:21
@kivredia
I already read up to vol 9 and of course I'm well aware of Asuna status as the main heroine.. I'm just voicing my hope since I'm in favor of Sinon ;o

Ray
2012-07-24, 11:24
As much as I like Sinon.. it's not gonna happen. :heh:

Netto Azure
2012-07-24, 12:24
As much as I like Sinon.. it's not gonna happen. :heh:

Sinon's skills are something that I truly envy. Someone I want to emulate if VRMMO's ever become real. :p

Craxuan
2012-07-24, 12:25
Question: Does Book 10 finalizes the Alicization Arc?

EDIT: Mm, never mind, doesn't look like it once I look through the raws. Weird thing is, why did someone tell me it ended well for Kirito this arc when it hasn't even ended...?

Ray
2012-07-24, 12:26
Question: Does Book 10 finalizes the Alicization Arc?
No, it does not. The Alicization arc should go on for another few volumes.

Netto Azure
2012-07-24, 12:27
Question: Does Book 10 finalizes the Alicization Arc?

As was said before, no. There's still 3-5 volumes to go LOL.

kyp275
2012-07-24, 12:32
EDIT: Mm, never mind, doesn't look like it once I look through the raws. Weird thing is, why did someone tell me it ended well for Kirito this arc when it hasn't even ended...?

because technically Alicization has already ended once... in web novel format.

Kawahara is rewriting for the published format however. For example, much of vol.10's material wasn't in the web novel originally.

Craxuan
2012-07-24, 12:41
I see. At first I thought it was some sort of mistake or partial updates when I read the Chinese translated Volume 10. Okay then.

... Alicization arc SHOULD continue for a few more volumes, otherwise it wouldn't quite make sense lol...

Xellos-_^
2012-07-24, 12:45
As much as I like Sinon.. it's not gonna happen. :heh:

I agree

Although she does have the best chance if Asuna is taken out of the equation.

Edgardes
2012-07-24, 14:46
Sinonon will be a good godmother. :heh:

aigomorla
2012-07-24, 16:39
I see. At first I thought it was some sort of mistake or partial updates when I read the Chinese translated Volume 10. Okay then.

... Alicization arc SHOULD continue for a few more volumes, otherwise it wouldn't quite make sense lol...

one thing about SAO...
if u want it to make sense u need to read the other vol.

Or your perpetually stuck in where did this happen.. or when did he pull this off...

Kyulutfi
2012-07-25, 03:07
Question : so does anyone know the name of the sword Kirito got in Underworld?


because technically Alicization has already ended once... in web novel format.

Kawahara is rewriting for the published format however. For example, much of vol.10's material wasn't in the web novel originally.

So that mean most of it already decided huh, just developing the story.

Atrum023
2012-07-25, 06:25
I also have a question... would they ever elaborate on the Laughing Coffin crusade (as in, not simply talking about it)? I've been curious as to how the events exactly played out and what lead up to it.

Clarste
2012-07-25, 07:19
As much as I like Sinon.. it's not gonna happen. :heh:

Sinon is the best character, and therefore deserves better than Kirito.

Jokes aside, I'm not even sure she really likes him that way. She made that one comment in Calibur, but it was also clearly teasing him since she could barely hold back her laughter afterward. And she said he reminded her of her mother. :heh: I think they're just close friends. It wouldn't have been impossible for them to fall in love with each other if Asuna had never existed in the first place, but now that they've met and interacted as they have, their relationship wouldn't change even if Asuna disappeared. If that makes sense to anyone else.

Awrya
2012-07-25, 14:24
Question : so does anyone know the name of the sword Kirito got in Underworld?




So that mean most of it already decided huh, just developing the story.

Apparently Kirito's black sword in Aincrad got some attention in this novel, I'd lol if the name is Elucidator (or he chose and named it):eyespin:

kyp275
2012-07-25, 14:43
Question : so does anyone know the name of the sword Kirito got in Underworld?

It is still unnamed as of vol.10.


Apparently Kirito's black sword in Aincrad got some attention in this novel, I'd lol if the name is Elucidator (or he chose and named it):eyespin:

Naw, it was just briefly mentioned how the two sword are similar in that they're both black, and that when he first touched this new sword he felt a connection to it, just like he did with the Elucidator, the Anneal Blade, the Dark Repulsor, Excalibur etc etc.

Craxuan
2012-07-25, 15:32
I find that the author of this story looooves to time skip. I've mentioned this many times but, we never did learn fully about life in Aincard and even now it's pretty damn hard to relate the word 'Death Game' to that particular arc. Someone probably complained a lot about that and he was obedient for the next few volumes, and then his hands got itchy again and made time skip official in Alicization arc. >_>

Kirito was trapped in Fluctlight for 8 years. He understands that time in real life has only passed 18 hours but honestly... it didn't feel like he miss Asuna and the others much. It wasn't quite mentioned in Volume 10. What WAS mentioned however, was that he was starting to get very used to the new world with his new friends and is no longer sure whether he wants to go back... while actually promising halfheartedly that he would not leave even after they've accomplished their objective...

Xellos-_^
2012-07-25, 15:37
I find that the author of this story looooves to time skip. I've mentioned this many times but, we never did learn fully about life in Aincard


well the author is filling in the floors 1-74 with the Side Stories.

First Day/Aria is Floor 1
Rondo is floor 2
Concerto is Floor 3-9

ZIK5ZIK
2012-07-25, 15:58
I find that the author of this story looooves to time skip. I've mentioned this many times but, we never did learn fully about life in Aincard and even now it's pretty damn hard to relate the word 'Death Game' to that particular arc. Someone probably complained a lot about that and he was obedient for the next few volumes, and then his hands got itchy again and made time skip official in Alicization arc. >_>

Kirito was trapped in Fluctlight for 8 years. He understands that time in real life has only passed 18 hours but honestly... it didn't feel like he miss Asuna and the others much. It wasn't quite mentioned in Volume 10. What WAS mentioned however, was that he was starting to get very used to the new world with his new friends and is no longer sure whether he wants to go back... while actually promising halfheartedly that he would not leave even after they've accomplished their objective...

He will want to be together with :love:Asuna:love:

Craxuan
2012-07-25, 16:22
well the author is filling in the floors 1-74 with the Side Stories.

First Day/Aria is Floor 1
Rondo is floor 2
Concerto is Floor 3-9

I know. You also understand that it's not nearly close to being enough, right? :heh:

Dann of Thursday
2012-07-25, 16:27
He will want to be together with :love:Asuna:love:

One would certainly hope so. Unless he plans to write about him choosing this world over the other and gets over Asuna. Which would make me furious and be quite heart breaking for Asuna.

Would anyone actually enjoy an ending like that? :(

kivredia
2012-07-25, 17:03
I find that the author of this story looooves to time skip. I've mentioned this many times but, we never did learn fully about life in Aincard and even now it's pretty damn hard to relate the word 'Death Game' to that particular arc. Someone probably complained a lot about that and he was obedient for the next few volumes, and then his hands got itchy again and made time skip official in Alicization arc. >_>

Kirito was trapped in Fluctlight for 8 years. He understands that time in real life has only passed 18 hours but honestly... it didn't feel like he miss Asuna and the others much. It wasn't quite mentioned in Volume 10. What WAS mentioned however, was that he was starting to get very used to the new world with his new friends and is no longer sure whether he wants to go back... while actually promising halfheartedly that he would not leave even after they've accomplished their objective...

Wait, what? 8 Years? There's some really bad inconsistency here. When he was in the real world after SOA he was a complete mess after being separated from Asuna for a few months. Alright there was the "small" problem that she didn't wake up with him and he didn't know what happened to her but honestly this is just messed up.

He was always like:"she's the most important for me, bla bla" and now he didn't see her for 8 years and its suddenly:"yeah, no big deal. Everythings fine.". Additionally they decided to go to USA together in Vol. 9 Interlude and stuff.

If this is true I'll be totally disappointed by the author. It just doesn't make any sense apart from Kirito going totally mental which imo would be fine and explain a lot of things. I mean, Asura will find out how much time has passed for him and of course she will also say:"Yeah, don't sweat it. Everything's fine.".

Yeah this is a LN and stuf so I don't expect it to be rational, logical or whatever for most of the time but thats just a little too convenient. So far the romance actually was pretty nice, especially since they weren't all lovey dovey all the time, but this?

kyp275
2012-07-25, 19:26
I find that the author of this story looooves to time skip. I've mentioned this many times but, we never did learn fully about life in Aincard and even now it's pretty damn hard to relate the word 'Death Game' to that particular arc. Someone probably complained a lot about that and he was obedient for the next few volumes, and then his hands got itchy again and made time skip official in Alicization arc. >_>

Eh, there's no way to avoid timeskip for Kirito. Remember, time for him is moving along thousands of times faster than everyone else in the real world. You'd literally have to dedicate a couple volumes to Kirito with every chapter of material for Asuna without time skips. As it is, most of volume 10 is already dedicated to Kirito's side of things, most of which are materials that wasn't in the web novel - which had a straight 2 year timeskip for Kirito from the events in vol.9.

Wait, what? 8 Years? There's some really bad inconsistency here. When he was in the real world after SOA he was a complete mess after being separated from Asuna for a few months. Alright there was the "small" problem that she didn't wake up with him and he didn't know what happened to her but honestly this is just messed up.

He was always like:"she's the most important for me, bla bla" and now he didn't see her for 8 years and its suddenly:"yeah, no big deal. Everythings fine.". Additionally they decided to go to USA together in Vol. 9 Interlude and stuff.

Because it's not true. The total time period for Kirito covered in vol.10 is 2 years, which saw him and Eugeo make their from that tiny village to being members in a larger town's guard contingent, and from there entering into the imperial academy, 750km away from the village they first started at, and ends with the end of their first year there.

And no, he's not exactly fine with being separated from the rest of friends and Asuna for so long, but there is nothing for him to RESOLVE POWER through this time either.

astray71
2012-07-26, 00:27
Kirito was trapped in Fluctlight for 8 years. He understands that time in real life has only passed 18 hours but honestly... it didn't feel like he miss Asuna and the others much. It wasn't quite mentioned in Volume 10. What WAS mentioned however, was that he was starting to get very used to the new world with his new friends and is no longer sure whether he wants to go back... while actually promising halfheartedly that he would not leave even after they've accomplished their objective...

The hell? Kirito's trapped for 8 years? I haven't finished volume 9, but seriously? What's going on in this arc? Gotta go read...

kyp275
2012-07-26, 00:32
The hell? Kirito's trapped for 8 years? I haven't finished volume 9, but seriously? What's going on in this arc? Gotta go read...

He didn't >_>

It was 2 years in Underworld's accelerated time at the end of of vol.10, while it's only been a week or so in the real world.

Flere821
2012-07-26, 00:39
He didn't >_>

It was 2 years in Underworld's accelerated time at the end of of vol.10, while it's only been a week or so in the real world.
Not even a week lol, a week would mean 18 years have gone by in Underworld :heh: (That's what's the 1st chapter said anyway, 980 hours = 18 years in Underworld = roughly a week in real life)

kyp275
2012-07-26, 01:11
Not even a week lol, a week would mean 18 years have gone by in Underworld :heh: (That's what's the 1st chapter said anyway, 980 hours = 18 years in Underworld = roughly a week in real life)

Naw, it was at least a week from the Asuna/Shino/Suguha discussion (at which point Kirito has long since been hauled off to Ocean Turtle) 'til Asuna and Rinko arrived at OT, since Asuna told Kikouka that they altered the picture of Rinko's assistant in CalTech's database a week ago.

Remember they can adjust the accelration ratio at will, they probably turned it way down as to not burn through Kirito's fluctlight capacity while giving his brain enough time to regenerate.

tomtkp
2012-07-26, 01:43
SAO's thrashing of the light novel sales ranking continues on for the second week.

Oricon Weekly Books Ranking (July 16th - July 22nd) :

5th - SAO 10 Alicization Running (Weekly: 25400 copies, Cumulative: 134631 copies)

6th - SAO 1 Aincrad (Weekly: 25245 copies, Cumulative: 266614 copies)

7th - SAO 2 Aincrad (Weekly: 23270 copies, Cumulative: 222545 copies)

8th - SAO 3 Fairy Dance (Weekly: 20479 copies, Cumulative: 201971 copies)

11th - SAO 4 Fairy Dance (Weekly: 18630 copies, Cumulative: 195826 copies)

17th - SAO 5 Phantom Bullet (Weekly: 15594 copies, Cumulative: 180540 copies)

19th - SAO 6 Phantom Bullet (Weekly: 13956 copies, Cumulative: 174466 copies)

23rd - SAO 7 Mother's Rosario (Weekly: 12329 copies, Cumulative: 168013 copies)

25th - SAO 8 Early and Late (Weekly: 11702 copies, Cumulative: 168154 copies)

27th - SAO 9 Alicization Beginning (Weekly: 10951 copies, Cumulative: 167681 copies)

Another 152 thousand copies sold last week. Man, Kawahara-sensei and Dengeki really win big this time.

kivredia
2012-07-26, 02:21
Eh, there's no way to avoid timeskip for Kirito. Remember, time for him is moving along thousands of times faster than everyone else in the real world. You'd literally have to dedicate a couple volumes to Kirito with every chapter of material for Asuna without time skips. As it is, most of volume 10 is already dedicated to Kirito's side of things, most of which are materials that wasn't in the web novel - which had a straight 2 year timeskip for Kirito from the events in vol.9.



Because it's not true. The total time period for Kirito covered in vol.10 is 2 years, which saw him and Eugeo make their from that tiny village to being members in a larger town's guard contingent, and from there entering into the imperial academy, 750km away from the village they first started at, and ends with the end of their first year there.

And no, he's not exactly fine with being separated from the rest of friends and Asuna for so long, but there is nothing for him to RESOLVE POWER through this time either.

Well, I was responding to Craxuan's post where he said it was 8 years and the other stuff. I'm only able to read the LN in english so I'm stuck at Vol. 9. But if Vol. 10 covers two years its possible that it will be longer.

I don't really understand what you want to tell me with that RESOLVE POWER part of your post.

kyp275
2012-07-26, 03:15
Well, I was responding to Craxuan's post where he said it was 8 years and the other stuff. I'm only able to read the LN in english so I'm stuck at Vol. 9. But if Vol. 10 covers two years its possible that it will be longer.

