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>>36259814

HOLLOW SUN: 70.7% (UPDATED)

http://pastebin.com/Bm4qYyhu

RESEARCH:

[X] INDUCTION BLASTERS
[X] MACHINE CANNON
[X] POSITRON LANCE
[X] DISTORTION CANNON
[X] REACTIVE PLATING
[X] RESEARCH: HELIOS MATRIX
[X] FIRMWARE UPGRADE
[X] RESEARCH: SUPERHEAVY CHASSIS
[X] ARC CHARGER

RESEARCH COMPLETE:

> [X] MICRO-SCALE SUSPENSORS

VOID ANCHORS:

ORIGINAL HIVE
THE TRIBUNAL
NARAKA
THE VAULT
TUSITA

HOLDING: 0

RED COMET GUIDE:

http://pastebin.com/LJAfQmXy

UPDATES:

- MICRO-SCALE SUSPENSORS unlocked.
- VECTOR TRAP research available.
- CALIBAN added to Corrector Containment.
- Corrected an error from last time - CANKER EATER's Essence now available for use in the GRINDER.

>>36259821
>70.7%
Well, how do we want to have fun with that charge?

>>36259821
I wonder how low/high the IP count will be.
Anyway, we should pick up the Vector Trap first of all. Seems pretty useful.

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>>36259967
Pretty sure most people would like to use it for a Level 2 Caliban upgrade.

Tons of things need to be researched soon.

>>36259974
Yeah, definitely Vector Trap.

Should we get one of the three unknown relics, in order to have less unknown variables?

We should definitely get superheavy Chassis and maybe Tempest hardshells.

Or maybe a Red Comet upgrade?

>>36259991
Kinda bad that we have a Corrector with such unique properties.
I seriously hope that level 2 will not remove its healing ability.

>>36260000
If we get a Comet upgrade, it should probably be reinforcement.

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INTERLUDE:

STAGE: THE HOLLOW SUN

The forges of the Hollow Sun are never silent. The clatter of piston hammers - the hum of fusion reactors - the endless lines of Hellion hardshells fused into shape and girded for war-

It makes Tyrian Edge uneasy. But then, almost everything makes Tyrian Edge uneasy, in recent days. The subliminal, ever-present noise of industry frays his non-existent nerves: Not the cacophony itself, but what it *means*.

His attempts to keep up with the new functions and facilities sketching themselves into existence - A bewildering metamorphosis, the systems becoming more complex, more byzantine by the moment - have become an increasingly futile task. He's found himself scuttling from console to workstation, making the most rudimentary readings...Each time he's turned back, new streamers of alien code are already ambling across the shimmering screens, marching in orderly columns and rows.

What is the Red Joker doing?

It's a question that Volt Regios has been asking, recently - And the thought brings Tyrian Edge no comfort. There is a sense of inexorable finality to things, a ponderous, grinding inevitability; As if - At long last - things are drawing to an end.

What that end might be, however, Tyrian doesn't care to dwell upon.

The most recent addition to the Hollow Sun is the one that troubles him the most. Containment fields, cells, an array of surgical tools descending from all sides on jointed, telescoping dendrites - Gleaming enamel spiders, hydraulic arms tipped with lasers or scalpels or-

...He's never seen a lug wrench with a built-in spinal needle before.

And then the sound begins. Power hums, seethes - Lights wink, the sound becoming ultrasonic, dipping and weaving and plunging. Tyrian's hooves scuff against the ground, as he tenses; the teleport alarm again. Maybe it's a tertiary forge, this time, or a new Hellion strain, or-

(Continued)

OP, a side question:
Can we call in our Corrector, even if it isn't augmented, to let it rampage and then recall it due to the cortex spike embedded in its brain?

>>36259814

Holy fuck its early!

WELCOME BACK

Time to look through all this research stuff.

>>36260087

(Technically, you could simply release an unaugmented Corrector from the Hollow Sun. However, the Cortex Spike isn't a continuous device: It simply stuns the Corrector long enough to make the transition, and the released entity - If intelligent enough - is likely to bear a grudge.

Gentlemen: I would advise you to carefully consider how to spend this cycle of Hollow Sun charge, especially with regard to the time considerations - Your next cycle will be on the next day.)

When Caliban's contorted, tortured mass materalizes with a thunderclap of furious sound - All raw, squirming flesh and dirty yellow talons, a halo of corposant limning every inch of that awful figure - it takes an act of will not to run.

Forever.

The alarms of the Hollow Sun wail in monotone claxons. Automatic systems slam the blast shutters on every bridge window port, shuttering the radiance of the forges into a ruddy, armoured gloom. The screens brown out, fizzling - Dimly, distantly, the Corrector's enraged roar makes the ground quake, makes systems squeal and chatter.

The spidery, slicing limbs descend.

Not for the first time - Once he's crawled out from beneath the console where he's taken shelter - Tyrian Edge wishes that a Player could throw up.

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

Within Imago's mobile fortress, all light is flickering, lambent - A glow that does nothing to the darkness except to make it dirty. The shutters of the arched dock-bay have closed behind you, the pungent sulphurous fog of the deep caverns pooling around your feet as chugging air processors pull it from the bay. Not for your benefit, of course: Players have no need to breathe.

A deep rumble filters through the chamber; The place is moving again, as you stand within a hall of brass fittings and brushed steel. There is an odd filter to your vision, like oil-smudged steel - Vapor coiling against the edges of your armor, bleeding forth tendrils of mist as your reactor cycles.

(Continued)

>>36259821

My Top Votes And Why I Can't Decide Between Then:

Comet:
Guardian AI: Lets us drop a tank and still fight ourselves.
Cascade resonator: allows leukocyte targeting while piloting.
Nitro booster: Its good on us, its good on a tank. Also the ~potential~ to have it power codebursts and orbital strikes
Panoptic array: Sensor bits always good, allows for remote-scouts to call down artillery strikes from missiles and guns without exposing the comet.

Hollow Sun:
Quantum accelerator: We needs research boost. From indications, facilities build fairly fast. Also potential for 'large' projects, stuff we need special equipment for, and maybe a passive research speed boost.
Augmentation Engram: get this before fucking with correctors. They're not to be trifled with:

JQop:

Can we ask/use the hollow sun to fix the carnifex?
We asked a while ago if the terminus scanner could be used on -items- instead of people, and I don't think you got back to us on that. Worth a facility upgrade though, since argent isn't helping us with that any more

>>36260014
I'm pretty sure that's the idea, Level 2 just modifies and reinforces only very certain parts of the Correctors body, while Level 3 should probably only be used on Correctors with negligible special abilities or physical power houses.

>>36260177
>Gentlemen: I would advise you to carefully consider how to spend this cycle of Hollow Sun charge, especially with regard to the time considerations - Your next cycle will be on the next day.)

So what you're saying is, this is the day shit gets real. Got it.

With that in mind, I think I'd like to postpone hollow-sun side discussion until after the thread, if that's alright.

Its been a while and I'd rather get through the important story.

>>36260203

Also there's the augmentation engram

>>36260211
Yeah, let's wait until then.
If we don't come to a conclusion, we just ramp up the essence core production.

Next thread we could then get some relics/relic alterations for instant effects.

So, gotta be away for four hours.
Don't fuck up.

>>36260181

> Can we ask/use the hollow sun to fix the carnifex?

(It lacks the capacity.)

>>36260177

"-The hunter returns."

Imago's dry, dusty voice is stronger, now. Genial, almost wry - You think, for a fleeting moment, that he sounds almost *impressed*...

But that might just be your imagination.

A wheezing laugh comes over unseen speakers - the whole place must be wired for communication. Or perhaps the fibres of Imago's being - Slowly, patiently - have suffused the very heart of the modular fortress, like the slow-motion blossom of a parasite...Or a cancer.

"Joker..." That rasping laugh again, a tired cackle. "-You never...cease to be...amusing."

The bulkhead doors, as you approach the broad entrance. The lip of the doorway overhead is twenty meters wide - Rectangular, a vast slot. You are struck by the scale of the vast interior space - not the one you glimpsed when you first entered, the makeshift arena where you battled Canker Eater.

No, this is something different - A chamber closer to the heart, where each step sends a hollow, empty sound spreading through the gloom. Like tiny islands in a sea of darkness, light shafts down from above through slots in the ceiling-

...to highlight alcoves, podiums, plinths, displays - Each one humming with the slow pulse of a sterile suspension field.

[ ] "-Well, I'm glad that at least one of us is having fun."
[ ] "So, what else can you tell me?"
[ ] "Where am I? This isn't the exit."
[ ] "What did you *do* to Caliban, anyway?"
[ ] "...How long have you been down here?"
[ ] "This place...It's like the Holophusikon."
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>36260269
>[ ] Free
>"Joker..." That rasping laugh again, a tired cackle. "-You never...cease to be...amusing."

"By now, I think i've figured out life is always more interesting for the Joker. Its nice for that performance to be appreciated sometimes, and being able to ride out that.... extra intensity is one of my best features, i think."

"I'm glad one of us is having fun, but I'll let you figure out who. What is this place? "

>>36260308
>"-Well, I'm glad that at least one of us is having fun."
>"So, what else can you tell me?"

>>36260312
>>36260308

Well, retying this to the undeleted post

also adding in >[ ] "This place...It's like the Holophusikon."
Because damn, it is. Are we in the hive in the wreck of it, or a sister facility?

Also, examine what's inside the suspension fields, but be respectful and don't touch.

>>36260308
(posting from phone because no one is participating)
>[ ] "...How long have you been down here?"
"Seriously, you seem to be very comfortable here."

This should give us more info on the timescale.

>>36260312
>>36260342

> "-Well, I'm glad that at least one of us is having fun."
> "It's nice for that performance to be appreciated sometimes, and being able to ride out that.... extra intensity is one of my best features, i think."

"-Of course." Static blurs the channel, as Imago exhales. "Allow this...old man...a moment of levity."

Then, darkly: "There has been...little cause...for amusement...here."

> [X] "This place...It's like the Holophusikon."

"But...of course."

The longer you look, the more the similiarities become apparent. The same scale of things - the same long halls and arching spaces, though filled with objects of a very different stripe. The Holophusikon reminded you, distantly, of a museum - this place is all cold industrial cruelty and bare metal, with the slablike look of something built to last.

"-There are...hundreds...of these places, lost to memory. Fortresses...castles...siege engines - The weapons left over...from the *last* war..." A dry, shuddering laugh. "Imagine, Joker: We find these wonders...the relics of...a lost time. Wonders beyond the very limits...of human achievement."

"And then - We kill...each other."

"All life...is war. Why should Hell...be any different?"

> [X] "...How long have you been down here?"

A rasping sigh.

"Long...Too long."

"Time - flows strangely, here. It gathers...around elements of significance...and recedes from the...empty spaces."

"And the black Lachryma - It...sustains life...at all cost. But it taints."

A pause. "By...your reckoning - Yes: More than...sixty years."

> "I'm glad one of us is having fun, but I'll let you figure out who. What is this place? "

"A place...of memory."

The sound of old machinery, grinding into gear. Great chrome bars slide back into the wall, pylon cylinders rising from the deck underfoot - Flush with the metal, each one holding a stabilised object.

(Continued)

>>36260510
>WW2 Red World mass combat
What if the hollow sun is a relic from that time? And how fucking overpowered was everyone?
Also, old joker as war veteran?

