Tarot Card Social Link Meme

(or for anyone that wants to do it really)

So I can really blame Persona for this now. :> A few people got interested in my tarot S.Links (totally not stolen from Persona NOPE), and wanted a sort of meme for this.

Here's a brief rundown about this.

The Major Arcana is a tarot deck that contains twenty-two cards. The Major Arcana is used as a method to bettering one's self, contradictory to the infamous 'future-telling' fate it has been given. The Major Arcana, more than anything, is a matter of representing a journey from start to completion with one's self, be it of good or bad fortune. Sometimes you stop at a particular exit and branch off on the wrong path. Sometimes you stop all together. But those 'Fools' that set out and can get past all of the issues set forth by the World will know it in happiness.

Each card has a particular meaning. The Fool is the start of adventure, so it can be applied to most newbies. The Magician is a card of knowledge, magic and foresight, the birth of ideas for this adventure. The list goes on and Arcana can be handled in many many fashions, which is probably why fortune telling can be done with the cards supposedly.

Here's the full list and some keywords to keep in mind.

0. The Fool- Risk, Innocence, A Departure, A New Path (Uranus)
I. The Magician- Adventure, New Projects, Energy, Creativity, Beginnings (Mercury)
II. The High Priestess- Wisdom, Femininity, Intuition, The past, Secrets, Spirituality (The Moon)
III. The Empress- Fertility, Mother-Hood, Affection, A Secure Relationship, Beauty (Venus)
IV. The Emperor- Fatherhood, Action, Relationships, Authority, Guidance (Aries)
V. The Hierophant- Wisdom, Practical Knowledge, Divinity, Guidance, Progress (Taurus)
VI. The Lovers- Decisions, Love, Growth, Maturity (Gemini)
VII. The Chariot- Journey, Determination, Self-Control, Departure (Cancer)
VIII. Justice- Law, Resolution, Balance (Libra)
IX. The Hermit- Withdrawal, Inner Knowledge, Isolation, Self-Discovery (Virgo)
X. The Wheel of Fortune- Luck, Fate, Joy, Change (Jupiter)
XI. Strength- Patience, Courage, Confidence, Risk (Leo)
XII. The Hanged Man- Waiting, Salvation, a Change of Perspective (Neptune)
XIII. Death- Change, Endings and Beginnings, Resolution, Reflection (Scorpio)
XIV. Temperance- Balance, Hope, Reconciliation, Transformation (Sagittarius)
XV. The Devil- Temptation, Enslavement, Addiction (Capricorn)
XVI. The Tower- Disaster, Sudden Endings, Egotism (Mars)
XVII. The Star- Inspiration, Guidance, Creativity, The Past, Rewards, Happiness (Aquarius)
XVIII. The Moon- Illusion, Psychic-Awakening, Decisions, Crisis of Faith (the Moon)
XIX. The Sun- Success, Recuperation, Play, Happiness, Vitality, Growth (the Sun)
XX. Judgment- Self-Judgment, Renewal, Truth, Forgiveness, The Past (Pluto)
XXI. The World- Celebrations, Completion, Success, Reward (Saturn)


A good look at the cards will reveal a lot of symbolism. It's best to look into each card's meaning on your own, or interpret it for yourself as you see fit. Because I am no card reader. Keep in mind each card also has a 'reverse' reading. When upside down the cards may mean something different.

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SO WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH SYMPHORIA?!

It doesn't even HAVE to be directly related to Symphoria, either. (I used Cratesh'ya for the example because I don't have any good Breaker art. orz) You can use this for yourself. :3 But if you want to do it for Symphoria, here's what you do:

-Select a spread. I've included three spread documents in with the zip file here. Spreads are also known as readings. Each one has their own specific method of bettering a person, whether it's a simple 3 card 'past present future' reading or the more complex Celtic Cross which will really outline the issues. Or you could just do one card if you see it fit. That works too. Keep in mind I did NOT design any card backs, so if you want to do something of that like that's up to you to do.
-Select the character related to the card of choice. For example, Breaker's Magician social link is with Sonata. So I would draw her bestowing the many things that the Magician normally bestows onto the traveller in the image.
-Draw them. Add symbolism as desired. Try to show interaction!
-Select your card, add in your image behind it, add in the Roman Numeral corresponding to the card as well as the card name, and add in pretty gem things or the Symphoria symbols (or your own symbols!) if desired.
-Post it up and what it means for those that aren't good with subtleties like me!

