Transformers: Alone and Unafraid

rhoenix · Post by **rhoenix** » Thu Jul 21, 2011 3:43 pm

I think that quantifying each person's gun would rapidly descend into silliness. I'm fine with things being vague, and left to the GM as to exact power level.

Steve · Post by **Steve** » Thu Jul 21, 2011 4:01 pm

I thought the entire point of the game here was to avoid quantifying everything and just write stuff, leaving it to Frig to decide what's too far?

frigidmagi · Post by **frigidmagi** » Thu Jul 21, 2011 4:19 pm

We are not quantifying guns. That would require me to make a scale, next thing you know we need stats for everything and I have to make a RP system for giant transforming robots that live millions of years and survive spaceship crashes as a norm. NO!

Vi, I am sadden to see Dreadnought go (I really just meant for you to take a smaller tank), Killshot is fine however.

Vidar · Post by **Vidar** » Thu Jul 21, 2011 4:41 pm

Besides forms, its really the same character with a name change. Dreadnought fit to me because of the size of the tank. The name would have changed even if I had still picked a smaller tank. And while looking for a alt mode I just happened to really like the design of this one. Plus I figured if Shimmer's future as a sniper isn't definite, a assigned sniper wouldn't hurt.

EDIT: And yeah, TF RP systems haven't really worked out in my experience. The one that worked best was a custom version of BESM. Perhaps maybe a heavily tweaked version of Exalted Alchemicals...

Lys · Post by **Lys** » Thu Jul 21, 2011 7:32 pm

I like Killshot as a character. He's rather different from all the rest, which is neat. Though, I don't expect him and Blastcap to get along in the slighest. Mercenary work isn't strictly legal in a lot of places, but legality has never stopped Blastcap from doing anything. She has a code she follows, keeps her word, and expects everyone else to do the same. The idea that laws of any kind should apply to her just doesn't compute. To the extent that she acts inside the law it's either because it happens to coincide with her peronal code, or because doing otherwise is more trouble than it's worth.

Regarding firepower and such. I told frigidmagi that Blastcap's fusion charges have "as much kaboom as the plot demands", and he seemed to agree. I think that says everything.

rhoenix · Post by **rhoenix** » Thu Jul 21, 2011 9:29 pm

I have no complaints about Killshot as he stands.

Cynical Cat · Post by **Cynical Cat** » Thu Jul 21, 2011 9:40 pm

I've used absolutely no hard figures for weapon damage for a reason. Hell, I wouldn't even know what figure to start at, given how Cybertronian durability varies from storyline to storyline. Marvel Comics G1 Megatron could effortlessly slaughter all the Bayverse Cybertronians.

Post by **Dark Silver** » Thu Jul 21, 2011 10:19 pm

Cynical Cat wrote:Marvel Comics G1 Megatron could effortlessly slaughter all the Bayverse Cybertronians.

And that's how it should be....

Hotfoot · Post by **Hotfoot** » Fri Jul 22, 2011 12:02 am

I've always been fond of hovertanks.

Oh the Beowulf Bellyflop.

frigidmagi · Post by **frigidmagi** » Fri Jul 22, 2011 4:54 pm

Lys, I'm gonna be blunt here. Your character through no fault of her own, was part of a near firefight in the Pentagon. Saying "It's personal!" isn't gonna cut ice here.

Lys · Post by **Lys** » Fri Jul 22, 2011 9:16 pm

She did say a little more than "It's personal!". In fact, as Longshot requested she told him what happened. Obviously not in sufficient detail, but Blastcap is used to a terse explanation and a hard look being enough to shut everyone up.

rhoenix · Post by **rhoenix** » Sat Jul 23, 2011 4:10 am

This is utterly hilarious.

frigidmagi · Post by **frigidmagi** » Mon Jul 25, 2011 6:59 pm

Okay, NEW GOAL! To get you guys off Cold Rock and into the FWA by the end of page 12 at the very most! Top of page 11 or 10 preferred. The goal of the campaign as a reminder to everyone is to kill the Greater Decepticon Empire, not each other.

Lys · Post by **Lys** » Mon Jul 25, 2011 8:06 pm

That's easily doable. If you get Cavalier and Breakout in front of her Blastcap can both give her side of what happened in that room, and say what she would have said if the door hadn't blown in. Then a short back and forth with Cavalier's and Breakout's reactions, final reflections, and Blastcap sends a message to Deathstrike. Shortly thereafter we can cut to everyone leaving Coldrock.

frigidmagi · Post by **frigidmagi** » Mon Jul 25, 2011 8:44 pm

In all the journals Megatron had uploaded into Farshot's long-term storage, all the entries concerning Starscream were at best extremely unflattering to the former Air Commander. Farshot's personal favorite was "It galls me that Starscream - a stupid, arrogant, slag-headed, incompetent fool - would be one of the best choices for the Decepticon air forces. I continually search for a viable replacement that does not make me wish to atomize him on sight."

I find this rather odd, as in many versions Starscream is Megatron's favored heir. In the IDW comics, Megatron flat out tells Starscream that he'll run the Decepticons after he's gone, but leadership can't be given, only taken. In the Dreamwave comics, Starscream is capable of running his own crew and being a threat to everyone else. While it's true that Starscream screws up a lot, he's not a total incompetent or some Autobot would have blown apart his laser core by now.

