(L) Saki manga

[King-Slayer]

Originally Posted by Myssa Rei

Incidentally I've done some re-reading of the last ten chapters of the main manga and I noticed something. Miyamori's team is apparently made up third-years, which means that like Hisa's case this is literally the first AND last chance they have for the finals, as I noticed that they didn't have any first-years for their school club.

Just another reason why i want them to move on to the next round. I like all their players. I could settle for Himematsu moving on but i just don't care about Eisui.

[Requiem-x]

Originally Posted by King-Slayer

Just another reason why i want them to move on to the next round. I like all their players. I could settle for Himematsu moving on but i just don't care about Eisui.

I second this. Looking back now that the match nears its end, they're all just so ridiculously bland, except for how naked or big breasted they can get. I don't mind getting a team full of fetishes, but they could have at least some interesting or likable traits beyond that. And it's not like Ritz is losing her touch with the characters, just look at Kinu and Toyone, and from the achiga side, Kirame, oh god, Kirame.

We already have Yuuki for the flatchested departement (at least), and Nodoka for the breasts, we don't need miko boring versions of the same thing.

[Myssa Rei]

Kind of surprised how Eisui wasn't given the same amount of depth as Miyamori seems to be getting, but it sort of makes sense as they're a wall that Kiyosumi needs to get over to get one step closer to the finals. Not that they can't be given development -- after all Ryuumonbuchi's players turned out very likeable in the end -- but it's likely they're just there to be knocked down, especially since they're supposed to have a "monster" that's already shown her mettle the previous year.

Compare this to Miyamori, which is kind of like Tsuruga's case (no-name school coming out of nowhere to place in the finals), but much worse in some aspects, as Tsuruga's club at least has second years to continue. Miyamori doesn't have that option, which makes their stake at the finals all the more important.

[Qilin]

Originally Posted by Myssa Rei

Kind of surprised how Eisui wasn't given the same amount of depth as Miyamori seems to be getting, but it sort of makes sense as they're a wall that Kiyosumi needs to get over to get one step closer to the finals. Not that they can't be given development -- after all Ryuumonbuchi's players turned out very likeable in the end -- but it's likely they're just there to be knocked down, especially since they're supposed to have a "monster" that's already shown her mettle the previous year.

Turning your argument around, it can also mean that the author is saving their back story for the semi finals.

[night_sentinel]

I love this day! Not only its my first "true" glimpse of Teru on Achiga anime, but Saki 97 is also translated.

And I get what you meant peanutbutter when you said that Rinshan Kaihou was fully used.

Spoiler for captain match:

Saki is amazing in this chapter. It made me remember how good Saki is at controlling the table and the players when she needs/wants to. She managed to find a weakpoint of Kazumi's "one suit" as well as invalidate Toyone "pursuit ricchi."

Superpower hax is widely accepted now at the national level it seems, I found it funny that most player expected an automatic rinshan kaihou whenever Saki kans.

Though that last maneuver of Saki is strangely reminiscent of what Teru did when she forced Kuro's hand. Saki and Teru both made a kan, did not rinshan but took a riichi. And in both cases it was to take advantage of their opponent's weakness.

Lol ... I've just realized something this match is actually chronologically ahead of Achiga's semi-final right?If Teru and Saki continue to have similar plays no wonder that there are people who are connecting the dots ...

I wonder if Saki will do be doing something more considering at the time of Achiga's semi-finals, canonically, Senriyama have a suspicion of their relation and it came from Hiroko who is their game data collector.

Here's to hoping that Saki will continue to stay "metaphorically awake" for the rest of the game.

[Peanutbutter]

I believe the point where Achiga-hen story is is ahead of where we are now in Saki's story.

And yep, this chapter is one where you need to read it, and understand mahjong to fully appreciate the impact of it.

[King-Slayer]

Saki is a beast! Now that people have figured out Kasumi's weakness, i wonder how they are going to proceed. Looks like the match is coming to an end soon but all this waiting is crap!

[Qilin]

At long last, we have another chapter highlighting Saki's ability to manipulate the entire table to her advantage, culminating in her signature Rinshan Kaihou. Given how frequent she uses her Rinshan, it can be easy to forget that she can be just as skilled at controlling the table with her kans and discards whenever she doesn't go for the win. It's not often you see Saki declaring riichi though, but it was used for maximum effect here.

And yeah. Kasumi's hands were definitely as scary was as predicted (though it was mostly sealed by everyone knowing about it).

[Flower]

Woohoo! Get em Saki!

S'about time....

And with regards to peanutbutter's comment I agree, I think the achiga-hen manga is one match later than what is currently being portrayed in the saki manga itself.

[Myssa Rei]

night_sentinel: Peanutbutter is right that Achiga-hen is actually more advanced in the timeline compared to mainline Saki. It's easy to forget that this is just the FIRST match for Kiyosumi, while Achiga is at its SECOND.

