Messages

2896

Forum Games / Re: ABS FIESTA REDUX

« on: December 15, 2015, 05:55:40 PM »

I attempt to get in range of air cruiser 1 so I can try to launch another 2 HSM's at it.

Do note that the cruiser doesn't give off sufficient heat signiatures for HSMs to get a lock on anything but the levitation arrays. Granted, you can still dumbfire them in the general direction of what you want to hit and hope for the best, but you won't be able to pick out specific parts like you'd be able to with an AGM, MMS, or anything that is traditionally shot at ground targets.

2897

Forum Games / Re: ABS FIESTA REDUX

« on: December 14, 2015, 08:42:43 PM »

I head under the cruiser and unload my F- 12 into the center engine(maglev thing?) And back turret with a shot from the UAC

You lay into the central levitation array with a full salvo of heavy rockets, blowing it to tiny bits which then rain down on you as you pass under, pinging off your armor or getting sucked into the intakes. The cruiser begins listing forward slightly, but is maintaining its altitude. Someone on the ground notices and expresses his displeasure with this development.
: Hey, hey, hey! Have you lost your mind? Don't shoot out the damn engines when it's within crashing distance of our little slice of home!

Gus breaks off and heads back. "AWACs, I need two AGMs in my expended AAM slots."

"One gun down, one to go."
I head over to the AWACs queue to wait.
"Gonna need four more AGMs."

You both head over towards the AWACS, and will arrive next turn (for simplicity's sake).
: Understood, warming up COMRO now.

Bell starts lining up another run on the first cruiser.

You are now at a safe distance to take another run, this time coming in from the port side.

"Drone, disengage and return to formation." Richard turns around to make another pass, ascending and firing at the remaining turbo-laser with the PPC.

: AFFIRMATIVE.

The drone falls in behind you and follows you as you set up for your next run, which will happen on the next turn. The remaining top (or bottom, depending on whether you tried to go over or under) PD gun makes a feeble attempt to shoot you down.

"You gave me a couple of weird looks when I mentioned the dogs. Sorry,"

: Did I? Whoops. Didn't mean to scare you off.

2898

Off Topic / Re: Why do some people hate high school so much?

« on: December 14, 2015, 07:12:35 PM »

oh stuff what did I start

a religious debate with (read: rant from) BLF's very own zealot

2899

Drama / Re: Lord Tony's new infatuation with endlessly harping on Fallout 4

« on: December 14, 2015, 12:21:47 PM »

can we just get a second executive order but this time regarding fallout 4

2900

Forum Games / Re: ABS FIESTA REDUX

« on: December 14, 2015, 12:15:38 PM »

yeah i can wait a turn

VTOL base EV 72
No piloting bonuses or penalties
HSM x2 provides penalty of 50
Flare x2 provides bonus of 80
Test taken at EV 102
Roll: 80 - Success
Test passed
The VTOL expends both its flares to evade your heatseekers, but they don't do much good against the shower of beams dispatched its way.

Tippy satisfied contacting the tanks heads back to the fight and opens up on the underbelly of air cruiser 1 with a UAC and HSM

The underside of the cruiser does not provide sufficient heat signiatures to obtain a lock on anything. The UAC strikes the starboard anti-ground cannon, doing moderate damage.

Bell launches two of her AGMs at the cruiser's bridge and four MML missiles at the PD turrets.

One of the AGMs is shot down, as is one of the MMLs, but the rest reach their mark. Two PD turrets are destroyed, and the bridge section takes some damage.

Gus fires off an AAM at the VTOL along with a burst of LCP fire.

VTOL base EV 72
No piloting bonuses or penalties
AAM provides penalty of 35
Test taken at EV 37
Roll: 80 - Failure
Test failed
The VTOL fails to evade the AAM and is finished off by the twin pulse lasers.

