Arc Number: Difference between revisions

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Compare [[Numerological Motif]], which is about the way numbers are used across multiple works. A good indication that a number is an [[Arc Number]] is that it gets used in [[Numerological Motif|Numerological Motifs]] that are associated with ''other'' numbers -- so in a fantasy world whose arc number is twelve, there might be twelve deadly sins, twelve levels of hell, and an ice cream chain that sells twelve flavors at a time. Also, a sufficiently influential work may be the [[Trope Maker]] for a [[Numerological Motif]] involving its [[Arc Number]].
Compare [[Numerological Motif]], which is about the way numbers are used across multiple works. A good indication that a number is an [[Arc Number]] is that it gets used in [[Numerological Motif|Numerological Motifs]] that are associated with ''other'' numbers -- so in a fantasy world whose arc number is twelve, there might be twelve deadly sins, twelve levels of hell, and an ice cream chain that sells twelve flavors at a time. Also, a sufficiently influential work may be the [[Trope Maker]] for a [[Numerological Motif]] involving its [[Arc Number]].


{{examples|Examples:}}
{{examples}}


== Anime & Manga ==
== Anime & Manga ==
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* [[JJ Abrams]] and his writers apparently tried their hardest to get the number 47 to appear in ''every single episode of'' ''[[Alias (TV)|Alias]]''.
* [[JJ Abrams]] and his writers apparently tried their hardest to get the number 47 to appear in ''every single episode of'' ''[[Alias (TV)|Alias]]''.
* Abrams does the same thing with ''{{Fringe.
* Abrams does the same thing with ''{{Fringe.
* ''[[Lost (TV)|Lost]]'' has six [[Arc Number|Arc Numbers]]: 4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42, which recur both individually and together. As well as [[One Hundred and Eight|108]], the sum of the other numbers.
* ''[[Lost (TV)|Lost]]'' has six [[Arc Number|Arc Numbers]]: 4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42, which recur both individually and together. As well as [[108]], the sum of the other numbers.
* On that note, ''[[Heroes (TV)|Heroes]]'' has the number 9. We still don't know why it's relevant, but it was on a bus that Isaac painted. It was also Maury's apartment number in Volume 2.
* On that note, ''[[Heroes (TV)|Heroes]]'' has the number 9. We still don't know why it's relevant, but it was on a bus that Isaac painted. It was also Maury's apartment number in Volume 2.
* The number 12 on the new ''[[Battlestar Galactica Reimagined (TV)|Battlestar Galactica]]'' appears quite often. The number 13 also appears with nearly as much frequency. Usually the thirteenth member of a group is somewhat different than their twelve predecessors and usually [[Thirteen Is Unlucky|meets an unfortunate end]]. There's also 33, which is central to the mythology of the first episode then never turns up again in any significant way. Why? [[Shrug of God|Because even Ron Moore doesn't give a shit]], [http://en.battlestarwiki.org/wiki/Numerology#33 that's why].
* The number 12 on the new ''[[Battlestar Galactica Reimagined (TV)|Battlestar Galactica]]'' appears quite often. The number 13 also appears with nearly as much frequency. Usually the thirteenth member of a group is somewhat different than their twelve predecessors and usually [[Thirteen Is Unlucky|meets an unfortunate end]]. There's also 33, which is central to the mythology of the first episode then never turns up again in any significant way. Why? [[Shrug of God|Because even Ron Moore doesn't give a shit]], [http://en.battlestarwiki.org/wiki/Numerology#33 that's why].
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== Video Games ==
== Video Games ==
* [[Square Enix]] ''loves'' doing this. Most of their games have multiple Arc Numbers, but the [[Trope Codifier]] for [[Video Games]] has to be ''[[Final Fantasy (Franchise)|Final Fantasy]]''. [[Strictly Formula|If the number is in the title of the game]], it is most likely an [[Arc Number]].
* [[Square Enix]] ''loves'' doing this. Most of their games have multiple Arc Numbers, but the [[Trope Codifier]] for [[Video Games]] has to be ''[[Final Fantasy (Franchise)|Final Fantasy]]''. [[Strictly Formula|If the number is in the title of the game]], it is most likely an [[Arc Number]].
** ''[[Final Fantasy (Franchise)|Final Fantasy]]'': There is ''[[Final Fantasy IV (Video Game)|Final Fantasy IV]]'' (and [[Final Fantasy IV the After Years (Video Game)|its sequel]]), ''[[Final Fantasy VII (Video Game)|Final Fantasy VII]]'' (including the ''Compilation''), ''[[Final Fantasy X (Video Game)|Final Fantasy X]]'', ''[[Final Fantasy XIII (Video Game)|Final Fantasy XIII]]'', ''[[Dissidia Final Fantasy (Video Game)|Dissidia]]'', and possibly more. Interestingly, the number II is mentioned enough on [[This Very Wiki]] and the ''[[Final Fantasy (Franchise)|Final Fantasy]]'' pages to make it an [[Arc Number]] (for example, VII has II in it, ''[[Final Fantasy VIII (Video Game)|Final Fantasy VIII]]'''s page mentions II as an influence, and XII's page is a [[Self Demonstrating Article|combination of the two]]).
