Oh my God, this is still going? I thought this had been abandoned!

>>21417377
You're back!

File: 1351982020334.jpg-(565 KB, 1488x2105, deadxlostfinal.jpg)

>>Previous thread is at http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/20801834/ picking up right where it left off. This delay was WAY too long, and I'm sorry. Shit just kept coming up, I got sick, fell out of the habit, yaddah yaddah yaddah. Lets play.

The Huntsman had just obliterated Clarke's cover, a 4-fit diameter tree, turning its trunk into soggy pulp and sending the whole thing tipping alarmingly. Clarke stands his ground, raising the triple-barreled kitbashed rifle and taking aim. The engineering database came up blank on weak points, so Dakka will have to do.

The hail of gunfire emptied the magazine shockingly quickly, many of the bullets ricocheting off the armor or shattering ceramic strike-plates. Under such an assault, the Huntsman construct raises it's shield-bearing right arm, jerkily trying to move out of the line of fire. When the firing stops, it hesitantly lowers the arm, one of its red optics cracked and dark, with thick fluid oozing from its shell. Still 60% functional, the huntsman raises the blocky firearm again, taking careful aim at the exposed Clarke...

And is crushed by the falling tree, thousands of pounds of wood cracking its shell like a tropical cockroach.

With the gunfire silenced at last, Clarke can hear the feeble clicking of crippled BigDog drones, the cursing of lightly-injured humans, and the screaming of heavily-injured humans.

YES. You're tweets have kept me going~

>>21417465
>>It was for a while. Now I'm back.
.
.
.
"Holy SHIT that was awesome."

Cindy creeps towards the crumpled machine, stooped over for a better look.

"I swear, I saw it look up at the last second."

The rest of the cast is less enamoured. A crowd has gathered around the lacerated man who was caught in the coilgun salvo, and Clarke can see Quinn crouched at the center. There appears to be some sort of argument.

>>21417744
Approach the argument and get the gist of it, if they're arguing about Quinn being a qualified medical professional we're going to sigh.

>>21417744
Some sort of 'I won't let a machine treat him' argument, I bet. Cindy can hopefully diffuse it while Clarke looks for useful parts on that big guy.

>>21417792
>>21417807
While the conflict does indeed seem to be a complaint about Quinn, it's not completely the usual paranoia.

Quinn: "The patient is going to have to remain still to complete the procedure. I require assistance."

There is a high-pitched, undignified scream, as the whole crowd winces. One of them pleads "What's wrong with you? He's in pain!"

There's another scream, and Quinn replies.

"Resources are limited. This case is insufficient to warrant morphine. Please hold him down; these wounds need to be cleaned. after that, cauterization will be simplest."

>>21417897
Right, we've got work to do.

Get something for the guy to bite down on so he doesn't break his teeth, and then we'll hold him down and Cindy can deal with the crowd of people.

>>21417897
Trying to persuade Quinn seems futile. Guess we'll just have to hold him down.

File: 1351983871573.png-(43 KB, 589x1392, Q1nport.png)

>>21417897
Cindy winces at another shriek, as Hound pads out of the forest, cleaning black goo off his knives.

"Excellent use of terrain, boss. And no casualties on our side, either. Have you confirmed the kill?"

File: 1351984394116.png-(60 KB, 987x549, Char ClarkeNew.png)

>>21417945
>>21417922
Clarke parts the crowd, Cindy trotting at his heals

"Sorry, sorry. Trust us, this is her job, she's a doctor, for real. Like, 70 years of experience. She's...oh."

Quinn kneels next to the injured human, roughly swabbing out a deep laceration on his stomach

"tha abdominal cavity has been breached. I need to find the flechette. I have already removed 5. at least 16 remain."

File: 1351984525258.png-(61 KB, 842x624, Char Cindy.png)

>>21418083
>>Make a Wits+Medicine (first aid) roll for Cindy.

Rolled 2, 8, 2, 4 = 16

>>21418111

Rolled 2, 4, 3, 5 = 14

>>21418111
Go Cindy, be helpful!

Clarke can't do much to help aside from hold him down, Clarke trying first aid would end badly. He's try looking for spare parts and when that didn't work just try to cludge it. He's used to a machine somehow ending up a spare screw that is meant to be in the machine and just living with it, this doesn't work for people.

>>21418111

Rolled 1, 7, 10, 3 = 21

>>21418111
Whoops, wrong field, ahaha.

Hell yes I love this quest. Time to monitor.

>>21418127
Clarke kneels down, to the grumblings of the crowd, holds the patient steady, placing a chunk of pulped wood between his teeth.

Surreptitiously, Cindy taps Clarke's shoulder and points to Quinn's medical bag, which lays half-open next to her.

Whispering: "I can see two full vials of morphine in there, labeled in french. and this could be done in better surroundings; she stopped all the serious bleeds."

Quinn continues to dig around within the wound, her grey synth-flesh fingers stained with blood. Eventually, she withdraws a crescent-shaped metal blade.

OH GOD. THIS IS THE BEST MONTH EVER. First Totemist Quest returns, now this!

PRAISE THE OMNISIAH

To Cindy: "For now, trust her judgement. She may reveal the reason for this decision when she is not under stress."

>>21418274
Goddamnit Quinn.

"Quinn, is it safe to move the patient? I would rather not stay here long, we don't know if there are any enemy reinforcements who will come this way."

>>21418274
"She can probably hear you."
Quinn is Quinn. She'll never use limited supplies of drugs unless it makes a real difference between life and death. Save the maximum amount of people no matter what. There ain't no use telling her different. He'll live and we can sort out her mental issues another time.

File: 1351986087934.png-(62 KB, 929x700, Char Q1N.png)

>>Very well. Avoiding conflict.

Quinn works quickly, scrubbing each wound with alcohol before stitching it closed. The human fails to pass out during the procedure, but the endorphins eventually kick in and the screaming slacks off.

"Moving the patient may damage the stitches, I suggest assembling some sort of stretcher."

Taking a tiny ammount of liquid from a clear bottle, she injects it into the human's arm.

"I suggest further antibiotics be administered over the next five days."

Look around for something we could use/fashion into a stretcher

File: 1351986713866.png-(43 KB, 768x549, Char Hoss.png)

Making a stretcher would be incredibly simple given the net and ropes nearby.
>>No crafts roll required.
As Clarke begins to assemble it, and the humans crowd around to comfort their wounded comrade (Clarke catches the name Francis), Quinn methodically cleans her hands, and speaks. "This is a task the humans are easily capable of. What was our original purpose for coming here? We should complete it, and move on."

Clarke's radio crackles with static, which resolves into Hoss's signature drawl.
"We heard gunfire from the boat. I took out two drones; some cosmetic damage to the boat. Is the situation in hand?"

File: 1351986781624.jpg-(215 KB, 2592x1944, 1348727733779.jpg)

>>Ducking out to use the bathroom. In the meantime, have a party sketch. Then we move along to plot progression.

Hoss: "Hostile leader has been... crushed. Literally. A few disoriented DOG drones are all that should be left of the enemy force in the area."

FUCK YES, LOST FUTURE!!!!!

>>21418632

Not ashamed to say that I would void Josephine's warranty, if you know what I mean...

>>21418614
"Hostiles have been dealt with. It was a bot that controlled a number of DOGs. A tree fell on it."

"Quinn, we are rendezvousing with Miguel and the local human resistance. They are likely to have valuable information about things important to our goals and journey."

File: 1351987534204.png-(240 KB, 758x1200, Masked Clarke.png)

>>21418756
You probably wouldn't be the first.


ALSO, have this photoshop I made while drunk last month.

>>21418756
Well I guess no personality is better than the other two robot girls' crazyness, but still. She's pretty cumbersome for a fleshlight.

File: 1351988891610.jpg-(85 KB, 595x321, Xcaretmp.jpg)

>>21418812
>>Hmmm...I'm starting to worry about my portrayal of 'female' characters. Maybe I need to add another crazy male character for balance.

Hefting one end of the stretcher, with two humans on the other end, Clarke and co begin trudging towards what must be an encampment. The strident woman speaks into a radio "We're approaching. from the north, 'guests' in tow. Francis is hurt bad, but stable. Tell Miguel he's got some nice friends."

>>21419059
>Maybe I need to add another crazy male character for balance.
Well every robot seems to have some sort of crazyness. I wouldn't say you're being discriminatory or anything. Clarke's the most normal one there and he has 4chan for a brain.

>>21419117
>4chan for a brain
That's a frightening thought, but then, I remember, so does every other quest protagonist.