Walt fires his KSM straight into the bridge of the cruiser

The shot goes straight through the windows, and you get to watch the ensuing fireball escape through this new opening. You are about to pass the cruiser on your next turn, so you'd better decide whether you want to go over or under.

forget me, I actually missed! The result of Richard's distracted shooting and bad trigger discipline become clear as the PPC beam streaks across the front of the second cruiser, far behind his intended target. Trying to calm himself down, he breaks off from the VTOL and circles around, this time setting his sights on the cruiser. He takes another shot with the PPC at the cruiser's bridge.

The PPC sets off another explosion in the already badly-mangled bridge.

I pull high enough above the deck of the turbo-laser cruiser to fire off my other two AGMs at the already-damaged gun.

The two AGMs finish off the wrecked gun turret.

The remaining drone fires its two AGMs at the radar dome atop Cruiser-1 destroying it. Cruisers 2 and 3 begin backing off, towards the river and away from the city. If ever you were wondering what fear looks like in a building-sized slab of metal, this would be it.

Jaakko bites the inside of his cheek nervously.
"-sorry, I though I was upsetting you," He says nervously.

: You weren't, not really at least. Why would you think that?

I just wanted to make a suggestion to kill the cruisers faster, I'm sorry I guess

You can always drop the AAMs and go back to the AWACS to resupply with JSMs or AGMs.

2901

Forum Games / Re: ABS FIESTA REDUX

« on: December 14, 2015, 04:01:33 AM »

the sky marshal could appear here

If he was going to appear, I would not have said "we won't be seeing him today" in the briefing.

I pull high enough above the deck of the turbo-laser cruiser to fire off my other two AGMs at the already-damaged gun. Then, next turn, I dive back down, or, if the laser is destroyed, I climb up above.

One turn at a time, please.

2902

Forum Games / Re: ABS FIESTA REDUX

« on: December 13, 2015, 06:45:18 PM »

"Thanks for the assist, Sabre." Gus edges the throttle forward and goes to catch up with Sabre to assist the drones.

You have now caught up with Sabre.

"Void my previous statement, assisting the drones."

Walt turns towards VTOL-3 and fires his MMS-6 and four aimed shots of UAC

VTOL base EV 72
No piloting bonuses or penalties
MMS x6 provides penalty of 30
Test taken at EV 42
Roll: 85 - Failure
Test failed
The VTOL abandons its attack on the drones and attempts to evade, but fails spectacularly, hitting every missile and one of the UAC shots that followed. The rest of the cannonfire doesn't do much else, considering the target is falling to the ground in pieces.

The master caution tone pulsates in Richard's ears, accompanied by near-unintelligible jungle speak. "[OVERSPEED! OVERSPEED!]" Much to his annoyance, the voice seems to belong to a middle-aged Deltan male. Who the forget uses the male annunciator voice? Furrowing his brow, he fumbles with the side panel before finding the voice warning dial and twisting it counterclockwise.

Satisfied that Barking Bob is now silenced, Richard looks up at his HUD in time to see that the VTOL flight is within firing range. He drops the power and pops the airbrakes momentarily to fire the PPC on VTOL-4.

The distraction provided by your need to shut Barking Bob up results in the PPC shot going wide. The beam keeps going until it hits the front armor of Cruiser 2. For what it's worth, you persuade the VTOL to stop shooting your drone.

Bell deploys two packets of flares and attempts to shake the lock.

The lock warning goes away just as the notification that the MML is reloaded pops up. You are now very close to Cruiser-1 and will pass under it on your next turn. If you want to do any damage to the undercarriage, the time is now, before you have to come around for another pass.

"I hate these cruisers."
I pop up to fire two AGMs at the lasers

Your angle of attack results in one of the missiles striking the sloped slab of frontal armor, and the second is shot down by the PD turret.

I turn to VTOL-4 and, once I'm in range, try to pop off 2 HSM's and a burst of LCP fire.

Getting to their position requires a turn of movement, so that happens this turn. This command can happen on your next turn if you'd like, unless you want to change your mind about what you're doing. Also why the hell are people telling him he will explode if he shoots his pulse laser without a heatsink? When has that ever happened?

Drone-2 is annihilated by a direct hit from the Turbo-Laser, having been approaching head on. Its comrade opens up on the flight deck with two of its AGMs. Both are able to slip through the PD fire from the remaining turret, no doubt because Yui kept it occupied, and are able to destroy the tank and the barrel of the deck gun.

