Persona 4 What-If's
- Thread starter lord geryon
- Start date
Bring in other MegaTen games.
How would the game turn out if Nyarlathotep was the one causing the Inaba incidents, instead of 'nami?
What if Elizabeth had stayed in the Velvet Room, in order to find more Wild Card users to enlist to rescue Minato (or for any other reason).
What if Katsuya and Tatsuya Suo were sent to investigate Inaba? (According to the "Who's Who?" tv interviews in P3, Tatsuya was preparing to become a detective.)
What if Baofu and Ulala showed up, as their "missing persons" agency has been picked up to help in Inaba.
What if Philemon was around/active in Persona 4?
How's that for ideas?
How would the game turn out if Nyarlathotep was the one causing the Inaba incidents, instead of 'nami?
What if Elizabeth had stayed in the Velvet Room, in order to find more Wild Card users to enlist to rescue Minato (or for any other reason).
What if Katsuya and Tatsuya Suo were sent to investigate Inaba? (According to the "Who's Who?" tv interviews in P3, Tatsuya was preparing to become a detective.)
What if Baofu and Ulala showed up, as their "missing persons" agency has been picked up to help in Inaba.
What if Philemon was around/active in Persona 4?
How's that for ideas?
*Sigh* I really wish I my experience of SMT games didn't consist of just DDS, P3 and P4. Because every time I hear about the others, I wish I could play and learn about them too.
I have something short in mind to write for P4, so you may get something new to read in around a week or so once I take the time to sit down and write it.
Now to return on topic...
What if Izanami played a more active role in the story?
The image of her dressed as a student gave me ideas. How would be the story if she was someone you saw almost everyday? Maybe even a part-member of the group, knowing the 'truth' about the murders butnot entering the TV to not risk her life. That and I was annoyed that the list of names only had the good one not sounding like a really stupid choice.
I have something short in mind to write for P4, so you may get something new to read in around a week or so once I take the time to sit down and write it.
Now to return on topic...
What if Izanami played a more active role in the story?
The image of her dressed as a student gave me ideas. How would be the story if she was someone you saw almost everyday? Maybe even a part-member of the group, knowing the 'truth' about the murders butnot entering the TV to not risk her life. That and I was annoyed that the list of names only had the good one not sounding like a really stupid choice.
*hides copy of Nocturne behind his back, begins backing away very slowly*
Anyway, a few more ideas-- the Inaba crew steps through a tv different from the one they usually do. Maybe the exact one they used was sold, and a look-alike was put there?
Someone sees the kids going through the tv, takes pictures.
The SEES team comes to Inaba, after Fuuka senses Persona users in the town.
Anyway, a few more ideas-- the Inaba crew steps through a tv different from the one they usually do. Maybe the exact one they used was sold, and a look-alike was put there?
Someone sees the kids going through the tv, takes pictures.
The SEES team comes to Inaba, after Fuuka senses Persona users in the town.
Errr... Glad you like the idea, but I'm not too sure about writing it myself. And I'm already thinking of writing something P4 to add a little extra at the end of the game. I'm afraid I don't have enough inspiration to write and fill out this idea myself. I don't mind giving ideas to help the writing, but I would feel better if someone else wrote it.
And now for another idea:
What if the group passed by the fortune-telling stand during the festival?
Because we all know who's inside and it would be hilarious if they heard the same comment as Ai about the MC.
And now for another idea:
What if the group passed by the fortune-telling stand during the festival?
Because we all know who's inside and it would be hilarious if they heard the same comment as Ai about the MC.
Personally, when I was tagging along for the grocery store run prior to Mystery Food X, I was wondering when the hell I would get a dialogue option to inject some sense into this madness. I mean, come on, everyone says my food's delicious, doesn't my word mean anything?
Anyways, one idea I've been toying with for a 'what if' is, say, what if, somewhere in the general timeline of Persona 4, an interesting story aired on the news...apparently, a wealthy heiress associated with a powerful corporation is arriving in Inaba to visit for awhile, stirring up a lot of speculation about why she could possibly be arriving...after all, what could Mitsuru Kirijo want in Inaba?
As to why she's there...thoughts are...Kirijo Corp is looking into investing in Inaba for some reason, Junes is a franchise owned by Kirijo Corp, Inaba was where Minato lived in those years between getting Thanatos sealed inside him and his return in Persona 3, at least temporarily, Mitsuru really does want a vacation/time to be alone and mourn Minato, or some combination thereof.