File: 1351989667985.jpg-(75 KB, 435x290, Grand-Xcaret-2.jpg)

>>21419059
Shortly, the path opens up into...a town. Starting abruptly, a tiny criss-cross of streets in what might have once been a few gift shops, restaurants, and other buildings to give the illusion of a quaint little village. Gaps between the buildings have been barricaded with roughly-cut logs and sheet metal, creating a few hundred square feet of nominal safety.

A crowd of humans meets the returning warriors, a mix of children and the middle-aged, twenty five in total. Some of the adults hold simple bolt-action rifles, and there's a certain amount of of hugging, crying, and comforting.

File: 1351989788986.gif-(1.16 MB, 400x300, Freakazoid-the-90s-322291(...).gif)

>>21419164
>>4chan for a brain, you say?

>>21419200
Ask for Miguel, say that we are here to see him.

Before we leave, we should make it a point to try and leave instructions on how to operate and create ammo for the coilguns, based on what Quinn and Hound remember.

>stuck in NJ with no power visiting relatives
>phone at 50%
>very little gas in the car
>Lost Future Quest

Oh baby. Let's ride this to the end.

>>21419200

"Greetings, humans. Clarke and Company at your service. Please, no valves."

>>21419117
And Clarke is far from normal. He prefers good engineering to human company, he likes some humans but a lot of them rub him the wrong way, is somewhat obsessed with fixing things, and is somehow the most rational one of the group.

I mean Hound is a psychotic muppet, Cindy's screwy as hell, Quinn has lost her bedside manner and empathy, Hoss is actually somewhat sane, he's very attached to being a Texas Ranger, but still sane and functional.

File: 1351990470983.jpg-(15 KB, 152x223, Mayanchildren.jpg)

>>21419200
Quinn stands silently, observing as her patient's mother or older sister sobs dramatically, while Cindy looks awkward, unsure as to whether she's going to get her head bashed in again. Hound's head rotates like an owl's, taking in every detail. Clarke's little party generates its own field of leper-space, until...

"Senior Clarke! Senior Clarke!"

The crowd is visibly displaced as something unseen moves through it, then a small, brown-skinned female human breaks from the crowd,

>>21419371
Give her a full giant armed hug, gently. They ought to be able to wrap around her once of twice.

Spin her around. In complete monotone "It's good to see you small human alhanya."

>>21419424
Well, maybe not so dramatic a display, but I think a hug would be alright.

>>21419424
>>21419441
You compromise between the two, and the whole scene certainly has everyone's attention as Alhanya giggles.

"Clarke! You got new muscles!"

Miguel appears, looking worried but happy (as only a parent can), and approaches to shake Clarkes free manipulator, Alhanya happily held in the other.

"It's good to see you again. We've been...under siege, I suppose, for the past two days. Dogs everywhere, and the damn Huntsman. I see you've been... busy. I turn my back on you for less than a week, and suddenly you have a squad and fancy new weapons? I see Miss Cindy's managed to find a wardrobe, as well."

>>21419564
"It is good to see that you are well.

You already know Cindy, this is Quinn, trauma surgeon, and Hound, reconnaissance and infiltration expert.

How have you and Alhanya been in the last week?"

>>21419564
>>Going Broad-Strokes. Ask Miguel any questions you have, and/or send the others to investigate the thorp.

"We were alright until two days ago. We met up with Riker's people, who turned up just after we did. No more Resistance thugs have bothered us, and it was...relaxing here. The waters are very, very pleasant, and I've found a few interesting things in the buildings."

Miguel introduces you to the co-mayor of the settlement, a hard-faced man from slightly further north, his hair completely grey and cut close. He gives you a somewhat sour look, but also shakes your hand.

"I've got to thank you for helping with our Machine problem. You'll have to forgive me if I don't do a little jig; I don't like relying on mercenaries and wandering adventurers, let alone Free Machines, or whatever you are. You and your companions are welcome here for the day. You can...eat some scrap iron, or whatever it is you do."

Alhanya has moved on to Cindy, who seems to be having a lot of fun letting the girl show off her new home, pointing out where she saw a giant frog yesterday, and the various small-fluffy-animal burrows about the place.

>>21419692
"You can't possibly know how glad I am that you and your people are mostly unharmed. We have much to talk about. Good and bad news. But the best news of all is I and my companions have discovered how to de-program networked robots. They need not all remain monsters forever."

>>21419793
Eh, second.

I don't really remember why we came here. Was it just to check up on the little girl?

>>21419880
We mostly came to make sure Miguel's group managed to live through their exodus. Now we've got a chance to help them with their wounded and plan out some defenses using the coilguns network so graciously donated.

>>21419793
Miguel's eyes go wide.

"You've...done this? I...I was not even aware that those monsters used to be...like you. Or Miss Cindy..."

He goes silent for a moment.

"Your new friends, the red-eyed one in the coat, and the small one, they were...?

Clarke nods, and Miguel raises an eyebrow. "I see. I wouldn't bandy it about here, if I were you."

More loudly, he continues. "We're blessed to have you all here; I think that still being alive for the moment is worth a little celebration. The music box you fixed has been a godsend for us; it contains such wonders!"

>>21419942
"It was no trouble at all, I'm glad it makes you happy.

You said you found some interesting things in the buildings. What sort of things would these be?"

>>21419942
"I would imagine so. Of all the things mankind has created, music is often said to be the greatest."

>>21419942
>>Clarke can make a Craft (mechanics)+Intelligence to salvage what he can from the Dog drones. unfortunately, coilguns are less than effective vs networked machines...but they're great against organic hoodlums.

>>21419973
>>Gotta call it for the moment.

Rolled 6, 3, 8, 1, 2, 4, 3, 4 = 31

Well, they're better than getting completely stomped.

Rolled 7, 10, 6, 4, 6, 8, 6, 2 = 49

Roooooll

Rolled 6, 2, 3, 7, 8, 5, 9, 5 = 45

>>21420009

>>21420009
What kind of equipment and rolls would we need to make armor-piercing ammunition for the coilguns?

>>21420114
From what I recall, these things mostly just fire sharpened scrap metal. We'd have to find some sort of metal that was almost supernaturally sharp to make AP ammo for them. Maybe something could be done to increase muzzle velocity.

bumb

Bump before sleep.

>>21420029
BUMPING FOR LOST FUTURE QUEST IS BACK AND AWESOME!!!

File: 1352050096987.png-(39 KB, 951x727, network hardware.png)

>>21420009 >>21420029 >>21420042 >>21420044 >>21420105

you guys rolled so hard you forced me to make art. Leaving this here, feel free to make it cannon if you want, otherwise I just got overly inspired.
------
Network coil gun of unknown mark and make. Operates by feeding scrap steel of a certain ferrous value into the hopper. the micro forge heats it to a molten state. The hopper is a super insulator and requires little external power to keep the steel molten. steel is pulled from hopper, into the micro foundry and fired still hot. the hi cycle capacitors are ring shaped and run the length of the barrel. The barrel is tightly spun metallic thread, coated in carbon polymer. Two stage cooling rods take care of the barrel between shots, as well as keep the batteries cool under load.
----------
The weapon itself is mostly crap. The most valuable parts are the hopper, and the batteries.Fire control everything is outdated. The capacitors could stand to be more powerful, the cooling system is a joke and its fragile. The Gyro could have interesting applications..and the foundry/ forge is stuck making projectiles of only one size. All together thought it was quite robust, able to keep a unit out in the field for long periods of time, resupplying off of scrap metal for low grade projectiles, with no one component overly stressing the system.

>>21428284
this i like

File: 1352052599349.png-(15 KB, 1140x312, makeshift.png)

>>21428284

What I imagine our resident hero can do with that gear. configure it into a light weight, high powered marksman gun. Equipped with a scavenged trigger and bi pod. Batteries hardwired to control unit, supplying over charge to capacitors. The girl runs hot. A stripped firing control unit and sensor suite removes all safeguards. The projectile fired is actually a jet of molten steel due to the cool off function for the foundry being omitted in favor of more power. A shroud on the front hides a flash, but will glow bright orange after a few shots.
---
It is a hot rod that is not nearly as safe, or efficient as what it was.

-------------

Feel free to make your own gun. the parts are all there. Perhaps one of them will inspire our GM.

File: 1352054155332.png-(9 KB, 618x368, spare parts.png)

>>21428749
and just something else to ponder on.

>>21428749
Mother of god. So, this thing would just fire a line of red hot FUCK YOU.

Love it. Fabricate it. Give it to the locals with complete documentation on what everything on it is, how to fix it, and how to operate it.

