The Prophesy Business

* See also Comstock and Comstock_The_Prophet ? <<< this may be dup/overlap
* See also Lutece
* See also Tears
* See also Infinite_BS
* See also Quantum_Particles_Can_Do_Anything 
* See also Faux-Economy
WITH THE MAYHEM AND MASS DEATH (WHICH COULD HARDLY BE MISSED) AND THE ENDING OF HIS 'LIL FLYING CULT COMPOUND', WHY THE HELL DIDN'T COMSTOCK SEE *THAT* AS THE POSSIBLE FUTURE, WEIGH THE RISKS, AND SIMPLY SET OUT TO EXTERMINATE THE SERVILES/INFERIOR-RACES IN COLUMBIA ( OR JUST NOT HAVE THEM FROM THE START ) ?????
Apparently, Comstock's abilities to 'Look Into The Future' were quite limited, OR he was just too arrogant and stupid ( Note - the subsequent Moron Fontaine in BaS DLC ).
Hell - He might even have a counterpart Comstock in a thousand other dimensions contacting him and Warning Him about it. ( See - that's GOOD Sci-Fi usage of this bad fantasy Cosmology. )
Comstock could have Pressed 'Fink the Wonderman' to FIRST Make Automatons to do all the work ( get all the needed tech through Tears, which was supposed to be so easy to do ). Next, build the Automatons in that huge factory ( we saw could make all the other amazing things ). THEN get rid of all those unreliable workers ( leaving higher paid 'white' technicians to fix the Automatons ). NOW you produce ALL the shit we saw paraded by on those magical conveyor belts the Gamewriters made so visible.
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consolidate with Comstock_The_Prophet
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Prophesy and Profiting ... 
It is so easy to gamewriteGamewriting can be (and generally is) The Land of Feebs - as the game stories don't have to make sense as long as the game playing works. Of course for BioShock, which says a key element is STORY, it should NOT be some standard feebleness - but far better. such things when you don't consider much HOW it all would actually have to work. There ARE real complexities and limitations ... Numerous people are involved in 'prophesy' working, which brings in countless difficulties. Properly presenting HOW IT WOULD WORK takes a lot of intelligent effort to create a story where it is so important (as it is to Comstock). The Infinite BS writers just snap their fingers and say it is so, but connect it with ludicrous attached details which really demand a better handling of the idea.
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 'Prophesying' for CASH 
Comstock Backstory : GOING FROM Scalp-Taking Half-Injun TO Great Prophet - ( I doubt the writers thought a tenth about how badly their 'story' fits together - than I have done in a tiny way here. )
Consider : Comstock was a 'Conman', much like Fontaine was. 'Confidence game' - You have to find an 'Angle' and Get an 'IN' with the victims ( 'Marks' ) to learn enough about them to manipulate them to your advantage ( even just to learn if they are stupid enough, and have piles of money, to be worth 'Conning' ). Booker->Comstock suddenly achieves CONMAN competency in a year.
Comstock is seeking CASH, and later Influence ( and LATER with the Luteces as 'enablers', his ambitions and 'delusional madness' grows ). His hateful ideology also grows. ( Sorry Levine - NOT typical American, Exceptionalism or otherwise ).
Comstock has to use the 'Lutece Machine' to accomplish all this 'Prophesy'. SO - the Crossover with the Lutece backstory (timeline) is important, intermeshed together for a long time afterward. How Comstock originally got access with the Luteces - THAT is a whole separate problematic 'story' thing not explained.
NOTE - A General defect in the INFINITIZED fiction-fantasy game's story : The Timeline/'history'/backstory being too packed with too many 'things to get done', and forced into TOO LITTLE TIME : 1891-1892. Comstock's history is similarly unrealistic.
It takes time to finagle the Prophesy 'Mark(s) "The Mark" - A ConMans term for their Confidence Scheme's victims. ' ( and then another and another ) to become a 'big-time 'Prophet'. And Reputation can be lost in an instant.
