Transformers: Alone and Unafraid

[Steve]

I saw the limited flight thing as, well, a limited flight thing. He wouldn't be dogfighting with the likes of Thundercracker, just hovering... and logically it'd actually reduce power available to weapons. Sounds more like something to give an otherwise hulking, powerful, yet slowish bot an extra option to move himself with.

[Vidar]

Tank men can use tactics too. Sometimes it helps reaching the sixth floor instead. Like if you have allies on the first five. I mean seriously, having the ability to basically hover does not hamper his ability to destroy things.

[rhoenix]

Alright, then I'm going to be blunt.

You're walking in saying "lol superheavy tank with 6 guns, and can hover is cool riteguys?"

My preliminary thought, prior to Frigid making his thoughts known, is to tone it down to 1-2 guns (only one of which should be usable in robot mode) + hover, or pick a different alt-mode.

[Lys]

Oh look, I has internet tonight.

I say let Dreadnought have however many guns Vidar wants it to have. Just let it be understood that having lots of guns makes each one individually weaker. So long as the maximum firepower is fixed, then the number of guns only determines flexibilty vs fire concentration. Maybe also make only half the firepower available in bot mode.

However, I have to say that I'm not too crazy about the idea of a fast hover baneblade. I think Vidar needs to prioritize what he wants. Do you want limited flight, high speed, and firepower? Make a hover tank with big guns and little armour that depends on its agility to stay alive. It would probably be more useful to the group than another tank. Want to be a tough, brawny heavy-hitter? Then make the Baneblade, but for the Emperor's sake don't pimp it out more than it already is.

[Cynical Cat]

I'm cool with the limited flight. We've got guys with full out flight and teleportation, it's not unreasonable. The huge array of guns and the generic tank role is the problem. We already have lots of tanks and three air to ground guys with guns. Dreadnought doesn't seem to fill any niche that isn't already occupied. He needs to pick an alt form other than a damn Baneblade and/or come up with a concept that isn't "everything your character can do but with more guns plus hover".

[Vidar]

Lys pretty much nailed my own thought process down on it. Alot of guns, but focus requires the use of each one. One mind can only process so much. Its more about different options then anything else. A man can walk in covered head to toe with different guns, doesn't mean he can use all of them at once.

And just to clarify, Hovering is only available to robot mode. Its not fast..at all. I thought I had described that fairly well, I see I was incorrect. If he puts his all into it, its like a brisk walking speed at best. And that is for vertical climb as well as just moving forward. I mean when I say "limited" flight..I mean LIMITED.

But honestly like I said before, I realized that there might be problems with the alt form. I only tried it to see if I could. If there were problems, I'd change it. I've NO problem with this whatsoever. You'll have to excuse me for being as defensive as I am because I'm new and trying not to make the first impression that I choose the, as Cynical Cat puts it, "everything your character can do but with more guns plus hover" character without any real thought behind it.

But I'm going to have to admit that when it comes to the "make a character that fills a void" niche. I'm stumped when looking at this team.

We have a spy who according to Rheonix will also be a Sniper.

We have a fast scout who deals in up-close kills.

We have someone who covers artillery and communications.

We have air superiority, as well as two forms of aerial backup, one of which has sniper written as part of his function and has a ability that embodies a scout.

We have a engineer and demolitions.

We have a medic and engineer.

We have front and main line assualt types.

We have armed transportation who can act as a third aerial backup.

When it comes to looking at what traditional unit roles are left, the only one that comes to mind is the "minesweeper" or as video games would have us believe, the "hero". Or something that embodies multiple roles but isn't quite as skilled in them. Or I suppose I could skip to the cliches. How about a ninja or cowboy ?

[Charon]

The problem with the 6 guns but they all have variable power outputs is that in the middle of a fight that gets very hard to keep track of, especially as we aren't going to have any hard stats to work with. At that point in time he might as well have them all at full power so we don't need to worry about it and don't later get into "Your guns aren't supposed to be that powerful with X amount of energy" fights.

That being said, I don't think he needs to cut it down to only 1 or 2 guns. Cavalier and Grindstone are the "punch a hole" front line tanks, he seems to be more of the "I am the Line" front line tank. He doesn't so much punch a hole as he steadily moves the front line forward. That makes him a little different from Cavalier and Grindstone, with more of a focus on armor and maybe a force field than on guns (which would, admittedly, force you to cut down on the heavy firepower even more)

For his hovering, I'm with Cat, I don't see that as a problem.

As for other rolls to fill, I admit I'm coming up with a blank on that as well.

[frigidmagi]

Vidar, you being a tank is fine. However, I'm gonna have to say that if you keep so many guns, the majority of them are gonna be rather harmless to a Transformer. As in your infantry guns won't even be able to hurt Shimmer. Not to mention you can't have 7 guns in your bot form, that's kinda ridiculous. At most your bot form should have 1 or 2 guns.

[Vidar]

Not to mention you can't have 7 guns in your bot form, that's kinda ridiculous. At most your bot form should have 1 or 2 guns.