File: 1352069215425.png-(41 KB, 1000x1000, Vulture drone.png)

Bumbing with a networked bot sketch.

The Vulture drone is a flying scout and hunter robot. It's main purpose is to seek out holdouts of humans and free machines especially for the main network forces. They are armed with high powered coil riffle, capable of puncturing trough even military grade armor. It's projectiles are made out of heavy metals, and the weapon itself launches them with enough speed to turn them into an explosion of plasma upon impact. This allows them to defend themselves against more heavily armed foes, as well as effectively sabotage targeted settlements, as the weapon is very efficient at destroying structures and equipment, such as generators.

A lone vulture can cripple small settlements by destroying vital equipment and installations from afar, leaving the denizens vulnerable to the network harvesters and eradicators. The vultures also hunt down lone machines, using lower powered shots to cripple the body of the target robot, and carrying the valuable AI back to the network hubs.

Should the scout end up in close combat, it relies on it's folding composite blade, instead of the cumbersome coil gun. The vultures are nimble and fast foes, their hover wings, and light body allow them to dart around with amazing speed around their foe.
All these things however make the Vultures quite valuable, and thus they are quite rare network machines. Their power demands are also quite great, and thus they can't operate at full combat capacity very long. More often than not, they operate in low power, only activating their full potential when it is their time to strike.

>>21432180

Few more things about them.

Due to the need to keep their body light weight, the vultures lack any real armor, relying instead on speed and stealth for protection.
Their coil gun is very light weight when compared to it's size, though it lacks the power generators which allow it to function. This power is instead provided by the generator inside the main body of the vulture, which also powers the rest of the robot.
Due to the coil gun's power demands however, the vulture has to direct large amounts of it's power to the gu in order to fire it at it's greatest strenght. This renders the vulture unable of flight or fast moement when it is preparing to fire the high power shots of it's weapon.

WTF is this and why is it some damn interesting?

>>21433042
you have much to learn

>>21433042
It is the continued adventures of Clarke 08. Former maintenance bot, current hero. His goal is to fix things in the broadest sense possible.

He is extremely good with machines and computers, unless valves are involved, not all that good with people, and rips the arms off of evil robots.

File: 1352074702135.jpg-(328 KB, 1010x1364, seraguardian.jpg)

>>21428749
>>21432180
>>21428284
Oh shit, this is all great. I actually like the idea of the Coilgun having ammo-fabrication built-in. I was thinking about that today; how one would make a practical mini metal smelter. And then I come back and see this. And creepy flying eridian-guardian-esque Network bot.

Only complaint: Not sure that Network has anti-gravity tech. If it did, I'd be tempted to confine it to a single General, like how the one general has EMF shields. Still super-cool.

>>21433042
See: http://1d4chan.org/wiki/Setting:Inn0cence:_Lost_Future
It needs to be rewritten and updated, though.

Sadly, I've got stuff occupying my time tonight. Home. Family. Wreck-it-Ralph. I'll keep the thread alive and update when I can, do a little right now.

Brilliant. So I'm guessing if I want to know whats happened so far I look at the previous threads?

File: 1352075529735.png-(86 KB, 635x981, Recap.png)

However, I will take care of whatever I can right now.

>>21433452
yes. I also made a recap page a while ago. And remember that I got better as time went on.

Thanks that's awesome of you.

>>21433602
"I JUST WANTED TO WATCH THE SLAGGING RAINSTORM!"

All Clarke wanted to do was watch the rainstorm in peace.

File: 1352076661019.png-(99 KB, 923x773, PrimerSetting.png)

>>21433602
>>And here's the setting primer, complete with a list of the places I stole shit from.

With the help of the human braves, Clarke drags back the wreckage of the dog drones. Looking over the Huntsman reveals little in the way of salvageable tech; even the quantum drive has been crushed. The machine-gun-like weapon turns out to be loaded with massive metallic spikes, and operates on internal combustion assisted by low-grade magnetic propulsion. The gun itself is ruined, apart from one component; the biofuel refiner. Corn In=volatile chemical out.

>>Constructing the liquid-metal sniper would require an extended roll, but the blueprints are in Clarke's head now.

Clarke is able to modify all five of the coilguns into human-portable weapons, but has to explain that powering them will be something of a bitch; they'll need a day or more on a solar cell to fully charge, more if ammo has to be fabricated.

As Miguel cranks up the tunes, it turns out that the local people have become HUGE Bob Marley fans.

>>It suddenly occurred to me that Marijuana would probably be a HUGE trade good in the post-apocalypse. I need to incorporate that.

Rolled 21

>>21433418
>Wreck-it-Ralph
I wanted to go see that...

>>21433840
Clarke is the best mechanic.

Take a look around the place, see if anything isn't in working order, if anything can be fixed or improved, if they are using inefficient methods for anything.

>>21434185
we shall fix we shall mend we shall heal the world

>>21433840
>pot
Keeping mellow in the face of a nigh-unkillable advancing force would be kind of a necessary thing.

>biofuel refiner
Sweet fuck, we could keep the boat running forever!

>>21433840
I like making modular items that are easy for others to edit. I also love the concept of scrapping and salvaging. If a list of common enemies was made, what weapons/ capabilities they have, from there a i would be willing to generate multiple roll charts

(standard goofball)->(locations with associated salvage)->(roll for hits: if not aiming, roll at random for damage to location, roll for level of destruction to location)

I could see it more often then not that some components would self destruct, or explode with sufficient damage.

I get bored. like to help out. but I dont want to intrude.

Salvaged mix-and-match weapons sound like a fucking awesome deal. We kind of already did this with the Dakkalith. Imagine if there were nutjobs out there whose entire purpose in life was to hunt specific Networked machines for rare weapon components?

>>21436089
There's gonna be that guy who's out there, somewhere, hunting for that perfect part to complete his man-portable railgun.

>>21433418

Well, I didn't say that the flight of the Vultures was based on anti grav tech. I imagined their wings being just very advanced jets.

>>21436728

Though, of course, the Vulture could be one unique general, which hunts down human and free machine settlements. What ever suits your plans for this setting OP.

Rolled 15

bump for I'm not fucking letting resistor flake out on this thread.

File: 1352100702740.jpg-(493 KB, 1178x1660, flyingdebris_13.jpg)

>Wreck It Ralph was pretty good, BTW. Too much time spent in Not-Mariocart-Candyland, though.

>>21434312
>>It's small, so...forever IN THEORY, but only after a LOT of time spent feeding corn into it.

>>21434185
Clarke soon gathers a solemn following as he potters about the place, fixing a small oil-powered stove, several lamps, and an uncooperative radio.

The radio, an elderly, cumbersome assemblage originating from Riker's group, fizzles to life and cycles through the local channels.

One contains a buzzing, disquieting series of burbles and chirps. Next is an AM station that seems to be...conservative talk radio. Huh. That explains a lot. Next is-

"zzzzzzzzzzzzCLICK-took out another hound, acted all fucked up, slow to act. otherwise looks clear. Over-zzzzzzzzzz"
"zzzzzClick-Good. Return to the main column. We need to push to the city, keep up the pace. No time to check in on the locals; not much left to recruit or requ-zzzzzz-yways."

File: 1352101133668.jpg-(551 KB, 700x800, fee17a4d034d5bc738e963663(...).jpg)

>>21436728
Oh, well I saw solid-state wings with vanes and spars, i associate that with anti-grav for some reason. Still super-cool, and I thank you.

>>21438559
I'm trying not to flake out, but things and stuff. I'm going to archive the thread now, and keep it up for tomorrow or the day after. I'm glad to be back in the game, though.

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/21417377/

I have access to a scanner now, so I'll throw up some doodles tomorrow along with continuing posts.

I suppose it's time we say our goodbyes to these folks. See if we can't get the people to round up in a central area so we can give them all some inspiring words/words of wisdom before leaving.

>>21438813
This. Personally, I'd like to advise them against marching out to meet an enemy they can barely defend against. Also, I'd like to give them this line I thought of.

"I will remember you all. Robots were built to do thankless jobs, jobs not even other humans were thanked for doing. So when a robot is thanked for doing their job, we do not forget. I will not forget, and I will use the memory of you as my personal strength."

>>21438940
It seems we are of one mind. Especially on the "going out to fight an enemy they can barely defend against."

Definitely suggest to them they work on fortifications as much as they can.

>Go watch Wreck it Ralph. Yay!
>Come back to find out Lost Future Quest is back. Double yay!
>Realize that I missed the entire thread.
>fml

>>21438813
build a man a gun, and you can let him shoot for a day. Teach a man to make a gun, and he can shoot for life. get these suckers into the scavenger lifestyle. armor, guns, sheet metal homes.