>>36260568

I don't think he's talking about human technology. I think a lot of this stuff was made by aliens.

>>36260568
I think he may have meant last as in final, not previous.

>>36260568
Hellebore implied that the Red wasn't created by humans and that it has existence since time immemorial.

>>36260636
>Gilgamesh in robot armor

Evening OP. Glad to see you again. You've been well, I hope?

>>36260616
He means the previous one. Argent mentioned eternal recursion ages ago, and a lot of Players are suggesting that a permanent end to the cycle is approaching.

>>36260702
Doesn't Nasu Gil have a spaceship?

And such strange things, too - Small icons, idols, figurines, amulets, fragments of technology that you cannot immediately identify. Some - Damaged stone-tablets cut from heavy, gleaming red rock, covered with inscribed markings - are merely obscure. Others - A twist of rusted wire, iron medallions on a dull chain - defy all analysis.

"I keep...My memories...close to hand. Yet some...might still have use."

Your perspective shifts - Like the last piece of a puzzle sliding into place.

A trophy hall.

"Capturing Caliban - Scant reward...for so much effort. But I am...nothing if not...fair."

The streaming light gathers, becoming harsh, actinic - A spotlight on five pylon cylinders. Hidden sensors detect your presence, and trigger the hololithic screens, revealing origin details.

EXHIBIT A2405 - 'HUNGER.'

FUNCTION: ANATHEMA WEAPON.

A gleaming span of obsidian, nearly a meter long - A jagged blade with the transluence of a smoking mirror, and the consistency of flawed glass. The edges are razor-sharp, brutally so; A knurled outcropping coiling into the vague shape of a hilt, wound around with strips of hide. What kind of skin, you're not sure you want to know.

Within, a coiling shape - half-glimpsed, possessed of too many limbs - writhes. It shivers, convulses, glimpsed through myriad facets - pressing close to the surface, leaving discoloured smears. The shadow of something, vast and half-formed...

EXHIBIT C7312 - 'GRAM.'

(Continued)

>>36260800

FUNCTION - DISCHARGE WEAPON (TYPE: DISINTEGRATOR)

Even dormant, this long-barreled handgun rests uneasily in stasis: Chrome-plated, the perfect proportions and design speak of masterful craftsmanship - And appalling lethality. Your probing sensors encounter a strange backwash of energies, as if the charge still flickers and gathers around the firearm.

EXHIBIT C1291 - PROVENANCE: 'SHROUD RIPPER'

FUNCTION - CODE CONTAINMENT

Almost bisected - Crudely riveted back into shape - a single gleaming eye stares malevolently out at you, from the remnants of a Player's orphaned helmet. Cables and branching nerve fibres spread from the stump of the neck, like fibrous roots.

EXHIBIT A3321 - PROVENANCE: 'SLAKE'

FUNCTION - AUGMENT FRAME (TYPE: MANIPULATOR)

Curled close around a generator, two thick, multi-jointed arms branch from this backpack unit - One meant to rest where your Interceptor system currently sits. Each ends in jointed sub-arms and fine manipulators, clearly designed to move and swivel independently.

Imago's dry chuckle interrupts your examination.

"After all - what good...are memories...if they cannot serve us?"

Then:

"Joker - Consider...one of them...my gift to you."

[ ] HUNGER
[ ] GRAM
[ ] SHROUD RIPPER
[ ] SLAKE
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>36260840
Shroud Ripper

Sounds like it could see beyond the shroud.

>>36260861

(To clarify, it's a Player's head.)

>>36260861
Also, slake might allow multiple guns at once.

>>36260840
Gram seems the obvious choice, though I'm all for anything to get rid of the interceptors.

>>36260861
It's codebursts.

>>36260840
A demonic sword, a raygun, a Code canceller, and an extra pair of arms.
Given a choice, i'd have to go with
>[X] SLAKE
Since it can free up our hands for using heavier weapons

>>36260840

If we pick Gram, we can dual-wield it with Immolator. Voting for:

> [X] GRAM

>>36260867
Oh, so it's like that one head that gave us codebursts.

... Now I wish we knew if it's containing anything or allowing us to give people copies of our bursts.

>>36260840
>[X] GRAM

>>36260876
Yeah, changing from >>36260861 to Slake.
It sounds the least horrifying.

>>36260840
>[ ] GRAM

(Gentlemen: Things seem to be moving at a fairly rapid clip tonight. I'll give it about ten more minutes before I lock in the votes.)

>>36260840
>[ ] Free

".... Its appreciated, but i have plenty of weapons. What I need to know is where to bring them to bear, who to hit hardest, and where."

Mull over our decisions while getting him to talk more.

Personal preference: We have an OVERABUNDANCE of guns. we have way too many, so much we never have used some of them.

Go for utility. Secret sixty year old codebursts sound appealing.

Voting against: Gram. (reasons: Everything else. we carry, also upcoming research), Hunger(Kura, shield, pile bunker, hollow sun, shour stabby mode)

Voting for: Shroud Ripper, Slake.


In any case, this guy respects wisdom and skill - we should show it off, and maybe he'll be inclined to give us both.

>>36260840
[X] SLAKE

>>36260934

Additionally

"Its not just capture. Working on a means of control as well, since kraken gave me the idea. Would you like him back someday?"

>>36260840
While we're here: "What is the Armor of Midas?"

"What is the Crux?"

And, since you need to see a doctor if you think you have a tumor, remove the Nihl Sphere from the Gauntlet: "Imago, what exactly is inside of me? "

>>36260888
It's called Shroud Ripper. What do you think it does.

>>36260907
Gram looks like a disintegrator weapon, albeit a really powerful one.

Just pointing this out: if we take Slake we can't use our Interceptors.

>>36260946
Yeah, no.

>>36260954

>>36260954

I'm personally voting for the handgun, because it seems to have the most immediate use. Our weapons are increasingly beginning to bounce off our enemies, and we need a very powerful firearm for our main gun.

>>36260840
>[ ] SHROUD RIPPER

I want this so hard

.>>36260948
>It's called Shroud Ripper. What do you think it does.

Keep in mind we still have a pazuzu fight somewhere up the alley. teching up our wizard skills in preperation for it is probably a good thing.

Additionally, being able to manipulate the shroud and do wierd shit is the reasons the smilers have garnered so much power - and I kind of like the idea of being the one man who can still transform after the shroud is repaired. If it is repaired by argent.

>>36260958
>Yeah, no.
okay, but why? You want to reveal the nihl sphere, the assimilation facility is a lesser secret than that.

>>36260966
hah what?
The problem isn't our guns, its that we have too many, and often choose the wrong one for any given engagement. we have PLENTY of good guns. Getting more isn't the answer.
What we need is better judgement, and you can't buy that.

>>36260948
Wait what's this about tumors?

>>36260934
>Voting for: Shroud Ripper, Slake.
This guy speaks truth.
And as slake blocks our interceptors, even if it's awesome, I vote for Shroud Ripper.

>>36260977
>hah what?The problem isn't our guns, its that we have too many, and often choose the wrong one for any given engagement. we have PLENTY of good guns. Getting more isn't the answer.What we need is better judgement, and you can't buy that.
Exactly.
The heavy weapon slot was likely far more helpful than an additional gun could be.

What we need are upgrades for the guns if they are ineffective.

>>36260840

> [X] GRAM

It's a disintegrator pistol. Our Tau Gun is powerful but slow, this is probably a good replacement for it.

(Gentlemen, I'll be tallying the votes now. Unfortunately, I won't be taking 'blocking' votes for this one.)

>>36260948
>While we're here: "What is the Armor of Midas?"
>"What is the Crux?"
>And, since you need to see a doctor if you think you have a tumor, remove the Nihl Sphere from the Gauntlet: "Imago, what exactly is inside of me? "

Alright, plot elaboration. Sure. I like this. In fact, i want to know what's going on more than artifacts we'll never use.

>>36260996
You know, I'd be happy with either. MULTIGUN mode is excellent, but we just got usable(even awesome) bits - in a way, its basically the same core power: More firepower, extra sideguns.

Slake basically lets us trade interceptors out - and the shroud ripper gives us new capabilities.

also the cynic in me wants to suggest the slake won't be good because 'lol interceptors bad', but i'm hoping that wont be the case.

So its a question of what gives us capabilities we don't already have:


>>36261024
Dude, the tau gun is plenty good. It just doesn't work against fast targets, which is what we tried to do it last time.
Emulated tau is plenty great; and gram is an artifact: we can't double up on it with emulation.

So... no. No gram.

>>36260958
Missing part: >>36260954
I'm not seeing the downside.

>>36260977
We have a codeburst that affects the shroud. It's ruinously expensive. Given how many OTHER things we use the booster for, we're unlikely to use the one we have. Thus, getting more expensive codebursts is unlikely to help.

I'm saying no to just that suggestion you wrote in the post I responded to. I don't care for how you formulated another statement in your previous post, but it's mostly because we don't need to "buy" time to think, just ask your questions.

>>36260980
Nasty hints dropped by Ruler and a shower thought about Black Joker's connection to Red Joker. "Why would Black Joker get stronger when Red Joker does? Parasitism."

>>36261040
>Dude, the tau gun is plenty good. It just doesn't work against fast targets, which is what we tried to do it last time.
Plus, we never ever upgraded it.
It will easily outpace most gun if it gets a new upgrade.
As would the Vulcans.

>>36261041
>"Why would Black Joker get stronger when Red Joker does? Parasitism."
Well, our power source *is* unknown...

What if the Red Joker is the Black Joker's avatar and the White Joker was supposed to beat us back?
And now the White Joker is infected by the Black Joker...

>>36261032
>> (Gentlemen, I'll be tallying the votes now. Unfortunately, I won't be taking 'blocking' votes for this one.)
What, why not? Well, okay. I do hope you're tabulating 'this OR that' votes properly though.

In fact, here. i'll do it.>>36261032
>> (Gentlemen, I'll be tallying the votes now. Unfortunately, I won't be taking 'blocking' votes for this one.)

What, why not? Well, okay.

Shroud ripper
>>36260861
>>36260977

Slake
>>36260873
>>36260876
>>36260939

Gram
>>36260887
>>36260908
>>36260966
>>36261024

Gram or slake
>>36260875

Shroud Ripper or Slake
>>36260934
>>36260996

So it looks like Slake wins.

>>36261067
Well, maybe the Lucifer Bits can help Tyrian Edge with his survival.

>>36261032
I'm either miscounting or it's a tie between Slake and Gram.

>>36261061
Probably not. It's more than just a rate of fire issue, it's just not suited for mobile targets. Which is fine, it's specifically FOR blowing chunks out of slow targets.

So use it for that.

>>36261067
Anon, I want to point something out: There are 11 posters in the thread, including OP.

You quoted 12 posts.

Whoops.

>>36261067

> What, why not? Well, okay. I do hope you're tabulating 'this OR that' votes properly though.

To be completely honest, I would sincerely prefer if people voted for just one. It makes things a little more difficult to tabulate this way. (As well as defeating the purpose of one vote per person.)

>>36261067

Gram has 4 + maybe 1

Slake has 3 +2 (putting it on even ground) + maybe 1.

At the very least its a tie.

I guess it depends on how swing vote wata is feeling. Damn.

>>36261079
can he use bits?
There's a thought though. What if the slake can be used by him instead.?

Still holding out for negotiating our way into two, though.

