Magical Girl Escalation Taylor (Worm/Nanoha)

[X] Plan: Divide and Conquer
- [x] Multishot non-lethal Flare Shooters to take out the Wasps
- [x] Missy covers the unknown cape outside of arms reach with her particle cannon set to Ominous Hum.
- [x] Sam woman-handles the Blaster so she can't bring her palms to bear (or knocks her unconscious)
- [x] Post battle Cassie uses Mournful Echoes to see one of the enemy parahuman's history up to a week back to find out what they've been up to and if there's any evidence of this being justified.
- [x] Post battle test using Telepathy to see if A) it's Language Dependent and B) if there's present who can hear it.

Reasoning:
-Flare Shooter can take out multiple targets, without the Wasps the master / mistress will be limited (depending on the specifics of her power unless she's Space Battles Competent with insects like memetic Taylor she'll be 'mostly harmless'.)
--Specifically Non lethal because there's a slim chance that these are either misunderstood good guys or there's a chance to restore the bugs back into people.
-Unknown guy is unknown, he could be a striker, breaker, blaster, brute, or anything really. Missy has the second best ranged option to cover him and avoid touching the unknown (probable) parahuman and we're going to be occupied with the bugs.
-Sam isn't human, so there's good odds that whatever the Blaster lady's power is won't work on her if it's limited to humans, also good odds that her shapeshifting will let her resist it. That said she's also our best melee combatant and can hopefully get in close to neutralize the blaster before she can get a shot off.
-Even if we can't understand the language, watching a week's history will tell us something
-Have we ever tried using Telepathy on someone who doesn't speak English? This seems like a fine time to test that.

SatoshiKyu said:

Can I just tack a
[x] Recursion field the baddies

at the front of any plan? There is literally 0 excuse for not doing that at the start of damn near any encounter involving innocent people. If we get a final plan and it doesn't involve separating the targets from the people we're trying to save given this ridiculously useful and simple spell, I reserve my right to call everyone in this thread a moron.

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We have no idea if the unknown parahumans will be pulled in. There's a chance the Master may not be pulled in, too, depending on how her power actually works, and there's no way of knowing what will happen with the wasps.

serra2 said:

I think they are more concerned for the rows of guys chained and kneeling on the floor...

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If the wasps are being actively controlled but don't get sucked into RF, there is a very real chance they'll act like a disturbed wasp hive and attack everything that isn't a wasp or their queen/Master.

charysa said:

How many wasps are there? If there's less than 5, can't we use ring bind to lock them down? I don't think giant wasps come with enhanced strength, so unless the unknown cape is a brute, none of them should be able to break ring bind.

If there is more than 5...does using cartridges increase the number of ring binds or the duration?

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They are human sized wasps created through the application of a parahuman power. Make NO assumptions about how strong they are. If we'd just encountered these wasps when walking through a forest, your assumptions would have validity, and ring bind might work, but it is really important to recognize what assumptions we are working with if we don't want to get blindsided by one being wrong.

Solusandra said:

So you're confirming that the unknown is not a brute, shaker or breaker. Thanks!

Real reason for the dismissal is that I don't like doing the stupid thing just because it makes a better scene. "ohs nos the MC is too OP, pls nerf". Why? Why not just have something on hand that makes it difficult? That's how it generally works with superhero content, and that was pretty successful until recent...industry changes.

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Many parahumans have more than one power. Either of the two we've labeled Master and Blaster could also be a Shaker or who knows what else.

Silently Watches said:

And that would negate the "and have no defense against such attacks", then, wouldn't it?


In the time it would take for her to look through the future for the most optimal strategy, the Blaster would have shape-shifted basically all the prisoners, at which time it's all a moot point anyway. Missy also isn't willing to wait that long when there are people being hurt and tortured right there in front of her.

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How long for her to look only at what power the unknown can use? We don't need to narrow it down to a specific plan or look for optimal strategies, we just need a moment of intel on the possible actions he'll take in the next few minutes to get that minimal level of information.

Racoras said:

--[X] Swat down any wasps as feasible, but disable the blaster first. Whips are good for breaking the arms that aim beams right? Then finish off wasps

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It is possible that the Blaster can change them back, so I really want to disable but not kill her and the wasps. That... leads me to think Calamity should take out the master, actually, using Multishot to knock out all of the wasps AND the Master rapidly.

As for sending Vista after the unknown, she's the most experienced superhero present, and she doesn't have to close to melee range when she can drop the ceiling on him or get close enough to punch and then hop away with her powers. She also has the option of going particle blast on him if she uses her powers to alter trajectory to be fully clear of the peasants. This is a situation where getting her Force lightning upgrade would have been really useful.

