Talk:Vol.2 Ch.131: 30F - Hell Train: Revolution Road (19)/@comment-11698429-20141229012920/@comment-1748472-20200727055148

I mean ... the series is filled to the brim with arbitrary, unmentioned things that progress the plot. The existence of Guides is literally a device for SIU to drive the plot forward without having to write it up naturally. It's like a crutch. He doesn't know how to get characters A to place B? Well, just have the Guide take them there, easy. I like the concept of a character that can see the strings of fate as it were but SIU exploits and relies on it a lot.

Same goes for pretty much all items and many abilities. They do pretty much whatever the plot requires them to do. Can't save a hostage? Oh, it just so happens they have a dagger that sucks people up if you stab them. Can't escape a trap? Oh, it just so happens she has a suitcase that lets her teleport. And so on. The soft magic system ToG uses creats a sense of wonder for the reader because you can absolutely NEVER know how situations will be resolved since items and abilities that were never seen or heard of before pop up out of nowhere and drive the story forward. But it also undermines all stakes because what tension is there when characters can just reach inside their pocket and be like "haHA! Luckily I have this previously unmentioned, very specific item/ability that lets me handle this, no problem."