>>21439171
Yes. Once they've gotten the knack to fix/build things on their own, defense won't be as hard.

>>21439205
Late night bump

bumping for...hope.

>>21441909
hope for a new tomorrow

File: 1352130003456.gif-(744 KB, 296x199, 3871334+_43d5f861ef2dd626(...).gif)

IIIIIIIIIIIITTTTSSSSSSSSS BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK!

>>21417377
hey op, what is the standard with this IP, and world? Is it yours, do you just play in it? Would you be cool with another group existing elsewhere in the world so long as they in no way shape or form impact your game?
---

Been watching the game, seeing the loot, characters, etc. Got this idea for a 4chan quest thread where we have multiple players, and they all start off as a base model of a robot, and upgrade from there off of salvage.

File: 1352135733786.png-(141 KB, 746x1055, Lost Future Character Sheet.png)

>>21442284
It's mine, but it was crafted with the help of /tg/, and consists mostly of shit stolen from better settings. It was originally a video game idea, but the setting that grew around the idea turned out to be deeper than expected. /tg/ seems to love it as just an RPG, but I can't seem to find a system that really fits, and the setting still bears the marks of being for a video game. (see the WoD charsheet. I was considering doing a little write-up, but I just feel like a better system should exist. I'd love to use paired-down Dark Heresy mechanics, for example, but those don't work either.)

polite sage because I can't devote time to an update right now. Also, I often feel guilty about "polluting" /tg/ with shitspammed quest threads. I know a huge chunk of the locals REALLY hate quests.

>>21442284
But, regarding your ACTUAL question, sure, they can exist. I can't stop you. I could even point you in the direction of some good ideas, depending on what you want to do.

I'd warn against having salvage/upgrading be the HUGE focus, but its your game. I always intended for mods and upgrades to be mostly mental firmware shit like shell drivers and targeting software, but then they picked a mr. fixit protagonist.

File: 1352146491706.png-(46 KB, 1500x1000, Cricket drones.png)

Bumbing with yet another networked drone concept.

The Cricket drones are fast and fragile scout drones, which often accompany their bigger vulture brethren, working as their protectors and minions. The crickets use their small and flexible frames and powerful wings to move quickly and covertly ahead of main network forces. They use their advanced sensors to scan their surroundings and send back vital information to the main network forces.

They are also occasionally dispatched in small hunter teams with the directives to locate, track and if possible, eliminate certain important enemy figures, such village leaders, influential tech traders, problematic free machines, etc, and otherwise sabotage the enemies of the network before the main machine forces arrive.

In combat, the Crickets rely on speed and agility. Their long, flexible limbs, small frame and extremely rapid movements make them deadly in close combat. They use their two folding blades to strike their foes into weak spots, and their wings to quickly dart away from retaliation.

Against firearms they are far more vulnerable, as they have no armor to speak of, nor do they posses much firepower themselves. Some of them are equipped with compact weaponry, such as mini dart guns or small microwave emitters, but these weapons mostly serve to aid them in close combat.
When they face fire arms, the crickets use their superior speed and the terrain for protection, and make their every attempt to either flee, or flank their opponents, depending on the situation. They prefer to ambush their victims, or using distractions to cover their rapid approach. Their combat power comes from their numbers, speed and agility. They attack in packs of 3-6, from many directions, aiming to swarm their victim.

bumb

I thought of something else we could power with that biofuel refiner:

A chainsaw. Find that, and a chain of diamond-teeth for it and we've got a ripper that eats concrete.

>>21449341
And then we attach it to a hilt and we got ourselves a chainsword.

>>21449375
WHAT HAS SCIENCE DONE?!?!

>>21449411
Made an evil AI network that's killing everything. And a chainsaw.

File: 1352163999600.png-(111 KB, 890x655, orks.png)

>>21449375
WE MUST ATTACH IT TO THE DAKKALITH. It's plenty SHOOTY, but it needs more CHOPPY.

File: 1352164108469.png-(21 KB, 824x321, Sigh.png)

>>21445464
The sigh. Widely used by pre-collapse third world militarilies. Almost as ubiquitous as the ak47, or RPG of the present era.

Nothing more then a giant feed and fire mechanism, with exactly enough barrel to shoot in the general direction of your enemy. Rounds leave the ammo pod sideways and are flipped forward and up into the firing chamber. The two most common forms of ammo for the gun were Solid slugs, which were heavy depleated uranium sub-sonic rounds. Rocklets were the alternative, an explosive charge brought them up to speed, then a unique explosive acted as rocket fuel. The rocklets were considered dangerous, as they had no self destruct mechanism, they would keep flying until they exhausted their fuel, then continue on for several miles. This caused much collateral damage. The upside to the rocklet was, the closer you were to your target, the more destructive power the projectile had, with the "fuel" being detonated by the explosive head of the projectile.

The weapon came with a multi tool, that served as a spoon, chisel, knife, bayonet, writing instrument, and was limited in use by the operator's imagination. optional upgrades included a suppressor, and bipod, not pictured. the bipod was often discarded in favor of a second ammo pod to use as a firing platform.

In the field soldiers would frequently strip the dual part safety, as well as the dust cover of the firing chamber. The dust cover would often get in the way of them manually feeding in "wildcat" rounds. Unauthorized home made projectiles, often scatter shot, or custom loaded high grain count hypersonics.

In this day and age, they are often in poor repair, their ammo converted to thrown grenades, their quick clips used for clothing, or other purposes. Still a popular tool amongst gangs, highwaymen, and freedom fighters.

>>21449498
But the big money question is: Why was it CALLED the Sigh? Was it "*sigh* well, my life was wasted" just before being killed by one or "*sigh* more idiots walked into my line of sight."

>>21449578
derp. my bad. two fold. "sigh" for having to lug it around. The smaller ammo pod is for mobility and patrol, while the larger pod is for guarding, and vehicular mounting. The thing itself is so heavy it does not so much need the multi tool as a weapon, as it is itself a club.

>>21449341
Is it just me, or would that diamond-tooth chainsaw tear through networked bot armor like it was paper? They were some kind of ceramic, right? It'd be like sawing a clay pot.

bumb

Late night Bump.

bored. I suggest we fluff out the world some more. I want to create the manufacturers of weapons, etc that existed pre shit hitting the fan. If you make one that has a cool enough story, ill start drawing some more weapons. doesn't even have to be a gun.

Components of creation
Location of company: usa, mexico, china, russia, kurgistan, etc.
quality vs. quantity: hand made with love and care, or mass produced function over form.
rugged vs precision: is a brick you can run over with a truck vs. finely tuned machine, laser cut, etc.
intended purpose: Defense, hunting, law enforcement, military, criminal, novelty/ collectors
company trademark feature/ branding: Big gun, lots of bullets, high quality scope, wild colors, laser dot, built in gyroscope, etc.
Common materials: wood, plastic, polymer, metal, rubber- what is your item made of?
story:tell us a good story then.

Bump.

File: 1352233168055.png-(42 KB, 800x800, Brute drone.png)

Moar network machines!

This one is a heavy hitter, instead of a fragile scout.

The "Brutes" are heavily armed and armored robots that serve as the "tanks" of the network. Their task is to break trough the enemy resistance with brute force, crumble the fortifications of their foes with superior firepower, flush their targets out from their bunkers with their explosives and protect their comrades with their mere presence, as their imposing frame is sure to draw fire from the enemy ranks and work as mobile cover for the lesser network machines.
Their armor and body has been designed to withstand as much punishment as possible, while still allowing them to be relatively mobile. In practice, this means that they are immune to small arms fire, but dedicated anti armor weaponry can harm them. Though such weapons are rare in the post fall world, the network faces them frequently enough to justify the basic laser based anti missile arrays of the brutes.

The main "gun" of the brutes has 3 weapons, a high power coil gun, standard fletchette launcher and a rapid fire grenade launcher. The weapon also has a basic fabricator array, which allows the brutes to produce their own ammo. In addition, the brutes have both missile bay on their backs, and defensive grenade bays on their shoulders.

The brutes require large power supply, and thus they have their own fusion core inside of them, which allows them to operate without needing to recharge in the network hubs. This, in addition to the other aspect of these machines make them very valuable investments for the network, and thus they are rarely deployed unless it is absolutely necessary.

>>21456958

How about one arms manufacturer that couldn't decide if they wanted to make guns or vodka, so they made both. Tzar Bomba guns came with sample-sized bottles of vodka, and their vodka came with a single live .50 cal round tied to the bottle.

