Question. With the launch of the Sergei Gregorovich imminent, has Galbinus told us what type of ship the Belligerent (for those who haven't reread the lore posts, that's the Free Brother's flagship) is? Big gun warship, missile ship, carrier, merchant with a few cannon taped on, etc?
And we need a way to try and hunt down the last two dropships the FB were stated to have... Though first, we need a way to find them when they try to come for a visit...
Question. With the launch of the Sergei Gregorovich imminent, has Galbinus told us what type of ship the Belligerent (for those who haven't reread the lore posts, that's the Free Brother's flagship) is? Big gun warship, missile ship, carrier, merchant with a few cannon taped on, etc?
And we need a way to try and hunt down the last two dropships the FB were stated to have... Though first, we need a way to find them when they try to come for a visit...
Galbinus has not told us what the Free Brother's ship is. The only thing we know right now is that it can carry multiple containers full of drones and can also carry 3 dropships, one of which was stolen by Galbinus and crew.
Galbinus has not told us what the Free Brother's ship is. The only thing we know right now is that it can carry multiple containers full of drones and can also carry 3 dropships, one of which was stolen by Galbinus and crew.
Galbinus has not told us what the Free Brother's ship is. The only thing we know right now is that it can carry multiple containers full of drones and can also carry 3 dropships, one of which was stolen by Galbinus and crew.
Given that learning what it is is a matter of an offhand question during some other conversation, it's a fair question to ask. As the impression I got was that the Legion was onboard at one point and so would know the very least about how it is built.
The orange-colored Jackal screeched across the dirt grounds, kicking up a horrendous amount of dirt and debris as it made a wide turn. Immediately Configuring back into mecha mode, the boisterous elder brother of the new AI siblings threw a hasty punch at the remote-controlled Centurion. The damage wasn't significant, but that wasn't the point - it forced the tank mecha to take a step back, and it knocked the gun arm away from pointing at him or his brother or sister. Perfect.
"That's right," he taunted, the young voice carrying a mechanical undertone to it like his fellows. "C'mon, focus on me!" He ducked a blast from the Centurion that went wide, slamming a fist into the 'stomach' of the opposing force - and winced as it impacted. That hurt, honestly! "Iris, could you hurry up and-!?"
Immediately, his IFF began to register a strong signal emanating from the Centurion. Targeting coordinates, outlines, even predictive tracking all began to overlay over his vision. "I handled it two seconds ago," his sister's voice chimed in. A moment later, the more lithe form of Iris slammed a fist into the back of the Centurion's knee, forcing it to kneel as she then vaulted over its shoulder. Skidding against the dirt, Iris gave Charlie a blank look. "You were making enough noise, no one noticed."
Both siblings leaned back as another blast barely flew in between them, creating a fresh crater in a distant mound. As dirt and dust rained down on them, Charlie grinned. "Frankie, you're up!" Both he and Iris immediately Configured back into Jackal forms before racing in opposite direction, the Centurion's targeting momentarily stalled between identifying which to target.
A moment which cost it, as a miniature sun's worth of Energy Blaster slammed into the battered frame. The gun arm disintegrated, with exposed wiring slowly frying from the heat and energy as the targeted Centurion nearly collapsed. Yet it got to its feet, and barely turned towards the direction where Frankie was already shouldering the heavy-set Energy Blaster-
-but in turn, Charlie and Iris were already slamming their fists into it. "Guys, wait up!" Frankie grumbled. "Always getting started without me..."
The Siblings have revealed their stat blocks!
'Argonauts'
Charlie, Frankie, and Iris Actions: 1 Developing Teamwork: At the end of every turn, roll at Disadvantage (1d6), Threshold of 6. If successful, bank a Free Action next turn. Combined Strikes
- Roll 2d6, Threshold of 5-6. Inflicts 2 HP damage.
- Roll at Disadvantage (1d6) on a successful hit. Inflict 2 HP damage immediately.
- Recharge: Can be used every turn. Setting An Example
- Charlie can force the enemy to target himself (and by extension the Argonauts).
- Counts as One Action.
- Roll 2d6, Threshold of 5-6.
- Duration: 1 Turn
- Recharge: 1 Turn
- If using ability on enemy with Targeting Beacon, all attempted enemy attacks on Argonauts will trigger a Free Action of Combined Strikes at Disadvantage (1d6), Threshold of 6. Heavy Weapons Strike
- Frankie can make a Heavy Weapons Strike at 3d6, Threshold of 4-6. Inflicts 3 HP damage.