I gotta say, this segment has been pretty interesting so far

>>36261087
>10 players 12 votes
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

>>36261087
>You quoted 12 posts.
I'm a guy with two IPs, who voted from his phone.
One of the Shroud Ripper votes is mine, but I changed to Slake later on.

>>36261089
>>36261094

This is why i wanted to do gear talk and sun stuff at the end of the thread.
Should just get on with the conversation.

At the very least, we've figured out the two most popular choices, so its easy to narrow it down between the two.

>>36261110
And I didn't vote at all, so the problem's the same.

(Gentlemen, would this be an acceptable alternative?)

http://strawpoll.me/3020948

>>36261130
Good idea.
Just need to look at the vote count, to avoid samefagging.

>>36261094
The Lucifer Bits include the ability to generate an interceptor system.

I actually recommend against giving it out though, because the downsides outweigh its power.

>>36261130
GOD NO, what are you thinking?

I'll switch to Slake, just never, ever offer a strawpoll in a quest again, please.

>>36261102

Wait. You can tell unique posters now? How?

>>36261130

Was bummed that I had missed the vote, but then a light from the heavens showed up!

Good stuff.

>>36261142
Lower right corner of the site.

>>36261130

Oh god no, fuck strawpoll. Its so easy to break.

>>36261102
Nine.

>>36261130
OP I know you were in the QTG where we talked about why Strawpoll is a bad idea. Don't, for your own good.

>>36261140
>>36261156

(My sincerest apologies. I'm unlikely to use it again: Next time, I'll be sure to specify the voting protocol for a decision when relevant.)

>>36261170

A lot of quests normally have two stages for important decisions: Discussion, then Cream of the Crop. talk about the options, then skim that for the highlights and choose between the two.

Instead of going from here >>36261067 to strawpoll, for example, you could have done
'pick between Gram or Slake only'

Nine votes in the Strawpoll, with nine posters in this thread.
Looks like people didn't bullshit the poll.

>>36261207

no, no, there's ten now.

And its still an even tie.

Sounds like phoneposter is back.

>>36261159
I'm almost afraid to ask.

>>36261170
It's not worth apologizing over, and it didn't deserve my knee-jerk response either, but strawpoll and the like aren't a solution to vote issues. Just be clear about the voting process.

>>36261207
I didn't vote in the strawpoll.

>>36261243
Neither did I actually! Sounds like we have some naughty anons in the peanut gallery. Or lurkers. But JQ's never been that popular, so I'm guessing the first one.

>>36261239
>phoneposter
That was me, actually. And I only posted once.

>>36261274
*voted

>>36261243
>I'm almost afraid to ask.

I'm not!
>>36261159
What happened?

Also, aren't all qtg's worthless cesspits? or is this actually a nugget of useful information?

>>36261239

Uh, while that tenth vote is apparently me, it's my first time voting this thread. Probably would have remained lurking if I realized it would tie it, sorry.

>>36261243
Just people noticing that strawpolls stay open longer than voting windows and it's easier to spoof strawpoll than 4chan.

Now what you needed to be afraid of was JQOP's idea for a quest based on Platonic Heart and ShindouL's Emergence.

>>36261274
...Why did this post increase the participant count?

>>36261170

look man, the vote isn't that important - its just equipment- and the derail is doing more damage to >>36260922 >moving at a fairly rapid clip tonight.

I'd approve getting on with the story, figuring what we actually picked later.

first joker in forever and we're wasting it with this.

>>36261299
Apparently my phone either gets a dynamic IP or end university network was offline when I first posted, causing my phone to connect via 3G.

>>36261067
>>36261087
>>36261094
>>36261110

(Slake is is, then.)

"A...fine choice."

The rasp to Imago's voice overlaps with the hum of the softly-glowing suspension field - The sterile light diminishing to nothing, as the stasis projectors flicker and die.

Your Interceptor System falls silent, as the oil-black limbs twitch at your back; they begin to move, jerkily at first, articulating - Reaching out, clawing at the air. Each one ends in a tight, packed industrial claw - Closed to conceal the delicate sub-arms and mechanisms within - the spidery festoon of limbs bristling forth from your shoulders. There is something disquieting about their motion, the realer-than-real sense of a phantom limb; Yet achingly familiar at the same time, as if it's always been there.

You make a fist, curling armored fingers against your palm. One of Slake's limbs echo the gesture, angling over your shoulder - The gripping claw clacks shut, then sweeps forward - Cutting the air with a lethal *hiss* of motion. The sensation is oddly uncomfortable; Slake's arms a part, yet *apart* from you at once...

-But you suppose you'll just have to get used to it.

RELIC UNLOCKED: SLAKE

A pair of manipulator-limbs bristling from an augmetic frame, this unusual Relic replaces your Interceptor System - While significantly more versatile in application, your secondary limbs are also notably difficult to control. Effectively, at a cost of 8% Meter a limb (Per turn of use) you have an additional arm that can take independent action. Notably, these arms lack charging elements of their own, and are unable to manifest Player weaponry - However, the network of fine manipulators and waldos allows you to utilize Hollow Sun firearms or make smashing attacks, though they lack the ability to wield melee weapons.

As with your standard limbs, you can wield two Light Weapons - Or a single Heavy Weapon - with Slake.

(Continued)

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>>36261299
>quest based on Platonic Heart and ShindouL's Emergence
At the same time? Wow. That's a thing.

>>36261328
Bit pricy. Still way more useful than the interceptors. I like the idea of dual-wielding the Immolator with these. Can they manipulate non-weapon Relics?

>>36261348
>Bit pricy

Well, can't we Emulate an arm to get at two-for-one trick?
Also can pay for it on booster.
I figure leveling it will help defray the cost also, but we really need a non-levelup source of artifact improvements.

Hilariously, though, I really enjoy the idea of Spider-joker being like, the speedrunner of the red world - he's the one to figure out all these extra limb options, and make use of them simultaneously.
Gotta start practicing with the slake and muletta

And.... i'm not so sure about better than interceptors. I noticed something interesting a few threads ago. follow my logic here:
JQop mentioned we could recall active lucifer bits to dock, where they would downgrade to charge tier 2, but wouldn't take meter.
Our gnosis engine upgrade means we charge 10% meter per turn - in use or not.

So what we can effectively do is pre-charge all our lucifer bits before combat starts.
at 4% per bit, we can afford to power 2 per turn indefinitely without strain on other systems(or run argus).
which means we can trickle-charge 2 bits to l1, then l2 over 2 turns for no meter cost, cut the charge and keep them docked, and repeat the process until the entire array is fully charged and ready to launch - like a carrier moving to action stations. And still have full booster.

Can do it as long as we're not thrust IMMEDIATELY into a fight scene.

Being able to instantly launch any number of lucifer bits, and sustain two indefinitely does two things: It makes lucifer bits much much better, and open up direct comparisons between weapons-per-meter-cost between the slake and the bits.
2 light and 2 drone guns are roughly equivalent after all, but the drones cost half as much to use.

>>36261348

(The arms aren't actually too good at fine manipulation, at their current level. They're more for smashing and battering down things, and can be converted to fire weapons: It's less that they're 'holding' the weapons, and more that the weapon has been cut apart to turn it into an independent turret.)

>>36261328

Currently, Slake is unable to effectively change equipment, which means that each arm must be 'equipped' with the appropriate weapon beforehand - Which similarly has to be retrofitted to function appropriately, rendering weapon Relics unusable...At present.

(tl;dr - Spend 8% Meter/round to take an additional action with a manipulator subarm. Subarms can strike at an opponent, attempt to deflect incoming attacks, or fire Light Weapons that have been primed. Given that these weapons must be modified to fit Slake's grasp, you can't change them in battle.

You can't mount arm augmentations (Like a Talon) on Slake, but it otherwise functions as additional limbs.)

When your focus diminishes, the arms retract - Hydraulics purring as they fold against your back, the sensation of the additional limbs fading at last...And with it, the beginnings of a migraine. Controlling them is...More exhausting than you expected.

But again - It's something that you can live with.

>>36260934

> "What I need to know is where to bring them to bear, who to hit hardest, and where."

That rasping chuckle again.

"You ask advice...on the secret history of the world...on the private agendas of others...from a man who's been in a box...for sixty years?"

"From here...I see...very little."

>>36261040
>>36260948

>"What is the Armor of Midas?"
>"What is the Crux?"

(Continued)

>>36261420
Anon, I'm going to be just a bit unkind: Destroying the interceptor system completely and erasing the level ups and Hollow Sun charge that made it what it is would be the single greatest improvement to Red Joker's abilities that we've had in the entire quest. I can tell you've put thought into this, but they're a wash.

>>36261429
Interesting. We're unlikely to put many (read: any) levels into these, but it's an interesting system. Put a Cobalt Laser in each for now.

>>36261429

> "What is the Crux?"

"Is that...What they call it...now?"

Imago's dust-dry voice registers the faintest hint of surprise. "It is...one of the Relics...required to bring the end. The...Black Cardinal's...treasure." Another coughing laugh. "-How...strange. Beneath his...black robes...his armor was - white as - snow."

"Like the...Joker's armor. The bearer of...the Chalice. The Access Keys...and the Sword of Man..."

"Brought together...for a purpose...One that we will...never know-"

> "What is the Armor of Midas?"

"Perhaps you should ask...the man of silver. Perhaps he still longs...to be the man of gold..."

"All is...symbolism, Joker. We play out...the same patterns...again and again - Revolution and conflict and...Quietude." A pause lingers, in the vast space. "Joker - Though you bear...the arm...you are - not worthy."

That low, hateful cackle again, the one you're rapidly growing tired of.

"But even Merlin...awaited the coming of...the true king."

> "Imago, what exactly is inside of me? "

The Helix Gauntlet - Integrated with the Hand of Midas, now - unshutters, revealing the Nihl Sphere. It burns with violet fire, so cold the eye cannot hold it: Releasing the orb only reluctantly, the sphere cold in the palm of your armored hand.

A silence descends, for long moments. It is the absolute quiet of death, one that could go either way-

And for the span of a second, you realize that you are in appalling danger.

(Continued)

>>36261429
>>36261507

>"You ask advice...on the secret history of the world...on the private agendas of others...from a man who's been in a box...for sixty years?"
>"From here...I see...very little."

"Its not that. This cycle is built on the previous cycles, the events that happened two or three times ago still matter now - leftover relics, hidden konwledge. People fighting over the shape of the world - but over what, and how? I believe those are issues rooted in the past. The people i'm up against have better insight into the true nature of things, how to change it and use it.
The way i see it, you may not know what's going on currently - but I suspect you know a lot about root causes and how things work than players from this generation. Its kind of a lost knowledge. If I can get an idea of -what- they're up to then I can figure out -where- "

>>36261502
>but they're a wash.
Can you back this up with anything besides opinion?

Burning joker rifle bits are good, and lucifer bits made a noticable difference last fight - against uberarmor tough guy - and I think you've lost sight of the rock-paper-scissors nature of the game: A lot of weapons are good vs certain types and weak vs others, and we are very, very, very bad about reading JQOP's context clues about it and using the right hammer for the right nail.

We used to be, and then we got too many options, and no nobody knows what's good vs what anymore.

A compounding factor is that JQOp doesn't give us hard stats for damage, armor pen, range, and type-vs-type adjustments.

>>36261537
Oh fuck that write in's bad. Voting against.

>>36261573

whhhhhyy?

I mean, this guys knows all about the bullshit special armors, corrector-breeding, the shroud, and the same bullshit from previous cycles.

