Editing Coil (section)

=== Power ===
From his perspective, Coil's power grants him the ability to 'split' the world into two timelines. He is then able to do whatever he likes in either timeline, collapsing the timeline that is least ideal and keeping the timeline that he wants.<ref name="I8xe1">He canceled the reality where he stood at his pet’s bedside, found himself still at the computer. Best to leave the world where his pet wasn’t so tired, in case he wanted to ask more questions that morning. <br> <br>The worlds he created weren’t real. They were little more than an especially vivid, accurate dream. To enjoy a whole separate world, free of any consequences beyond the ones he wanted? It would be unreasonable if he didn’t indulge in it. Anyone would, given the chance. - [https://parahumans.wordpress.com/2012/03/31/interlude-8/ Excerpt] from [[Interlude 8.z]]</ref> In actuality, his power isn't one that creates multiple timelines, but is instead a powerful form of precognition.<ref name="SB1">Coil's power doesn't create universes. It's essentially precognition in the present, purely thought based. - [https://forums.spacebattles.com/posts/12848625 Wildbow on spacebattles]</ref> His power simulates the two possible timelines Coil would go through in vivid detail, then predicts which timeline Coil will choose to keep. Coil's power then "autopilots" him through the actions he takes in the timeline that he chooses, lasting until the end of the timeline, at which point he can use his power again.<ref name="R1.2">Think of it more like when he chooses a future to follow, his thoughts/actions automatically follow that script until it's done, and then he can think freely again. - [https://redd.it/2e3jdx Comment by Wildbow] on Reddit </ref>

In practice, Coil's power allows him to first attempt two different courses of action, then pick the timeline he wants to keep while retaining all knowledge from the other timeline. In this way, he was able to test his plans in different permutations before acting upon them, allowing him to make the most informed decision that he could. This was, however, limited by the fact that time still moved forward in his timelines, preventing him from simply simulating the entire day ahead of time and proceeding from there. No matter what, Coil is forced to pick one of his timelines.<ref name="16.7c1">Here’s the thing about Coil’s power – he doesn’t control time in the worlds. Regardless of what he does, time passes in each reality. <br> <br>So he couldn’t ‘play out the day’ to see if his plan would succeed and then go ahead & do it. He could simulate something close to it by rescheduling the debate and/or doing this at some other major event, then canceling the reality. <br> <br>He could also attend the debate in one reality and stay home with his personal army in the other. If it doesn’t work out in the reality where he attends, he cancels it out and effectively never went. - [https://parahumans.wordpress.com/2012/03/31/interlude-8/#comment-1531 Comment by Wildbow] on [[Interlude 8.z]]</ref><ref>[[Monarch 16.7]]</ref>

[[Tattletale]] could not determine if his power worked via actual timeline creation or simulations.<ref>He often wondered if he really was creating the realities, or if it was solely in his perception, foretelling futures to the extent that they hinged on his actions.  He’d asked his Tattletale, and she hadn’t had an answer for him. - [https://parahumans.wordpress.com/2012/03/31/interlude-8/ Excerpt] from [[Interlude 8.z]]</ref> Despite her knowing about his power, Coil managed to trick her into thinking he was planning to assassinate [[Taylor]]<ref>“Fuck,” Tattletale swore under her breath.  “I was trying to signal you to say no to Coil’s request, but you weren’t looking at the right moments and I couldn’t exactly tip anyone off.  I’m ''positive'' he’s asking you to go on that errand with Genesis and Trickster because he’s planning on eliminating you.”<br><br>I felt Grue’s hand squeeze my shoulder.  He’d gone rigid, as if he was more spooked than I was.<br><br>“And of course, he knows ''I'' know.  So this is a loyalty test, I’m betting.  If you don’t go, I flunk.” - [[Colony 15.4]]</ref><ref>“The second thing?  About the possible murder attempt?”  She asked.<br><br>“Just a little worried about that.”<br><br>“He only decided it as recently as this morning, so anything he’s set up is going to happen later.”<br><br>“And you don’t know how he’s going to approach this, or what he’ll do?”<br><br>She shook her head.  “All I know is that Coil’s intending for it to happen tonight, probably related to your job with the mayor.”<br><br>“And you’re positive on this?”<br><br>“It’s one of those things where everything clicks into place perfectly if we acknowledge this one fact: he wants to kill you.  For example, he has more reasons to send Imp than to send Trickster.” - [[Colony 15.5]]</ref> during the [[Intimidating the Mayor|job with the mayor]].<ref>“Are you still there?  At the mayor’s place?”<br><br>“No.  Just left.”<br><br>There was a pause.<br><br>“That doesn’t make sense,” she told me.<br><br>“What doesn’t?”<br><br>“We’re clear to talk, no bugs, I’m ninety-nine percent sure.  So listen, if Coil wanted to assassinate you, that’d be his chance.  Once you leave the mayor’s property, that’s it.  He doesn’t know where you’re going.”<br><br>“Trickster got hurt,” I told her.  “Maybe he was supposed to do it?”<br><br>“Maybe,” she admitted, “But that still feels wrong.  Why wouldn’t Coil have a backup plan?”<br><br>“Or maybe Dinah’s power is working, and he’s got some bigger plan in mind?”<br><br>“I’m at his base right now.  It doesn’t fit with his movements.  He’s not really visiting her.” - [[Colony 15.10]]</ref><ref>“Listen,” she said, “I’m going to try to find out more.  I’ll call you back.”<br><br>“I don’t like that you’re there without backup.  You said he might want to get rid of you too.”<br><br>“I’ll know if he does.”<br><br>“Like you ''knew'' he’d try to kill me?”<br><br>Another pause.<br><br>“I’ll call you later,” she said.<br><br>The line went dead. - [[Colony 15.10]]</ref> He provided the wrong data and signals to her power by actively committing to the deed in one reality (i.e., the one he would not keep), and then emulating that reality near-perfectly in the reality that he would keep before changing his mind at the last minute.<ref>'''Elodes:''' 2. How does Coil manage to compehensively trump Tattletale's power when he makes her think he's planning on killing Taylor?<br><br>'''Wildbow:''' Have one universe where he actively commits to the deed, and one where he changes his mind last minute, but emulates the first universe near-perfectly, providing the wrong data and signals. - Comment by Wildbow on Reddit, archived on Spacebattles</ref><!-- https://forums.spacebattles.com/posts/93435861 -->