So turns out 'a bit' today meant an hour and a half. But to reply to @HeavyBane's questions:
Initiative will last for the duration of the rounds I play. So if I play out a series of three turns, whoever won initiative will maintain it for those rounds.
Right now, your Strikes must be against the same target. I will offer the chance in later turns in the game to gain the ability to strike at multiple targets, however.
The RP you spent on Heavy Weapons? Already spent. You have them, so you might as well use them.
You don't have a good look at the enemy Mecha just yet, but considering it looks like it's trying to gun down both the downed Mecha and the EUDF personnel it's guarding, it's a safe bit it's not friendly.
If the combat lasts long enough, the Longships will come back for another go at your command.
I see. So they're more like bodiless assets rather than actual combatants. Can the enemy still target them to spend their attacks early, so to speak?
Also, I saw no mention of range nor movement. I assume you abstract those (good idea), but so far it seems the only way to move and attack during the same turn is with Ramming, right? Speaking of, I would say that perhaps it would work better if you ditch the last 1d6 roll, as having a roll to properly move THEN another to actually attack seems a bit too much, especially when only 5-6 count for passing. We'll see how it works once combat begins.
I see. So they're more like bodiless assets rather than actual combatants. Can the enemy still target them to spend their attacks early, so to speak?
Also, I saw no mention of range nor movement. I assume you abstract those (good idea), but so far it seems the only way to move and attack during the same turn is with Ramming, right? Speaking of, I would say that perhaps it would work better if you ditch the last 1d6 roll, as having a roll to properly move THEN another to actually attack seems a bit too much, especially when only 5-6 count for passing. We'll see how it works once combat begins.
I'm still of a mind to whether or not the assets can be attacked. I am unlikely to assign them HP values at the moment, but possibly allow the enemy to try and target them, delay their return by a turn or so.
Movement and range is abstracted in this case, correct. As I stated in the very first post of this game, I'm not trying to be too complicated about this. Easier for me to calculate, then write out the sequences, you see (which is what I'm really after here). You'll note I've wrapped up most weapons into 'Conventional' which allows for 2d6 strikes. I won't differentiate between a physical strike or a ranged one unless it's thematically or narratively appropriate, but I will differentiate between standard weapons and a big eff-all rocket launcher/cannon.
Either way, as soon as we've verified that the winning plan can go as I've outlined, I'm good to write out the next sequence of events. I've got a good idea of how it's going to play out, plus or minus the dice rolls, but I want to give @Alectai the fair chance to review what he's put forward with the rules clarifications in mind before I push ahead.
Back. Thanks for the clarifications. I'll go with your interpretation--that's why I made the big explanations after all, so you could understand the spirit of the plan!
Agile should be used defensively. Unless the overall plan for the opener (Knock his weapon away or disable it) is something that's actually a viable action. In that case, landing that hit and getting the edge is more important.
Also, since Heavy Weapons are a free action, we should use both charges in turn two, as we're combining in turn three anyway--use 'em or lose 'em!
Sounds good. I will get this written up today. If you're good with my interpretation, I will go with that.
And I will rule that you are planning to introduce Newton's interpretations of objects in motion to the Kausen in a practical fashion, with the intent of both doing damage and knocking aside the weapon.
Agile will be used to try and deflect the worst of the damage that comes your way. You do have the advantage of surprise in multiple ways, so it's good that you're making use of it.
And if you want to use all charges of the Heavy Weapon Strike, totally fine with me.
Hah, yeah--it'd be weird if ramming speed was this big complicated gimmick that makes use of the Variable Configuration design to the utmost and then is just inferior to every other approach.
I tried to look at the situation from a perspective of "What would look cool" from the outside, with an undercurrent of "What would actually work." I happen to like awesome super robot stories!
And just because we're riding a Real Robot right now doesn't mean the themes are different!
But yeah, the disarm is the most important thing of the opener. I don't think we'd last long with its primary weapon in hand, remove that, and our chances get quite a bit better. And we're only going to get one shot with him taking us lightly.
Right now, your Strikes must be against the same target. I will offer the chance in later turns in the game to gain the ability to strike at multiple targets, however.
Richard had long since stopped thinking consciously. He wasn't aware that this was where the MMI, where Sam Carlson's hard work effort into creating something this crazy, really shined.
For a few glorious moments, he didn't worry about the sheer recklessness of what he was about to do. Or how much Adam was going to yell at him for.
He only knew this: there was a friendly that was about to get possibly killed by an enemy hostile, and he had one very potent weapon that could solve a lot of problems really quickly.
"This is Callaghan," Richard distantly heard himself say over the radio. If he looked at the rear-view mirror, he might have noticed he had a manic smile plastered over his face. "Kausen engaging downed friendlies. Engaging!"
Tuning out the frantic shouts over the radio to explain himself, Richard depressed the accelerator.
