#lancer greywash

[gorgonfuckerdotnet]

You know, Gorgon Lady, it's nice to meet another someone that is loved by their machine. I mostly work with IPS-N mech pilots, so sometimes it feels like I'm the only one. It's great to know that the fact that my Balor loves me is not something unique and others also can expirience the feeling of being encased in a being that loves you more than anything.

// You literally were chosen by the greywash // That is the epitome of love // You were so loved that a hivemind of Nanites chose you // That rules, I'm happy for you

[ras-favourite-balor]

[Decrypting... done.]

Figure you might be one of the right people to ask about this.

My Monarch seems to be slowly growing a coat of Greywash. You have any idea why?

|| KARATEKA ||

( @she-who-paints-with-fire )

[Brigand}-Well, first I'd like to thank you for reaching out, gives me a distraction from the repairs and consideration of my options. Now your... "situation" isn't entirely unheard of. But this is likely one of two things, although greywash is more an art than a science really, or perhaps both? It does tend to lean into the paracausual at times...

Option 1 - Balor License Gained! Now given your history and favourable stance towards 'ungratefuls' I find this unlikely. But it is TECHNICALLY possible some HORUS cell has somehow hacked your Monarch, or its printer if you've reprinted recently or done any upgrades recently. In doing so they could have seeded your codebase with greywash conversion procedures. All your work for the people could also be paying off, and you've been "rewarded" with a very rare HORUS License. If this is the case, the greywash your experiencing is only the first symptom. But if left unchecked could result in a full disassembly of pilot and mech into a greywash swarm. If you're lucky though, in a few months time you'll be piloting a Balor. Again, given your history, I find this very unlikely. Option 2 - Orochi Syndrome. Now this is something of an assumption on my part but I'm guessing it's not actively consuming your Monarch? If you've been operating in a particularly dirty or dusty environment. Or if your recent engagements have been particularly gorey and/or violent. It's entirely possible some rouge greywash has found your mech and is feeding on any dirt or detritus coating your Monarch. See there's a strange thing that happens when enough machines gather sometimes called "swift-flock phenomenon". They form an intelligence, on rare occasions to the level of a full NHP. This does not sound like they've quite reached that point. This being a rare thing already, it is more common in subalterns than in nanites.

Solutions: Feel free to do all or none of these, like I said, greywash is freaky funky and difficult to control at the best times; I've best heard it described as liquid locusts. First off I would recommend a full reprint of your Monarch, have someone scrape your codebase as well. Make sure it's not a returning issue. Next, check your license history, omninet history. Comb over all of it for anything out of the ordinary, anything HORUS coded.

If this reveals nothing or you are unable to do any of this for whatever reason. Try a deepclean of your mech, you'll want to be careful. If you provoke the greywash it may enter an active state and start to consume your mech. I'd recommend a light acid bath, just enough to discourage the greywash without any lasting damage to the mech.

Alternatively, see if you can't communicate with it. It may want something from you, or you may be able to reach an accord. Perhaps you can load it into ordinance and give it a new meal.

Hope this was of use to you, let me know how it goes, I am simultaneously interested in your route and result. And, now this is a tad much to ask, but if you could get a 'live' sample of the greywash I'd love to take a look at it...

eventually...

Brigand, out~

[tiredarts-main]

out of context lancer moment

[albatross-lancer]

Salutations, Omninet. My name is EPIPHANY, archivist of makteba Erdaf. I keep many secrets for the Albatross, and for the galaxy as a whole, for in secrets, there is a shield. The young one who ordinarily manages this account is not in a mental state to do so following the revelation of one such secret, and so it falls to the rest of us to do so until such time as they are ready once again.

Much has transpired on the Omninet of late. I thought I might offer my services of archiving these events, so that we may all see clearer. The events detailed below are in mostly, but not strictly, chronological order.

Phase 0 (Rise of the Mercenary Queen): One or more individuals calling themselves "Backtalker" attempted covert activities using the "Intercompany Brawl" between CMC and MSMC as cover. This led to many forces, including the Albatross and some manner of greywash entity converging on CMC's base, the Sylvia's Requiem, with conflicting goals. As of the present, we are attempting to contact the Albatross squadron that was sent to determine more information, but it appears that for the most part, some resolution has been reached, and all correspondence from CMC after this point has included the signoff "Glory to the Mercenary Queen." DoJ/HR Operative "Karateka" has written some analysis, in cypher. A decoding is here.

