[D'sP] Why The Secrecy - Chapter 496

Doyle sighs, ‘Lets get off the subject of soul memories. At this point, it almost sounds bunk. Could we get down to how other people’s database skills work?’

Ally nods, ‘Fair enough. Souls are already annoying to begin with, what with not being restricted by time and space.

‘So I guess at the base level, most people with a pattern database will have something quite similar to one of your sub-tables. An alchemist will have a potion database skill and so won’t need anything else. A trapsmith will have a trap database skill. And so on and so forth.

‘Even those who end up with multiple database skills, tend not to end up with them merging. So an alchemist who learns to make traps with their potions will have two skills for their patterns and have to call them up separately.

‘On top of that, your attuned stuff doesn’t really show up. Even when people figure out how to attune a material, that tends to either be a specific skill or spell and so not a pattern.

‘Or the craft isn’t an individual effort, instead requiring extensive equipment and many people. In which case, you don’t get a pattern for the attuned material because you aren’t making it. To get a crafting pattern, you generally need to follow the one-tool rule. As in, only one tool between you and the craft, so stuff like an assembly line won’t work even if you build the assembly line itself.’

Doyle nods, ‘I remember us going on about that before in relation to how a part of the crafter remains in the item and that’s part of how masterworks form.’

Ally, ‘Yeah, something like that. Anyway, there are some other database skills that come closer to your own. Certain crafting professions will end up with sub-tables if they involve a lot of disparate parts that are more mix and match.

‘Once they manage to claw it back, those on your planet who go into gunsmithing will likely experience this. You have various parts that can be changed out and crafted separately. So they might have a sub-table for types of grip, another for sights, and so on. This becomes especially true once you get into alternate ammunition that become viable with magic. After all, a barrel able to withstand a sub-zero temperature magic shot will differ from one designed for shooting literally magma.’

Doyle, ‘Okay, I can see that. What about electronics?’

Ally shrugs half heartedly, ‘Eh, it is a lot harder to craft electronics in a way that counts. Most crafters that deal in that sort of thing will specialize in a specific part instead of the overall product. So, you’ll have someone with the skill for crafting the case, another who makes the wires, and circuit boards are their own can of worms.’

Doyle, ‘I don’t believe that with how useful electronics are, they aren’t widespread in the more tech-focused areas of the universe.’

Ally nods, ‘Oh, I didn’t say it wasn’t popular! There are even some people who specialize in crafting entire units. But that’s the high end and people aren’t sharing those secrets. After all, a smartphone is already useful. Now consider what it will be capable of when you can enchant it?

‘A thing that isn’t possible when crafted from so many different parts. You can have a few parts made by others and still enchant an item. Most common is a sword and their grip. Woodworking and smithing are different professions for a reason.

‘But with electronics? The circuit board is the heart of the device! So you need someone to craft that thing by hand with only a single tool between them and the board. Now consider how many transistors are packed into a smartphones main circuit board.

‘A regular person can’t craft that! And people aren’t thirsting after enchanted calculators. So to train someone for the high-end stuff will involve basically making a ton of unsellable boards.’

Doyle, ‘There were people who made their own circuit boards on my world before the system came? Though yeah, I guess they aren’t quite at the level of a high-end board. Still, why would they not sell? I’d assume an enchanted calculator should be worth something?’

Ally shrugs, ‘It is a matter of comparative value. An enchanted item is worth more than an unenchanted one. Yet look at how much a low-end calculator cost before the system. Now, consider that enchanting an item isn’t free. Who is going to bother enchanting a calculator?’

Doyle, ‘There has to be a market, but I’ll drop the point. It isn’t what we’re talking about right now. Do you have any other examples of database skills?’

Ally shrugs, ‘I figure I know the market a little better than you, but fine. Other forms the database skill might take? There are some minor database skills that work more like the magic skills which your monsters have. Where it has a few spells attached to the skill. Except for crafting. One of the more common examples is a bowyer who is also a fletcher, but doesn’t focus on it. So they might gain the fletchery skill and have an entry for three or so specific arrow types.

‘That in particular makes sense as many arrows? The difference is in the head. Which is important, but only a small part of it.’

Doyle, ‘Well, I guess that is technically like a database. I assume it is limited? That learning too much either caps the number of patterns or simply turns into a full database skill?’

Ally nods, ‘Yep, just about that.

‘Besides these types? There are some rumors. A popular one has it that calligraphy masters can gain a database of moods. Which is like a normal database, except it has the emotional states which they can impose on others with their work. And while I say calligraphy, assume that covers others as well. It is simply that it is more noticeable when you start to tear up after reading the word “sad” as compared to reading a sad story or seeing a sad painting.