Jaakko looks around awkwardly.

"I suppose I'll go work on their training,"

She looks surprised that you're already deciding to end the conversation.
: Oh. Alright then.

2903

Off Topic / Re: 6 days until Starwars Episode VII: The force awakens

« on: December 13, 2015, 11:56:54 AM »

star wars VII is like hl3 on a smaller scale: everyone's gotten so hyped for it that it's gonna be hard to meet expectations

imo the prequels were so loving bad that my expectations are so low it is impossible for episode 7 to be a disappointment
also lol at it being hl3 on a "smaller scale", way more people are hyped for this than forgetin half life

2904

Forum Games / Re: ABS FIESTA REDUX

« on: December 13, 2015, 11:53:10 AM »

Bell fires off all of the MML-7's missiles and takes a shot at the Cruiser's front laser cannon with the LCB. She then pulls away towards the rest of the squadron, lowering her altitude back down.

The LCB impacts the side armor instead of the turret, as does one of the missiles. The other is shot down by the PD gun before it itself is obliterated by the three missiles sent to take it out, showering the radar dome atop the cruiser with bits of shrapnel. As for the rear gun, one of the missiles strikes it side-on, and the other blows the turret off the AAA parked next to it. The HUD pops up with a message that the MML's reserve salvo is being loaded.

Cruiser-2 slowly moves to assist its comrade and you pick up an IR lock.

Gus pops three packets of flares. Manoeuvring will put him through an office building, so he avoids that. In fact, when he thinks about it, most everything will hit an office building. The joys of urban air combat.

PAK FA base EV 78
No piloting bonuses or penalties
MMS x10 provides penalty of 50
Not maneuvering provides penalty of 78
Flares provide bonus of 120
Test taken at EV 70
Roll: 69 - Pass
Test passed
You put your faith in your flares, and the flares provide.

Richard sics all three beam weapons on the VTOL engaging Tempest before turning away.

"Tempest, Sabre, I'm breaking off to engage the other VTOLs!" He punches the burners and flies fast.

The VTOL is blown to pieces and you push your engines to their straining point to get over to your drones. They have currently climbed up into the danger zone and are being attacked by the VTOLs.
PAK FA base EV 64
No piloting bonuses or penalties
HSM x2 provides penalty of 50
Test taken at EV 14
Roll: 6 - Pass
Test passed
Drone-1 dives sharply at the last possible moment to evade the incoming missiles, and begins climbing back up to re-acquire its lost altitude. Drone-2 continues onward, heading straight for the laser cannon. You are now in range to help them out.

"On it, someone cover the drones for me."

Walt sets up for a KSM shot on the forward Laser cannon, looking to quickly evade out of the way after firing.

You begin climbing and see the struggle the drones are having above you.

stay low and fire at an enemy tank

You cannot find any tanks to fire at. In all likelihood, they are on the other side of the CBD being covered for by the Cruisers, so you will probably have to take care of those first. Unless you want to simply fly under the cruisers at dangerously low heights (only about 150 meters between crashing into the underside of the cruiser or eating pavement) looking for trouble, but that would take you between buildings.

what kind of fascist makes people come to work when there is an invading army

Civilian evacuation is underway, but incomplete. So far, only first class citizens are fully in the clear, barring those who chose to stay behind to help the second class get out. That being said there are still some corporations who would prefer their cubicle drones remain in their cubicles as it is the most profitable safest place for them to be during this emergency.

2905

Forum Games / Re: ABS FIESTA REDUX

« on: December 13, 2015, 01:15:15 AM »

Combat update coming tomorrow morning. Or rather, this morning, depending on your timezone. In the meantime, I'll address these.

"Copy."
I gain altitude, fire off an AGM (?) at one of the lasers on the laser cruiser, then drop back down to a safe-ish level (no buildings, no lasers).