Its still relevant to ask about, but wata may have just gotten us into a fight

>>36261580
Because your writing sucks and you don't ask the right questions.

>>36261507

When Imago speaks again, at last, the air shivers in relief - Dust motes coiling around your feet.

"Sixty years ago...I would have...butchered you...for what you hold. Time...makes fools of us all, Joker."

A slow, grinding exhalation revebrates through the speakers. A faint jolt comes from beneath your feet; The modular fortress has come to a stop at last.

"But now...It is...far too late."

"Joker - The Nihl Spheres are...tools of the greatest significance. Together they form...the key to all doors. The power to...raise fortresses from the rubble...to awaken the most ancient of weapons...to bend the Red World to their will...Or bring it to its knees."

"In the right hands...With millenia to unlock...their secrets - A Player could...rule."

"Joker - Did you...know? The four castes of Player: One to...control intelligences. One to...endure. One to build...And one to defend. But you exist...above them...You exist to bring ruin."

His laughter is an ugly thing, because - at the bitter end - Imago is laughing at himself.

"If you are...already here...all that remains - are the final hours..."

[ ] "...I never wanted to destroy anything."
[ ] "-Maybe some things need to be broken."
[ ] "It's all a joke to you, isn't it?"
[ ] "The White Joker. What's *his* role?"
[ ] "And? What will you do?"
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>36261597
>[ ] "The White Joker. What's *his* role?"
"Personally, I enjoy the fight, not the destruction."

>>36261619
Hah! No, Joker wants the Red World gone.

>>36261597
>"-Maybe some things need to be broken."
>"The White Joker. What's *his* role?"

>>36261630
What? The playerbase seems to be pretty divided on the issue.

>>36261630
But he still loves fighting.
He just hates the murder and random challenges and stuff like that.

>>36261597
>"But now...It is...far too late."

"Yeah. That's why i'm here. Near as i can figure, the Converge is tomorrow, maybe today. This is my last chance to figure everything out, make the right choice at The End. And... it would have been too late anyway. All we can do now is ride it out."

"And... I don't believe that. Not entirely. The joker exists to destroy, but its also built upon the previous armor, and you can bring back traits if you try."
"I've tried to be something more than a destroyer, to keep things in one piece, but that explains why answers are always just out of grasp, and It will come down to violence in the end, anyway."

"I could care less about ruling. I just hate what the cycle does to people. I despite the red world above all else. I'm just hoping to stop the smilers from poisoning it permanently."

"What will you do? Now that you know the end is here, will you make an appearance for the fireworks?"

>>36261597
and... man, fuck it just ask everything. those are all good questions.

>>36261537
Actually, yes. It's funny that you mention the Lucifer Bits because they're where I became convinced that we'd stepped on a rake. The boosted Lucifer Bits have fire element added, and fire is resisted by what we most need extra firepower for: heavy enemies. The main advantage of Cobalt weaponry armor piercing, and the boosted form trades that for raw damage. Iron Ogre took LESS damage against the boosted bits than he would have the regular ones, and then the field effect destroyed them before they could enter normal operating mode. Oh, and it's 20 meter a round for all five, 40 if you want to boost them to get them out faster (via Carnifex 2 or normal boosting).

The leads to three conclusions: They're expensive. They synergize poorly with Joker's strongest abilities. They don't have staying power. All together it means that using the Lucifer Bits don't pay what they promised. In ideal situations with the Bits could be extraordinarily powerful. But there's still better things to do with both.

I'm actually glad we don't have numbers for this stuff. If battle feels bogged down now, imagine how much worse it would be with people using numbers and calculations to justify their suggestions. The discussions would never end.

>>36261597
"Good."
>[X] "The White Joker. What's *his* role?"
>[X] "And? What will you do?"

>>36261630
I can't really see that. He's more Red than real, after all. Wanting to put the cycle to an end I can understand, but not the destruction of the Red World.

>>36261597

> [ ] "And? What will you do?"

Along with "Before this place, what did you want to do with this world".

>>36261597
>[x] "The White Joker. What's *his* role?"

>>36261657
For fuck's sake, stop. I have no idea what you're trying to do and I think you don't either.

>>36261667
Isn't the Red World the cycle?

>>36261660
> 111 threads in

> Wata still hates the bits

You must be wearing pants full of cum now that we've finally gotten rid of them.

>>36261694
His other suggestion had a nice point, but was horribly written.
This one seems FUBAR.

>>36261705
Rude. But I admit I'm amused, even if I'd have preferred the Distortion Ha--Wait, we've got Hollow Sun charge. When did that happen?

>>36261695
Possibly? There wouldn't be a need for it without the robot fightan game, but I'm not sure an entire alternate reality would just stop existing like that. Probably.
It might also be the case that there's no way to stop the cycle. Wouldn't be surprised.

>>36261299
>Emergence
My dick would explode.

>>36261597

>>36261720

Look. Guy has been stuck in a hole like he said. So let's ask him a) what Kraken's deal is, and how to wreck his shit. and b) what the white jokers position is, and c) Why our appearance suddenly means the end of everything when we've been here the whole damn time, from the moment we took responsibility from the old Joker.

>>36261660

You know we can always stop boosting them, right? The main reason to boost the bits is to charge them up to level 3 faster. After that you can stop boosting them to turn the damage type back to normal.

Also the cost to run charge them is trivialized with the trickle-charge method.

I'd disagree with you: The main problem with bits is that we're not allowed to control them directly. We can't use tactics, send them out to bait things, or remote-control them so they can actually dodge.

If we were allowed to use them to to the full extent of their power, a sniper-scouter joker playstyle would be amazingly excellent.

The thing is, they DO synergize with his -basic- abilities (and i want to konw what you're judging as 'strongest' too).

The joker's base-level statline is pretty apocalyptic, its just showing some wear and tear because we're fighting things at, or above our level. Going on corrector bashing, i think we'll find they're powerful.

In fact, they're kind of the epitome of a gunslinger's build - its basically a deconstructed gun kata: it lets you pull out more guns, and represents a dodge change for them taking incoming fire, and lets you target multiple things.

Here's how you use bits correctly:
you run them indefinitely with our recharging meter.
You use non-meter non-booster weapons primarily. For example: Literally any artifact, hollow sun, or primary weapon. We have enough we can stand to two-hand ANY of them in pretty much any combination.

At its very basic level, two vulcans + 5 perma rifle bits is the no-effort perma-joker build. We can sustain this indefinitely at max-or-near-max meter.

The problem is we blow our power load instead of doling it out, and then blame the bits for our overall performance.

What we should be doing is fighting in such a way that we build up meter and high-tier weapons as fast as possible - and doing that by never spending meter UNLESS we get about break-even or more back for the expenditure.

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>>36261619
>>36261631
>>36261660
>>36261677
>>36261682

> [X] "-Maybe some things need to be broken."

"All creatures...will die, and all things...will be broken. That is...the only law."

> [X] "And? What will you do?"

"There are...places in the Red. Places beyond even...the memory of light. Just like before...I will find one of them. And wait...And dream...Of a new beginning."

> [X] "Before this place, what did you want to do with this world?"

A pause.

"You must think...that question...is a deep one, Joker."

"Why do...we live? Simply...to exist. Even if...there is no meaning - Even if...Existence is agony...We live because we are made to. We perpetuate...the same cycles...because in the end, we are compelled."

> "The White Joker. What's *his* role?"

And Imago laughs - It is rich and genial, but shaded with the dark humor that's carried him this far. Perhaps, after so long, he finally begins to see the humor in things.

"Why, Joker...his power is the greatest...and kindest...in this world. A power to make the land...fat with fatness...for the harvest to come. The power that came to the Black Cardinal too late..."

"-The power to create new Players."

The words hang in the air, for the longest time. All else falls silent, even the hum of the generators, the slow rotation of the great machine around you.

"Do you finally...begin to see, Joker?"

(Continued)

>>36261791

>"-The power to create new Players."

OH SHIT.

>>36261787
The issue with this is that our new system is has literally all the same problems as the bits:

Its expensive, doesn't synergize with ANY of our abilities, and can only use hollow sun weapons. Which need to be primed or fuel-celled.

You've traded one demon for another.

But i'm willing to give it a shot, and we should probably research heavy fuel cells now too.

>>36261720
The implication's that the Red World facilitates the Player battle to sustain itself. Remove the Players or the battles, and the Red World dies. And we can guess at two ways to do it. Either crank up the Shroud to such high levels that it cuts the worlds apart from each other, or use the Spheres to take control of the system.

Honestly though, I don't think Joker's going to control what happens to the Red World if I'm reading the >implications about Daegal properly. Fortune for love and all that.

>>36261822
FYI the Hollow Sun weapons don't need priming to be used with the arms.

Wait, what. OP, why can the arms use Hollow Sun weapons if they lack charging elements, much less a Cobalt system?

>>36261791
Wait, did HE make that original hive?

Also, be aware that our Midas Arm must never be seen by AP.
It will likely piss him off to no end.

OP, does Burst mode activate our arms or do they require a separate charge even when bursting?

>>36261856

Fuel cells, son.

Or maybe we get a free pass because of our midas arm.

Either way, the cost for the weapons has to be paid.

SO:
16% / turn + 15-25% up front cost, AND a 'harder to use than drones to hit penalty'

So its more expensive than either of our bits, and has maybe less firepower.

trading demons indeed.

>>36261899
It can fire the gravity cannon. While we use other weapons.
That's fucking broken.

>>36261893
Why would they be free in boosted mode?

>>36261899
Shouldn't work. Remember why the talon doesn't work with the fusion cells? This shreds the weapons to fit them over the arms, which is a good bit more than locking another device where they'd go.

>>36261906
>>36261899
It could always hold Adamant Aegis' shield.

>>36261906

The midas arm can fire the gravity cannon.
with no attachment delay (penalties negated)
with no priming cost
while we use other weapons

Its not as broken as you think it is.

we can literally pull a gravcannon out of our ass(10% arsenal beacon) and slap it on our midas arm, and fire it until the core gives out and it explodes on us - all for the fraction of the cost and utility of the slake arms.

Now, what it CAN do is let us use two gravity cannons.

BUT the costs for it are so high, and we can't change it midbattle - a regular old Talon with a pre-loaded gravity cannon does it better.

>>36261926
Uh, the talon does work with the fusion cells, wata.

We've been over this. Same thread where we figured out the midas arm doesn't have ANY of the talon's downsides.

>>36261893

(Like your Interceptors, you can use them freely in Burst Mode.)

>>36261856

(Because you can outfit them with Light Fusion Cells.)

>>36261784

> c) Why our appearance suddenly means the end of everything when we've been here the whole damn time, from the moment we took responsibility from the old Joker.

"The power...to destroy - The power...to create - Which will triumph?"

"Both of you are...rogue elements. Between the two of you...Perhaps you will make an end. Not just...to this cycle-"

"-But to everything."

Behind you, the battered metal doors of the portal - superdense, heavy - grind open, as the inner locks clank and rotate. Red lights pulse, dully, in the arched dock-bay; Opening to the caverns above, where the grand failure of the structure above has become part of the tunnels below. There is a faint pressure against your armor, as the pressure equalizes: Telltale lights winking to green at last, vapor boiling forth - To be sucked away by the filters.

"Go forth...Joker. Fulfill...your purpose."

"Perhaps we may...speak again. If not...to you...then to your successor."