Other issue I can see is whether or not she would actually be kidnapped or not...this would probably depend on whether or not she would be going around with bodyguards or not. On her own, given the general surprise tactic utilized, as well as the method used...it's a maybe. Also probably depends on whether orn ot she's expecting trouble. Doubt she'd have her sword or evoker along, though.
Anywho, she winds up in the <s>Dungeon Dimension</s> television world, creating a dungeon of some sort out of her subconscious mind. Where we go from there...like I said, chances are good that she doesn't have an evoker at this point. But, she has manifested her persona on her own in the past...so, I'm not sure how exactly this would play out. On the one hand, she might still have a shadow, and she'd still have to confront it...and if she did, presumably this would break through whatever mental block she has that makes it harder to just summon the damn thing after confronting it. Torn on whether the gang from Persona 4 should show up to find her and her shadow, only to have her actually accept it, even though it still hurts, without having to fight a boss fight, Artemisia materializing yet again, or possibly going through yet another evolution into a different persona. Or they could find Mitsuru already hacking and slashing her way out of the dungeon, meeting her midway.
At any rate...obviously, team up! Or at least a limited one...Junpei and Yukari should be in their senior year, I think, so they might not be able to get too much time off...some of the summer, maybe, but not all of it. Ken's obviously got school to deal with as well, so I imagine the same applies to him. Akihiko, on the other hand, as long as his job doesn't get in the way, should be good to go. Koromaru probably has his schedule open...not sure about Aigis.
...yeah, I haven't played The Answer, yet, so at least some of this may be off, but, I think the basic concept could work well enough. Though, an alternative would be just one of the Persona 3 crew showing up, perhaps for the summer, and discovering that since they have Persona power, televisions in this area seem strangely permeable, and meeting up like that...
...well, just a random notion. Thoughts? :mellow:
Anyways, one idea I've been toying with for a 'what if' is, say, what if, somewhere in the general timeline of Persona 4, an interesting story aired on the news...apparently, a wealthy heiress associated with a powerful corporation is arriving in Inaba to visit for awhile, stirring up a lot of speculation about why she could possibly be arriving...after all, what could Mitsuru Kirijo want in Inaba?
As to why she's there...thoughts are...Kirijo Corp is looking into investing in Inaba for some reason, Junes is a franchise owned by Kirijo Corp, Inaba was where Minato lived in those years between getting Thanatos sealed inside him and his return in Persona 3, at least temporarily, Mitsuru really does want a vacation/time to be alone and mourn Minato, or some combination thereof.
Other issue I can see is whether or not she would actually be kidnapped or not...this would probably depend on whether or not she would be going around with bodyguards or not. On her own, given the general surprise tactic utilized, as well as the method used...it's a maybe. Also probably depends on whether orn ot she's expecting trouble. Doubt she'd have her sword or evoker along, though.
Anywho, she winds up in the <s>Dungeon Dimension</s> television world, creating a dungeon of some sort out of her subconscious mind. Where we go from there...like I said, chances are good that she doesn't have an evoker at this point. But, she has manifested her persona on her own in the past...so, I'm not sure how exactly this would play out. On the one hand, she might still have a shadow, and she'd still have to confront it...and if she did, presumably this would break through whatever mental block she has that makes it harder to just summon the damn thing after confronting it. Torn on whether the gang from Persona 4 should show up to find her and her shadow, only to have her actually accept it, even though it still hurts, without having to fight a boss fight, Artemisia materializing yet again, or possibly going through yet another evolution into a different persona. Or they could find Mitsuru already hacking and slashing her way out of the dungeon, meeting her midway.
At any rate...obviously, team up! Or at least a limited one...Junpei and Yukari should be in their senior year, I think, so they might not be able to get too much time off...some of the summer, maybe, but not all of it. Ken's obviously got school to deal with as well, so I imagine the same applies to him. Akihiko, on the other hand, as long as his job doesn't get in the way, should be good to go. Koromaru probably has his schedule open...not sure about Aigis.
...yeah, I haven't played The Answer, yet, so at least some of this may be off, but, I think the basic concept could work well enough. Though, an alternative would be just one of the Persona 3 crew showing up, perhaps for the summer, and discovering that since they have Persona power, televisions in this area seem strangely permeable, and meeting up like that...
...well, just a random notion. Thoughts? :mellow:
Man, why is it that you people always seem to be posting about stuff I plan on eventually writing?
