The Round Table (A collaborative fiction thread)

[Cherry Lover]

indirect involvement is very possible, manly on the character building side of things.

Well, possibly, but that is likely to mean she is shunted out of large parts of it (that being anything to do with the war, or even discussions of the war).

[lantzblades]

you are being entirely negative.

[Cherry Lover]

you are being entirely negative.

Well, that's just how it seems to me.

[lantzblades]

The war is fairly small all things considered

[Cherry Lover]

The war is fairly small all things considered

It's the primary aspect of the fic, though. Aside from the war, what else is happening that Sakura can be involved in? Plus, the war is a large part of everything else that is going on....

[lantzblades]

The characters are the bigger picture and Sakura has plenty of reason to be involved in that way

[Cherry Lover]

The characters are the bigger picture and Sakura has plenty of reason to be involved in that way

Well, yes, that is true, but her involvement is stunted by not being "in" on the nature of the Grail War or the servants. Even if, in reality, she does know about it, they won't know that, and even if they did she wouldn't know they know.

[lantzblades]

You're fighting pretty hard for this,  I think  either or works

[Cherry Lover]

You're fighting pretty hard for this,  I think  either or works

Well, I want Sakura to have a very good role in the story.

and, what do you mean, "either or"? Either what or what...?

[lantzblades]

Giving her fighting role or giving her a character building role

[Cherry Lover]

Giving her fighting role or giving her a character building role

The thing is, I don't see how to give her a character-building role without her being involved in the Grail War stuff somewhat. They would naturally tend to try to keep her as far away as possible for the duration of the war, for her own safety. I would also like her to have at least some fighting role, even if it is only at the very end.

Plus, that in itself implies she's not one of the main characters, because she is mainly there to build the characters of the actual main characters. At least, that's how it comes across to me....

At very least, I don't think the battle where Ilya is kidnapped should be the final battle. Mainly because it would either be too easy for them to win (by Rider backstabbing Gil at the opportune moment), or else Sakura's involvement would be very limited. I think that it would be the penultimate battle, with Shirou, Rin etc. about to lose horribly when Rider suddenly turns on Gil, allowing them to rescue Ilya, but they haven't yet managed to work out a plan for actually defeating Gil. Then, they return home and plan out the final battle, with Sakura's assistance and with her (and Rider) playing at least some role in it.

I also think Sakura should have been training to use her magic. Even though Shirou and Rin don't want to involve her in the war, they would still want her to be able to defend herself if she gets dragged in anyway. So, they'd encourage her to learn and would assist her in doing so.

[lantzblades]

Okay first fighting does not make her a main character nor does giving her a character building role  mean she's a fluffer for the other characters. Rider can't beat Gilgamesh with just a sneak attack nor would he let them go further Saber wouldn't just retreat given the opportunity to strike. Training to use her magic is a character building role.

[Cherry Lover]

Okay first fighting does not make her a main character nor does giving her a character building role  mean she's a fluffer for the other characters.

Well, I know the first is true, but the second did sound true from what you said.

Rider can't beat Gilgamesh with just a sneak attack nor would he let them go further Saber wouldn't just retreat given the opportunity to strike.

Well, of course not, but that doesn't mean they'd be able to beat him, particularly not if they don't know of Avalon yet, and they've not planned for how to involve Rider. Also, Gil lets them go multiple times in canon....

Training to use her magic is a character building role.

Well, yeah, sure, but I'd like her to have a chance to actually use it, and to be involved in the planning etc. of the final battle.

[lantzblades]

It's illogical for them to lose and Gilgamesh would not let Archer go

[Cherry Lover]

It's illogical for them to lose and Gilgamesh would not let Archer go

How is it illogical for them to lose? Gil is not easy to defeat.

And, like I said, I want Sakura to actually matter here, which seems unlikely if the battle ends there and then. Rider isn't going to be able to do very much without the time to plan anything out.