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How This Prophesy Stuff HAS TO WORK :
Comstock must first learn to use the Machine - This machine must have 'easy to use' utility ( "Tear Prophesies for Dummies" type simplicity/capacity ). The "Machine" must first be made to work that easily/simply by the Luteces. 
BTW - At the start of the relevant Timeline, Comstock is 'a kid' - 16 years old ( Oops, 'Pinky-god' Elizabeth has drowned a teenager !!!! ... at the later story's "Baptism Revisited" ). Remember : the Machine is what makes him 'old', so he AIN'T Old at the start - So alot of "OLD PROPHET" gravitas just is not there. Comstock's youth would work against him, and 'confidence' is an important element of working any Scam. Another character as a 'front man' might have been useful there.
Comstock (16-19) hasn't lived enough in the World or Society to understand the 'ins and outs' he needs to manipulate. Even if he LOOKS old, his mind isn't. 
Now the Prophesying Starts :
* Someone to 'Prophesy' for - Find an audience and the kind of relevant event with the significance to WOW them so to gain 'Prophet' type acclaim. 
* There then is the actual tedious work to 'Search' for a specific Event that is appropriately Short-Term for the chosen 'Audience'. There really is NOT much time given (in the game's timeline) to FIND usable Big/Significant events ( in reality such take place infrequently ). 
* REQUIRED are Large-enough Events with OBVIOUS outcomes ( and NOT some outcome that is a 'forgone conclusion' - It rather needs to be something unexpected/exceptional ). 
* When one Prophetizable Event is found, "The Prophesy" would be Announced ( publicized/proclaimed so that people know about it ). NOTE - There IS the issue with a prophesy potentially effecting outcomes - So that's a narrower choice of Events to minimize that happening.
* Time must then 'go by' ( between the 'prophesy' and the foreseen outcome ) for the event to fully 'play out'. Most real events do not happen fast - SO THAT'S YET MORE TIME EATEN UP.
* The Events (as 'Prophesied') happen. IF Comstock 'botches it' ( easy to do with lack of skill of WHAT to choose ), he is labeled a baffoon/fake/charlatan . Getting a BAD Reputation - that can be HARD to undo ( 'Prophets' who are 'right' only part of the time are NOT really prophets ). FAIL, and change his name and start all over again.
* Publicity then must be generated to Make Clear that the Comstock successfully MADE 'Prophesy' which came true ( and deflecting the incredulity and reservations and doubts ).
* Acclaim - announcing that this Man is a "Prophet" ( True Visions of the Future, etc ... )
* "Profit" ... Take 'the Rubes' CASH ? Why would people pay ? ( SO Comstock lives out of flophouses for a Lonnnnnng Time ... )
* Move on to the NEXT "Prophesy" to build Reputation - Reputation is built on 'being right' consistently - again and again.
* RINSE AND REPEAT (MANY TIMES)
He needs to repeatedly demonstrate his miraculous ability to build his Reputation. Since Columbia has to be built during 1892, that leave 'TWO YEARS TOTAL for Comstock to accomplish all this.
Some of the selected Events, to bring the predicted results, may require action to shift the Future. Such action takes even more examining of possible futures. Such manipulations have to remain hidden. Such actions usually require resources and added complexity and potential failure. They also may bring risk if the actions are dangerous or possibly even criminal.
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This 'Prophesy' Act is NOT a trick you do before people in a 'Revival Tent' ( This kind of 'Con' takes alot of time and effort AND LUCK ).
There have to be Witnesses to both the Prediction(Prophesy), and of the Event happening and the Prophesy coming True - and then being able to GET the Acclamation ( that the prediction was correct ).
NOTE - Prediction Issues with "Infinite" Universes means : Attempting seeing the Future, 'BUT by seeing only a probability and multiple possibilities. How to pick the right outcome probability ? Remember, public failures in the 'Prophsyin Biz' can end your career pretty quick ( and wipe away accumulated 'followers'/Reputation/resources ). 