Thats mainly why I came up with the limited flight. Figured it was a good way to make use of the extra guns on his robot form. With all the small guns configured to non-combat use, he would only have the sentry turret and his arm cannon along with the energy blades on his other arm. Is that satisfactory or shall I lose the sentry turret ?

All in all though I don't want to cause problems so I'm still willing to change to a less complicated alt form if it would be easier.

[LadyTevar]

What Rheonix says, and what Shimmer actually does will be very far apart. As you mentioned yourself, Characters have a way of changing themselves.

Shimmer may go sniper. Shimmer may go ninja. Right now, she's meant for infiltration and data acquisition. Her weapons are meant for quiet elimination of threats to her mission, and she is trained to get in, get out, and make it home with the data.

She's managed that mission very well so far :)

[rhoenix]

What Rheonix says, and what Shimmer actually does will be very far apart. As you mentioned yourself, Characters have a way of changing themselves.

Shimmer may go sniper. Shimmer may go ninja. Right now, she's meant for infiltration and data acquisition. Her weapons are meant for quiet elimination of threats to her mission, and she is trained to get in, get out, and make it home with the data.

She's managed that mission very well so far :)

Oh, great. Tev's been watching Burn Notice for inspiration.

[frigidmagi]

A less complicated alt would be best, as much as I dearly love the Baneblade... I got to consider the other players you understand. There has to be a rough average.

[Steve]

As long as he doesn't pick the Gazebo....

[LadyTevar]

Oh, great. Tev's been watching Burn Notice for inspiration.

Just be glad that Cybertron doesn't have duct tape, and that I'm not channeling Fi.

[Agent Fisher]

There has to be duct tape. It's one of the universal constants. Along with stupidity.

[Hotfoot]

Overhaul had his version

[Lys]

A bit of computer time! Oh life is generous.

But I'm going to have to admit that when it comes to the "make a character that fills a void" niche. I'm stumped when looking at this team.

We don't have 1930s style cavalry tanks. There is a reason why people stop making them during WWII, but screw reality. You ever play BattleTanx: Global Assault? If not you missed out on tons of fun blowing stuff up and nuking the British Parliament, but the Hover Tank is what I was thinking of. The Hover Tank was fast, agile, okay firepower, glass jaw; you could run circles around Goliath tanks with that thing. Well, until the Goliath got lucky, but dying once a minute was part of the game.

Oh, half of that was off topic.

[Vidar]

Name: Killshot
Affilation: Decepticon
Alternate Form: Modified Hovercraft
Classification: Long Distance Problem Solver/Law Enforcer
Quote: "No matter my badge, I am the law."


(Note: Yes, my coloring is off in acouple places. But honestly I think it looks well enough as is, considering what I had to work with.)

History: Before Cybertron's civil war was even conceived, a brash bot named Longshot had enlisted in Cybertron's law enforcement. His tactics were considered brutal by his peers, but were balanced with the assignments he dealt with in his duty. His training and function reserved him for the most harsh situations, which built a extensive reputation for him. In his local community he was portrayed as a figurehead that was closer to a villian then a hero. His name was twisted into "Killjoy", and used to scare young bots. People feared him, yet found him amusing enough to laugh about. But when help was needed, his name was the first that people spoke and Longshot was always willing to expand the knowledge of the law to others.

When the decepticons first emerged and the lines were drawn, he did his best to stay neutral. "The law knows no faction", he would say. The few fellow officers he could be considered close to quickly joined the autobots. So he would watch as any young bot who didn't know better and joined the decepticons out of promises for a better life would be taken in and abused. Now his current knowledge of the cons couldn't fill a energon cube. Depending on what story you heard, they were dangerous criminals who seeked chaos or they were the weak and poor who finally had enough of the injustice and seeked to better their situation in life. So as he witnessed his fellow officers abusing the defenseless because of a new emblem while calling them renegades, he realized it was time to understand the situation better. And since none of his peers had taken the purple, he believed he could understand these decepticons better in thier ranks while bringing the law to them as one of thier own. Perhaps he could even find a way to bring peace to his community as a officer as well as a Decepticon.

The reaction to his choosing surprised many, and few at the same time. "He was always dangerous" he would hear on the streets. His 'friends' and neighbors all turned on him after he made his choice. Never giving him a chance to bring new understanding of the situation. His belongings and property were burnt to ash or vanished. Feeling a new sense of anger at this betrayal, he went up the chain of command to transfer himself elsewhere. He found himself placed under a few stations below Megatron's command in a position to keep watch on a neighboring autobot base and keep surveillance. Working in a group of several other cons, he became very uncomfortable with their behavior. When he finally had enough, he 'arrested' one of them. Megatron ordered the con's release with a threat to Longshot. He was soon stationed elsewhere. If it wasn't for the other cons he had met briefly who were only fighting to better their own lives, he would have walked away entirely. Instead he decided the best he could do in the situation was attempt to chance the Cons from within the ranks.

