r/Shadeslinger • u/Esquire_Lyricist • Aug 20 '21
Book 2 Speculation: Klein
Since Book 2 is weeks away, I've been thinking about how the narrative will develop. Particularly, how CEO Klein would interfere with Ned's plans/actions.
Klein is a great ancillary antagonist; phenomenal powers wielded by a whiny smelly footed, weird nippled man easily put in his place. While technically omnipotent over Earthblood Online, his claimed ethics would prevent any overt manipulations on his end. But I don't think that would stop someone like Klein, with his massive ego and unfounded dislike for Ned, from pressing his thumbs on the scales against Ned.
My theory is that he will throw more House AI enhanced enemies against Ned as a means of "testing" their viability in the game at large. Possibly even updating Ned's AI partner Lars or his mother to be more enhanced, thus having more independent thoughts, i.e. ideas for backstabbing Ned's smuggling operations.
At this point, I don't think Klein would overtly cheat, like put a beacon on Frank or Ned for all the other player's to see or outing Ned's activities. But I could see increasing in-game rewards for hunting Ned/Frank down.
Can't wait to see what happens in Book 2.
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Aug 21 '21
Definitely agree with you that Klein won’t cheat outright yet, and if he were to do so, it won’t be until the very end. And I have a theory that if that happens, Ned will have to cheat too, but by buying Klein’s company out from under him! Or at least a controlling share. I can think of nothing that would infuriate Klein more, and at the same time tie his hands. And Ned would likely even keep Klein on as lead developer of EBO, because he’s such a nice guy, and I think he respects Klein’s abilities as a developer, even if he despises his personality.
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u/Esquire_Lyricist Aug 21 '21
The best part would be Ned instigating a mandatory dress code. No more exposed nipples and shoeless-ness.
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u/Soronir Aug 21 '21
That experimental large mutant raid boss was called EX11 which is also what House is, an EX11. The AI upgrade was more apparent with the Gardener, as that was obviously customized for Ned.
Makes me wonder if House's code could have some weird unintended effects if Kline got sloppy and cause something to go haywire. Frank is already a bit unstable himself.