But yeah, Mitsuru hacking and slashing her way out would be priceless. She's be like, "wtf are you guys here for? I can do this on my lonesome-" *stops and oneshots a group of shadows* "Wait, how the hell am I suppose to leave?"
And then there can be fun and awesome with Fuuka hacking her merry way through any and all computer stuff.
But yeah, Mitsuru hacking and slashing her way out would be priceless. She's be like, "wtf are you guys here for? I can do this on my lonesome-" *stops and oneshots a group of shadows* "Wait, how the hell am I suppose to leave?"
And then there can be fun and awesome with Fuuka hacking her merry way through any and all computer stuff.
She was an underclassman? Whoops, I thought Chihiro was the same year as Minato...my bad. In that case, whole gang except Ken would probably be available...and something might be able to be worked out, I'm not sure who his guardians are, but Mitsuru and Itsuki were obviously able to arrange for him to stay with them...so, they might be able to arrange to bring him along...even if only by arranging a trip for his whole class out to Inaba for awhile, though it might be easier to do things a different way. 
Heh. Of course, if Mitsuru doesn't have to deal with her shadow at all, but manages to manifest her persona without her evoker, or just so happens to have had it along, perhaps as a keepsake, or some sense that it might come in handy...well, it'd be amusing for them to dash in only to find a horrible ruckus as Mitsuru's hacking her way through tons of shadows and generally causing a lot of noise as she tries to figure out how to get out of this mad world...though, if you went that route, you'd have to introduce some more interesting elements, I think, to make up for the Persona 3 gang being that powerful...some other angle. Could fiddle with it a bit, I suppose, like I said, depends where you want to go with it.
Though, if Mitsuru actually gets out of her dungeon and starts running around the place...the gang might actually have some problems tracking her down. And she wouldn't have the fox to replenish her SP, so she'd eventually get worn out anyways...which could lead to an even worse situation that normal. On the other hand, if the Persona 4 gang's doing the usual investigation you hit after Yukiko to try and get the necessary clue to track down Mitsuru, and on the other hand, the Persona 3 gang hear she's gone missing...things could be interesting. Especially if Mitsuru just left her shadow behind, presuming one formed, and the rest of the Persona 3 gang have shadows pop up...uh...whoops? Eh, iffy on that, though.
And, of course, if Mitsuru starts taking over things wholesale, there could well be some resentment from the Persona 4 gang, feeling like their efforts are being dismissed. The real heroes are here, you kids can go back to playing games...even if that's not how the Persona 3 cast is actually thinking about it, they're a close team that's done this sort of thing before, at least to a certain extent, and without meaning to they may make the Persona 4 guys feel like they're being sidelined. Could lead to some interesting interpersonal drama.
Heh. Though, seeing some people's faces when they find out that they've got a robot, a dog, and a gradeschooler(?) on the team could be pretty amusing. Damn, and they thought having an idol and a high school detective around was weird.
Edit: And personally, this idea's been floating around in my head for awhile, especially since it was confirmed that Persona 3 and Persona 4 definitely take place in the same world within a few years of each other, and the true mechanics of the Midnight Channel...
Heh. Of course, if Mitsuru doesn't have to deal with her shadow at all, but manages to manifest her persona without her evoker, or just so happens to have had it along, perhaps as a keepsake, or some sense that it might come in handy...well, it'd be amusing for them to dash in only to find a horrible ruckus as Mitsuru's hacking her way through tons of shadows and generally causing a lot of noise as she tries to figure out how to get out of this mad world...though, if you went that route, you'd have to introduce some more interesting elements, I think, to make up for the Persona 3 gang being that powerful...some other angle. Could fiddle with it a bit, I suppose, like I said, depends where you want to go with it.
Though, if Mitsuru actually gets out of her dungeon and starts running around the place...the gang might actually have some problems tracking her down. And she wouldn't have the fox to replenish her SP, so she'd eventually get worn out anyways...which could lead to an even worse situation that normal. On the other hand, if the Persona 4 gang's doing the usual investigation you hit after Yukiko to try and get the necessary clue to track down Mitsuru, and on the other hand, the Persona 3 gang hear she's gone missing...things could be interesting. Especially if Mitsuru just left her shadow behind, presuming one formed, and the rest of the Persona 3 gang have shadows pop up...uh...whoops? Eh, iffy on that, though.