YES - the writers over and over ignored this Probability issue, which is central to a Quantum Multi-verse ( that whole Multiverse THEME, which the game story is supposed to be based on ). The reality is : THERE ARE NO CONSTANTS, only paths you might select and manipulate leading to happenings you desire.
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Comstock's Path :
FIRST - He has to 'make a living' ( He's out of the Army (Deserter ?) - and "Baptism" don't get you a job ... And he is 16-17 years old ... ( Skills - he knows how to scalp Indian corpses, but what else ? )
Comstock has to compete with far more experienced and clever 'Conmen' to even get noticed. ( Funny would be, inevitably, when someone ELSE takes credit for HIS 'Prophesy' that 'comes true' ... )
An Actual Bible Thumper - It takes years to actually study the Bible enough, so the the 'Well-Bible-Versed' 'Rubes' don't Call Shenanigans on faulty Bible subject matter ( Sorry no mention of Booker 'the half-injun/half-breed with a Bible' to preload this needed attribute in the story ). REAL Bible Thumping Skill takes time - Another thing that Religion-Idiot Self-Admitting Ignoramus Levine does NOT seem to indicate he understands. As usual, like so many others, Levine thinks/assumes religious people are idiots. The type of people he is talking about - THEY will be knowing 1000 X as much knowledge about the Bible than Levine will ever know/comprehend. (( The philistine Levine repeatedly shows he really does NOT know about America of that Time. ))
SECOND - The Lutece Machine must work. It must be able to 'Tear' into the Future - "Viewing" Timetravel. Comstock has to learn about it, and what might be done with it. 'Conning the Luteces' to get use of 'The Machine' ( assuming it works in any 'prophesy-useful' way, any time soon ). Remember, Comstock is a nobody with nothing to offer them ( He's some kid barely old enough to shave ) UNTIL he starts Prophesying, and be can't do THAT until he gets to use their 'Machine' a WHOLE lot - Chicken Before the Egg ( Similar to 'Levine BEFORE the Sychophant Game Reviewers' ). 
Even just Comstock's 'learning of' the Luteces so to somehow be introduced is a 'Longshot'. 'Religious Crackpot' probably does not go well with "Scientist with Inferiority Complex" Rosalind - Who would NOT want the infamy of being known 'to associate' with some 'Metaphysical Charlatan'. ( Comstock too would have to hide the opposite from HIS followers. ) Them running into each other on the 'Tent Revival Circuit' is highly unlikely. Rosalind and Robert are sitting fiddling with tons of expensive equipment ( Note - We get little detail how all that Lutece backstory came about. )
Comstock has to then inveigle himself into their work/confidence/cooperation. 'Scientist meets Religious Crank' - Unlikely combination for a Tea/Salon party. Public demonstrations of the Machine might be a possible story with Comstock witnessing, and 'the lightbulb going on' as he realizes 'seeing future events' might be an interesting tool. 
Of course the Machine is stuck there in Rosalind's house in some town/city (?), and bookers 'prophesy' career starts out in the hinterlands.
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Solution : Perhaps Rosalind/Robert are the originators of this 'Prophesy Scam' -- As they do need CASH themselves ( research/development costs money ), and perhaps THEY are the ones to 'search out' Comstock as their 'front man'. They would likely have greater ability working the Machine and modifying it for the 'prophesy' tasks.
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Politicos and Fame :
The games story claims Comstock convinced the US Congress to build Columbia.
Even to get IN to access 'Congress', there's some CASH involved in that action ( this thing called 'bribes' ) - Then there is any politician's risk of associating with a 'Carnival Trickster' - which Comstock would be labeled. There is the Cost of his even getting to Washington DC to talk to anyone.
Supposedly, Comstock had a 'Reputation' to get their notice ?? Really ? Someone with 'Fringe' behavior/reputation was something those 'Congress' people would 'avoid like the plague' ( Their political mainstay was conventional religious people ).
