[X]Attack the Scorpion. Something like that can't be left to wonder around.
Looks like free EXP. I recommend having Gabriel intercept its attacks while Truth and Solid Core blast it to kingdom come. Team Gear can cast buffs and keep an eye out for trouble.
I'm expecting that things will play out much the same for both options. If we attack it will rush somewhere so we follow to the desired point. If we let it go it aggros something that Gaia wants to gain our attention. Since it doesn't look that tough I favor attacking it.
[X]Attack the Scorpion. Something like that can't be left to wonder around.
Looks like free EXP. I recommend having Gabriel intercept its attacks while Truth and Solid Core blast it to kingdom come. Team Gear can cast buffs and keep an eye out for trouble.
I'm expecting that things will play out much the same for both options. If we attack it will rush somewhere so we follow to the desired point. If we let it go it aggros something that Gaia wants to gain our attention. Since it doesn't look that tough I favor attacking it.
Hm. JC's Judge Cannon is as follows:
Damage = 1,021 Base Damage + 1d205 Magic Modifier + 204 Full Auto + 204 Full Auto + 204 Full Auto + 204 Full Auto + 204 Full Auto = Minimum 2,042 -> Maximum 2,246
Nepgear's Base Resilience drops that down to somewhere between 2,015 and 1,642, which Armored Core: Adamantium further reduces to between 504 and 411, finally No Longer Human gives a Final Damage of between 252 and 206.
This incidentally shows why it's basically pointless to invest in levels of Armored Core. If you do the math it turns out a full 5 levels of Armored Core effective only results in a 28 point reduction in the Final Damage since in effect the damage reducers of Armored Core and No Longer Human both apply to Base Resilience.
The above can be demonstrated by laying out the effective formula for damage reduction.
First take Damage (D) and reduce it by Base Resilience (B)
Damage = D - B
Then multiply the result by 0.25 because of Armored Core:
Damage = (D - B) * 0.25
Finally multiply that result by 0.5 because of No Longer Human:
Damage = ((D - B) * 0.25) * 0.5
By expanding the brackets we get:
Damage = ((D - B) * 0.25) * 0.5
Damage = (D - B) * 0.25 * 0.5
Damage = 0.125(D - B)
Damage = 0.125D - 0.125B
Which neatly shows that Base Resilience is effectively reduced just as much by Armored Core and No Longer Human as the actual damage dealt is.
So for the most part we are better off spending the XP somewhere else. Honestly the biggest value of Base Resilience is it increases the amount of damage Nepgear can no sell, except that thanks to Armored Core so does Health, albeit at a slightly lower rate, and that has additional uses.
Getting back on topic; so we can definitely survive one direct hit and possibly two if we're lucky. That said we don't quite know how Nepgear deals with low health. Other people can die/fall-unconscious from relatively minor health loss if they are unlucky, thanks to having vulnerable organs and such, but No Longer Humans sounds like it would negate that:
but we don't know how that works, at least as far as I know, in practice.
Still I feel safe in saying that we could absorb at least one attack in combat with Judgement Core. Well she'd OHKO Nepgear if she used her End Game spell but I don't think we've ever seen someone use a spell in practice spars, probably because of issues making them non-lethal.
However I kinda just realized this is all irrelevant. Because unless Judgement Core can get in some kind of surprise effect, which would be surprising (pun intended) considering it's a spar, Nepgear automatically goes first:
When battle starts, initiative goes to whatever group has the greatest call to surprise: for example if your characters bursts through the wall and starts shooting everything in sight, you get initiative. Or if a demon bursts through a wall and tackles you as, it gets initiative.
So on.
If neither side has a lead on surprise, then it boils down to relevance to the story. As Main Character, Anastasia will always have initiative in an open battle, regardless of speed. After she goes, then whoever has greater narrative importance to the story goes next.
With the vote currently leaning towards grabbing Applied Teachings Nepgear is guaranteed a OHKO on Judgement Core with JC's current stats.
Purifier Beam/Panzer Blade = 757 Base Damage + 1d170 Magic Modifier = Minimum 758 -> Maximum 927
Judgement Core has 305 Base Resilience plus 1d205 Magic Modifier to reduce that damage. I'm going to assume the Juggernaut ability only applies to the 305 Base Resilience not the combined score so effectively she has 77 Base Resilience + 1d205 Magic Modifier. That reduces the damage to between 849 and 476 which Armoed Core: Steel then drops to between 636 and 357.
Judgement Core's Health is 550 which means for The Insurmountable Gap to activate we have to deal a Final Damage of 276 or greater. Given that even the minimum damage is significantly larger then that it is guaranteed to activate and thus generate a OHKO on Judgement Core.
So unless Judgement Core grinds like crazy between today and tomorrow, unlikely given her wounds, or manages to pull off a lucky block, certainly possible but I don't know how likely it is especially given her lack of a melee weapon and Nepgear's impending surge in skill, our next fight is pretty much guaranteed to be a repeat of the last.