The guns were cheap, and wore down easy, but they were so easy to fix, many mercs had the repairs down to a science, and learned fast how to unfuck their rifles under fire.

The vodka, also cheap, was just as often drunk as it was used for firebombs, disinfectant, and gun oil additive in cold, northern campaigns.

File: 1352237981015.png-(478 KB, 2000x1000, Network drone size.png)

Here is a basic size scale of some of the network machines that I have drawn recently.

File: 1352243897409.png-(30 KB, 836x519, Untitled.png)

>>21460726
initially a marketing gimmick, the drunk Russian was supposed to be a cocktail consisting of vodka and a bullet. it came with a disposable "gun" if you are bold enough to call it that. without the internal rifling grooves on the barrel it could not be called a rifle. Essentially a smooth bore gun with an upside down hinge mechanism to cut down on production costs, the weight of the barrel created the seal. The trigger is unique in that a post drags a spring with metal striker head backwards. Once a certain point of tension is reached, the spring overcomes the post and slips forward, slamming into the firing pin, and then the pin to the bullet. cheap. It also creates a distinct crunching spring noise and very heavy, long, awkward pull. Finally the bottle was of sturdy aluminum construction to keep it from being broken in drunken adventures. Aluminum pressing was also cheaper then glass, and you could send it back in for a coupon for your next drink.

Due to the fact that it's country of origin did not consider this a firearm, there was no regulation. Many, many of these "guns" were made, and many still exist to this day. The ease of repair and replacement of parts (and how shitty the original parts were) means that its unlikely to find two that are exactly the same. Common upgrades include a new barrel, sights, a barrel lock (for safety and firing at an angle that does not allow gravity to hold the gun closed), stock or pistol grip, and a double barreled side by side configuration. Some will simply strap the gun to their existing weapon as a breaching device. It is a fucking 14.5×114mm (russian made, slightly bigger then a .50)

Oh on a final note, the fucking ammo was surplus and often "found" or stolen from the government. When this was discovered, the company was seized and turned into a State asset.

>>21462773
You've turned my half-assed concept into something I love. Awesome.

File: 1352250895973.jpg-(488 KB, 2592x1944, IMG_20121106_190424.jpg)

>>21456958
>>21460499
Huh. Now I feel humbled by everyone's effort while I've been away (shitty day, but i got my laundry started and found my wallet,) and now more art, so things are looking up.

And holy fuckthat brute thing is sweet. The underarm mantis/flip-out combat blade sure is a popular item, though. I like.

Next time the urge to draw takes you, I'd love to see bosses/generals, "titans", or "inducted" machines.

>>21462773
hehehehehehehehe, I love it. Oh those crazy russians

Come to think of it, I guess I could lay down some ideas on the general pre-loss world. I guess the main assumption is that apart from quantum computing, there simply ISN'T a "next big" technological breakthrough to solve all our problems; contemporary technology gets better, shit that's currently experimental gets perfected, but nothing fundamentally changes. As resources become more scarce and economies scale down to match people's buying power, technology becomes less...disposable. People become willing to save up and buy something that will last them for years and years. Tech assumes that there will be times when the owner is off the grid (probably due to the grid being blown up by "freedom fighters"). So, thermal chips, solar cells, local wireless and conventional radio backups.

Thermal, solar, even microfusion all wound up just being stopgaps. they worked for small-scale shit, but could never be made to run whole civilizations.

Oh, I'm back, by the way.

>>21464589

Hey, I just read entire archive.
This is pretty awesome quest, don't know why I ignored it till now.
Good job, hopefully you will keep this up!

>>21464589
One thing I'm interested in is what happened to space. Some people here are hyping up asteroid mining and private space companies. Was there a second stall like that which followed the Cold War, or was the construction of Giant Orbital Solar Collector #1 interrupted by the collapse of human civilization, or what?

Obviously, your setting is/was entirely concerned with what's happening and what did happen on the ground, which makes perfect sense, since you intended it for a video game focused on the adventures of Cenn. Now that you're trying to flesh more things out, though, this is one of my questions.

gun guy. still here. still waiting on the ideas of the people. the OP's ideas if any would be appreciated.

>>21464790
In space, no-one can hear the robots left aboard SPACE STATION MAXIMUS losing their minds from extreme boredom.

>>21438940
Clarke's speech seems to divide the gathered people, half of whom seem deeply affected. Riker approaches Clarke afterwards.

"I can't in good conscience not thank you for your help. All the same, I appreciate your band not lingering. The last thing I want is another spat with the Resistance. I just hope that you and them together draw off the networked ones. And the guns...will be put to judicious use."

Miguel joins him, giving Riker a disapproving look. "and you are owed for the repair of those guns. After all this is over, you would be welcome among us, so that you can be repaid in some small way."

While Clarke was tinkering and speechifying, Cindy turns out to have attracted a gaggle of youths, and appears to be exchanging playlists and recommended bands with them. Clarke interrupts a lecture "the 90's revitalized the punk movement, which them slowly slipped back into commercialism. It was only with the arrival of former-soviet-bloc feminist anti-establishment bands that heralded some of the best shit ever recorded-Sorry, you had a question Juanita?"

Quinn proves easy to collect, as her only remaining concern is to begrudgingly give a small amount of antibiotics for the care of the injured man, along with strict instructions as to their proper use.

Hound is eventually found playing some sort of hide-and-seek with a trio of 10-year-old boys, who are most put out that their excellent hider is being taken away from them. Hound reports that human children make for poor opponents in hunting sims.

>>21464902
Somewhere above Earth, in a self-contained AI research lab...

"Hey! Hey, DAN6! I solved Go!"

"Too bad you haven't solved GO AWAY."

You sure we can't scavenge more from those hounds we killed?
We could cut all of their synth muscle, it could serve as a trading material. Since we have a boat, weight is not of concern. Maybe we could scavenge them for spare parts, for when we need to make repairs and such?

>>21464790
>>21464902
Aside from a certain orbiting satellite, probably not much. I'm rather of the pessimistic opinion that in a future of economic collapse, politically active religions, and increasingly-small iPods, no one would give two shits about space anymore.

I did have some ideas for some sort of stranded space-hab with a stable population that's been holding things together for as long as it can.

And it suddenly occurs to me that robotics would make exploitation of, say, the MOON really easy. There could be some monk-like moon-dwelling robots slowly building their own geth-like utopian society on the moon.

Guns: some sort of civilian-issue Personal Defense Weapon, like a cheaper P90 seems like a likely widespread consumer good for the pre-apocalypse. "Protect your family, buy a compact high-performance SMG today! Nothing scares off the looters, retro-santerian cultists, and roving militias like a submachinegun!"

Because I couldn't be bothered to put more thought into it, and I'm not exactly an expert futurist qualified to make an interesting near-future, i mostly just stole shit from Metal Gear Solid 4. That's what I always imagine in my head; mgs4 but with more humanoid robots.

>>21465091
Considering the moon has underground resources that can be exploited with some effort, I wouldn't doubt someone would have put something up there.

>>21465135
Not even underground. There's a shitton of good quality rare metals sitting around in craters up there, just waiting for someone to come around and pick them up for whatever purpose they have.

>>21465089
Clarke already has quite the collection of spare parts as part of the inventory, but yes, you can spend some time butchering the Bigdog drones on the way out. Their synth-muscle is minimal, but you get enough to maybe upgrade a single Locust-sized shell.

>>21464691
Well, thank you. I really need to get better at responding to fans/compliments, I never know what to say. I'm always left with the sneaking suspicion that you're all idiots with poor taste and I'm actually terrible.

More guns more guns more guns...what use would a realistic man-portable laser gun actually have? something in the same tier as a bazooka or light machine gun? Heavy as fuck, but a standard anti-tank military weapon? Manufactured by France, perhaps? I'm not very good with gun porn.

>>21464943
Before we go say goodbye to Alhanya and give her a quick hug, say goodbye to Miguel, and head back to the boat. If we think we could salvage more good stuff from the Bigdogs do so, we can always use more synthmuscle.

Also how were the Bigdogs powered?

>>21465091
>I'm rather of the pessimistic opinion that in a future of economic collapse, politically active religions, and increasingly-small iPods, no one would give two shits about space anymore.

It's quite possible, and I suppose it's a justification no one's going to argue about.

>"Protect your family, buy a compact high-performance SMG today! Nothing scares off the looters, retro-santerian cultists, and roving militias like a submachinegun!"

This blurb reminds me of Borderlands.

