The Line in the Stars (OOC) [PG/14] - Closed

[Azlan]

I'm awaiting a reappearance of Shades the fox... I'll move forward probably on Monday even if he hasn't posted.  This weekend is occupied as it is double XP till Monday!  Whoo.

[techmaster-glitch]

I'm awaiting a reappearance of Shades the fox...

Yup, same here. It's alright though, I can be patient when I want to be, and BOTM is definatly a time-occupier.

Question: Which rank is higher, CWO-4 or Major? Basically, who outranks who, Nazareth or Aaron? I need to know so I can word Nazareth's dialogue properly when time comes, especially if Aaron is higher...I'd bet he is.

[Azlan]

I'm awaiting a reappearance of Shades the fox...

Yup, same here. It's alright though, I can be patient when I want to be, and BOTM is definatly a time-occupier.

Question: Which rank is higher, CWO-4 or Major? Basically, who outranks who, Nazareth or Aaron? I need to know so I can word Nazareth's dialogue properly when time comes, especially if Aaron is higher...I'd bet he is.

Aaron outranks Nazareth.  As a Chief Warrant Officer, you are equivalent to an O-3 Captain (army)/Lieutenant (navy).  A warrant officer is a single track specialty officer holding a warrant for their rank as opposed to a full commission.  specialists, especially technical, have a tendancy to take this track out of enlisted, as it is less political, but it also lacks the line command of a full, generalist officer.  Once a Chief Warrant Officer reaches CWO-2 or 3 he can choose to take a full commission as an O-3.  Chief Warrant Officers of CWO-4 or CWO-5 can also take a full commission to O-4, Major when they come up for review.
 

[techmaster-glitch]

Thanks for the clarification, now I can make sure that Nazareth addresses Aaron with the proper respect.

[techmaster-glitch]

I've edited my character profile, specifically Norton Kamunt's. Instead of being the fighter 'marksman' for the Crusading Scales, he is instead their technicall engineer and in-situ mechanic. Is that ok, Azlan?

[Rammenstein]

Greetings! I have been referred to this RP by my good friend Tech-Dude and wish to join. So, I shall wait for the current action to finish and for everyone to return to the ship. When that happens, I shall post my profile and start role-playing. ^.^

Edit: Also, I have a question. Just how does the stealth on the Shadowcat Mechas work?

[Azlan]

I've edited my character profile, specifically Norton Kamunt's. Instead of being the fighter 'marksman' for the Crusading Scales, he is instead their technicall engineer and in-situ mechanic. Is that ok, Azlan?

That is fine!

Greetings! I have been referred to this RP by my good friend Tech-Dude and wish to join. So, I shall wait for the current action to finish and for everyone to return to the ship. When that happens, I shall post my profile and start role-playing. ^.^

Edit: Also, I have a question. Just how does the stealth on the Shadowcat Mechas work?

Alright.

The stealth systems employed by the Shadowcat are very advanced systems.  The unit employs state of the art ECM/ECCM units to jam enemy sensors and a special alloy paint to absorb sensor scanning emissions.  The other aspect is the optical camoflague cloaking device similar to the unit of the Special Forces body armor.

[techmaster-glitch]

The stealth systems employed by the Shadowcat are very advanced systems.  The unit employs state of the art ECM/ECCM units to jam enemy sensors and a special alloy paint to absorb sensor scanning emissions.  The other aspect is the optical camoflague cloaking device similar to the unit of the Special Forces body armor.

Rammy's gonna like that I expected the sensor-jamming stuff, but the actual visual camaflouge was something I told him not to count on.
So, basically, the thing works like 'nullsig' from Battletech?


One other thing. You said that if ShadesFox hadn't appeared by today, you were going to go ahead and move the RP along. However, I have seen him logged on, once Friday night, once last night, even though he never posted anything.
Instead of forcing things along, why don't you send him a PM asking what's going on? I'd send a message myself, but I don't know him well enough for that. Is that an ok suggestion?

[Azlan]

Rammy's gonna like that I expected the sensor-jamming stuff, but the actual visual camaflouge was something I told him not to count on.
So, basically, the thing works like 'nullsig' from Battletech?


One other thing. You said that if ShadesFox hadn't appeared by today, you were going to go ahead and move the RP along. However, I have seen him logged on, once Friday night, once last night, even though he never posted anything.
Instead of forcing things along, why don't you send him a PM asking what's going on? I'd send a message myself, but I don't know him well enough for that. Is that an ok suggestion?

The ECM/ECCM and paint work as nullsig, but the optical cloak is like an actual visual camo or cloaking device.

As for Shades, I will speak with him if I can or PM him.  I won't be able to do that as I do not have IM capability here.