And, of course, if Mitsuru starts taking over things wholesale, there could well be some resentment from the Persona 4 gang, feeling like their efforts are being dismissed. The real heroes are here, you kids can go back to playing games...even if that's not how the Persona 3 cast is actually thinking about it, they're a close team that's done this sort of thing before, at least to a certain extent, and without meaning to they may make the Persona 4 guys feel like they're being sidelined. Could lead to some interesting interpersonal drama.
Heh. Though, seeing some people's faces when they find out that they've got a robot, a dog, and a gradeschooler(?) on the team could be pretty amusing. Damn, and they thought having an idol and a high school detective around was weird.
Edit: And personally, this idea's been floating around in my head for awhile, especially since it was confirmed that Persona 3 and Persona 4 definitely take place in the same world within a few years of each other, and the true mechanics of the Midnight Channel...
I kinda think that if she was pulled in, Mitsuru's shadow would be one of three possible things.
Most likely, in my mind, is that it is Shadow Mitsuru, but instead of being something she's repressing, it's made of innuendo, rumor, and misunderstanding. What people think she's repressing/hiding/et al. It probably also would want her to accept it.
Next in line is a Minato shaped shadow, with the nasty powers that implies. Having that many personae, and possibly a powered up Izanagi, could make him a pretty nasty customer. This could also set off all kinds of warning signals in Mitsuru's mind.
And least likely, I'd say that Nyaralathotep shows up.
Most likely, in my mind, is that it is Shadow Mitsuru, but instead of being something she's repressing, it's made of innuendo, rumor, and misunderstanding. What people think she's repressing/hiding/et al. It probably also would want her to accept it.
Next in line is a Minato shaped shadow, with the nasty powers that implies. Having that many personae, and possibly a powered up Izanagi, could make him a pretty nasty customer. This could also set off all kinds of warning signals in Mitsuru's mind.
And least likely, I'd say that Nyaralathotep shows up.
I don't know for you, but I feel like the evoker is something that forces a Persona to comes out even if you haven't really accepted the nastier part of yourself. Sure, we see her changing in P3, but is that really all there was?
If Mitsuru must confront a shadow, it would probably be FH_Meta first possibility, something she's suppressing.
If Mitsuru must confront a shadow, it would probably be FH_Meta first possibility, something she's suppressing.
It kinda did happen already, though: Shadow Minato was basically all of their dark sides combined. The Abyss of Time was essentially a mishmash of everyone's "dungeon" as well. Metis was also essentially Aigis' shadow, the thing she repressed most after Minato's death: her humanity.
Of course, you could kind of base from the events in The Answer: Everyone's eventually drifted apart, without a purpose. Mitsuru's "kidnapping" sparks something and the team gradually comes back together and faces their own doubts and fears through the TV world(which they did in The Answer, really. Aigis and Yukari especially.)
Junpei and Yukari would have graduated by the time P4 rolls around. Fuuka should still be around as a senior, though. I was kind of disappointed that you never run into her in P4. Then again I can see why they didn't, as it's basically the perfect point to cross them if you account for Fuuka's psychic abilities - she and Souji bump into each other, he extends a hand to help her up, contact - PERSONA.
I don't think it's really possible for anything to overshadow Souji(and his friends by extension), though. Whereas Minato revolves around the positive aspects of 0(Nothing = Anything), Souji is basically the definition of pure willpower(he never ended up blocking the super attacks like Minato, dude just took like 5x 999 through pure refusal to lay down and die.).
With the nature of the Midnight Channel and everything, the P3 group could be reunited by their subconscious desire to be together again, with Shadow Minato acting as their combined darker will by doing the kidnapping and such. It would all basically run parallel to P4, ending with Shadow Minato and P4's killer fusing into some nightmare(remember, P4's killer is stated as "Emptiness", he's essentially the negative side of 0 which is just enough symbolism to get away with fusing them) and both teams coming together to destroy it.
My many, many cents anyway. I think I need a jar or something.
Of course, you could kind of base from the events in The Answer: Everyone's eventually drifted apart, without a purpose. Mitsuru's "kidnapping" sparks something and the team gradually comes back together and faces their own doubts and fears through the TV world(which they did in The Answer, really. Aigis and Yukari especially.)
Junpei and Yukari would have graduated by the time P4 rolls around. Fuuka should still be around as a senior, though. I was kind of disappointed that you never run into her in P4. Then again I can see why they didn't, as it's basically the perfect point to cross them if you account for Fuuka's psychic abilities - she and Souji bump into each other, he extends a hand to help her up, contact - PERSONA.