>>21465217
Probably the same as all the other Network shells we've been finding: electro-jelly batteries. I've been referring to them internally as juice pods.

File: 1352253841299.jpg-(214 KB, 500x734, Marcus_Munitions.jpg)

>>21465244
You think that's bad, I read that line in Marcus' pre-recorded voice.

>>21465207
>what use would a realistic man-portable laser gun actually have?

Realistic AND man-portable? Sensor/eye blinding, target marking, setting things on fire, causing a great deal of pain without being immediately lethal...

I don't think anti-tank is a realistic specialization for a man-portable laser. Unless it was almost a literal laser bazooka, with a one-shot chemical shell that must be replaced after firing, and some cool radiator fins that glow and make heat ripples. Even so, this would be a niche weapon, and probably not anywhere near damaging enough to use on MBTs.

Perhaps it would make more sense as an anti-air weapon, for shooting down futuristic drones that have anti-missile countermeasures.

>>21465217
gel batteries. Nothing particularly salvageable.
>>21465244
lolz
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZ4_FidNSb0
Mostly, I just want an excuse for boxy P90-shaped guns to be more common than one would expect. Solution: Civilian market.

>>21465207
>Clarke already has quite the collection of spare parts as part of the inventory, but yes, you can spend some time butchering the Bigdog drones on the way out. Their synth-muscle is minimal, but you get enough to maybe upgrade a single Locust-sized shell.

Cool, lets do this on the way out.

>Well, thank you. I really need to get better at responding to fans/compliments, I never know what to say. I'm always left with the sneaking suspicion that you're all idiots with poor taste and I'm actually terrible.
Heh, as long as you acknowledge it, it is enough.
Personally, I just love quest, the main reason why I even visit /tg/ nowadays. And I really love the ones that offer a lot of upgrades and character progression. Weird that you didn't expect physical upgrades when you were making the setting (>>21443276), we're playing a robot after all. Even if people didn't choose mr.fixit protag, I'm sure they would have searched for ways to upgrade their shell one way or another.

>>21465320
How about 3D printing? If it becomes more common in the future, "plastic" homemade guns with a lot of polymer parts may become popular.

File: 1352254200919.jpg-(483 KB, 2592x1944, IMG_20121106_190454.jpg)

>>21465313
Yeah, I was definitely seeing some sort of single-shot ammo pack thing, imitating the action of a rocket launcher. I actually like the idea that its intended to bust predator drone descendents; those will be a HUGE thing in future warfare.

I do like the idea of a smaller laser who's intended function is to light things on fire from far away, with some fringe uses.

>>21465386
>if 3d printing becomes more popular
>If
When is the word you want. And 3d printing will destroy the entire "cheap plastic crap" industry.

>>21465392
Since advanced optics and robots are such a big thing, being able to blind them with a laser, even for a moment, can convey an enormous tactical advantage. Lasers also happen to be reusable in general, unlike flashbangs.

>>21465452
Given that we're dealing with a fictional setting that is a work in progress, "when" is not necessarily true.

OP?

Are you writing the update or what?
Waiting for more suggestions?

Lets get going, scavenge the bots on the way and go back to the ship.

>>21465840
>>Food. Working on update.
Clarke and co, bearing their meagre salvage, make their way back through the overgrown paths to where their boat still rests at dock
>>Did the boat ever get a name? Damn, searching.

Upon your return, you see Hoss dragging another pair of dog drones onto the dock, having field-dressed his kills with surprising skill. The boat itself bears a peppering of flechette rounds still stuck in the hull, rather like staples protruding from a corkboard.

Cindy is appears mournful.

"Maaaannnnnn, there were actually some COOL people back there. I could have created a new generation of rockers, Clarke."

Hoss nods as you board. "sounds like you did some clean work out there. We're ready for the final push now, right?"

The engine rumbles to life. Carefully, Josephine standing by, Cindy attempts to pilot the boat out of the harbor. There's a scary moment of proximity to jagged rocks, before Cindy gets a handle on the tiller's responsiveness, and you're clear.

>>21465964
>>>Did the boat ever get a name? Damn, searching.
"North Star"

Alright, lets go.
This time we should be a bit further away from shore. Don't want anyone shooting at us again.
While we're sailing, lets have Clarke go through comprehensive diagnostic of everything, himself, allies and the ship. Especially the ship. In case there is something that needs fixing.

>>21466026
>North Star
oooooooh, right. Next time we get a chance, we need to lay down some "you are already dead" lines.

>>21466026
>>Roll Wits+Crafts (repair). Just in case there's something to find.

Cindy agrees, and directs the boat further away from shore. As you continue to head north, the sun slowly approaches in what promises to be a spectacular sunset.

Another shoreline becomes apparent soon, and Hoss points to the tacked-down map. "That is Cozumel. As far as we know, it is uninhabited. A few lone scrap-hunters have traveled there, brought back a few nick-knacks. If-"

Quinn, up til now silent and motionless, bolts upright, looking around, red eyes flashing.

"Does anyone else pick that up?"

Rolled 8, 5, 3, 2, 9, 10, 8, 8, 6 = 59

>>21466114
"No, I don't hear it. Describe."

>>21466114
Lets try to pick up what he hears.

Also, get everyone combat ready

>>21466114
>Rolls Wits+Computer to realize you've dropped your trip

Rolled 3, 5, 3, 3, 6, 5, 3, 2, 8 = 38

>>21466114
OH. Right. Quinn's body is network tech. She's probably still got receivers somewhere. Ask her to describe.

>>21466122
Wow, we fixed the shit out of it.
Whatever it was.

>>21466114
As Clarke patches up a stealthy leak after checking on the engine and realigning one of his shoulders, Quinn stands and stares straight at Cozumel.

"It's not sound. It's a...Wi-Fi signal."

Hound looks up as well, also oddly intent.

"She's right. I've got two bars."

>>21466206
"Really? Is there anything on it, or is it just a random talker?"

>>21466206
"A Network signal, maybe? Be very careful."

>>21466206
Probably not a good idea to connect to it directly.

We still have that tablet, right? We could use that to connect.

Also, didn't we pick up Resitance radio channel? We should passively screen it all the time just in case (not right now, when we resume the journey)

>>21466206
Cindy gives the two of them the closest she can get to the fish eye. "Maybe you two should just chill out for a moment. Who care's if there's a wi-fi signal? It's not like any of us need to check facebook. And...oh. Shit. Even i can pick it up."

Clarke's wireless adapter alerts him that
>>A New Wi-Fi Network has been detected. Would you like to connect?

>>21466151
>>I was posting elsewhere. Derp.

>>21466270
hell no

if we're going to connect, lets use our tablet first

>>21466270
"People, do not connect to the wi-fi network, do not broadcast any return signals that you are even aware of it. We don't know who it belongs to and what their goals are. I'll check it out first on a separate system to investigate as I am the most skilled computer user here."

>>21466303
Agreed. We can use the tablet to do shit like that.

>>21466236
>>21466247
Clarke pulls out the tablet and carefully attempts to access it. This results in an error message. Error 10039494. The signal appears to be HEAVILY encrypted, and won't let you in without a password. The name of the network turns up as
▐v0φε7╓▐░PΦ█3₧▄0▬Φ40ε}ß9▐

>>21466428
Bet it's Network related.
Doesn't seem a good idea to fiddle with it further, imo.

We could try to hack the password, right?

>>21466428
Everything except the "3pts" part looks like random gibberish.

Can we try to luck the password?

>>21466428
Okay so someone's encrypted it. We can deal with that.

There's going to be network traffic, it'll all be encrypted, but we can still catch it. Then we can look through the data find patterns, once you have enough data finding the form of encryption is possible, maybe we'll be able to packet sniff something from it.

>>21466303
Quinn doesn't seem to register this, still staring at the nearing bulk of Cozumel.

"It won't let me in anyways. But the signal's still there, in the synth-muscle, in the fiber-optics."

Hoss, silent up until now, hefts his bolt-action rifle.

"Network signals are usually in different registers, not open Wi-Fi. I've never picked up something so strong. Three bars, now."

>>Make a Wits+Composure test.

Rolled 10, 2, 10, 5, 9, 9, 9, 9 = 63

>>21466553
I'm not feelin' lucky tonight.

>>21466545
>>Make an Intelligence+Computers check as well to packet-sniff.

Rolled 4, 4, 10, 4, 2, 4, 3, 6 = 37

>>21466553
what's Cozumel again?

Rolled 2, 10, 10, 5, 1, 1, 2 = 31

>>21466570
Well you should be, because holy fucking shit.
>>21466572
Doing so.