[ ] Free.

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>36261960
>[ ] Free.

Shake his hand. He's been actually helpful.

>>36261943
Eh, the issue is that currently we can use the Grav Cannon with one-handed weapons.
The arms allow us to use the railgun on a debuffed enemy, with a precisely aimed shot. Or just pepper them with two taus.

>>36261960
Ah, now I understand it.
We aren't supposed to fuck everything.
Destruction means that we are supposed to kill players.

>>36261978
Seconded.

>>36261943
>Uh, the talon does work with the fusion cells, wata.
Odd, I remember the opposite.

>>36261960
Uh, OP? When did you decide the cost of the interceptors was waived in burst mode? And when did you plan to tell us this? I'm actually a bit irritated since this would have been good information to know about sixty threads ago.

>>36261978
I dunno, he did just tell us that he's planning to bodyjack someone at the earliest convenience.

>>36261960
>(Because you can outfit them with Light Fusion Cells.)

we have... one light fusion cell in our inventory, after the friction axe was lost, yes?

>>36261981
>Eh, the issue is that currently we can use the Grav Cannon with one-handed weapons.
Talon has this functionality. It can one-hand Heavy weapons.
Going Megaman Mode is why they're so good.

If we really wanted to, we have within our means to use THREE gravity cannons at once.

One on the Midas, one on a Talon(need to buy this, on on the Slake (requires a heavy cell)

>>36262005
>It can one-hand Heavy weapons.
Yes, THE GRAVITY CANNON.

That weapon is entirely useless without a SECOND weapon, as it only debuffs the enemy with moderate damage.

We don't need three gravity cannons.
We need the ability to unleash our full fire power while using ONE cannon.
Which we can now do.

Can't you see how immensily useful that is, especially against melee opponents?

>>36262024
On that note, we kinda need heavy fusion cell research.

>>36262004
>>36261893

(My apologies, I seem to have misread the question. What I meant is: You still use Meter, but you don't have to use Cobalt Booster charge. Everything is bolstered during Burst Mode.

Any attacks you make with Slake get the benefit, so they're effectively Cobalt-Boosted slams and strikes. Like with the Interceptors, you get the Cobalt Boost bonus for free - You don't have to pay for them separately.)

>>36261981
>Eh, the issue is that currently we can use the Grav Cannon with one-handed weapons.
>The arms allow us to use the railgun on a debuffed enemy, with a precisely aimed shot. Or just pepper them with two taus.

Its the opposite, actually.

The arms can't use tau. And only a railgun if we set it up ahead of time and use research to enable it. At present, its only going to be able to use Light weapons, and we must buy a second light fusion cell to accomodate the setup.

The midas arm, on the other hand. Hoo baby. It can one-hand ANY heavy weapon at no cost(if its a Sun item).
This includes the Hailfire chaingun.

We've been using it all wrong. We can literally wave a hail of bullets around on that arm, AND use the tau gun in our other.
This includes the hail

>>36261960
I dunno if I like the idea of this guy surviving. Feels a lot like something that'd come back to bite in an epilogue, like leaving the Demi-lich alive in Mask of the Betrayer.

...Target the room with the Distortion Cannon. He's mostly dead, so blow off the roof.

>>36261978

I suppose I'll support this, he's been helpful.

Whatever happens later (and there's a lot of bad things that could come later), we got some answers now, and that's pretty important in my book.

>>36262024
>We need the ability to unleash our full fire power while using ONE cannon.
>Which we can now do.
>Can't you see how immensily useful that is, especially against melee opponents?

And what i'm saying is:

WE ALREADY HAD THIS CAPABILITY.
Anon cannot into tactics, and thought keeping the arm secret was more important than UNLEASHING THE GRAVITY CANNON

>>36261960

OP, can we call down a Leukocyte strike on him? Once we're out of the place?

>>36262054
Are you literally retarded?
My point is that we now have, effectively, a setup to get a debuff without inhibiting our normal attacks.
That's essentially like having a non-existent ally with a support class with us.
The gravity cannon impedes movement speed. But it has been situational until now, as it required us to forego our firepower, even with the Midas arm.

Halfire Chaingun + Tau is far better than Gravity Cannon + Tau in terms of damage output, while the latter is better at keeping the enemy pinned.
Now we can do *both* at the same time. Make our incapable of swift movements while ALSO peppering them with a rain of bullets and anti-matter.

>>36261978
>>36261996
>>36262075

(You've never actually seen him. Throughout the entire conversation, he's been communicating through speakers and monitors.)

>>36262086

(Yes.)

>>36262044
I see, sorry for jumping the gun. While we're on the subject, could you say again whether or not the Talon works with the large fusion cell?

>>36262060
>ohboyherewego.wav

>>36262104
Haha, seriously?

>>36262104
>(You've never actually seen him. Throughout the entire conversation, he's been communicating through speakers and monitors.)
Ok, that's hilarious.

Now that I see the other posts, I can understand the idea of trying to nuke the guy.
I wouldn't be opposed to it, as long as we can hit the *entire* structure.
If he survives, he'll be fucking pissed.

>>36262110

> While we're on the subject, could you say again whether or not the Talon works with the large fusion cell?

(Yes, because the Heavy Fusion Cell fits onto the weapon, not onto your arm. My apologies: I vaguely recall the entry for the Light Fusion Cell stating that it's an augment to the weapon - The equivalent of attaching a charge pack to a device - rather than to the limb itself, but I'll check to see if it was sufficiently clear.)

>>36262076
>>36262024
>Can't you see how immensily useful that is, especially against melee opponents?

And, in a strange twist of fate, this was one of the proposed 'make drones amazing' tactics that has been brought up before.

Lock down enemies with gravity cannon(s), let drones chew them to death.
Midas/talon reduce recharge time on attached weapons, and JQOP mentioned he might buff cells to do the same at one point .

Basically gravity vortex lockdown build, season with AOE missiles that are also hands free.

>>36262086
lets not make enemies we don't have to.

>>36262098
>Are you literally retarded?
>My point is that we now have, effectively, a setup to get a debuff without inhibiting our normal attacks.
No no, you're not fully grasping the implications of the arm.
Everything you're saying we can do 'now that we had this piece of gear?' we were able to do before.
Literally.
everything.

Okay so, let me break it down to you:
The midas arm can attach and detach weapons instantly. There is no connection delay, there is no priming cost, there is no penalty to ejecting a weapon to use the arm for something else and slapping a new one in next round.

>My point is that we now have, effectively, a setup to get a debuff without inhibiting our normal attacks.
Yes. Despite this, we have never thought to attach a gravity cannon to the midas arm. Ever.

We've literally been able to support this thing you're talking about for 10+ threads.

We've even had the potential to do Hailfire+gravcannon but never sprung for it.

The only thing the slake changes is, currently: swapping 2 cobalt lasers for 4-5 drones.
We don't need it to do this.

In fact, its more expensive. running a gravcannon on the arm is 16% booster / turn, plus 20% hollow sun to research and make a heavy fusion cell.
Buying a talon is 10% sun, a flat fee of 30% booster(so its more efficient if we're firing it more than once).

>>36262110
>>36262123
Don't like this idea. There doesn't seem to be much point in killing him; the only thing I'd recommend would be totally destroying Kaiser, so this fucker can't leech onto him.

>>36262104

Huh, somehow didn't catch that, although on reflection, that does sort of seem apparent. That's pretty funny, actually.

Well, I'd still like to vote for thanking him. Even if it's a simply "Thank you", I think we can afford to say that much.

Also, I'm sort of against trying to nuke him. If we have to cross that bridge at a later time and discover in retrospect we should have nuked him now, so be it.

I'd prefer not to anger him right now, especially since he's allowing for the fact that we might talk again with him, rather than some successor of us.

>>36262188
>Well, I'd still like to vote for thanking him. Even if it's a simply "Thank you", I think we can afford to say that much.
>Also, I'm sort of against trying to nuke him. If we have to cross that bridge at a later time and discover in retrospect we should have nuked him now, so be it.
I love how these two things are completely unrelated in our minds.

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>>36262123
Well, the Distortion Cannon is supposed to hit targets underground...

Are we really going to do this? My smile is threatening to split my face.

>>36262145
How odd, I remember reading the exact opposite. Thanks for clearing that up.

>>36262219

This is probably a bad idea

>>36262219
>>36262218
>>36262188
This seems like a bad idea...We can still use this guy and the possibility of him surviving still seems too high.

Plus, we'll lose the Hunger Dogs. I'm not saying we should let him in to the Hollow Sun but not killing this guy is a bad idea.

(I wonder what he'd be like in the Hollow Sun)

Alright. So we're in need of updating our equipment loadout. Especially now that our slots are updated....

>ARC GUN: PRIMED WITH LIGHT FUSION CELL
> [X] MICRO-SCALE SUSPENSOR

Our arsenal looks like this:
Light Hipholster
Light Hipholster
Heavy Back slot
Suspensor Heavy Slot.
Void anchor clamp
Slake Left
Slake Right.
Midas Talon Clamp
Arsenal Beacon compartment(empty)

Lets change it to:
Mount Cobalt Laser to both slake arms. Move LCF from arc gun to laser 1, manufacture second cell for laser 2.
Back-clamp the hailfire
Back-clamp the Impaler, because hollowsun railgun
Midas Clamp a Gravity cannon, because its free lunch and we can eject it.
Light the Immolator, because its so useful

So that leaves 1 free holster slot. What do we put in it? I'm thinking an emergency melee weapon. I'm thinking a Photon Lance - we can grab it and use it as a grenade with the midas arm at no charge, so its a neat little surprise. Also thanks to cobalt laser research, its reusable.

Thoughts?

we won't have heavy fusion cells for a thread or two.

>>36262226
Oh, probably. But this guy's more of a monster as any Corrector and I'd really prefer him not existing.

And he gave cause. He touched what belongs to Joker, and the first time someone did that we declared war on the Smilers. Joker's not very rational about these things, but I like that about him anyway.

>>36262240
If he had faith in the abilities of the Hunger Dogs or his children he'd have used them as the instruments of his revenge. I think that tells us everything we need to know about their worth.

Also that's vile, I'd rather give the Sun to Pazuzu than have Imago so much as step inside.

>>36262299
Oh hell with it. Sign me up for bombing Nimdok. Might want to use the space stake, the cannon is limited AOE.

>>36262291
(cont)

So it looks like this.

Light Hipholster: Photon Lance
Light Hipholster: Immolator
Heavy Back slot: Hailfire Chaingun
Suspensor Heavy Slot: Impaler
Void anchor clamp: do we want to resupply this?
Slake Left: Cobalt laser w/LFC
Slake Right: Cobalt laser w/LCF
Midas Talon Clamp: Gravity cannon.
Arsenal Beacon compartment(empty)

And wow, joker's getting some beefy guns now that i've actually tabulated it.

Outstanding issues:
Rearm void anchor for Tomorrow?
Are there better options for Slake-mounts?
Photon lance or something else?
Impaler or something else?

I just went by what we haven't used/got recently/looks good.

>>36262240

I'm confused, what did you want to do? You responded to posts that want to use the Distortion Cannon, as well as my post that wanted to thank him and left any nuke decision for some future time, if at all.

And then you said

>but not killing this guy is a bad idea.

So...we should....kill him? Since that's what you're saying.

>>36262299
I'd be fascinated to see what he'd do with it though.

