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Magical Girl Escalation Taylor (Worm/Nanoha)

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Sheaman3773 said:
"He's either a coward or a conscript."
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Do we actually have anything that indicates this? The only thing I can remember about him is that he is not above doing some breaking and entry and that he has the self-preservation to run from the junior triumvirate hero who has a history of turning folks like him into fine mist.

Actually that's a wider point about Arcana asking anyone to surrender. This is the team whose debut was to turn in the severed heads of the whole Simurgh branch of the fallen with a vague "you're next" directed at anyone they find equally bad and whose leader has a history of turning nazis into fine mist. Considering their, albeit brief, history this might not be a team you surrender to.
 
henkalv said:
Do we actually have anything that indicates this?
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I phrased it in a particular way for a reason:
Sheaman3773 said:
I mean, I was thinking we could brief them about prolly!Theo before we go in, and the exact words I thought Taylor/Samantha would use were, "He's either a coward or a conscript."
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Samantha wasn't a part of that scene, but that certainly seemed to be what Taylor thought:
Silently Watches said:
"If he was a minor villain out from a different country, he would have been more confident," you reply. "He acted scared of his own shadow. Nothing about his behavior fits." The version of him on the screen rips through the wall, and you shake your head. "I still find it hard to believe he ran after getting just a glimpse of me. I'm not that scary."

"Says the girl who has one of the highest cumulative ratings ever recorded, is in the top tier of Blasters worldwide, and singlehandedly butchered the largest assembly of the Fallen I have heard of." She gives you a mocking shrug. "Of course. Why would he possibly be afraid of little old you?"

"Most of that is confidential information or just unknown by anybody else, and you know it," you cut in with a roll of your eyes. The faint smile you wear fades as another explanation for this cape's behavior comes to mind. "Hey, Dragon? Do you think maybe he was conscripted into a gang? That could explain why he was so nervous. He didn't want to be there in the first place, but he doesn't have the option of saying no."
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So I do think that's how Taylor would describe him, yes.

I don't think Theo's a coward--I quite like him, actually, and it's a shame he isn't used in more fanfics--but to Taylor, those are the two options she's considered.
henkalv said:
Actually that's a wider point about Arcana asking anyone to surrender. This is the team whose debut was to turn in the severed heads of the whole Simurgh branch of the fallen with a vague "you're next" directed at anyone they find equally bad and whose leader has a history of turning nazis into fine mist. Considering their, albeit brief, history this might not be a team you surrender to.
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That's an interesting point.

I think the fact that the PRT is right there, though, means that that can't really be used as an excuse.
 
We're about to attack a weapons storehouse with plenty of guards powered and unpowered... Let's negate the advantage of the weapons and spam Rust Shooter.

Because, frankly, it's a useful spell that I don't think we've used once. And this is a pretty much ideal time to use it.
 
TaliesinSkye said:
What about saying 'screw combat, people could get hurt' and hitting the building with a non-lethal bombardment? That should incapacitate the mooks and most or all of the capes; anyone remaining should be easy to mop up with overwhelming numbers.
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The problem is unlike Nanoha who deals pure magic damage Taylor is more limited to that because of her Flare Mana Conversion ability. We cant cast truly non lethal Divine Busters because of the heat/fire element setting on fire people/property... Plus there is also radiation to deal with.

That aside more details that pop out aka Cricket the more this one becomes a tempting tactic ngl. You don't bring a gun to knife fight when you have a tank after all.
 
Non-lethal spells don't create radiation. The real issue is that the spell is non-lethal, but a building collapsing on people can kill.
 
Okay, here's a potential plan
[] Plan Two-Pronged Surprise
-[] Have Samantha teleport herself, Scathach, Alpha, Shield, Echo, and Sword into the centre of the room. Have Alpha Force Blast Cricket. Have Shield and Scathach go for the metal boy. Have Samantha, Echo, and Sword begin smashing up the normals.
-[] Have Calamity, Scarlet, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Mask, and Tome enter through the windows. Calamity casts Wide Area Search upon entry, then fires Rust Shooters + Burst at the weapons in crates. Send WAS screen to Alpha, Missy, and the overwatch team. Delta assists with covering the fighters on the ground with his Shooter. Bravo and Tome cast Binds on the two unknown parahumans. Charlie and Mask enter cloaked and shadow Scarlet as she scouts some of the unseen areas (Have her Guardian Summon accompanying her).
-[] Keep Sailor, Foxtrot, and Rifle on overwatch. Either knock out runners from the building or tag them with a tracking bullet for later. Keep watch for reinforcements and warn rest of team of approaching parahumans.

I think it's reasonable and utilizes everyone. Also, I think Kayleigh new costume is inspired by Coco Adel from RWBY? And her first one was based on Mami from PMMM? Does anyone agree or do they have a better idea for inspiration?
 
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Hmmm...

*Steeples fingers and thinks*

We might be starting to overthink this. Arcana alone excels at mass crowd control of the non-lethal and lethal variety, and this PRT mage strike squad likely aren't slouches. However, we haven't heard of them being deployed before, so this might actually be their very first deployment, which could set a precent for how they're used in the future.