Not long after, Megatron and the autobot leader Optimus Prime left Cybertron and vanished. With the chain of command in shambles, Longshot made his move to instill order and law into the faction. He name proving true, all of his actions were met with deadly resistance. Challenged to single combat, or facing ambushes of rivals, he left a bloody path behind him as he strived to right the crimes of the Decepticons. When he was betrayed from within the small sub-faction he had developed, he decided it was time to move on. The planet was a mess of war and corpses. He 'commandeered' a ship and left. Seeking the others who had left for the stars, and delivering the law upon them. He has been responsible for the destruction of several renegade decepticon factions that have made their start on the backs of others, there were very few survivors. The years have changed his personal law book. Crimes not as severe in the current situations of the galaxy, or perhaps more severe. With no system of court, he takes it upon himself to deliver judgements. His name no longer fit him, and he remembered what people had called him before because of his demeanor. Using both, he let the name Killshot loose upon the galaxy to warn them of his coming. He still wears the purple to remind the decepticons what they could, no..what they SHOULD be.

Personality: His experiences have left him mostly cold. He at one point was quoted as saying there should be a law against emotion, which would eliminate a good percentage of crime altogether. What no one could understand is that it was a dark joke. He indeed has a wit under his harsh demeanor. He does not trust easily anymore, and yet has a strong sense of camaraderie.

Weapons:
Vehicle Mode:
Sniper Cannon: A long distance cannon that launches concentrated blasts of energy powerful enough to punch through thick walls. With the proper sight (See Sensor Scope) it can be accurate enough to rip a bolt free from a wrenchhead from a distance far enough to be unseen.

Robot Mode:
Sniper Rifle: The sniper cannon transforms into a two-handed rifle. Without access to the Sensor Scope it only carries a smaller eye-scope. With proper aimming, can still clean a nearby building of hostiles.

Shoulder Cannon: Not very damaging in terms of cybertronian weapons, it launches a blast that simply throws its target back from the burst. If used at the right time and angle, can launch a bot off a roof or into a wall for more damage.

Equipment:
Hoist lines: On both sides of his vehicle mode are compartments with 3 holes each. They can launch out grappling hooks equipped with sharpened tips. They penetrate into or even through walls, and snap out into wide hooks as they provide support for Killshot to hoist/drive himself up walls for optimum vantage points. Can also be launched for grabbing slender objects, with the hooks acting as a regular grappling hook to grab his own line. In Robot Mode they are found on his back and shoulder area. Meant for quick escapes..

Sensor Scope: The large barrel on top of his vehicle mode is a highly powered scope. It's zoom and clarity is unsurpassed. Can detect targets through a multitude of vision types so none can hide. This is lost during Robot Mode.

Smoke Cannisters: Can fill the area around him with pitch black smoke. Defense against any who manage to find him while working... Found in both Vehicle and Robot mode.

[Dark Silver]

A couple of once overs....

How thick is "thick"?
For example, Devestator's (the combined form of the Constructicons) Solar Cannon could (in some canon) pulverize a 30ft thick block of steel. Megatron's fusion cannon is suppossed to be power enough to level entire city blocks. Admittedly, some of the newer canon has his canon capable of just melting anything that gets in it's way nearly (the beam being something like 100,000°Centigrade).

As for the visual aspect...need better input. For example, Optimus Prime supposedly has the visual acuity to bulls-eye a Decepticon Seeker in the nosecone at 12 miles distance.....with no scope. (but then again, that is Optimus Prime..so maybe that's being dis-in genuine but still...)

So I'd like some harder figures on

[Charon]

Has anybody given solid figures? I know I certainly didn't. And I don't particularly want to.

[Vidar]

Myself, I'd rather Frigid give the word on that. He knows whats acceptable and whats not.

[Charon]

Between Killshot, Farshot, and Shellshock, I'm pretty sure we have long range combat down and I apologize now to all our close combat guys for the three of us taking all the kills before you can get in range.

I imagine Shellshock and Killshot will actually get along fairly well as Killshot really seems to be a Decepticon by virtue of paint scheme. I've got no real problems with this guy.

[LadyTevar]

I have no problem with long-distance kills. Leaves less trying to kill me

[Dark Silver]

Actually, I did put a number, in Tank mode, Grindstone's main cannon can fire a shell up to five miles. Very hard number he has. :P

But seriously, he left this......very vague. How thick can he punch through? 5 feet of armored wall? Ten feet? Can his gun punch through the chestplate of a Guardian Robot? Cause those are pretty damned thick.

And how far can he see? and how far can the scope give magnification for?


That's not to say I don't like the character, and admittedly, it's up to frigid to say if the sheet gives to little or to much information, just I personally wouldn't have minded some hard numbers on how far he could see, and how much penetration his gun actually has.

[General Havoc]

I can't speak for everyone, but such figures as I included were intended merely as window dressing, not hard numbers. They were there to give an impression of Cavalier's main cannons as being very powerful guns. I'm frankly all right with Killshot's cannons being described in similar, relative terms.