#and on the other end of the spectrum I have some other mech pilot thoughts that have a bit of a different tone

[windowsloth]

okay I was truly getting back into friends at the table anyway but armored core has whetted my appetite for more big robot

[verdantwyrm]

so I'm having an issue..

I'm working this fix-it/crossover au for MW where the tulpar crew find themselves on an alien planet with the only other humans there being a plucky young girl and her estranged clumsy father who pilots a mech.

In the story the father character ends up befriending Anya and they kind of dynamic that some people might interpret as potentailly romantic.

But the thing is, I've written a whole storyline where the father and Curly end up falling in love and becoming a couple.

The problem i'm having is the fear of the potential backlash for giving the "rape apologist" a happy ending while the victim is denied a potentially healthy relationship because I the writer quote "want to have her yaoi fantasy with the person who enabled the rape of the female" (other people's words, not mine) It's less about how I think or feel, and more of a concern for my safety with the way the fandom has been treating those who try to give curly nuance

Anon, I'm going to gently sit you down when I say this. And I mean it with the utmost love and care in my heart because that concept sounds fucking awesome as hell.

Do Whatever You Want. Forever.

I understand it is a really scary concept to try to do something with Curly's character and be afraid of the backlash you'll receive because Curly in their eyes is this big nasty, ugly rape apologist. That is the unfortunate situation of liking characters that are just uncomfortable to are morally grey in any way. Over the last month or so I have received countless, countless, death threats, for implying that Curly is an abuse victim or that Jimmy is in any way shape or form human. And It's extremely disheartening, I know. But those people that make me only want to fight harder and help people see the characters for what they are, to open up different angles.

Your interpretation of Curly doesn't need to be perfect or true to his character down to the last period. It's your fic, you decide this. And I understand your fears, in fandom spaces that blow up as quickly as Mouthwashing did in terms of audience and meta discussions, attempting to please absolutely everyone all at once is impossible because opinions are a spectrum of thought, no matter what you do someone is always going to have a slightly different interpretation of a scene or a character, even if it's off by the tiniest smidge.

Anya doesn't need to be with someone to have a happy ending, she can find fulfilment and freedom without a relationship and I wish more people were willing to understand a relationship doesn't fix stuff, nor does it necessarily make things easier either.

Do not worry, I think that fic concept is absolutely baller, and I will be in your corner ready to fight. To explore characters and write about them isn't about filling out a checklist, it's about having fun, it's about the experience and sharing it with other people who are willing and ready to listen and enjoy the content you put out, which I am very, very certain people will.

You got this, Anon! I believe in you! ☆ ～('▽^人)

[karanseraph]

Wish to clarify that I did see previous to that post that in this AU the characters who are pilots originally have their own mech but then they meet with a bot character and there's the whole culture clash of "you have a pilot inside you!?" and/or "you're an actual alien robot?!"

BUT, I also happened to imagine that at some point the pilot character just ends up inside the alien robot for some reason.

And because it's me, and I write my own fan continuity where Skywarp (somewhat based on his GI Joe depiction) is generally connection averse, or a bit phobic having beings inside him, and on the asexual spectrum that it would be more of a challenge to build up a relationship where he would allow a pilot inside him than if Mirage were the alien robot and Skywarp a little organic pilot.

But I also have thought, to not be too contradictory with other stories in the AU who might already have a version of Mirage, that there there could be some transwarp or unspace incident to 'explain' how these two characters can meet.

So, like maybe the initial meeting happens 'within' unspace or takes place in Menonia or something.

Also, if Mirage is the human-ish pilot, I feel like his superspy mecha should be Egyptian-themed like it has a nemes-styled helm and blue, gold, and black details, and he's a character who has some ancestry from Egypt, even if he's been on missions or working elsewhere with an international organization.

So if they end up in space, they need to rely on Skywarp's skills, but if they end up in an arid area, code-name Mirage is like, "trust me." He got that training.

I kinda want Mirage and Skywarp to play in the Transformers mecha pilot alternate universe, which @keferon originated.

I'm not 100% on who would be the pilot. I think it might make sense if the serious super-spy got the playful teleporting mecha with wings that sometimes just wants to teleport away from danger.

But it might be funny if the cocky but secretly scared military pilot got the mecha full of spy gadgets and holo-tech with the haughty and critical personality.

[recentanimenews]

FEATURE: Actually Good Beach Episodes In Anime

  Ahh yes, the anime beach episode. The typical "filler, fanservice episode." Truth be told, not all beach episodes are the same, and some actually have more to offer than summertime steaminess. Some beach episodes offer a nice break from the action for both the characters and the viewer. Other beach episodes provide the perfect environment to ignite the flame for those two characters who have been crushing on each other for quite some time. Finally, some beach episodes are just so wildly insane, there's no point to them other than to show off everyone's favorite characters in swimsuits and lay down the comedy — but hey — there's nothing wrong with that! With a variety of episodes to choose from, here are some suggestions for good beach episodes you shouldn't skip. 

