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  1. - Top - End - #151
    Firbolg in the Playground
     
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    Default Re: My Little Pony XXXIX: There is no Pegasus Mafia!

    Quote Originally Posted by Sadistic Seraph View Post
    I have a question (well technically several questions) for both Kairaven and the thread at large: What do you think of (potential) human enhancement/alteration? Is there anything you’d have done? Mind upload? Functional immortality? Laser cannon grafted to your chest?
    Rather than go with full upload, give me cyberlimbs and some organs that can function forever and you got yourself a deal. Not sure how much I would like being a code in a computer, because I have seen GiTS:SAC, and I have never considered it a nice thing after a few episodes of that.
    Robo-limbs, on the other hand, sound nice as long as there the sleek, lightweight type.
    Quote Originally Posted by Tychris1 View Post
    Pokonic look what you have done! You fool, you`ve doomed us all!
    Quote Originally Posted by Doorhandle View Post
    Oh Pokonic, never change. And never become my D.M.
    To those that are wondering; it's a unicorn leather knife hilt.
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  2. - Top - End - #152
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    Default Re: My Little Pony XXXIX: There is no Pegasus Mafia!

    Quote Originally Posted by Sadistic Seraph View Post
    I have a question (well technically several questions) for both Kairaven and the thread at large: What do you think of (potential) human enhancement/alteration? Is there anything you’d have done? Mind upload? Functional immortality? Laser cannon grafted to your chest?
    Increased health, strength, decreased risk of significant and painful diseases (e.g. if they could technologically/genetically reduce a risk of cancer or heart attacks I'd go for that). I wouldn't be especially interested in technologically replacing or modifying limbs or other body parts. The uses might be great, but I expect the process would be painful and the feeling of incompleteness in the body might lead to unanticipated psychological problems.

    Though, if it were possible to get something like a HUD in my glasses (map, compass, basic info on things I was looking at in a way that wasn't intrusive to normal vision) I would be all over that.


    And now, have some ponies
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    School Fox by Atlur

    Quote Originally Posted by The Giant View Post
    Anarion's right on the money here.
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    "Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.”
    Oscar Wilde Writer & Poet (1891)

  3. - Top - End - #153
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    Default Re: My Little Pony XXXIX: There is no Pegasus Mafia!

    For augmentations. I'd pretty much take anything, but then, I'm not very attached to the human form as in any way morally or ethically significant compared to a from that would be objectiively better in every way. And I'm very confident that we could hold on to some kind of marality while losing "humanity." It might look very different, but I'm sure it will work out at least as well as what we have now.
    This Minase Iori avatar is a masterwork by Qwernt

    DS Friend Code for Pokemon Trades and such. 1549 7971 5718

  4. - Top - End - #154
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    Default Re: My Little Pony XXXIX: There is no Pegasus Mafia!

    Quote Originally Posted by Anarion View Post
    Though, if it were possible to get something like a HUD in my glasses (map, compass, basic info on things I was looking at in a way that wasn't intrusive to normal vision) I would be all over that.
    Probably just this. And a way to type and use the internet on the go. Yay for portable ponies. As for uploading my mind (you mean into a computer, right)? Well, if Shadowrun is any indication, it will give me mastery over cyberspace and all technology. So...I'll have to get back to you on that.
    Last edited by RdMarquis; 2012-03-06 at 06:10 PM.

  5. - Top - End - #155
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    Default Re: My Little Pony XXXIX: There is no Pegasus Mafia!

    Transhumanism? I'm for it. I always liked the Last Question, by the way. Great story, really struck a chord for me.

    I'm really hoping to live to see the day when I can actually be a pony of Equestria, or whatever the heck I fancy here and now. Like one day a tree in Middle Earth, the next a pony in Canterlot, then back to being just me in the real world (or an enhanced me, I suppose, maybe with more than one body to choose from). Mind uploading offers that prospect.

    The thing about mind uploading (and many other things), I think, is that it won't happen suddenly. Like, you won't go from human directly to uploaded mind. I wouldn't want that, it squicks me the hell out thinking of it. Instead there will be hundreds, thousands of little steps in between. Enhancements, replacements, and then over time it'll all come together seemlessly and without you really noticing and you'll be able to switch between the real and the imagined world at will. It'd be like dreaming whenever you liked, but with total control of the dream.

    Aww yeah, I'd love that. Romping about Equestria, soaring throught the skies, studying magic, partying with friends and fighting dragons.

    Or maybe it'll be totally different from anything we imagine, and we'll all be surprised and standing around dumbfounded in disbelief at what just happened. Only time will tell

    A little more seriously, yeah there are plenty of moral and ethical issues, lots of serious issues that need serious answers, and we'd better get to work on those fast, but that doesn't devalue the dream itself.

  6. - Top - End - #156
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    Default Re: My Little Pony XXXIX: There is no Pegasus Mafia!

    Well, I'm already pre-upgraded, with a self-reinforcing system. But hey, I wouldn't say no to any further upgrades.

    Technically, as I suppose you can spirit-bind someone into something that's not a corpse (well, a necromancer of my skill can, anyway), so you could be bound into a robot body or something. But there's a bit of a difference between spirit-binding and spirit-binding effectively (i.e. with optimal and faster accumulation of spirit vessel will-reinforcement). There's a lot of technical explanation, but the lies-to-children version of it is it's easier to bind something effectively, into something that's already attuned to it (e.g. it's own body etc). If I bind a soul into a pebble, it's not a pebble-shaped Lich, it's a pebble with a soul bound into it, even if I'm not contraining it. If you bound something into a random robot your found, you might get something only barely better than an animated zombie.

    We do have a process whereby a Lich is fused with what amounts of War Droid, which forms our Desolation Commandos. But you have to be a special sort of person to be able to undergo the trauma that bestows... Put it this way, the Desolation Commandos freak ME out.

    Me too! They're... They just feel wrong, even to a Lich.



    Still, if there was a way to do it sensibly and optimally, I'd be first in line...

  7. - Top - End - #157
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    Default Re: My Little Pony XXXIX: There is no Pegasus Mafia!