** ''[[Final Fantasy (Franchise)|Final Fantasy]]'': There is ''[[Final Fantasy IV (Video Game)|Final Fantasy IV]]'' (and [[Final Fantasy IV the After Years (Video Game)|its sequel]]), ''[[Final Fantasy VII (Video Game)|Final Fantasy VII]]'' (including the ''Compilation''), ''[[Final Fantasy X (Video Game)|Final Fantasy X]]'', ''[[Final Fantasy XIII (Video Game)|Final Fantasy XIII]]'', ''[[Dissidia Final Fantasy (Video Game)|Dissidia]]'', and possibly more. Interestingly, the number II is mentioned enough on [[This Very Wiki]] and the ''[[Final Fantasy (Franchise)|Final Fantasy]]'' pages to make it an [[Arc Number]] (for example, VII has II in it, ''[[Final Fantasy VIII (Video Game)|Final Fantasy VIII]]'''s page mentions II as an influence, and XII's page is a [[Self-Demonstrating Article|combination of the two]]).
** ''[[The World Ends With You (Video Game)|The World Ends With You]]'' repeats the number seven--each game lasts a week (seven days), there's a character named 777, when Joshua says Makoto has done a 180, Neku corrects that to seven times 180.
** ''[[The World Ends With You (Video Game)|The World Ends With You]]'' repeats the number seven--each game lasts a week (seven days), there's a character named 777, when Joshua says Makoto has done a 180, Neku corrects that to seven times 180.
*** And then we have [[Four Is Death|four]] shown blatantly throughout the game. You have four major bosses, four locations to fight those bosses, four controllable characters....the list goes on. [[Fridge Brilliance|It's even in]] [[Fridge Brilliance|''Shi''buya]] and ''[[Lost in Translation|the original Japanese title itself]].''
*** And then we have [[Four Is Death|four]] shown blatantly throughout the game. You have four major bosses, four locations to fight those bosses, four controllable characters....the list goes on. [[Fridge Brilliance|It's even in]] [[Fridge Brilliance|''Shi''buya]] and ''[[Lost in Translation|the original Japanese title itself]].''
** The ''[[Kingdom Hearts]]'' series tends to make heavy use of the numbers 3, 7, and 13, though the first two are played more subtly.
** The ''[[Kingdom Hearts]]'' series tends to make heavy use of the numbers 3, 7, and 13, though the first two are played more subtly.
*** A more subtle one: Xemnas, the final boss of ''[[Kingdom Hearts II (Video Game)|Kingdom Hearts II]]'', is the number 1 of the Organization; Marluxia, from Chain of Memories, is number 11 - ''double one''. {{spoiler|The final boss in ''358/2 Days'' is no.''i''...an imaginary number whose algebric square is '''''-1'''''.}}
*** A more subtle one: Xemnas, the final boss of ''[[Kingdom Hearts II (Video Game)|Kingdom Hearts II]]'', is the number 1 of the Organization; Marluxia, from Chain of Memories, is number 11 - ''double one''. {{spoiler|The final boss in ''358/2 Days'' is no.''i''...an imaginary number whose algebric square is '''''-1'''''.}}
*** They managed to get ''[[Up to Eleven|two]]'' arc numbers into the recipe for [[Infinity Plus One Sword|Ultima Weapon]] in KH2. Without the mandatory Energy Crystal (which cuts crafting requirements in half), it requires 13 pieces of Orichalcum+ to forge (which is more than the amount that exists in the game). With the Energy Crystal, though, the game rounds up to 7.
*** They managed to get ''[[Up to Eleven|two]]'' arc numbers into the recipe for [[Infinity+1 Sword|Ultima Weapon]] in KH2. Without the mandatory Energy Crystal (which cuts crafting requirements in half), it requires 13 pieces of Orichalcum+ to forge (which is more than the amount that exists in the game). With the Energy Crystal, though, the game rounds up to 7.
* ''[[Myst|Riven]]'' is all in units of 5.
* ''[[Myst|Riven]]'' is all in units of 5.
** The D'ni culture (which you first get glimpses of in ''Riven'', and pick up through every other game and novel) has a base 25 numbering system. The little toy in the classroom in ''Riven'' does a good job of showing you the basics; it uses only four symbols plus a zero (the '5' is just the '1' turned on its side, and a '6' is a '5' with a '1', and so on). The only tricky part is numbers with more than one digit: while they arrange things in fives, their numbers go up to '''25''' (five times five) before you see another character.