I don't really understand what you want to tell me with that RESOLVE POWER part of your post.

It was simply easier to just address both posts at the same time. As far as your post is concerned, I was just saying that Kirito was in fact not fine having been separated from Asuna and the rest, and despite him doing everything he can, there is only so much he can do this time around. Underworld is not a VRMMO, Kirito doesn't have any special OP powers (relatively speaking anyway...for now), there is no super-villains (or is there?) to defeat that would release him from UW, he is literally powerless as far as removing himself from UW is concerned. Not that it would do him any good if he could, as he'd just come back to a damaged brain and go back into a coma anyway.

Netto Azure
2012-07-26, 03:15
SAO's thrashing of the light novel sales ranking continues on for the second week.

Another 152 thousand copies sold last week. Man, Kawahara-sensei and Dengeki really win big this time.

Damn, now if ONLY there was an official English release :heh:

kivredia
2012-07-26, 03:22
It was simply easier to just address both posts at the same time. As far as your post is concerned, I was just saying that Kirito was in fact not fine having been separated from Asuna and the rest, and despite him doing everything he can, there is only so much he can do this time around. Underworld is not a VRMMO, Kirito doesn't have any special OP powers (relatively speaking anyway...for now), there is no super-villains (or is there?) to defeat that would release him from UW, he is literally powerless as far as removing himself from UW is concerned. Not that it would do him any good if he could, as he'd just come back to a damaged brain and go back into a coma anyway.

Alright, thanks for clearing that up. I just got a little mad at the prospect of the stuff that Craxuan posted. Imagine that would be actually true, a lot of people wouldn't like it.

Flere821
2012-07-26, 03:41
Damn, now if ONLY there was an official English release :heh:
I dunno, I'd probably prefer more translators joining BakaTsuki than a official translation. Imagine SAO on BT being taken down and the official English versions never get up to date with the Japanese version until the series ends >.> Didn't that happen with Shakugan no Shana or Haruhi LNs?

Netto Azure
2012-07-26, 04:11
I dunno, I'd probably prefer more translators joining BakaTsuki than a official translation. Imagine SAO on BT being taken down and the official English versions never get up to date with the Japanese version until the series ends >.> Didn't that happen with Shakugan no Shana or Haruhi LNs?

Well, we can go that route too heh. Although printing costs would be through the roof.

Still thank goodness for Tablets. :x

Sixth
2012-07-26, 06:09
Kirito was trapped in Fluctlight for 8 years. He understands that time in real life has only passed 18 hours but honestly... it didn't feel like he miss Asuna and the others much. It wasn't quite mentioned in Volume 10. What WAS mentioned however, was that he was starting to get very used to the new world with his new friends and is no longer sure whether he wants to go back... while actually promising halfheartedly that he would not leave even after they've accomplished their objective...

Well, hope that it will not turn out like Tron Legacy where Clu went berserk because his creator abandoned him.

sky black swordman
2012-07-26, 06:53
I dunno, I'd probably prefer more translators joining BakaTsuki than a official translation. Imagine SAO on BT being taken down and the official English versions never get up to date with the Japanese version until the series ends >.> Didn't that happen with Shakugan no Shana or Haruhi LNs? Agreed and from what I heard from someone on another tread said some Official English version LN's dont turn out so well. According to him Spice and Wolf was one.


Well, hope that it will not turn out like Tron Legacy where Clu went berserk because his creator abandoned him. I dont think it will go down that route. At least I hope not.

TJP1600
2012-07-26, 07:20
Damn, now if ONLY there was an official English release :heh:

Also, BT=No cost! Although I really like the LN books, they just have that collectible feel to them.

willx
2012-07-26, 16:44
Also, BT=No cost! Although I really like the LN books, they just have that collectible feel to them.

Part of me (as a business-y guy and finance major) feels like if we could get a cheap creative-commons style license you could publish the BT translations and put it into a pool to purchase materials and stuff (like RAWs and pay for servers).

I know it's a pipe dream though! That being said, getting back onto topic of the story itself -- I am so excited to learn about Kirito's YEARS in UW .. seriously, he has to have mentally changed so much and become so much more mature (he was mature already) .. wonder if it'll affect his personal relationships much?

Atrum023
2012-07-26, 22:44
Part of me (as a business-y guy and finance major) feels like if we could get a cheap creative-commons style license you could publish the BT translations and put it into a pool to purchase materials and stuff (like RAWs and pay for servers).

I know it's a pipe dream though! That being said, getting back onto topic of the story itself -- I am so excited to learn about Kirito's YEARS in UW .. seriously, he has to have mentally changed so much and become so much more mature (he was mature already) .. wonder if it'll affect his personal relationships much?

As far as I've read in Volume 9, wouldn't most, if not all of the mental development during his time in UW be null and void the moment he goes back to reality? Unless, of course, I'm missing something...

kyp275
2012-07-26, 23:28
As far as I've read in Volume 9, wouldn't most, if not all of the mental development during his time in UW be null and void the moment he goes back to reality? Unless, of course, I'm missing something...

Only if they erase his memory upon exiting.

tyme
2012-07-27, 00:13
Ok I just read volumes 1-4 after seeing the anime three days ago and although it became addicting at first, I felt disappointed by the end of volume 4.

Why start Fairy Dance/Phantom Bullet/etc so soon? I would've been satisfied if the entire SAO storyline had been about reaching the 100th floor and getting freed from the game. The first volume (Aincrad) had a lot of elements that hooked me:

1. The life and death matter. If you died in-game, you died in real life.
2. The difficulty level of each floor which presented the necessity to always grow stronger.
3. Player killing guilds, Cradeel and Laughing Coffin. Why wasn't there more expansion on this? I saw player killering as a potential sub-plot.
4. Heathcliff's real identity. Come on this could've at least waited until the 95th floor!
5. The character development of Cline and Egil. I watched the anime first before reading the LN and I thought Cline would have more of a bigger role in this story besides the "oh I'm sorry for abandoning you Cline"...but he barely gets any dialogue. Seriously?! We're talking about the first friend Kirito made on SAO. Well, it looked more emotional in the first episode of the anime.

#3-5 would've helped prolong my interest in SAO more than the idea of jumping from one virtual setting to the next (ALfheim Online). Really, I can't believe how Aincrad ended so abruptly. I didn't even want to read Fairy Dance, but I did so because the end of volume 1 felt incomplete. In my opinion, Fairy Dance seemed weak and lacked the suspense Aincrad carried. I only enjoyed the last bit of volume 4 where I gained new info about Kayaba Akihiko and the conclusion I was searching for -- Asuna logging off.

Fairy Dance would make a great sequel to Aincrad, no doubt, but it just feels like a rushed story. Aincrad covers a timespan of 2 years, while Fairy Dance gets 2 volumes to cover what...like 3 days?

I think I'll take a break before I decide to continue reading the next volumes. It's feeling too Dragonball,Z,GT-like for me.

kyp275
2012-07-27, 00:28
SAO was originally written as a short, self-contained story intended for a light novel competition with a page limit of 120 :p, it was not written as an epic scale adventure story like you're suggesting. This is why the author has constantly added side stories to the Aincrad arc to fill out the story (with mixed-result IMO. But then that's why he's starting the SAO: Progressive novel series, which would be a rewrite of the entire Aincrad arc).

Fairy Dance is really the conclusion to the Kirito and Asuna's story that began in Aincrad. Also, the SAO series's story has never really been about any specific virtual world, but rather about exploring the characters and their interaction with various different virtual worlds. That being said, the world of SAO is one of the strongest/most interesting one, rivaled IMO only by Underworld.

Also, obligatory FACE-SMASH for comparing SAO to DBZ :frustrated: :frustrated: :frustrated: :D

Clarste
2012-07-27, 00:50
I agree that Aincrad is the best setting, but I don't think it's a bad thing to let it end quickly rather than dragging it on forever. With a hundred floors and probably another year after the 74th floor it does seem like it'd go on forever with no conclusion in sight. Probably not the best pacing.

For what it's worth, I think Phantom Bullet is a better stand-alone story than Fairy Dance. And it's not completely disconnected from Aincrad either.

novalysis
2012-07-27, 07:26
Phantom Bullet is a very different story from SAO. If Fairy Dance is the Aincrad's Arc Epilogue and Denouement, then Phantom Bullet is a sequel with a different genre focus.

IMO though, Mother's Rosario, Volume 7 is the best SAO story.

Clarste
2012-07-27, 07:42
Mother's Rosario is really stand-alone though. If Phantom Bullet is the sequel, then Mother's Rosario is the completely unrelated story with a similar theme that got turned into a sequel by the marketing department for name recognition. Actually, given Alicization (or at least volume 9), I have to wonder if the author was getting a bit bored of his old characters and settings and wanted to start something fresh.

kyp275
2012-07-27, 08:10
Mother's Rosario is really stand-alone though. If Phantom Bullet is the sequel, then Mother's Rosario is the completely unrelated story with a similar theme that got turned into a sequel by the marketing department for name recognition. Actually, given Alicization (or at least volume 9), I have to wonder if the author was getting a bit bored of his old characters and settings and wanted to start something fresh.

Eh? MR may have been shorter than the other arcs, but it's still very much an integral part of SAO. The SAO series has always been episodic in nature with a story that is tied together by a common theme - exploring the dynamics between its characters and virtual realities.

MR explored VR technology and its potential medical applications (which leads into Alicization very well I might add), not to mention it contained by far the largest chunk of character development for Asuna, as she is the main character this time around. I just can't see MR as something cooked up by the marketing department, especially when you consider the whole thing was already written before SAO was ever picked up to be published :p

Shadow1999
2012-07-27, 10:34
Hey, guys
im right in the middle of reading the 9th Volume and i'm a little bit confused about some elements. Dont mind spoiling some of the story which i am about to read since im too curious ^^



1. I take it that the diving into Underworld where he was 11 years old was before he met Shino and Asuna at the cafe?
2. How did Kirito end up in Underworld again with his memories until the point Johnny Black appeared?
3. Eugeo and anything in this world is AI right?
4. Why doesnt Eugeo have any "memories" of Kirito when he arrives at this place?


Thanks and greetings

novalysis
2012-07-27, 11:21
Mother's Rosario is really stand-alone though. If Phantom Bullet is the sequel, then Mother's Rosario is the completely unrelated story with a similar theme that got turned into a sequel by the marketing department for name recognition. Actually, given Alicization (or at least volume 9), I have to wonder if the author was getting a bit bored of his old characters and settings and wanted to start something fresh.

Mother's Rosario is still part of SAO. Same characters, evolving circumstances, different developments and premise. But still SAO, even if it's the shortest SAO Arc. It's still connected to Aincrad, in many ways, it's the closest to capturing the spirit of Aincrad, since mortality is still a theme in there, a very strong theme.

Now, Alicization reads as a different story. But still, without Kirito's previous development, it'd be hard to swallow Alicization. Nevertheless, it is an interesting story, in my view.

I agree that Aincrad is the best setting, but I don't think it's a bad thing to let it end quickly rather than dragging it on forever. With a hundred floors and probably another year after the 74th floor it does seem like it'd go on forever with no conclusion in sight. Probably not the best pacing.

For what it's worth, I think Phantom Bullet is a better stand-alone story than Fairy Dance. And it's not completely disconnected from Aincrad either.

Eagerly awaiting for Progressive, mind you.

Dann of Thursday
2012-07-27, 13:49
For the record, Alicization is the final SAO story, correct? General conclusion to everything? Or are there still things left over to tackle?

Ray
2012-07-27, 13:57
For the record, Alicization is the final SAO story, correct? General conclusion to everything? Or are there still things left over to tackle?
Yep. As far as we know, anyway.

ZIK5ZIK
2012-07-27, 14:03
For the record, Alicization is the final SAO story, correct? General conclusion to everything? Or are there still things left over to tackle?

YES, web-novel

Dann of Thursday
2012-07-27, 14:22
Yep. As far as we know, anyway.

YES, web-novel

Thank you. Curious as to what else he might expand, though I haven't gotten to Alicization yet myself. If it's set to go for around volume 15 or so I've heard, wouldn't that make this the longest arc in the series?

Awrya
2012-07-27, 14:23
Hey, guys
im right in the middle of reading the 9th Volume and i'm a little bit confused about some elements. Dont mind spoiling some of the story which i am about to read since im too curious ^^



1. I take it that the diving into Underworld where he was 11 years old was before he met Shino and Asuna at the cafe?
2. How did Kirito end up in Underworld again with his memories until the point Johnny Black appeared?
3. Eugeo and anything in this world is AI right?
4. Why doesnt Eugeo have any "memories" of Kirito when he arrives at this place?


Thanks and greetings
This is just what I know, understood and could remember on the spot
1. I think it was a week or two when he took up the part time job, so yes the 11 year old Kirito in UW was before he met up with Shino&Asuna
2. He suffered some brain damage (due to a lack of oxygen) and was put into UW in an attempt to recover the damage he suffered by letting his fluctlight 'recover' (i.e. his soul)
3. Yes, they are AIs
4. This is just speculations, maybe the administrator 'reset' the AIs memories when Kirito's work time ended, as UW continues running even without Kirito in it. With Kirito in near death, they connected him to UW and didn't have time to add the memories for the AIs.
Another possibility is that they want to recover Kirito's fluctlight and if the AIs have memories of the 11 year old him, it might cause Kirito to doubt his own existence, which would be counter-productive.

Ray
2012-07-27, 14:27
Thank you. Curious as to what else he might expand, though I haven't gotten to Alicization yet myself. If it's set to go for around volume 15 or so I've heard, wouldn't that make this the longest arc in the series?
Yeah, it's page number completely dwarfs those of the other arcs.

tomtkp
2012-07-27, 14:39
Thank you. Curious as to what else he might expand, though I haven't gotten to Alicization yet myself. If it's set to go for around volume 15 or so I've heard, wouldn't that make this the longest arc in the series?

Alicization was already confirmed to be the longest arc of the series even before the web novel got published into light novels. Its page number even exceeded the combined page numbers of the first three arcs.