I don't think it's really possible for anything to overshadow Souji(and his friends by extension), though. Whereas Minato revolves around the positive aspects of 0(Nothing = Anything), Souji is basically the definition of pure willpower(he never ended up blocking the super attacks like Minato, dude just took like 5x 999 through pure refusal to lay down and die.).
With the nature of the Midnight Channel and everything, the P3 group could be reunited by their subconscious desire to be together again, with Shadow Minato acting as their combined darker will by doing the kidnapping and such. It would all basically run parallel to P4, ending with Shadow Minato and P4's killer fusing into some nightmare(remember, P4's killer is stated as "Emptiness", he's essentially the negative side of 0 which is just enough symbolism to get away with fusing them) and both teams coming together to destroy it.
My many, many cents anyway. I think I need a jar or something.
On the subject of overpowering: Don't Persona's not in use atrophy really fast? Sure, they can grow back up again, but when you don't use them for a while, don't they weaken?
And I'm not sure, but I don't think that Mitsuru would've really had much of a chance to use her persona much. So, that solves the level issues.
And I'm not sure, but I don't think that Mitsuru would've really had much of a chance to use her persona much. So, that solves the level issues.
A very good point. But to my mind, awakened to your Persona is awakened to your Persona.
Much as the Channel and its cause might want, they're already aware of that bit of themself. You can't force Mitsuru, or any of the P3 crew's Shadow out of them and to the front of the stage, because they already have it in the form of a Persona.
Not the same degree of control, or ability, but they still have it.
Much as the Channel and its cause might want, they're already aware of that bit of themself. You can't force Mitsuru, or any of the P3 crew's Shadow out of them and to the front of the stage, because they already have it in the form of a Persona.
Not the same degree of control, or ability, but they still have it.
After graduating, Aigis would probably stick around the dorm to keep Ken company. That is, if everyone else in SEES moved on, and no normal students moved in.
Actually, if the TV world is what I think it is (unlikely, still not far in P4. Stupid FES...), the S.E.E.S. teams dungeons could act like another Abyss of Time, leading to the Great Seal. Because the idea of Minato stepping out of the Seal to bitchslap Izanami and sealing her along with Nyx is too delightful to my P3 addled brain not to consider. :sisi:
@Luthorne, one of my ideas for a possible epilogue to our project involves something similar... Aargh! To hell with it, I'm finishing that prologue now so we can get started on the fun stuff.
EDIT@FH: Actually... I don't know about that. Back in the New Game Plus thread, I got onto a long rant about the differences between the P1/P2 persona users and the P3 ones. The causes of the Persona ability are pretty varied, so it's possible that exposure to Mayonaka TV might cause the SEES teams Personae to go to the Dark Side?.
EDIT@Shaderic: Yeah, Personae do degenerate (Persona 1 cast in Persona 2, anyone?). But it happened really fast in The Answer, so my guess is that everyone was limiting their Persona abilities, in order to forget Minatos death. Survivors guilt, maybe?
Actually, if the TV world is what I think it is (unlikely, still not far in P4. Stupid FES...), the S.E.E.S. teams dungeons could act like another Abyss of Time, leading to the Great Seal. Because the idea of Minato stepping out of the Seal to bitchslap Izanami and sealing her along with Nyx is too delightful to my P3 addled brain not to consider. :sisi:
@Luthorne, one of my ideas for a possible epilogue to our project involves something similar... Aargh! To hell with it, I'm finishing that prologue now so we can get started on the fun stuff.
EDIT@FH: Actually... I don't know about that. Back in the New Game Plus thread, I got onto a long rant about the differences between the P1/P2 persona users and the P3 ones. The causes of the Persona ability are pretty varied, so it's possible that exposure to Mayonaka TV might cause the SEES teams Personae to go to the Dark Side?.
EDIT@Shaderic: Yeah, Personae do degenerate (Persona 1 cast in Persona 2, anyone?). But it happened really fast in The Answer, so my guess is that everyone was limiting their Persona abilities, in order to forget Minatos death. Survivors guilt, maybe?
Watashiwa, true about the differences, but I'm basing this on two things. One, that the Persona takes up the mental raw materials for the Shadow, so it's probably not going to be like a normal Shadow self.
And two, because there's not any divine granting being done, the SEES crew is a good bit closer to what the Inaba crew is than either are to the Philemon crews.
And two, because there's not any divine granting being done, the SEES crew is a good bit closer to what the Inaba crew is than either are to the Philemon crews.