** The D'ni culture (which you first get glimpses of in ''Riven'', and pick up through every other game and novel) has a base 25 numbering system. The little toy in the classroom in ''Riven'' does a good job of showing you the basics; it uses only four symbols plus a zero (the '5' is just the '1' turned on its side, and a '6' is a '5' with a '1', and so on). The only tricky part is numbers with more than one digit: while they arrange things in fives, their numbers go up to '''25''' (five times five) before you see another character.
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* ''[[Grand Theft Auto]]'' has 69 popping around in many places, from the number of a fire truck to a military base.
* ''[[Grand Theft Auto]]'' has 69 popping around in many places, from the number of a fire truck to a military base.
* In ''[[Oktober]]'', 636 seems to crop up a lot. None of the characters seem to know what it means; however, due to their extreme [[Genre Savvy]], they've learned to note its importance.
* In ''[[Oktober]]'', 636 seems to crop up a lot. None of the characters seem to know what it means; however, due to their extreme [[Genre Savvy]], they've learned to note its importance.
* 11 in ''[[Billy vs. SNAKEMAN]]''. For instance, the game's webmaster and creator goes by the name of the "[[Eleventy Zillion|Eleventy Billionth]] Hokage", and multiples of 11 are frequently used in bonus multipliers and some of the mini-games ("Over 11,000", anyone?)
* 11 in ''[[Billy vs. SNAKEMAN]]''. For instance, the game's webmaster and creator goes by the name of the "[[Eleventy-Zillion|Eleventy Billionth]] Hokage", and multiples of 11 are frequently used in bonus multipliers and some of the mini-games ("Over 11,000", anyone?)
* ''[[Hellsinker]]'' has 771.
* ''[[Hellsinker]]'' has 771.
* 8492 in ''[[Ace Combat 5 The Unsung War]]''. Towards the end of the game, it is revealed to be the {{spoiler|the callsign of the Belkan aggressor squadron, which doesn't officially exist but acts as a shadowy nemesis of the Wardogs/Razgriz}}.
* 8492 in ''[[Ace Combat 5 The Unsung War]]''. Towards the end of the game, it is revealed to be the {{spoiler|the callsign of the Belkan aggressor squadron, which doesn't officially exist but acts as a shadowy nemesis of the Wardogs/Razgriz}}.
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** The plot before the core arcs questioned the existence of a 19th person, the events of the series were built up for 19 years, and the core arcs themselves revealed that {{spoiler|the true culprit's age is 19}}. Lampshaded and invoked by Furfur and Zepar in Episode 6 in the fantasy duel, where the duelists are asked to walk 19 steps away from one another.
** The plot before the core arcs questioned the existence of a 19th person, the events of the series were built up for 19 years, and the core arcs themselves revealed that {{spoiler|the true culprit's age is 19}}. Lampshaded and invoked by Furfur and Zepar in Episode 6 in the fantasy duel, where the duelists are asked to walk 19 steps away from one another.
** 07151129 was scrawled on the walls in Episode 3. It's also [[Gratuitous German|repeated ominously]] in [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgMHG2jWxTo a song on the VN soundtrack].{{spoiler|It's the code to a safe, specifically, the code to the "Golden Land" which contains the liquidated gold from the island.}}
** 07151129 was scrawled on the walls in Episode 3. It's also [[Gratuitous German|repeated ominously]] in [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgMHG2jWxTo a song on the VN soundtrack].{{spoiler|It's the code to a safe, specifically, the code to the "Golden Land" which contains the liquidated gold from the island.}}
*** More than that, {{spoiler|July 15th is Battler's birthday, and the 29th of November is the day "Yasu" solved the epitaph and became 'Beatrice'. Thus it is the combined birthdays of a [[Star Crossed Lovers|pair of lovers]].}}
*** More than that, {{spoiler|July 15th is Battler's birthday, and the 29th of November is the day "Yasu" solved the epitaph and became 'Beatrice'. Thus it is the combined birthdays of a [[Star-Crossed Lovers|pair of lovers]].}}
** For the ''[[When They Cry (Visual Novel)|When They Cry]]'' universe, we have 34. [[Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni (Visual Novel)|Miyo's name]] (as well as Lambdadelta's), can be read as 34, and the controversial file in Higurashi was called File No. 34. Less related is the fact that Shannon's real name can be read as 34.
** For the ''[[When They Cry (Visual Novel)|When They Cry]]'' universe, we have 34. [[Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni (Visual Novel)|Miyo's name]] (as well as Lambdadelta's), can be read as 34, and the controversial file in Higurashi was called File No. 34. Less related is the fact that Shannon's real name can be read as 34.
* The number 17 pops up a lot in ''[[Ever 17 (Visual Novel)|Ever 17]]''. And if it isn't 17, it's somehow divisible by 17.
* The number 17 pops up a lot in ''[[Ever 17 (Visual Novel)|Ever 17]]''. And if it isn't 17, it's somehow divisible by 17.
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