[Sol Falling]

Actually, we're currently at the third nationals match for Achiga, and the second match for Kiyosumi. Both Achiga and Kiyosumi managed to blast through their first tournament round without too much trouble, hence they weren't shown in great detail.

For me it's easier to just think of the matches in terms of proximity to the final bracket, i.e. "Quarter-Finals", "Semi-Finals", and "Finals". The first match was sort of a qualifier for schools which are non-seeded (with only one school advancing), then Kiyosumi proceeded to the Quarter-Finals, and Achiga is playing in the Semi-Finals right now.

[night_sentinel]

Thanks for peanutbutter, flower, Myssa Rei and Sol_Falling for catching my typo.

I meant chronologically earlier. But just to clarify if my understanding of the timeline. Please correct me again if I'm wrong in anyway.

The timeline is this?

Achiga- Senriyama Match Quarter Finals and Shiraitodai-Shindouji Quarter Finals
(Side A Quarter Finals)
V
V
Next Day
V
V
Kiyosumi Match Quarter Finals and Rinkai Match Quarter Finals(SideB Quarterfinal)
Achiga Training Camp
V
V
Next Day
V
V
Achiga-Senriyama-Shiraitodai-Shindouji Semi Final Match ( Side A Semi Finals)
Kiyosumi Free day

Still the point stand, Saki's first match at the nationals was at the Kiyosumi quarter finals. Senriyama at that time of their semi-finals canonically has a strong suspicion of Saki's relation to Teru due to Hiroko their data gatherer. The primary data that Hiroko can gather to make that conclusion is the Kiyosumi quarterly match which Senriyama can actually watch and the preliminary qualifiers.

Saki made a play which is strikingly similar to the one Teru made at the Achiga semi-finals. Its not unreasonable to hope that Saki will make more plays that are similar or at least strongly reminds people of Teru. After all there is at least 4 hands to play right? The full south match?

[Om Nerabdator]

Wats this Saki does one move and everyone's in awe of her........

[orangejuicetang]

Originally Posted by Om Nerabdator

Wats this Saki does one move and everyone's in awe of her........

From what I could tell, its less amazement at her winning one hand using her rinshan ability, and more at her she was able to completely counter/nullify/whatever the two other supernatural players 'abilities' with her own.

[Myssa Rei]

Originally Posted by Om Nerabdator

Wats this Saki does one move and everyone's in awe of her........

It's the table control she does. As orangejuicetang mentioned, she essentially stops both Eisui and Miyamori's plans cold. We saw her do this at the end of the Preliminaries by the way, where she wrongfoots Koromo by not only helping out Ikeda indirectly, but also by doing the so-called trash hands so she could set up her rinshan.

[Om Nerabdator]

OK now it makes sense

I have no idea about mahjong but I still love this lol

[night_sentinel]

Originally Posted by Om Nerabdator

Wats this Saki does one move and everyone's in awe of her........

Spoiler for Why Saki is awesome in Chapter 97:

As some posters have said its because of superb table control and nullification of Kasumi's "one suit" and Toyone's pursuit richii. And it is when you boiled down to it but I think its a gross simplification actually. Since I have free time today and most importantly bored - I'll try to explain why Saki is awesome.


First Hand in Chapter 97
3rd Hand in East Round
Saki is the dealer


In this hand, the character or man tiles are missing due to Kasumi's ability. To recap Kasumi's opponent cannot draw a character or man tile. Beside this, Kasumi will certainly reach tenpai before everyone else due to her ability since she only draws one suit just look at her hand its scary.

So our narrator Kyouko chi Toyone's discard to develop her hand faster. But its not enough. Luckily for Kyouko the next turn after her is Saki. As observed in the manga Saki purposely discarder her 8-sou or 8-bamboo so Kyouko can pon it.

So Kyouko managed to develop her hand fast so she won that round instead of Kasumi for a cheap 1,000/2000 points. 2000 points is lost by Saki instead of 1000 since she is a dealer but guess what its cheap and she's probably thinking she'll recoup those points later. Thus, Kyouko winning cheaply is better for Saki than Kasumi winning.

Another thing that can be missed is the fact that Saki's pon made Toyone and most importantly Kasumi to lose a turn.

Remember the order is

Toyone >>> Kyouko >>> Saki >>> Kasumi

Since the discard that Kyouko ponned is from Saki, Kasumi and Toyone missed a turn to develop their hands. Worse, after that pon Kyouko is in tenpai and in the next go round she managed to win her hand.

In summary the reason Kyouko won is because Saki helped her.





Second Hand in Chapter 97
4th Hand in East Round
Kasumi is the dealer


First thing we know about this is Saki called a kan for her 1 of souzou or 1 of bamboo. Then, instead of having a rinshan kaihou like everyone is expecting she riichii.