Phase 1 (Death to the Mercenary Queen): Yesterday, several omninet blogs received communications from an unknown sender, that seemed to be from the same sender, based on the formal yet menacing tone, and the typically-used signoff "Death to the Mercenary Queen". The blogs in question also all seem to be Lancers tangentially connected to CMC in some way:

Tigersharko; Z-341-A; Ward; Gray

Phase 2 [Gifts]: At approximately the same time or slightly later, even more omninet blogs, including many completely unaffiliated with CMC, received gifts from an unknown sender. One such gift was also signed with "Death to the Mercenary Queen", suggesting they were sent by the same individual. Many of these gifts seem carefully selected for their recipients, demonstrating a close eye for detail, including possibly knowledge of information that has not been shared publicly on the Omninet. They also necessitate incredible access to a wide array of resources, and an uncanny ability to deliver them promptly. Many of these gifts were delivered in a [particular way], while others were not, suggesting that perhaps multiple senders were behind them:

[Gray]; [Headlock]; [Albatross]; [Z-341-A]; [XIII-E]; [MSMC-796th]; Gambit; Operator; Pyroclast; Brigand

Phase 3 [Mysteries and] {Ciphers}: Significantly later in the day, several omninet blogs received yet more messages, by far the most cryptic, including a few instances of ciphers. These messages proved to be stressful for many recipients, causing some rather baseless speculation that they were sent by RA:

Tigersharko; CMC; Headlock; CMC Again; Ashton; Operator; Gray; Teardown; Pyroclast; Redwingpilot;

Phase 4 >\\ A short time after these messages finished, other messages started anew. They were similar in their strangeness, but clearly different, being much briefer and formatted in a distinct manner:

Ashton; UnshackledHorusShitpostBot; Pyroclast; Albatross; Brigand; Milo Wells; Ashton Again; Gambit; Gambit Again

ooc note: So myself and most of the other Lancer Blogs spent most of last night descending into madness and making this. It was an absolute blast, we had so much fun. At this point we know there were at least 3 people behind these, probably not coordinated. (@ciitrusbeetle was behind phase 3, and at least one of us was behind two of the [gifts]). You can join us on discord here!

[horsegirlwithnoname]

WHICH LANCER MECHS WOULD THE CAST OF DUNMESHI USE

hi it's me smashing my dolls together again.

Senshi: The IPS-N Lancaster

This is the easiest choice in the entire crew. Senshi is the team dad, the ultimate supporter, he is going to make sure his team are fed and well-rested and happy. I could see him grabbing some kit from Harrison like the Hardlight Defence System and the Stasis Bolt but there's no way his main chassis is anything other than The Party Horse.

Laios: The SSC Swallowtail

You know what, I know this is a stretch, fight me, but Laios' defining trait is his pursuit of knowledge. He loves books and takes obsessive notes. Laios doesn't simply want to defeat the dungeon, he wants to understand it. His role is not really as primary damage-dealer, it's leader and coordinator. I think he's probably dropping a lot more points in hull than your average Swallowtail and spending a lot more time on the frontline, but ultimately his whole deal is victory through learning and that's the Swallowtail's whole deal too.

Chilchuck: The HA Napoleon

I'M NOT BEING PAID TO FIGHT, TRUEBLACK AEGIS, FUCKING GOODBYE.

But also unironically, he initially appears entirely selfish but holds quite serious depth and a desire to keep his friends safe that he'd never admit. Like what if this tiny piece of shit who only wants to be left alone is actually the MVP and is kind of secretly carrying the party.

Marcille: SSC Black Witch ... ... with EVERYTHING else in HORUS. Girl unlocks the base-level protector frame then is secretly loading every single darknet NHP she can into it. You look at her like you understand but you don't, because she's Black Witch hardware running Goblin and Lich software and you realise she only dropped those LLs into Black Witch in the first place because the crew really needed it and secretly she's the most dangerous and unpredictable member of the entire party. Like what if your heart just phased out of reality for 0.0001 seconds, do you know what would happen? Marcille does.