Now with Volume 10 has more than 50% of new contents, I predict that Alicization can go as far to Volume 16.

Shadow1999
2012-07-27, 14:46
Thanks Awrya.
Just finished reading the 9th Volume and i must say the author is a genius and SOA is a masterpiece :)

kyp275
2012-07-27, 14:47
4. This is just speculations, maybe the administrator 'reset' the AIs memories when Kirito's work time ended, as UW continues running even without Kirito in it. With Kirito in near death, they connected him to UW and didn't have time to add the memories for the AIs.
Another possibility is that they want to recover Kirito's fluctlight and if the AIs have memories of the 11 year old him, it might cause Kirito to doubt his own existence, which would be counter-productive.

on this point...

It was noted that even though people's memories during the time they're connected to the soul translator can be blocked off, any changes to their fluctlight (soul) from their experiences during that time cannot be undone. This is why Kirito still had some vague notions about Alice during his talk with Asuna and Shino.

As for Eugeo, it's important to note that the AIs in Underworld is not really the type of digital software construct commonly seen in most other scifi stories. They're copies of human fluctlight, which makes them more akin to digitized human consciousness like those seen in Ghost in the Shell. This means that while the admins may be able to prevent Eugeo from accessing his memory of Kirito from their childhood days, they cannot erase or alter those experiences from Eugeo's own fluctlight.

novalysis
2012-07-27, 17:40
Well, I wonder whether Progressive will wind up rivaling Alicization in length.

It'll be ironic yet fitting if the first and last arcs of SAO are the longest.

Still, I'd suspect that it'd take several more years to get the full SAO story out, the entirety of Progressive to the whole of Alicization.

Ghanw
2012-07-27, 18:40
Hello guys, new to the fourm and pretty astonished i never discovered this sooner. I already read 1-5, and going through the illistrations to give me an idea what was going to happen, the cover of Vol. 10 is it Asuna and Kirito? (Asuna somehow looks different) Also is the this LN series already over or continuing cause it was originally on web? Another question ( i know it is a pretty stupid one and i dont want to search 80pages for what i am looking for even though i looked on Wiki) can someone give a Genral idea of what happens after Fairy dance? Thank you. I know i am a pain in the a&&. Sorry

Clarste
2012-07-27, 18:48
Eh? MR may have been shorter than the other arcs, but it's still very much an integral part of SAO. The SAO series has always been episodic in nature with a story that is tied together by a common theme - exploring the dynamics between its characters and virtual realities.

MR explored VR technology and its potential medical applications (which leads into Alicization very well I might add), not to mention it contained by far the largest chunk of character development for Asuna, as she is the main character this time around. I just can't see MR as something cooked up by the marketing department, especially when you consider the whole thing was already written before SAO was ever picked up to be published :p

I didn't mean that literally. I just meant that it's ultimately unrelated to the themes of Aincrad, and rather is more related to the themes of VR in general. The author is obviously interested in those themes in general (see: Accel World, Alicization). In that sense, I think it's pretty easy to imagine him starting a new series about it or something.

Basically, unlike both Fairy Dance and Phantom Bullet, MR isn't about the aftermath of Aincrad. At all. It's about a girl who likes to play VR video games and is under lots of pressure from her mother who doesn't understand how important it is to her, and that the friends she has in there are real friends, and that she's not just wasting her time, etc etc. And that girl happens to be Asuna. Throw in some drama about the medical uses of VR to emphasize the point that this can be more than just a game.

This is a good story that's worth reading, and I don't mean to dismiss that, but it's also completely unconnected from everything that came before it except for the use of VR. And Asuna's character. Except the parts of Asuna's character that are developed are the ones that have nothing to do with Aincrad. She is nominally a "heroine" in the story, but having her be the main character doesn't mean it's the same story. Perhaps a spin-off.

kyp275
2012-07-27, 20:49
The cover of Vol. 10 is it Asuna and Kirito? (Asuna somehow looks different) Also is the this LN series already over or continuing cause it was originally on web?

No, it's Kirito and Soltirina, and the novel series is still continuing.

This is a good story that's worth reading, and I don't mean to dismiss that, but it's also completely unconnected from everything that came before it except for the use of VR. And Asuna's character. Except the parts of Asuna's character that are developed are the ones that have nothing to do with Aincrad. She is nominally a "heroine" in the story, but having her be the main character doesn't mean it's the same story. Perhaps a spin-off.

The focus of SAO shifted away from Aincrad since.. well, the end of vol.2, so I'd hardly use that as a qualifier. Fairy Dance, being the direct sequel and conclusion of Kirito and Asuna's story, has the strongest link to Aincrad, but GGO's link to Aincrad is rather tenuous at best.

You're equating the essence of the SAO series to Aincrad, when Aincrad is merely a small part of it. It's really apparent when you look at the series as a whole.

Clarste
2012-07-27, 21:23
The focus of SAO shifted away from Aincrad since.. well, the end of vol.2, so I'd hardly use that as a qualifier. Fairy Dance, being the direct sequel and conclusion of Kirito and Asuna's story, has the strongest link to Aincrad, but GGO's link to Aincrad is rather tenuous at best.

You're equating the essence of the SAO series to Aincrad, when Aincrad is merely a small part of it. It's really apparent when you look at the series as a whole.

It hasn't taken place in Aincrad since volume 2, but the repercussions of it can be felt strongly up until the end of volume 6. FD obviously dealt with the theme of "Kirito is still mentally trapped in Aincrad" and Asuna was literally still trapped. GGO dealt with a serial killer stuck in the Aincrad mindset where they had real power over life and death, as well as Kirito's PTSD from the same events. Each of those stories was a direct result of the previous stories, and the fact that the characters had experienced being stuck in Aincrad was central to the story. They were sequels, in the normal sense of the term. Not necessary to understand the full story, but additional stories building off of the previous characters and circumstances.

By the time MR comes around though, Asuna is just an avid gamer. The fact that she was trapped in a death game is no longer central to her character or the plot. Alicization is the same.

Dann of Thursday
2012-07-27, 21:36
Yeah, it's page number completely dwarfs those of the other arcs.

Alicization was already confirmed to be the longest arc of the series even before the web novel got published into light novels. Its page number even exceeded the combined page numbers of the first three arcs.

Now with Volume 10 has more than 50% of new contents, I predict that Alicization can go as far to Volume 16.

Ha, that's quite a difference. I guess this was the grand finale then in a sense? I wonder if Progressive might come anywhere close to it, though probably not.

The additional material is filling in information during what was a time skip in the original web novel, correct?

And a question regarding the arc:

Kirito does make it out alright and get back to Asuna and the others, correct? Or do they leave it vague as to what the future may hold for them?

It doesn't bother me much to know in advance.

novalysis
2012-07-27, 21:48
It hasn't taken place in Aincrad since volume 2, but the repercussions of it can be felt strongly up until the end of volume 6. FD obviously dealt with the theme of "Kirito is still mentally trapped in Aincrad" and Asuna was literally still trapped. GGO dealt with a serial killer stuck in the Aincrad mindset where they had real power over life and death, as well as Kirito's PTSD from the same events. Each of those stories was a direct result of the previous stories, and the fact that the characters had experienced being stuck in Aincrad was central to the story. They were sequels, in the normal sense of the term. Not necessary to understand the full story, but additional stories building off of the previous characters and circumstances.

By the time MR comes around though, Asuna is just an avid gamer. The fact that she was trapped in a death game is no longer central to her character or the plot. Alicization is the same.

Disagreed. MR touches on Asuna's identity, something only hinted on in SAO, especially in the Side Stories. MR brings you back to Aincard, brings back the concept of the "Seeds", brings back that sense of mortality. MR is a sequel of a sequel - what happens after you leave one stage of life , and realize you enter another with new challenges and issues?

MR is every bit Kayaba's legacy, as the Aincrad was. Yes, Asuna moves beyond Aincrad. There's nothing wrong with what happens after you move on. MR is a post-story, or perhaps a bridge between the shadow of Aincrad, and Alicization.

From what I'm gathering you are arguing that MR misses the "trapped in Aincrad mentality." There's nothing wrong with that at all, and I still see MR as part of SAO- a what happens after, or perhaps a bridging incident between Aincrad and Alicization.

Xellos-_^
2012-07-27, 21:56
i was thinking, besides gaming what else could VR tech be use for. Mother rosario already touch on the medical field. With VR tech that advance you can:

1. Hold Online Orgies :D
2. Weight loss program - eat all you want online and only bread and water offline
3. drug use online. same mental affect but without the physical side effect. Cheaper and better then the real thing.
4. Hunting.

Dann of Thursday
2012-07-27, 22:16
i was thinking, besides gaming what else could VR tech be use for. Mother rosario already touch on the medical field. With VR tech that advance you can:

1. Hold Online Orgies :D
2. Weight loss program - eat all you want online and only bread and water offline
3. drug use online. same mental affect but without the physical side effect. Cheaper and better then the real thing.
4. Hunting.

There's also the possibility of training real life skills and such, though that would benefit more from the time effects later on as you could do all the training with little time going by in real life. Though there are so many dangers to it as Alicization can attest.

Xellos-_^
2012-07-27, 22:20
There's also the possibility of training real life skills and such, though that would benefit more from the time effects later on as you could do all the training with little time going by in real life. Though there are so many dangers to it as Alicization can attest.
but i will bet 90% of new vr server form the seed are related to sex and porn :D:heh::p

Dann of Thursday
2012-07-27, 22:34
but i will bet 90% of new vr server form the seed are related to sex and porn :D:heh::p

Chapter 16.5 proves that to a degree.

Netto Azure
2012-07-27, 23:14
but i will bet 90% of new vr server form the seed are related to sex and porn :D:heh::p

Well I do wonder what effects that could have to society...

Rennir
2012-07-27, 23:39
Well I do wonder what effects that could have to society...

Lessen the amount of adultery? :heh:

Clarste
2012-07-27, 23:57
Disagreed. MR touches on Asuna's identity, something only hinted on in SAO, especially in the Side Stories. MR brings you back to Aincard, brings back the concept of the "Seeds", brings back that sense of mortality. MR is a sequel of a sequel - what happens after you leave one stage of life , and realize you enter another with new challenges and issues?

MR is every bit Kayaba's legacy, as the Aincrad was. Yes, Asuna moves beyond Aincrad. There's nothing wrong with what happens after you move on. MR is a post-story, or perhaps a bridge between the shadow of Aincrad, and Alicization.

From what I'm gathering you are arguing that MR misses the "trapped in Aincrad mentality." There's nothing wrong with that at all, and I still see MR as part of SAO- a what happens after, or perhaps a bridging incident between Aincrad and Alicization.

I agree, it's moving on. The author moving on, the story moving on. It's no longer the same story, but a new story with new themes.

novalysis
2012-07-28, 00:01
I agree, it's moving on. The author moving on, the story moving on. It's no longer the same story, but a new story with new themes.

Granted at that, but at this point, it all boils down to what defines the end of a story, and that's quite hard to pin down. If you consider SAO as Kirito and Asuna's life-story, then definitely, Mother's Rosario is a part of their live story, though a separate chapter in their story. If you consider SAO a collection of stories on the other hand...

Of course, one could argue that SAO actually is comprised of four stories focusing on the same two characters:

Aincrad - which Fairy Dance is the ultimate Resolution of - Survival, Romance (Aincrad), Family (Fairy Dance, some of the Aincrad Side stories)

Phantom Bullet - Criminal Sci-fi Thriller

Mother's Rosario - Personal Sci-Fi Drama, "Chicken Soup for the soul" style story.

Alicization - Full blown Sci-fi meets Heroic Fantasy.

Dann of Thursday
2012-07-28, 00:13
Wouldn't it be more Kirito's life story given that he's a major factor in all of it, while we also get to see the stories of the people who are closest to him as well? It's just that, aside from MR where she is the main character, Asuna doesn't seem to be featured quite as much as Aincrad and Fairy Dance.

Granted, she is still quite present and their relationship is still a large factor of Kirito's motivations.

Clarste
2012-07-28, 02:55
Granted at that, but at this point, it all boils down to what defines the end of a story, and that's quite hard to pin down. If you consider SAO as Kirito and Asuna's life-story, then definitely, Mother's Rosario is a part of their live story, though a separate chapter in their story. If you consider SAO a collection of stories on the other hand...

Of course, one could argue that SAO actually is comprised of four stories focusing on the same two characters:

Aincrad - which Fairy Dance is the ultimate Resolution of - Survival, Romance (Aincrad), Family (Fairy Dance, some of the Aincrad Side stories)

Phantom Bullet - Criminal Sci-fi Thriller

Mother's Rosario - Personal Sci-Fi Drama, "Chicken Soup for the soul" style story.

Alicization - Full blown Sci-fi meets Heroic Fantasy.

Personally, I'd say Phantom Bullet is just as much a continuation of Aincrad as Fairy Dance. Yes, it also has the trappings of a Thriller, but Red-eyed XaXa is basically going through the same things that Kirito did in Fairy Dance and comes to a different conclusion (because he's evil).

Kirito had the same feelings of being the "hero" of Aincrad yet finding himself completely powerless back in reality. The scene near the end of Fairy Dance where he's attacked by what's-his-face in the parking lot of the hospital was the climax of that particular subplot, when he realizes that he does have strength, and that the lessons he learned in Aincrad can help him in reality. There's a funny moment when he realizes the knife is nothing compared to the weapons he's used to fighting against, so he has no reason to be scared of it.

XaXa goes through the same thing. He was strong in Aincrad. People would be afraid of even his name. He had power over the life and death of others. And then he suddenly lost all that. And, ultimately, he learns the same lesson that Kirito learned, that strength isn't just a matter of levels and numbers in-game. He took the willingness to kill that he developed in Aincrad and brought it back with him, to the misfortune of everyone else. It's essentially the same story that Fairy Dance told, about the rejection of or acceptance of the real world, told from the other side.

...although I've always thought it was kinda stupid that the agent guy never considered that they were being attacked by someone else in reality.

CNine
2012-07-28, 04:07
actually what most of the reader of this LN didn't notice is that ALL MAIN ARC IN THIS SERIES IS STILL RELATED WITH A CERTAIN FLOATING CASTLE IN A GAME CALLED SWORD ART ONLINE. By set the romance aside of course

Ghanw
2012-07-28, 09:55
This maybe off topic, but what are your thought about how this LN series is going to end even though a new series just started?