On the bright side knowing that Nepgear won because she was better rather then it just being a fluke would certainly light a fire under Judgement Core's arse to get better.
Hm. JC's Judge Cannon is as follows:
Damage = 1,021 Base Damage + 1d205 Magic Modifier + 204 Full Auto + 204 Full Auto + 204 Full Auto + 204 Full Auto + 204 Full Auto = Minimum 2,042 -> Maximum 2,246
It rounds up. Most inconvenient point, remember? Not that it changes the numbers much, it's +5 to the Minimum and Maximum.
Also, if we Intercept the attack, we take less damage. And with Judgement, the Magic Modifier is removed. So it's a flat 2,046 in damage, minus 989 to 1,327 damage.
Assuming a result of 1 for the Magic Modifier for both Interception and Resilience, that leasts 1057 damage. Adamantium reduces that to 265, and No Longer Human reduces that to 133. So capable of taking at least 3 intercepted attacks.
Assuming average results, damage is 888, and the final damage is 111. Best case, 719 damage, which is then reduced to 90.
With the vote currently leaning towards grabbing Applied Teachings Nepgear is guaranteed a OHKO on Judgement Core with JC's current stats.
Purifier Beam/Panzer Blade = 757 Base Damage + 1d170 Magic Modifier = Minimum 758 -> Maximum 927
Judgement Core has 305 Base Resilience plus 1d205 Magic Modifier to reduce that damage. I'm going to assume the Juggernaut ability only applies to the 305 Base Resilience not the combined score so effectively she has 77 Base Resilience + 1d205 Magic Modifier. That reduces the damage to between 849 and 476 which Armoed Core: Steel then drops to between 636 and 357.
Judgement Core's Health is 550 which means for The Insurmountable Gap to activate we have to deal a Final Damage of 276 or greater. Given that even the minimum damage is significantly larger then that it is guaranteed to activate and thus generate a OHKO on Judgement Core.
You've forgotten about Judgement, which eliminates the Magic Modifier as it's standard, basic effect. So it's 77 Resilience, flat. Meaning it's 850 to 681 of Base Damage, and Armored Core: Steel reduces that to 638 to 511.
Very good point. However doesn't that mean sacrificing one of our attacks that turn? Because Judgement Core has just as many attacks per turn as Nepgear (3) so it seems like a losing proposal.
Well it's less that I forgot and more that I misremembered what Judgement did. But yeah that has a pretty significant effect and means defending against us must suck.
I'd bet that Judgment Core buys Armored Core: Mythril by tomorrow. that would boost JC's resilience to 455 and give her the 50% damage reduction. The faster flight speed of Judgment Core might also let her get a shot off before Solid Core closes to melee. Here's some numbers if JC goes first and has Mythril.
Max damage from The Judge Cannon is 1,021 * 2 (Full Auto) + 205, or 2247. Minus 231-400 from SC's resilience and dice then divided by 8, worst case Nepgear takes 252 final damage charging through the fire, best case is 206 final damage. Nepgear probably can't take two volleys from Judgment Core, but it could go either way.
Purifier Beam/Panzer Blade = 757 Base Damage + 1d170 Magic Modifier = Minimum 758 -> Maximum 927
Judgment removes defense dice. One quarter of 455 resilience applies because of Juggernaut. 758-927 damage is reduced by 114, 644-783 damage hits Armored Core. Mythril reduces by half which doesn't end up mattering because The Insurmountable Gap doubles it right back up (minimum damage is more than JC's max health). Judgment Core gets dropped in one hit.
Even if Judgment Core grabs an upgrade she still can't take a hit. In a Dakka-off she loses as soon as she stops intercepting/parrying our shots. Maybe the next time we beat her she'll gain No Longer Human and be able to trade blows -- at least until we each get a few more weapon upgrades.
No Spells: Depends on the nature of the contest. JC is really good against large groups of mooks and against structures, but Nepgear would probably be better against individual, tougher opponents. JC is basically firing grenades, we're firing anti-armour rounds.
With Spells: JC, no contest. Both characters spells cover the weakpoint of their weapon, but her spell (The End) is currently way better then ours(Starlight).
Very good point. However doesn't that mean sacrificing one of our attacks that turn? Because Judgement Core has just as many attacks per turn as Nepgear (3) so it seems like a losing proposal.
Well it's less that I forgot and more that I misremembered what Judgement did. But yeah that has a pretty significant effect and means defending against us must suck.
Extra sucky when you remember that under the right conditions Judgement completely negates their Resilience, and Juggernaut bypasses certain defensive abilities/spells.
Under worst-case scenario for Nepgear, she only bypasses their magic modifier and 75% of their Base Resilience. In the best-case scenario, the damage is dealt in fully, bypassing everything.
The problem with that is that it is still predicated on JC being able to dodge Purifier Beams left and right. Remember, Panzer Blade and Purifier Beam share the same damage, affinities, and abilities. So hitting her with a Purifier Beam would still one shot her like we did with Panzer Blade.