- If targeting an enemy with Targeting Beacon, Roll at Disadvantage (1d6), Threshold of 4-6. Success will allow a free additional Heavy Weapons Strike.
- Counts as One Action.
- Recharge: 3 Turns. Targeting Beacon
- Iris can place a Targeting Beacon onto a declared Enemy.
- Roll 2d6, Threshold of 5-6. Success will grant bonuses to other Argonauts and to the Perseus (see specific character sheets).
- On a Critical Success (6, 6), Argonauts gain a Free Action.
- Counts as One Action.
- Duration: 2 Turns
- Recharge: 3 Turns. Agile
- May roll to avoid a successful enemy attack at 2d6, Threshold of 4-6.
- Diminishing Returns: After two successful agile rolls, Threshold increases to 5-6. The Backup:
- Can be targeted by enemies to delay Strike. If Enemy successfully hits, a random Argonauts refresh is delayed by One Turn (subject to 1D3 roll). Does not apply to Character specific abilities.
- Benefits from Tellison's Inspiring Leadership - can attempt Combined Strikes when Perseus makes a Strike (applies once per turn, does not stack w/Notable). Roll at Disadvantage (1d6), Threshold of 5-6.
- Applies every Combat Round.
1158, 11 August, A.D. 2072
Proving Grounds
"Front! Enemy Jackal, bearing down on us!"
"Identified, loading high explosive!"
"Fire!"
The forearm-mounted cannons barked harshly as high explosive rounds sent the latest remote Jackal tumbling along, its windows cracked and the wheels already starting to bend on their axles. But the Perseus's pilots were not even paying attention to that just yet - as more Jackals began to converge on them, mimicking the swarm tactics that the Westphalians seemed so fond of using, Oscar was already pinging targets. Zhang immediately responded a second later, the combat shield deploying along the other arm as cannon rounds began to impact against it, with all the rapidity of a miniature rainstorm.
The shield came crashing down onto the nearest Jackal, hurling it into its fellows as Zhang forced the Perseus's mighty weight against it. Even as their momentum carried them forwards, Oscar was already slamming their free fist into another, the fist penetrating the midsection of the vehicle before triggering the explosive shot. Both pilots winced from the uncomfortable warmth along their right hands, but they were already moving on, Oscar finishing the shield bash even as Zhang was kicking their foot against some nearby wreckage, sending another formation scattering.
On, and on, and on. Slowly, the verbal commands were growing more and more curt, the extra communications not so strictly necessary and more for the battle recorder's and tower control's benefit. Whatever Oscar was seeing, Zhang was already acting on it. He felt her intent at another incoming target, and was already following through. There were times when their wills clashed momentarily, but it took all but a few moments to resolve a ompromise, and the weight of Perseus's blows slowed, but never quite ceased.
For the briefest of times, there was no Oscar Tellison or Xiu Ying Zhang.
There was only the Perseus.
Note: The following Stats are additions to the current Pilot Statistics (which will be updated in the future):
Tellison Updated Stats Inspiring Leadership update: Argonauts:
- Argonaut Mecha can attempt Combined Strikes when Perseus makes a Strike (applies once per turn, does not stack w/Notable). Roll at Disadvantage (1d6), Threshold of 5-6. Psychic Unison: For One Turn, All Rolls gain +1d6
- Duration: 1 Turn (ends at the start of Perseus's next Turn)
- Can only be used Once per Combat
Targeting Beacon: Roll at Disadvantage (1d6). On a 6, deal +1 HP to next attack.
Zhang Updated Stats Actions: 1+1 (Psychic Theater)
- Can use Zhang's Actions for the Perseus Synchronize: Once per turn, Perseus may re-roll a failed Defensive save. You must keep the new roll.
1220, 11 August, A.D. 2072
Proving Grounds
This is the theme I usually have in mind whenever I imagine the Thunderbolt being summoned.
Why yes, I am wearing my inspirations on my sleeve.
Then there was one particular part of the Training Grounds that had a wide exclusion zone.
"Thunderbolt! Come here!"
