Fate/Zero - Episode 2 Discussion / Poll

[ChronoReverse]

If you didn't already know, it's not yet spoilerish. You wouldn't even know who's Berserker or Lancer for instance.

The ED images are iconic but not so much as to bring instant recognition like King Arthur and the sword in the stone for instance

[Ragna92]

Originally Posted by Endless Twilight

You certainly would. Fate/Stay Night is the true introduction to the "Fateverse" and has a lot more world-building than Fate/Zero. This prequel is clearly one of those that's aimed at people who've already experienced what proceeds it chronologically. There are a lot of moments that are almost "winks" to people who've gone through F/SN. Now obviously you don't absolutely need to have experienced it in order to follow the story of Zero, but having done so can only increase your enjoyment and understanding of the latter in my opinion.

Either way, if you do wish to experience the F/SN, I'd recommend going with reading/playing it, aka the Visual Novel, rather than watching the anime, which was a rather crummy adaptation. Though that might be a little too time consuming for you, I suppose.

I think anyone who has time for anime, also has time to play a VN.

[creb]

Play/watch Stay Night first. It may be a pile of poo (hey, opinions), but that's exactly why you want to experience it first. After the awesomeness of Zero, it'll just make Stay Night that much harder to digest.

[ChronoReverse]

Originally Posted by creb

Play/watch Stay Night first. It may be a pile of poo (hey, opinions), but that's exactly why you want to experience it first. After the awesomeness of Zero, it'll just make Stay Night that much harder to digest.

This is inaccurate =P Fate is a bit bland but Unlimited Blade Works is amazing while the final day of Heaven's Feel is mindblowing (even the Dead Ends).

Zero matches and even exceeds UBW at times but the sheer hardcore of the finale of HF is beyond even the two biggest highlights of Zero.



With that said, Zero has far fewer lowpoints...

[alumnox]

Originally Posted by SorenSan

Question for those who read the novel... is knowing berserker true identity a big spoiler?

Well its a matter of how you enjoy what you watch. You know already for what you said that berserker identity is something "special" regarding the story so if you don't want to spoil that moment about the story its better not to know in advance.

Originally Posted by Azami

However because of my lack of previous experience with the Fate franchise I have found some things about it really confusing, like some of the terms that have been used (prana? magic circuit? familiar?) and the actual requirements for summoning a servant (I didn't see Ryuunosuke using any relic such as Excalibur's sheath or skin of the first snake), but hopefully I will come to understand them as I watch more episodes.

I also found this on another forum earlier today:

Spoiler for picture:

NOTICE: the following information is not going to be explained in the novel so this IS NOT SPOILER its just an explanation of terms like prana, just to help people not used to such terms.

Spoiler for information:

Prana: Plain and simple its energy, its how the magicians/magus call the energy they use to perform their "tricks".
Magic circuit: An easy way to understand what is it is to imagine something similar to the nerve system inside a human body with the difference that the magic circuits instead of transmitting electric pulses they let the prana flow inside the magus bodies.
Familiar: A familiar its pretty much something that does stuff for the magus, like an assistant. Lets say you need to take photographs google style and although you are a magus it seems a bad idea to be flying around the town so you create or cast a spell over a bird for example and then you ask that bird (now your familiar) to carry your camera and fly around the town taking your photos.

Requirements to cast a servant.
First you need to be be chosen by the grail as a participant when this happens a symbol appears on your body. The anime in the scene with Waver already explained what is the purpose for those symbols.

Next you need to draw on the floor a magic circle (this magic is called invocation), as you saw already in the anime you can draw it, you can use blood you just need to be sure its on the floor.

That's all. This are the minimum requirements to call a servant.

In addition as you saw in the anime, you can add what its called incantation (all the blabla they said during the summoning scenes). The incantation in short (really really short) helps in the summoning process.

And also you can use whats called a relic (any object with significant importance to a person) to improve your chances in summoning a specific hero, just as you saw in the anime, Kiritsugu used the scabbard of king arthur to summon well king arthur. If you don't have a relic with you then the grail will summon a random hero that matches your personality as well as your abilities.

The picture is fake, its from the persona 4 booklet. XD

Spoiler for image from persona 4:

[germanturkey]

Also, didn't Alexander die at like 30 something. he shouldn't be that old looking in the first place.

[fertygo]

Originally Posted by germanturkey

Also, didn't Alexander die at like 30 something. he shouldn't be that old looking in the first place.