Mainstream voters have religion, and thus shy away from fortune tellers - something WELL condemned by so many Churches. (( I guess Levine 'Hasn't a Clue' about such being true ? ))
these 'Congress' Politicos would NOT even think about seeing some religious charlatan ( and they understand because may of THEM are well-versed in 'charlatanry' politically ). But Seriously, how many VOTES could such a caper bring to them ? ( Particularly if Comstock was likely a religious 'crank' already ) It is like IF : Kenny Levine wanted to go before Congress with a project to have a 'time machine' built with taxpayer money - based on 'I wrote a game about Timetravel ... This will work !!!" ( Imagine what the Twitter Nitwits would do with THIS ... ) YES IT IS JUST LIKE THAT. Wholesale Ignorance being Peddled to the Players. 
The Newspapers 'of those Times' (in America) would roundly denounce any/every appearance/hint of Fraud being involved - EVEN A BIGGER story when linked to BIG Politicians ... The Politicians political rivals certainly would.
So even more Time is now required to build up/cement a public 'Reputation' for Comstock. The more Fame, the more the Newspapermen would investigate/expose his past. ( Comstock can't have them killed like Fontaine might. )
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Comstock's 'Followers' are mutated into 'Southern Racist Reactionary' types ??? THAT Won't go over well in national 'political circles' - Nor that Cultism with many citizens being religious Fundamentalists - Nor with the Comstock-hated Catholics.
NOTE - Being a "half-injun" (even by hearsay) would make Comstock a 'Black' in any Racist's eyes ( SO, don't go to Texas Comstock ). Comstock has to bury his past thoroughly ( assuming Levine hasn't Retconned Booker into something else by now ).
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Making A Living - Making it Pay : 
And Comstock supposedly doing some Bible Thumping revival-tent meetings at the same time (tents cost money too).
Those 'Revial-going' people, who go to such things, haven't much money ( If Comstock is supposed to be funding the Luteces research ... )
I doubt Comstock would make much of a town preacher to get himself started. AND he has ALOT of competition for the ordinary type of religious celebrity. So it would HAVE TO BE far enough along ( Lutece projects to make it actually work - real ability to get workable prophesies ).
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Luteces live in a city/town ( We assume - to have connections to 'scientific circles' and a genteel environment ) ? Comfortable living to pursue their Science (for YEARS). 
SO Where is Comstock - Mid-West after 'Army' ? What does HE know about 'cities' ? What story takes him anywhere NEAR where the Luteces are ( That might make a good story in itself - but just not good Slaughter-fest game plot material ).
COMSTOCK is the Rube. ( He is what - 17 ? - So, he's a young gormless Rube at that ).
If the Luteces had ALOT of family money to 'sponge off of', then why need Comstock ? If their 'science was good they would NOT really need a conman to 'sell it'. Industrialist investors might have been a good story, but they 'know' all about "Conmen".
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LATER FloatyShit(tm) would HAVE to be demonstrated ( actually work and 'more than a model' ) to be enough to get "Dollar One" off the Congressmen's 'hard fought over' tax monies ( to "Sell" the whole idea to THEM ). Columbia would cost MILLIONS. That's their own lifeblood to the politicians involved and the RISK that could instantly end their careers.
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Meta-level :
Consider : This whole Game is a 'Con Job' upon the Players (rubes) who are having their money 'lifted' for something that is supposed to be 'Story' (where details matter). A Half-Arsed product delivered, but 'talked up' by the game reviewers ( who are paid - magazine/online advertising money ), and with a slew of 'self-back-patting' Interviews talking about things the game had hardly dealt with well. "Shit sold as Gold" - Soapy Smith 
Idea to fix - Multiple Comstocks to do things all at the same time ( to be a 'Reveal' at game's end )
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Implied his Moses Look - Biblical-bearded 'Prophet' - Comstock then is 17 - 18 - and he wont be 'Aging' until much later. ( Players don't put "2 + 2" together - so the gamewriters figure 'who cares' - and so THEY don't ? ) 
NOTE - Elizabeth DROWNS a "Teenager" ( WHO was 'good' and who was 'bad' in this Story again ???? )
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Comstock was supposed to See The Future ?
