Hoki said:
So I was watching Accel World (thanks to those who recommended it, definitely better than SAO, story wise) and while I was taking something from the fridge, something occurred to me.
The Avatar selection here in Innocent is similar to that of Accel World, although I can't figure out the actual conditions for the avatar selection.
I've been telling people to watch this series, but can't remember if I mentioned it here or to you. But it has become my new favorite, displacing Nanoha. It's one of the very few where I am continuing to follow the story in the fan-translated light novels, and making deep efforts to understand how everything works and is connected (and now, despite Reki's ambivalence on the subject, how Accel World might be a sequel to SAO!).
Without spoiling too much, which I don't think I can since it is explained earlty (although expanded upon later)... Avatar selection is based on your traumas and fears. The name, the colors, the abilities... all of it have to do with those "negative" qualities within yourself. I say that with quotes, because it depends on how you view it. Different characters view it slightly differently, and I think all viewpoints have meat to them. There is one character that I feel explains it fairly well, but you might not have met her yet. However, pay attention to Sky Raker when she pops up.
Although it wouldn't surprise me to learn there is some creator input along the line as well, heh. Still, the names do seem to follow set programming... each name is (adjective)(noun), and the adjective generally refers to the color of the linker. The noun tends to tie into their trauma, which gives rise to their abilities.
And apologies for taking this thread off track. I'm not actually following Innocent, so I don't know how avatar selection in Innocent is working.