    Quote Originally Posted by Aotrs Commander View Post
    Well, I'm already pre-upgraded, with a self-reinforcing system. But hey, I wouldn't say no to any further upgrades.

    Technically, as I suppose you can spirit-bind someone into something that's not a corpse (well, a necromancer of my skill can, anyway), so you could be bound into a robot body or something. But there's a bit of a difference between spirit-binding and spirit-binding effectively (i.e. with optimal and faster accumulation of spirit vessel will-reinforcement). There's a lot of technical explanation, but the lies-to-children version of it is it's easier to bind something effectively, into something that's already attuned to it (e.g. it's own body etc). If I bind a soul into a pebble, it's not a pebble-shaped Lich, it's a pebble with a soul bound into it, even if I'm not contraining it. If you bound something into a random robot your found, you might get something only barely better than an animated zombie.

    We do have a process whereby a Lich is fused with what amounts of War Droid, which forms our Desolation Commandos. But you have to be a special sort of person to be able to undergo the trauma that bestows... Put it this way, the Desolation Commandos freak ME out.

    Me too! They're... They just feel wrong, even to a Lich.



    Still, if there was a way to do it sensibly and optimally, I'd be first in line...
    A question: is it not within means to have a soul-jar thingi (seen more than a few varients to make the word "phylactery" useless as a base term , and I know that the traditinal little bauble is kind of out of style. Weapons and books are all the rage now a days.) to make there suits there storing-place? If thats so, is it not within means for a wearer of such a suit to enchant the living crap out of it to be almost impossible to damage, let alown truly destroy? After all, the soul-holder jar in most situations can have magical effects "hanged" on it, so who knows what a powerful lich can come up with?
    Quote Originally Posted by Tychris1 View Post
    Pokonic look what you have done! You fool, you`ve doomed us all!
    Quote Originally Posted by Doorhandle View Post
    Oh Pokonic, never change. And never become my D.M.
    To those that are wondering; it's a unicorn leather knife hilt.
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  8. - Top - End - #158
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    Default Re: My Little Pony XXXIX: There is no Pegasus Mafia!

    Well, I watched a lot of Ghost in the Shell but stopped paying attention to the boring parts, so, um, I guess the next guy up would be Freakazoid. So, yeah, sure, depending on how it looks like on my checking account, what it looks like on me, and how many towers I can break and repair and break again, sign me up.
    "Okay, so I'm going to quick draw and dual wield these one-pound caltrops as improvised weapons..."
    ---
    "Oh, hey, look! Blue Eyes Black Lotus!" "Wait what, do you sacrifice a mana to the... Does it like, summon a... What would that card even do!?" "Oh, it's got a four-energy attack. Completely unviable in actual play, so don't worry about it."

  9. - Top - End - #159
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    Default Re: My Little Pony XXXIX: There is no Pegasus Mafia!

    This is a terrible terrible thing to do with Twilight Sparkle, and yet, it is so amazing. Video needs more Fus-Ro-Dah
    http://www.equestriadaily.com/2012/0...-twilight.html
    School Fox by Atlur

    Quote Originally Posted by The Giant View Post
    Anarion's right on the money here.
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    Oscar Wilde Writer & Poet (1891)

  10. - Top - End - #160
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    Default Re: My Little Pony XXXIX: There is no Pegasus Mafia!

    Quote Originally Posted by Anarion View Post
    This is a terrible terrible thing to do with Twilight Sparkle, and yet, it is so amazing. Video needs more Fus-Ro-Dah
    http://www.equestriadaily.com/2012/0...-twilight.html
    Dude, someone simply must replace the Trolls with Dimond dogs, with the correct sound bites. I can see it now:


    " Stop Whining!"

    Fus Ro Dah

    Falls off the range while spewing angrish.
    Quote Originally Posted by Tychris1 View Post
    Pokonic look what you have done! You fool, you`ve doomed us all!
    Quote Originally Posted by Doorhandle View Post
    Oh Pokonic, never change. And never become my D.M.
    To those that are wondering; it's a unicorn leather knife hilt.
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  11. - Top - End - #161
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    Default Re: My Little Pony XXXIX: There is no Pegasus Mafia!

    Virtual self?

    Hello! I am Technus, Manipulator of machines, Lord of all gadgetry, Wizard of integrated circuitry!

  12. - Top - End - #162
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    Default Re: My Little Pony XXXIX: There is no Pegasus Mafia!

    Quote Originally Posted by Pokonic View Post
    A question: is it not within means to have a soul-jar thingi (seen more than a few varients to make the word "phylactery" useless as a base term , and I know that the traditinal little bauble is kind of out of style. Weapons and books are all the rage now a days.) to make there suits there storing-place? If thats so, is it not within means for a wearer of such a suit to enchant the living crap out of it to be almost impossible to damage, let alown truly destroy? After all, the soul-holder jar in most situations can have magical effects "hanged" on it, so who knows what a powerful lich can come up with?
    Spoiled for long and not-very-pony...
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    Phylactery-bound Liches, by their very nature, don't get nearly so many abilities, nor spirit-vessel will reinforcement, because their soul is ultimately bound in a thingy, and not basically haunting their body, which they are at best "projecting" into. Spirit-binding is just overall better, with phylactery-bindings only advantages are that you can suffer destruction of your puppet-body and survive - but the trade off it that you're completely vulnerable while you regenerate a new body - and that it is something that you can do to yourself.

    Spirit-binding is not something you can cast on yourself, unless you can actually cast spells while dead (and I mean "dead" not Undead, it's as hard as casting Resurrection on yourself.) However, it's faster, infinitely cheaper, and gives you a lot better chance out of the gate of not having your body destroyed in the first place.



    Also, what magic is proof against destruction in a low-tech fantasy environment rapidly becomes not so when you reach our level of technology. And magic has levels of advancement as well, and a low-magic-advancement anti-scrying spell might stop most magic detection - but it won't stop sensors, or someone whose effectively using WW2 radar jamming against your 21st century top-of-the-line radar systems, as it were. Because high-"tech"-magic will naturally include the counters to lower stuff, for example, imagine an illusion spell that would fool True Seeing, because they were designed to specifically spoof True Seeing , like Shield foils Magic Missile as part of it's spell description. (Though like high-tech, you have to understand the science of magic in ways you just can't do with low tech, in the same way you can't understand micro-biology (properly) without a microcsrope, and you can't do finite element analysis without a computer.)