Ray
2012-07-28, 10:00
This maybe off topic, but what are your thought about how this LN series is going to end even though a new series just started?
You mean Progressive? It's still the same series.

styr
2012-07-28, 11:37
I've got a question here about the SAO arc, I vaguely remember Kirito saying something about it but now I can't find it to save my life!

Basically, Kirito said that the major "selling point" of SAO aside from not having magic was that it was all about <<Sword Skills>> or something along those lines, right? That's why most people use swords due to the sword skills, right? Kirito has his one hand sword/dual blade skill, Asuna has her one hand rapier, Kline has katana/curved sword, Heathcliff has Holy Sword, etc etc.

I could've sworn there was a quote where he mentioned that only 'swords' got named weapon skills like Linear, Horizontal Square, Slant, Vorpal Thingy, etc. I've been looking in Volume 1 mostly so far but I've read up to the beginning of Vol 7 and every side story. Regardless I am trying to find a quote to back this statement up, I kinda remember him saying such a thing, which is a big reason why the game is called 'Sword' Art Online, but idk. I just can't find the part where he mentions that only swords have weapon skills. So I may or may not be wrong, but does anyone know for sure?

I had been thinking about this for a while because if it is true, why would anybody use a weapon aside from a sword? Thus far, we've seen the ubiquitous sword (1h+2h) along with daggers, spears, hammers, staves*, axes, polearms, and maybe more. Honestly I thought dual wield being a <<unique>> skill was a bit... lame. Why would someone use a dagger if they couldn't dual wield, for instance? "Rogue"-ish classes dual-wielding daggers is extremely popular in MMOs and is generally more popular than dual-wield swords. Perhaps it is just the Japanese fondness for swords? I guess daggers would have a low str-requirement to equip or something and rely on agi/dex for damage since speed would be important for such a short range weapon.

Speaking about weapons, Asuna mentions something about how a shield would slow her attacks/movement down and I can buy that, but as Heathcliff showed shields can also be used offensively and seemingly gives more benefits than disadvantages. Still, a dagger would have incredibly short range compared to a polearm/spear and is still at a disadvantage length wise vs a short sword. It also seems like rapiers are quicker than daggers, nullifying any reason whatsoever to even use them.. At least Asuna made it seem that way, but I think rapiers are also like daggers and would have low-str requirements and depend mostly upon agi/dex, due to the weight of the weapon.. but who knows.

*There was a 2h staff user in the Black Cats guild in the LN, along with the dagger using "thief," the mace/shield user Tetsuo, and two spear users that Sachi belonged to. In the anime however no person is shown using a staff within their group, not sure what happened there? A staff would be a pretty bad weapon in SAO in my opinion if you couldn't use it to channel magic or whatever. There's also a part where Kirito mentions the four different types of damage a weapon can do: slashing, blunt, thrusting, and piercing. The author really should have consolidated thrusting and piercing as both are the same thing really. I believe Kirito discussed them in the Murder in the Area side story.

Back to the main point, in the Black Swordsman SS, Silica practices combos with her dagger inside the inn and uses them during the quest with Kirito, implying that there is weapon skills for non sword weapons (after my edit below this point is now null since she uses the 1h sword skill with daggers, but the next point still remains valid). Additionally, in the 2nd episode of the anime it looks like Egil/Agil uses a 2h axe based skill (http://i.imgur.com/hYCjV.jpg) to parry Illfang's sword before it could hit Kirito/Asuna who was on the ground. Note the glow of his weapon that signals a weapon skill. edit: After looking up Silica's character skills on BakaTsuki's ME section (http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Sword_Art_Online:ME2) it seems that she was using <<1h short sword>> skill with her dagger equipped; or rather, there is no <<1h dagger>> skill. Seems strange that daggers would be classified under swords, no? Agil is clearly using the <<2h battle axe>> skill though, and even Asuna has some proficiency with using "2h assault spears."

Am I just imagining things about the whole "only swords have weapon skills" or is this another author induced plot hole? Maybe I am just wrong and was a bit delusional from lack of sleep and read something wrong? I really thought I read it somewhere... but maybe not.. lol.


On another note, the author could have included magic/ranged weapons that used a degree of skill to use. Normal "magic" that has a guaranteed hit chance is indeed overpowered like Kirito mentions but there is at least one way to make it fair. Anyone here that plays League of Legends will know what I am talking about - skillshots. (http://leagueoflegends.wikia.com/wiki/Skillshot) Sorry for linking to another site but it explains how it works to anybody not familiar with the term. Basically when you activate the skill, a targeting reticle pops up that shows you the trajectory and it is up to the player to aim, lead, and fire. It is not a 100% chance hit ever, even at close range they can be evaded. I guess the author did not know about such a system since it isn't all that popular yet.

The cone-based skillshots would probably be too OP for SAO but the linear ones would fit in perfectly I think, since it isn't as easy as it looks to hit something when both the caster and the target move around. Most skillshots in LoL have different projectile speeds but none are impossible to dodge because they are too fast. I imagine if it was hypothetically incorporated into SAO the more powerful skillshots would be slower and perhaps explode on contact. It seems like the author almost used a similar idea with the Blade Throwing skill but according to Kirito is limited at best. It's a shame they couldn't incorporate some real projectile weapons/magic via a skillshot system.. cause GGO just takes it to extreme levels. (Matrix bullet dodge anyone?)

Meltyred
2012-07-28, 11:47
Sword skills are basically the moves that you do for the cool attacks, it is there for every weapon, and still called a "Sword Skill"

styr
2012-07-28, 12:13
Sword skills are basically the moves that you do for the cool attacks, it is there for every weapon, and still called a "Sword Skill"

Why would they use a specific phrase like "sword skill" and not something all encompassing like "weapon skill?" It would be a very confusing term to anyone that didn't know how the in-game mechanics worked, i.e. the audience. I'm sure if we had access to an encyclopedic list of in-game skills and what not this would be extremely easy to solve but the author so far has only listed skills performed by weapons in the LN/manga/etc that Kirito/Asuna/Coper use. I don't think there was ever a time when Kirito mentioned anything about a non sword-type weapon performing a skill... but maybe the author just didn't want to bog down the audience with a bunch of skills that are rarely if ever seen by the MC? Idk.

Since Silica does use 1h sword skill for using daggers, the only proof that I can think of that other weapons can use "sword skills" is Agil in episode 2, and the mace user in episode 3.

kyp275
2012-07-28, 12:37
Why would they use a specific phrase like "sword skill" and not something all encompassing like "weapon skill?" It would be a very confusing term to anyone that didn't know how the in-game mechanics worked, i.e. the audience.

Because Sword Art Online sounds better than Weapon Skill/Art Online :D

No need to read too much into it really :p

Awrya
2012-07-28, 13:45
I've got a question here about the SAO arc, I vaguely remember Kirito saying something about it but now I can't find it to save my life!

Basically, Kirito said that the major "selling point" of SAO aside from not having magic was that it was all about <<Sword Skills>> or something along those lines, right? That's why most people use swords due to the sword skills, right? Kirito has his one hand sword/dual blade skill, Asuna has her one hand rapier, Kline has katana/curved sword, Heathcliff has Holy Sword, etc etc.

I could've sworn there was a quote where he mentioned that only 'swords' got named weapon skills like Linear, Horizontal Square, Slant, Vorpal Thingy, etc. I've been looking in Volume 1 mostly so far but I've read up to the beginning of Vol 7 and every side story. Regardless I am trying to find a quote to back this statement up, I kinda remember him saying such a thing, which is a big reason why the game is called 'Sword' Art Online, but idk. I just can't find the part where he mentions that only swords have weapon skills. So I may or may not be wrong, but does anyone know for sure?
What I can remember was how [Sword skills] led to the success of SAO, moving ones body to perform the special attack, I could be wrong though.
The sword was the best weapon in medieval times, but since it is (or should have been) a game with RPG elements, they had to introduce different weapons for different players who want to role play as assassins, monks (bare-handed) etc.

I had been thinking about this for a while because if it is true, why would anybody use a weapon aside from a sword? Thus far, we've seen the ubiquitous sword (1h+2h) along with daggers, spears, hammers, staves*, axes, polearms, and maybe more. Honestly I thought dual wield being a <<unique>> skill was a bit... lame. Why would someone use a dagger if they couldn't dual wield, for instance? "Rogue"-ish classes dual-wielding daggers is extremely popular in MMOs and is generally more popular than dual-wield swords. Perhaps it is just the Japanese fondness for swords? I guess daggers would have a low str-requirement to equip or something and rely on agi/dex for damage since speed would be important for such a short range weapon.
About different weapons, it probably depends on the style of the player, whether he wants to slice (sharp weapons), smash (blunt weapon), pierce (thrusting weapon) etc. Since the feeling and use for them are different, it is a matter of preference and/or habit.
About daggers, Kirito mentioned there was a jagged dagger that had an additional effect of damaging/breaking weapons, though there should be a lot of other weapons with additional effects. What is unique so far about daggers is that they could apply poison on them (LC's Johnny Black), which so far no other weapon could. Other weapons may have advantages as well, maybe a spear piercing through armour?


Speaking about weapons, Asuna mentions something about how a shield would slow her attacks/movement down and I can buy that, but as Heathcliff showed shields can also be used offensively and seemingly gives more benefits than disadvantages. Still, a dagger would have incredibly short range compared to a polearm/spear and is still at a disadvantage length wise vs a short sword. It also seems like rapiers are quicker than daggers, nullifying any reason whatsoever to even use them.. At least Asuna made it seem that way, but I think rapiers are also like daggers and would have low-str requirements and depend mostly upon agi/dex, due to the weight of the weapon.. but who knows. Heathcliff had the unique skill [Holy Swords], which allowed him to attack with a shield. Without the unique skill, shields are mostly defensive, as tanks aren't designed to deal massive amount of damage, no matter what game.

*There was a 2h staff user in the Black Cats guild in the LN, along with the dagger using "thief," the mace/shield user Tetsuo, and two spear users that Sachi belonged to. In the anime however no person is shown using a staff within their group, not sure what happened there? A staff would be a pretty bad weapon in SAO in my opinion if you couldn't use it to channel magic or whatever. There's also a part where Kirito mentions the four different types of damage a weapon can do: slashing, blunt, thrusting, and piercing. The author really should have consolidated thrusting and piercing as both are the same thing really. I believe Kirito discussed them in the Murder in the Area side story.
What the author meant by thrusting are probably hurling weapons, like Kirito's knife throwing skill.
About the staff, maybe the studio felt the same and simply cut it out? He could also have doneBojutsu (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C5%8Djutsu) in real life and picked it as his weapon simply out of nostalgia, but his weapon type wasn't really important for RNR.

Back to the main point, in the Black Swordsman SS, Silica practices combos with her dagger inside the inn and uses them during the quest with Kirito, implying that there is weapon skills for non sword weapons (after my edit below this point is now null since she uses the 1h sword skill with daggers, but the next point still remains valid). Additionally, in the 2nd episode of the anime it looks like Egil/Agil uses a 2h axe based skill (http://i.imgur.com/hYCjV.jpg) to parry Illfang's sword before it could hit Kirito/Asuna who was on the ground. Note the glow of his weapon that signals a weapon skill. edit: After looking up Silica's character skills on BakaTsuki's ME section (http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Sword_Art_Online:ME2) it seems that she was using <<1h short sword>> skill with her dagger equipped; or rather, there is no <<1h dagger>> skill. Seems strange that daggers would be classified under swords, no? Agil is clearly using the <<2h battle axe>> skill though, and even Asuna has some proficiency with using "2h assault spears."

Am I just imagining things about the whole "only swords have weapon skills" or is this another author induced plot hole? Maybe I am just wrong and was a bit delusional from lack of sleep and read something wrong? I really thought I read it somewhere... but maybe not.. lol.
About the dagger, while its name is [Shadow Dagger], it is classified as a [One-handed Short Sword], so it makes sense she uses [1hand Sword] skill.
It's probably the same with [One-handed Curve Sword] using [1hand Sword] skills.

On another note, the author could have included magic/ranged weapons that used a degree of skill to use. Normal "magic" that has a guaranteed hit chance is indeed overpowered like Kirito mentions but there is at least one way to make it fair. Anyone here that plays League of Legends will know what I am talking about - skillshots. (http://leagueoflegends.wikia.com/wiki/Skillshot) Sorry for linking to another site but it explains how it works to anybody not familiar with the term. Basically when you activate the skill, a targeting reticle pops up that shows you the trajectory and it is up to the player to aim, lead, and fire. It is not a 100% chance hit ever, even at close range they can be evaded. I guess the author did not know about such a system since it isn't all that popular yet.

The cone-based skillshots would probably be too OP for SAO but the linear ones would fit in perfectly I think, since it isn't as easy as it looks to hit something when both the caster and the target move around. Most skillshots in LoL have different projectile speeds but none are impossible to dodge because they are too fast. I imagine if it was hypothetically incorporated into SAO the more powerful skillshots would be slower and perhaps explode on contact. It seems like the author almost used a similar idea with the Blade Throwing skill but according to Kirito is limited at best. It's a shame they couldn't incorporate some real projectile weapons/magic via a skillshot system.. cause GGO just takes it to extreme levels. (Matrix bullet dodge anyone?)
There was Kirito's knife throwing skill, which was said to be the only range option.
When Kayaba designed the game, he wanted to create a world where [The Sword symbolizes the Player]. Even ALO only had a magic system at the beginning, with [Sword Skills] implemented after Vol. 4 .
If I as a player had to memorize all the relevant sword skills and magic incarnations from the beginning, it is too much to ask.

Haven't seen such a wall of text since someone decided to make original characters in a different thread, but at least there are paragraphs here:heh:

Edit: Editing this is a pain, I only see text text text

Grey
2012-07-28, 20:08
Oh man. So I thought I'd read the anime chapters, and started reading Volume 1, Chapter 1. I thought, "This is a little different..." but kept going for a few chapters waiting for the anime chapters to show up.

