I refuse to choose Touma because he's boring, chronic hero syndrome, and the fact the he gives reduced aim and more likely to be critted is a death wish in an XCOM game.
[X] Kiyama Harumi
[X] Moderate Mechanics
[X] Accept MISAKAs offer of a tour.
*No one wanting to XCOM in XCOM* *People actually wanting Touma* ... Our entire base will be underwater inside the day if he wins. Even if we were at the top of a mountain, it would happen.
No, just no. And that's not getting into anything else wrong with the guy.
[X] Heaven Canceller
[X] Light Novel
[X] Accept MISAKAs offer of a tour.
Touma as a the Commander really doesn't work, due to his luck going straight to the rolls.
Now, Touma as a resource is a completely different story. He's basically the ultimate fuck-you to supernatural enemies, as most conceptual bullshit is just no-sell'd. Give him actual combat training, put him in one of those fancy power armors with a simple rig to expose his right hand at a moment's notice and we would have a trump card to play against any and all supernatural bullshit. Sadly, I don't think Aleyster would like or allow his recruitment, even if we had the option.
Of course, if we did get him working for XCOM, there would be only one possible outcome to this fight with the aliens. Dropping Touma on their main ship with a explosive set up to blow off his right arm and let loose the Invisible Thing(s?). I give him about 70% odds of survival, considering his experience with collapsing floating structures at the end of WW3.
Both Touma and Shiage I would prefer to have the ability to deploy them at some point. Also Touma's negative is the worst on the list. I still want to get some magic side characters but I would prefer to pick a commander with no personal combat ability which leaves me with only Gensei and Heaven Canceller. Harumi is also a fighter since she could reactivate Multi-Skill.
[X] Heaven Canceller
[X] Moderate Mechanics
[X] Accept MISAKAs offer of a tour.
I'm worried that if we have anyone using level Upper that someone will eventually go into a coma in the middle of a mission and that is too great a risk to take in my opinion. Heaven Canceller is safe mode with the least impactful negative and I like Gene Labs. Also since Heaven Canceller is on good terms with Crowley we probably have some chance to get some Magic Side characters recruited.
[X] Kiyama Harumi
[X] Moderate Mechanics
[X] Accept MISAKAs offer of a tour.
"Show me around," you say. "But quickly. I don't want to leave our fighters in a lurch for too long."
MISAKA nods, and hops out of the wheeled chair she was sitting in, nearly skipping down the halls in front of you. You're tempted to ask why she was in a wheelchair in the first place, but you decided it wasn't worth questioning.
"'First up, we have the scientific department,'" MISAKA said cheerfully, pointing through a glass partition to an expansive laboratory, lined with counters, chemicals, and testing equipment. From where you're standing, you can't see all of the room, but immediately you see a collection of laboratory grade voltage generators, electron microscopes, a massive cabinet of solvents and reagents...stuff you haven't seen since your college years. "'Since we don't know what the aliens will be like or what kind of equipment they use, this place has every piece of equipment we thought we might need to analyze it. Or at least that's what the scientists tell MISAKA,' MISAKA explains as she shows Commander the room."
You glance inside the glass door. Every scientist you make eye contact with dutifully stops their work and salutes you. "As you were," you say awkwardly, not really used to the military atmosphere.
"Who runs the laboratory?" you ask the brown haired girl standing next to you.
"'MISAKA believes his name is Heaven Canceller,' MISAKA replies."
"Heaven Canceller? He's a good man," you say. "Helped me out a lot with the Child Errors fiasco. But isn't he mostly a doctor?"
"I did invent a miraculous life support device," a male voice says from behind you. You turn around to see a squat, balding man holding a clipboard. "I assure you, Commander Kiyama, I possess the vision and drive required to head XCOM's research department, and I know you need no further recommendation regarding my character and dedication."
"It will be wonderful to have you, Dr---". You struggle for a few moments searching for the information. "Dr. Canceller?"
"Heaven Canceller or Doctor will be fine, Commander." You nod as a researcher with a clipboard walks up to the doctor and begins to list off a number of chemical supplies with names that are roughly fifty syllables long, or at least they feel that way. You try to make a polite excuse to leave, but Heaven Canceller just gives you a wave and sends you on your way.
MISAKA walks you back down the hall in the opposite direction past the Situation Room. Another hundred meters down the hallway, there's a double door simply labeled 'Engineering.'
As you approach the door, you hear the sound of loud yelling, followed by the sound of an explosion that nearly blows the doors off its hinges. Wisely, you decide to come back later, following MISAKA down a flight of stairs and through another series of hallways.
