A Change of Philosophy, an Open Idea

[Prince Charon]

Some time before the Fifth Holy Grail War, but after Kiritsugu died (and also after the BAR), a mad Philosopher experiments on Shirou, and several other people in Fuyuki who he thinks won't be missed (by anyone who can stop him), transplanting Magic Circuits from others who won't be missed, into them, and teaching any survivors how to open those circuits (as opposed to what Shirou was doing in canon, turning his nerves into temporary circuits). What the point of the experiment is, I'm not so clear on, but perhaps the Philosopher is altering the circuits in some way, either before removing them from the host, or while transplanting them, so that they carry affinities, have better quality (daniel_gudman's suggestion), or some other such thing. How well it works is another matter.

Shirou is one of the survivors, possibly the only one, and while not the most powerful Master in the upcoming War, he is now far from the weakest, and may well know who some other the other magi in Fuyuki are.

If Matou Shinji was used (I could see Zouken renting him out, to see if it made him useful), I suggest that he did not survive. Ayako might be one of the survivors, though, and Taiga with magecraft could be interesting.

I suggest that the Philosopher be dead by the time the Fifth War starts, possibly killed by Shirou, when he finds out about all the people who've been crippled or killed by this nut. A Shirou who has already killed a person, would behave rather differently from the boy he was in canon, no?

On TFF, nick012000 pointed out that Rin would not take the Philosopher's actions particularly well, and thus might be the one to rescue the survivors, and/or kill the Philosopher. He also suggested Taiga and Ayako learning Reinforcement from Shirou, before the escape, but that depends on whether the Philosopher allowed them to interact, and how long it would take them to learn Reinforcement to a useful level.

So, thoughts?

[I3uster]

Shinji surviving this would make it far more interesting imo. He's the person whose character would change the most I'd imagine.

[shiningphoenix]

Shinji: "You are wondering how, exactly, this was a bad thing for me? OHGODTHEPAIN!"

[deviatesfish]

People always will hate Shinji. It's a pity.

Shinji makes things more interesting.

[lethum]

Shinji: "You are wondering how, exactly, this was a bad thing for me? OHGODTHEPAIN! See? I'm loving it!"

Macdonalds.

[reborn214]

Shinji becomes a masochist? Maybe his magecraft can be the more pain he takes the more Prana he gains and the stronger his reinforcement becomes

[VelspertheCat]

People always will hate Shinji. It's a pity.

Shinji makes things more interesting.

Heh.

[Ergast]

People always will hate Shinji. It's a pity.

Shinji makes things more interesting.

Of course, you mean in the chinese sense of the word, don't you?

[Prince Charon]

*looks at responses so far*

Huh. Should I ask a mod to delete this thread?

[I3uster]

Maybe post them in the thread next time instead

[Larekko12]

It could be used as a point of change in Shinji and his relationship with his sister like in those Letters Series where he came to the conclusion it was not worth the pain.

[Prince Charon]

Maybe post them in the thread next time instead

Given that choice, I'd rather not post, here.

More likely, I'll have this thread deleted, and if I ever post this idea again, I'll be without reference to Shinji.

It says a lot about the differing corporate culture between here and TFF, since they were much less annoying.

[shiningphoenix]

Okay, really, what are you so upset about?

[EnigmaticFellow]

Maybe he doesn't like Shinji?

[shiningphoenix]

Maybe he doesn't like Shinji?

I had to read it, like, five times to notice the question asking about Shirou's personality, and it still seems like the overused plot idea of, "what if [character X] was darker; kills people and doesn't afraid of anything?" Ayako and Taiga might be more interesting with magecraft, but Shinji's the one who really changes with it.

Given all that, and presuming the story is going to be one I will be interested in, Shinji is the most logical main character for a fanfic with this premise.

[EnigmaticFellow]

I had to read it, like, five times to notice the question asking about Shirou's personality, and it still seems like the overused plot idea of, "what if [character X] was darker; kills people and doesn't afraid of anything?" Ayako and Taiga might be more interesting with magecraft, but Shinji's the one who really changes with it.

Given all that, and presuming the story is going to be one I will be interested in, Shinji is the most logical main character for a fanfic with this premise.

The main reason for me asking that was that I noticed most of the posters talking about him; though, I do agree that Shinji's perspective would be the most interesting one here.

[Prince Charon]

*is disgusted and annoyed*

I don't consider a Shinji-centric story from this idea interesting. I only mentioned him in the first place as a convenient way to kill him off.

So, how do I find a mod? On Spacebattles.com, their listed at the bottom of each forum page, so you know who to contact, but that doesn't seem the case, here.

[shiningphoenix]

They have differently colored names.

[SeiKeo]

*is disgusted and annoyed*

I don't consider a Shinji-centric story from this idea interesting. I only mentioned him in the first place as a convenient way to kill him off.

So, how do I find a mod? On Spacebattles.com, their listed at the bottom of each forum page, so you know who to contact, but that doesn't seem the case, here.

Up on the top, Quick links, Forum Leaders.

[LunarLegend]

Shinji surviving this would make it far more interesting imo. He's the person whose character would change the most I'd imagine.

People always will hate Shinji. It's a pity.

Shinji makes things more interesting.

To be fair, Shinji is a piece of moral shit in canon!Fate, combined with a major lack competence and overinflated ego. Hating him is only natural.

That being said, I find the idea of exploring what an utter bastard in canon could have been under different circumstances fascinating. This is kind of what I'd planned if I ever decided to do a fic where Shinji redeemed himself - he acquire'd magic circuits through some means, and manages to break free of sick self-aggrandizing and abusive relationship with pretty much everyone he knows.

That being said - if he is dead - the rest of the fic has some potential. I personally don't like the idea of Taiga being a human guinea-pig, as she's 1- a yakuza's daughter and 2- the lighthearted emotional center of Shirou's life, who provides an affectionate balance to all the grim stuff he endures. Both from an in-universe perspective or a mechanical approach to the writing, it doesn't work.

Overall though, a concept worth investigating and discussing more