    And more to the point, the baleful level of energies most vehicular weapons - let alone fighter or starship weapons - put out match and exceed what, not only most mortal magic, but a fair chunk immortal magic can tolerate.



    Long story short, Xykon can Epic-protect his phylactery up the wazoo, but if, due to the thaumaic technology disparity, he's essentially painting it really convincing horizon pink camoflage and I'm looking for it with millimetric radar, it's not going to help. And I doubt even the One Ring could withstand the full force of a capital starship energy beam.

    (Remember, a 20th century nuke is hotter than the sun. A typical-yield starship missiles are much often better than that - and a capital energy beam will have a power output greater than several of them combined.)

    I use a Rocket Launcher because the amount of damage it's capable of dealing is far more efficient than what I can output with magic. I mean, I can do some fairly awesome crap, but even I can't take on a whole platoon of Cybertanks (at once) single-handedly. Because hammering away at their shields takes some effort - and they pretty much only have to hit me once, even if fully buffed up with defences. (And, outside of D&D, the whole save-or-die thing tends to only be as effective as blasting is in D&D; i.e. viable, but often not as efficient as the alternative.)

  13. - Top - End - #163
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    Default Re: My Little Pony XXXIX: There is no Pegasus Mafia!

    Hey AotRS, could you tell me more about the Cybertanks? In particular, visual appearance? They're the most fascinating members of your rogue's gallery from what I've heard so far.

  14. - Top - End - #164
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    Default Re: My Little Pony XXXIX: There is no Pegasus Mafia!

    Quote Originally Posted by Thanqol View Post
    Hey AotRS, could you tell me more about the Cybertanks? In particular, visual appearance? They're the most fascinating members of your rogue's gallery from what I've heard so far.
    Oh, Thanqol, Thanqol, Thanqol, you know not what you do...

    I just want everypony to know, Thanqol asked for this.

    Brace yourselves...

    (Oh and Lix, those configurations I missed out due to the character limit are below, so even you have something new to read...)

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    For size, the Resistor is almost exactly the same size as a modern German Leopard 2 MBT.

    --- Taken from “A Spacer’s Guide to the Galaxy”, by Rear Admiral William Sandsborough (Ret) ---

    The Cybertanks are perhaps the most infamous and ubiquitous of all our enemies among the stars. They are persistent, vicious and utterly committed to the destruction of everyone aside from their own kind. We have been fighting them for almost as long as mankind has been among the stars, and others for still longer.

    Yet how much do we really know about our intractable metallic foes? The answer is, surprisingly, very little.

    We know their technology and their tactics, certainly. But beyond that, everything is shrouded in mystery. Much of what we think we know is purely speculation or based on misconception.

    So, what do we know?

    The Cybertank’s homeworld is Metalyka, in the system of the same name; indeed, to the Cybertanks, they are synonymous. Even here, errors creep in, as the name is often incorrectly spelt ‘Metallica’ of ‘Metallika’ (even in many official documents); though the pronunciation is the same: “Met-AL-EE-Ka.”

    The Metalyka system is arguably the most heavily fortified in known space. The entire system consists of a single G-type star, with four planets and two planetoids.

    What it is most noted for, however, is that the entire system is protected by a sphere of weapons platforms. These platforms, an average of eighty thousand kilometres apart, form a veritable dispersed Dyson’s sphere around the Metalyka system. This sphere is about 400 000km thick, and extends an astonishing 6 AU from the system’s sun. The weapons platforms are diverse designs. Most are small missile racks or station particle lazer batteries, but larger installations are not uncommon in the vastness. It is estimated that, from the given measurements, that there are roughly fifteen billion of these weapons platforms. A ship, passing the barrier, could be in range of over two thousand of these platforms at once. Indeed, the overall density of the platforms, combined with their own mass-net fields and displacer screens, actually prevents FTL transit through the net, as it registers as a diffuse nebula to sensors.

    The sheer magnitude of the defence screen is staggering. To be maintained, it requires a mind-bogglingly large array of maintenance ships, stations and replication and manufacturing facilities. In fact, simply to maintain this screen, well over 99% of the entire Cybertank infrastructure is dedicated to this task. By comparison, even the most massive fleets that attack the outside galaxy are dwarfed in comparison to the amount of firepower within. It is most frightening to realise, that, if they would merely choose to do so, that infrastructure could be re-dedicated to wiping us out; and there is very little we could do to stop it.

    The Neu Swabian League made a serious investigation several years ago into actually invading Metalyka and ending this threat once and for all. Their plan was to force a breech in the perimeter at one of the “entrance points” where the field is least dense. Then, they would hold this gap long enough to send a task force in to do the job. However, they quickly came to the conclusion such an attempt would be futile. Studies indicated that the weapons platforms are capable of moving under their own power to cover any breech made. Further, they made the sobering revelation that the Cybertank’s home defence fleet – which spends it’s time patrolling the inside of the sphere – is greater in number than the total number of starships built between the major Earth powers since the construction of military starships began. By several orders of magnitude.

    This explains, perhaps in part, why the Cybertanks are so content to send out fleet after fleet and lose them all. In reality, they are losing a negligible portion of the population’s military power.

    We cannot fathom how long it took to develop this inordinately large defence system. To date, it has only been breached on seventeen occasions across the entire of our recorded Cybertank history, and all of those strikes were precision attacks directed at something very close to the border. It is sufficiently dangerous not even the Lazerblasters dare cross it lightly.

    So, quite literally, the Cybertanks are a major power, the bulk of which is in their own solar system. But they are not totally consigned to their system; a few outlying systems are under Cybertank control, though they fluctuate as the Incursions come and go .