  "Island Time" and "Action Time"

Assassination Classroom Episodes 17-18

  Image via Hulu

  Play hard, kill hard! Assassination Classroom is the perfect example of an anime beach episode that shows not all beach episodes are senseless filler, and just because you're switching up your location to a tropical paradise, doesn't mean the plot of the series is going to press pause. Ansatsu Kyōshitsu is your average school anime where the students of E class learn all your typical academic subjects. Math. Science. How to assassinate their teacher Koro Sensei before he destroys the world ... you know, normal school stuff. Season 1 Episodes 17-18 is the start of E class' summer vacation, or should I say assassination vacation to Okinawa. Now when you only have a few months to protect the Earth from certain doom, you don't really have any time to waste, and the students have to take advantage of every opportunity to terminate Koro Sensei, no matter where. While it looked like the students were enjoying their time scuba diving, hiking, and hang gliding, all of that was just for show, they were actually preparing themselves for their most ambitious and elaborate assassination attempt yet. 

  "Shooting Star Moratorium"

DARLING in the FRANXX Episode 7

    Anime will always find a way to go to the beach, even in a post-apocalyptic world like in DARLING in the FRANXX. With the first few episodes dedicated to fulfilling missions and engaging in battles, the characters are mentally and physically exhausted from pushing their limits to connect and pilot mechs, and worrying about each others' well being. Squad 13's sole purpose and identity are based on piloting a FRANXX, and they don't understand a life apart from fighting klaxosaurs. Then comes Episode 7. Squad 13 is sent on a trip to the beach after their last battle. If only for a moment, the beach episode was a nice break, allowing them to experience pure freedom and happiness, and for the first time, let them be who they truly are ... kids. It's during this trip Squad 13 was able to really explore their adolescent emotions, questioning the knowledge of the outside world when the boys ask Hiro about kisses and love. Squad 13's curiosity about human civilization grows when they stumble upon something unexpected. Up to this point, these characters lived such sheltered lives, it was nice seeing them form their own thoughts about humanity and life outside the plantation. Squad 13 may have left the beach, but their lives were forever changed. 

  "Reminiscences... of Paradise Lost"

Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions Episode 7

    The Eye of the Wicked Lord will not leave you disappointed when it comes to this beach episode. What makes Season 1 Episodes 7-8 of Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions so great isn't so much the episodes themselves — although, it's pretty enjoyable in part thanks to the comical antics of frenemies Dekomori and Mori-Summer, I mean Nibutani — but how the episodes impact the future of the story. Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions starts out as a wacky series, full of fun and "magical battles," but trips to the sandy seas and Rika's hometown take the series down a more serious route where we learn about Rika's childhood. Not everyone in this series can accept Rika as chunibyo, and there's this constant battle between what's "real" and what's "fantasy." This beach episode further establishes the hardships we see the characters face for the remainder of the season. It's from here on we see more of their character growth. Needless to say, the time spent in paradise served as the turning point for the series, setting forth the emotional journey to come.

  "Summer Illusion of Steel"

Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu Episode 3

    Personally, I'd have to say everything about Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu as a series is fabulous, and the beach episode is no exception.  Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu has a very different tone than the previous season, and what stands out about this beach episode by far are the characters and their situations. This isn't an episode where we get loads of character development, but it's an episode where we get to see more of our secondary characters' personalities, and how Sousuke socially interacts with everyone in a normal, civilian state. Sergeant Sousuke Sagara is introduced as a young military man, tasked with protecting Kaname Chidori. Coming from a strict military background, it's near impossible for Sousuke to adapt to a mundane lifestyle seeing as his instinct is to immediately use military tactics or weapons in day-to-day situations. I mean, his idea of smashing a watermelon is shooting it with a gun. It's absurd but also entertaining. Also, this episode has a bit of romance! It's obvious there's a connection between Kaname and Sousuke, but they are on two different wavelengths. The episode starts out with them on opposite ends of the spectrum. Kaname's even a bit bothered that Sousuke didn't notice her appearance at the beach. But by the end, as different as they are, and as irritated as Kaname gets with Sousuke's rash decision-making, the beach presented an opportunity for them to see just how much they care. 