The included files are MEGA large, but that's for a reason! These are ACTUAL TAROT CARDS. That means if you finish a set, you can actually USE them to your liking! So if you don't want to have them be JUST Symphoria related, they don't have to be. :3

You may use these for your personal likes and the like, but I would like credit at the least >.> And no selling these decks either. Personal use mmmkay?

Those looking to edit the frames: I'm sorry, but I have it all on one layer. orz Try making it your way!

I've made sure to include one of each color set for each division-Allegretto, Crescendo, Diminuendo, and Staccato. I tried making them look as pretty and rustic as possible to fit Symphoria times, so hopefully you'll find one that you like. You don't necessarily have to use your division's color, as I find the golden tarot to be the most pretty of them. (You could always make like a pimp and abuse the Hue slider too LOL.)

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Social Linking.

Social link is the act of bonding with a character, be it over friendship, rivalry or love. Social links can also represent a certain story arc, such as finding out the dark dark background of a character or a crazy arc of defending the country. Social linking can have as many steps as you want. But keep in mind that these links bond over time. I typically use 10 potential links because that's totally what Persona 4 does as this will allow for a good bit of leniency.

So when your character full-on meets someone, consider that a social link step being formed.

_{I am you...you are me...}

Now what? You mess around with the characters. Create sub-arcs with them. Have fun. For positive action as you see it fit, add a star, but as time goes on the time they spend together should lengthen longer and longer between each s.link.

Now here comes the fun part: Reverse and Broken links.

Reverse and Broken links refer to social links that have, for whatever reason, gone off the path of betterment caused by something like a falling out or someone dying close to one of the characters and the other is insensitive to it. Broken is bad S.Links of heartbreak, disease and/or betrayal, whereas Reverse means the character actually is reverting back to an older version of themselves before they were bettered by your character. Examples:

Broken: Sonata loves Breaker, but she catches him saying 'I love you' to another woman. Sonata suffers from heartbreak, and as she distances herself from him, the link goes to Broken and refuses to move up until Breaker talks things out with her.

Reverse: Breaker is on the road to being a recovering alcoholic and womanizer when Carbon comes in and taunts him about something scarring and defeats him in battle. Breaker is so overwhelmed that his rival beat him that he reverts back to drinking a lot, and so his Temperance s.Link (showing that he is on the right road to dealing with his problems) will go in reverse. And the numbers will drop unless someone can snap him out of it, in which case it will start moving up again.

It's pretty confusing, but the more you mess around with it, the funner it becomes!

WHEN YOU REACH THE MAX, YOU CANNOT BREAK A RELATIONSHIP NOR CAN YOU REVERSE IT. You have created a bond that can go no further in that area. IE Breaker maxes out Temperance link, he will give up drinking his sorrows away and settle down with someone. Make sure that your love is true for that person as well, else...

Shattered Deck.

Shattered deck happens when two loves are maxed out and find out about it in RP somehow. They will BOTH leave your character and their social links will disappear completely. SO WOMANIZE AT YOUR OWN RISK.

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So hopefully all of you will have fun with S.Linking your characters, developing them, and making tarot readings for them! I've always kinda wanted to construct a tarot deck so you will definitely see some cards coming from me later. :3

So like I said, just do one card to represent your character, do a few to represent a specific arc, or do the entire deck! Either way, have endless fun. Maybe good will and fun in tarot readings will help make you feel like you've bettered yourself.

Also if I hear one religious comment about how tarot cards are the devil or whatnot I WILL PUNT YOU TO THE MOON FOR BEING A PARTY POOPER. EVEN BETTER YET I WILL SEND PISSED CARBON ON YOUR ASS. YEEEEEP. THIS IS FOR FUN. RELAX. I DON'T WANT TO HEAR YOUR RELIGIOUS TRIFLES. NO ONE DOES.

...mega points for plz? Also I totally call dibs on whatever tarot cards are done as points for Crescendo too plz.