Rolled 6, 9, 3, 4, 3, 10, 5 = 40

>>21466572

>>21466570
Wow.

Rolled 4, 10, 3, 9, 9, 2, 4 = 41

>>21466572
SNNNRRRFFFF.

>>HOLY FUCK EXCEPTIONAL SUCCESS. DM-INTENDED RAILROADED DISASTER AVERTED.
>>21466570
the rest of the North Star's crew is too distracted by the signal, and only Clarke notices the surge in the otherwise flat waters, the dark bulk in front of the boat's path.

"OBSTRUCTION!" You screech out. Kicked out of her funk, Cindy crank's the helm hard to starboard, the boat barely avoids what must be a wreck or reef that would have utterly destroyed the engine's prop.

>>21466615
Clarke is a fucking hero

File: 1352259987040.gif-(2 MB, 280x210, 1340818359835.gif)

>>21466570
>>21466579
>>21466598
>>21466615
>double crits and quadruple nines, with only two junk dice coming up
>prevents utter catastrophe from fucking our shit
I, uh. Guess I feel kinda lucky tonight?

>>21466615
Yeah, fuck you reef. Trying to destroy our shiny new boat. We won't fall for your tricks.

>>21466615
>>21466634

We should slap Cindy for not paying attention.
slap her bum

>>21466573
>>A large island off the Yucatan Peninsula.
>>21466579
>>Double 10s. Fuck.
Clarke's program isn't able to decode the password; based on the data you do get, the network appears to not just be heavily encrypted as a security measure, there's a huge amount of compression going on. The data in the signal is barely more regular than white noise.

What your system does determine, however, is that there's a nearby user sending out its own response. And its not anyone on the boat.

>>21466615
"It must've been a junk signal. Purely to throw us off. Electronic warfare, perhaps?"

>>21466646
>What your system does determine, however, is that there's a nearby user sending out its own response. And its not anyone on the boat.

Can we pinpoint the user?

Maybe it is Free Machine's communication network or something?

>>21466646
>huge amount of compression
How much? Does it compare to what remember about Cain at all?

if so.... PASSWORD: COWBOY

>>21466700
or some variations of this "Mr R. Shackleford"

File: 1352261144923.png-(54 KB, 620x540, kraken.png)

Before Clarke can start entering passwords, the obstacle that you nearly avoided begins to...move. The waters churn and bubble, and something...rises.

>>21466799
MAN THE HARPOONS. FETCH THE NETS.

We have harpoons & nets, right? Because I don't think small arms are going to be much help.

>>21466799
AWWWWW SHIIIIIT

>>21466824
We do have a harpoon

File: 1352261546898.gif-(35 KB, 673x505, more rage.gif)

THAR BE A WHITE WHALE! BREAK YOUR BACKS AND CRACK YOUR OARS MEN!

>>21466799
>exceptional success
>kraken summoned

>>21466824
Small arms have served us so far against big-ass opponents though.

Maybe we should give our handcannon to Hoss if his weapon has worse AP, while we man the harpoon?

Anyway, I'm going to sleep. Good luck here.

>Entire Crew: Suddenly burst into pirate mode. It is apparently Talk Like a Pirate Day now.
ARR. THERE BE MOBY DICK!

File: 1352262677800.jpg-(482 KB, 2592x1944, IMG_20121106_221744.jpg)

>>21466863
>>BTW, Obama won re-election. Fox News just called it, so you KNOW its over.
>>Kraken was there anyways. Exceptional Successes mean that you're not dead in the water with a busted prop, and it doesn't get the drop on you.

Clarke hefts his hand cannon, yelling. "Quinn! The harpoon!"

Cindy begins fumbling through her bag of shotgun special ammo. "water is weak to...grass and electricity...no, that's not right. Fucking index errors."

A horrible orange light glows briefly from the creature's chassis, pouring from the cracks in the armor. There's a high-pitched screech, like a teakettle.

>>21467021
>>Clarke and Co get to act first in combat. What's your action?

>>21467021
>water is weak to...grass and electricity

If we could electrify the harpoon and punch it into the kraken's internals, we might be able to cause some serious damage to its systems. Trip some breakers, at least.

>>21467021
>water is weak to...grass and electricity...no, that's not right
That is right. And if it's water/steel on account of being an aquatic robot it has a quadruple resistance to steel so bullets and harpoons will be useless. We can't really get into close combat with it to use fighting moves, we don't have any ground moves... our only course of action is to zap the fucker.

>>21467083
Would it be possible to launch Hound onto the kraken, and if so, could he hold onto it?

>>21467119
>>Theoretically possible. Roll 7 for Database.

Rolled 6, 10, 8, 9, 6, 4, 6 = 49

>>21467158
DATABASE HO!

Rolled 8, 7, 1, 6, 4, 5, 2 = 33

>>21467158
Here's hoping for an exceptional success.

>>21467083
Get Hoss to try and snipe the cracks in its armor!

>>21465309
me too

>>21465244
>This blurb reminds me of Borderlands.
I was actually thinking the other day that if this setting did get made into a video game Gearbox would probably do it best

>>21467171
As Clarke watches, the light pouring from the cracks widens. Within, staring out with a baleful orange optic, is a hunched torso attatched to the kraken chassis. The casing snaps shut again, but it sure as fuck looks like a stab-able weakpoint to Clarke.

There's a KRANG noise as Hoss takes a shot at the opening, but the only result is sparks and a small dent. He speaks in his customary drawl.

"It may be advisable to flee. It doesn't seem to have ranged weaponry."

>>21467246
Hoss-man might be right. We should gun it, and only fight if it's fast enough to keep up.

>>21467246
"You make a damn good point. Even if we do take it down we will suffer serious damage and our boat may be wrecked, it will also be difficult to salvage anything from it given the location."

Let's blow this joint."

>>21467250
I agree. It's time to NOPE the fuck outta here.

>>21467246
It has tentacles. If it's capable of grabbing the North Star, or hitting the prop, we could still be in serious trouble.

No, it's here for a reason. It goes down. Keep the boat out of it's reach while we aim.

>>21467246
Wait a second. This thing has to open up to see? It's a MMMEEETTAALL GGEEARRRRR! Look for any secondary optics & sensors, and if they can be found, we should shoot 'em out. Otherwise, try and avoid getting our shit pushed in and keep our distance.

AIM. SHOOT. KEEP OUT OF RANGE.

>>21467223
>>I do appreciate how they can combine a wacky sense of fun with sincere emotional weight. And I rather like their shotgun approach to writing.

Cindy guns the engine just as a mass of tentacles slashes through where the North Star's motor would have been. She screams "FUCK! I CANNOT KEEP DODGING WITH THIS BOAT!" Clarke sees that each tentacle bears articulated fins at the end, as well as retractable manipulators. The Networked Titan's appendages churn the water, as it surges forward, its armored prow cutting through the water as the pair of turbines engage. Hoss begins to line up another shot as Quinn reaches the harpoon, hefting it awkwardly. Hound appears antsy, twitching as it flips a pair of knives around in his manipulators.

Josephine has taken up her default emergency location; huddled against the stern in Duck-and-cover pose.

Rolled 7, 10, 4, 2, 3, 8, 10, 7, 6, 1, 2, 4, 10 = 74

>>21467353
Called shot LOADSADAKKA on any exterior sensory and optical equipment. Should probably be getting ready to suckerpunch it, since it's closing fast. Ah... I'm not sure I'm reading the combi-rifle's pool correctly. Ten dice with a +3 for full-auto and above, I think? Shoot.

Rolled 4, 7, 4 = 15

>>21467397
Heck, I forgot to add Firearms to the role.

>>21467397
That's some pretty decent dakka, son. Even if it misses, the thing will probably back off a bit.

>>21467397
>>DOUBLE 10s once armor is factored in!
Clarke's Combi-rifle half-empties the magazine, but the flurry of shots plays over the prow before focusing on a handful of spines and whiskers revealed on the underside as the Kraken surfaces. Chunks of metal and plastic spin off into the water, eliciting an enraged screech. A tentacle blindly lashes out, whipping over the top of the boat. Cindy ducks, hands still on the wheel, but Hoss's shot (which mangles some sort of infrared sensor pit) distracts him, and the tentacle knocks the robot flat on the ground, his neck articulation obviously mangled. Quinn's head gets clipped by the tentacle's upswing, sending her staggering to the deck. Clarke sees her synth-muscle tense as she drops the harpoon gun and draws her sword.