    It is theorised that the Metalyka system once had much more than the six planets than it does now, but the others and any asteroid belts it might once have had were cannibalised to start the defence grid. Even so, the Cybertanks must have developed their current energy-to-matter replication long before it was finished.

    Metalyka proper is the third planet in the system, and is approximately one AU from the primary. It is about the same size as a typical M class planet, and has an oxygen/nitrogen atmosphere at approximately 1.05g. All of what we know of it comes from long-range scans. As yet, no-one in recorded history as actually landed on the planet, aside from the Cybertanks themselves. The entire land surface is covered by metal. In places where the Cybertanks have or have had habitation, there are cities of metal, or just a metal-panelled surface. Elsewhere, the surface is just smooth metal of varying sorts. The surface is mostly, but not totally, flat, with the occasional mountains range arising smoothly from the surface. The most common sort is a non-corrosive alloy, rendering the planet a pale matt silver.

    In some places, there are what appear to be massive forests of tall poles. What purpose – if any – these serve is a mystery. They may be artificial, they may be some strange form of natural metallic growth or something else entirely.

    The seas of Metalyka are not one you would wish to swim in. They consist almost entirely of mercury, tainted by its contaminants a darker grey than the land. There is virtually no water vapour in the atmosphere at all (and little to no cloud), making the surface like a desert.

    No-one knows why Metalyka is not untenably hot. It is guessed that perhaps the metal surface reflects away a lot of the heat, but it would be by no means all. Some have suggested that the forests of poles are some sort of heat baffle, perhaps cooled by the strong winds caused by the planet’s relatively rapid rotation. (A day on Metalyka lasts only sixteen hours.)

    There is no apparent volcanicity on the planet, nor any evidence of it, though what this means, no-one is sure. It does explain the surface, however, as the land, without plate movement, will steadily be sand-blasted by the winds and metal particles blown within it.

    There are six huge cityscapes on the surface, large enough to be seen by the naked eye, and many more smaller ones. The largest, tentatively designated as Gamma Seven by the Neu Swabian League, may be the capital.

    Perhaps the most perplexing mystery, however, is that of the Cybertank’s origin. Of this we know nothing. The Cybertanks claim to have evolved naturally on Metalyka into their current state and all records we have managed to procure over the years give no other explanation.

    Many detractors of this idea point out the numerous flaws in this belief, however. Many pieces of evidence suggest that the Cybertanks are instead an artificial race, created by some hitherto unknown power. Why would a lifeform evolve into something as recognisable as a grav-tank in the first place? And why would a supposedly alien race use English as it’s language?

    This last is a particular mystery. In fact, for years, it was assumed that the Cybertanks were simply using a translator into what they thought was the dominant human language. But it was in the end revealed that the reason the Cybertanks always communicated in English was because they were speaking in English. This discovery was significantly delayed by the fact that Cybertank computer technology is run under a different language altogether. The Cybertanks thus have a ‘digital’ language they use when interfacing with their technology as opposed to communicating amongst themselves.

    A great deal of evidence – including the structure and nature of Metalyka itself, apparently devoid of other life, supports the artificial constructs theory.

    So it is greatly surprising, then, to find that there is evidence that equally contradicts this. The first and foremost is the massive difference between the technology the Cybertanks use and that in their own bodies. The two are as different as that between the technology of two alien races – or the difference between that of human biology and technology.

    While their technology is advanced, it is mainly conventional in structure. Their own racial physiology is vastly different. Inside a Cybertank it a complex network of systems, technological, but as intricate in form and structure as the cellular structure of organics. It appears, internally, to be grown, not built. It is totally divergent with that of known technological races. Indeed, the only race with something even close to this kind of physiology are the naturally occurring metallic and techno-organic creatures found on Kethrain, the homeworld of the Shardan.

    This Cybertank internal technology is also dissimilar to any other race’s technology, and lacks the signatures of extinct races, like the Sianetic Harbingers.

    So, was the life on the planet truly technological in nature, or were the Cybertanks modified at some point? Perhaps they modified themselves and removed all history of it. Many theories for both sides have been put forward, from the sublime to the ridiculous. From the proponents of the belief they are naturally-developed creatures who simply adopted English as a language (perhaps from early transmissions from Earth) to those that suggest the Cybertanks are in fact humans from the far future, who brought a solar system backwards in time, no-one can make a conclusive argument.

    Even time-travel is unlikely to be able to help; the entire Metalyka system seems to be contained in a temporally-resistant field, the nature of which is elusive but that makes time travel extraordinarily dangerous. It may be natural, or created by the Cybertanks themselves – or perhaps their creators. Further, all investigation has shown that the system is time-locked and not in an area of mutable time, so even if one could journey safely into the past, it could be just as dangerous to arrive.

    And one is not likely to be forthcoming. As the Cybertanks themselves believe utterly in their own natural origin, the only possible answers may lie buried beneath the unreachable metal surface of Metalyka – if they exist at all.

    * * * * * *

    Cybertank Technology is advanced, but generally conventional. They utilise hyperdrive, engine, standard sensor, communication and shielding technology, albeit slightly improved over the standard. They do have energy-to-matter replication, though not to the point they can afford to utterly ignore local resources.

    They have significantly better structural technology, as evidenced by the use of some of the manufacturing facilities, and the widely-feared ten-mile long Effluvium class supercruiser.

    Weapons technology is primarily based on Particle Lasers, which fire blasts of photonic energy (typically orange) with dense micro-particles suspended within. The effect is somewhere between that of an energy lazer and a particle accelerator weapon. This weaponry is also found in the Cybertanks themselves, and it would appear that the ship-borne weaponry was developed from their internal weapons and not the other way around.

    In addition to conventional Particle Laser weapon arrays, at starship level, the Cybertanks can fire highly coherent and mobile beam version, capable of slicing ships apart.

    The Cybertanks also make heavy use of Matter-flux Torpedoes, which upon impact, set up a resonating field that puts the electron bonds of matter into a state of flux, with highly destructive results.

    They use more conventional anti-matter weapons in their advanced missile technology; though occasionally, matter-flux warheads have been used by missiles in the past.

