Nanoha - Q&A

[al103]

Originally Posted by Koveras Alvane

Where do the mage's normal clothes go when she summons her Barrier Jacket? Where did Verossa hide that cake?

The same place where devices store most of they parts? Subspace storage?

[Koveras Alvane]

Originally Posted by al103

The same place where devices store most of they parts? Subspace storage?

That calls for two more questions:

- What is this subspace where things are believed to go? AFAIK only Reinforce was canonically confirmed to be capable of sustaining her personal pocket dimensions...

- If Devices do indeed keep their spare parts in "subspace", what about familiars? Do they also keep they body parts there? ^^; Or do they use shapeshifting, after all? If so, is it certain that Devices don't use a sort of mechanical shapeshifting, too?

[Keroko]

Simple answer: We don't know.

[al103]

Originally Posted by Koveras Alvane

- What is this subspace where things are believed to go? AFAIK only Reinforce was canonically confirmed to be capable of sustaining her personal pocket dimensions...

I may be wrong - but for me it look like every space inside barrier in first two series is another form of that subspace storage. Because normal life goes it's way while mages do they things "out there". So it's not only Reinforce. Also IIRC Laevantein parts after all upgrades was noted to weight more than half ton - so that parts must be somewhere or it make no sense.

But as Keroko said - we don't know.

[itanshi1]

So we have to claim that those buildings being hit with a presumably non lethal attack from rein were but an illusion, although the ground was there and eh

animators/writers are cowardly making us do their dirty work

[Koveras Alvane]

Is the term "Living Program" official? If so, what are the runes for it?

[Tiresias]

What is the difference between Nanoha's Aggressor Mode and her other ones? And while we're at it, what are the names of the other ones?

[Kaijo]

Originally Posted by Tiresias

What is the difference between Nanoha's Aggressor Mode and her other ones? And while we're at it, what are the names of the other ones?

Well, let me quote from the wiki first:

Nanoha's Barrier Jacket is a blue and white school uniform-styled dress with a metal waist guard. Upon activation, she dons this costume, which is either shown as instantaneous or through a minute-long segment of stock footage. Throughout her career, Nanoha uses several variations of this:

* Sacred Mode. An improved version of Nanoha's Barrier Jacket, including field generators on the shoulders, gloves, and other defensive enhancements. She can use it with Raising Heart in Standby Mode.
* Aggressive Mode. Another improvement of Nanoha's Barrier Jacket, seen in StrikerS. Design changes include the replacement of the long skirt with a mini-skirt, a waist-attached cape and the inclusion of long white socks and gems (probably field generators) on the shoes.
* Exceed Mode. Debuting in the episode 12 of StrikerS, Nanoha used this variation in set with the Raising Heart in Excelion Mode. Its design is similar to the Sacred Mode's, although it is bulkier.

Not entirely sure where they go their information, but it might be partial guessing, especially the "field generator" bits, although someone may quote a source. I assume those are the clear crystal orb-like things, which may refer to enhanced protection. Also, I would presume that extra layers present extra protection like they would for armor, while less layers would enable higher mobility.

In that light, I think Aggressive Mode, with the mini-skirt and lacking the long skirt, gives her more freedom of movement and agility, while the longer skirt does a better job protecting her lower half (a dress being thicker than the socks).

Disclaimer that these are just educated guesses, and someone might have a better theory.

[Arkeus]

Originally Posted by Tiresias

What is the difference between Nanoha's Aggressor Mode and her other ones? And while we're at it, what are the names of the other ones?