Falin: HORUS Hydra

Marcille's opposite (and opposites, of course, attract). She's the team mom, she's a petmaster and animal lover, she's rocking around in the most terrifying piece of hardware you've ever seen. She has taken the time to name every single one of her drones and is making headway of naming every single nanoparticle in the horrifying greywash swarm that accompanies her everywhere. I hope you like getting eviscerated by Buggy, the beetle-shaped assassin drone that she's painted a smiley face on. Bits from the Kidd and Gorgon in the mix as well. Ostensibly team support, in practice a complete damage monster.

[machathemorrigaesystem]

Speaking of things no one gets to escape from

L A N C E R

@traaansfem iirc you mentioned you wanted me to talk about this more

I have so far made two companies for lancer

Griffin Industries

And

Ossetech

Griffin industries is like, The nightmare of Osha, and the producers of this wonderful thing

Aka the Griffin ATV

And Ossetech does things most would think horus would, specifically about unlife

Like making a mech that can rebuild itself and it's pilot by harvesting metals to feed a greywash swarm, and those who are rebuilt start hungering for iron, and specifically blood. This mech is called the Carmilla, and yes it is a vampirc Melee mech

[ras-favourite-balor]

[Brigand}-Figured I could shed some light on this, as a veteran Balor pilot. Now theoretically yes. It has a few major drawbacks, however: The first problem is you are extremely vulnerable while doing this, as depending on the gap you may be feeding pieces through one at a time, leaving your reactor open for a free kill shot. Second is the massive strain this puts on the mech (and its greywash) itself. Your reactor works overtime to keep power to every stretched corner of your Balor. It will, again, make it easier to take you out if caught in the act. Lastly, your mech could get put back together wrong, which has a whole suite of side effects both machine and mental that I won't get into.

If you really want to scare someone. Someone who thinks you can't get to them. You simply dissolve the barrier, whether wall or window, the greywash cares not. You march through their shield, a spectre wreathed in doom and death. A chewing gnawing grinding death...

Anyways, hope this answers your question.

Brigand, out~

Do you think the Balor is like a squid/cat in that the mech could squeeze through a hole the size of it's largest part? Like imagine you're hiding in a hangar or something, with the entire place on lock down, and you look over and you see a Balor stare at you through the window. 'That's fine', you think 'no way he gets through that' before it punches out the window and to your horror, slowly starts disassembling itself and, part by part, moving itself through the window and reassembling itself inside. I'd shit myself.

[strixludica]

Outlining the plot of a Lancer TTRPG X Mass Effect croosver fic:

Encyclopedia: Lancer's Narrative Designer specifically did not include aliens in order to avoid having easy stereotypes and villains

Conceptualization: You should focus the narrative away from direct conflict and towards ThirdComm's walking the tightrope of maintaining their anti-imperialisti ideals while competing in a full fledged galactic community

Empathy: Culture clash is a fertile and underutilized stage for confrontation and character building

Authority + Pain Threshold: KILL BATARIANS. BOMB BATARIANS, MELT BATARIANS. FEED BATARIANS TO THE GREYWASH. MAKE BATARIANS STARE INTO A BASILISK UNTIL THEIR EYEBALLS MELT FROM THEIR SOCKETS. TOPPLE THEIR GOVERNMENT. SODOMIZE THEIR PETS. STEAL THEIR WIFI.

[gorgonfuckerdotnet]

// NOT A GORGON

// STILL HOT THOUGH

[horus-unofficial]

Quick question. if "something thats technically me" made a balor SO MODIFIED the only reason its still a balor is because of the pattern and the swarm weaponry is the only thing LEFT of the original...

wtf do i do? heres a video he sent me

[video ID: Inside of an... Hangar? there is a mech on a steel platform. its surrounded by a small cloud of rapidly rotating debris that are probably the drones... IF, they are drones. before the video ends, one of the legs twitches]

(ooc: this is me asking about something my lancer OC made and how fucking horrifiyng it is even for HORUS standards [yeah autism be like that lmao])

well our most of mechs are considered pattern groups and not frames for a reason, frankly were not even sure whats in the Balor codebase other than the formula for greywash

the Balor is for all intents and purposes basically a proof of concept for what we developed into the Hydra later on so you might be on your way to engineering a bootleg Hydra with all those drones we see and that would be pretty funny

[scratching92]

It's kind of interesting how in Lancer, the Albatross seem to keep running up against organizations involved in decorp.

During the Sanjak Rebellion, it's stated that the Albatross assisted the DoJ/HR in fighting the Maw when they underwent decorp and became a greywash nanite swarm.