[X] Plan: To each their own

-[X] Master meets Blaster
--[X] Taylor uses Multishot to knock out the Master and all of the Wasps
--[X] Unison with Cassiel because why not, and because I want to see that get used eventually
--[X] Start non-lethal in case the Blaster can reverse the transformation
--[X] If non-lethal flare shooter doesn't work, go to frost beam, then lethal. Consider wasps as unwilling antagonists.
-[X] Tank V. Blaster
--[X] Samantha goes after the Baster
--[X] If the wasps automatically attack the person attacking the master, Sam is the best suited to take that attack
-[X] Five finger death punch the unknown.
--[x] Vista takes out the unknown
--[X] Using her powers to distort space, she punches the unknown and then snaps away, using hit and run tactics.
--[X] Vista keeps her shield between her and the unknown when not actively attacking.

The only thing I feel I'm missing is what to do with the prisoners, but I don't really see a way to get them to safety when they would likely fight against us out of fear if we went after them in any way. It might be best to just knock them out, too.

[X] Smart Girl Power
-[X] Taylor supports, focusing unknown
--[X] Unison with Cassiel for processing boost
--[X] Ring Bind the Unknown, the Blaster, and what Wasps she can
--[X] Nonlethal flare blast the unknown if Ringbound, otherwise use Telekinesis and Temporal Sludge first then blast
-[X] Samantha rushes the Blaster
--[X] Swat down any wasps as feasible, but disable the blaster first. Whips are good for breaking the arms that aim beams right? Then finish off wasps
-[X] Vista plays with space, focusing Master
--[X] Manipulate space to put the Master in reach of some Brute knockout punches, keep safe with space-warps and Shield
--[X] Try to corral unbound Wasps for Sam/out of your way

I like this plan, though I would add Missy helping Samatha get close with her powers a little

[X] Smart Girl Power

Racoras said:

Missy is a Best <3 <3 Best Sidekick? Cailleach Best Antihero-foil, Kayleigh Best Friend, Circus Best Minion.... its a hard life having so many Best Girl?s in a group. But this friendship is adorable <3



Makes you wonder if that's intentional.... the timing of fighting such a cape is awfully convenient, with Core-less Missy right here
Really, I can't see trying to transform a Unison Device working very well (either it fails, too unfamiliar or too non-biological, or it kills instead) , Taylor can be rebuilt if PS doens't have some innate defense anyways, its common for shapeshifters like Samantha to Trump hostile transformations (why wouldn't she be able to change back) .... Missy the Core-less is perhaps the most vulnerable to such a fate yes?

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@Wyrd Plan: To each their own is interesting, but I have concerns....

General combat doctrine is to dislike unknown variables and try to eliminate/control/divine them, yes? I'm not wholly comfortable sending Vista into melee range with a complete unknown cape, even if "range" is wobbly with her. It should be very rare for the same Master (how did we know for sure thats what they are?) to control both insects AND humans right, unless the transformation means they're still human re: the power? I'd tend to think Missy is well equipped with her Shaker and pseudo-Brute tricks to keep the wasps pinned in a corner while she punches out the Master, as those types tend to lack personal defenses. Sam, as I mentioned, seems reasonably likely to do well against the Blaster even besides speed to dodge the beam-lock, and tough enough to deal with any Wasps the Master redirects (being closest) or Blaster creates. And Calamity's versatile options and preference for range seem best equipped for handling whatever an Unknown can throw her way....

[X] Smart Girl Power
-[X] Taylor supports, focusing unknown
--[X] Unison with Cassiel for processing boost
--[X] Ring Bind the Unknown, the Blaster, and what Wasps she can
--[X] Nonlethal flare blast the unknown if Ringbound, otherwise use Telekinesis and Temporal Sludge first then blast
-[X] Samantha rushes the Blaster
--[X] Swat down any wasps as feasible, but disable the blaster first. Whips are good for breaking the arms that aim beams right? Then finish off wasps
-[X] Vista plays with space, focusing Master
--[X] Manipulate space to put the Master in reach of some Brute knockout punches, keep safe with space-warps and Shield
--[X] Try to corral unbound Wasps for Sam/out of your way

A little busy, but hopefully on the side of a flashy and detailed fight scene rather than too many contingencies?