The reborn dropship screamed towards the earth, with a speck of barely perceived red light colliding with it momentarily. A localized tornado swirled around the dropship, and recordings could barely perceive the Configuration of the Super Robot inside as legs began to extend, arms began to unfold, and the head unit unfurled, bright light pooling from its optics-
-and the storm of wind immediately broke, scattering the wreckage of Jessica Satsuma's training all around at high speeds. Fresh Jackals and Centurions arose from prepositioned areas to engage, only to be literally swept away in the localized storms that seemed to now serve as the Thunderbolt's propulsion. Its fist slammed into a Centurion's head unit, all but caving it in as she then flung it towards another before dashing to the next, never stopping as fierce blow after fierce blow began to undo the opposition mustered to test her.
Jessica was suspended in a bright chamber of light within the Thunderbolt. Yet she felt it. The rush of wind, even as no wind brushed against her hair. The feeling of her fist slamming into metal, even as she didn't move an inch inside of the protected cockpit chamber. She could feel the winds rushing to meet her call, even if intellectually she knew that the C-Crystal's modifications ensured that the jet engines were providing all of the supercharged winds necessary for any of this to happen.
But there was one more thing she needed to test. One more to prove to Major Devin before she could walk away, call it a day, and declare herself ready.
The engines along her forearms shook and whined, reaching a fever pitch as funnels of directed wind caught one last Centurion drone. It braced itself, trying to rely on its heavier weight to keep it on the ground. As it felt itself losing that battle, feeling tons of metal slowly being dragged away, it grabbed at a nearby piece of wreckage.
All it achieved was delaying the inevitable as it was sent flying into the air. For a moment, its black box would record that it could see all of the Campus grounds - even sailing past a startled bird. Then as it came crashing back down to Earth...
That same tornado was rushing up to meet it, the localized storm known as the Thunderbolt rushing upwards with a fist drawn back.
"Tornado Strike!"
You blink as you watch the Thunderbolt break the Centurion in two - then you wince as you watch the wreckage come falling a little too close to the boundaries of the Proving Grounds.
The Regent pulses slightly next to you - almost as if it were feeling a little sheepish.
"That's the third time," you mutter.
"Sorry," it mutters back, even if it sounds pleased at it all.
Actions per Turn: 1 Notable Character:
- Can make two attacks per turn at 2d6 (damage depends on Mecha). Counts as a single Action. Aggressive:
- Can take Two Actions per turn if it means she is attacking.
- Does not apply for Strike (no overlap with Notable); specifically marked for offensive abilities. Can be upgraded. Champion: Bears the C-Crystal. Bestows the following:
- Determination: If reduced to 50% or below, regain 4 HP immediately. Applies Once per Combat.
- Further bonuses will increase w/experience
SCR-03E Thunderbolt HP: 14 HP Limited Agility: Can make One Agile roll every three turns at Disadvantage (1d6, Threshold of 4-6) to avoid a successful enemy attack. Strikes:
- Roll 2d6, 1 HP Inflicted. Notable Bonus may apply.
- Counts as One Action. Heavy Weapons: Can mount the basic Heavy Weapons Pack at no cost.
- Can be equipped with updated Heavy Weapons.
- Can make a Heavy Weapon Strike as a free action at Advantage (3d6, Threshold of 5-6, damage depends on package) every three turns. The Warlord's Wrath:
- You may FIRE EVERYTHING at a single target once per Deployment. Treat this as a Heavy Weapons Strike. After calculating damage as normal, double it.
- If you use this, Heavy Weapons are disabled for the rest of the Deployment. Layered Armor Plating:
- Once per turn, roll at Disadvantage (1d6), Threshold of 5-6. On success, ignore the damage of any attack above 4 HP. Ramming Speed:
- May roll to ram an enemy at high speeds at 2d6, Threshold of 5-6, inflicts 2 HP. Success may have additional effects if declared prior to attack, to be ruled by QM.
- You may attempt a free Follow-On Strike at regular 2d6 test if Ramming Speed is successful.
- Counts as One Action.
- Dynamic Entry: On Combat Turn One, you may initiate Ramming Speed as your first action. Roll as normal. Inflict 4 HP, but you may not take the Follow-On Strike. This still counts as one Action. Tornado Strike:
- Finishing Strike
- One crushing blow that will inflict 8 HP.
- Test roll situational. Upgrade Slots: Has 2 Upgrade Slots
NOTE: May exhibit additional traits with introduction of K-Class upgrades. Combine: Combine is possible, but you must research it first with this Core Unit.
... Well now I do believe we have multiple Super robot pilots that are ready to deploy to any potential problem. Which is good to me since it's always a good idea to have a few spare machines/pilots in reserve in case a new threat emerges that need to be dealt with. And of course it let's us handle multiply problems at once which is a huge win for us.