He didn't even looked that old in this for me.

[ZeKeR]

Originally Posted by germanturkey

Also, didn't Alexander die at like 30 something. he shouldn't be that old looking in the first place.

well... in the ancient world, your appearance ages quickly and its probably common to see a 25-35 year old guy get all manly with some beard. but for him to be THIS manly.... is quite something.

[Archon_Wing]

Fate series has always used some umm... very liberal depictions of its heroic figures.

Legends tend to exaggerate these things.

[PhoenixFlare]

Originally Posted by germanturkey

Also, didn't Alexander die at like 30 something. he shouldn't be that old looking in the first place.

Not implausible. As the King of Conquerors, he would've participated in many trainings/skirmishes/battles. These likely made his male hormonal levels (i.e., testosterone) high most of the time, which possibly contributed to his aged (but manly!) appearance since beard growth is affected by hormones.

And was shaver already invented during his era?

P/S: Now, why did I try to explain biology for a fictitious setting?

[alumnox]

Originally Posted by ZeKeR

well... in the ancient world, your appearance ages quickly and its probably common to see a 25-35 year old guy get all manly with some beard. but for him to be THIS manly.... is quite something.

Our awesome takeuchi said that the first draw of alexander was with out beard a little example of it is in the scan I took of my Fate/Zero character sketches book.

He quickly decided he should have beard.

Something similar happened with bluebeard, a normal set up for his eyes wasn't enough and the one with a crazier eyes was made.

Btw, sorry about the yellowish color but my sketch book is a sister with coffee or tea (I don't remember anymore) survivor so... =P

[bhl88]

Now I know why I hated the old ugly guy. Not cause he was ugly.

[jeroz]

Originally Posted by Archon_Wing

Fate series has always used some umm... very liberal depictions of its heroic figures.

Legends tend to exaggerate these things.

Just look at King Arthur

[MagicaLideaL]

I watched F/SN but never played the game. After rewatching the ED for a few times, I dont see any spoilers which people keep mentioning so I guess it's only spoiler when u have played the game.

[Haak]

Originally Posted by MagicaLideaL

I watched F/SN but never played the game. After rewatching the ED for a few times, I dont see any spoilers which people keep mentioning so I guess it's only spoiler when u have played the game.

It's not a spoiler if you've played the game. It's only a spoiler if you have an insane knowledge in ancient legends. It's just that someone was posting the the images of the actual legends in comparison to to what we saw in the ED. That counts as a hint.

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by jeroz

Just look at King Arthur

Yeah, it was quite possible that King Arthur was some obscure Celtic warlord. Siegfried's legend had likely used Arminius as basis, notably the bit with Fafnir (where the Roman Legions had become the dragon).

[Kanon]

Originally Posted by PhoenixFlare

And was shaver already invented during his era?

Yes. Not only that, but Alexander is renown as the one who made shaving popular. His soldiers were forbidden to grow beards.

Either Takeuchi or whoever it was who decided to give him a beard didn't know about it, or he just didn't care.

Anyway, if Arthur can have boobs and a vagina, I guess it's not too shocking to give a beard to Alexander.

[~Yami~]

Gilles de Rais is scary... omg.... so does his master....

I like how Alexander the Great still retain his arrogance in modern era... lol

just like I thought, Einzbern family is the most normal Holy Grail's competitor... Illya is cute... hahaha... they're my favourite

and last, Gilgamesh is awesome as always...

10/10... every episode is very perfect... they are really well-prepared when making this anime

I hope Fate Stay Night can use this kind of ending song.... with this, I can find some reference about the servants

[Haak]

Originally Posted by Kanon

Yes. Not only that, but Alexander is renown as the one who made shaving popular. His soldiers were forbidden to grow beards.

Either Takeuchi or whoever it was who decided to give him a beard didn't know about it, or he just didn't care.

There's an even more shocking possibility: Urobuchi Gen has a sense of irony.

[Tactics]

Why there's need to complaining for Alexander design ? ^^;
No one complaining for Arthur design. LOL.

My impression for episode 2.
Good. This is the true Holy Grail War. Total score 10/10.
Darker and more complexity even for Kiritsugu personality through his time with Ilya.
Much more better than Shiro and Rin era.

Gate of Babylon effect sure is perfect.
Poor Assassin

Can't wait for Saber vs Berserker.
Their fight during the opening sure is promising.