Then I gave up on spoilers and just read the whole volume. I figured it was too late to avoid spoilers anyway. The end was a real emotional whirlwind. But I needed closure on Asuna's story. So I kept going to volume 2, chapter 2 and AAAAAAAAARRRRGGGGHHHHHHH.

Then I skipped to the end of volume 4 because dammit, I wasn't going to wait 2 volumes for closure. Especially not after Sugou showed up to screw my happy ending.

Whew. I guess volume 1 was enjoyable enough. I did a fast scan of some early/middle chapters but I liked most of the later chapters.

Time to browse through volume 5 and 6.

Sixth
2012-07-29, 01:25
I had been wondering about this for quite some time.

The players were trapped in SAO for more than 1 year+ right? If that so, what will happens to the players if they were not able to wake up after 5 years? Will the government still want to continue "spoon-feed" these freeloaders?

In fact, I am surprised that government or any authority figures bother to extends/preserves the life of the SAO players more than 6 months. If these really happened on our current reality/world, you can say goodbye to those 10k players.

Clarste
2012-07-29, 02:34
I had been wondering about this for quite some time.

The players were trapped in SAO for more than 1 year+ right? If that so, what will happens to the players if they were not able to wake up after 5 years? Will the government still want to continue "spoon-feed" these freeloaders?

In fact, I am surprised that government or any authority figures bother to extends/preserves the life of the SAO players more than 6 months. If these really happened on our current reality/world, you can say goodbye to those 10k players.

Have you never heard of a coma patient? They usually get cared for for years, or even decades. Depending on where you live, it may not even be legal to stop caring for them, since removing their life support is "murder". This happens to be an unprecedented large scale coma incident, but the principle is the same.

As for who's paying for it, it wouldn't be the government directly but the families. It's just... a medical bill. I believe Japan has universal health care so in the end the government is paying for it, but it's not counted separately from them paying for all the routine doctor's visits and surgeries and whatnot. I'm not sure how much a coma patient costs, but I doubt it's much more than the kind of extensive medical treat old people need anyway.

Netto Azure
2012-07-29, 02:46
I had been wondering about this for quite some time.

The players were trapped in SAO for more than 1 year+ right? If that so, what will happens to the players if they were not able to wake up after 5 years? Will the government still want to continue "spoon-feed" these freeloaders?

In fact, I am surprised that government or any authority figures bother to extends/preserves the life of the SAO players more than 6 months. If these really happened on our current reality/world, you can say goodbye to those 10k players.

Japan's Healthcare system doesn't really care about "freeloaders," this isn't the USA you know.

Universal Health Insurance aside, The government (Meaning the JSDF and American Military) apparently is using this incident to look into the effects of using VR technology for Military purposes. And everyone knows when the Military gets into things, there's unlimited funds coming out of thin air.

Craxuan
2012-07-29, 02:47
Optimistically speaking, the government wants to save as many lives as possible from SAO. Which we all know cannot be the only motive they have, and probably not even close to being a motive.

Their true intentions are to acquire the technology behind SAO which they have spent 1 year + trying to crack but still unable to understand anything at all. Impossible to reverse engineer, especially when the inventor himself is alive and constantly working against any outside interference. You can see how this is a very, VERY attractive technology, and the players, the people who are trapped inside the virtual world are the only ones who hold the answer to it. To be able to get any players to wake up at all - that is to save them as a process - is extremely important, because that would give them information about what's happening inside the world.

That being said, as revealed in Volume 10, the government's true intentions was to use that technology for military purposes. AI vs AI. I don't want to go in depth about the details so just read it yourself.

On an unrelated note, AGGHHH I need new volumes SO BAD!

Wild Goose
2012-07-29, 03:07
So basically the JSDF was getting involved partly for their own interests, and partly because it's the right thing to do.

Sounds a lot like Section Nine.

Sixth
2012-07-29, 03:19
Optimistically speaking, the government wants to save as many lives as possible from SAO. Which we all know cannot be the only motive they have, and probably not even close to being a motive.

Their true intentions are to acquire the technology behind SAO which they have spent 1 year + trying to crack but still unable to understand anything at all. Impossible to reverse engineer, especially when the inventor himself is alive and constantly working against any outside interference. You can see how this is a very, VERY attractive technology, and the players, the people who are trapped inside the virtual world are the only ones who hold the answer to it. To be able to get any players to wake up at all - that is to save them as a process - is extremely important, because that would give them information about what's happening inside the world.

That being said, as revealed in Volume 10, the government's true intentions was to use that technology for military purposes. AI vs AI. I don't want to go in depth about the details so just read it yourself.

On an unrelated note, AGGHHH I need new volumes SO BAD!

If you put in that way, I guess this feel reasonable and better. I am pretty sure that everyone knew that Government is always corrupted. I am will truly surprised if you told me that Government helps those patient because they were genuinely care about citizen lives.:heh::heh::heh:

On second thought, this series is pretty dark due to political interference.

kyp275
2012-07-29, 03:30
If you put in that way, I guess this feel reasonable and better. I am pretty sure that everyone knew that Government is always corrupted. I am will truly surprised if you told me that Government helps those patient because they were genuinely care about citizen lives.:heh::heh::heh:

On second thought, this series is pretty dark due to political interference.


In addition to all the reasons mentioned above...

Do you really want to be the politician that says "Yea... let's pull the plug on these thousands of kids!"

This isn't some unknown aggregate number on a spreadsheet somewhere, SAO is an extremely high profile case that would no doubt continue to receive wide media attention, especially given the constant dying that goes on. Any politician that advocates pulling the plug on them to save mere pittance would be committing political suicide with a thermonuclear bomb.

Netto Azure
2012-07-29, 03:36
If you put in that way, I guess this feel reasonable and better. I am pretty sure that everyone knew that Government is always corrupted. I am will truly surprised if you told me that Government helps those patient because they were genuinely care about citizen lives.:heh::heh::heh:

On second thought, this series is pretty dark due to political interference.

As a huge political junkie, this is what cemented my love for SAO. Plus of course the relationships, but mostly the various subtle and controversial themes the series tackles.

SAO Arc: Life and Death, the Boundaries of Real Life and Virtual Life
ALO Arc: Greed, Love and Dedication. Plus Familial relationships.
GGO Arc: Power and isolation.
Mother's Rosario Arc: Applications of technology in the Medical Field.
Alicization Arc: Artificial Intelligence, The Military and the meaning of the Human Soul itself.

Those are what pops into my mind, would be great if people could help me expand on it.

sky black swordman
2012-07-29, 03:41
WOW To be honest and serious Netto Azure, I never look at SAO like you just said.

Netto Azure
2012-07-29, 03:45
WOW To be honest and serious Netto Azure, I never look at SAO like you just said.

That's why it pains me EVERY SINGLE TIME when I see people criticize and lambast SAO as being "cliche and using overused plots."

And seriously, I've looked everywhere and nobody really has put things like that. I mean yeah, people expounded on the themes individually, but no one mentioned it directly in such a format. :/

I remember reading SAO at a rate of two volumes a day since it was just that engaging for me, call me overanalyzing but it seriously brought joy to my heart that an author has tackled such complicated societal questions in such an entertaining manner.

Sixth
2012-07-29, 03:45
In addition to all the reasons mentioned above...

Do you really want to be the politician that says "Yea... let's pull the plug on these thousands of kids!"

This isn't some unknown aggregate number on a spreadsheet somewhere, SAO is an extremely high profile case that would no doubt continue to receive wide media attention, especially given the constant dying that goes on. Any politician that advocates pulling the plug on them to save mere pittance would be committing political suicide with a thermonuclear bomb.

Well, of course it cannot be done directly. They can do it indirectly if they want...like forgetting to feed them, or temporary disabled the internet connection and etc.

Still, at least SAO government is better compare to the Academy City from Index; where the demons and rapists live.

sky black swordman
2012-07-29, 03:51
That's why it pains me EVERY SINGLE TIME when I see people criticize and lambast SAO as being "cliche and using overused plots."

And seriously, I've looked everywhere and nobody really has put things like that. I mean yeah, people expounded on the themes individually, but no one mentioned it directly in such a format. :/

I remember reading SAO at a rate of two volumes a day since it was just that engaging for me, call me overanalyzing but it seriously brought joy to my heart that an author has tackled such complicated societal questions in such an entertaining manner. Maybe you should ask the MOD's to create a thread where you can talk about this.
Well, of course it cannot be done directly. They can do it indirectly if they want...like forgetting to feed them, or temporary disabled the internet connection and etc.

Still, at least SAO government is better compare to the Academy City from Index; where the demons and rapists live.
Isn't that a place where only or well mostly students live?

kyp275
2012-07-29, 03:52
Well, of course it cannot be done directly. They can do it indirectly if they want...like forgetting to feed them, or temporary disabled the internet connection and etc.

Still, at least SAO government is better compare to the Academy City from Index; where the demons and rapists live.

Err, why would they go to that length and risk an even bigger political meltdown by quite literally assassinating their citizens to save the cost of caring for a few thousand coma patients, which would be less than a rounding error in their budget?

Sixth
2012-07-29, 03:54
Maybe you should ask the MOD's to create a thread where you can talk about this.

Isn't that a place where only or well mostly students live?

On surface, Yes. Majority of the casts from Index don't call themselves Darkside of Academy City for no reason. Plus, what they did was quite nasty and disgust. More like a demon's work.

Netto Azure
2012-07-29, 04:02
Maybe you should ask the MOD's to create a thread where you can talk about this.

I dunno, has such a thread even been made before? I might just get branded as overly analyzing and being all too serious about a book/anime series.

Also I agree, it was described in ALO I believe, that the SAO Incident Agency figuratively had their hands tied due to political considerations and the idea of having 8,000 players having brain bombs stuck to their heads, with the chance that tampering with it would cause a system-wide brain melt.

sky black swordman
2012-07-29, 04:09
I dunno, has such a thread even been made before? I might just get branded as overly analyzing and being all too serious about a book/anime series.

Also I agree, it was described in ALO I believe, that the SAO Incident Agency figuratively had their hands tied due to political considerations and the idea of having 8,000 players having brain bombs stuck to their heads, with the chance that tampering with it would cause a system-wide brain melt.

I don't know either. And That does happen to me too. Well for me its more like I look for thing that are not there and get told that I dont like a character or other things.

zero7090
2012-07-29, 10:58
what kind of novel that have final boss fight and ending in the first vol is this.....

can someone please make a banner warning for new people who want to read the novel that DO NOT read all the way till the end of vol 1 due to the spoiler of the final battle and ending?

Clarste
2012-07-29, 11:01
Most Light Novels actually beat the final boss in the first volume. Because they don't know whether or not it'll be popular enough to get a sequel. They usually end the first volume in a way that leaves little or no important loose ends. SAO is somewhat unique in that it completely breaks down the premise afterwards, but I don't see how getting spoiled about the ending is something unexpected when you choose to read ahead.

Ray
2012-07-29, 11:16
I don't see how getting spoiled about the ending is something unexpected when you choose to read ahead.
Yeah, this. :heh:

zero7090
2012-07-29, 19:24
This is like reading Harry Potter and the sorcerer stone and bam "That was my story when i am first year in Hogwart, now i stand in front of Voldermort fighting this final battle after destroying his 7 immortality toys including 1 inside me. I will remember you forever Mr. Dumbledore and Snape. You two are the hero of this world. Your death will not be in vain...."

What i thought was if this novel has 10 vol then i expect vol 1 will tell the story when Kirito at floor lv 1 - 10, vol 2 floor 11-20 ... vol 10 floor 91-100 and the last battle.

kyp275
2012-07-29, 19:36
This is like reading Harry Potter and the sorcerer stone and bam "That was my story when i am first year in Hogwart, now i stand in front of Voldermort fighting this final battle after destroying his 7 immortality toys including 1 inside me. I will remember you forever Mr. Dumbledore and Snape. You two are the hero of this world. Your death will not be in vain...."

What i thought was if this novel has 10 vol then i expect vol 1 will tell the story when Kirito at floor lv 1 - 10, vol 2 floor 11-20 ... vol 10 floor 91-100 and the last battle.

Except Voldemort is the antagonist of the entire Harry Potter series, while Kayaba is only the antagonist of the Aincrad arc.

sky black swordman
2012-07-29, 19:46
Except Voldemort is the antagonist of the entire Harry Potter series, while Kayaba is only the antagonist of the Aincrad arc.

Well thats true .

Adigard
2012-07-29, 19:55
This is like reading Harry Potter and the sorcerer stone and bam "That was my story when i am first year in Hogwart, now i stand in front of Voldermort fighting this final battle after destroying his 7 immortality toys including 1 inside me. I will remember you forever Mr. Dumbledore and Snape. You two are the hero of this world. Your death will not be in vain...."

What i thought was if this novel has 10 vol then i expect vol 1 will tell the story when Kirito at floor lv 1 - 10, vol 2 floor 11-20 ... vol 10 floor 91-100 and the last battle.

The thing to remember is that the MMO Sword Art Online isn't the entirety of the story. It's a self-contained story, with a villain and a hero who defeats said villain. Like a GREAT many novels that may never see a sequel it's written to be self-contained, but with interesting characters and setting so the author can potentially make sequels.

Also, isn't the comparison a trifle silly? Doesn't Potter defeat Voldemort in book one? At least in some format? It's been a while and I'm not the greatest of fans of the franchise.

And... boy-howdy we're wandering off-topic fast.

sky black swordman
2012-07-29, 20:12
The thing to remember is that the MMO Sword Art Online isn't the entirety of the story. It's a self-contained story, with a villain and a hero who defeats said villain. Like a GREAT many novels that may never see a sequel it's written to be self-contained, but with interesting characters and setting so the author can potentially make sequels.

Also, isn't the comparison a trifle silly? Doesn't Potter defeat Voldemort in book one? At least in some format? It's been a while and I'm not the greatest of fans of the franchise.
And... boy-howdy we're wandering off-topic fast.

Yes this is so let s get back on topic shall we?:)

But before that, Yes he does . Well kinda expect Vol 3. Its not defeat but more fends off or he is forced to retreat or Potter retreats.

