Shepard Quest Mk IV, Under New Management (ME/MCU)

Van Ropen, got a counter offer: My plan, but I switched to your research numbers. Any problems you can see?

[x] Plan: Alanek's Amazing attempt at Alliteration, Alteration A.
-[x]Rich Startup
You expand your facilities to include entertainment, food, amenities, and anything else your employees could need. The company takes care of all of life's everyday bothers so that employees can focus on work.
However, employees are not allowed to take electronic storage devices out of the research areas without letting security scan them, and are regularly reminded to not talk about their work off of the corporate campus. Text and data communications from the research area are all kept on record and may be reviewed at any time. (7,500,000 credits to pay for new buildings, 7,500,000 credits/quarter in upkeep and additional personnel, reduced risk of infiltration.)
-[x] Apply to the Systems Alliance for permission to patent the Arc Reactor in Citadel Space.
-[x] Write in: The security Vi stress testing was fun. Practice more Mock-combat with your security teams, Including your family and possibly Brian, if they want to go. Practice in a few environments, but make it clear that the ones away from the lab are not mandatory, and ensure the lab always has it's normal complement.
Research:

-[x] Micro-missiles (150): After your failed negotiations during the raid, you resolved to never fail those who have been taken hostage again. This is the best solution you've been able to come up with so far- a large battery of 10mm micro missiles, slaved to a VI and capable of maneuvering and attacking a large number of targets simultaneously and with a large degree of precision. Given the size of the projectiles, you might even be able to fit them into a pistol frame, though it would have limited magazine capacity. (30d10+25)

-[x] Repulsors (150): You know you're close, and now that you finally have proper facilities, you're sure you can finally make the breakthrough you need to build repulsors. You're sure they'll be remarkably effective as a dual purpose propulsion/weapon system if you can just figure out how to make them work. (prerequisite to Mk 2 Armor) (Purchased with bonus points!)

-[x] Improved Intelligence algorithms (110/400): Improving the most basic building blocks of your VIs allows you to make all of them better in every way. (Doubles Security and Research VI bonuses, upgrades Fire Control VI to Tactical VI, which allows suit independent operation.) (50d10+50)

-[x] Basic Neural Interface (200): A human being is their mind, and the mind is the brain. In many ways the body is just a vehicle used for moving the brain around, and really it is frustrating that one has to rely on a vehicle rather than influencing the world under one's own power. And with this lateset invention from Paragon Industries, they no longer have to. (Construct an interface that will let someone control electronics using only their mind. Outsource that actual installation.) (40d10+15)

-[x] Basic Genemodding (200): It is a terrible tragedy that Humanity is still troubled by genetic diseases like Vrolik's Syndrome. The genes of infants are the building bricks of adults, and if you know what they all do, you can improve them. Time to pick up your LEGOs again. (This will let you build special facilities where people can get better babies. High upfront investment, decent pay out down the road). (10d10-5) (Overflow)
Building:
-[x] Start construction on a factory III
 
Changing vote to:
[x] Alanek2002

The plan makes sense though if I was doing it whole cloth I might tweak it a bit to increase the chance we get the BNI.
 
Transreal Clouden said:
Changing vote to:
[] Alanek2002

The plan makes sense though if I was doing it whole cloth I might tweak it a bit to increase the chance we get the BNI.
We currently have a 97.48% chance to get at least 200 points in it, at this point. We can't get much better than that.
 
Eh... Lagrange's feels iffy. It feels like it also is just as open as the second; the point of the fourth is to basically become isolated, so that it isn't possible for people to try to sneak in; The fact everybody goes home each day isn't the best thing for that, and it includes the various lower tier workers that we'd have to hire, where it is easier to fake being a new guy. (Fairly easy especially if the guy at the door hasn't met the guy you're impersonating. Would totally be possible where I work)

Now, if we could roboticize food services on site.... (not the Janitors though, we need well paid human janitors for the help they give, and their lack of hackability, and ability to adapt.)

But still, likely to cause some stress or lack of security, if only for balance reasons.
 
I believe the current biotic implants need to be installed around puberty or so. Are the implants we research going to have the same requirement?

Just wondering if there is a time limit to when it comes to developing "advanced biotic amps" as far as Revy herself is concerned?
 
[x] Plan: Alanek's Amazing attempt at Alliteration, Alteration A.

Acknowledgedly Amusing Alliteration at All Aspects.
 
Speaking about the plans; do we have enough money to go and get some additional facilities? Expanding our Basic Research Lab and Teams to Tier 2, maybe?
 