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Hejtan said:

[X] Smart Girl Power
-[X] Taylor supports, focusing unknown
--[X] Unison with Cassiel for processing boost
--[X] Ring Bind the Unknown, the Blaster, and what Wasps she can
--[X] Nonlethal flare blast the unknown if Ringbound, otherwise use Telekinesis and Temporal Sludge first then blast
-[X] Samantha rushes the Blaster
--[X] Swat down any wasps as feasible, but disable the blaster first. Whips are good for breaking the arms that aim beams right? Then finish off wasps
-[X] Vista plays with space, focusing Master
--[X] Manipulate space to put the Master in reach of some Brute knockout punches, keep safe with space-warps and Shield
--[X] Try to corral unbound Wasps for Sam/out of your way

I like this plan, though I would add Missy helping Samatha get close with her powers a little

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Silvereagle21 said:

[X] Smart Girl Power

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Please consider adding whether you want the wasps dealt with lethally. While the assumption is non-lethal with human opponents, it would be very easy for those wasps to be treated like minions to be crushed rather than potentially salvageable humans.

Once we have them locked down and have found out whether they can reverse the transformation, I wouldn't object overmuch to executing them and putting the wasps out of their misery, but until we have that information, it is perhaps best to be very clear what our intent is.

Wyrd said:

Many parahumans have more than one power. Either of the two we've labeled Master and Blaster could also be a Shaker or who knows what else.

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Most parahumans have one power that they can use in a few ways. The exceptions are Tinkers who cheat, Grab bags, and people like GU and Eidolon.

Will be more interesting if they're NOT parahumans.

Also, you ignored my primary concern in favor of my flippant remark.

Solusandra said:

Most parahumans have one power that they can use in a few ways. The exceptions are Tinkers who cheat, Grab bags, and people like GU and Eidolon.

Will be more interesting if they're NOT parahumans.

Also, you ignored my primary concern in favor of my flippant remark.

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And what point would that be? I read back every post in that read, reference upon reference, and your entire argument seems to be "there's more than one way to achieve that". This has been set up as a fight scene. That's what SW has chosen to give us, so "there doesn't need to be a fight for there to be a religious revolution" is irrelevant.

I responded to that specific line because you aren't questioning your assumptions. Quite a few Worm characters have powers that apply in multiple categories. Now, admittedly that is because the categories aren't all that clear cut and it's usually one power hitting multiple boxes, but assuming that the defensive ability that may or may not be there, as SW insists s/he wasn't referring to just this fight, must belong to the one we haven't seen any powers from.

Solusandra said:

Most parahumans have one power that they can use in a few ways. The exceptions are Tinkers who cheat, Grab bags, and people like GU and Eidolon.

Will be more interesting if they're NOT parahumans.

Also, you ignored my primary concern in favor of my flippant remark.

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And Glory Girl. And Aegis. And Gallant . And Lung. And the Pelhams. And whoever I'm forgetting. Bottom line being, are you willing to risk it?

Wyrd said:

so "there doesn't need to be a fight for there to be a religious revolution" is irrelevant.

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Again, you missed the point.

Wyrd said:

your entire argument seems to be "there's more than one way to achieve that".

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This one is at least closer.
"I'm not giving you the obvious option that you normally go for because I want a fight scene". Ok. Sure. Then have the unknown cape make the laser less effective than going in, Or have the player favorite happen and not work then vote in the cliffhanger, or simply write the fight and vote in the aftermath. Taking the favored option away because it makes the coming scene different and not because its story relevant, in a quest, is irritating.

Hejtan said:

I like this plan, though I would add Missy helping Samatha get close with her powers a little

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Unless I'm mistaken, Samantha is already fast enough to warrant a low mover rating (Gliding Paw ability) even before the teleportation. She doesn't really need the help closing to melee, as expected for a competent sword-type, and in that case I'd rather not distract Vista with another segment of the fight to worry about. Distractions kill maim, after all, and tasking people to cover multiple tasks (ie, Taylor ring binding before she blasts) is already a gamble of sorts.

Wyrd said:

Please consider adding whether you want the wasps dealt with lethally.

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Personally... its that way because I'd rather let Samantha make the call, in part, and also as I'm not sure how well she can mediate strength or anything to manage non-lethal takedowns. And... importantly, I don't want her to take any risks bothering, so leave it to her judgement on whether its extra effort. Being able to reverse that sort of hostile transformation is generally more rare, I think, and we lack that sort of broad-spectrum healer on our own end. At which point, if we aren't so lucky as for the Blaster to be able to undo it... we'd have taken a risk for no purpose. Notably, also not voting Lethal on that element (even if its plausible that Samantha favors it all else equal) because if she can casually swat one and it stays down but not squished, great!

Solusandra said:

Then have the unknown cape make the laser less effective than going in, Or have the player favorite happen and not work then vote in the cliffhanger, or simply write the fight and vote in the aftermath. Taking the favored option away because it makes the coming scene different and not because its story relevant, in a quest, is irritating.