1. You can't do all that on a single turn, that's too much ground to cover. Either pop up and shoot at the top deck, risking return fire from the gun, or simply keep low and fire on something else.
2. You're either low enough to be considered dangerously low altitude, or high enough to be in the firing arc of the laser cannon. The air cruisers are hovering low enough to the ground that there isn't much of a "safe" altitude to be at.

"I suppose that explains why you ran off when we first heard the dogs,"

There is a brief, awkward pause, during which someone on the TV gets melted by alien ichor.
: Yes. Yes, it probably would.

2906

Forum Games / Re: ABS FIESTA REDUX

« on: December 12, 2015, 06:09:15 PM »

Walt waits for the VTOL to close in and adjusts his lead on 2 then fires the KSM, sending a big vibration through the airframe.

The slug punches clear through the VTOL and embeds itself in an office building.

"nevermind, i'm not okay. Mjolnir i'm heading out. Sorry guys, i can't focus with all this stinging and my eyes won't stop watering."

Roger directs himself back to base trying to follow a safe route away from incoming fire.

The VTOLs are occupied with other matters and don't seem keen on following you out.

"I'll go around and see if I can't flank the first cruiser."

Bell banks away and starts swinging around at low altitude to try and approach the laser cruiser from the side.

The path to outflank the cruiser while still remaining at low altitude involves squeezing between a few skyscrapers.
Morgenstern base EV 60
No piloting bonuses or penalties
Large Size provides penalty of 10
Test taken at EV 50
Roll: 13 - Success
Test passed
Though the Morgenstern's girth makes it an uncomfortably tight fit, Bell is able to keep the plane under control and barnstorms straight through the business district, no doubt spicing up the dreary lives of the workers there. She is now in missile range, coming up on the cruiser's starboard side.

Gus shoots off an AAM at VTOL-1.

The VTOL launches off its MMS-12 before trying to evade.
VTOL base EV 72
No piloting bonuses or penalties
AAM provides penalty of 35
Firing before evading provides penalty of 10
Flares provide bonus of 40
Test taken at EV 67
Roll: 84 - Failure
Test failed
Despite the flares, the VTOL is unable to dodge the missile. In addition, the salvo of missiles was snap-fired before it was entirely ready, resulting in two fewer missiles to deal with.

The two VTOLs approach missile range against the strike drones. Getting to a position in which they can be supported will likely take one turn.
: ASSISTANCE REQUESTED.

"Bad experience, huh?" Jaakko asks.

: You could say that.

2907

Forum Games / Re: ABS FIESTA REDUX

« on: December 12, 2015, 04:07:30 PM »

Gonna wait for one more post to update the air situation.

"Hey," Jaakko greats Yukamo, "Met the dogs yet?"

You swear that for a split second she gives you the most irritated look you've ever seen before returning to her usual expression.
: No, I haven't. I can't say I'm too fond of dogs. I prefer fish. Or lizards, you know, stuff you keep in a terrarium and that doesn't need to be housetrained.

"I'll go around and see if I can't flank the first cruiser."

Bell banks away and starts swinging around at low altitude to try and approach the laser cruiser from the side.

Approaching the cruiser from the side while at low altitude would involve taking your plane between skyscrapers. Is this something you still wish to do?

2908

Off Topic / Re: does anyone else hate this specific shade of blue

« on: December 12, 2015, 12:54:52 PM »

now let's discuss gross combinations of colors!

████████
Blue and gray!

you shut your mouth blue and grey looks rad as hell

2909

Forum Games / Re: ABS FIESTA REDUX

« on: December 12, 2015, 12:46:58 PM »

"Whiskey you still with us?" Walt traces back to where the shot came from then dips down.

Walt attempts to get a fix on VTOL-2 for the KSM to fire on it once it enters range.

You take aim on VTOL-2. Considering it's still moving in a straight line, you reckon you could possibly land a hit on it from here. Sure, the slug might keep going and hit a building, but at least the VTOL would be taken care of.

Roger screams and lets an HSM go before maneuvering his plane, reeling away from the cruiser.

"stuff forget dammit son of a bitch that thing cooked one side of my face!"

technically it cooked your entire face, its just one side is rather well done
The HSM spirals off into the distance. You are still in rather terrible pain.