"And here we have the barracks!" MISAKA said. Around the room, you saw several other MISAKAs, each of which is nearly identical to the MISAKA next to you but for their larger size, Tokiwadai school uniforms, and absent ahoge. The front of the room is lined with several floor to ceiling lockers, each containing an identical Kevlar vest, matte black assault rifle, and tactical goggle rig, while the back of the room clearly expands into an open space lined with bunk beds. Four lockers are currently empty.
"'This is where the MISAKAs and MISAKA relax when we're not on duty. It's not much, but it's home, MISAKA supposes,' says MISAKA as she introduces her sisters," said MISAKA.
"How do you...relax in here?" you ask, looking over the bare space. Other than the beds, there's no furniture to be had. "It doesn't look like there's much of anything for you to do."
"'MISAKA and her sisters don't have much to do, it's true, but our conditions aren't poor by any means,' MISAKA explains in order to subtly request improvements. 'Furthermore, such conditions are still an improvement as compared to what we experienced during Project Radio Noise. You shouldn't trouble yourself with us,' finishes MISAKA."
You're not very comfortable with that, but you let MISAKA guide you away from the barracks and back towards central command. To be honest, the whole idea of using child soldiers such as the MISAKAs made you uneasy. It was true that the MISAKAs were specifically designed for military applications, and had largely accepted their lot in life, but...
"'Are you ready, Commander?' MISAKA asks with a worried look on her face." Indeed, the young girl did look worried. "MISAKA thinks you might be worried about making use of the MISAKAs as soldiers. Truthfully, MISAKA and her sisters were designed to be killed as part of Level 6 Shift. MISAKA was designed to be killed, Commander. At least now, you're giving MISAKA and her sisters a fighting chance,' MISAKA says inspirationally."
"That doesn't mean I have to like it," you say truthfully. MISAKA hops back into her wheelchair and spins around to face you.
"MISAKA is preparing a link with her sisters in the field." The brown haired girl goes limp in front of you, making the wheelchair's utility obvious. Even as she slumps in the chair, her eyes meet yours. A small rhythmic pulsing of sparks scatter from around MISAKA's head for several seconds, ending just as four screens and the holotable light up simultaneously. While the holotable shows a map of a section of Academy City (though you don't know which one), each screen shows a different view of the same unassuming bank.
It's only when a hand reaches out and one of the 'cameras' vault a fence that you realize that the 'cameras' are actually live video feeds, presumably from the goggles you saw in the barracks earlier.
"All MISAKAs, check in," a technician called from behind you. Four female voices, each with the same unusually low pitch and nearly robotic phrasing, respond in turn.
"MISAKA 10035, taking point. Approaching the Academy City bank."
"MISAKA 10034, providing overwatch from a tree in the adjacent park."
"MISAKA 10033, preparing a breaching charge."
"MISAKA 10032, squad leader, awaiting permission to engage extraterrestrial forces."
"'Targets have barricaded themselves within the bank,' MISAKA reports. 'Extraterrestrials are assumed armed and extremely dangerous. Some extraterrestrials have displayed esper-like powers in available footage; caution recommended. Your orders, Commander?"
[OPTION SELECT - COMBAT]
MISAKA-class General Purpose Unit x4
HP: 4 | Armor: 1
AIM: 70
WILL: 45
DEFENSE: 10
Gender: F
Source Esper: Misaka Mikoto (Level 5 Electromaster, ranked third in Academy City)
Standard Equipment:
Assault Rifle: An effective weapon for most ranges of engagement, although specialized weapons are more useful at short and long range. Deals 3-5 damage following a successful hit. Fires 3 burst before reloading is required.
Fragmentation Grenade: A grenade that is especially useful for damaging unarmored enemies. Deals 4 damage at the center of its blast radius, decreasing depending on distance and cover relative to the location of detonation.
Ballistic Vest: Absorbs 1 point of damage the first time the wearer is damaged. If only the vest is damaged, the wearer requires no recovery time after the mission.
Esper Ability: Level 2 Radio Noise (derivative of Electromaster)
Spark: Fires a lightning bolt in a straight line at the target, dealing 1-2 damage. More accurate at short and medium range then a firearm. Damage is increased against wet targets and mechanical units.
Arc Thrower: Attempts to stun a nearby enemy, disabling them for the rest of the mission and allowing them to be interrogated at headquarters. Requires close range and is more likely to succeed against wounded targets.
Special Equipment (by unit):
MISAKA 10034: Marksman's Scope (AIM increased while remaining stationary.)
MISAKA 10033: Breaching Charge (Blows a hole in a weak wall or doorway.)
No visible enemies.
Would you like somewhere to talk about the quest and ask quick questions other than in the main thread?
[ ] Discord
[ ] Skype group
[ ] Wouldn't use one.
What kind of update schedule would you like for this quest? (GM time permitting)
[ ] Every other day
[ ] 3-4 days between updates
[ ] Weekly
Give orders to your soldiers!