    The Cybertanks have also developed cloaking and footprint magnification to a high level and this has lead to one of their defining technologies, the Displacer Screen. This literally takes all the emissions and readings from the vessel and shunts it to a different spot, usually no more than one or two ship lengths or widths away. The location on the image relative to the ship is constantly in motion, further confused by the ship’s manoeuvring. Because this is a comparatively minor shift, it is just enough to blur sensor technology, making it somewhat harder to hit. Much further distance than that used, and the system would break down.

    This results in the strange sight at visual ranges, where a shot will pass right through an apparent ship, or when a shot does land, the blast will strike and stop in empty space and the resultant explosion will happen hundreds of meters away.

    Fortunately, the Displacer’s power requirements are sufficiently high that smaller vessel simply cannot power them, though they are surprisingly compact.

    Cybertank starship technology is all completely modular. Indeed, the familiar delta-cruisers used by so many races come from the Assimilator class Cybertank cruiser that was adapted by the Herosine Empire (and by several other races independently). This means a Cybertank fleet can, if close to a repair and supply ship like a Colloidal, completely repair and change it’s entire weapon output in a short period of time. Most starships have a base design, which requires more extensive modifications to alter and a weapons load. The weapons load is not solely weapons, but often cloaks, additional armour or shielding or sensors.

    Cybertank ships are typically specialised for one job, and poor at others. Most notably, most Cybertank ships have poor point-defence and rely on anti-fighter variants to provide them with protection.

    * * * * * *


    Common Cybertank Configurations
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    Resistor I Grav Tank

    The most common Cybertank configuration encountered, the Resistor I configuration is the archetypal Cybertank. Like all Cybertanks, it is not a vehicle per se, but rather a grav-tank-shaped technological sentient creature. Albeit one that is evil and without any redeeming traits. The Cybertanks do not seek conquest, but the simple extermination of all life that is not themselves; be they organic, technolgical or otherwise. (Or even Undead...) It is possible to reason with a Cybertank, as they are intelligent , for a given value of "reason". The Cybertanks have occasionally allied with other evil forces, but these alliances break down before long, as the Cybertanks simply revert to their natural state, which is to "ELIMINATE ALL ORGANIC LIFEFORMS!" (Sic).

    The Cybertanks are, in theory, quite intelligent, and have a certain cunning. They certainly possess entirely understandable emotions, being far from emotionless machines. While they have a certain preference for logic, even that is only a tendancy. What they do seem to lack is any form of empathy or compassion of any kind. They hate though, and hate well, though the second most common emotion seem in them from outsiders is their noted tendancy to panic if things go wrong, and shout a lot.

    It should, of course, be noted in passing with their computer minds, energy weapons and advanced targeting systems, the accuracy of the Cybertanks is legendary, in that no other race can miss so badly or so often. It is perhaps unfortunate that the larger targetting computers of their starships actually manage to migitate their own utter incompetance. But on the ground, it is often said - only half in jest - that the safest place to be when a Cybertank is shooting is the spot they are aiming at.

    If it were not that their home system is easily the most heavily defended in the known galaxy, they would have been wiped out long ago by the collected efforts of everyone in the galaxy. As it is, given it is estimated that within that veritable Dyson's Sphere of defences, there are more Cybertank ships than have ever been built by all the human powers combined since the invention of space travel, even attempting such and endeavour would be literal suicide. Those maruading fleets that form the Cybertank Incursions are literally nothing more than a drop in the ocean, excess waste. (It has even been suggested that the Incursion are just excess population, embarking on lemming-like attacks on the rest of the galaxy.) Fortunately, the Cybertank's natural paranoia keeps them from exploiting this fact and wiping us all out. As has been said so many times before, they are "tactically clever, strategically dumb." A fact for which we should all be profoundly grateful.

    Resistor II Grav Tank

    The Resistor II is almost as common a configuration of the Cybertanks as the Resistor I, and both are the iconic configurations whose image is conjured up when the Cybertanks are referred to. Resistor IIs have a smaller particle laser than the Is, but this is supplemented by a mass driver gating. The pyramidal structure at the top emits a smaller particle laser, serving both missile defence and anti-infantry. Two turret smoke dischargers are mounted on the turret, one either side.

    Like all Cybertanks, the Resistors share their omnicidal nature and staggering racial arrogance; and mercifully for the rest of us, their utter inability to hit anything, despite their advanced targeting systems and use of energy weapons. Because of their abundance, we know more about the Resistors than any other configuration. Internally, their technological phyisology is as different from that found in their starships and buildings (i.e their constructed technolgy) as ours is from our own, and is highly complex, and seems more "grown" than "built". And the re are further mysteries. For example, the Cybertank's particle laser technology found on board their starships seems derived from their own bodily weapons, but are subtly different in a way that a conventional tank and shipboard weapon are not; i.e. they are not quite simply different sized versions of each other.

    This all lends credence to the Cybertank's claim they evolved into these vehicular forms naturally. Despite the extreme improbability of these claims, no-one has yet found any evidence to prove otherwise. The truth - if it still exists - lies buried under the surface of the Cybertank's homeworld of Metalyka, where none but Cybertanks have ever stood.

    Capacitor Missile Tank

    The Capacitor provides the cybertanks with missile support. They are generally regarded as the most dangerous in their weight class. Armed with a turreted rapid-fire matter-flux rocket launcher, backed with quad heavy missile launcher with eight reloads, the Capacitor can fight both in the front line or from safety, using Dispersions or Eradicators as target designators. They have their own sensors too, allowing A platoon mates to concentrate a deadly salvo of fire. A Point-Defence particle laser array rounds out their weapons.

    Unlike many such simiLAr vehicles in the armies of other races, Capacitors are not lightly armoured, but have nearly the same shielding and armour as a Resistor, only being slightly lighter in the side and rear arcs. Despite the limited number of matter-flux missiles, Capacitors replenish their matter-flux rockets at an astonishing rate, meaning it is almost impossible for them to run out.

