Dice Robotech: Army of the Southern Cross - OOC thread

[Purr]

Psychie Sherwood WlfSamurai I want what I've always wanted - a good time to be had by all. Psychie, where does the fun lie for you? If the answer is everyone in the Spartas, then that's where I'm very willing to go. If the answer is, nose-to-the-grindstone creating stuff, then that answer too is clear. Boom-done. I have a Ferrari brain with bicycle brakes - creating things like Spartas/Myrmidon hybrids and ECM components and the like is fun for me (that's why I like to invent things on Broadsword). But my way is not your way and that's how it ought to be!

To be clear - I'm willing to go with a Spartas-only group for the sake of everyone's fun. You already said earlier that you didn't want a game like the last one where there were upgrades and inventions and innovations. It sounds like this time around, you'd rather focus on the story. If that's the case, then Spartas-only for the sake of simplicity.

What about you, Sherwood?

 

[Sherwood]

Story focus is good for me. Besides, I love the Spartas, so having my character in one is a good thing.

 

[Purr]

Sherwood Okay, could you help me out a little? I know all of the stats of the Spartas, I know what she looks like, and what she can do. But I've yet to finish Robotech: The First War and so I've only seen little bits and pieces of, say, Dana Sterling and the gang and their "hover tanks." My main problem with the hover tank is I damn near expect to get shot out/carried out/blown out of the driver's seat in any mode save for Guardian mode.

Why do you love the Spartas? I could use a difference in perspective.

 

[Psychie]

Ok then. We will, at least for now, have everyone in the Spartas. Later on you may have an opportunity to use the light tanks.

 

[Purr]

Psychie Cool! Good to be on the same page. =)

I admit to getting a little frustrated here in the Jack of All Trades MOS skill selection process. I don't want to select the Scout/Reconnaissance MOS because the Spartas skills and some boosts to "his" existing skills are all they offer. When in the world am I going to use Wilderness Survival and Track & Trap Animals? Especially with no bonuses?

I really want the two Spartas Skills and Jeet Kune Do. But if I go for an MOS with full bonuses instead of selecting Other Skills, I risk losing Jeet Kune Do because I'll need the two skills for Spartas (GMP gets 2 secondaries; just enough but no more).

I'm basically creating a GMP analyst who is learning to go after the bad guys "in the field" so I don't mind losing all of the Physical Skills that Felis enjoyed, but... I don't want to create a liability either. I'm going for an analyst-become-Spartas pilot. But unless you're ATAC already, it certainly appears difficult to juggle the balance to get that Spartas.

Any ideas anyone?

EDIT: It doesn't help that my body feels like mud either, but hey. First world problems! =)

 

[Sherwood]

Why do you love the Spartas? I could use a difference in perspective.

Wow. Hard to say. They have always been tops in my book. The VHT is small, but tough. It has lots of armor, and with the main gun, it packs one hell of a punch. In an urban environment, the Spartas can hold its own against any other opponent, and I am quite happy with the edits to the weapon damage that Psy has made, making the Eu-11 a viable weapon instead of a joke.

I also think that my own past experience in the Abrams MBT has added to my love of the Spartas, hearing stories from the instructors of tank-on-tank battles in Desert Storm, getting kills on the Iraqi T-34s from several kilometers out.

 

[Purr]

I can definitely see the sentimental value the little veritech can have for a former Army tanker. Even with a 105mm, it still winds up to boom-and-doom from kilometers away - the power of mobile artillery in action!

But what about in the Robotech Masters storyline? I mean, as a defensive mecha, nothing beats it (like when Mario in Broadsword blocked all of those incoming rounds at the schoolbus full of kids and driver). Are there times when the Spartas really shines in the series?

Oh. And I'm totally with you on the laughable base model EU-11.

 

[Psychie]

I admit to getting a little frustrated here in the Jack of All Trades MOS skill selection process. I don't want to select the Scout/Reconnaissance MOS because the Spartas skills and some boosts to "his" existing skills are all they offer. When in the world am I going to use Wilderness Survival and Track & Trap Animals? Especially with no bonuses?

I have said before that if you pick up a MOS package that comes with Pilot and MECT Battloid, you can swap that out for the Spartas instead.

One other option is to pick up the MECT skill at second level, giving you a much needed skill at first level. It will not cripple your character, and once you pick it up at second, it can be easily explained that you were still learning the ropes in the tank, and have now gotten better.