Van Ropen said:
I don't think we are allowed to have multiple types of a lab on a planet - balance shenanigans.
We already have both normal and basic research labs on Mindoir, so obviously that's alright; from my understanding, we just can't have multiple labs of the same type/level.
 
Van Ropen said:
Oh damn, sorry - misunderstood. We have our normal personal lab-lab 1-lab 2 set up, and our auxiliary lab 1 that you want to add a lab 2 to?
Pretty much. It's another +30 research points/turn, which adds up in the long term.

Although, if we have the money, we should also consider getting a Tier 3 Lab; another 30d10+30 are nothing to sneeze at, though construction will take longer, IIRC.
 
Can I suggest

[X] Plan: Alanek's Amazing attempt at Alliteration, Alteration A.
-[X] Rich Startup
You expand your facilities to include entertainment, food, amenities, and anything else your employees could need. The company takes care of all of life's everyday bothers so that employees can focus on work.
However, employees are not allowed to take electronic storage devices out of the research areas without letting security scan them, and are regularly reminded to not talk about their work off of the corporate campus. Text and data communications from the research area are all kept on record and may be reviewed at any time.
-[X] Have our Lawyers apply to the Systems Alliance for permission to patent the Arc Reactor in Citadel Space endorsed with our written estimates on reverse engineering times.
-[X] Write in: The security Vi stress testing was fun. Practice more Mock-combat with your security teams and mother (if she wants) in a few environments, but make it clear that these are not mandatory, and ensure the lab always has it's normal complement.
-[X] Spend time with family and Brian doing things their interested in, we might find something interesting we wouldn't of thought of.
 
[X] Plan: Alanek's Amazing attempt at Alliteration, Alteration A.
-[X] Rich Startup
You expand your facilities to include entertainment, food, amenities, and anything else your employees could need. The company takes care of all of life's everyday bothers so that employees can focus on work.
However, employees are not allowed to take electronic storage devices out of the research areas without letting security scan them, and are regularly reminded to not talk about their work off of the corporate campus. Text and data communications from the research area are all kept on record and may be reviewed at any time.
-[X] Have our Lawyers apply to the Systems Alliance for permission to patent the Arc Reactor in Citadel Space endorsed with our written estimates on reverse engineering times.
-[X] Write in: The security Vi stress testing was fun. Practice more Mock-combat with your security teams and mother (if she wants) in a few environments, but make it clear that these are not mandatory, and ensure the lab always has it's normal complement.
-[X] Spend time with family and Brian doing things their interested in, we might find something interesting we wouldn't of thought of.

-[x] Micro-missiles (150): After your failed negotiations during the raid, you resolved to never fail those who have been taken hostage again. This is the best solution you've been able to come up with so far- a large battery of 10mm micro missiles, slaved to a VI and capable of maneuvering and attacking a large number of targets simultaneously and with a large degree of precision. Given the size of the projectiles, you might even be able to fit them into a pistol frame, though it would have limited magazine capacity. (0d10+100) (overflow)

-[x] Repulsors (150): You know you're close, and now that you finally have proper facilities, you're sure you can finally make the breakthrough you need to build repulsors. You're sure they'll be remarkably effective as a dual purpose propulsion/weapon system if you can just figure out how to make them work. (prerequisite to Mk 2 Armor) (30d10+30)

-[x] Improved Intelligence algorithms (110/400): Improving the most basic building blocks of your VIs allows you to make all of them better in every way. (Doubles Security and Research VI bonuses, upgrades Fire Control VI to Tactical VI, which allows suit independent operation.) (50d10+50)

-[x] Basic Neural Interface (200): A human being is their mind, and the mind is the brain. In many ways the body is just a vehicle used for moving the brain around, and really it is frustrating that one has to rely on a vehicle rather than influencing the world under one's own power. And with this lateset invention from Paragon Industries, they no longer have to. (Construct an interface that will let someone control electronics using only their mind. Outsource that actual installation.) (40d10+15)

Building:
-[x] Start construction on a factory III
 
Alanek2002 said:
-[x] Micro-missiles (150): After your failed negotiations during the raid, you resolved to never fail those who have been taken hostage again. This is the best solution you've been able to come up with so far- a large battery of 10mm micro missiles, slaved to a VI and capable of maneuvering and attacking a large number of targets simultaneously and with a large degree of precision. Given the size of the projectiles, you might even be able to fit them into a pistol frame, though it would have limited magazine capacity. (0d10+100) (overflow)
I'm pretty certain we need to assign research dice in order to use research bonuses.
Or are those +100 meant to be the two +50 bonuses we got from Silver's omake, and guessing the name of Revy's cousin?
 