[Rammenstein]

The stealth systems employed by the Shadowcat are very advanced systems.  The unit employs state of the art ECM/ECCM units to jam enemy sensors and a special alloy paint to absorb sensor scanning emissions.  The other aspect is the optical camoflague cloaking device similar to the unit of the Special Forces body armor.

Oh yes, Tech-Dude is right. I am most definately going to like that. *Goes on Happy-Rampage with EOSOD-Sama*

[techmaster-glitch]

The ECM/ECCM and paint work as nullsig, but the optical cloak is like an actual visual camo or cloaking device.

The 'nullsig' from Battle Tech does include optical cloaking, in fact, that is it's main function, so it actually might be something of a misnomer, in the regards that it doesn't just nullify the mechs 'signatute'.
At least, it is mainly an optical cloak in MechAssault 2...

[Azlan]

The ECM/ECCM and paint work as nullsig, but the optical cloak is like an actual visual camo or cloaking device.

The 'nullsig' from Battle Tech does include optical cloaking, in fact, that is it's main function, so it actually might be something of a misnomer, in the regards that it doesn't just nullify the mechs 'signatute'.
At least, it is mainly an optical cloak in MechAssault 2...

Except that units equipped with nullsig can be seen if they jump too high.  It seems to be a radar signature cloak and a somewhat visual cloak as long as you don't do things that are too obvious.  The Shadowcats can maneuver, jump and perform feats that nullsig does not hide.  The IR signature of jump engines is what will give a Shadowcat away.

[techmaster-glitch]

Azlan, if all five of the Sabers fire three of the heavy missiles each at five targets on the cruiser (fifteen missiles total), would that be sufficient to blast it up?

[Azlan]

Azlan, if all five of the Sabers fire three of the heavy missiles each at five targets on the cruiser (fifteen missiles total), would that be sufficient to blast it up?

Your target assessment is as follows:

Design is in the ISF threats database as a Asp class Corvette.  It is known to be produced privately among the pirate groups and some independent and unaffiliated worlds beyond the ISF borders.  It's design is contemporary, but outmatched by a modern vessel of the same class.

Its armor is not especially thick, however, five missiles will likely be needed to knock out the engines with high certainty.  One well placed missile will remove an AA turret and Two missiles would be sufficient for every other system on the ship except the bridge, which would require Four to destroy.

[techmaster-glitch]

Not quite the information I was looking for, but I'll work with it. What I was actually asking was what would it take to cause the whole ship to blow up in one salvo, not individual sections of the ship, but oh well.

[Azlan]

Not quite the information I was looking for, but I'll work with it. What I was actually asking was what would it take to cause the whole ship to blow up in one salvo, not individual sections of the ship, but oh well.

That was my way of saying you don't know... by telling you what you do know.

[techmaster-glitch]

Um, ok...
Oh! One last thing I forgot. How many missiles have each of the Sabers been equipped with?

[Azlan]

The total is 18, 14 external and 4 internal.  However, with this load, the fighter is not very maneuverable in an atmosphere.

[Azlan]

This is a good time to elaborate on a point of importance in the way I do things.

I allow freeform RP (I use dice in combat for hits, events, damage locations and such), but I have what is called a karma system in place as well.  Amazing feats portrayed by other players and NPCs are allowed, unless they fall into powergaming.  Each act requires an expenditure of a karma point to allow it to go off without a hitch.

Now every player starts with one karma, except those who have generated 'teams' (like Daimien and Tech), as this karma point is considered to have gone into the bonding, training and camaraderie to mesh them together.

A karma requiring act that is performed when a character has none, generates a negative karma.  Negative karma can affect combat and interaction situations causing an "unlucky" act to befall the character or he earns a positive karma to negate it.

Karma is earned by performing an act of heroism that is unintentional, benefits others but does not benefit the character, voluntarily taking adverse action against one's character, or similar selfless acts.

Please note that karma is not needed to play the game, and it is a secret stat moderated by the GM only.  Deliberately trying to take actions to earn it results in negative karma, as the universe does not like hypocrisy.  Trust me, I notice when someone does this.

[llearch n'n'daCorna]

Heh.

That sounds awfully like a modifier on battle - if your karma is high, you're more likely to succeed. If it's low/negative, you're less likely.

Which leads one to wonder... is there any chance of Buddha turning up in the game? ;-]

[Lushin]

No worries about me trying to do things. I just do what seems like it would work best at the time. Thankfully I've survived a few firefights. No one in my team has died to I'm happy.

[techmaster-glitch]

This is a good time to elaborate on a point of importance in the way I do things.

