[OOC] Arcana for Social Linking

[youraffection]

Social Links are a gameplay mechanic that appears in the later Persona games. Each Social Link represents a single Arcana, and raising a particular Social Link increases the experience bonus the protagonists receive when they fuse personas of that Arcana. By completing a Social Link, it unlocks the ultimate persona of that Arcana. Social Links can, however, be reversed if players do not spend time with the respective people holding the Link, end up booking two holiday invitations on one day, or gave an improper answer during their conversations. The reverse effect will also continue to last until the protagonist reconciles with them. At some point a Social Link can even be broken, prohibiting the protagonist from fusing personas from the respective Arcana.

The Arcana are the different classes of Tarot Cards. They are a major thematic element of the Persona series. The Arcana are divided into the Major Arcana (22 unique cards). They have the following traits that often relate to the character associated with that Arcana. It may not be just a personality trait, but it may be a point in their life or a struggle that they are going through represented by that Arcana.

Arcana marked with ** are protagonist/fusion only.

Arcana

Number	Arcana	Upright	Reversed	Trope
0	Fool**	Beginnings, innocence, spontaneity, a free spirit, potential	Naivety, foolishness, recklessness, risk-taking	disaster kids with incredible destinies
I	Magician	Power, skill, concentration, action, resourcefulness	Manipulation, poor planning, latent talents	no. no, don't do that. I SAID DON'T DO THAT FOR THE LOVE OF GOD -
II	Priestess	Intuition, Higher powers, mystery, subconscious mind	Hidden agendas, need to listen to inner voice	i know they seem calm but if you fuck with them you're dead
III	Empress	Fertility, femininity, beauty, nature, abundance	Creative block, dependence on others	classy ladies who have probably killed a man
IV	Emperor	Authority, father-figure, structure, solid foundation	Domination, excessive control, rigidity, inflexibility	they seem cool but they're all extremely eccentric
V	Hierophant	Religion, group identification, conformity, tradition, beliefs	Restriction, challenging the status quo	they're gruff but they care! honest!
VI	Lovers	Love, union, relationships, values alignment, choices	Disharmony, imbalance, misalignment of values	adorable pink-loving teenage girls who will destroy you for daring to think you have the right to look at them
VII	Chariot	Control, will power, victory, assertion, determination	Lack of control and direction, aggression	ALRIGHT CHUMS LET'S DO THIS!
VIII	Justice	Justice, fairness, truth, cause and effect, law	Unfairness, lack of accountability, dishonesty	adorable children (and katsuya)
IX	Hermit	Soul-searching, introspection, being alone, inner guidance	Isolation, loneliness, withdrawal	vidya games (and a fox)
X	Fortune	Good luck, karma, life cycles, destiny, a turning	Bad luck, negative external forces, out of control	pretty boys with secrets of varying severity
XI	Strength	Strength, courage, patience, control, compassion	Weakness, self-doubt, lack of self-discipline	they are your bro, they are there for you, one of them is a dog
XII	Hangedman	Suspension, restriction, letting go, sacrifice	Martyrdom, indecision, delay	jesus shitting christ that's an unhappy backstory
XIII	Death	Endings, beginnings, change, transformation, transition	Resistance to change, unable to move on	they're creepy but really nice, except eikichi, he's FABULOUS and really nice
XIV	Temperance	Balance, moderation, patience, purpose, meaning	Imbalance, excess, lack of long-term vision	ha ha no persona steve
XV	Devil	Bondage, addiction, sexuality, materialism	Detachment, breaking free, power reclaimed	no
XVI	Tower	Balance, moderation, patience, purpose, meaning	Imbalance, excess, lack of long-term vision	you have issues and your arcana reflects that
XVII	Star	Hope, spirituality, renewal, inspiration, serenity	Lack of faith, despair, discouragement	i know they seem sweet but they are hiding something
XVIII	Moon	Illusion, fear, anxiety, insecurity, subconscious	Release of fear, unhappiness, confusion	let's be positive to hide our crushing emotional issues
XIX	Sun	Fun, warmth, success, positivity, vitality	Temporary depression, lack of success	surprisingly troubled but will never talk about it
XX	Judgment	Judgement, rebirth, inner calling, absolution	Self-doubt, refusal of self-examination	we're all in this together (and elly)
XX	Aeon	Curiosity, exploratory, inhuman, understanding	Confusion, loneliness, disconnection, silted	short-haired nonhuman girls who are extremely eccentric because they are nonhuman
XXI	World	Completion, integration, accomplishment, travel	Lack of completion, lack of closure	god in a school uniform
XXI	Universe**	N/A	N/A	also god

So why are you here, you ask? Well, Protagonists are usually the ones who form Social Links, and Yosuke isn't one...but I like making my CR charts all overly game-specific so HELL YEAH WE'RE DOING FUCKING ARCANA OKAY. And Yosuke is all about MAKING FRIENDS and shit. He's not lonely he's just needy. This page is meant to give you the opportunity to choose an Arcana for your character! You can use the guide above to help out, or I recommend checking out the Arcana Page @ SMT Wiki. Tropes listed above were lovingly jacked from this tumblr post because it is Too Accurate.

If you have an idea for your character's Arcana, just go ahead and comment to this post with your Character's Name and the corresponding Arcana!

Thanks everyone!

Comments

[burningblossoms]

Well. Yukiko is probably still going to be the Priestess. Because she did totally get pissed and tie him up. Also blah blah inner voice, wisdom, and hidden agenda.

[long_live_the_queen]

Lucy is Tower this time! Since her encounters with Yosuke so far have been mostly negative "scaring the shit out of him by existing" instead of Depressing Backstory Show and Tell.

Also she's still got issues. Like a library's worth.

[cattack]

If Cleo's got a link already, she'd be Strength.

[elevelvetor]

hey

elizabeth velveteen & death

ch-ch-check it

[redarm]

Noah is such a Star he has a star on his forehead. Or will once I get around to buying the regain.

You know what I mean.

[eyestitch]

concept: the lovers but the card's default position is reversed.

[youraffection]

Oh! I like it! I can definitely flip a Lover Tarot card for you :*

[complementing]

Minako is probably Sun or World...I have her set to World for the Narukami twins but I'll let you decide which one is better for her from Yosuke's perspective! /o/

[smothershadow]

Amelia Wagner is a friend's judgmental mom arcana Tower when they get there. Someday I'll play someone who doesn't intimidate Yosuke by existing, promise.

[totallynotanoni]

Katherine is probably still the Hanged-Man, though I'm open to alternatives from CR to CR.

New Edit: Yeah no definitely Hanged Man.

[fiddlestick]

Elliot would be Magician! While he's not really a loudmouth or super impulsive like the typical Magician, his thing is all about developing self-confidence despite a huge inferiority complex, gaining the power to embrace his own talents, etc etc.

So yeah basically he's the redheaded stepchild of the Magician arcana.

[gunsandveggies]

Look at Haru and tell me she's not a classy lady who's probably killed a man.

By which I mean, Empress.

[windowdressing]

Devil, I think, though I've also always considered Tower and Magician as possibilities, so. TAKE YOUR PICK.

[twostringsonebow]

i swear to god every time someone pings me for their arcana list i have a different one for goro

but moon is good and i'll stick with it this time, he's very much all of that and More

[fabrefactions]

He's oblivious, one of the party's heavy hitters, blunt and really, REALLY invested in his favoured hobby.

Of course he's an Emperor.