[x] Plan: Alanek's Amazing attempt at Alliteration.

Well that's all said and done.

Next turn we should have enough cash to start a Lab III, two turns after that we'll be able to build shipyard once the Factory III makes its first profit.
 
Tech Tree Updated
->Advanced Materials Completed
->Basic Biotech Completed
->Basic Security VI Completed
->Improved Intelligence Algorithms Started at 109.5/400
->Basic Ground Vehicles Bought

Finance Sheet Updated
->Misc Sales upgraded to 255,000cr/pro as of 2172-Q2
->Hahne Kedar Additional Tech Payment (Wrist Mounted Sub-machine Gun) of 50,000,000 recorded in 2172-Q2 Profit
->Tech Purchase (Basic Ground Vehicles) 100,000,000 recorded in 2172-Q2 Expenses
->Added "Conrad Penalty" to research dies
->Added "Conrad" to research dies

That should be everything that needed updating for this quarter.
Esbilon said:
Conrad's Special Projects
[ ] The invisible man (400): The stealth system that was installed in the prototype the Berkeley students presented at the power armor conference was not good enough to fool Alliance security, but then it was Conrad piloting the thing. While working on your advanced ceramic, you've had some ideas of your own on how to incorporate digital camouflage at a fundamental level. (Make near-invisible versions of your vehicles. Sound, thermal and radar detection will still be issues, but issues exist to be solved!)
Does this include Spaceships?

This would also be great for those gunships that pop-up in ME2 and ME3. Powered by an arc reactor with silent electric engines and flying low to the ground they would make great sneak attack weapons.

Also useful for us putting up weapons emplacements on our buildings. Imagine a group of Baterian or even Eclipse raiders showing up only to get mowed down by invisible guns.
[ ] The black fucking gun (400): Conrad knows pretty much how the "Black Hole Gun, but not really" that they entered into the competition works. It does, however, have more than a few safety issues, and you really don't want a gun that will make General Alexander call you and ask what the hell happened to his entire right flank. The core idea is good, but the problem is that Conrad, smart though he is, is very bad at adapting his designs to the constraints posed by reality. (Build the M-490 Blackstorm, though you get to pick a new name for it if you'd like.)
So would we be able to make a super-sized version of this for ships because throwing fake blackholes at each other would be pretty damn cool.

So, in response to criticism, I've very heavily narrated your research process this time, and I'd like feedback on this format. Obviously, the more I write, the longer it takes, so if we put a lot of emphasis on new tech, there will be less room for new plot. Do you prefer relatively long snippets for each new tech (this update), very short snippets for each tech, or one relatively long snippet regardless of the number of new techs?
I liked the new format. I liked it a lot.
So far, we have mostly seen slice-of-life stuff from Revy with little overarching plot. Do you want this to continue, or should I try introducing more plot stuff, even if this takes time (IC or OOC) away from the tech/production side of things? Regarding plot, would you prefer stuff related to canon (Saren and the Reapers), entirely original stuff, stuff from Iron Man (though not the travesty that is Marvel's take on my national heritage [Asgard]), stuff from other franchises?
Slice-of-life stuff is nice but I would like some more plot, not too much since I don't want to get bogged down, but some stuff every year or two would be nice. Preferably either canon or original ME stuff since I'm not really a fan of a lot of the Marvel plot.
My three first updates all covered only a single quarter, the last two only one. I think an average of one update per week is going to be typical for this game, though obviously I was rather late with this one. No promises, though. Do you have preferences on the number of updates to cover a quarter?
No real preference other then I think your current approach to the number is working pretty well.


[x] Plan: Alanek's Amazing attempt at Alliteration.

Van Ropen said:
So, updated to properly distribute the research lab bonus. I'd spread the -25, but given how it would have to be divided by 4...that's just gross, xD

Revy
10d10 + 5 (VI) - 25 (Conrad)
10d10 + 5 (VI)
10d10 + 5 (VI)
10d10 + 5 (VI)

Labs
10d10 + 5 (VI)
10d10 + 5 (VI)

Teams
10d10 + 5 (VI) + 5 (salary) + 10 (research lab)
10d10 + 5 (VI) + 5 (salary) + 10 (research lab)
10d10 + 5 (VI) + 5 (salary) + 10 (research lab)
10d10 + 5 (VI) + 5 (salary)
10d10 + 5 (VI) + 5 (salary)
10d10 + 5 (VI) + 5 (salary)

Conrad
+(10d10 + 5 (VI))

CA
-(10d10 + 5 (VI))