Meltyred
2012-07-29, 21:37
The thing to remember is that the MMO Sword Art Online isn't the entirety of the story. It's a self-contained story, with a villain and a hero who defeats said villain. Like a GREAT many novels that may never see a sequel it's written to be self-contained, but with interesting characters and setting so the author can potentially make sequels.

Also, isn't the comparison a trifle silly? Doesn't Potter defeat Voldemort in book one? At least in some format? It's been a while and I'm not the greatest of fans of the franchise.

And... boy-howdy we're wandering off-topic fast.

He does it nearly 4-5 times throughout the series if I remember.

And Harry Potter is a novel series, while SAO is a Light novel.
So it not dragging out is not a bad thing. (Better than having chapters full of grinding on one level.)
Anyway, do we have any more news on Vol 10?

kyp275
2012-07-29, 21:41
Anyway, do we have any more news on Vol 10?

What news?:confused:

If it's BT translation, I'd imagine it'd be awhile yet.

Lamb Chop
2012-07-29, 23:17
The thing to remember is that the MMO Sword Art Online isn't the entirety of the story. It's a self-contained story, with a villain and a hero who defeats said villain. Like a GREAT many novels that may never see a sequel it's written to be self-contained, but with interesting characters and setting so the author can potentially make sequels.

Sequels should better than their original though, at least in my preference. I kind of agree with zero7090. I just finished reading the first volume and I can't believe the way things ended. Now I've begun the fourth volume, but I'm trying to fight the temptation of skipping right to the end.

Why? Because it feels like I'm reading a completely different story than the one I enjoyed. And it was a big surprise to introduce a new female lead and switch Asuna to supporting. When I got done reading the first volume, I felt like I had a strong connection with Asuna so it was hard to see someone else in her shoes. I find the new girl more annoying than likable. The pacing's also fast. I kind of expected more details where some things sounded vague, but now I just want it to be over.


And Harry Potter is a novel series, while SAO is a Light novel.
So it not dragging out is not a bad thing. (Better than having chapters full of grinding on one level.)

I'm reading Fairy Dance volume four right now. At this point it feels like it is dragging out to me, just in a different VRMMO. Sure there's no more levels/stairs to climb up, the settings/rules have changed and Kayaba's been defeated but hold on. Now, Kirito's trying to climb up a tall tree to free a bunch of players who are still trapped in Nerve Gear. He's also fighting some of the strongest enemies along the way up. And yeah Kayaba's gone but he just got replaced by Sugou. If I could summarize Fairy Dance so far it'd be: "grinding on one level".....this time with wings.

I'm not against sequels. I just didn't favor volume one's ending and how this story has progressed so far.

Javiersansano
2012-07-29, 23:41
What news?:confused:

If it's BT translation, I'd imagine it'd be awhile yet.


Hi there, i'm new in this thread, but this is the best place to get updates about SAO. Just finished ALL the translated SAO material at Bakatsuki after just two weeks, and sadly, I found a cliffhanger at the end of Volume 9... still, considering that Volume 10 was publshed in the middle of July, it might be difficult to find a complete translation in less than at least three months.

anyway, good to be here

sky black swordman
2012-07-29, 23:59
^@Javiersansano
Welcome . :)

akim36
2012-07-30, 00:04
does anybody know where this illustration is from?
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/s720x720/252708_433012153410596_568936684_n.jpg

sky black swordman
2012-07-30, 00:06
^ I think that just a fan drawing.

zero7090
2012-07-30, 00:15
Kirito is inside a death game. He will die when his hp reach zero. That makes the reader worry about the destiny of the protagonist. I, myself experienced great thrilling reading the Cradil part. However if i already know Kirito will survive till the end such enjoyment would vanish. No matter what, even in the direst situation, i simply know that he, Asuna will still survive.

Awrya
2012-07-30, 04:37
Kirito is inside a death game. He will die when his hp reach zero. That makes the reader worry about the destiny of the protagonist. I, myself experienced great thrilling reading the Cradil part. However if i already know Kirito will survive till the end such enjoyment would vanish. No matter what, even in the direst situation, i simply know that he, Asuna will still survive.

Well, he is the MC and MCs usually don't die except maybe in the final volume.
By the same reasons, we all know the villain will usually lose, but it is still entertaining.

In most books the journey to the end is what fascinates readers, it wouldn't have any readers if the author summarizes only the beginning and ending:heh:

Harry Potter example:
First year, Harry defeats Voldemort.
Second Year, Harry defeats Voldemort.
Third Year, Harry meets Sirius.
Fourth Year, Voldemort revives.
etc

Ray
2012-07-30, 05:51
^ I think that just a fan drawing.
Correct, it's a fan art by abec, the illustrator of the L/Ns.

Anyway, comparisons being drawn between.. Harry Potter and SAO? Wow. :heh:

Ghanw
2012-07-30, 18:18
After reading volume 1-9 for some reason i keep thinking about how this arc would end
Like when Kirito wakes up from the SLT does he lose all his memory like amnesia or from the program(as explained in vol.9) and doesnt remeber Asuna and the others.

FLCL
2012-07-30, 22:21
So I blitzed through the SAO and ALO novels last night with a degree of literary celerity rarely scene around my parts. I now have a bad feeling that I have set the bar too high for the Anime :(

larethian
2012-07-30, 22:51
^ I can tell you the first 2 chapters of v10 were plain boring. I understand the importance of the 80% (or more) dialogue, but I wished it were done more artfully and spread out. :heh:

Netto Azure
2012-07-30, 22:59
^ I can tell you the first 2 chapters of v10 were plain boring. I understand the importance of the 80% (or more) dialogue, but I wished it were done more artfully and spread out. :heh:

But Dialogue is what makes SAO move forward. Heck most of Vol 1 was Kirito Monologues LOL.

larethian
2012-07-31, 00:07
But Dialogue is what makes SAO move forward. Heck most of Vol 1 was Kirito Monologues LOL.

It's different. Tell me again after you read that 100 over pages of talking between a few people in the same room. :p

kyp275
2012-07-31, 00:20
Those were pretty important expositions that you can't really get around of, and personally I didn't find it boring :P

Flere821
2012-07-31, 00:39
^ I can tell you the first 2 chapters of v10 were plain boring. I understand the importance of the 80% (or more) dialogue, but I wished it were done more artfully and spread out. :heh:
Personally, I found the 1st chapter of Vol10 better than the rest of the volume :heh: Though it might just be me liking the politics and backstory.

tomtkp
2012-07-31, 00:44
Again, this is the matter of personal taste. There are some readers like larethian who don't like long explanation and "dialogues between few people in a small room" crammed in 100 pages or so. But there are others like me who enjoyed it because yeah, for me, I found the settings very interesting and I really liked the complexity of the story. Not too complex but complex enough to say.

larethian
2012-07-31, 01:18
^ As you said. But then again, I do like back-stories and I've read stuff with more complex and detailed settings (where the author also knows what he's talking about) which I find better presented to fit my taste. But what really turned me off somewhat was...... well I won't go into details since I know I will get shot down, so I'll keep my peace. That's why I never really post in SAO and AW threads. Fortunately, it didn't go on for an entire volume. I think, getting too educated and informed about AI and quantum physics is hampering my enjoyment on the setting portions of the story (for the later, it has the opposite effect for me for Mahouka, enhancing my enjoyment instead :heh:).

kyp275
2012-07-31, 01:48
I think, getting too educated and informed about AI and quantum physics is hampering my enjoyment on the setting portions of the story (for the later, it has the opposite effect for me for Mahouka, enhancing my enjoyment instead :heh:).

Heh, I know what you're talking about, but you just have to try to block it out. It's the same for me when it comes to military/action flicks, where I can go on all day about how this or that isn't really possible, or is over/under exaggerated etc. :heh: For example, most Gundam shows annoys me to no end with their sorry excuse of what is supposed to be strategy and tactics.

cyberbeing
2012-07-31, 01:48
does anybody know where this illustration is from?

Dengeki Bunko Vol. 15 it would appear:
http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/34/ca6ee8b3.jpg

tomtkp
2012-07-31, 05:56
^ As you said. But then again, I do like back-stories and I've read stuff with more complex and detailed settings (where the author also knows what he's talking about) which I find better presented to fit my taste. But what really turned me off somewhat was...... well I won't go into details since I know I will get shot down, so I'll keep my peace. That's why I never really post in SAO and AW threads. Fortunately, it didn't go on for an entire volume. I think, getting too educated and informed about AI and quantum physics is hampering my enjoyment on the setting portions of the story (for the later, it has the opposite effect for me for Mahouka, enhancing my enjoyment instead :heh:).

It depends. I think it's not complexity that attracts me the most. It's whether the settings interest me or not. Whether the settings are more complex or more realistic is not a concern to me. I like the soul/fluctuating light setting in SAO, that's why I love (yes, love:cool:) Alicization arc so much. Adding to the fact that I have read the web version of Alicization to the end, I knew that Alicization is not all about settings.

shinobu-chan
2012-07-31, 12:56
I know it's wrong to ask but..

For chapter 16.5, I never really understood what Asuna meant by saying "I've never had anything like that... happen until now..."

Anyone care to explain? I was just really confused by this phrase.

kyp275
2012-07-31, 12:59
I know it's wrong to ask but..

For chapter 16.5, I never really understood what Asuna meant by saying "I've never had anything like that... happen until now..."

Anyone care to explain? I was just really confused by this phrase.

She was obviously very impressed and satisfied by Kirito's "Elucidator" :naughty:

on a serious note, it's supposed to be just a doujin written by some random guy, I wouldn't worry about it.

Ray
2012-07-31, 13:01
She was obviously very impressed and satisfied by Kirito's "Elucidator" :naughty:

on a serious note, it's supposed to be just a doujin written by some random guy, I wouldn't worry about it.
I thought it was the other R-18 fanfics that were written by "random" guys? s:

kyp275
2012-07-31, 13:07
hmm, I remember reading somewhere on here that 16.5 wasn't written by Kawahara... :/

either way though, I wouldn't worry too much about the dialogue in a story like that :p

Ray
2012-07-31, 13:11
hmm, I remember reading somewhere on here that 16.5 wasn't written by Kawahara... :/

either way though, I wouldn't worry too much about the dialogue in a story like that :p
There was a discussion about that chapter both here and on BT, and I'm pretty sure it was written by him, it's those other fanfics that were written by the fans. I don't think I'm wrong, but if anyone else knows, then feel free to correct me.

Heh, agreed. ;p

Netto Azure
2012-07-31, 13:14
Personally, I found the 1st chapter of Vol10 better than the rest of the volume :heh: Though it might just be me liking the politics and backstory.

Please, look at a post I made 2 days ago:
(http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=4279093&postcount=1620)
"As a huge political junkie, this is what cemented my love for SAO. Plus of course the relationships, but mostly the various subtle and controversial themes the series tackles.

SAO Arc: Life and Death, the Boundaries of Real Life and Virtual Life
ALO Arc: Greed, Love and Dedication. Plus Familial relationships.
GGO Arc: Power and isolation.
Mother's Rosario Arc: Applications of technology in the Medical Field.
Alicization Arc: Artificial Intelligence, The Military and the meaning of the Human Soul itself."

I can sit through dry political debates all day long and still find it exciting.

Xellos-_^
2012-07-31, 14:27
Please, look at a post I made 2 days ago:
(http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=4279093&postcount=1620)
"As a huge political junkie, this is what cemented my love for SAO. Plus of course the relationships, but mostly the various subtle and controversial themes the series tackles.

SAO Arc: Life and Death, the Boundaries of Real Life and Virtual Life
ALO Arc: Greed, Love and Dedication. Plus Familial relationships.
GGO Arc: Power and isolation.
Mother's Rosario Arc: Applications of technology in the Medical Field.
Alicization Arc: Artificial Intelligence, The Military and the meaning of the Human Soul itself."

I can sit through dry political debates all day long and still find it exciting.
not one of those topic deals with virtual sex and porn on the internet :heh: which probably makes up 90% of VR game servers.

kyp275
2012-07-31, 14:39
not one of those topic deals with virtual sex and porn on the internet :heh: which probably makes up 90% of VR game servers.

only 90? you sir vastly underestimates the internet! :D

peinmaximus@
2012-07-31, 16:08
hey guys, whom(who girls)is in love with MC in this LN?

Ray
2012-07-31, 16:11
hey guys, whom(who girls)is in love with MC in this LN?
Asuna. Forget about everyone else, because honestly, they're not important when it comes to romance. P:

shinobu-chan
2012-07-31, 19:35
She was obviously very impressed and satisfied by Kirito's "Elucidator" :naughty:

on a serious note, it's supposed to be just a doujin written by some random guy, I wouldn't worry about it.

Watashi kininarimasu~! Loljk

I thought so too...

Oh well, I was just wondering about chapter 5 (I think..?) When Kirito meets Asuna for the second time, considering the fact that they met inside a dungeon when the game started according to the side story on volume 2.

I thought it was lame how they met, Asuna just calling up his Kirito's name and Kirito just grabbing her hand and saying "cook acquired," like come on it's been 2 years since they last met, so I thought it was kind of strange.

Xellos-_^
2012-07-31, 21:03
Watashi kininarimasu~! Loljk

I thought so too...

Oh well, I was just wondering about chapter 5 (I think..?) When Kirito meets Asuna for the second time, considering the fact that they met inside a dungeon when the game started according to the side story on volume 2.

I thought it was lame how they met, Asuna just calling up his Kirito's name and Kirito just grabbing her hand and saying "cook acquired," like come on it's been 2 years since they last met, so I thought it was kind of strange.
the first time time they re-meet was the murder case. By chapter 5 they are already well acquainted with each other.

Adigard
2012-07-31, 21:31
I thought it was lame how they met, Asuna just calling up his Kirito's name and Kirito just grabbing her hand and saying "cook acquired," like come on it's been 2 years since they last met, so I thought it was kind of strange.

In theory, by that time in the storyline they should be very familiar with one another from their multiple meetings scattered across the various SS's, as well as defeating most of the latter boss together on the front lines in various raid groups.

shinobu-chan
2012-07-31, 21:51
In theory, by that time in the storyline they should be very familiar with one another from their multiple meetings scattered across the various SS's, as well as defeating most of the latter boss together on the front lines in various raid groups.

I'm sorry but, what are SS's?

