Sword Art Online - Episode 15 Discussion / Poll

[Julio C]

So is the second game not a death game?

[justinstrife]

Originally Posted by Julio C

So is the second game not a death game?

No one knows from an anime standpoint...

Take that question to the appropriate thread.

[Eclipze]

No wonder some people are disliking/dropping this, the set up with Sugou is practically what you see in NTR doujins. Ah, the ones that will spawn from this...

Welcome to NTR online!

[dark998]

Quite excited for this new arc. Where to begin?

New OP: Better than the first one by a small margin.
New ED: Much better than the first one.
Suguha: STACKED.
Sugou: Haha, time for NTR.
Actual story: So Kirito is going to dive into another game to rescue his princess with the help of his sis-err cousin who loves him and will suffer in consequence? Ok, I can dig it.

Not a big fan of the new elf/fairy avatars but I can get over that as well, I guess.

[ronelm2000]

Originally Posted by dark998

Quite excited for this new arc. Where to begin?

New OP: Better than the first one by a small margin.
New ED: Much better than the first one.
Suguha: STACKED.
Sugou: Haha, time for NTR.
Actual story: So Kirito is going to dive into another game to rescue his princess with the help of his sis-err cousin who loves him and will suffer in consequence? Ok, I can dig it.

Not a big fan of the new elf/fairy avatars but I can get over that as well, I guess.

I don't know... does Sugu know how to play a VRMMO, given the context of the ep?

[Rising Dragon]

Seems likely. She did mention having a secret that she wasn't going tell just yet. Given the context it felt like it was an "opposite" thing. Kendo is Suguha's thing, and Kirito did surprisingly well at it... so if online games are his thing...

[itoastmysocks]

Why is everyone so against Elves/Fae?

It's just ears...

[Clarste]

Originally Posted by Rising Dragon

Seems likely. She did mention having a secret that she wasn't going tell just yet. Given the context it felt like it was an "opposite" thing. Kendo is Suguha's thing, and Kirito did surprisingly well at it... so if online games are his thing...

Yeah, it was sort of implied there that she wanted to say that they were both interested in each other's hobbies.

[Zeriand]

Uh, given that he's been fighting using swords for like 2 years straight in SAO, I actually think that Kirito did exceptionally POOR against Suguha because one, he doesn't follow Kendo rules. Two, the techniques he's learned in SAO is used to kill. Three, well, he's practically trained in the virtual world day and night in sword fighting, even if some of them are non-applicable in real life.

The only disadvantage he has against Suguha was his weak body, and his misconception that certain sword skills in VR would work in real life. Suguha's Kendo training would've confined her to hitting the head, side and chest (I think?) area only, and Suguha WON. That is kind of... upsetting.

There's one thing that I find weird, and that's Suguha's surprise at how good Kirito is at swordfighting. I mean, c'mon, he's trapped in a virtual world called Sword Arts Online, why would you ever be surprised that he's giving you one helluva sword challenge? She should've been surprised that he didn't faceroll her instead!

[Kimidori]

Originally Posted by Zeriand

Uh, given that he's been fighting using swords for like 2 years straight in SAO, I actually think that Kirito did exceptionally POOR against Suguha because one, he doesn't follow Kendo rules. Two, the techniques he's learned in SAO is used to kill. Three, well, he's practically trained in the virtual world day and night in sword fighting, even if some of them are non-applicable in real life.

The only disadvantage he has against Suguha was his weak body, and his misconception that certain sword skills in VR would work in real life. Suguha's Kendo training would've confined her to hitting the head, side and chest (I think?) area only, and Suguha WON. That is kind of... upsetting.

There's one thing that I find weird, and that's Suguha's surprise at how good Kirito is at swordfighting. I mean, c'mon, he's trapped in a virtual world called Sword Arts Online, why would you ever be surprised that he's giving you one helluva sword challenge? She should've been surprised that he didn't faceroll her instead!

most if not all sword skill in SAO are auto, I don't think that help his swordmanship at all.

and don't forget that Suguha is a quaterfinalist in a national tournament.

[Kafriel]

Originally Posted by itoastmysocks

Why is everyone so against Elves/Fae?

It's just ears...

I suppose you could say the time of elves is over. In a very loose and subjective timeline:

80's: warriors
90's: elves
00's: demons

I don't really mind, but a bit of diversity wouldn't hurt.

[Zeriand]

All skills have cooldowns, and in between there you would always try to slot in some attacks right? Not to mention that Kirito is a solo player and has an exceptional amount of individual skills.

[Clarste]

Not sure why you'd think the things he fought in the game would be more skilled than a national-level kendo practitioner. The monsters obviously have limited AIs and mainly only had the advantage of inhuman strength and size. And the people he dueled were similarly just gamers who spent most of their time trying to abuse the monster AI. I don't see how any of that would prepare you to win a kendo match. The only bits that carried over would be general reaction speed and dodging instincts.

[grey_moon]

Originally Posted by Zeriand

Uh, given that he's been fighting using swords for like 2 years straight in SAO, I actually think that Kirito did exceptionally POOR against Suguha because one, he doesn't follow Kendo rules. Two, the techniques he's learned in SAO is used to kill. Three, well, he's practically trained in the virtual world day and night in sword fighting, even if some of them are non-applicable in real life.