Riot Voting apply for all orders given to soldiers during combat. All orders issued by players will be executed in chronological order as displayed on SV. If you would like to wait and see how the existing actions unfold before submitting more orders, you may vote [x] End Voting.
The aliens are used to fighting Academy City's incompetent law enforcement, so you should punch them in the mouth straight away to show them what they're in for. Breaching the security door and swarming in with your troops would be a good start.
The aliens barricaded themselves, so they're probably expecting you. A more cautious and stealthy approach could also succeed. Have some of your espers sneak around the side of the bank to cover the other exits, then hit them from all sides.
The area's already been evacuated by Judgement, so there's no reason for the aliens to wait in place. There's a good chance they'll make a break for it once they realize they're surrounded. Wait for the aliens to try to attack.
Sorry, I have neither, and conflicting timezones might pose a problem. I'd feel more comfortable if every discussion is made in this thread.
And oooh dear. The original is going to be sooo mad if she finds out about this. Hell, I feel mad about it!
Ok, before any decision is taken, could we have details about expected enemy forces? Estimated numbers? And when you say some display "esper-like powers", what kind? Just standard psionic abilities from sectoïds?
Well, the way I think about it is that it's a place to hang out with other players, discuss theories, and toss ideas off the wall, because it's a lot faster to chat back and forth in an IRC environment. Obviously, a lot of discussion would still occur in the thread, and voting would still take place in the thread.
Ok, before any decision is taken, could have details about expected enemy forces? Estimated numbers? And when you say some display "esper-like powers", what kind? Just standard psionic abilities from sectoïds?
This is the first mission in an XCOM-like campaign, so it'll be a small group (between 6-10 units). I won't confirm the enemy composition at this time, but Sectoids, Drones, and Thin Men are all potential enemy spawns. I'm not interested in brutalizing you on the first mission; there'll be plenty of time for that later.
When I refer to 'esper-like powers', I'm referring to standard Sectoid psionic abilities. They don't have any powers other than that, but you should still be wary.
All of the above information is Out of Character (OOC), of course, so I don't recommend you use it to justify the orders you eventually give.
I like this, or maybe even once a week, for noncombat updates. In combat, with this voting system? Resolution as fast as possible. It sort of helps that 48 hours is the new cutoff for deleting posts.
As to combat planning: I like the idea of surrounding them, preparing an ambush, and then waiting until they try to leave. On the other hand, they might all try running in one direction, and that could leave a MISAKA badly outnumbered. Why don't we have several proximity mines, again? (Translation: Research, get on that.)
Oh, believe me, I am wary. We're outnumbered 2 to 1, a good shot from a plasma pistol is all it takes for losing one rookie, and I don't want to explain Mikoto, Accelerator and/or Touma : "yeeeeah, by the way, we just got a few MISAKA clones killed when they were supposed to live safe lives now. Woops, my bad."
Right now, I'd probably favour the "sneak around and attack from all sides approach". The All-Out offence could probably succeed with a liberal use of grenades, but with heavy casualty risks, and I'm not a fan of letting the enemy seize the initiative and the place of engagement in the Wait and See approach.
So, something like
- having 10035 and 10033 sneak around to cover the other exit(s?)
- 10034 is covering the manoeuvre, fire at will if any alien notices us
- 10032 remains in position to coordinate the movements.
- If encirclement successful, grenades away from 10035 and 10032, demolition charge from 10033, 10034 can take potshots at any alien in the open
- bang bang bang.
- flawless victory?
Riot Voting apply for all orders given to soldiers during combat. All orders issued by players will be executed in chronological order as displayed on SV.
[] MISAKA 10034 and 10035 cover the front, in avalable cover and report their sightings to the other team. 10033 and 10032 use a side door, breach if needed, that contains more cover/fewer enemies if possible. Grenades free.
is likely as good as we're going to get without a map ha.
I'm fine with using Radio Noise. There's still close to 10,000 of them running around, they're owned by academy city... Honestly, this is one of the better things they could have ended up being used for. At least we can help them.
Also, Level Upper means we might get them to Level 4 at some point, and that's bullshit.
Its from a civ5 modciv. There's also a pic of three of them holding assault rifles and one with a sniper rifle is you want me to grab those eventually.
Also... You know, EM control defends against a lot of projectiles everyone uses. Like, getting them armor for anything other than their back might actually be detrimental. We just need to drill that defense into them. It doesn't have to be perfect either, just enough to push it off to the side or something.
As for the plan, as long as the one on overwatch can snipe at the ones inside to help cover the one in front, then its good.
[X] Wouldn't use one.
[X] 3-4 days between updates
And improved aim. I think they could use their EM control to help them hold their guns, maybe? Recoil is a little fast... maybe a boosted chance for getting more aim every rank up? I.E. getting used to their guns and how they kick and so are better able to work with it both physically and EM wise.