Adigard
2012-07-31, 21:52
I'm sorry but, what are SS's?

Side Stories

Vol 2 collected four SAO Side Stories
Aria / Rondo / Sound of Water as well as the various SAO ME (Material Edition's) #1-9 which are just shorter SS's

Flere821
2012-08-01, 01:27
Please, look at a post I made 2 days ago:
(http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=4279093&postcount=1620)
I can sit through dry political debates all day long and still find it exciting.
I wasn't directing my comment at you though, you're not the guy I've quoted :heh:

Clarste
2012-08-01, 02:04
I thought it was lame how they met, Asuna just calling up his Kirito's name and Kirito just grabbing her hand and saying "cook acquired," like come on it's been 2 years since they last met, so I thought it was kind of strange.

He was obviously somewhat close to her by that point. How would he even know she was a cook if he wasn't close to her?

Netto Azure
2012-08-01, 06:22
I wasn't directing my comment at you though, you're not the guy I've quoted :heh:

Oh I know, I was just commenting on how I can slog through it even though it's dry. Or to show that there are people out there who really like exposition. :>

As for Virtual Sex, well it would be OH SO REDUNDANT to mention ETHIC CODE options, but we all know what the Cardinal System allows in any MMORPG post-ALO no matter how moral-guardians want to deny it. Hahahahahhahahaha

:heh: :heh: :heh:

:uhoh:

kyp275
2012-08-01, 06:58
As for Virtual Sex, well it would be OH SO REDUNDANT to mention ETHIC CODE options, but we all know what the Cardinal System allows in any MMORPG post-ALO no matter how moral-guardians want to deny it. Hahahahahhahahaha

:heh: :heh: :heh:

:uhoh:

A far more important question would be: Would you really want to?

Remember, there's no Kayaba around to make sure everyone has the same gender they have IRL, and we all know the ratio of male v female in online games.... :uhoh::uhoh::uhoh:

Vocah
2012-08-01, 07:08
Didn't the follow-up VRMMORPGs enforce that you can not change gender?

Javiersansano
2012-08-01, 07:09
A far more important question would be: Would you really want to?

Remember, there's no Kayaba around to make sure everyone has the same gender they have IRL, and we all know the ratio of male v female in online games.... :uhoh::uhoh::uhoh:

Well, since the publishing of the third volume it's been stated that because of psycological reasons, all players avatars are of the same gender; after some tests, people who created an avatar of the opposite gender would develop some sort of detachment of themselves, which of course, is not good. Therefore, it's automatically enforced by the VRMMOs companies and by the game system that the avatars are of the same gender...

said player has a strong belief in the difference of gender; I ASSUME that a true transexual would be one who would have a opposite gender avatar.

kyp275
2012-08-01, 07:11
Hmm, I'd have to dig back in and check, was it mentioned in the start of vol.3?

Wild Goose
2012-08-01, 08:20
Somewhere there. 16.5 also mentions that avatars are anatomically correct because after a sustained period of playing, male players begin to feel anxiety over missing equipment. ;p

It also mentions that it seems the SAO team were fully aware of the rule of first adopters, and thus decided since avatars were anatomicaly correct, they may as well program in VR sex.

I think it's quite clear that Kawahara must have read Ghost in the Shell when younger. ;p

styr
2012-08-01, 12:22
The author has used lots of references here and there. Even used Star Wars lightsabers, so maybe he watched TRON as well? One of the first films I believe where someone got stuck in a 'virtual' place and had to fight their way out.

Wild Goose
2012-08-01, 14:16
One thing that amuses me is that Klein uses Rider-1's henshin when trying to log out. Which actually makes sense - he probably watched Decade growing up, and saw the net video where decade advises random people: "Got random problem? Solve it by henshin into random rider!" :p

SirWence
2012-08-01, 14:51
Am I alone in being mildly confused as to what is actually happening to Kirito in Volume 9?

Xellos-_^
2012-08-01, 14:58
Am I alone in being mildly confused as to what is actually happening to Kirito in Volume 9?
nope, and i would recommend that you re-read it again.

SirWence
2012-08-01, 15:17
nope, and i would recommend that you re-read it again.

well I grasp everything up until needle stab - hes then showing as 'dead' but hes I would assume not so? and there after is a tich confusing too but its that point that sort of had me going .. "eh?" and pondering how Reki plans to plot out of this one haha

Xellos-_^
2012-08-01, 15:39
well I grasp everything up until needle stab - hes then showing as 'dead' but hes I would assume not so? and there after is a tich confusing too but its that point that sort of had me going .. "eh?" and pondering how Reki plans to plot out of this one haha
if you were following the stuff before the needle, Kirito got send to the Fluctlight system.

lightbringer
2012-08-01, 15:43
If the start of volume 9 confuses you, skip ahead to the partial explanation in the second interlude. That should clear it up a bit, you just have to get past the copious amounts of pseudo-science babble.

This is not the kind of LN where the main character dies, so we can be reasonably sure that Kirito will come out of this alive.

The all-new cast in volume 9 (apart from the interlude) and the apparent lack of the old guard in volume 10 makes me a bit depressed though. These volumes need more Asuna/Sugu/Shion. :mad:

SirWence
2012-08-01, 15:49
If the start of volume 9 confuses you, skip ahead to the partial explanation in the second interlude. That should clear it up a bit, you just have to get past the copious amounts of pseudo-science babble.

This is not the kind of LN where the main character dies, so we can be reasonably sure that Kirito will come out of this alive.

The all-new cast in volume 9 (apart from the interlude) and the apparent lack of the old guard in volume 10 makes me a bit depressed though. These volumes need more Asuna/Sugu/Shion. :mad:

haha thank you

And I agree the lack of Asuna Sugu etc heck even Klein ( lol ) is a bit depressing

lightbringer
2012-08-01, 16:04
Oh well, I was just wondering about chapter 5 (I think..?) When Kirito meets Asuna for the second time, considering the fact that they met inside a dungeon when the game started according to the side story on volume 2.

I thought it was lame how they met, Asuna just calling up his Kirito's name and Kirito just grabbing her hand and saying "cook acquired," like come on it's been 2 years since they last met, so I thought it was kind of strange.

The novel was written before the side stories and is not consistent. As you noticed, some of the side stories which come later partially retcon events in the first novel, especially with respect to Asuna/Kirito interactions. It's a bit jarring.:heh:

In the first novel, they did not meet at the level one boss fight. Instead, they meet for the first time about six months before the events of the novel - when Asuna chastises Kirito for sleeping but ends up taking a nap herself. From that moment, Asuna starts getting closer to Kirito, but most of their interaction is still simply from the boss battle strategy meetings. They do not go to any restaurants.

Murder in the Area elaborates on their "first" meeting but also changes the last part - they end up at a restaurant a number of times.

Aria in the Starless Night moves their first meeting from "six months ago seeing Kirito sleeping under a tree" to "two years ago having Kirito save Asuna in the middle of a dungeon and then teaming up with her for the first boss fight".

larethian
2012-08-01, 20:52
well I grasp everything up until needle stab - hes then showing as 'dead' but hes I would assume not so? and there after is a tich confusing too but its that point that sort of had me going .. "eh?" and pondering how Reki plans to plot out of this one haha

Because it continues into volume 10. You will know by chapters 1 and 2 of volume 10.

styr
2012-08-01, 22:07
The novel was written before the side stories and is not consistent. As you noticed, some of the side stories which come later partially retcon events in the first novel, especially with respect to Asuna/Kirito interactions. It's a bit jarring.:heh:

In the first novel, they did not meet at the level one boss fight. Instead, they meet for the first time about six months before the events of the novel - when Asuna chastises Kirito for sleeping but ends up taking a nap herself. From that moment, Asuna starts getting closer to Kirito, but most of their interaction is still simply from the boss battle strategy meetings. They do not go to any restaurants.

Murder in the Area elaborates on their "first" meeting but also changes the last part - they end up at a restaurant a number of times.

Aria in the Starless Night moves their first meeting from "six months ago seeing Kirito sleeping under a tree" to "two years ago having Kirito save Asuna in the middle of a dungeon and then teaming up with her for the first boss fight".

There are quite a few minor inconsistencies floating around, lol. I wish the author would have extended the SAO arc though, for example having Vol 1 being Floors 1-10 instead of the entire SAO arc. If the SAO arc had taken 7+ LN volumes it would have been great world building and would have let him really expand upon much of the lore.

I guess having 'arcs' is just a staple things for Japanese LNs though, to keep things refresh and to introduce new characters/etc.

EnigmaticAxiom
2012-08-01, 22:32
The novel was written before the side stories and is not consistent. As you noticed, some of the side stories which come later partially retcon events in the first novel, especially with respect to Asuna/Kirito interactions. It's a bit jarring.:heh:

In the first novel, they did not meet at the level one boss fight. Instead, they meet for the first time about six months before the events of the novel - when Asuna chastises Kirito for sleeping but ends up taking a nap herself. From that moment, Asuna starts getting closer to Kirito, but most of their interaction is still simply from the boss battle strategy meetings. They do not go to any restaurants.

Murder in the Area elaborates on their "first" meeting but also changes the last part - they end up at a restaurant a number of times.

Aria in the Starless Night moves their first meeting from "six months ago seeing Kirito sleeping under a tree" to "two years ago having Kirito save Asuna in the middle of a dungeon and then teaming up with her for the first boss fight".
If you ask me, it's possible that was just how it sounds based on the word choice of the translator. I'm not saying it was a mistake on his/her part in translating, but the words themselves were vague. Even in the translation, it was not stated that they met for the first time six months prior, but that she liked him starting at that time. I believe because of the words "He looked as if he was at a pretty high level" (Chapter 19), people assume she had never met him before then, but she laughs afterwards, which make it seem (to me) like she is teasing him.

I would also like to point out that she was a sub-leader, or at least an important part of KoB at that time, and Kirito speaks of experience on the 25th and 50th level bosses, showing he was part of the boss fighting groups, so there would have been some form of interaction between the two.

Considering that in Volume 8, it clearly states that Kirito and Asuna knew each other before that 6 month mark (they fought over tactics in boss fights), I would have to say there is no particular thing to reconcile. And I suppose we can assume Aria is canon if it is in the anime as well, since it's vaguely following Kawahara's stories.

Ah, and just so you know, this isn't particularly a rant against you, lightbringer. I've seen your point brought up a few times here and there and I don't think anyone has said anything contrary to it. Ultimately, we are all using a second-hand account (going off someone else's translations) to accept these "facts."

Clarste
2012-08-01, 23:07
There are quite a few minor inconsistencies floating around, lol. I wish the author would have extended the SAO arc though, for example having Vol 1 being Floors 1-10 instead of the entire SAO arc. If the SAO arc had taken 7+ LN volumes it would have been great world building and would have let him really expand upon much of the lore.

I guess having 'arcs' is just a staple things for Japanese LNs though, to keep things refresh and to introduce new characters/etc.

It's more like the business doesn't let them rely on a sequel. Generally they write the first volume as a stand-alone thing and make sequels only when it becomes popular. Almost every LN's first volume ends in a place that would be a decent ending.

The fact that it was originally a web novel biases it even more towards being stand alone.

lightbringer
2012-08-02, 06:16
Ah, and just so you know, this isn't particularly a rant against you, lightbringer. I've seen your point brought up a few times here and there and I don't think anyone has said anything contrary to it. Ultimately, we are all using a second-hand account (going off someone else's translations) to accept these "facts."

No problem. I'm not really into the whole "what is and what is not the holy canon" thing, to be honest. And I don't have the ability to check the Japanese version, anyway. But the author himself admits to some of the inconsistencies in the afterwords. Kirito and Asuna interactions in volume 1 make me believe that Aria was basically not on the table as a meeting scenario at that point (first impressions are important after all, so he wouldn't be going gaga over her being a KoB sub-leader if he remembered her as the girl he saved on the first floor), but if the author wants to retcon it so be it. And if it's just something that was lost in translation, even better. Someone also mentioned that the author wants to release a new version of volume 1 that accounts for Aria and Murder Case etc, but I haven't seen a clear source for that.

Personally I like Aria so in my internal canon Aria happened :)

Hell_ping
2012-08-02, 12:03
Well, you guys can say goodbye to Volumes 9 and 10...

Deathrip
2012-08-02, 12:11
^What do you mean o_o?

Javiersansano
2012-08-02, 12:26
Well, you guys can say goodbye to Volumes 9 and 10...

Why was volume 9 deleted from Bakat-Tsuki?

Don't tell me that vol. 9 and 10 have been licensed?

Hell_ping
2012-08-02, 12:30
Why was volume 9 deleted from Bakat-Tsuki?

Don't tell me that vol. 9 and 10 have been licensed?

Check the main page of Baka Tsuki, folks.

styr
2012-08-02, 12:31
Why was volume 9 deleted from Bakat-Tsuki?

Don't tell me that vol. 9 and 10 have been licensed?

*quickly saves my cache of vol 9's full text*

If it was licensed, why would they start near the back? Makes no sense.

Was someone selling copies of vol 9 IRL or something teh_ping? You mention rupiah, isn't that in Indonesia? Hosting the files on Indowebster? From what I read that seems like what is going on, they are printing some version of vol 9 to sell copies IRL to make a profit from others work. Sucks :(

Xellos-_^
2012-08-02, 12:36
why are people buying stuff available for free?

Javiersansano
2012-08-02, 12:36
Check the main page of Baka Tsuki, folks.

It's clearly wrong for people to copy what translators like you spend hours and hours to complete, and sell it. I hope that your warning will be listened, and that the translation of volume 10 doesn't get nuked (I liked your use of the word).

And just out of curiosity... how the heck did you discover that people was selling printings of baka-tsuki translations of SAO?

XxSleepyxX
2012-08-02, 12:37
Great... Sao's getting nuked. The second great catastrophe being Shana geting licensed. Removed. Than delicensed :/.

why are people buying stuff available for free?

Cause a lot of people don't know how to use the interwebs? A lot of people pay for fansubs and don't even know about fansubs.

It's clearly wrong for people to copy what translators like you spend hours and hours to complete, and sell it. I hope that your warning will be listened, and that the translation of volume 10 doesn't get nuked (I liked your use of the word).