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Isn't having the scene built to reference a plausible reason (which yes, having Vista present especially makes it weaker) already an approach of that sort? Rather than pure fiat, its at least a handwave and a lampshade. We do regularly still use that sort of strategy in fights, or have your version of try and fail and adapt (less often doing that with a vote in between) , so a little forced variety doesn't really bug me.

If only from muchkinry experience... SW could freely let us do the proper Extreme-Range Bombardment we specialize at even above most Nanoha mages... and then they could also apply similar "optimal tactics" with Stranger powers and tinker-tech sniper rifles or something. Considering SW is usually open to discussion on the few occasions the voters have felt an urge to call "Bad QM" on moments like Taylor dying (and.. hey, weren't you the one to wish we'd stayed dead, for good story ?) this sort of negotiated "lets put a limiter on this one fight and try something new" doesn't exactly worry me that we'll be punished for our "less optimal" strategy of skipping SolarSpam.

Personally, I'm in favor of @Wyrd's plan, with a slight modification.

[x] Plan - To Each Their Own v2

-[x] Rescue, THEN Ravage
--[x]Taylor and Cassiel Unison, because more processing power, mana control, and telekinesis...as well as a chance to keep a closer eye on her. Meanwhile, Vista and Sam prepare their moves.
--[x] Vista warps the area, isolating the three capes and their two guards from the surviving sacrifices.
--[x] TK the hostages further away, if the warp isn't enough.
--[x] Taylor drops a Temporal Sludge over each group - the hostages to buy time to react if something threatens them, the enemies to slow them down.
--[x] Prepare Ring Binds for the enemy.
-[X] Master meets Blaster
--[X] Taylor uses Multishot to knock out the Master and all of the Wasps
--[X] Start non-lethal in case the Blaster can reverse the transformation
--[X] If non-lethal flare shooter doesn't work, go to frost beam, then lethal. Consider wasps as unwilling antagonists.
-[X] Tank V. Blaster
--[X] Samantha goes after the Blaster
--[X] If the wasps automatically attack the person attacking the master, Sam is the best suited to take that attack
-[X] Five finger death punch the unknown.
--[x] Vista takes out the unknown
--[X] Using her powers to distort space, she punches the unknown and then snaps away, using hit and run tactics.
--[X] Vista keeps her shield between her and the unknown when not actively attacking.

If the in-story reason we aren't just levelling the area is the hostages, let's make sure they're out of the way first.

Lab_Accident said:

And Glory Girl. And Aegis. And Gallant . And Lung. And the Pelhams. And whoever I'm forgetting. Bottom line being, are you willing to risk it?

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Umm... Most of those with the exception of GG have a single power beyond flight which is the only thing that really gets tacked on as a package deal outside of grab bags and Trumps. Some get a minor secondary, but it is always tied to the primary and isn't something wildly different or equal in power in almost all cases.

Aegis - Flight & Adaptive Biology
Gallant - Emotion affecting blasts & Minor emotion vision.

Pelham's - variations of energy projection & Flight

Lung - Turns into a Dragon

So yes, technically lots of Parahumans get secondary powers, but 99% of those are flight or an extension of the primary outside Trumps or Grab Bags. Those who leverage theirs into multiple effects are either doing something clever or are like Citrine, Legend or Labyrinth and got powers from the top end of the Lottery.

Silently Watches said:

Standing back up to your full height, you toss the staff to Missy again and rise into the air. "We have a destination now. How do you feel about leading a religious revolution?"

Missy slams her armored fist into her fleshy palm. "Taylor, you take me on the best field trips ever, you know that?"

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Just make sure never tell anyone back home about it, else you will start getting multiple assassination attempts by angry anthropologists and other academics from related fields.

Solusandra said:

Again, you missed the point.

This one is at least closer.
"I'm not giving you the obvious option that you normally go for because I want a fight scene". Ok. Sure. Then have the unknown cape make the laser less effective than going in, Or have the player favorite happen and not work then vote in the cliffhanger, or simply write the fight and vote in the aftermath. Taking the favored option away because it makes the coming scene different and not because its story relevant, in a quest, is irritating.

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We can't use area attacks because there are presumed innocents inside. This is the in character reason we can't blast the room.
There are hostages present precisely because it limits our AoE options. This is the ooc reason, because the QM finds 'nuke it from orbit' dull to write(too often) is why we've been given a reason we can't use that option, but this isn't bad qm'ing, in my opinion. That s/he is honest about wanting things to be a little more fun to write should not be a reason for disapproval when this helps to bypass the attempts to weasel around the restriction.

