4989 The Value of Masterwork eh Designers
Ves continued his attempts to squeeze more valuable information out of Professor Cavendish.
He was like a greedy kid that knew no restraint. Though he tried to remain as polite as possible, there was no way to hide his desire to learn more about what the MTA figured out about masterworks.
As the ch designers ascended into the air and flew up to the Phobos, they continued their discussion even as Cavendish comnced her personal inspection of the expert stealth ch.
"There are indeed differences between ch designers." Cavendish said as she gazed at the sensor readings of her sophisticated multiscanner. "There are tnose who can fabricate masterwork chs while they are still Journeyn such as the two of you. This is a highly promising indication that you will one day be able to fabricate masterwork chs with only a moderate amount of effort."
Both Ves and Gloriana agreed with this sentint. It beca easier and easier for the both of them to make their chs surpass the masterwork threshold. The two were still young, so they had plenty of ti to attain better results.
"What of the other extre?" Gloriana questioned.
Professor Cavendish looked contemptuous. "There are ch designers who ascribe to the interpretation that they must solely excel at design. Most of my compatriots in my faction do not agree with this idea. It is extrely helpful to develop your fabrication skills. Not only will you be able to gain a greater understanding of chs and technology by coming into more direct contact with them, but once you advance to Master and try to make any further progress, the ability to make masterwork chs can accelerate your research."
"The reason why that is the case is because masterwork chs can co into contact with greater and more hidden manifestations of reality that you have ntioned before, correct?" Gloriana asked. "You have also ntioned that Master ch Designers must explore those sa manifestations in order to advance to Star Designer."
The MTA Senior nodded. "That is a broad description. Let give you a few statistics. Only 4 percent of the total population of Master ch Designers can produce masterwork chs on a consistent basis. Only 23 percent of all Master ch Designers are able to produce masterwork chs intermittently. The remaining Master ch Designers have never produced a masterwork ch in their lives, and not many of them intend to redy this shortcoming. Of the Star Designers that have risen up to this day, the majority of them used to be Masters who were able to produce masterwork chs with ease."
Both Ves and Gloriana began to think hard after receiving these highly illuminating pieces of information!
"The amount of Masters in the first group is a lot less than I expected." Ves remarked. "The amount of Masters in the third group is a lot higher than I previously thought as well. This is weird. Since so many Star Designers used to excel at this, why is it not necessary to develop this competency?"
"Not every ch designer possesses the talent or the inclination to make their chs in person." Professor Cavendish shook her head in disapproval. "However, it is undoubtedly convenient to be able to make masterwork chs if you have any ambition to beco a Star Designer. The reason for that is that you can fabricate your own high-value research objects by yourself. Other Masters that lack this capacity must approach others and commission the masterwork chs they need to prove their theories and gather essential data."
Gloriana smirked. "I think that the ch designers who have never invested the ti to improve their fabrication skills will find it much harder to obtain the high-quality products they need. Not every masterwork ch designer can et their highly specific product criteria. The masterwork ch designer that can best fulfill a difficult commission can demand a high price, and may still not be able to deliver a completely satisfactory product."
"Only the ch designers themselves are able to make the products that suit them best." Ves agreed with his wife.
For example, Ves was able to fabricate chs with strong and exquisite spiritual foundations.
If he needed a masterwork ch that was strong in this area, then it would be difficult for other ch designers such as Gloriana to satisfy his requirents!
"If this is the case, then why are most Master ch Designers still content with lacking the ability to produce their own masterwork chs?" Gloriana furrowed her brows.
"They have their own advantages. Their theoretical and analytical skills are stronger." Professor Cavendish replied. "They can visualize an entire ch in their own minds much more effectively due to persistent practice. If the research they are engaged in is heavily reliant on advanced theories and unlikely deductions, then they can make more progress in their studies. If they ever need a high-quality ch to facilitate their research, they can obtain one as long as they have developed a good relationship with a competent supplier."
"I see." Ves understood the story. "So ch designers who put a lot of effort into improving our fabrication skills can essentially service the practical needs of a larger group of peers, but that will co at the cost of diverting the ti we spend on our research."
"You can say that. The actual circumstances are more complex than that. Many Master ch Designers have ford their own groups where they have worked together for many years. It is customary for each of them to divide their responsibilities and specialize in different fields."
That sounded like a more advanced form of the synergy that Ves established with Gloriana. Both he and Gloriana looked inspired after hearing this. The Design Departnt already had the potential to morph into such a cooperative group.
Ves wanted to obtain one more answer about high-quality chs.
"I have heard that one of the requirents for a Master ch Designer to advance to Star Designer is to make a ch that surpasses masterwork in quality..."
That caused Professor Cavendish to pause her examination of the Phobos and turn around.