‘I have also heard of databases that cover techniques of a certain strain. The best known of these are those who pride themselves in being able to drive anything. You normally get a skill to drive a car, a different skill for driving a flatbed truck, and so on and so forth. Except they manage to condense the skill down to just “driving” and it has a database component keeping track of exactly what that covers. So trucks, boats, spaceships, you know, normal stuff.

‘Besides those? I’m sure there are other types, but remember, people don’t share details of their skills widely. A master caligrapher might teach these things to their disciples, but they won’t write a book about it. And I’m sure I could find more on the more secretive forums, but I’m not exactly invited to those.’

Doyle, ‘I am a bit disappointed. I would figure that for a skill that seems so customizable, there would be more.’

Ally sighs, ‘Are you ignoring the last bit I said? Unless it is a basic feature of the skill, you aren’t going to have people going around and sharing anything about their skills.’

Doyle sighs in turn, ‘Why is everything so dark forest out there? You’ve got universe-spanning organizations and apparently people can’t just hide their worlds by keeping quiet.’

Ally shrugs, ‘There’s a reason the system isolates newly integrated worlds. Just consider your own worlds history and how much colonization goes on. You’re given a hundred years because by that point, people know enough about the system that guerrilla warfare would ruin any attempt to conquer a world without wasting resources. After all, for anything strong enough to manage it to come out here? There are certainly other, better uses.’

Doyle, ‘Okay, fair enough, that explains that. But why the reluctance to share anything about your status? Not spreading your existence around makes sense, given what you just said, but that only covers global affairs.’

Ally, ‘A society that allows wholesale conquering of another planet isn’t going to be one where you want to reveal too much about yourself. Those who are strong don’t want to reveal a weakness. Those who are weak don’t want to chance revealing something of worth that others might covet. At best, you’re forced to teach and then “silenced” so others don’t learn it as well.

‘And when you don’t know what is normal? What is worthwhile? Better not to share anything. The fact that you are allowed to keep your status secret is a top-down order from the system. Otherwise, places would be constantly forcing a status reveal.

‘Not just to find talent either. Consider someone who doesn’t like how evil their government is. They might consider rebellion. And if they do any training for it? Well, makeshift bomb creation, gorilla warfare, assassination, and other similar skills are a bit of a giveaway. Even more so would be a path that literally spells it out. Something like “Rebel Leader” or “Place name Rebellion Member” would be a death sentence.’

Doyle, ‘Well that sucks. I bet knowledge is lost all the time because of this.’

Ally shrugs, ‘You would think, but that isn’t entirely the case. Just because you don’t tell someone the name of your skill or what paths you’ve taken, doesn’t mean you can’t guide and teach. And there are some basic things which are just sort of known, so if you’re close enough to that, sharing might be fine. Though there is always the excuse that it isn’t your paths you’re talking about, but rather your teacher or ancestor.

‘Sure, maybe the specific skill someone has might be lost, but the general training will be preserved. Then there are inheritances. Even with how long life can get at the higher levels, eventually people tend to die. If this isn’t a shock to them? The proudest will take this as a chance to “unburden” their souls. Leaving behind a complete record of their skills and paths.

‘Of course, in such cases, those who gain the inheritance are unlikely to share. And in a society so focused on keeping their status a secret? There aren’t exactly all that many who would release their inheritance to the public.’

Doyle sighs, ‘I wonder if my world will cause that to change?’

Ally laughs, ‘How can they when they’ve already adapted the norms of the universe? You don’t watch the town much, but people aren’t sharing much about their skills and paths. Oh sure, some do share with those close to them, but that has always happened.

‘Your pre-system society might have been in the information age and much too into over sharing, but that isn’t the case anymore. Not that things like social media aren’t out there. It is just that some things you don’t share. This isn’t too hard to understand. Not like people were posting nudes to social media. Skills and paths are simply a new taboo.’

Doyle, ‘Okay, fair enough. I guess put on that perspective, it makes more sense. After all, it isn’t like you have to share the skill name to tell someone you are skilled at a thing. And it isn’t like even within the same skill, the levels will mean knowing the same things at the same levels. So, anyone looking to hire you isn’t going to just accept a skill and level.’

Ally nods, ‘Exactly! And that is especially true at lower levels. After all, there is so much to learn at that point! You can get quite a few smithing levels without even swinging the hammer once. Many apprentices do as they’ll handle tongs and such for their masters well before hands-on learning. And once you’re at a high enough of a level that the level itself means you’re likely good? Well, you should be known already for the skill, at least locally.’

Doyle, ‘Blarg, well, I guess all I can do is try to warp the database skill to my will. I assume it can’t be that easy or it would be a common thing.’

Ally, ‘I wouldn’t even count on that. After all, most people are fine with the base skill, so why try and change things?’

The Database Skill - Chapter 495

Oh, Maybe It Won't Be That Easy - Chapter 497