....

Actually I think the opposite to you... For me it highlights one of the fundamental things that not so good teachers don't focus on; footwork. The fact he kept up with Sug based on foot work and timing actually makes it really realistic for me. Strength and actual use of some fancy skill would require training in real life. He has been in the gym and it doesn't take that long for the body to readjust to the state of the body (or go out of shape ), but no way to replicate any complex sword moves (and his sparring hints heavily that this is the first time he has tried it)

One of the biggest examples I can think of is T'ai chi ch'uan, some people just wave their arms about and focus on their breathing, but if you go to a good class the one thing you should notice the next day is how much your legs and hips hurt, because the teacher will be focusing on your stance and foot work.

Even a seemingly weak old person can defend themselves very well if they have been taught good fundamentals.

Sure playing a game is nothing like the real thing, but the VR of SAO does seem to be closer the real thing to the current gaming situations..

Also one good thing is the person shouldn't get physically tired (not talking about stress related), so could practice a lot more then a person in real life.

One practice is that you train so hard you lose focus, then you start practising moves over and over again, this is to ensure that you don't get sloppy when you are tired. This won't happen in SAO, but ofc it should hit Kirito a lot more during his sparring match, which could be also another reason why he didn't last very long.

[erneiz_hyde]

Btw, joke question. Can we count on Sugou being gentlemanly enough as to not violate Asuna in her coma sometime ago already? Probably sometime during ep.10 for more dramatic effect......

[Marina2]

Originally Posted by Zeriand

Uh, given that he's been fighting using swords for like 2 years straight in SAO, I actually think that Kirito did exceptionally POOR against Suguha because one, he doesn't follow Kendo rules. Two, the techniques he's learned in SAO is used to kill. Three, well, he's practically trained in the virtual world day and night in sword fighting, even if some of them are non-applicable in real life.

The only disadvantage he has against Suguha was his weak body, and his misconception that certain sword skills in VR would work in real life. Suguha's Kendo training would've confined her to hitting the head, side and chest (I think?) area only, and Suguha WON. That is kind of... upsetting.

There's one thing that I find weird, and that's Suguha's surprise at how good Kirito is at swordfighting. I mean, c'mon, he's trapped in a virtual world called Sword Arts Online, why would you ever be surprised that he's giving you one helluva sword challenge? She should've been surprised that he didn't faceroll her instead!

Uh,...no You underestimated Kendo too much. Kendo is adapted from a real sword fight.

Kazuto has been fighting using swords for like 2 years straight in SAO, but Suguha has been training Kendo IN REAL LIFE longer than that. It's normal that her reaction will be better.

Hitting other players in Kendo is also harder because you must say where you'll hit other players (which give them a chance to defend) before you can hit them (If you don't do that = no score).

Moreover, Kendo players are trained to defend from getting hit in head, body, and hand so, their defend are not weak too.

[kyp275]

Originally Posted by Zeriand

Uh, given that he's been fighting using swords for like 2 years straight in SAO, I actually think that Kirito did exceptionally POOR against Suguha because one, he doesn't follow Kendo rules. Two, the techniques he's learned in SAO is used to kill. Three, well, he's practically trained in the virtual world day and night in sword fighting, even if some of them are non-applicable in real life.

Gonna have to disagree with you there.

1. Not sure how the kendo rule bits apply, it's not as if Kirito started throwing grenades and going in wrestling UFC style. They're still sparring with bamboo swords ya know?

2. read above.

3. It's one thing to do mental training, which is what ultimately all the fighting in SAO boils down to.

It does not, however, train your actual body. The precision of movement, power, speed of your actual muscles is something that needs to be trained and built up, there's no shortcut around that one.

In short, even if you know how to do something, it doesn't mean much if your body isn't capable of carrying it out.

Originally Posted by Zeriand

Suguha's Kendo training would've confined her to hitting the head, side and chest (I think?) area only, and Suguha WON. That is kind of... upsetting.

head, wrist, throat, and body.

Originally Posted by Zeriand

There's one thing that I find weird, and that's Suguha's surprise at how good Kirito is at swordfighting. I mean, c'mon, he's trapped in a virtual world called Sword Arts Online, why would you ever be surprised that he's giving you one helluva sword challenge? She should've been surprised that he didn't faceroll her instead!

Not really. To put things into perspective, let's assume that someone got stuck in a virtual world called Gun Arts Online for two years, now who do you think would better in a shoot out, the dude that was trapped, or say a Marine sniper?

I know who I'd pick

[Key Board]

All skills in SAO are system assisted

Thus, they have very little application in real life

maxing out your cooking/forging/fishing/sword skills in SAO does not make you a better at it in real life

[kyp275]

Originally Posted by Key Board

All skills in SAO are system assisted

Thus, they have very little application in real life

maxing out your cooking/forging/fishing/sword skills in SAO does not make you a better at it in real life

Now to be fair, normal sword swings in SAO aren't system assisted, it's only the Sword Skills that are.

For example, the fighting between Kirito and Heathcliff were for the most part done manually, as Kirito was avoiding using Sword Skills.

[Clarste]

It's not like Heathcliff is a master swordsman in real life either though.