With Cricket/Melody and Theo at least confirmed present, the Recursion Field is likely to be something this gang has been warned about, but given the number of mages present I find myself doubting that the tactic is even necessary. This can likely be handled similarly to how the Simurgh clan of the Fallen was handled, adjusted to minimize casualties.

My take on this?

Keep some mages from both teams on overwatch/perimeter control, and have the PRT mage squad go in first to drop the hammer with Arcana supporting them. Any runners, Taylor, Kayleigh, and two or four of the PRT mages could handle, leaving the others (especially Missy) to mop the floor with these scumbags. If there's any unexpected surprises, Taylor can be the anvil to the PRT mages' hammer and bring the hurt on whoever needs it.

In fact? As an alternative have Taylor, Kayleigh, and those chosen few PRT mages at one side, then put the rest of the mage Squad with Arcana supporting at the other sweep towards them, with a couple Guardian Beasts on the flanks. Any of these criminals that don't swiftly get taken down get pushed towards Taylor and the others.
 
Something that occurs to me is that this may be a decent time to use the recursion field infiltration trick that was used on Bakuda. It may not help them know the enemy, but being able to launch an attack with everyone already in optimal locations seems like it would be useful.

Besides that, could we use a flare shooter barrage on the weapons crates as the battle starts? We may not be able to reduce them to rust, but if they are hot to the touch, maybe even melted, then they aren't being used to shoot at anyone...

Ah. One other thing occurs to me. Maybe I have missed it, but do we (and more importantly Taylor) know what the PRT mages can do? I mean, beyond the general "this one is sneaky and this one is shooty" part. Asking because it could be useful if one of them could, say, use a rust shooter type spell themselves.
 
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Elipses said:
Ah. One other thing occurs to me. Maybe I have missed it, but do we (and more importantly Taylor) know what the PRT mages can do?
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It's listed under Operation Pentagram in the character sheets page what each of the members can do. No Rust Shooters. Guardian Beast spells aren't listed, but we can figure out what they do from their class. If it's listed, that means that Taylor and the group can find out when Alpha briefs them on the plan.
The risk of Flare Shooters on a weapons crate is if there are explosives contained within, they'll be set off. Not great for maintaining a battle plan or reducing casualities.
 
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kamkong said:
Also, I think Kayleigh new costume is inspired by Coco Adel from RWBY
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Correct!
Geas said:
However, we haven't heard of them being deployed before, so this might actually be their very first deployment, which could set a precent for how they're used in the future
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It's not. They have an interlude (14.o) detailing their first deployment, and in 14.6 Agent Morgan/Foxtrot says they were going after the Wolfheads after they took out the independent flight-capable villains.
Elipses said:
Something that occurs to me is that this may be a decent time to use the recursion field infiltration trick that was used on Bakuda. It may not help them know the enemy, but being able to launch an attack with everyone already in optimal locations seems like it would be useful.
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Good luck with that.
Elipses said:
Maybe I have missed it, but do we (and more importantly Taylor) know what the PRT mages can do?
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Take a look at their character sheets.
kamkong said:
Guardian Beast spells aren't listed
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They aren't, you're right, but you know what four of the six can do since they share spells with Samantha (Sword), Cat Sith (Shield), Firefly and Nostromo (Gear, though randoms can also make Storage Devices), and Olivia (Tome). Masks can turn invisible and have some other stealthy sabotage stuff, and Rifles have the basic Shooter package with homing bullets, binds, and teleportation.
 
Silently Watches said:
Masks can turn invisible and have some other stealthy sabotage stuff
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Back when we created all the Guardian Beasts for Pentagram, you said this about the Mask
Silently Watches said:
"Guardian Beasts of Mask. Infiltrators, saboteurs. Capable of taking form of others as well as emulating spells and Rare Skills."

"They can use other mages' Rare Skills?" you ask in surprise. Back before Perfect Storm accepted that parahumans were not mages, it had described parahuman powers as Rare Skills, hadn't it? "Would they be able to copy a cape's abilities?"

"…Possible?"
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Did you change your mind on giving them shapeshifting (even through illusions) and copying of abilities since they are a fairly powerful mechanic?
 
New thought: Rust Shooter with Burst active to slag all their gear without causing any harm to the people in the room. I've been wanting to see that spell actually be useful again, and this may be the perfect time for that.

kamkong said:
WAS does build a 3D model. When Taylor used it back on the Mara raid, she could provide enough detail about the next room that Laura could blast them with an Ice Bomb. I know that Taylor could share the visual feed with those close to her, but it is likely limited to people right next to the mage casting WAS.
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You missed the important bit. I'm not talking about casting WAS to create a model, but for the Devices to create a model based not on a single spell, but the combined input from the stealthy members, letting us have that tactical advantage without having to first reveal ourselves to them.
 
kamkong said:
Back when we created all the Guardian Beasts for Pentagram, you said this about the Mask

Did you change your mind on giving them shapeshifting (even through illusions) and copying of abilities since they are a fairly powerful mechanic?
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Nope! I just didn't want to go through the trouble of writing it. I think turning into other people counts as "stealthy sabotage stuff".
Wyrd said:
You missed the important bit. I'm not talking about casting WAS to create a model, but for the Devices to create a model based not on a single spell, but the combined input from the stealthy members, letting us have that tactical advantage without having to first reveal ourselves to them.
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They could, but it wouldn't be updated with people's positions like WAS can do. Mostly because once the fight breaks out, the Devices are putting their processing power to spell calculations and proximity monitoring.
 