Racoras said:

Personally... its that way because I'd rather let Samantha make the call, in part, and also as I'm not sure how well she can mediate strength or anything to manage non-lethal takedowns. And... importantly, I don't want her to take any risks bothering, so leave it to her judgement on whether its extra effort. Being able to reverse that sort of hostile transformation is generally more rare, I think, and we lack that sort of broad-spectrum healer on our own end. At which point, if we aren't so lucky as for the Blaster to be able to undo it... we'd have taken a risk for no purpose. Notably, also not voting Lethal on that element (even if its plausible that Samantha favors it all else equal) because if she can casually swat one and it stays down but not squished, great!

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Samantha defaults to kill. She has to remember that Taylor would rather she didn't, and them not being human right now might cause her to act without thinking things through. In her favor, we are unlikely to have an rpg-to-the-face and "ketchup" repeat performance. As for how likely it is that she can reverse the transformation? Almost every transformational power I can remember from Worm is reversible. All of the ones that are automatic can be reversed*. It's the ones that require thought and work, like Bonesaw and Panacea, that can't switch things back just as easily as they can change them.

There is also the possibility that these aren't prisoners, convicts, slaves, etc. These could be soldiers being transformed in preparation for an attack on other parahuman 'god's, or workers who will be doing tasks their human forms aren't suited for. We simply don't know enough for me to feel comfortable risking their lives unless they make it necessary. There's a good chance we will have to kill the wasps, but I'd really like to at least try to spare them.

*In all fairness, my memory is full of holes, so my perception could easily be very incorrect.

[X] Plan: To each their own

[X] Smart Girl Power

[X] Smart Girl Power
-[X] Taylor supports, focusing unknown
--[X] Unison with Cassiel for processing boost
--[X] Ring Bind the Unknown, the Blaster, and what Wasps she can
--[X] Nonlethal flare blast the unknown if Ringbound, otherwise use Telekinesis and Temporal Sludge first then blast
-[X] Samantha rushes the Blaster
--[X] Swat down any wasps as feasible, but disable the blaster first. Whips are good for breaking the arms that aim beams right? Then finish off wasps
-[X] Vista plays with space, focusing Master
--[X] Manipulate space to put the Master in reach of some Brute knockout punches, keep safe with space-warps and Shield
--[X] Try to corral unbound Wasps for Sam/out of your way

Silently Watches said:

stepped foot on.

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set foot on.

…Are we sure that turning into a wasp is destroying their intelligence? "Good," it appears not.
[x] Nonlethal for wasps.

[X] Plan Surprise Attack
-[X] Taylor unison with Cassiel.
--[X] Use Telekinesis to slam the Blaster face first into the wall, preventing her of using her power, and Ring Bind her in such position.
--[X] Use Flare Shooter Multishot to deal with the wasps and their Master.
-[X] Sam drops on the unknown to knock him out. If it works, knock the Master out too.
-[X] Vista warps space to protect the innocents and support Sam.

Shaseyu said:

[X] Plan Surprise Attack
-[X] Taylor unison with Cassiel.
--[X] Use Telekinesis to slam the Blaster face first into the wall, preventing her of using her power, and Ring Bind her in such position.
--[X] Use Flare Shooter Multishot to deal with the wasps and their Master.
-[X] Sam drops on the unknown to knock him out. If it works, knock the Master out too.
-[X] Vista warps space to protect the innocents and support Sam.

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Your plan makes tactical sense, and I'd vote for it, but the whole reason we came out here was for Vista to fight stuff.

[X] Plan: To each their own

Lab_Accident said:

Your plan makes tactical sense, and I'd vote for it, but the whole reason we came out here was for Vista to fight stuff.

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Well, we're voting for the plan that Vista will suggest. So IC it will be her own decision to not fight stuff.

Also, it's good to hear my plan makes tactical sense! Truth be told, I made it only because I really want to slam somebody into the wall...

Shaseyu said:

Well, we're voting for the plan that Vista will suggest. So IC it will be her own decision to not fight stuff.

Also, it's good to hear my plan makes tactical sense! Truth be told, I made it only because I really want to slam somebody into the wall...

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I've been eyeing that Telekinesis boost as well. Still. If, after all the talk of getting to fight, Vista decided to sit this one out, it would be very OOC for her, IC.

[X] Plan: To each their own

Shaseyu said:

Also, it's good to hear my plan makes tactical sense! Truth be told, I made it only because I really want to slam somebody into the wall...

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Nothing wrong with that. Our telekinesis doesn't see enough screen time. I don't feel this is the best time for that, but I can appreciate the desire nonetheless.

[X] Plan: To each their own