All that's left is creating Super robots so all our Pilots have one to wield/ride into battle with.
Though a question to anyone really it's been a while so I got to ask why did we make the AI triplets again what was the intent behind them? Or was it just to see if we could?
Have too look at these stats some other time when I am a little more awake to understand what they mean.
But from what I just read that looked impressive.
Short answer, IIRC: Tellison had a bonus to leadership skills, so we gave him a squad of AI pilots to make use of it. And possible combiner team later.
Short answer, IIRC: Tellison had a bonus to leadership skills, so we gave him a squad of AI pilots to make use of it. And possible combiner team later.
Question. With the launch of the Sergei Gregorovich imminent, has Galbinus told us what type of ship the Belligerent (for those who haven't reread the lore posts, that's the Free Brother's flagship) is? Big gun warship, missile ship, carrier, merchant with a few cannon taped on, etc?
Though a question to anyone really it's been a while so I got to ask why did we make the AI triplets again what was the intent behind them? Or was it just to see if we could?
Iris' Targeting Beacon mentions that it gives bonuses to her other siblings and Perseus but the bonus for Perseus is missing in the update, is this by design?
Regarding the changes themselves; the triplets look to be a pretty good addition to Perseus by having bunch of abilities that can use that can use Tellison free reroll ability and buffing Perseus back. Iris buffs the Argonauts and Perseus, Frankie uses heavy weapon strikes and Charlie forces the enemy to attack themselves (combos with the Perseus ability to take a hit for the support unit and possibly negate it), plus throwing a punch whenever the Perseus throws a punch. Now we just need to research a combination for them and Perseus (though it may be gated behind the triple combination research).
Perseus gained the ability to go hyper for one turn per combat when we really want for their abilities to land (or block) and Zheng got both a another action per turn(!) and the ability to reroll one defensive action per turn (and given that the Perseus is loaded with defensive actions and Zheng herself lacks notable it would see a lot of use when sortieing).
Jessica gained a one shot mid combat healing when brought to half HP and a finisher. The Thunderbolt cries for a refit to give the standard improvements package (Anti gravity + K-Suit) and Jessica really want more offensive weapons installed so she can make use of her Aggressive trait. After that the only thing left is a combiner form, but it's probably less pressing researching that than the Perseus simply because the Thunderbolt will have a better mix of offensive options once upgraded.
Random musing: Tellison free reroll and the Perseus defensive focus seems it will be really powerful if we sortie them alongside another friendly heavy hitter like the Thunderbolt or Beowulf, or better yet, Valiant or Mercury V.
So, next turn I think it is about time we build a combination for Perseus, using Wilde and Henry. Meanwhile, we have Lana refit the Beowulf with K-fang and the new blaster tech, while Jiro works on triple combination. For Dr Ignatov I'm not sure, but I was thinking we could have him oversee upgrading the First Experimental Support Wing from V-33 TMUs to CR-11 Seekers
So, next turn I think it is about time we build a combination for Perseus, using Wilde and Henry. Meanwhile, we have Lana refit the Beowulf with K-fang and the new blaster tech, while Jiro works on triple combination. For Dr Ignatov I'm not sure, but I was thinking we could have him oversee upgrading the First Experimental Support Wing from V-33 TMUs to CR-11 Seekers
Made that edit for Perseus and targeting beacon, thanks for pointing that out!
As a heads up I'll be going on a business trip for the next month or so, so my posting is going to be inconsistent and sporadic. I will keep posting as able.
Later today: a presentation from Carlson Laboratories.
The Backup:
- Can be targeted by enemies to delay Strike. If Enemy successfully hits, a random Argonauts refresh is delayed by One Turn (subject to 1D3 roll). Does not apply to Character specific abilities.
This is a bit confusing to me. If getting hit doesn't affect character specific abilities, does that mean it only applies to their combined strike ability?
Yes. I debated on if it should have reduced agility cool downs but that might have been more frustrating than anything. It means that making a dedicated strike with the actual roll than the 1D6 gets pushed back if the enemy decides they had enough of the Argonauts' shenanigans.
Yes. I debated on if it should have reduced agility cool downs but that might have been more frustrating than anything. It means that making a dedicated strike with the actual roll than the 1D6 gets pushed back if the enemy decides they had enough of the Argonauts' shenanigans.