Bonus
+50, +50
This is slightly wrong. Here should be the correct version:


Revy
10d10 + 5 (VI) - 25 (Conrad)
10d10 + 5 (VI)
10d10 + 5 (VI)
10d10 + 5 (VI)

Personal Lab
10d10 + 5 (VI)

Lab I
10d10 + 5 (VI)

Lab II
10d10 + 5 (VI)

Teams
10d10 + 5 (VI) + 5 (salary) + 10 (research lab)
10d10 + 5 (VI) + 5 (salary) + 10 (research team)
10d10 + 5 (VI) + 5 (salary) + 10 (research team)
10d10 + 5 (VI) + 5 (salary)
10d10 + 5 (VI) + 5 (salary)
10d10 + 5 (VI) + 5 (salary)

Conrad
+(10d10 + 5 (VI))

CA
-(10d10 + 5 (VI))

Bonus
+50 (Cousin's Name Guess)
+50 (Omake - Birth of the Micro-Missiles)


Total
13d10+200
 
UberJJK said:
*Invisibility*
Does this include Spaceships?

This would also be great for those gunships that pop-up in ME2 and ME3. Powered by an arc reactor with silent electric engines and flying low to the ground they would make great sneak attack weapons.

Also useful for us putting up weapons emplacements on our buildings. Imagine a group of Baterian or even Eclipse raiders showing up only to get mowed down by invisible guns.

*BFG*
So would we be able to make a super-sized version of this for ships because throwing fake blackholes at each other would be pretty damn cool.
Yes, it's scaleable up to fighter sized crafts, and that includes gunships and weapons turrets.

You can scale the black hole gun to work on tanks or space ships, but counterintuitive as it may seem; small black holes can be more devastating than big once since they involve larger tidal forces (the so-called spagetthification process).
 
Madfish said:
Shouldn't there also be the Basic Research Lab/Teams +30 on there too?
That's what the +10 (research lab/team) on the first three teams is for.
Esbilon said:
Yes, it's scaleable up to fighter sized crafts, and that includes gunships and weapons turrets.
Excellent.
Esbilon said:
You can scale the black hole gun to work on tanks or space ships, but counterintuitive as it may seem; small black holes can be more devastating than big once since they involve larger tidal forces (the so-called spagetthification process).

Yeah but from what I understand that's really only a problem after a certain point and I doubt we'll be reaching fake black holes of sufficient (fake) mass for that to be a problem.
 
UberJJK said:
Yeah but from what I understand that's really only a problem after a certain point and I doubt we'll be reaching fake black holes of sufficient (fake) mass for that to be a problem.
True enough, my point was rather that a kind of cluster-gun might be more effective at tearing things apart, and the resulting not-quite-black-holes would also disappear faster. In the same way as modern nuclear missiles deliver multiple small warheads rather than one big one.
 
Lagrange said:
Would it be possible to make a compromise between 3 and 4, somewhat inspired by 2? Specifically:
[] Rich Startup
You expand your facilities to include entertainment, food, amenities, and anything else your employees could need. The company takes care of all of life's everyday bothers so that employees can focus on work.
However, employees are not allowed to take electronic storage devices out of the research areas without letting security scan them, and are regularly reminded to not talk about their work off of the corporate campus. Text and data communications from the research area are all kept on record and may be reviewed at any time.
This is a valid option. I'd say that the comfort bonuses cancel out the increased stress from increased surveillance, and security is somewhat increased at the cost of throwing money at the problem. (7,500,000 credits to pay for new buildings, 7,500,000 credits/quarter in upkeep and additional personnel, reduced risk of infiltration.)

The Conrad Penalty
Conrad is distracting you all the time, so giving -25 to one of your research dice does not make sense. I'm upping the penalty slightly to -10 to each of Shepard's rolls. However, please don't hang me yet because...

Personal Lab
I (and everyone but UberJJK it seems) forgot your personal lab, giving you another 10d10+5. So you're better off after this post than before it :)

Plan names
While alliteration is indeed amusing, it is also slightly confusing, so if the altered plan that is not actually Alanek2002's could get another name, that'd be great.
 
Carrnage said:
So anyone for ditching conrad?
We just hired him, and he's unlocked several very nice research projects. Even if we can never get him to cool it with constantly bugging us, the penalty isn't all that terrible compared to our steadily growing research pool.
 
Maybe if we made a point of always assigning Conrad to work with us, he'd cool it some? Familiarity breeds contempt after all.
 
Possible. Maybe working on some of his tech-ideas, like the optical camoflage or the black-hole gun, with him and some assistants?
 
Back
Top