"That is not a topic that a Journeyman and a Senior should be concerned about." The older woman sternly said. "Since you are familiar with Senfovon's Ladder of Craftsmanship, I can speak a few words. What you heard is not correct, at least not entirely. It is not necessary for Master ch Designers to produce a grand work in order to advance. However, every ch designer who has done so has beco a Star Designer without fail. Does that satisfy your curiosity?"
"It does!" Gloriana happily replied! "Thank you for giving us hope. I have greater confidence in my ability to beco a Star Designer than before!"
Ves also beca profoundly impressed by what he heard.
Although he had no way to know for sure whether he could beco good enough to fabricate a grand work in his lifeti, he believed his chances were much greater than most ch designers!
The research benefits associated with grand chs must be enormous if it enabled Masters to advance on the spot!
One possible explanation was that their accumulation had grown massive enough for them to already qualify for advancent. A grand work was the icing on the cake and the culmination of a lot of hard work.
Another possible explanation was that the improbable creation of a grand ch provided critical data that could help with completing crucial theoretical fraworks. The grand work was the final piece of the puzzle that enabled a ch designer to complete his research.
Ves did not know which of these two possibilities were true. It could be that both of them were viable.
Whatever the case, Ves could do no wrong if he tried his best to make his own grand work one day.
Compared to his peers who were content with borrowing the services of masterwork ch designers, Ves would rather rely on himself and make sure he could always satisfy his material requirents!
This matter was even more crucial to Gloriana considering that her specialization revolved directly around high-quality chs.
"You are pursuing a difficult direction of research, Mada Gloriana." The MTA Senior remarked. "Our faction has always considered it to be more difficult to master the skill of fabricating masterwork chs by primarily leaning on excellence in physical craftsmanship. If you are able to progress your design philosophy and succeed in your research, then you will most likely beco one of the most desirable ch designers that other Masters wish to collaborate with. This is because you can beco a fantastic enabler of other excellent ch designers, your husband chief among them. Not all Star Designers have attained their ranks purely by relying on their own rits. The help they received from other ch designers has also made a difference."
The biographies of many Star Designers indeed ntioned that they received a lot of assistance from other Master ch Designers.
The problem was that the biographies usually only centered on a single protagonist. The 'side characters' ot those real accounts rarely managed to beco Star Designers themselves!
Therefore, it was not enough to beco a desirable collaborator. Gloriana still needed to progress her own design philosophy by completing her own difficult research projects.
"What about myself?" Ves asked. "I have always thought that my design philosophy can turn into a more desirable collaboration partner as well. Much of my work does not depend on any rare or expensive materials. I can easily make a ch more effective without increasing its production cost."
"That is a prized advantage in the developnt of mass production chs." The ch Supremacist said in appreciation. "However, your advantage is less pronounced in the design of high-end chs. The clients and custors of such products are willing to spend imnse sums to obtain the most powerful chs."
"I see."
"If you are able to deliver more chs that possess the sa set of features of your Phobos, then you may be able to increase your desirability. It all cos down to competition, Mr. Larkinson."
That was fair.
An hour went by as Professor Cavendish explored many different facets of the newly fabricated expert stealth ch.
The chers eventually had to wrap up their work. They were busy people and they had many other responsibilities.
"You must be eager to hear our verdict." The older woman smiled at Ves and Gloriana. "I am happy to say that despite the fact that your latest masterwork is an expert ch that cannot be transferred to our Association, it has presented us with a greater amount of new data that has substantial research value. The differences between the Mars and the Phobos are so great that it is clear that you have made real progress, Mr. Larkinson. You deserved most of the credit this ti. Here is the exact award distribution."
Professor Gina Cavendish projected a small list that imdiately made it clear how many MTA rits she awarded this ti.
[Ves Larkinson: 3,000,000 MTA rits
Gloriana Wodin-Larkinson: 250,000 MTA rits
Miles Tovar-Larkinson: 50,000 MTA rits
Cormaunt Hempkamp-Larkinson: 50,000 MTA rits
Master Benedict Cortez: 250,000 MTA rits]
"Only 250,000 MTA rits?! I deserve more than that!"
Cavendish remained unmoved. "You have certainly contributed to the formation of a new masterwork ch, but it is undeniable that your husband has been the main driving force behind the current state of the Phobos."
While Ves was more than happy to receive 3 million MTA rits which he could use to offset his wife's prized cranial implant, he felt a little sorry for his other two collaborators.
"Miles Tovar and Cormaunt Hempkamp may not have played a substantial role in this ch design project, but isn't 50,000 MTA rits a little too ager? They have learned a lot from this fabrication run."
"Our rit awards are based on contribution, not gains. What you say is true, but that is not how we operate, Mr. Larkinson. I am well within my rights to deny them these MTA rits. I have issued them anyway because I can justify the decision to grant masterwork certificates to your minor collaborators."
"Ah. I see. Thank you for the favor, professor."
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