I allow freeform RP (I use dice in combat for hits, events, damage locations and such), but I have what is called a karma system in place as well.  Amazing feats portrayed by other players and NPCs are allowed, unless they fall into powergaming.  Each act requires an expenditure of a karma point to allow it to go off without a hitch.

Now every player starts with one karma, except those who have generated 'teams' (like Daimien and Tech), as this karma point is considered to have gone into the bounding, training and camaraderie to mesh them together.

A karma requiring act that is performed when a character has none, generates a negative karma.  Negative karma can affect combat and interaction situations causing an "unlucky" act to befall the character or he earns a positive karma to negate it.

Karma is earned by performing an act of heroism that is unintentional, benefits others but does not benefit the character, voluntarily taking adverse action against one's character, or similar selfless acts.

Please note that karma is not needed to play the game, and it is a secret stat moderated by the GM only.  Deliberately trying to take actions to earn it results in negative karma, as the universe does not like hypocrisy.  Trust me, I notice when someone does this.

Oh for the love of...now you tell us. I guess that's how Nazareth now has a gaping hole in his fighter, probably putting him completely out of commision even more so than Norton. If he took a direct rocket to his fuselage, he should be in the death spiral by now. Norton was just clipped, and with a pulse laser, not an explosive rocket, and since he is the engineer, he should be able to to a quick field fix that will get him back in the air long enough to finish the battle. I can't see how with a direct hit from a rocket Nazareth is still flying. If a simple laser clip temorarily grounded Norton, I can't see how Nazareth is still alive with that rocket. The armor/hull integrity of ISF ships must be far higher than I figured, but it still doesn't make sense.
And I assume that this is because of that 'unbelievable' maneuver Nazareth pulled with the seeker rocket. How was it that 'unbelievable' or 'powergaming'? All he did was fly at the tower, then pull up. Anyone can do that.
I knew I should have said something here that if you thought I was overstepping myself and taking a few too many liberties with combat, you should have told me to just go back and edit. I am fully willing to go back and edit any post anywhere if I have to.

[Azlan]

Well, karma is not particularly necessary, as GM whim can determine that a character is capable of doing... say a trench run against a Death Star and hitting the tiny exhaust port. dramatically appropriate actions are mediated by me though.

Karma generally only affects important events, just because the character has a negative karma doesn't mean he constantly bites his tongue when he chews, misses normal shots, or trips on every crack.  It does however, mean the difference between making the 1 in a million shot and missing... or succeeding, but getting shot down by the chief badguy in heroic dramatic fashion.

I'm not known for being so overly dependent on such things, I hate those situations when the 'ole "natural 20" is needed to succeed or you all die... it's just needed to succeed, escape, get the treasure, and get the guy/girl in the end too.

Oh for the love of...now you tell us. I guess that's how Nazareth now has a gaping hole in his fighter, probably putting him completely out of commision even more so than Norton. If he took a direct rocket to his fuselage, he should be in the death spiral by now. Norton was just clipped, and with a pulse laser, not an explosive rocket, and since he is the engineer, he should be able to to a quick field fix that will get him back in the air long enough to finish the battle. I can't see how with a direct hit from a rocket Nazareth is still flying. If a simple laser clip temorarily grounded Norton, I can't see how Nazareth is still alive with that rocket. The armor/hull integrity of ISF ships must be far higher than I figured, but it still doesn't make sense.
And I assume that this is because of that 'unbelievable' maneuver Nazareth pulled with the seeker rocket. How was it that 'unbelievable' or 'powergaming'? All he did was fly at the tower, then pull up. Anyone can do that.
I knew I should have said something here that if you thought I was overstepping myself and taking a few too many liberties with combat, you should have told me to just go back and edit. I am fully willing to go back and edit any post anywhere if I have to.

Not at all, the rockets are small, the armor on the fighters is heavy.  It is just an inconvenience, possibly causing him to pull out and retire from the field for the day, it could be injuring, but it has an effect.

Now the guided missile thing was extraordinary, as that type of weapon in our current reallife world is nearly impossible to do what Naz did in a far flung future.  However, if I thought it was powergaming, you would of heard about it.  No, this was just a test... I left it wide open as to what happened for you to fill in the blank.  I have tested others in the past and in this game, they have all passed, and none have "exploded" in the fashion you did... this coincidence of postings was part of the test... and, well you disappointed me.  It is fine, Manawolf failed in a tremendous way in the DaFfA RP on the old forum and his character and the game continued for half a year.  It doesn't mean you are a powergamer, it just means I need to put sanctions and rules in place to give you a playing field to restrict yourself to.

[techmaster-glitch]

That doesn't answer the question of how Nazareth isn't dead. I mean, seriously, a direct rocket to the fuselage? Norton's fighter was just clipped with the laser, and he was grounded. How the hell did Nazareth's fighter not just blow up outright, or at the very least go into the death spinout?