レイジングハートエクセリオン＆バリアジャケット・アグレッサーモード – Raising Heart Exelion & Barrier Jacket ・ Aggressor Mode
(StS DVD2)
“Raising Heart Exelion” is a loyal, transformable staff-shaped Intelligent Device in Takamachi Nanoha’s possession. Starting with Shooting and Bombardment support, it is extremely specialized in providing magical assistance, boosting and drawing out the power of Nanoha’s skills. Whether in victory or defeat, toil or glory, the two have been fighting together for the last ten years, and have reached a stage where they are “one in body and soul”. Raising Heart Exelion’s AI can be described as calm, and at the same time passionate. Aggressor Mode excels as a light-weight, all-purpose Barrier Jacket mode, and because the Mana expenditure is kept low, it is suitable for long periods of activity (primarily combat instruction). While this mode was not designed for personal combat against formidable enemies, because it has the merit of being able to be deployed rapidly with little resources expended, Aggressor Mode’s specifications are more than sufficient for squad level or regular combat. Furthermore, a Jacket Change system to match Nanoha’s Limiter Release system has been installed, so other jackets with qualities that match Nanoha’s original fighting style are also prepared.

from here.

So Agressor mode is pretty much 'training mode', designed to not over-tax Nanoha's body during long hours of teaching, and not an improvement designed for difficult fights.

[Tiresias]

Where was the source of "Signum's Laevanteinn weighs half a ton"?

[mielipuoli]

Considering the typical role of an Aggressor-labeled unit in most Air Forces is as an opponent for the trainees, having a form that's of weaker defense and higher mobility is a good thing. Her intent is to teach air-combat tactics, in a Top Gun style. Since no one's using actual full-up firepower in such a situation her protection can reduce - and if she increases her mobility, she can be more a difficult target for her students to track and follow.

Is there much about the actual construction or upgrade of a Device anywhere?

[motaku96]

Wow, I didn't notice the different barrier jackets. Gotta watch again and pay more attention to their clothes.

Anyway, a few people asked me recently, How does Nanoha understand the english that Raising Heart is saying? As an elementary schooler, her english shouldn't be that good.

[DezoPenguin]

Good question. I'm guessing the same way that Yuuno understands the Japanese that Nanoha is speaking...whatever that is (I have to assume translation magic is standard among the TSAB worlds...).

[Koveras Alvane]

Originally Posted by motaku96

Anyway, a few people asked me recently, How does Nanoha understand the english that Raising Heart is saying? As an elementary schooler, her english shouldn't be that good.

Well, if you recall Nanoha's explanation how magic works in A's manga, she says it's a lot of math that they have to calculate in their heads. The Devices, on the other hand, are said to be some sort of magical computers that assist casting spells (or storing them, like Hayate's Book). Yet we never see the master interface with their Device in any way we would with a computer (command line, GUI, etc.). Therefore, there is presumably a constant telepathic contact between the master and the Device, established at the moment of first activation and calibration. With that in mind, it is likely that Devices transmit data directly into their masters' brain, thus, for Nanoha, it probably seems like RH has been speaking fluent Japanese from the start. Why does it have to voice said thoughts out loud in Engrish? Beats me. No Watsonian explanation in sight, but the Doylist one would be that English sounds cool to the Japanese ear.

[Kaijo]

Same reason listening to a martial artist shout their attack in Japanese sounds cooler to us.

[Moczo]

Originally Posted by Tiresias

Where was the source of "Signum's Laevanteinn weighs half a ton"?

As far as I know, a fanfic. At least that's the only place I've ever seen it; the author's handle on FF.net is 'Daishi Prime'.

[Yasanagi]

Was it ever specified what currency they use on Mid Childa?

[Koveras Alvane]

Originally Posted by Yasanagi

Was it ever specified what currency they use on Mid Childa?

Maybe in the manga, but never in any anime AFAIK. The topic of money has been very much averted, to the point where you have to wonder whether they have ideal communism as their social order. ^^;

[Keroko]

We see Subaru and Ginga go shopping once and paying using a simple scan with a card, though with what kind of currency they paid or how much is unknown.

[mielipuoli]

Originally Posted by Koveras Alvane

Maybe in the manga, but never in any anime AFAIK. The topic of money has been very much averted, to the point where you have to wonder whether they have ideal communism as their social order. ^^;

One could certainly argue they're on the cusp of a post-scarcity economy, and certainly well into one as far as energy goes.