    Cohesion Suppression Tank

    The Cohesion configuration is designated as a "Suppression" tank. For the Cybertanks, this qualifies as a dedicated anti-infantry vehicle. As the Cybertanks are simply too big to fit inside buildings (and rarely feel the need to try and capture anything anyway), the Cybertanks solution to the problem of infantry is the most basic - obliterate the place the infantry are standing in.

    The Cohesion's primary weapon is a cannon that fires a minaturised matterflux shell. This is capable of inflicting vast amounts of damage to structures, plant-life and any vehicle unfortunate enough to be hit by it.

    Interestingly, dead Cohesions have revealed that the design of these shells indicates they have been replicated from the starship technology principles, as opposed to the Cybertank's natural technology. Indeed, old records from early encounters indicate that the shells were a high-explosive weapon, whose design was entirely consist with the internal workings of the Cybertanks.

    Dispersion Ultra Light Grav Tank

    The Dispersion configuration typically operates in the scouting role, often supplemented by Radicals. The Dispersion configuration is slower and much more durable then the latter. The Dispersions have better sensors, but are lighter armed. They carry only a single light particle laser turret, whcih serves double duty and anti-armour and anti-infantry/anti-aircraft. Their offensive punch comes mainly from the four fixed missile tubes on its flanks. Missile warheads and loads vary, but when the Dispersion is carrying a typical load of missiles, it carries about four reloads for each tube. Like all Cybertanks, the Dispersion does not "reload" a magazine, but literally grows new missiles to replace expended ones as part of it's physiology; again time varies, but can be as little as a few hours.

    The four emitters found at the corner of each hull, are like all Cybertanks, proximity-range tractor beam emitters, allowing the Cybertanks to manipulate objects. Their fine control is merely passable (it might be better were it not compounded by Cybertank ineptitude), and their strength, while considerable by human standards, is not in the superhuman range. They might be able to lift a weight such as a typical car, but not throw one. Still, they are capable of tossing around lighter objects (such as squishy hominoids) if they get too close (though their proficiency depends on the individual Cybertank.)

    Eradicator Heavy Tank

    The Eradictor Heavy Grav Tank is often seen as the command unit for large number of Cybertank ground units. It is far more rarely operating as a unit. Eradicators are cunning and canny leaders, though, like most Cybertanks, they are not averse to casualties if required. This is another point often raised that size correllates to age and experience. This is by no means certain, as others have pointed - the larger size may come from the function, and not the other way around.

    Regardless, Eradicators are extremely dangerous on the battle field. With very heavy shields, considerable armour and a powerful sensor array, they are both hard to surprise, let alone destroy. They are armed with a massive double-barreled particle laser cannon turret, supplemented by two matterflux missile launchers (typically carrying 48 missiles in total). These weapons can fire up to six missiles each at once, but then require a brief break with they are reloaded. The Eradicator's weapons are further rounded out by four magnetic linear accelerator gatlings covering each direction and four heavy point-defence particle laser arrays. Combined with the Eradicator's excellent ECM system, these last render it virtually impregable to individual missiles; a large or sustained salvo is required to even have a chance

    Radical Recon Tank

    The smallest and lightest of the Cybertank configurations ever seen, the Radical performs function as a scout. A Radical has the highest speed of all gravitic Cybertanks. They are lightly armed and shielded, but their primary particle laser turret is extremely powerful, matching that of some lighter main battle tanks. It also has a considerable arc of fire, allowing the Radical to perform in anti-infantry, anti-drone and anti-aircraft roles, supplement by the small particle laser emitter on the top of the turret.

    Radicals have a noted tendancy for over-confidence and rashness, and are prone to making poor descisions and displaying an arrogance which is high even by Cybertank standards. Some attribute this to their particular speciality, i.e. not disimilar to a "fighter jockey" effect. Others suggest that this lends credance to the theory that Cybertanks "evolve" into larger forms as they age and this attitude is the folly of youth. As always with the Cybertanks, the truth is a mystery.

    Vaporiser Light Tank

    The unusual Vaporiser is less a tank and more a mobile pill box. With a fixed manetic linear accelerator gatling, and very heavy front armour (approaching that of the Eradicator), it is often seen functioning as a latter-day inpromptu fixed-line machine gun. It’s main weapon, however, is the omnidirectional partical laser beam array mounted on the back, often confused for a sensor array. This has considerable range and is equally capable at anti-air or anti-armour roles. Their side armour is considerably less, and their shields are not stronger than the Radical’s.

    However, these are not the reasons the Vaporisers are most notorious. They six double-sized sized tractor emitters, four at the front and two at the rear, provided them with enormous strength and manipulative ability. They can lift about 80 tons, and can throw around eight - more than enough to uproot and hurl a tree. There are few vehicles that can traverse woods or other difficult terrain so easily – the Vaporisers simply shove the trees out of their path like a man would brush aside undergrowth. They are sufficiently skilled at this, they can do at nearly full speed. The resulting clear trail allows the following Cybertanks to launch an expected strike from an unexpected direction.


    Last edited by Aotrs Commander; 2012-03-06 at 07:35 PM.

  15. - Top - End - #165
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    Default Re: My Little Pony XXXIX: There is no Pegasus Mafia!

    Synopsis for Season 2 finale.

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    I believe the comments accurately describe my reaction. Wat.

  16. - Top - End - #166
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    Default Re: My Little Pony XXXIX: There is no Pegasus Mafia!

    Quote Originally Posted by Aotrs Commander View Post
    Oh, Thanqol, Thanqol, Thanqol, you know not what you do...

    I just want everypony to know, Thanqol asked for this.

    Brace yourselves...

    (Oh and Lix, those configurations I missed out due to the character limit are below, so even you have something new to read...)

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    For size, the Resistor is almost exactly the same size as a modern German Leopard 2 MBT.

    --- Taken from “A Spacer’s Guide to the Galaxy”, by Rear Admiral William Sandsborough (Ret) ---

    The Cybertanks are perhaps the most infamous and ubiquitous of all our enemies among the stars. They are persistent, vicious and utterly committed to the destruction of everyone aside from their own kind. We have been fighting them for almost as long as mankind has been among the stars, and others for still longer.