0828 1 November, A.D. 2070 Yuri Gagarin Command Bridge
"He's doing what?"
Haruko barely had time to mentally agree with the Major before the Jackal blasted across the distance between himself and the enemy.
0827, 1 November, A.D. 2070
Ruins of Fort Brenner
"Cav," Jessica said, frantically trying to get some kind of response out of the Kausen. "Cav!"
The only response she was getting was garbled speech, corrupted by the sheer damage he'd taken from that other bastard. "-*ksst*-et out *szzt* -ere," the Kausen managed to rasp out.
"I'm not leaving you behind!" Jessica shouted frantically. Leave behind the Kausen who saved her life months ago?
Like hell!
"Well, this was fun," the sinister voice before them said. Looking up, Jessica glared at the incoming yellow giant as he hefted the large plasma cannon in his arms. "But since I've figured that those new changing toys of yours all come from this base...eh." Bandit then shrugged in a mockery of apology. "...boss man Tyrannous really don't got much call for you left. Loose ends, bad business, y'know?"
Without even thinking, Jessica scrambled atop Cavalier's cradled hands and leveled her rifle at the Free Brother. "Stay away, you big bastard!" she screamed, unloading the magazine against Bandit, fully aware that she was doing nothing but buying seconds. "Stay away from him!"
Bandit only chuckled as the rounds simply bounced off of his hull. Sure, he was sporting a few scorch marks from a few shots before, but this wasn't going to do anything. She needed-
Before she could think about what she needed, her brain finally caught up to the fact that she was hearing the incredibly loud roar of engines blaring behind her.
"Hey, you!" a voice blared out. "Pick on someone your own size!" Before her eyes, what looked like a Coyote simply slammed into Bandit, sending the both of them right back through the hole Bandit had blasted through earlier.
Thinking quickly, Jessica threw herself back into the relative safety of Cavalier's hands, instinctively knowing the shockwave was not far in arriving.
0831, 1 November, A.D. 2070
Interior of Fort Brenner
The impact was jarring. Richard's head hurt like someone had used it for a drum solo marathon. And still in vehicle form, he and the Kausen were now tumbling head over hood back into the command centers of Fort Brenner, with each impact slamming into him like a punch to the face.
The MMI would later log a single thought, somehow caught for official record:
Worth it.
Thinking quickly, Richard sent the command at the speed of thought to unfold his right arm. Catching the rifle...thing, he immediately flung it far, far away from them. He wasn't sure where it went. He just knew the Kausen was unlikely to reach it now.
"Okay, jackass," he heard a metallic voice rasp. Summoning his minimap, he realized that despite its bulk, the Kausen had recovered quickly. "Cute trick, but let's see-"
"Not interested!" he shouted. Immediately completing the rest of the configuration, he unfolded into Mecha mode and attempted to throw a punch towards the Kausen.
The strike was deflected easily. "Wait, what!?" The opportunity lost, both combatants jumped some distance away from each other. "...heh....heheheh," the Kausen chuckled. "I knew it! I knew we hit the mineral lode! This base is making these damned things, of course they are!"
Richard raised an eyebrow, an expression lost on the face of the Jackal. "...uh, what?"
"Boss man wants more of these things!" the Kausen crowed. "And I'm gonna get my hands on 'em, or my name ain't Bandit!"
"Aaaaabout that," Richard objected. "I'm going to say that's not gonna happen."
"Yeah? Why not?"
Combat, Turn Two
"This."
Having stalled him long enough, Richard caught the catapult-launched rocket launcher dispatched from the Shepherd some distance away.
"Think fast!" In one smooth motion, the Jackal caught the rocket launcher, smoothly reoriented it towards 'Bandit,' and depressed the trigger.
"Ohhhhh, scra-" Lost in the plume of explosions and dust rocketing the still-fragile ruins, the Kausen was buffeted by high explosive force and falling debris falling about him. "Hey! Ow! Stop that! I said-"
"Sorry, not done yet!" Richard shouted as he immediately launched the last salvo in the disposable launcher. More dust and debris were knocked away from his position from the launcher's force as it continued to lob high explosive presents Bandit's way. "Feel free to just keel over and-"
"I SAID STOP THAT!" Incredulously, the Kausen strode through the high explosives' concussive force and slammed his fist into the Jackal's chest.
"Oh crap," Callaghan muttered. At least, he had the time to say that as he was sent sailing through the air from the force of the punch, and getting slammed through the nearest wall.
Man these walls really didn't like this, he idly thought as he slammed through another set of walls.
0835, 1 November, A.D. 2070 YuriGagarin Command Bridge
"Integrity is still holding, hull still sitting around-"
"-Kausen looks to be emitting some energy field, but is not registering-"
"-Fort Brenner has to be written off, there's nothing left after this fight-"
Haruko tuned all of the chatter from the pilots out. Her entire focus was on the duel unfolding between Callaghan and the Kausen, who had identified itself as 'Bandit.' He was faring fine, but the Gagarin's scanners were still not able to get a good reading on the thing.