  Bleach Episode 228

                                                                      Episode 228 of Bleach is exactly what I think of when I think of the phrase, "anime beach episode." This episode, which basically has no connection to the rest of the series, is the quintessential anime filler beach episode with lots of blatant fanservice and is just pure nonsense but in the best way possible. After their pool was destroyed, the Women's Soul Reaper Association decides to hop on over to the World of the Living for a beach day, but of course, "normal" isn't in the cards for this day of fun in the sun. The episode has the ladies choosing their swimsuits, followed by the sexy beach body glam shot, but hey, let's not ignore the washboard abs. The dialogue is so random and Orihime and Rangiku get very ... creative when it comes to collecting water for their beach art competition. There's a "funeral" for Ukitake. The team takes their jobs of creating cute sand sculptures very seriously and instead of smashing watermelons, the team is tasked with breaking weird watermelon sea monsters with tentacles? This episode is all over the place, but sometimes, this style of anime beach episode is exactly what you need, and something you just can't pass up. 

  What are some of your favorite anime beach episodes? Let us know in the comments!

      Pro hero Veronica Valencia is an anime-loving, hot sauce enthusiast! You can follow more of her work as a host, writer, and producer on Twitter and Instagram.

  Do you love writing? Do you love anime? If you have an idea for a features story, pitch it to Crunchyroll Features!

By: news+feed@crunchyroll.com

[mylifeatwar]

Book 2, Chapter 4, Page 23

Archived Text Follows:

Hey Everyone,

It appears that if you throw enough light at a Dragoon’s camo system all at once you can cause it to glitch out. That helps level the playing field some.

Thanks for reading,

– Luther out

Comment Text Follows:

killercow - Knuckledusters oughta’ give that armor a run for it’s money.

nweismuller - Well, that explains Lawman-Actual’s unusual weapon. I was wondering about that.

tkg - interesting I notice a dead patch on the rear left side-shield/armor area near where the dragoon was hit earlier…do the areas auto compensate? for knocked out areas within reason?

nweismuller - I’m not sure that’s a dead area- I think that’s a portion of the shoulder blown away.

Madorakas - I just (naiv) figured the camo system let the light trough. Turns out it just mimics whats behind it and shows it in front. Also i want to know more about this “Knuckdusters”.

Keith - Good lateral thinking. Even in daylight more light makes stuff show up and illume will provide a localized change in viewable spectrums. If memory serves radar doesn’t see them when cloaked either. I wonder how well it stealths against UV…which I’ve long thought they need to switch NVG’s and scopes to, why arent’ they using thermal? You can’t hide heat.

Sazuroi - If it was the light deflection cloaking system I described in one of my comments on the last page, it could potentially deflect all electromagnatic waves, each with a specified set of nanoscale “hairs” (I’m not sure how broad the range of wavelengths is that can be deflected with the existing technology). Heat radiation, which is largely in the infrared spectrum, is actually “larger” than visible light, so the light deflection material could potentially also deflect that, possibly enabling near-perfect heat managment and direction if used internally. That would at least make it exceedingly hard to find a unit cloaked in this way with infrared. Going by this it seems to be the fairly simple projection system, or something more complicated like a hologram in the air created by lasers (which has also been done, like the light deflection material, but in a very basic form, just balls of light hovering inside a laser cage, not sure if the cage was even filled with normal air). The laser hologram seems more fitting since the damaged parts are also hidden. This system could potentially also duplicate a heat signature (yes, there also is a system to duplicate heat signatures, why are you even asking? XD) but it would be more likely for this functionality to be integrated into the armor because the existing system for this is applied to the outside, like ERA. So, basically, if in 50 years we can’t build something like the Dhuvalian Limbs in reality, somebody really needs their butt kicked.

CaptEndo - Except that limbs and other mecha are totally and completely unworkable on any scale much larger than a human exoskeleton suit ( like the Bulls). Ground pressure is the real deal breaker, never mind complicated drive trains and high silhouettes. Even wheeled armored vehicles are severely hampered by high ground pressure. That’s why they were marginalized by major military powers after WWII. Heavy wheeled vehicles have too much ground pressure to do serious off road mobility. This means they get caught in the kill box more than tracks. Mecha would be lucky to move around even on pavement. Add the huge logistical drain of maintaining a walking machine that size and the huge hulking targets they would make, and it’s a pipe dream. 

tkg - Not quite a pipe dream john deere did make the plustech forestry vehicle which did walk on six legs and was fully functional. Here is an image as proof:http://indulgy.ccio.co/iF/d6/o5/futurefuturisticWalkingRobot2robotics9.jpgFootage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CD2V8GFqk_YThe issue was the price tag and a lack of interest by buyers but I suspect bipedal mechs would not be as plausible as most might think. Quad and hex designs are a totally different matter.