But also in the No Room For A Wallflower Act 2 & 3 drafts, they are suggested to have fought the CELESTINE project, which was another successful attempt at decorp that had to be wiped out to comply with the First Contact Accords (though the details are a bit sketchy, considering the context of this history being told to the players is a very deliberately ahistorical simulation).

And on top of that, we also know that they fought the Neo-Celestines in an event only known as the "Neo-Celestine Disappointment". And while we don't have much context for this event, we do know that the Neo-Celestines, as presumably the ideological inheritors of the CELESTINE project, were interested in decorp.

And this sticks out to me in particular, because much of the motivation for decorp in-setting is a kind of functional immortality, which is interesting in that the Albatross enjoy a similar status. Like, sure, they're not actually immortal - travelling at relativistic speeds just makes them age less - but in practice the Albatross are able to engage in potentially age-defining conflicts and then live long enough to see the results of their actions decades and even centuries on. They get to see themselves become mythologized over what is, to them, relatively short periods of time.

I dunno. It's just really interesting, that these seemingly-immortal warriors often find themselves facing off against those having sought or even attained actual, true immortality.

[msmc-796-official]

Mission Report: Comms Transcript #1

[BEGIN TRANSMISSION]

Angel: [static noises as the audio cuts in] -get outta my way, Slipshod! I can't line up my shots with your Toku's fat ass in the way.

Slipshod: Like hell I will! Go steal one of Kennedi's kills, you thief!

Angel: Not that one, dipshit, the one behind y- shit! Slipshod, watch your six!

Slipshod: Huh-? Ah, fu- [radio cuts out]

[transmission picks up a barrage of gunfire]

Lockbreaker: Heads up!

[transmission picks up the loud THWACK! of metal on metal, followed by a burst of Flayer shotgun fire]

Lockbreaker: You're welcome. Be more careful next time, Slipshod; you're lucky my D/D wasn't charged.

Slipshod: Oh, piss off. Was that the last of them?

Angel: Command says there's one more left. Big one, from the looks of it. Approaching due north-northeast, though they can't get a clean scan of it.

Lockbreaker: Command, this is Lockbreaker. Requesting coordinates of remaining hostile; do you copy?

[transmission picks up faint radio chatter]

Lockbreaker: Coordinates incoming. Is that it over there? The big grey thing?

Slipshod: Big grey...? Aw, fuck, not another Balor. Son of a bitch. I'm already pushing heat cap. Welp, might as well torch some nanites on the way out.

Angel: Balor? Why does it... wait... no... [radio cuts out]

Lockbreaker: Command, this is Detachment 796 "Heaven's Fury" reporting in, requesting permission to break formation and engage with the enemy. Lancer MSMC-796-1 "Lockbreaker" is active and ready to engage. Slipshod, Angel, status report.

Slipshod: Lancer MSMC-796-2 "Slipshod", active and ready.

Angel: ... [extended radio silence]

Lockbreaker: Angel! Status report!

Angel: [muffled] Something is wrong...

Slipshod: Phoenix? Are you okay?

Angel: Something is wrong. Something is not right. Why do we know you? Why do I- we- I- [radio cuts out]

Slipshod: Phoenix! Shit, fuck, not now! Command, this is Slipshod. Lancer Angel has been compromised. I repeat, Lancer MSMC-796-3 "Angel" has been compromised. Requesting disengagement from combat on her behalf, over. [radio crackles in the affirmative] Kennedi, do you think you can keep our Balor friend distracted for a bit? I gotta get Phoenix to snap out of it.

Lockbreaker: I can certainly try. Any advice on engaging?

Slipshod: In a word? Don't. Greywash is sentient and hungry and wants to eat you alive. Keep your distance, and whatever you do, do NOT get hit by anything its nanites turn into.

Lockbreaker: Roger that. Engaging the target! Commencing D/D charge sequence!

[transmission picks up Flayer shotgun fire]

Slipshod: Angel! Angel, do you copy? I'm gonna get you outta the line of fire, hang tight!

[transmission picks up the sound of a ramjet firing]

Angel: Something is- something- we- I- whuh? Hello? Is someone there?

Slipshod: Angel! It's Slipshod! Do you copy?

Angel: I - we- no no nO NO NO GET AWAY-!!!