Tippy flys low, using her environment against the dirigible gunners. She scans below looking for signs of armored vehicles and opens a comm that most armor use.

"45th we need a status please respond. Repeat, need your status 45th. And if Grizzly is still kicking tell him "i told you so".

A response comes through, though it's difficult to make out over the static and background noise of machine gun fire.
: Comms are forgeted, give us a minute.

"Drone flight: Attack Cruiser 1 topside, Use AGM! Maintain range and stay below the target when not firing!"

: SYNTAX ERROR. PARAMETER: [: Maintain range and stay below the target when not firing!] NOT UNDERSTOOD. RE-ISSUE COMMAND.

It becomes readily apparent that these drones are incapable of following complex, multi-step orders. For what it's worth, they do break off from you and begin climbing to attack the cruiser, but the part about "maintaining range" and "staying below the target" might have gone in one verbal parser and out the other. The two VTOLs aboard Cruiser-2 prepare to intercept the incoming strike drones.

He breaks off from the cruiser to deal with the new threat, training the lasersight on the target designators in the HUD.

"Whiskey, you alright? What's your status?"

The VTOLs continue to close the distance, realizing I they forgot to exchange their Light Anti-Ground Missiles for Joint-Strike Missiles like I was they were supposed to. They are currently in range of your PPC, and will be able to accurately fire their own guns the turn after next.

Gus dives to building height with Sabre and prepares to fire on the VTOLs.

I dive to just above building height, my eyes burning from the laser, even through the polarized glass of the helmet, a large streak of blindness covering parts of my vision. I'm not about to get roasted by the giant loving laser.
Ark's exhaust, why do the Huits get all the cool superweapons...

You are both now safe from the ship-grade laser cannon. For the time being, at least.

Jaakko seeks out Yukamo, who he hasn't had contact with since finding the dogs.

She is currently in the rec room watching reruns of Space Adventure 5035, an almost 50 year old Mercanan science fiction series.

2910

Forum Games / Re: ABS FIESTA REDUX

« on: December 11, 2015, 11:03:06 PM »

"Of course they pick me first."

Whisky drops some chaff and lowers his altitude in preparation for attacking the underside.

You drop your chaff, and begin to dive.
F-16XL base EV 68
No piloting bonuses or penalties
Turbo-Laser provides penalty of 40
-Base penalty: -15
-Target inside forward firing arc: -10
-Target below cruiser's altitude: +10
-Target at RADAR range: -20
-Clear weather: -5
Chaff provides bonus of 40
Test taken at EV 68
Roll: 90 - Failure
Test failed
Tactical information available pending conclusion of current mission.
The tremendous laser cannon parked on the flight deck opens fire on you, landing a glancing hit and doing more damage to the jungle to your rear than it did to your plane. The bad is that your plane has taken some serious damage, ambient roosterpit tempurature has spiked up well past 100 degrees fahrenheit, and you are now in agonizing pain, enough to seriously impair your focus. The good news is that your plane is still flying under your control, you are now safely below the reach of the deck gun, and will probably have a rad new burn scar on the side of your face after this is done.
: [Idiot, watch your background! Do you want to burn down the whole forest!?]

"Let's hope those buildings keep them safe. Regardless, we can't let the cruisers get too close to each other."

The Sabre drops down to rooftop height and heads straight for the first cruiser, burners blazing.

"Mjolnir 2, we're going to deal with the dirigible heading towards us. Try to keep low, watch for MANPADS. If they care anything for minimizing collateral damage, that ought'a make them think twice before firing."

Richard arms the PPC.

The two VTOLs launched from Cruiser 3 are headed your way, and will be in Missile/PPC range your next turn.

"Cruiser Three has launched VTOLs, be careful."

Bell prepares to break towards the third airship.

As you prepare to break off, you get a front row seat to the brilliant red shaft of light which nearly engulfed Whiskey's plane. The thought crosses your mind that perhaps it would be best to remain at low altitudes, as buildings tend to be more predictable than whatever that just was.