Still however you want to run it man.

rhoenix · Post by **rhoenix** » Mon Jul 25, 2011 8:52 pm

frigidmagi wrote:I find this rather odd, as in many versions Starscream is Megatron's favored heir. In the IDW comics, Megatron flat out tells Starscream that he'll run the Decepticons after he's gone, but leadership can't be given, only taken. In the Dreamwave comics, Starscream is capable of running his own crew and being a threat to everyone else. While it's true that Starscream screws up a lot, he's not a total incompetent or some Autobot would have blown apart his laser core by now.

Still however you want to run it man.

I honestly did not know that - I've never read the comics.

I was simply going by what I remember of G1. Basically, that Megatron would have loved to have slagged Starscream long before this, but none of the other Seekers could have stepped up to a leadership role.

frigidmagi · Post by **frigidmagi** » Mon Jul 25, 2011 8:55 pm

I'd like to point out that in some situations, a craptastic commander plotting against you is worse then no commander at all. Although if he put Thundercracker in a leadership position there would be even more problems I think.

The G1 cartoon holds a special place in my heart but it is the most simplistic by far.

Cynical Cat · Post by **Cynical Cat** » Mon Jul 25, 2011 9:10 pm

Starscream is quite intelligent and capable. The only guys who can trash him regularly are Megs and Primed and frankly that's a pretty impressive list. He's arrogant, overconfident, a coward, and a bully but he's damn dangerous.

Of course, talking shit about the enemy is an old and dear tradition.

LadyTevar · Post by **LadyTevar** » Mon Jul 25, 2011 9:10 pm

From what I've seen of all the comics, Megatron knows starscream's not yet ready to lead, but deliberately pushes the Air Commander to his failing point to force Starscream to improve himself.

Whether it's working is debatable. The best you can say is Starscream does not give up, which may be what Megatron sees in him. What I do not like is the new trend has Starscream as a whining bully who only too rapidly falls to begging for his life. I still think one of the best protrayal of Starscream is in Armada continuity.

Lys · Post by **Lys** » Mon Jul 25, 2011 9:15 pm

Starscream's characterization varies wildly. Sometimes he is dangerous and competent, and the only reason Starscream cannot unseat Megatron is because the Boss is even more dangerous. Other times he is very much the screw-up and Megatron seems to keep him around only because he finds his antics amusing. Oddly enough, I do not remember any instance where Starscream was shown to be clever and intelligent, but playing the fool to throw everyone off.

It's worth noting that Farshot explicitly has the memories that Megatron wanted him to have. There is no particular reason why we have to take his copies of Megatron's journals at face value. For that matter there is no reason to take Shunt's assessment of Starscream at face value. Cybertronians can be as biased and blinded by personal grudges as humans. Shunt can recall Starscream as "the Red Retard", but a different character can remember him as the stuff of nightmares. Farshot's version of Megatron's journals might have Megatron hating Starscream, but somebody else might distinctly remember Megatron expressing fondness and respect for his Air Commander. None of it need be decreed "the Truth".

rhoenix · Post by **rhoenix** » Mon Jul 25, 2011 10:01 pm

Lys wrote:It's worth noting that Farshot explicitly has the memories that Megatron wanted him to have. There is no particular reason why we have to take his copies of Megatron's journals at face value. For that matter there is no reason to take Shunt's assessment of Starscream at face value. Cybertronians can be as biased and blinded by personal grudges as humans. Shunt can recall Starscream as "the Red Retard", but a different character can remember him as the stuff of nightmares. Farshot's version of Megatron's journals might have Megatron hating Starscream, but somebody else might distinctly remember Megatron expressing fondness and respect for his Air Commander. None of it need be decreed "the Truth".

Lys just hit on the most salient point. Farshot's perspective on the universe was meant to be shaped by Megatron, with assistance from the memories Megatron implanted to reinforce them.

With no Megatron around to reinforce them (and prevent too many questions about the propaganda), Farshot decided to form his own opinions on things, since he's already seen that what he's able to observe and what Megatron wanted him to understand are two different things.

All that aside, thinking of Starscream as "a bad leader and a worse follower, but the best of the available options" seems to be a happy medium.

SirNitram · Post by **SirNitram** » Mon Jul 25, 2011 10:06 pm

Shunt is quite biased. He hates Starscream because he's a braggart and a traitor. He's got an especial hate because of Starscream's 'Backup Singers' including Skywarp, who he views as an obselete asshole.

Also, yes, Shunt views Strav similar to Deathstrike. Both were programmed by Megs.

rhoenix · Post by **rhoenix** » Mon Jul 25, 2011 10:13 pm

Decepticon implanted memories = Decepticon Wikipedia. Always check the sources.

frigidmagi · Post by **frigidmagi** » Sat Jul 30, 2011 2:37 pm

We've been mostly holding for Havoc in case anyone is wondering. He has some RL stuff going on.

rhoenix · Post by **rhoenix** » Sat Jul 30, 2011 2:45 pm

frigidmagi wrote:We've been mostly holding for Havoc in case anyone is wondering. He has some RL stuff going on.

No problem.

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Transformers: Alone and Unafraid

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