Also, the Hunger Dogs simply aren't capable of killing Rust Kaiser but then the Red Joker hardly is as well. We should catch 'em.

(Fucking OP making an interesting setting. I wanna know all the things and how they work)

>>36262323
Naw, mistyped. I think trying to kill him is a bad idea. He'll survive. And be really fucking pissed.

>>36262319
>>36262240
>>36262226
>>36262219

I'm voting against this. Its a totally stupid move, from someone who's actually been helpful.

If you're going to kill him, at least do it in a way that gets us essence.

Also, he was making correctors, and I kind of don't want to crack open his hellfortress and let whatever survives out.

We have enough to deal with, and enough on our plate to do that we shouldn't waste time with this.

What we need to do is figure out how to protect mio while we're stuck in our hyades match tomorrow

>>36262338
I'm agreeing with you, you doofus.

>>36262320
The issue with the Midas Arm is, as you said yourself, that we would need to eject the carried weapon to use anything else.

Chaingun is good, but I'd prefer the gravity cannon to the Impaler.
I'd also suggest a Maser Emitter and an Ion Blaster on the Slake, in order to have counters to two common enemy types - Organic and electronic.

>>36262351
Oh yeah. Nearly forgot. We should try giving the Hand of Midas to head vulcans dude. He seems like he'd be worthy of it.

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>>36261978

The lack of a face - Or even a form - to put a name to...That's vaguely discomfiting, especially when faced with the unforthcoming nature of the modular fortress. Throughout your entire sojourn within, you haven't seen a single human figure - Except for the strange, warped creatures that prowl through the hallways and shun the light.

But you raise a hand, all the same. It is such a tiny gesture, between the eternal gloom of the tunnels and the bloody night above - But it is a very human one. And perhaps that's why it draws a dry, brittle chuckle across the speakers, from that shapeless voice you've never been able to put a face to.

"Goodbye, Joker." Imago's voice is low, measured.

"As always...You never fail to be interesting."

You can't help but wonder - vaguely - how many times he may have said this.

Or whether - At some impossibly distant point in the future - he might have cause to say it again.

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

So: Outside, once again, beneath a churning red sky. Glass crunches underfoot with each step - Forgotten fragments from a long-ago disaster. The grand structure around you is equally broken; Hollow windows and the shattered facade staring blindly out into a cyclopean darkness, as the bitter wind stirs the tattered remnants of flags.

"Joker-!"

(Continued)

>>36262337
Take Rust Kaiser. Apply Cherubim upgrades.

And Joker can kill Kaiser, it's making it stick that's the problem.

>>36262351
Maser is a long-term debuff. It's really only worth it if you're going to pair it, and even then don't expect results fast.

>>36262360
Are you fucking insane.

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>>36262365

Haze is where you left him - Green vapor venting from his shoulders, his form articulating with a clumsy grace. It's odd to see how little he's changed, despite the alterations to his form: In moments like this, Player or not, his personality shines through.

"Joker - You're alive!" Relief, stark and unalloyed, fills his words. "Geist thought you were dead for sure - Said you'd never make it out-"

"...You took your time." Regios - Pale blue and gleaming - growls; Cobalt arms folded across a broad armored chest, the blue light of his visor as uncompromising as ever. He turns his head, to Haze - "-I told you Geist was wrong."

Haze stops, looking up at you. Perhaps there's something in your stance that he finds worrying - Or maybe he's sharper than he allows himself to believe. "Joker? What happened down there?"

"Are we done here, Joker?" Volt rumbles; A note of unease entering that static-laden voice, at last.

[ ] "...Wait, where's Vector Geist?"
[ ] (To Haze) "It's a long story."
[ ] (To Haze) "Don't worry about it. The important thing is - I got Geist out."
[ ] (To Volt) "Yes, we're done here."
[ ] (To Volt) "No, not yet."
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>36262351
>The issue with the Midas Arm is, as you said yourself, that we would need to eject the carried weapon to use anything else.

This is a non-issue, because we can hook it right back up.

That's the idea actually. If we want to use the Impaler, we just swap it into the midas arm. If we want to use the hailfire, same deal. We just rotate weapons, use hollow sun items until they run out of juice, and summon more from the beacon.

We literally don't care about the gravcannon getting in the way. Its an opening move, not a route-lock.

>>36262375
>[ ] (To Haze) "Don't worry about it. The important thing is - I got Geist out."
then
>[ ] "...Wait, where's Vector Geist?"

IS there anything else we need to do here?

finish wiht
[ ] (To Haze) "It's a long story."

>>36262360
>We should try giving the Hand of Midas to head vulcans dude.

Hahaha, no. No, no no no no no no no no. It's for the sword bro after we free him from his, ugh, it's late and I don't want to look up their names. The fooking chicks. You know the ones.

For some reason, he just seems like a total "King Arthur" kind of deal.

>>36262375
"Oh ye of little faith. Glad to see you're all right, but it's good you didn't come. Place is fucked up."
"Do either of you know a Relic specialist?"
>[X] "...Wait, where's Vector Geist?"
>[X] (To Volt) "No, not yet."
>Bomb the shit out of him

I suppose we'd better get some distance. Summon the Comet back and MOVE.


>>36262381
Hollow Sun items don't run out of juice. They might need to reload or recharge, but it's faster and cheaper than summoning a new one.

>>36262375
>[ ] "...Wait, where's Vector Geist?"
"I collected a new pet and learned a bit more about what the fuck is even happening in the Red.
I hope Tyrian wasn't in the Sun while I teleported the thing there. He might be kind of freaked out."

>>36262375
[ ] (To Haze) "Don't worry about it. The important thing is - I got Geist out."


Then, "Wait, where's Vector Geist"?

[ ] (To Volt) "No, not yet." Then we nuke the creepy fuck. He's pretty solidly evil.

>>36262437
You want our tank to punch the moving fortress?

>>36262437
>Hollow Sun items don't run out of juice. They might need to reload or recharge, but it's faster and cheaper than summoning a new one.

Not strictly true.
Gatling lasers overheat, revolve bazookas run out of ammo. The gravity cannon can ~break~ itself repeatedly firing.

Ditching a spent item and summoning a new one is way faster than letting it fully recharge - this happens when not in use.

Its especially good with the Midas arm, because there's no priming cost.

Its a lot like Link Related: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBIJ79ZOt8o&t=2m16s
The idea being to swap to whatever gives the enemy the most trouble in any given moment.

With our knosis engine upgrade, we can afford to summon a new hollow sun gun every round forever, slap it in the midas arm, and fire until its spent. Repeat.

>>36262436
They're the same person. Bishamon.

>>36262375
Before we get much farther: Choir Beacon, Gravimetric Nexus, Augmentation Engram.

>>36262478
...Also tempting. Maybe we can do that some other time.

>>36262484
They cooldown and recharge between rounds (though I admit uncertainty about the Revolve Bazooka). In all but one case it's MUCH more efficient to let them rather than summon new gun.

We DO NOT want to be summoning new weapons every round. That's stupidly wasteful of Cobalt. We're always using it, for codebursts, movement, weapon charges and the like. Summoning a weapon every round limits how long we can fight at that level, because the overall charge doesn't regenerate.

>>36262436
>>36262368
If the hand of Midas can't free him, then what the fuck? We literally have no plan on how to save him any how besides using the knife.

And we can't use the knife because that's fucking autistic.

>>36262530
>Before we get much farther: Choir Beacon, Gravimetric Nexus, Augmentation Engram.
Should we spend the last 10% on the Vector Trap?

>>36262533
I don't get it. Does Joker save a life, or spare himself pain? We've known from the start that was going to be the choice, with no (palatable) third options.

>>36262530
>...Also tempting. Maybe we can do that some other time.
So what was your intention?
What exactly did you want to do?

>>36262549
Look, we remember that the Armour of Midas, it has the highest command sequence in the entire Red World. Outscales even Red Joker; its the be all end all. The perfect armour.

Now, like the other armours with the higher codes, it can't be controlled by the girls, y'know, for the competition. It's why Red Joker couldn't be controlled by our girl.

Now, we were told we COULD win everything and save everyone, at great personal cost. Losing the power of Midas? That seems quite costly to me. And if anyone is a King Arthur figure, its the sword bro.

(Gentlemen, my apologies: I suffered a computer crash. Writing now.)

(Also: Gentlemen, just to confirm - How many are voting for using the Leukocyte on the area?)

>>36262592
Just two. I'd really rather not.

>>36262545
That's... rapid weapon switching? Interesting. I guess that would let Joker use the Immolator and Chaingun like normal weapons, freeing up slots for Hollow Sun gear?

I'm actually saving the charge for a Hollow Sun blowout next session: Condemner, Koleos, Mentiroso.

>>36262552
Basically:
>Fire Leukocyte.
>Jesus Christ it's a orbital strike, quick get in the robot
>Drive like hell
>Don't watch the explosion like a badass

>>36262571
Joker is immune to Cybele's influence for unknown reasons. It is not related to the Armor of Midas since he was immune even before he owned it. So far as we know, the Hyades have the highest System Access in the Red World, save for the Chalice Queen herself.

And no, we were told it was possible for Joker to achieve happiness. No one ever said anything about saving, much less winning.

>>36262578
Uh oh. Lose anything?

>>36262592
Aye.

>>36262592
Blow the place up. I'm sick of deals with the devil.

>>36262611
I know that Watashi and another guy are in favor.
I'm also not against it, but we need a bit of a safety net.

Hell, we don't even know if the guy is inside.
And after a strike, we definitely need to follow up with a few heavy attacks.

>>36262592

Wata and another anon.

That anon is not me.

I'm voting against.

At this point its just lol randumb and no real reason WHY

>>36262613
>I'm actually saving the charge for a Hollow Sun blowout next session: Condemner, Koleos, Mentiroso.
Condemner a shit.

>>36262625
>At this point its just lol randumb and no real reason WHY
No, there are very specific reasons.
This guy is totally amoral and will definitely try something funky in the future.
He has this massively sinister vibe.

Also, he told us to fullfill our purpose.

>>36262625
Yeah. It also gives away the fact that we have a fucking orbital weapon.
>>36262635
He just said that he's going to fuck off until it's all over.

>>36262613
He's immune because his armour has higher system access than she does. If we give Swordbro Midas, HE'LL get higher system access than his Hyades.

We were told it was possible to save everything AND be happy but it will involve the greatest risk and extreme loss.

>>36262592
Against.

>>36262592
For

>>36262625

>>36260181
I think this is the best breakdown of our options this time.

For spur-of-the-moment upgrades for Final Showdown, i think my top list is:
Aquila System: Fuck losing legs
Dirge Caster: ECM OP
Mentiroso: Good with jamming

Of the 'mystery artifacts' I think the Skyshaper is the one most appealing to me.
Which research was the koleos unlocked off of, again?

>>36262592
It does seem in-character to orbital strike this guy. Sweeping clean the vestiges of old cycles, etc. I say do it.

>>36262592
also against

>>36262625
Condemner a sweet laser sword. Plus it'll let us duel Bishamon which will be badass. I mean, Joker's going to lose any sword duel they have but it's the spirit of the thing, you know?

>>36262625
>WHY
Because this guy disgusted the White Joker. Who we think is a monster. Since Imago is no one's perfect paladin of justice, that means he's a real piece of work.

>>36262639
>It also gives away the fact that we have a fucking orbital weapon.
People have complained forever that we never use it. We're going to HAVE to use it eventually. Might as well be for a good cause.

