The Power of Threes in Granado Espada

Ever wonder about the “threes” that we see all over Granado Espada?

It’s possible to control up to three characters at once using the MCC system, and those three characters naturally assume a triangular formation, with the team leader at the top of the triangle, and the other two falling in behind. [1]

The game’s mottoes have to do with three, as well:

Experience the bond of trinity. [2]
Freedom - Unity - Friendship [3]

And, most noticeable of all, we have the game’s symbol: an equilateral triangle with a circle inside. [4]

What is it with all the threes?

While nearly all the numbers from 0 to 10 have symbolic meanings attached to them, 3 has carried greater weight than most, and its associated shape - the three-sided triangle - enjoys nearly the same regard.

Three, according to mathematicians, is the first odd prime number, and the second smallest prime [after two]. Also, it takes only three non-collinear points to determine both a plane and a circle. Both of the mathematical constants pi [3.14159…] and e [2.7183…] can be approximated to 3.

According to many architects, the sturdiest shape in nature is a triangle. It cannot be easily deformed or broken, and it has great structural stability, making it the base shape of such diverse structures as the Eiffel Tower, the Pyramids of Egypt and South America, and the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, USA.

The Pythagoreans, who did much to shape our perceptions of geometry, hailed 3 as a beautiful number, and the triangle as the shape that could enclose the largest area within the smallest perimeter. And, of course, there is their famous theorem for a right triangle, which may be the most-proved theorem in all of mathematics.

Then there are the passel of world religions in which threes of gods, aspects or primeval forces are worshipped. Many branches of Christianity acknowledge the existence of the Trinity of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit; while Hinduism reveres the three gods Brahma the Creator, Shiva the Destroyer, and Vishnu the Preserver above all others.
Many famous groups also come in threes.

In comics, the DC Universe is dominated by its three leading superheroes - Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman. The original Star Trek was led by Captain Kirk, Doctor McCoy and Mr. Spock; while Star Wars [in two groups of three films] ranks as its leading characters Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, and Princess Leia.

Even literature has its share of famous trios. This includes the titular Three Muskteers of Dumas pere’s novel: Athos, Porthos and Aramis.

And with all thse connotations surrounding three - from being lucky to the Chinese to making sure that everybody does something at the same time [”On three - one, two, THREE!”], we shift our discussion to that centering on our favorite MMORPG.

You might have noticed that I placed numbers in brackets after four key sentences above. Let’s discuss each of them now.

[1] In an ideal battle situation, the combatants often try to do what they can to guard each other’s back; in GE, the triangular formation of the characters in a family comes close to a natural approximation of that all-around defense/offense position.

This is somewhat close to a basketball strategy which was made famous by champion coach Phil Jackson: the triangle offense. With this strategy the Chicago Bulls under Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman won their second three-peat of NBA championships; and Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant anchored their Los Angeles Lakers to trophies as well.

Essentially the triangle offense allows for the path of least resistance, and the most leeway for a team to pass the ball around such that it becomes easier to score baskets.

[2] Trinity, as mentioned above, has long been associated with divinity. Even female-oriented Wiccan groups worship their Mother Goddess as a trinity composed of the Maiden, or the waxing moon; the Mother, or the full moon; and the Crone, or the waning moon.

In more secular - and popular - terms, “Trinity” is the codename of the leading lady of the Matrix stories and media, and in that capacity serves as the seat of true belief in both Neo and Morpheus.

[3] is an example of what is called a tripartite motto - a motto in which three things express one idea. We’ve heard these before, and they are often used to express things which people find desirable. Here’s the most famous example:

Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité - the motto of the French Republic. Roughly translated, it means “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity”. When it was coined during the French Revolution of 1789-1815, it had the last phrase ou la mort!, meaning “…or death!”

Other famous examples of a tripartite motto, similar to what we have in GE, include the following:

Citius, Altius, Fortius - the motto of the Olympic Games, meaning “Faster, Higher, Stronger”.

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness - appearing in the American Declaration of Independence, as that country’s equivalent to Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité.

[4] is a variation on an inscribed circle, essentially meaning a circle drawn within a polygon - in this case, a triangle - such that the circle touches the triangle at only three points.

It could also call to mind the “winged circle” used as a symbol by the Charmed Ones [either Prue, Piper and Phoebe; or Piper, Phoebe and Paige].

And we haven’t even touched on that quintessential possibility of story and song: the love triangle. But that, as they say, is another article altogether.

References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3_%28disambiguation%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinity_%28disambiguation%29
http://www.threes.com/cms/index.php
http://www.sciencetech.technomuses.ca/english/schoolzone/Info_Structures.cfm
http://www.technologystudent.com/struct1/model1.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazi_concentration_camp_badges
http://jasewells.com/gayicons/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tripartite_motto
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triad_%28symbol%29