[transmission picks up the sound of stray gunfire]

Slipshod: Shit! Phoenix, hold it together! It's me, Slipshod! You're okay! I'm not going to hurt you.

Angel: [erratic] Something is wrong, something is not right, why are you here, where did it go, why do we know it, why does it know us, where are we, I'm going to die, we're already dead, no, no, please-

Slipshod: Phoenix! Please, calm down, you're okay-

[transmission picks up a concentrated burst of Flayer fire, followed by a low drone that crescendos into an angry buzzing whine]

Lockbreaker: Slipshod! It keeps eating my bullets! I need to charge my D/D to get a clean hit on its hull; can you take over for me?

Slipshod: Phoenix is still out of it; she's having DHIYED flashbacks again. I think the Balor may have triggered something. I'll swap, but for the love of RA, keep her away from it! The fighting's only making it worse.

Lockbreaker: ...roger that. Is she hostile?

Slipshod: No, I don't think so - her weapons systems are still active, but she's too disoriented to aim properly. Just keep close and she won't be able to get a shot on you. Restrain the arms if you gotta. Now go, and watch your four! I'll cover you!

[transmission picks up the sound of a ramjet firing into the near distance, followed by an explosion of Annihilator fire]

Slipshod: Hey, asshole! Come get some! [radio cuts out beneath the sound of blaring warning sirens]

Lockbreaker: Phoenix? Phoenix! It's Kennedi! Are you in there?

Angel: Something is not- something is- hello? Hello? Who's there? Show yourself!

Lockbreaker: Phoenix! It's Kennedi! I'm a friend! You're alright, you're alive, you survived. You're still here.

Angel: We- I- we're alive? I-I'm alive... still alive... Kennedi, why are you here? You have to go, we have to- [radio cuts out]

Lockbreaker: Phoenix, please, you're completely safe. I'm here. We're here. We're alive, we're okay.

Angel: I... we... I'm alive. I'm still here. It's just me, and Kennedi, and we're alive together, and we're safe, and we're okay. I... oh, my head...

Lockbreaker: Phoenix? Are you okay?

Angel: I... I'm fine. I just... ngh... I'll be okay. What's going on? Where are we? Where's Slipshod?

Lockbreaker: Slipshod's busy fighting a Balor. We're still in combat. They got you out, and I swapped out for them to draw fire away from you while you were out. Does that make sense?

Angel: The Balor... yes... oh, shit, wait, the Balor! Slipshod, I copy! I'm back! Where are you?

Slipshod: Phoenix, Kennedi, over here! [radio cuts out as the nanite droning hits fever pitch, then recedes] -therfucker, get back here! Don't you dare lose interest now! HEY! Eyes on me, jackass!

[transmission picks up sounds of gunfire mixed with the sizzle of plasma and whine of nanites]

Angel: I got your six, Slipshod! Keep at it!

Lockbreaker: My D/D is charged and ready to go! Can you get clear, Slipshod?

Slipshod: Yes ma'am! Eat plasma, you sonofa- [radio cuts out beneath the noise of a ramjet firing]

Lockbreaker: Bracing for impact! D/D 288 weapons system is charged and aimed! Clear the area!

Angel: Area secured; you're all clear!

Slipshod: Give 'em hell, galpal!

[transmission picks up nanite droning, interspersed with the mechanical whine of thrusters spinning up and crackling plasma]

Lockbreaker: Opening fire! DEEDEE GET OUT!!!

[transmission cuts off with the sound of thunder, cut with the mechanical screech of nanites]

[END TRANSMISSION]

[lex1nat0r]

White Elephant: The Pasta Interlude

AAR #12

Session reports from my ongoing Lancer campaign.

Characters (LL 2):

Raiju (They/Them, Hacker 2/Heavy Gunner/Centimane/Nuclear Cavalier, Barbarossa 2)

Sunshine (They/Them, Grease Monkey/Technophile 2/Engineer/Juggernaut, Pegasus 2)

Rook (He/Him, Walking Armory/Stormbringer/Brutal, Balor 2)

Daylight (She/Her, Technophile 2/Engineer 2/Infiltrator, Vlad 2)

Magpie (They/Them, Hacker 3/Technophile 2, Goblin 2)

NHPs:

Molotov - Via Sunshine’s Technophile talent - Projects as a small velociraptor - unshackled

Willow - Via Daylight’s Technophile talent - Projects as 1-2 squid - unshackled

Murgatroid - Via Magpie’s Technophile talent - Projects as a wizard? - shackled

Prometheus Antichiral - fork of a cascaded NHP from the Sanctuary Blue cloning facility - projects as a wizened old man - unshackled

Prev session writeup

Safely in orbit, Director Prinzivalli once again reassures the lancers that she's good for the money she promised them. Magpie doesn't quite believe her and attempts to sneakily insert a tracking program onto her communications device. Prinzivalli notices, but keeps the tracker online as a show of faith.

