Editing Coil (section)

===Tactics===
Coil is extremely careful, keeping track of everything that goes on, even going so far as to regularly have one timeline where he works through the night while sleeping in another just so he is kept aware of all possible developments.<ref>Coil held firmly to the philosophy that one couldn’t be too paranoid.  Every moment of every day was a delicate balancing act, anticipating any number of unseen threats from every possible angle, whether he was speaking with his subordinates or simply rising to meet the day.<br><br>In one reality, he was safely ensconced in his underground base, costumed, with no less than twenty armed soldiers between himself and the multiple sets of heavy metal doors.   He had spent his night reading, following the news and checking his stocks.  His location was known only to those who worked for him, individuals paid well enough that even if they did have reason to attack him, their ‘coworkers’ would have incentive to stop them.<br><br>Second reality:  He was waking up in an ordinary, slightly rundown home in the southwest end of the city.  He prepared and ate his breakfast, then stepped outside in his bathrobe to pick up the paper and the mail, pausing to wave to the neighbors as they led their two girls out of the house.  The flooding hadn’t affected their neighborhood as much as others, but the schools weren’t yet up and running, so the mother and father would be taking their girls to work with them for a short while.<br>[...]<br>“It’s morning, pet.  You know what questions I ask you.”<br><br>“It’s morning?” she asked, head rising.  “I feel like I just had dinner.  Candy?”<br><br>“No, pet.  It’s too early.  Now please answer my question.”<br><br>Petulant, she replied, “Zero point two five two percent chance there’s any problems here in the next hour.  Three point seven four four one percent chance there’s any problems before lunchtime.”<br><br>“Good girl,” he spoke.<br><br>With that, he collapsed that world where he had stayed up all night, studying the news, following international business trends, tracking the details on his troops’ most minor operations – he helped ensure the success of the major ones with his power.  The reality swiftly faded, leaving only the world where he had a full night’s sleep, ate a hearty breakfast, drove to the base with Creep.  Only the memories and knowledge remained. - [https://parahumans.wordpress.com/2012/03/31/interlude-8/ Excerpt] from [[Interlude 8.z]]</ref> This allows him to maintain and increase his knowledge base while remaining physically healthy. Using this, he is able to come up with and execute an extensive list of contingencies, reinforcing his base of operations against possible external and internal threats, keeping his identity secret, and executing plans that go off without a hitch. On top of all this, he keeps information about his power under wraps, preventing his adversaries from planning around it.<ref>Universe one: I, Coil, notice Taylor and nod.  Taylor flips the coin, reveals it.<br><br>Universe two: I Coil, pretend not to notice Taylor.  I speak to Grue.  "It's a question of power.  I can manipulate events, I ''have'' manipulated events for your benefit, and I have a wealth of resources at my disposal..."<br><br>Stop as soon as the coin is revealed.  If Taylor's coin landed heads, go with that universe.  If it didn't, then...<br><br>Universe 1: Notice Taylor, "Oh, yes, go ahead."  She flips and reveals coin.<br><br>Universe 2: Keep talking. - [https://redd.it/2e3jdx/ Wildbow on Coil and the coins]</ref><ref>Step 1: Flip a coin for person A.<br><br>> Results don’t matter.  If Heads, that’s preferable, but if both are Tails, then go with that reality.  Replace every instance of ‘heads’ below with ‘tails’ and vice versa.<br><br>Step 2: Flip coin for Person B.<br><br>> Reality 1, flip.  If heads, move to Step 3.<br><br>> Reality 2, prevaricate, talk about chance, fate, and destiny, delay in handing out the coin, or just double check that the person in question is ready to take the coin.  Repeat step 2 (flip in one reality, prevaricate in another).<br><br>Steps 3-5, same as step 2.<br><br>You really only need 4 results for the 5 Undersiders because step 1 doesn’t matter.  You’re not flipping in both realities, you’re flipping in one and delaying a moment in another.<br><br>Step 6 is trickier, because Taylor flips a coin of her own, but it’s highly unlikely that she would have gone ahead and flipped while he was talking.  I imagine Coil making a decision where he tells her to stop, to wait, and move slowly – he might have hired them but he doesn’t trust her not to draw a weapon. - [https://parahumans.wordpress.com/2012/03/31/interlude-8/#comment-74254 Interlude 8 Comment] by Wildbow in [[Interlude 8.z]]</ref>

With careful usage of his power and extensive manipulation, Coil became one of the most powerful supervillains in Brockton Bay, eventually taking over the entire city with the help of his subordinates. Throughout his career, he employed a variety of supervillain teams and independent supervillains, including the [[Undersiders]], the [[Travelers]], [[Über and Leet]], [[Circus]], [[Chariot]], and [[Trainwreck]]. In addition, he could hire [[Faultline's Crew]] or even mercenary capes from [[Boston]] and [[New York]] as needed.<ref name="R3" /> He was also the head of a large unpowered mercenary force that he outfitted with top-of-the-line gear, including tinkertech rifles.

He was in the habit of torturing people for information in alternate realities.<ref>“I didn’t ''do'' anything.  He was the one who turned on us first,” I protested.<br><br>I sensed Trickster turn Calvert’s way.<br><br>Calvert sighed audibly.  “As Skitter knows about my power and ever so kindly revealed the broad strokes of it to everyone in earshot, I suppose there’s no loss in explaining.  I tortured one member of the Undersiders for information, in another world, days ago.  They revealed that you were plotting to turn on me if I refused to release Dinah.  I cannot afford to release her, so my hand was forced.”<br><br>“So it’s ''our'' fault?” Imp asked.<br><br>“Ultimately, yes.” - [https://parahumans.wordpress.com/2013/01/05 Excerpt] from [[Monarch 16.13]]</ref><ref>
:'''Peanuckle:''' Even though Coil admits to torturing members of the Undersiders. I wonder if he tortured Lisa, but she toughed through it? More likely he grabbed Taylor or Brian since they're closer to the issue.<br><br>
'''Wildbow:''' Why not all of them?<br>This would be why you compartmentalize the plan to take down the reality-splitting overlord. Talk it out, give everyone the key points, but don't tell Brian what Tattletale is doing, exactly.<br>Aside: I imagine if Tattletale got tortured in a Coil reality, she'd know it was a Coil reality and adjust accordingly. - [https://forums.sufficientvelocity.com/posts/3136604 Wildbow on Space battles]</ref> 
====The Plan====
Coil's plan to take over Brockton Bay was a long time coming and involved numerous plans and steps. He would have been able to adapt it had different circumstances arisen.<ref name="RWI2">[https://www.reddit.com/r/Parahumans/comments/6nurxq/what_would_have_happened_if_panacea/ Speculation by Wildbow on Reddit]</ref>