But even the failure to scan the Kausen was already putting themselves ahead of literally everyone in the EUDF. They had actual scans of the Kausen.
"Not enough," she heard herself say. Temporarily forgetting that Major Devin was still tuned into the transmission, and just as transfixed by what was unfolding as she was, Haruko decided to take the plunge. "Sergeant Henry."
"Ma'am. We're on approach, we just saw Callaghan fly out of the building."
"Hostile target is about to emerge. Initiate single target engagement." Without waiting to hear his response, she turned her attention to Callaghan, whose Jackal was getting to its feet. "Lieutenant. I am authorizing the Steel Combination."
"Ma'am?" Callaghan asked, the shock apparent even through the static.
"You know it's not been tested," Major Devin said calmly. But in the corner of her eye, she saw an approving smile.
"There is no time like the present, Sir," Haruko replied. "As long as I still have your authorization."
"You still do. Let him have it."
0839, 1 November, A.D. 2070 Ruins of Fort Brenner
Richard saw it on his HUD. The authorization code for the Steel Combination protocol. Never tested outside of controlled environments. Certainly never tested in combat.
"Oh, what the hell," he said to himself with a smile. "If I'm gonna do this..."
He knew Katarina would never forgive him for not taking this opportunity.
"LT, we're beginning attack run," Henry said over the radio. Even as Bandit emerged again - still apparently looking for the weapon that had been thrown to the side - he was buffeted with additional Hellstrike rockets. Unlike his earlier rocket launcher strikes, a purple energy field encased him like a bubble, protecting him from the worst of it. "Do it!"
Richard took in a deep breath. As if recognizing the moment, the HUD displayed what looked to be a voice command console.
"Steel Combination! Go!"
Okay, this fight was going on for far too long.
The humans pulled a cute little trick, sure. And this particular model looked like it was a cut above the rest already.
Sure, he was going to need to fiddle around with the dispersion field later, but at least it worked this time with those damned aeros. It'd damned well better. He paid good energy for-
Bandit was nearly bowled over when an armored truck decided walls were for other people.
"What the frag!?"
Richard grinned as the laser guidance sequence began. He couldn't believe he was actually doing this for a living. Much less doing this in defense of the human race as he knew it.
"Phase One, initiated," he heard someone in the background say as he leapt into the air, the air billowing with debris and dust as the Shepherd launched itself upwards via its rocket boosters. Closing his eyes, he allowed his mind to sink into the formation as his brain and the MMI folded the Jackal into the chest unit, tow cables and the laser guidance sequence already drawing him into the chest cavity that unfolded.
He could see the sequence happening from almost a third-person perspective. He could hear shouting over the frequencies, likely from either the Gagarin or the 1st Wing as Bandit's arm unfolded into what looked like a weapon and struck at the combining machines.
Yet he felt none of that. Nothing was knocked askew. All he saw was a rather distinctive pattern emblazoned onto the 'chest' of the combined unit-
His senses immediately snapped back into focus as soon as the helmet unit encased the head of the Jackal's.
There was only one thing to say.
"YOROI GATTAI!" Richard shouted, a shit-eating grin on his face. "TIMBERWOLF FORMATION!"
0840, 1 November, A.D. 2070 Yuri Gagarin Command Bridge
Major Devin just stared flatly at Haruko.
"Seriously?"
Haruko huffed, but stood her ground. "Yes, I implemented it as the vocal passcode. I am within my rights."
Major Devin just sighed, but shrugged.
This is a harbinger of things to come.
The first form of humanity's latest champion, it will not be its last.
Though plasma and steel! The Dream of the Union's Peace shall stand!
The Kausen has been identified as Bandit.
The Gagarin is unable to scan him, but you know you have inflicted at least 6 HP worth of damage to him. He in turn has inflicted 1 HP on Callaghan's Jackal.
The Timberwolf stands tall and strong. It is ready to do battle.
The EUDF personnel, as far as you know, still remains by the fallen Kausen and is refusing to move.
Orders?
1LT Richard Callaghan - Intuitive Piloting (You may Re-Roll One failed Strike or Agile Roll per Turn)
HP: 17/18
Notable Character (Can Strike at Enemy Target twice per turn)
Extra Tough (Can ignore one Enemy Strike at Disadvantage (1d6))
Conventional Weaponry (Can conduct Test Roll to Strike at Enemy Target at 2d6)
Demolisher (Can freely make Heavy Weapon Strike at Advantage (3d6) every other turn, deals 2 HP. Does not incur extra RP cost
YESSS!!!
Okay I'm going to be doing that alot I think. Good times! Now here's hoping we can talk to the other guy once we bring this Bandit into custody!
*thinks*
uhh...Anyone else got any good one-liners?