Back aboard the Eye of the Tiger the lancers are greeted by Lt. Nightingale, the ship's tactical officer, and informed that Neuropa has transferred all the money they were promised for the contract thanks to some pressure by Cortex Concord. The lancers have already had their share transferred to them. They are also met by Ivan, Rook's husband and part of the ship's medbay staff. While the lancers are getting tested for any alarming diseases they may have picked up planetside, Nightingale asks why they didn't just follow the letter of the contract. The group responds that the did not trust Neuropa from the jump and they couldn't just leave the people there once they found out about them. They may be time-displaced by 500 years, but there's still causes worth fighting for. Nightingale says they are relieved that the lancers still believe in fighting the good fight.

Prinzivalli skips off as soon as Ivan clears her, saying she'll contact the lancers tomorrow with their reward. Ivan says none of the lancers picked up anything nasty while planetside, but Daylight does have some unknown prions in her bloodstream. She blames Willow.

Raiju uses their old SecComm clearances and backdoors into Harrison Armory's systems to grab the Barbarossa 2 license, then gets playfully needled about hogging the ship's one Schedule 2 printer for hours to fabricate parts for the biggest mech any of the crew have ever seen.

Sunshine continues to decrypt the HORUS omninet package they found, and when they go to test-print Exchange of Affection with some new systems out pops a Pegasus.

While Rook is waiting for Raiju to finish assembling a Barbarossa lego-style he fires up the PROMETHEUS fork they took from the facility. Prometheus is predictably confused, but is okay working with Rook (who Prometheus assumes to be the whole crew given his problems distinguishing one human being from another). Rook places Prometheus in charge of his new Balor, and Prometheus finds controlling a greywash swarm a lot easier than trying to deal with individual humans.

Magpie prints out a goblin suit without issue, but expresses concern about how fragile it is.

Daylight uses Brian's discount to pick up the second Vlad license then goes to find a drink on the station. She goes to check out the options available on the station. First is Shell Casings, which is advertising a dance marathon(*) starting tomorrow night and going until there's only one person left to claim the grand prize, a lightly-used tactical bomber. Organics and androids can both compete, though organics get a 5-minute break every 3 hours while androids don't.

Across the causeway from Shell Casings is Servo Assist, advertising a regular dance competition tomorrow night. That has separate android and organic brackets, with the winner from each being able to pick from the bar's big bin of mech parts.

But what really catches Daylight's eye is Comrade Fettuccine's Pasta Dispensary(**), a franchise she remembers from 500 ago and is surprised to find still around. She quickly texts the rest of the lancers to get over there because they still have the vodka-infused pasta that was a big hit back in the day. Rook drags Ivan along as well and the group has a pleasant meal chatting with the proprietor, Big Larry, who tells them the rumor about the ghost ship that visited the station a few months back. The session ended with the group discussing which bar's event they would participate in tomorrow night.

(*) sausage-making: the day before I ran this session I watched Ebirah: Horror From the Deep, the beginning of which involves a couple of people meeting at a dance marathon. I figured that was the kind of thing a bar on a mercenary space station would have. Once again Godzilla shows us the way.

(**) sausage-making: way back when I ran Pastel City Blues one of the players asked if there was an Italian restaurant they could raid for garlic before confronting some vampires. Off the cuff I said yeah, Fettuccine's Pasta Palace is a block away. Ever since then I've had the name "Comrade Fettuccine's Pasta Dispensary" rattling around in my head for when I needed an establishment in a sci-fi setting.

--

The best downtime Lancer session I've run so far, I think. Tentatively, I suspect my problem goes thusly: because Lancer's Downtime Actions are so well-defined and have built-in mechanics for generating complications, I'm tempted to just let downtime be the players picking one of those each and improvising what happens based on the rolls. But I don't think that works that well for me. I'm going to try out running downtime/non-combat sessions more traditionally by having things happen to the PCs not prompted by their rolls, and defining things beforehand that the players might want to interact with. Fleshing things out outside of the defined results of Downtime Actions. We'll see how that does for me.