>>36262648
Cybele's system access is much higher than Joker's. She can directly call programs, Joker is stuck with executables.

>>36262662
>Which research was the koleos unlocked off of, again?
None, so far as I know. It was edited in after the raid.

>>36262592
Voting for

>>36262592

Voting against it. That would undo all our good work.

>>36262592
It's going to devolve into four guys samefagging if you leave it longer. Just call it already.

Not sure if my last post got through, but for.

>>36262672
That's because she's a Hyades; if you read when she first meets him, its because the Red Joker armour is too high level for her to alter.

(Five more minutes and I'll tally the votes, then move on.)

>>36262672
Yeah but it's not a good cause. It doesn't fucking benefit us in any way. It just kills this guy who has been around for a fucking while and performed some pretty horrible experiments.
We really don't need to show every-fucking-one that we have a giant laser orbiting the planet just because you're all mad at him or whatever.

>>36262672
>Condemner a sweet laser sword. Plus it'll let us duel Bishamon which will be badass. I mean, Joker's going to lose any sword duel they have but it's the spirit of the thing, you know?

But we don't need more Weapons.

Just use kura and make a sweet sword
or midas

we also have the Photon Zauber and Pile Bunker - both sweet laser sword and defensive shield with a rail-spike on it.

No more weapons. Utility and other options are what we need

>>36262592
against

>>36262695
I'd recommend using the five minutes for a final destination vote instead, pretty sure there's samefagging going on.

>>36262696
>We really don't need to show every-fucking-one that we have a giant laser orbiting the planet just because you're all mad at him or whatever.

This is really what it comes down to.

also keep in mind that he's been talking on video screens, and we can't be sure he's even there.

Its revealing the leukocyte for less than nothing

So It's been a while since I've seen joke...HOLY SHIT WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON HERE?!

Uh... can I get a TL;DR on just how real the shit is getting

>>36262695
I'm voting against for the reasons these two stated.

>>36262696
>>36262714

We have no issue with Imago and he's only been fair and a straight shooter with us. He gave us Relics, Caliban and has offered Hunger Dogs. That's more than anyone but Argent Promience ever gave us.

('Against' wins by a narrow margin. Writing now.)

>>36262717
Waifu fucked off after being told she needs to be a robot, friend wants to fight to the death for his own waifu, we have an endgame armour we need to foist off onto someone and everyone wants to use our orbital weapons platform for the pettiest reason ever.

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>>36262735
I am so fucking glad.

>>36262735
Thank fucking God

>>36262736
Hey, nuking Mengele the super-robot is a perfectly valid reason.

>>36262735
Fess up: was the vote at the end you or not?

>>36262461
>>36262423
>>36262437

> [X] (To Haze) "It's a long story."
> [X] (To Haze) "Don't worry about it. The important thing is - I got Geist out."

"Yeah, well..." Haze looks away, awkwardly. "-About that."

> [X] "...Wait, where's Vector Geist?"

"Gone." There's a note of disdain to Regios's flat voice. "Fled, as soon as he could."

"I-" Haze begins, "...I tried to stop him." He sounds almost forlorn, hanging his head. "And, and he said - 'To hell with you, he's not coming back.'" Absently, he scratches at his cheek - Almost jabbing himself, which he stops just in time. "-He said he'd take his chances..."

Regios makes a low sound - Somewhere between a scornful laugh and a snort, with that dopplering buzzing, buzzing, buzzing.

"Geist's at the end of his rope," Volt crackles. Then: "-whatever he saw down there..."

"He'll come around," Haze says - rather optimistically, you can't help but think. He twists round, with a glance in your direction - "...He will, won't he, Joker?"

...That's not reassuring, Haze.

"Joker-"

You stop. You turn back to the decaying edifice of Cochlea, thinking of the modular fortress below - Endlessly moving, endlessly tunneling, gnawing deeper into the bowels of the earth. Of the dark experiments and viler secrets that might lurk within; the wavering form of the white figure, lit by the violet flames of burning Cradles in a chamber of meat-

When your gaze returns to Regios, it's so abrupt - So sudden - that he takes an instinctive step back.

Then, carefully - more measured now - "...Are we finished here?"

It appears that you are.

(Continued)

>>36262758
>super-robot
What? Joker is clearly a real robot quest.

>>36262693
She said "his System Access was finally high enough to SEE her", actually.

>>36262717
Not much honestly. Currently debating whether or not to blow up a base belonging to guy we're pretty sure is pure evil, and the relative odds of such an attack succeeding.

That's basically been it for this session. In the quest as a whole... killed some people who probably didn't deserve it, missed killing the one we wanted dead, Red World encroaches on reality.

>>36262767
We're not starting this.

>>36262762
Anyone else get the sense OP's disappointed?

Can we at least blow up the Holophusikon Hive? As an apology to Volt for dragging him out here and waiting for us?

>>36262776
Real robot Mengele did nothing wrong. He just wanted to implant his mind into the robot and possibly real body of a teenage boy and made some cool dogs.
He even gave us some cool upgrades and a Corrector. He doesn't even have an endgame plan or anything.

>>36262799
It's gathering essence for us, stop being non-pragmatic.

I suggest we upgrade Abjuration Jets and Slake next. If we can get even more "move fast, shoot fast" we'll really boost our combat capability.

>>36262806
He's anti-Smiler as well. Hell, we were friendly with Swaghat and he was FAR more openly malevolent than Imago.

At best, Imago tried to fuck Kou for whatever reason (only after his accident) and likes Correctors while espousing a "Survival of the Fittest" stratagem. He's definitely the BBEG of some campaign though but not ours.

I will say the fact he knew the Black Cardinal so...intimately says things though.

>>36262807
...No it's not. Look at the list on the top of the page.

And get a level in survive next, we lose limbs way too often. More than anything else that needs to stop.

>>36262830
>friendly
You're just pretending, right?

>>36262806
Not for lack of wanting. If he'd succeeded, he'd be evil Argent, except competent.

>>36262848
Ruler also did nothing wrong. Except for that time he trapped us in a dream, that was pretty shit of him.

>>36262869
Well, that and being an irredeemable sociopath.

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>>36262759

(I don't follow. It was after the cut-off point by two minutes, at any rate.)

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

The roar of the Ophanim's thrusters blot out all sound, as the Hellion cycle tears across the empty roadways: Volt Regios's form locked in place, your sensors slaved to the nav-track display of the route overlay. If he weren't braced, the violence of the machine would lurch him from the seat, to be lost in the swirling plume of dust and burning gas you leave in your wake.

You swing left, the Ophanim racing down a dank underpass, cutting a swathe through a spreading pool of murky water. The smartwheels telescope, adjusting to the new surface - In the span of a second before you hit road again, racing between two huge iron manufactories. The sheer speed of the vehicle makes your myomer muscles draw taut, fighting the wheel - Holding it on course, tiny vector thrusters flaring in minute corrections as you skirt the perimeter of the zone: Accelerating towards the distant shape of Arcadia, relying more on your sensors than vision.

"-You should've killed him," Volt vocalizes - The channel icon pulsing at the corner of your vision, Regios's gauntlets locked on you in a deathgrip. You've related the story to him, in the space between seconds - As the world beyond blurs to a faded smear, the wind howling like a thousand knives.

Even Regios's internal voice is a growl.

"For everything he's done...For what he *is*...You should have burned him."

There's real venom in Volt's voice, a lurking bitterness to his words. At times like this, you're glad that you're the only in charge of the Leukocyte.

(Continued)

>>36262857
>evil Argent
You know, no matter how much he's helped us I can't help but feel Argent is going to turn out to be evil somehow.

>>36262672
>Condemner a sweet laser sword. Plus it'll let us duel Bishamon which will be badass. I mean, Joker's going to lose any sword duel they have but it's the spirit of the thing, you know?

If we're going to fight him like this, at least let us do it in style - with the remains of the Fatal Abyss.
of course, either the thief has it, or he's dead any phantom edge has it back

>>36262876
Better than being controlled by a couple dozen people from /tg/.

>>36262896
It's mostly the edgemasters here. See, even Volt agrees we should have iced him. Smart girl. There's still time you know.

>>36262848
Wata, you're full of shit. I remember you being pro-Swaghat until he made us kill his Hyades and then everyone bitched and moaned about that.

We were, for a long time, quite friendly with Ruler. Like, first 3 times we talked to him? Everyone liked him.

Also, survive makes us heavier, making "go fast" harder and we're already built for "go fast".

>>36262869
He did that because Wata led us into refusing to do our part of the deal and, in the end, it was only to fulfil our part of the deal anyway.

>>36262876
Joker's nearly as fucking bad.

>>36262884
This is retarded; either give him Midas or kill him at range.

>>36262912
We have edgemasters and moralfags in about equal degree. We only run into problems when we go too far either way.

>>36262914
>This is retarded; either give him Midas or kill him at range.

you seem to be under the impression that a soul-infection is transferable.

also you're confusing bishamon and tyrian

>>36262914
>Wata, you're full of shit. I remember you being pro-Swaghat until he made us kill his Hyades and then everyone bitched and moaned about that.

wata flip-flops faster than politicians in midterm elections. He used to be kind of a cool insightful namefag, but every time we have a long break he just does a Heel Face Turn

>>36262912
>>36262896
Why? There's no fucking reason. We have no issue with him, he hates the Smilers, is Anti-White Joker, has helped us and been honest with us.

He fucked with Collectors? So did Argent Promience.

>>36262927
He's saying use the Condemner to fight Bishamon. We should give Bishamon the Hand of Midas or kill him at range. He's too dangerous to fight up close; remember when he went red?

>>36262882
Ignore him, he's being a bitter ass.

>>36262884
The Thief still has it.

>>36262912
You lost the vote, get over it.

>>36262914
I agreed with him. I still agree with the points he made. I made a point of being unfailingly polite until he decided to go passive aggressive. And then people decided to take a swing at him, which basically ended any chance of cordial interactions.

Also you're confusing Survive with Guard. Do you recall the difference?

>>36262946
I apologise, I do not. Remind me?

I still think "go fast" is a better idea as we're running out of changes to upgrade.

>>36262946
>The Thief still has it.

If he hasn't died offscreen. He was being hunted and got his lantern chopped off at our feet, asking for our help, and we've kinda let it go.
This was before the resurrection of phantom edge, too (who was missing the arm and sword he had at the time)

>>36262938
>He's saying use the Condemner to fight Bishamon. We should give Bishamon the Hand of Midas or kill him at range. He's too dangerous to fight up close; remember when he went red?
Why is he suggesting we give one of our best relics to someone who wants to kill us?

>>36262960
Guard and Survive are two different options.
We NEVER took Survive, while we had TWO upgrades in Guard.
One of which unlocked the stasis field.

>>36262966
>If he hasn't died offscreen. He was being hunted and got his lantern chopped off at our feet, asking for our help, and we've kinda let it go.
Did you miss how we met him afterwards and he was baffled because we thought that he's dead?

I wonder: Would we have gotten massive amounts of essence for nuking the dude?

>>36262937
I resent that. Politicians make a point of always working for who pays them the most. But seriously I have a name on 4chan, when is that ever cool. And I like to think I'm at least somewhat consistent in my thinking/playing.

>>36262960
Health and armor respectively. Armor makes you heavier, Survive... actually we don't know, haven't taken it. But the description of the Player-derived health upgrades for other things suggests that it prevents functionality loss from damage, which continues to be Joker's biggest issue.