And just out of curiosity... how the heck did you discover that people was selling printings of baka-tsuki translations of SAO?



Its not hard. You can probably find people selling pirated copies of fansubbed anime. <= Mainly done in china btw.

Javiersansano
2012-08-02, 12:37
why are people buying stuff available for free?

probably because they simply have no ideas that it is available for free.

Hell_ping
2012-08-02, 12:43
It's clearly wrong for people to copy what translators like you spend hours and hours to complete, and sell it. I hope that your warning will be listened, and that the translation of volume 10 doesn't get nuked (I liked your use of the word).

And just out of curiosity... how the heck did you discover that people was selling printings of baka-tsuki translations of SAO?

Let's just say that the alternate forums has been complaining to us about how some people are blatantly selling stuff on other forums while the mods aren't doing anything about it. It's on our facebook page, btw. I just thought I needed to flex a little muscle here...

Saf4
2012-08-02, 12:46
So just because of some guy from my country, volume 9 was removed from baka-tsuki?
Can we even still hope for volume 10 to be translated?
Oh god, why not just kill that person who tend to sell free stuff that available on internet... :(

And just out of curiosity... how the heck did you discover that people was selling printings of baka-tsuki translations of SAO?

He must have much free time to check every forum on internet. I'm from indonesia, and I'm a member in indowebster. But I didn't even know about that stuff, until I visited the SAO LN thread. And saw tehping posts.

Deltaray
2012-08-02, 12:52
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUH3JQjcweM

Netto Azure
2012-08-02, 12:53
Huh. So wait, the whole fandom suffers because of this?

My stomach just literally churns and my heart feels quite heavy.

Sekiryuutei
2012-08-02, 12:55
I'd like to apologize on the behalf of my fellow country man.. I know it's not much but I felt really ashamed when I heard the news.. Even when you consider that the use of internet wasn't widespread in Indonesia http://www.kaorinusantara.web.id/forum/images/kaskus/35.gifhttp://

Rennir
2012-08-02, 13:05
Couldn't find the announcement on BT, but if you guys haven't contacted the authorities/stopped the people who are selling the English translations, wouldn't taking down volumes 9 and 10 online just increase their sales?

Hell_ping
2012-08-02, 13:07
Oh, I just personally went down to their forums to demand that they take them down, though with some language barriers...

XxSleepyxX
2012-08-02, 13:10
Couldn't find the announcement on BT, but if you guys haven't contacted the authorities/stopped the people who are selling the English translations, wouldn't taking down volumes 9 and 10 online just increase their sales?

In actuality translating light novels isn't all that legal in the first place. Only the publishers have the right to DMCA. The only problem is whoever selling this is going to cause a problem for B-T. Publishers are going to start to think that B-T is selling translated versions of their novels and they might sue.

styr
2012-08-02, 13:11
Except that B-T takes down a series when it gets licensed... (I believe it does)

kivredia
2012-08-02, 13:16
Well, sad to hear its gone but understandable. Guess we can put SOA LNs on "hiatus".

Couldn't finde the moon channel facebook page, anyone has a link?

Hell_ping
2012-08-02, 13:17
...Inb4 death threats again...

Sekiryuutei
2012-08-02, 13:19
Oh, I just personally went down to their forums to demand that they take them down, though with some language barriers...

That was cool :heh:
and please spare DxD from your wrath

Rennir
2012-08-02, 13:29
Cached version is still up...for now :heh:

Utsuro no Hako
2012-08-02, 13:41
Couldn't find the announcement on BT, but if you guys haven't contacted the authorities/stopped the people who are selling the English translations, wouldn't taking down volumes 9 and 10 online just increase their sales?

Well it's not like the ebook files are going to disappear from torrents -- you can still find the BT versions of Haruhi Suzumiya out there, and that got taken down years ago.

Except that B-T takes down a series when it gets licensed... (I believe it does)

Publishers can still go after them for unlicensed books. I know Square Enix made MangaFox remove a bunch of titles that have no official English version. About the worst thing that could happen to BT is for Dengeki Bunko to notice what they're doing and send them a DMCA. Even if they don't seek financial damages, that would leave maybe three novels on BT.

Deathrip
2012-08-02, 13:47
Nooooooooooooo T___________T.

Please don't say Volume 10 won't be translated because of this :s?

deathbringer
2012-08-02, 14:28
looks like the situation has been resolved
http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Teh_Ping_Talk:Miscellaneous
but volume 9 is going remain deleted. Not like we not be able to read volume 9 again. There are plenty of pdf versions online and according to Ping serves as a warning.
Nooooooooooooo T___________T.

Please don't say Volume 10 won't be translated because of this :s?

Of course volume 10 will still be translated but just not by Teh ping and honestly I don't blame him given how some in the fandom have treated him
Given how popular the light novel, is I still expect it will be translated eventually but it won't be translated at Teh Ping's god like speed and that a bits disappointing but it is fine. Translators are doing this for free and they can work on whatever project they want at the pace they want.

To Teh Ping Thanks for translating this series and I hope you can move on another series where your work can appreciated without this much rage when you do something they don't like.

Xellos-_^
2012-08-02, 14:34
ah well, i need to brush up on my Chinese anyway.

*goes to read vol10 in Chinese.

Deathrip
2012-08-02, 15:29
I´m really sad hearing about The Ping but I also understand. At least I found the volume 9 on google cache and imma read it now before it gets removed.

HurricaneHige
2012-08-02, 15:54
This is why we can't have nice things.

Sigh...I'll just curl up in my corner with my SAO withdrawal.

Xellos-_^
2012-08-02, 16:30
This is why we can't have nice things.

Sigh...I'll just curl up in my corner with my SAO withdrawal.
your avatar is strangely appropriate

lightbringer
2012-08-02, 17:42
Nuking, huh. Lots of Internet drama there, that always makes for sweet tears. :D But seeing as it's still ridiculously easy to find, no one apart from the most Internet-naive will really care. Not translating volume 10 is a much stronger point to make, and he's of course under no obligation whatsoever to translate anything. But ultimately even that is a futile gesture since someone, somewhere, sometime, will get around to translating it. Much ado about nothing, really.

HurricaneHige
2012-08-02, 19:02
your avatar is strangely appropriate

:)

As for the comment above, the point he makes that the jackass won't be making money off "his" work, which he does for free. For the rest of us folks, we do suffer because Ping is quicker than most with his translations, and if he does back out from it we'll have to wait longer thanks to one bad apple.

Hell_ping
2012-08-02, 20:03
Relax, folks. Red alert off

emptyness
2012-08-02, 20:19
just heard about this a few seconds ago but to think it cause so much problem... i'm amazed and heart-broken at the same time

Burden
2012-08-02, 21:09
...That's terrible. I personally would be utterly ****ing pissed if someone tried to sell something I did out of no obligation for the fan-base.

Goes to show though, some people will do almost anything for quick profits.

jpwong
2012-08-03, 00:23
...That's terrible. I personally would be utterly ****ing pissed if someone tried to sell something I did out of no obligation for the fan-base.

Goes to show though, some people will do almost anything for quick profits.
I'm really not surprised given that I hear people do it with scanlations using various methods. It's just too bad you can't watermark text so people will at least see that they're being screwed.

Relax, folks. Red alert off
It was over before I could even look for the virtual flamethrowers :p

Von Himmel
2012-08-03, 04:01
..It's sad to hear that my fellow countryman would do something like this. :( What's more saddening (and amusing at the same time) is that there are actually people who support that little fucker to sell this work w.

Awrya
2012-08-03, 04:44
Surprising he actually found someone willing to buy it.
Don't Indonesian people use google?
If you type in sword art online in google.co.id, baka tsuki is the third link you get:twitch:

Sixth
2012-08-03, 07:06
Hmmmm...

In Murder case or below, Asuna somewhat became a cold or more serious character, especially toward Kirito...This doesn't make sense at all considering how Kirito and Asuna used to enjoy with each other company in lower floor; floor 1 to floor 3.

Retcon?

kyp275
2012-08-03, 07:15
Hmmmm...

In Murder case or below, Asuna somewhat became a cold or more serious character, especially toward Kirito...This doesn't make sense at all considering how Kirito and Asuna used to enjoy with each other company in lower floor; floor 1 to floor 3.

Retcon?

Yes, though you have it reversed - Aria/Rondo/Monochrome is a partial retcon of the original novel storyline, which Murder Case is a part of.

kivredia
2012-08-03, 08:19
Uh, how exactly does she act cold towards Kirito?


She turns completely tsun tsun when he compliments her outfit, when they eat while watching the restaurant and talk about the marriage system. She is also overreacting when he sticks his hand for the experiment and chases after the guy on the rooftops. In the end they're holding hands, its anything but cold.

Sixth
2012-08-03, 08:44
Uh, how exactly does she act cold towards Kirito?


She turns completely tsun tsun when he compliments her outfit, when they eat while watching the restaurant and talk about the marriage system. She is also overreacting when he sticks his hand for the experiment and chases after the guy on the rooftops. In the end they're holding hands, its anything but cold.


Because she said so? Taken from Volume 7 - Mother's Rosario chapter 1.

Asuna felt that the duel was a good chance to defeat the weakness in her heart. Defeat Kirito, efficiently defeat the boss and once again return to her cold self.

tomtkp
2012-08-03, 08:56
First volume of Progressive coming this October:

┌─────────────────────────┐
□どこよりも早い! 10月の新刊予定(2012年10月10日発売)□
└─────────────────────────┘
◆ソードアート・オンライン プログレッシブ1
著/川原 礫 イラスト/abec
キリトが≪黒の剣士≫となったエピソード『星なき夜のアリア』他全三編。≪アインクラ
ッド≫攻略を第一層から描いていく≪プログレッシブ≫シリーズ、ついに刊行開始!!

The bold phrase is the title name "Aria in the Starless Night".

kivredia
2012-08-03, 09:23
Because she said so? Taken from Volume 7 - Mother's Rosario chapter 1.

Sigh, alright. The thing is that the murder case sidestory happens after that duel. ME1 is the duel and that is about the boss of the 56th floor. Your quote is taken out of context and she says that after the duel she couldn't give up on her feelings.


At that time, Asuna was already interested in Kirito, but she also wanted to purge that thought. At that time she believed that putting personal emotions before clearing the game should not be tolerated.

In the end, after experiencing that fight, Asuna's feelings instead became something which she couldn't give up, and at the same time, a deep impression of Kirito's sword was left in Asuna's heart.


The murder case is on the 57th floor. I'm also pretty certain that is was written after Rosario since the sidestory is in Vol. 8. Basically the duel leads to Asuna and Kirito getting close to each other starting with the murder case. Her actions are pretty damn tsundere in the SS, it doesn't have anything to do about acting cold.

And it can't really be helped about some inconsistencies for the SOA Arc because of the circumstances when it was written at that time.

Hell_ping
2012-08-03, 09:24
First volume of Progressive coming this October:



The bold phrase is the title name "Aria in the Starless Night".

...Are you guys trying to kill me here...

Mura
2012-08-03, 09:26
Stay true to your words Ping, I think thats all that matters.:)

Edit: I thought volume 9 was taken down but I see it back up again.

Hell_ping
2012-08-03, 09:29
Stay true to your words Ping, I think thats all that matters.:)

@Misogi. Maybe I can use this as a contract. I'll stay if 16.5 goes.

Technically, it was a joke...

Mura
2012-08-03, 09:31
Technically, it was a joke...

You choose a rather touchy novel series to joke around with.:heh:

As expected as someone with the Kyubey avy, it suits you well.

Hell_ping
2012-08-03, 11:56
Let's just say that I never intended to delete it for long. There are still other readers for that. For 16.5, it was because of my joke post...

Lota
2012-08-03, 12:54
Hello, I have a request :) Could someone post some spoilers for volume 10? I'm both lazy and way too tired to read God knows how many pages of this thread to find some spoilers. I would be very, very, VERY grateful. PLEEEEEEEAAAAASEEEEEEE...
Spoil awayyy ~

Craxuan
2012-08-03, 14:28
Unfortunately, no. You'll have to read through the novel itself or go through the previous pages. While we discuss things here without regards about spoilers - since it's assumed that everyone is ready to get spoiled in this thread - I believe that none of us would like to intentionally spoiler the novel's contents just because you're 'lazy'. Go read it or dig them out yourself.

Lota
2012-08-03, 14:55
Darn, and here I thought I would get the easy way XDD Oh well, at least I tried asking. Guess I'll just have to search for spoilers myself... tomorrow :) it's late here and I'm about to fall asleep...

willx
2012-08-03, 16:30
Darn, and here I thought I would get the easy way XDD Oh well, at least I tried asking. Guess I'll just have to search for spoilers myself... tomorrow :) it's late here and I'm about to fall asleep...

Here's a spoiler for you -- the author was trolling us all, and in fact, the entire series was a dream for a NEET boy that does poorly in school and isn't popular. :naughty:

Javiersansano
2012-08-03, 18:00
Cheking through my memories of volume 1 and 2, I noticed that asuna and kirito might be crappy parents, or the author really made the second volume without considering the first:

1) In volume two, they got married, and "got" a daughter, Yui.

2) In volume 1, Asuna says she'll commit suicide if Kirito dies

3) however, they both love Yui very dearly, and don't seem like crappy parents to me

So, what the f**k did the author smoke.

Edgardes
2012-08-03, 18:13
Cheking through my memories of volume 1 and 2, I noticed that asuna and kirito might be crappy parents, or the author really made the second volume without considering the first:

1) In volume two, they got married, and "got" a daughter, Yui.

2) In volume 1, Asuna says she'll commit suicide if Kirito dies

3) however, they both love Yui very dearly, and don't seem like crappy parents to me

So, what the f**k did the author smoke.


The yui is in the NervGear Kirito, so if he dies Yui goes along, so nothing wrong. ;)

Javiersansano
2012-08-03, 18:17
The yui is in the NervGear Kirito, so if he dies Yui goes along, so nothing wrong. ;)

Huh... you are actually right. If yui also dies, then Asuna would have little to live for... man, it's a extremely sad, but undeniable logic idea... Hell, losing both your spouse and child

Fallen3dge
2012-08-03, 22:01
So no one is working on v10 for now?