    Yet how much do we really know about our intractable metallic foes? The answer is, surprisingly, very little.

    We know their technology and their tactics, certainly. But beyond that, everything is shrouded in mystery. Much of what we think we know is purely speculation or based on misconception.

    So, what do we know?

    The Cybertank’s homeworld is Metalyka, in the system of the same name; indeed, to the Cybertanks, they are synonymous. Even here, errors creep in, as the name is often incorrectly spelt ‘Metallica’ of ‘Metallika’ (even in many official documents); though the pronunciation is the same: “Met-AL-EE-Ka.”

    The Metalyka system is arguably the most heavily fortified in known space. The entire system consists of a single G-type star, with four planets and two planetoids.

    What it is most noted for, however, is that the entire system is protected by a sphere of weapons platforms. These platforms, an average of eighty thousand kilometres apart, form a veritable dispersed Dyson’s sphere around the Metalyka system. This sphere is about 400 000km thick, and extends an astonishing 6 AU from the system’s sun. The weapons platforms are diverse designs. Most are small missile racks or station particle lazer batteries, but larger installations are not uncommon in the vastness. It is estimated that, from the given measurements, that there are roughly fifteen billion of these weapons platforms. A ship, passing the barrier, could be in range of over two thousand of these platforms at once. Indeed, the overall density of the platforms, combined with their own mass-net fields and displacer screens, actually prevents FTL transit through the net, as it registers as a diffuse nebula to sensors.

    The sheer magnitude of the defence screen is staggering. To be maintained, it requires a mind-bogglingly large array of maintenance ships, stations and replication and manufacturing facilities. In fact, simply to maintain this screen, well over 99% of the entire Cybertank infrastructure is dedicated to this task. By comparison, even the most massive fleets that attack the outside galaxy are dwarfed in comparison to the amount of firepower within. It is most frightening to realise, that, if they would merely choose to do so, that infrastructure could be re-dedicated to wiping us out; and there is very little we could do to stop it.

    The Neu Swabian League made a serious investigation several years ago into actually invading Metalyka and ending this threat once and for all. Their plan was to force a breech in the perimeter at one of the “entrance points” where the field is least dense. Then, they would hold this gap long enough to send a task force in to do the job. However, they quickly came to the conclusion such an attempt would be futile. Studies indicated that the weapons platforms are capable of moving under their own power to cover any breech made. Further, they made the sobering revelation that the Cybertank’s home defence fleet – which spends it’s time patrolling the inside of the sphere – is greater in number than the total number of starships built between the major Earth powers since the construction of military starships began. By several orders of magnitude.

    This explains, perhaps in part, why the Cybertanks are so content to send out fleet after fleet and lose them all. In reality, they are losing a negligible portion of the population’s military power.

    We cannot fathom how long it took to develop this inordinately large defence system. To date, it has only been breached on seventeen occasions across the entire of our recorded Cybertank history, and all of those strikes were precision attacks directed at something very close to the border. It is sufficiently dangerous not even the Lazerblasters dare cross it lightly.

    So, quite literally, the Cybertanks are a major power, the bulk of which is in their own solar system. But they are not totally consigned to their system; a few outlying systems are under Cybertank control, though they fluctuate as the Incursions come and go .

    It is theorised that the Metalyka system once had much more than the six planets than it does now, but the others and any asteroid belts it might once have had were cannibalised to start the defence grid. Even so, the Cybertanks must have developed their current energy-to-matter replication long before it was finished.

    Metalyka proper is the third planet in the system, and is approximately one AU from the primary. It is about the same size as a typical M class planet, and has an oxygen/nitrogen atmosphere at approximately 1.05g. All of what we know of it comes from long-range scans. As yet, no-one in recorded history as actually landed on the planet, aside from the Cybertanks themselves. The entire land surface is covered by metal. In places where the Cybertanks have or have had habitation, there are cities of metal, or just a metal-panelled surface. Elsewhere, the surface is just smooth metal of varying sorts. The surface is mostly, but not totally, flat, with the occasional mountains range arising smoothly from the surface. The most common sort is a non-corrosive alloy, rendering the planet a pale matt silver.

    In some places, there are what appear to be massive forests of tall poles. What purpose – if any – these serve is a mystery. They may be artificial, they may be some strange form of natural metallic growth or something else entirely.

    The seas of Metalyka are not one you would wish to swim in. They consist almost entirely of mercury, tainted by its contaminants a darker grey than the land. There is virtually no water vapour in the atmosphere at all (and little to no cloud), making the surface like a desert.

    No-one knows why Metalyka is not untenably hot. It is guessed that perhaps the metal surface reflects away a lot of the heat, but it would be by no means all. Some have suggested that the forests of poles are some sort of heat baffle, perhaps cooled by the strong winds caused by the planet’s relatively rapid rotation. (A day on Metalyka lasts only sixteen hours.)

    There is no apparent volcanicity on the planet, nor any evidence of it, though what this means, no-one is sure. It does explain the surface, however, as the land, without plate movement, will steadily be sand-blasted by the winds and metal particles blown within it.

    There are six huge cityscapes on the surface, large enough to be seen by the naked eye, and many more smaller ones. The largest, tentatively designated as Gamma Seven by the Neu Swabian League, may be the capital.

    Perhaps the most perplexing mystery, however, is that of the Cybertank’s origin. Of this we know nothing. The Cybertanks claim to have evolved naturally on Metalyka into their current state and all records we have managed to procure over the years give no other explanation.

    Many detractors of this idea point out the numerous flaws in this belief, however. Many pieces of evidence suggest that the Cybertanks are instead an artificial race, created by some hitherto unknown power. Why would a lifeform evolve into something as recognisable as a grav-tank in the first place? And why would a supposedly alien race use English as it’s language?

    This last is a particular mystery. In fact, for years, it was assumed that the Cybertanks were simply using a translator into what they thought was the dominant human language. But it was in the end revealed that the reason the Cybertanks always communicated in English was because they were speaking in English. This discovery was significantly delayed by the fact that Cybertank computer technology is run under a different language altogether. The Cybertanks thus have a ‘digital’ language they use when interfacing with their technology as opposed to communicating amongst themselves.