[Azlan]

That doesn't answer the question of how Nazareth isn't dead. I mean, seriously, a direct rocket to the fuselage? Norton's fighter was just clipped with the laser, and he was grounded. How the hell did Nazareth's fighter not just blow up outright, or at the very least go into the death spinout?

I edited it... look again.

[techmaster-glitch]

Um, I don't see any difference. And there is not an Edited by Azlan tag at the bottom, either.

[Azlan]

Um, I don't see any difference. And there is not an Edited by Azlan tag at the bottom, either.

What... you don't see this:

Quote from: techmaster-glitch on Today at 05:19:16 PM

Oh for the love of...now you tell us. I guess that's how Nazareth now has a gaping hole in his fighter, probably putting him completely out of commision even more so than Norton. If he took a direct rocket to his fuselage, he should be in the death spiral by now. Norton was just clipped, and with a pulse laser, not an explosive rocket, and since he is the engineer, he should be able to to a quick field fix that will get him back in the air long enough to finish the battle. I can't see how with a direct hit from a rocket Nazareth is still flying. If a simple laser clip temorarily grounded Norton, I can't see how Nazareth is still alive with that rocket. The armor/hull integrity of ISF ships must be far higher than I figured, but it still doesn't make sense.
And I assume that this is because of that 'unbelievable' maneuver Nazareth pulled with the seeker rocket. How was it that 'unbelievable' or 'powergaming'? All he did was fly at the tower, then pull up. Anyone can do that.
I knew I should have said something here that if you thought I was overstepping myself and taking a few too many liberties with combat, you should have told me to just go back and edit. I am fully willing to go back and edit any post anywhere if I have to.


Not at all, the rockets are small, the armor on the fighters is heavy.  It is just an inconvenience, possibly causing him to pull out and retire from the field for the day, it could be injuring, but it has an effect.

Now the guided missile thing was extraordinary, as that type of weapon in our current reallife world is nearly impossible to do what Naz did in a far flung future.  However, if I thought it was powergaming, you would of heard about it.  No, this was just a test... I left it wide open as to what happened for you to fill in the blank.  I have tested others in the past and in this game, they have all passed, and none have "exploded" in the fashion you did... this coincidence of postings was part of the test... and, well you disappointed me.  It is fine, Manawolf failed in a tremendous way in the DaFfA RP on the old forum and his character and the game continued for half a year.  It doesn't mean you are a powergamer, it just means I need to put sanctions and rules in place to give you a playing field to restrict yourself to.

[techmaster-glitch]

Oh. I didn't see that. I was looking in the IC thread, not this one.

EDIT: And that still doesn't explain how a direct rocket doesn't do far more damage than a clipped laser. That and I didn't realize that the maneuver with the missile was that difficult. I didn't realize the missile would have had that kind of maneuverability. In my books, this means I fucked up.
Now, please...please... in the future, If I scew up, just tell me to edit. I will do so instantly. I would much rather do that than have shit happen to my characters any day.

Apologies for the profanity, but I feel I cannot stress enough my point of prefering to rectify and learn from my mistakes rather than get dealt punishment like this. Ok, so the punishment isn't really that bad, Nazareth is not dead. he's just out of the battle. I can deal with that. It's not really the punishment itself that I'm upset with, it's that I feel I was compeltely blindsided with it. I absolutely hate that.


EDIT: And I suppose there's no chance of you and I going back and editing now, with the way you handle things, and that too much has happened already...*sigh*

[Azlan]

I generally don't like editing, unless it is something way over the top.  As I said, you did nothing wrong, just something out of the ordinary.

Consider that there is a scale difference between person-portable rocket launchers and aerospace fighters.  It is like taking a grenade and tossing it at a tank... you put big dents in the armor, but unless it is thin... you do not get a lot of penetration with the average hand grenade against modern battle tanks. 

The aerospace fighter has very heavy armor, mecha level weapons will instantly annihilate a person if they get hit with them, no survival.  Personal arms, character scale weapons, require excessive amounts of concentrated firepower to damage mecha.  Aerospace fighters are at the same scale level as the mecha.

Sabers, and pretty much all fighters, have external armor, internal frame and then componenets.  In this case, the fighter has armor and then a reinforced pilot's compartment, so there are two levels of protection.  Additionally, modern fighters of the ISF have redundant controls, AI maintained control surfaces, and many safe guards to protect crew and equipment.  These craft take lots of punishment, before being taken out.  I just assumed that Norton's craft was dealt an unlucky hit that harmed the controls.

[techmaster-glitch]

Ah, I knew it. The armor is far, far tougher than I counted on. I guess that's a good thing, considering my current position...