>>36262966
We saw him yesterday in game.

And I'm not suggesting to give up the Midas, anon is. I think he's actually insane.

>>36262969
The second was ability unlock, not guard proper.

>>36262998
Some for killing the hounds and modified players inside. I honestly don't think we'd have hit him.

>>36262966
Because Midas will improve his system access to above his Hyades ability to control. Given we know how the Gauntlet would improve his abilities, we already know if he isn't saved that the fight won't get harder.

Bush is clearly the Arthur figure

>>36262848
>And get a level in survive next, we lose limbs way too often. More than anything else that needs to stop.

This is why I wanted to get armor research a long time ago.

Regarding limb loss, that's a case for the Aquila System - we can hover with it, need our legs less, and also it has a defensive/evasive boost.

Additionally there are survivability options available to us:
All of the jamming/ecm/subterfuge relics and modules make us more survivable. Not by increasing toughness, but by mitigating incoming damage.

Also, we have gained some energy resistance from the cobalt booster recently.

What we really need to level up is the hand of midas - its ridiculously tough/powerful, and having it spread to the rest of our system(from point of infection, or torso is next) will make us tougher than any sort of survive upgrade

>>36263030
I'm going to let you in on a secret anon: Midas hasn't upgraded Joker's system access.

And if anyone's Arthur it's Kazuya.

>>36263030
We don't know how this brainwashing shit works, though. It might be that it just alters their minds once, and isn't a constant thing that can be stopped.

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>>36262882

The engines howl, accelerating. Not much further - It beggars belief that you're travelling this fast, threading through the maze of streets and buildings; For the span of a second, the Ophanim's wheels taste air, throwing up a skidding track of grit as you pull up sharply, the dull-iron city giving way to the shimmering skyline-

"You-"

Shion draws a shivery breath, as the new reality sketches itself into existence; Her voice is too loud, too hard-edged for the velvety night. The faint perfume of blossoms hangs in the air, in the path leading up to Seisin High - The festival's ended for the night, but the gates remain open: there's still a curfew, but it doesn't look like anyone's enforcing it...Given the sheer number of people coming and going today, that isn't really a surprise.

What *is* a surprise - The faint pressure of Shion's hand against yours, her strong fingers gripping your hand. She blinks, shaking her head to clear it; a haze of disorientation lingering in her eyes, for a heartbeat more-

And then she starts, sharply - A wordless sound of surprise - and flushes red as she lets go, her hand falling to her side.

"W-what, what-" she begins, high points of color in her cheeks - Flustered, she glances away, then back, her lips settling in a brief pout, then a thin line, her long skirts rustling against stocking-sheathed legs - "...A, anyway - I'd have done it, if I were you. T-that's...That's all I'm saying."

And that's why you make the decisions, not Regios.

"...Fine." Shion crosses her arms across her chest - Rather defensively, you can't help but notice - a note of embarrassed pique in her voice. "I was just-" she looks away - Her gaze darting back to you, then again - "...I'm just - It *frustrates* me, that's all," she admits.

(Continued)

>>36263064

In a rather unladylike gesture, she kicks at a loose stone, sending it skittering away.

"Before you showed up - Things made *sense*. But now...Everything's muddled and complex and, and-"

She bites the corner of her lip, her brow furrowing ever-so-slightly - But there's a glint in those hard hawk eyes, a gleam that might be worry or fury.

"All I want," Shion says, more steadily - "...All I *want* is *someone I can hit*. This...I'm not made for this, Jok - Anon - both. Whichever you are." A slow breath, which she holds - Breathing out, slowly, exhaling her frustration.

Then:

"...That's why no-one likes you, you realize?" she says, with a pass of her hand - Taking in the slumbering city beyond. "I mean - They really don't. Even before they meet you, they already hate you."

[ ] "What?"
[ ] "That's hardly fair."
[ ] "Uh...I'm not quite sure what you mean by that."
[ ] "Hey, I resent that!"
[ ] Hold her hand again.
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>36263069
Wooow, what a cunt.
>Hold her hand again.

>>36262672
>People have complained forever that we never use it. We're going to HAVE to use it eventually. Might as well be for a good cause

Whoever pulls out their final attack first usually loses.

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>>36263069

> [ ] Hold her hand again.

Now kisssssssss.

>>36263030
It could also eat his soul, like it almost ate ours.

>>36263030
Are you a fucking imbecile? The Midas will kill Bishamon. It was stated early on that an absurd amount of essence is required to control the Midas Armor completely and this thread confirmed that the only one worthy of using it is Argent.

Bish is not Arthur, and he was never meant to get the Midas Armor. What he is meant to get is Fatal Abyss, as shown during the Hollow Sun raid.

>>36263090

fuck no!

We're back in seisin. We're not here for Her.

>>36263069
>[ ] "What?"
>[ ] Free
"... I've met someone who has that effect. their presence on the other side is SO heavy, it... makes people steer clear."
"... I didn't think I had that effect too, though. Or maybe its rubbing off on me"

Don't mention who, just that we've seen the effect.

Also
"There'll be plenty of people to hit tomorrow. If i'm right, that's when the smilers will make heir move."

Also, make sure mio's alright. She's in danger zone of Smiler Kidnapping now, thanks to our tip-off

>>36263069
>[X] "What?"

>>36263090
>>36263112
Stop that.

>>36263112
>>36263090

This is SO out of character for joker it's not funny.

remember the yui scene. Avert disaster

>>36263064
>What *is* a surprise - The faint pressure of Shion's hand against yours, her strong fingers gripping your hand. She blinks, shaking her head to clear it; a haze of disorientation lingering in her eyes, for a heartbeat more-
"Joker goes away for the night and is seen holding hands with a girl."
This can't possibly go badly, can it?

>>36263112
>>36263090
Nope.jpg
>>36263069
>[ ] "Hey, I resent that!"
>"Also, you can punch Kou all you want once twist his head on straight. I'm sure he'll appreciate someone showing that much care, considering how low his self-esteem right now is."

>>36263126
>"... I didn't think I had that effect too, though. Or maybe its rubbing off on me"
Actually, I think that she's talking about our reputation.

To which we should answer:
"Well, I have a reputation to keep up."

>>36263037
You realize we don't level up the Midas Arm directly, it changes itself as Joker levels up? And the entire point of taking Limiter last level was to speed that up?

Since it seems extraordinarily unlikely that we're going to get the Midas Gauntlet to become the Armor of Midas, we need at least one level in survive to prevent all-too-common functionality losses. Just having one level of Guard was a huge improvement to survivability.

>>36263041
That's the implication with the knife--it has to rewrite their soul.

>>36263069
"I'm only Joker when I wear red."
>[X] "Uh...I'm not quite sure what you mean by that."
>[X] "Hey, I resent that!"

"I don't make a habit of leaving monsters alive behind me. Imago met me from behind a screen for a reason."
"If we survive, I'm going hunting. I know some worth killing. Any names to add to the list?"

>>36263090
Don't. We're still on the hook for the "trying to make a relationship work" thing. Rumors that Anon goes flirting the second something goes sour is the last thing he needs.

>>36263126
Try and rephrase that? I'm not sure what you're trying to communicate.

>>36263144

Exactly what i'm thinking.

Keep aware of our public image.

also, ask her "what DO they say about me?" and also "so... who's idea was it to ask me for help, back when?"

>>36263151
>>36263090
>>36263112
I see the trolls have arrived. Lets not be a total imbecile.

>>36263126
>Also, make sure mio's alright. She's in danger zone of Smiler Kidnapping now, thanks to our tip-off
I say we ask Natsumi to look after her while we're busy.

Also, I suspect that Kraken will attack us right after the match ends. He'll want to take down the surviving Champion while he's weak so that Alura can take the last Hyades' essence before the latter becomes the Chalice Queen.

>>36263175
>Try and rephrase that? I'm not sure what you're trying to communicate.

The Mio Effect.(tm) AKA despise-me-aura

>>36263175
>You realize we don't level up the Midas Arm directly, it changes itself as Joker levels up? And the entire point of taking Limiter last level was to speed that up?
This is supposed to be true, but we've had, what? Three levels with it and no change?
There's obviously a trick to it.

either feeding the armor directly, pokemon style, via the nihl-sphere.
>- After the defeat of ADAMANT AEGIS, the MIDAS GAUNTLET has undergone a subtle shift in articulation and form.
>After the defeat of IRON OGRE, the MIDAS GAUNTLET has manifested an elaborate crest in the form of a taurus icon.
This is new, indicating that its powering up via leech module kills. We can likely speed the process up by using Consume - since it waives the cost, and the nihl sphere is full, its a Big Fucking Hint to feed the armor directly.

Or the other option, which is that it has to be leveled up itself, with the option to make it grow obscured somewhere in our level-up tree.
There wasn't an option to improve the artifact directly last time we leveled, iirc.

>>36263177
>I see the trolls have arrived. Lets not be a total imbecile.
Why did you quote me even though I'm against it?

>>36263177
What? I'm pretty sure it's fucking with her by holding her hand, not a romantic thing.

>>36263191
>I say we ask Natsumi to look after her while we're busy.

Actually, Enfer straight up told us to stay away from her - BECAUSE the smilers are going to come for her in force, and use her essence reserves to kick start the apocalypse

Natsumi won't be enough. we need EVERYONE on bodyguard duty, and should be ready for the hellsquad of kraken/rust kaiser/pazuzu/enfer to show up to get what they want.

We should also assume that they are going to time this attack around us being Unavailable because of Bishamon Deathmatch.

The way out of this is:
Athame Bishamon to end the fight fast, then interfere with the mio attack , WITH him as backup, as fast as possible
arrange as much heavy protection for her as we can.
and give our tank to allies to back it up.

>>36263204
Are you seriously fucking retarded enough to NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THE FUCK THIS WILL TOTALLY BLOW UP INTO OUR FACES EVEN IF WE _DON'T_ MAKE IT WORSE BY GRABBING HER HAND AGAIN?

The next day will have a shitstorm where people jab at us for meeting a girl at night.
Good luck explaining that to Mio.

>>36263191

Did we ever open mio's present-box from the faire?

>>36263243
You're freaking the fuck out over a joke option. Joker would grab her hand and she'd get mad and pull away.

>>36263175
>And the entire point of taking Limiter last level was to speed that up?
Wait, we took the Limiter?
I thought we took the Booster upgrade.

>>36263201
One level up. It added a Samael circuit to itself and has been modifying itself based on notable kills. Those changes are based on the two Players Joker's killed since that happened.

It's going to get more and more interesting stuff as Joker levels up overall.

Just FYI, Shion is actually referring to how Joker's presence has made things complicated. Rather than "kill enemy with friends, laugh about it", they have higher order concerns like "Should we kill this enemy? Who is our enemy? Why should we not kill what is clearly a horrible monster?"

>>36263204
Teasing is a form of flirting. Since Joker's at least trying to be serious about his relationship, that means no more messing with girls.

>>36263243

this anon gets it.

>>36263222
>Athame Bishamon to end the fight fast, then interfere with the mio attack , WITH him as backup, as fast as possible
The problem with this is that after the match ends, Cybele will receive the Chalice Queen armor and kill all the simulation players.
Kraken, as the only remaining champion, will definitely interfere and try to kill us.
We'll have to either protect Cybele until she receives the armor or kill her and absorb all of her essence so that Alura can't become strong enough to access the Armor.