So, first off I think we should make sure everyone knows what the identified capes can do. It shouldn't be long, but it should reduce unknown variables and allow people tasked with their takedown to tailor their approach. Secondly I'm wondering if we could turn this into an ambush; have Arcana attack like this was your average cape fight but then when the Wolfshead capes dogpile in Pentagram steps in once it looks like all those who are going to get involved have done so. Alternatively if some decide to nope right out of the area, they can be run down and detained at the states pleasure all the same.

The other possibility that occurred to me is that, somewhat the inverse, we let Pentagram start this show and have Arcana show up as the period at the end of the sentence, but I'm not so pleased with that possibility.
 
Sheaman3773 said:
Um...yeah, it was public knowledge. They were talking about it being a public reform when Purity surrendered, and...well, Missy knowing isn't the most conclusive, but Missy did know that Purity specifically was a probationary hero in New Orleans.
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We know about it, at least in part, thanks to being involved with flipping her and being on good terms with the Protectorate. This does not mean that Theo knows that she is down in New Orleans, working as a hero. If anything, I would expect Cricket to deliberately keep the knowledge away from him, because canon Theo would not be at all interested in working with the E88/Wolfheads if he knew he had a real alternative to being a villain. I suspect he'd love to join the Wards if it got him a chance to be near the only family he has left. I can certainly understand him being worried about joining them on his own, if for no other reason than fearing that the Wolfheads/Gesellschaft would kill him for being a "traitor". Yes, Purity* is his stepmother, but Asher is his half sister, and his father is less than ash.

*I forget her civilian name at the moment.

Silently Watches said:
Only seven months ago in-story. But yes, years ago OOC. The problem with Rust Shooter is that nobody ever bought the Barrage modification, so Taylor can only shoot one bullet at a time instead of the dozen Flare Shooters she can fire per cast.
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The last time we used it, IIRC, against the Dragonslayers, we found that an ordinary rust shooter wasn't enough to do enough damage to the suits to seriously affect them. Would barrage be at all useful in this situation, compared to burst, which we do have? Between four little shots and one big one, it seems the big one would take out more of their stuff.

Secondly, but related: you've shown CW preparing more flare shooters than she can cast simultaneously in preparation for an attack. How many Burst Rust Shooters would she be able to hold at the ready, since we currently have a chance to prepare for the fight?
 
Wyrd said:
I suspect he'd love to join the Wards if it got him a chance to be near the only family he has left. I can certainly understand him being worried about joining them on his own, if for no other reason than fearing that the Wolfheads/Gesellschaft would kill him for being a "traitor". Yes, Purity* is his stepmother, but Asher is his half sister, and his father is less than ash.
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There is an additional issue you're overlooking. If nobody remembers it, I'm sure it will come up in the story at some point. :) Although honestly it'll come up IC anyway, regardless of whether you remember or not.
Wyrd said:
Secondly, but related: you've shown CW preparing more flare shooters than she can cast simultaneously in preparation for an attack. How many Burst Rust Shooters would she be able to hold at the ready, since we currently have a chance to prepare for the fight?
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CW can have three to four spells running at a time, so if she stays flying, she can have at most 3 Rust Shooters of any variant.
 
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Vote 14.17

[ ] Law and order – Bust through the doors and give the dastardly villains a single opportunity to surrender. You can keep a subset of your mages in reserve for a pincer maneuver, but the majority are going to be immediately visible.
[ ] Surprise attack – You know these are villains. Don't waste words when you can fly through the windows and start shooting. Everyone will start fighting at the same time.
[ ] Sneaky sneak – You have Missy, and Operation Pentagram has Agent Charlie and Jeremy. Send the ninjas in first to strike from the shadows, and only once they are spotted should the rest of you head in.
 
[X] Sneaky sneak – You have Missy, and Operation Pentagram has Agent Charlie and Jeremy. Send the ninjas in first to strike from the shadows, and only once they are spotted should the rest of you head in.
 
[X] Sneaky sneak – You have Missy, and Operation Pentagram has Agent Charlie and Jeremy. Send the ninjas in first to strike from the shadows, and only once they are spotted should the rest of you head in.
 
[X] Sneaky sneak – You have Missy, and Operation Pentagram has Agent Charlie and Jeremy. Send the ninjas in first to strike from the shadows, and only once they are spotted should the rest of you head in.
 
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