This is usually bad, since Toyone's "pursuit riichi" ability cause another player who declares riichi first to draw a tile which Toyone can win when she activates her "pursuit riichi". Apparently it also helps her get to tenpai faster too when someone first declares riichi.

Now look at Toyone's 5 sided wait...

1 sou or 1 of bamboo - Saki called a kan on it so there's no available one
5 man or 5 of character - Saki discarded that when she riichid by the way
8 man or 8 of character - Saki is waiting to kan it
2 man or 2 of character - Its in the dead wall Saki drawed it after calling a kan
4 sou or 4 of bamboo - I think its the kan dora (pls. check this)

Thus, Saki essentially called a riichi so that Toyone will activate her ability. Toyone's ability makes sure that Saki draws only tiles that Toyone is waiting on or need so all Saki needs to do is wait on the same tiles that Toyone will need.

And this of course allowed Saki to make her hand really fast which allowed her to bypass Kasumi's "one suit" ability. Apparently Kasumi wasn't stuffing the extra suit in the dead wall so Saki can use it as much as she wants.

So yes at this chapter Saki pawned Toyone's "pursuit riichi" and Kasumi's "one suit" ability.

[Peanutbutter]

Originally Posted by night_sentinel

Spoiler for Why Saki is awesome in Chapter 97:

As some posters have said its because of superb table control and nullification of Kasumi's "one suit" and Toyone's pursuit richii. And it is when you boiled down to it but I think its a gross simplification actually. Since I have free time today and most importantly bored - I'll try to explain why Saki is awesome.


First Hand in Chapter 97
3rd Hand in East Round
Saki is the dealer


In this hand, the character or man tiles are missing due to Kasumi's ability. To recap Kasumi's opponent cannot draw a character or man tile. Beside this, Kasumi will certainly reach tenpai before everyone else due to her ability since she only draws one suit just look at her hand its scary.

So our narrator Kyouko chi Toyone's discard to develop her hand faster. But its not enough. Luckily for Kyouko the next turn after her is Saki. As observed in the manga Saki purposely discarder her 8-sou or 8-bamboo so Kyouko can pon it.

So Kyouko managed to develop her hand fast so she won that round instead of Kasumi for a cheap 1,000/2000 points. 2000 points is lost by Saki instead of 1000 since she is a dealer but guess what its cheap and she's probably thinking she'll recoup those points later. Thus, Kyouko winning cheaply is better for Saki than Kasumi winning.

Another thing that can be missed is the fact that Saki's pon made Toyone and most importantly Kasumi to lose a turn.

Remember the order is

Toyone >>> Kyouko >>> Saki >>> Kasumi

Since the discard that Kyouko ponned is from Saki, Kasumi and Toyone missed a turn to develop their hands. Worse, after that pon Kyouko is in tenpai and in the next go round she managed to win her hand.

In summary the reason Kyouko won is because Saki helped her.





Second Hand in Chapter 97
4th Hand in East Round
Kasumi is the dealer


First thing we know about this is Saki called a kan for her 1 of souzou or 1 of bamboo. Then, instead of having a rinshan kaihou like everyone is expecting she riichii.

This is usually bad, since Toyone's "pursuit riichi" ability cause another player who declares riichi first to draw a tile which Toyone can win when she activates her "pursuit riichi". Apparently it also helps her get to tenpai faster too when someone first declares riichi.

Now look at Toyone's 5 sided wait...

1 sou or 1 of bamboo - Saki called a kan on it so there's no available one
5 man or 5 of character - Saki discarded that when she riichid by the way
8 man or 8 of character - Saki is waiting to kan it
2 man or 2 of character - Its in the dead wall Saki drawed it after calling a kan
4 sou or 4 of bamboo - I think its the kan dora (pls. check this)

Thus, Saki essentially called a riichi so that Toyone will activate her ability. Toyone's ability makes sure that Saki draws only tiles that Toyone is waiting on or need so all Saki needs to do is wait on the same tiles that Toyone will need.

And this of course allowed Saki to make her hand really fast which allowed her to bypass Kasumi's "one suit" ability. Apparently Kasumi wasn't stuffing the extra suit in the dead wall so Saki can use it as much as she wants.

So yes at this chapter Saki pawned Toyone's "pursuit riichi" and Kasumi's "one suit" ability.

Well said. I couldn't have explained it better.

[Key Board]

At this point it's better to think of mahjong in Saki as something like Magic The Gathering or Yugioh

It's all about countering or taking advantage of the other players special ability

[Sol Falling]

You get some good technical/mechanical study out of it though. What with the various scenarios, and focused artificial conditions. It's really does still add a layer of enjoyment/engagement to Saki when you're familiar with the actual game they're playing. I haven't played the actual game much myself (yet...I've got a tile + playing mat set coming this very moment in the mail ) but I also really appreciate the analysis some of the posters bring to the threads around here.