 

[Sherwood]

But what about in the Robotech Masters storyline? I mean, as a defensive mecha, nothing beats it (like when Mario in Broadsword blocked all of those incoming rounds at the schoolbus full of kids and driver). Are there times when the Spartas really shines in the series?

I'll have to rewatch the series to give you a good example of the tanks in the series, but the Spartas has many scenes where they really show how tough they are.

 

[Purr]

I have said before that if you pick up a MOS package that comes with Pilot and MECT Battloid, you can swap that out for the Spartas instead.

I thought you did and when I went looking for it, I couldn't find the quote, and so in my addled state, I thought I'd imagined it! So it was real after all. Wheee!

One other option is to pick up the MECT skill at second level, giving you a much needed skill at first level. It will not cripple your character, and once you pick it up at second, it can be easily explained that you were still learning the ropes in the tank, and have now gotten better.

Huh! That would fit this character but then he's behind everyone else in MECT level for the entirety of the game? Hmm.

But going back to Pilot Battloids, that certainly opens a few more MOSs up!
Mechanized Infantry, Battloid Pilot, and... those two unless I missed one somewhere. That's more than I had before, though!

 

[Purr]

I'll have to rewatch the series to give you a good example of the tanks in the series, but the Spartas has many scenes where they really show how tough they are.

Sure! =)

Sorry if "sound" off. My body is really feeling it right now (more vitamins! More hydration! Down the hatch!). The more I have to think about (like our game here) right now, the better.

 

[Psychie]

Huh! That would fit this character but then he's behind everyone else in MECT level for the entirety of the game? Hmm.

Just tossing out options. No need to take them if you find something else that calls to you.

 

[Sherwood]

Options are always good.

 

[Purr]

No, I could use the options right now. Thanks! The more the merrier.

 

[Psychie]

Not a problem. I am here to help!

 

[Purr]

I noticed with his high Perception score, GMP and Jeet Kune Do bonuses, his Detect Ambush and Detect Concealment were up at, like... 69% and 64% at 1st level not counting having a Perception bonus of +11 (= +22% bonus per Psychie's temporary house rule). That's... really high for a desk jockey!

So, I'm seeing what his overall picture looks like if I go in with Information Specialist and Mechanized Infantry with full bonuses and then the Jack of All Trades perhaps in Guerilla Warfare Specialist (no bonuses, but those are skills I think I'll use, especially W.P. Shield)?

 

[Sherwood]

If you go with the Guerilla Warfare one, don't forget you get Demo Disposal per Psychie. It might also be something that helps to make the squad if we are all trained in the GW skill package, giving the ASC a reason to stick all of us together.

 

[Psychie]

That would do the trick.

 

[Purr]

If you go with the Guerilla Warfare one, don't forget you get Demo Disposal per Psychie. It might also be something that helps to make the squad if we are all trained in the GW skill package, giving the ASC a reason to stick all of us together.

I recalled that, thanks! =)

If the ASC dissolved us, we wouldn't have a game so I doubt that would happen, but it does make for "better unit cohesionness" for lack of better words. =)

Question on Pilot: Ground Veritechs (that I should probably know): One can select a veritech of choice and add +10% to it. This in turn is in addition to the +20% MOS bonus from Mechanized Infantry?

 

[Psychie]

Yes.

 

[Purr]

Okay. How about a person not trained in Detect Ambush or Detect Concealment (like civilians)? How are their chances determined via Perception?

EDIT: Are you using the standard Perception rules or something different?

 

[Psychie]

A person without the skills will have serious penalties to the roll that even a high Perception stat won't be able to fully offset.

 

[Purr]

A person without the skills will have serious penalties to the roll that even a high Perception stat won't be able to fully offset.

Good to know!

Oh, and does the GMP have an "ESWAT" division like in Appleseed in your game? I'm really thinking this "guy" should go Police Tactical Officer/S.W.A.T. because he's GMP, not military. If
there's an ESWAT in the GMP, then he could have started as an analyst/info specialist, and then through whatever circumstances decided to join ESWAT which (in my mind) would basically require Mechanized Infantry and S.W.A.T. MOSs (or something close to it).

What do you think?

 

[Psychie]

It will be a mix of ESWAT and Tank Police.

 

[Purr]

Oh, Tank Police from Dominion! Of course! Why didn't I think of that? =)