Here is a design drawing from 1917 which seems more real prophesy.
Wouldn't it have been very nice for Columbia to be some forward-seeing Floating ART DECO instead of BAD Steam Punk style bizarrely kludged together, and that 'Coney Island' look in parts ( and the humongous everything ) ???? 
THAT would have 'WOWed Em' at the 1893 Columbian Exposition, No ? ( Instead of just rote copying the rest of the Exposition ? )
THIS IS THE FUTURE !!!!
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The Future that Comstock Just Didn't See :
LA in the 1920s ( A decade past the time of the Infinite Game ). 
Imagine those then in a Post-Quantum-Floating Exhibition World ALTERNATE DIMENSION ( which started changing before Columbia first floated free ), and those Autos there can FLY - and they are everywhere in the World. Teenagers in their suped-up cars divebombing those crazy freaks in that old 'flying trashheap' Columbia. And Columbia can't escape, as the flying tech went way past the cultist loons so quickly ( The French have a Hotel in orbit around Saturn ... ) In the end, Newspapers would only have a small article mentioning when that floating anachronism finally crashes in some obscure place.
BTW, Look at all that infrastructure existing for automobiles - and at that early a date. Implying Rapture had 'Bathyspheres' which operated just 'like' autos really wasn't plausible.
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If Comstock could 'look into the future' ( as he had for whatever he used previously to convince people of his ability - with sufficient detail and complexity ), then he should be able to scan for Booker coming, and have an Army Waiting to squash him like a bug.
Perhaps the Luteces ( who were apparently quantum gods of some sort ) interfered with him being able to intervene directly.
Perhaps with multiple Bookers arriving ( ex - the Luteces tally board - a potential INFINITE Bookers acting every possible way and time and even with different names, etc ... ) the visions were cluttered up and confused and Comstock could not make any determination from them.
Perhaps some complication with Booker BEING the same person as Comstock (( It is so open-ended and you could make up any excuse that you want - after all that's what the game writers did. ))
So the best Comstock could do was to warn Columbia that something was coming with some minimal details.
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Comstock, Or Maybe More Fink, Were Rather Inept at "Prophecy" :
* Picked Failz technologies like Lighter Than Air Dirigibles (instead of Airplanes)
* Did not use the Tears to simply Steal Everything ( and instead exposed itself as like in the way Booker arrived ).
* Did not dispose of all the problematic Untermenschen after replacing them with robots/automation.
* Could not Stop Booker or 'handle' Elizabeth.
* Stupidly Importing ADAM into Columbia 
* NOT Seeing that the World would Accelerate Away from Columbia with Quantumz, leaving it as a Anachronistic Resident of a Giant Belljar - a Sad Freakshow/Asylum.
* Letting Daizy Fitzroy live. 
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Just outside Comstock's strange garden on the "Hand of the Prophet" you find a series of plaques like this showing events which only happen recently and were 'Prophesied'.
This one shows Elizabeth before She Stabs Daisy Fitzroy to Death.
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But Is This a Constant ? If Booker kept failing, did he always get at least that far to get Elizabeth within arms length of Daisy Fitzroy ?? Or there are still differences ( Like Booker the Vox Hero in that one dimension ... ) Now that makes Comstock task of 'Looking Through Tears To "Prophesy"' a whole lot harder - as to WHICH dimension's future to figure HIS reality could be predicted to follow. He supposedly PROVED his ability and gain sufficient Fame by using future events/outcomes he would proclaim before they happened. The gamemakers are very Vague about this problem, and simply make use of 'Cuz' and stay away from talking about it.
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