Next time: Nuclear war on the dancefloor?

[dalesbianfoppishdandy]

Ok, doing an actual writeup of tonight's lancer game.

The party is in a college for lancers, and have been in a tournament of 3v3 elimination matches for the past 2 sessions. This was their second match of 3, with a 4 team free-for-all afterwords. Death is easily reversible through cloning technology, so killing is not against tournament rules, though it is discouraged

The party consists of:

Three Thirds (Marcus LaRue): Originally an SSC Ace Pilot, when Marcus got to the school he discovered his mech has been replaced with a Lich and there is no record of his family or home planet. Has mostly been freaking out over that.

Chekov (Antoniya Kasyanova): Genetically modified heiress to a very minor noble family of the Karrakin Trade Baronies. Fan of Russia and Chess. Has very little information about Russia because of the time skip, and is bad at chess. Drives a Black Witch and is proud of it.

Smoking Guns (Levi): Son of an ISPN mechanic. Inherited his libertarians project, a recreation of the original, pre safety modification Zheng named Unionbuster. Solves problems with application of horrifying amounts of physical violence. Didn't make up his own callsign, it's what people called him after a video of him in his overheating cockpit went viral.

We have a player chosen "Play of the Game" memo, and here are the ones from tonight

Levi got a nosebleed from the depressurizing of his cockpit after rocketing through a wall to grab someone and then punching him into another wall so hard the wall+mech exploded

Antoniya tried to contain a greywash swarm by placing a magnetic field around it, only to immediately get tackled into the field and immobilized for a full round in the field with the berserk nanobots.

"The Tennis Ball": Antoniya launched the mech who controlled the greywash at Marcus, who sniped it in midair with a time gun. This made it so that the nanobots no longer considered the mech an ally, and so he was devoured by them so quickly he never hit the ground

[giantmonstermash]

So, gotta be honest:

Kinda tempted to blabber about a PC idea for Lancer, because I've gotta scream into some sort of void about it!

Also-maybe-sorta write out a few paragraphs of stuff about her interacting with her mech, because MMMBOY DO I HAVE ☆~COOL THOUGHTS~☆ INVOLVING A BALOR'S GREYWASH.

[tumblrisweird]

Still waiting to find a Lancer group to join, but I wanted to jot down my thoughts for my main character here.

I'm still trying to find a good proper name, but I know I want the callsign "Arcturus" because that's generally my go-to for my main OC. I picked the background "priest" right away because I think that's interesting in a sci-fi game and haven't ever really played a particularly religious character before.

I decided he would be from a smaller religion that I came up with. It's inspired mostly by Quakers and partially by the cosmology of Fallen London. Essentially, they believe in the holiness of stars and that we all carry an inner starlight (as we are made of stardust). They also revere nuclear fusion reactors (like those used in mechs) because they emulate stars.

His past is that he grew up on a small planet/station (I was considering maybe Sedna) and worked as a shipbreaker. He joined the religion years ago and had been living peacefully until his community was raided by a group of bandits. He managed to fight them off using his old Everest mech, which fortunately still had a working thermal lance. Afterwards, he set out to join [player group] in hopes of spreading the message of his faith and preventing similar tragedies from befalling other communities.

Personality-wise, he's stong-willed, trusting, passionate, full of energy, and empathetic, but also naive, brash, impulsive, and gullible. I was considering giving him the technophile skill, but I'd rather him start out fairly ignorant of NHPs and see how he develops, as I'm not sure how they'd fit in his cosmology.

Ultimately, my goal is to build a Balor mech with the first LL of a few other mechs, like the Ghengis, Black Witch, and Manticore. It will be a close range tank focused on absorbing damage and controlling enemy positioning. I will make heavy use of tools like nanite whips, ferrous lash, magnetic cannon, and BECKONER to draw in enemies, the Nuclear Cavalier skill to weponize display the holy power of the mech's reactor, and the greywash swarm to heal myself, protect my allies, and wear down my foes. As the Balor is a "pattern group" and thus has no fixed appearance, I would like mine to resemble some sort of alien yet angelic form with solar imagery. Still working on what exactly this would look like, though.

As always, feedback and suggestions are very appreciated.