Sazuroi -  In my own writing I also only use exosceletons, but note that I did not say “actually deploy” or “make useful”. I said “can build”. We can probably build a walking machine that size already, no matter how bad it sucks. And the technology seen here is not completely implausible, though it will likely end up going in a different direction. Though there was that concept design wheeled tank with full visual cloak a few years ago. For actual applications though, some kind of spider is probably better, and even that would likely be a niche product. I do have some hopes for that four-legs-with-wheels mecha some japanese guy builds for about 2 million a piece (he introduced the one he built at an expo a while ago, pictures float around), but it’ll probably be too costly and risky. Like that canadian nutcase with the anti-bear armor who also designed a infantry armor nobody wanted to buy despite him offering to tank a full assault rifle clip while wearing it… which proably didn’t convince people of his sanity. Those slabs he made the armor out of seemed to work fine though, back when I came across the story I saw a video where one stops a 7.92 sniper round. That can be faked, sure, but the potential was intriguing.

Keith - Oh good someone else pointed that out. There are mechs and having dealt with armor for many years. It’s a matter of engineering, not scale. The big deal breaker is power to move and to power camouflage. It appears they use multiple small scale emitters as shown by the less than perfect camouflage on the leg that was hit.

Jack McCrary - Ground pressure is not the issue most people think it would be. if you do a volumetric issue for most mecha, their lower legs/feet are typical proportionately at least three times larger than a comparable human limb and then benefit from the dramatically larger surface area. It’s not uncommon for a mecha to end up with a static ground pressure of 0.5 psi or less per ton. So a 20 ton mecha will have around a 10 psi ground pressure (less than a modern MBT) where as an average human male who will have one ranging between 25-30 psi.

Sazuroi - I think the problem with the ground pressure is that a Mech of comparable power to a current MBT would need to weigh a lot more than the tank to be as resistant to fire, since most terrain does not offer cover a Mech would be able to hide behind. To deal with that much added weight, the feet would need to be either even more disproportionately large, which would make it difficult to maneuver in places even a tank can get around – which kind of defeats the purpose of building a vertical combat unit in the first place. Either that or more feet, which would admittedly also require more space to move around. In the few settings I thought up which did indeed utilize Mecha on the ground, I basically had two main directions I tended to go: One option was to make the Mechs extremely large support units – replacing a whole battery of AA missiles while carrying other weapons as well, basically a land warship, though smaller since the crew doesn’t need to be on board constantly. I think Armored Core has something similar as a boss fight. The other option was making them small and mobility-focused, often able to jump quite far, with many legs, “assist legs” or special dampener systems to avoid cratering when landing. Those weren’t terribly armored, and occupied a role between IFV and Helicopter, that is, near fire support. Those were typically single-pilot, and either built around a weapon or at least very focused on their weapons, and mainly defended by keeping a distance and dodging, in cities typically standing on the buildings. Stand-up-and-fight mainline combatant Mecha I never managed to justify to myself, even in space where the ideal small unit is a cube there are reasons against Mecha (why make it look like a human if you can leave out the joints and shave off more weight if you don’t? Why give your attack unit a large frontal profile when the front is supposed to point at the enemy?). On the ground, the main advantage of the vertical shape is essentially the same that led to us evolve in that direction – oversight, and a small “footprint”, as well as being able to mount effectors with a higher range of movement. That is useful – helicopters became one of the main weapons against tanks because a tank can’t spot them very easily, and a Mecha can have an easier time spotting them – but they are also dreadfully easy to hit up close, and easier to spot. Mecha may be harder to immobilize than a tank (opinions diverge, joints can be armored but are out if damaged, tracks are out if damaged and can’t be fully covered from all angles), but mobility is potentially their greatest asset, and it is at odds with MBT-grade armor. Hence, either a light maneuver combatant or a beyond-the-horizon asset. The horizon is reasonably good cover in most situations, particularly if Laser or Particle weapons proliferate and indirect fire becomes less available.

MasterFALE - Just back-up on the Thermal Camo, BAE has a system applicae panels, as noted: like ERA, which provide active camo vs thermal imaging. Hell, they can camo a moving tank in the open while displaying insulting messages.

CaptEndo - Fair arguments. A Mecha as light as 20 tons ( in the range of an APC or light tank, or the Stryker armored car) would suffer from the same liability as all light armor: it’s too thin skinned to take heavy weapon fire, and a high silhouette vehicle like a Mecha would draw fire from every conventional unit on the field long before the Mecha could target them. Not to mention mounting it’s weapons up that high would make it top heavy and enhance recoil. Using smaller multi legged walking machines for industrial purposes might have a real future, but not as an upright armored combat vehicle, which is what I have understood the term Mecha to refer to. There is likely a future for the prototype “pack mule” legged robots, and possibly as low slung mobile missile or gun mounts as well. Those could be practical in the very near future.