>>21467466
So far so good. All we can really do is keep on maintaining distance from the fucker and dropping lead into any weak points we can notice. We don't want to stay close as this fucker can break our boat in half without much trouble, and we can't swim.

Rolled 7, 2, 4, 8, 8, 4, 6, 6, 6, 10 = 61

>>21467466
WRESTLE THE KRAKEN. Grab that tentacle, snap it in half, and yank hard on whatever's left until it goes pop right out the socket, and maybe jam the jagged end back in where it certainly isn't supposed to be jammed. Strength+Brawling, right?

>>21467466
The Kraken's hull shakes in apparent rage as it rears out of the water. Clarke notes that the water must be on the shallow side, the tentacles reaching down to the bottom.

Cindy screams "Fucking tentacle monsters! This is a terrible time to be moe!"

The hull opens, revealing the oddly-stunted sub-torso within, which glares balefully at the occupants of the North Star. A tentacle whips at you again, but is met by Quinn's sword. The force of the tentacle sends her flying, and she crumples against the gunwale, but the tentacle itself is half-severed and useless, her sword still wedged in between plates.

>>21467574
FINISH THE CUT, CLARKE!

>>21467592
>>21467574
>>21467562

Now is the time to be the hero the North Star deserves. Tear it limb from limb. And tell it that is it already dead.
It just doesn't know it yet.

>>21467562
>>21467592
Grabbing the sword's handle as it waves about, Clarke twists and wrenches with all his strength. There is a sound like a can being opened, and the sword snaps in two as a chunk of metal tentacle hits the North Star's deck, still flexing horribly like a bisected worm.

The baleful orange eye within the kraken's hull passes over each occupant of the boat in turn, apparently searching for something. Hoss attempts to regain his feet, wrenching his head back into alignment. Quinn, shuddering with involuntary muscle spasms, shakily gets one high-heeled foot underneath her. Hound hops up and down furiously, throwing his least favorite knives at the kraken, leaving dents and cuts on the delicate interior.

Cindy attempts to gun the engine again, but the North Star simply lurches, dragging the Kraken with it.

"Shit, I think it's grabbed us. Uh...either that, or the boat's low on... carburetor, or something."

>>21467663
It's time to throw our dwarf. Poor Hound has been standing around feeling so useless all fight... Let's see if he'd be up to the idea first, though.

>>21467697
Clarke looks down at hound, and begins to ask. "May I-"

"LET ME AT IT! ha-HA! ha-HA!"

>>ookay.

Clarke grips Hound by the back of his torso and, hefting the Hob, lets out an overarm throw to send him and his knives straight at the Titan's face.

>>Roll Strength+Composure

Rolled 4, 2, 4, 8, 1, 4, 8, 6, 2 = 39

>>21467758
Hoss hurling.

Rolled 10, 8, 2, 5, 2, 4, 5, 8, 3 = 47

>>21467758
MAY MY DICE ROLL TRUE.

Rolled 3, 3, 8, 9, 8, 7, 3, 3, 6 = 50

>>21467758
HONOR GUIDE ME.

...We need to get Hound, like, an axe or something. Then he can be our true murderdwarf.

>>21467758
Time to test my luck.

>>21467766
Clarke lets fly with Hound, who manages to get a hold of one of the petal-like panels and, gripping it with his hands, switches his knives to prehensile feet.
The boat's occupants can hear a digitized scream as Hound stabs repeatedly at the Kraken's inner chassis, sending up gouts of black fluid.

"One-Two-Three-Four-shit, lost my combo...one-"

Why wont we climb on the kraken and bend the shit out of it?

Rolled 2, 3, 3, 7, 10, 5, 7, 1, 3 = 41

>>21467758
>>21467907
Rushed so much I forgot the dice

>>21467909
It should be preoccupied with Hound. Grab the speargun and shoot it.
Have the rest shoot at it too, dammit.

Order Josephine to suspend her current action and take the helm while Cindy shoots the thing with the shotgun.

Somehow, I just don't think network was prepared for some murderbot crazy enough to let it'sself get tossed at the Kraken.

>>21467909
I love Hound. He's an insane murder muppet.

We should keep firing on optics and sensors, but be very careful not to shoot where Hound is doing his stuff, he's fragile.

>>21467923
We aren't that good at jumping, it's over water and we can't swim. It's not right next to us, it has rather long tentacles that it uses.

Rolled 10, 2, 5, 4, 3, 7, 1, 2, 6, 7 = 47

>>21467938
The damn thing'll open up and make us shoot Hound if we do that. Instead, I say we grapple it and hold it still by another tendril, if we can reach one, so it can't dive.

>>21467967
well, we could grab one of the tentacles and climb on to it.

but I see what you mean, it's too dangerous.


Hope we will be able to loot it if we kill it.

>>21467923
>>Too far away.
The Kraken's inner shell proves to be surprisingly strong, as creepily long-fingered hands clutch at Hound's shins and, with a wrenching exertion, pulls the small robot free. Hound, still stabbing with yet another knife, yelling at max speaker volume, manages to crack what must have been an important bit. Another scream of rage, and Hound is flung clear, landing in the water on the far side of the boat with a plume of salt spray. The Kraken begins to dive, it's tentacles disengaging from the boat as it does so.

Cindy lets a shriek and leans over the side of the boat. "Hound? HOUND! Don't you dare be dead, you little shit! We worked too hard for-"

A pair of tentacles bursts out of the water on the boat's far side, gripping Cindy firmly around the neck and right arm.

"oh shit. Should have kept my mouth shut."

>>21467989
Okay, it's time to throw the fuck down. Super strength engage, +2 strength from capacitors now, two bending attacks, one to each of those tentacles.

Does everyone agree?

>>21467989
Are we close enough to grab those tentacles that are grappling Cindy? If so, lets bend them.

Rolled 2, 2, 6, 8, 5, 5, 4, 9, 5, 10 = 56

>>21467989
BEND. THOSE. MOTHER. FUCKING. TENTACLES.

>>21468001
With our insane strength we can probably just pull the whole damn thing out of the water, swing it around over our heads, and toss it over the horizon.

>>21468001
yeah, sounds good

how many rolls is that?

>>21468001
>>Tentacles are armor 5, defense 0. -1 armor from the Database check.

Rolled 8, 9, 9, 3, 1, 10, 1, 7, 9, 9, 7 = 73

>>21468022
Two rolls of 11d10.

>>21468022
12 dice, -4 for the armor. So 8. and you get to have two count.

Rolled 2, 8, 8, 7, 10, 3, 9, 3 = 50

>>21468044

Rolled 2, 3, 7, 4, 10, 9, 2, 3 = 40

>>21468044
>>21468043
Damn, and this one was a good roll.

>>21468056
>>21468043
>>Well, shit. No way to weasel out of this. That's success.
As Cindy is nearly pulled over the side, her movement is arrested by Clarke, who, reaching out to grip each tentacle, inexorably rotates each manipulator as he SQUEEZES.

Coiled cables twist and tangle, spilling out of the segmented armor like mating snakes. Black fluid oozes, and the tentacles beneath Clarke's grip simply... disintegrate, the segments coiled around Cindy slackening nervelessly.

Cindy collapses against Clarke, shaking, as he throws down the twisted stumps. twitching cables fall from Clarke's fingers, and Cindy begins to say

"Wow. You really are the greatest-"

>>21468120
Yet another spray of seawater as the open bulk of the Kraken's hull erupts from the water, the monocular eye bathing the whole boat in ghastly orange light. Dextrous, inexorable fingers latch on to Cindy, pulling her into the flower-like Maw of the Kraken.

Desperately, Cindy reaches for her shotgun, and the speed indicates that she's currently in Overclock.

>>One last action. Chance to fail, chance to get the kill. wat do?

>>21468139
Kick the shotgun in her direction so that she can grab it.

We take our trusty machinegun (it has enough bullets, right?) and shoot the shit out of it. If we don't have enough bullets in the magazine, take the handcannon

>>21468139
>>21468162

And what the fuck are Hoss and Quinn doing during this?!

>>21468139
I think she should Quick Draw the shotgun if it's within reach and shoot it somewhere important, preferably with a type of round that is especially damaging assuming it's already loaded in there.

If not within reach whoever is closest to it should toss it to her so she can grab it out of the air, because Overclock Fuck Yeah, and then blow a hole in it.

Anyone with free actions should try to deal with the tentacles grabbing Cindy, whether through bending or slashing.

>>21468164
>>Quinn is still disabled, and swordless. Hoss's neck is fucked up, and his gun out of his hands
>>>>21468162
Clarke doesn't have quick draw, and just spent his action double-bending.