    A great deal of evidence – including the structure and nature of Metalyka itself, apparently devoid of other life, supports the artificial constructs theory.

    So it is greatly surprising, then, to find that there is evidence that equally contradicts this. The first and foremost is the massive difference between the technology the Cybertanks use and that in their own bodies. The two are as different as that between the technology of two alien races – or the difference between that of human biology and technology.

    While their technology is advanced, it is mainly conventional in structure. Their own racial physiology is vastly different. Inside a Cybertank it a complex network of systems, technological, but as intricate in form and structure as the cellular structure of organics. It appears, internally, to be grown, not built. It is totally divergent with that of known technological races. Indeed, the only race with something even close to this kind of physiology are the naturally occurring metallic and techno-organic creatures found on Kethrain, the homeworld of the Shardan.

    This Cybertank internal technology is also dissimilar to any other race’s technology, and lacks the signatures of extinct races, like the Sianetic Harbingers.

    So, was the life on the planet truly technological in nature, or were the Cybertanks modified at some point? Perhaps they modified themselves and removed all history of it. Many theories for both sides have been put forward, from the sublime to the ridiculous. From the proponents of the belief they are naturally-developed creatures who simply adopted English as a language (perhaps from early transmissions from Earth) to those that suggest the Cybertanks are in fact humans from the far future, who brought a solar system backwards in time, no-one can make a conclusive argument.

    Even time-travel is unlikely to be able to help; the entire Metalyka system seems to be contained in a temporally-resistant field, the nature of which is elusive but that makes time travel extraordinarily dangerous. It may be natural, or created by the Cybertanks themselves – or perhaps their creators. Further, all investigation has shown that the system is time-locked and not in an area of mutable time, so even if one could journey safely into the past, it could be just as dangerous to arrive.

    And one is not likely to be forthcoming. As the Cybertanks themselves believe utterly in their own natural origin, the only possible answers may lie buried beneath the unreachable metal surface of Metalyka – if they exist at all.

    * * * * * *

    Cybertank Technology is advanced, but generally conventional. They utilise hyperdrive, engine, standard sensor, communication and shielding technology, albeit slightly improved over the standard. They do have energy-to-matter replication, though not to the point they can afford to utterly ignore local resources.

    They have significantly better structural technology, as evidenced by the use of some of the manufacturing facilities, and the widely-feared ten-mile long Effluvium class supercruiser.

    Weapons technology is primarily based on Particle Lasers, which fire blasts of photonic energy (typically orange) with dense micro-particles suspended within. The effect is somewhere between that of an energy lazer and a particle accelerator weapon. This weaponry is also found in the Cybertanks themselves, and it would appear that the ship-borne weaponry was developed from their internal weapons and not the other way around.

    In addition to conventional Particle Laser weapon arrays, at starship level, the Cybertanks can fire highly coherent and mobile beam version, capable of slicing ships apart.

    The Cybertanks also make heavy use of Matter-flux Torpedoes, which upon impact, set up a resonating field that puts the electron bonds of matter into a state of flux, with highly destructive results.

    They use more conventional anti-matter weapons in their advanced missile technology; though occasionally, matter-flux warheads have been used by missiles in the past.

    The Cybertanks have also developed cloaking and footprint magnification to a high level and this has lead to one of their defining technologies, the Displacer Screen. This literally takes all the emissions and readings from the vessel and shunts it to a different spot, usually no more than one or two ship lengths or widths away. The location on the image relative to the ship is constantly in motion, further confused by the ship’s manoeuvring. Because this is a comparatively minor shift, it is just enough to blur sensor technology, making it somewhat harder to hit. Much further distance than that used, and the system would break down.

    This results in the strange sight at visual ranges, where a shot will pass right through an apparent ship, or when a shot does land, the blast will strike and stop in empty space and the resultant explosion will happen hundreds of meters away.

    Fortunately, the Displacer’s power requirements are sufficiently high that smaller vessel simply cannot power them, though they are surprisingly compact.

    Cybertank starship technology is all completely modular. Indeed, the familiar delta-cruisers used by so many races come from the Assimilator class Cybertank cruiser that was adapted by the Herosine Empire (and by several other races independently). This means a Cybertank fleet can, if close to a repair and supply ship like a Colloidal, completely repair and change it’s entire weapon output in a short period of time. Most starships have a base design, which requires more extensive modifications to alter and a weapons load. The weapons load is not solely weapons, but often cloaks, additional armour or shielding or sensors.

    Cybertank ships are typically specialised for one job, and poor at others. Most notably, most Cybertank ships have poor point-defence and rely on anti-fighter variants to provide them with protection.

    * * * * * *


    Common Cybertank Configurations
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    Resistor I Grav Tank

    The most common Cybertank configuration encountered, the Resistor I configuration is the archetypal Cybertank. Like all Cybertanks, it is not a vehicle per se, but rather a grav-tank-shaped technological sentient creature. Albeit one that is evil and without any redeeming traits. The Cybertanks do not seek conquest, but the simple extermination of all life that is not themselves; be they organic, technolgical or otherwise. (Or even Undead...) It is possible to reason with a Cybertank, as they are intelligent , for a given value of "reason". The Cybertanks have occasionally allied with other evil forces, but these alliances break down before long, as the Cybertanks simply revert to their natural state, which is to "ELIMINATE ALL ORGANIC LIFEFORMS!" (Sic).

    The Cybertanks are, in theory, quite intelligent, and have a certain cunning. They certainly possess entirely understandable emotions, being far from emotionless machines. While they have a certain preference for logic, even that is only a tendancy. What they do seem to lack is any form of empathy or compassion of any kind. They hate though, and hate well, though the second most common emotion seem in them from outsiders is their noted tendancy to panic if things go wrong, and shout a lot.

    It should, of course, be noted in passing with their computer minds, energy weapons and advanced targeting systems, the accuracy of the Cybertanks is legendary, in that no other race can miss so badly or so often. It is perhaps unfortunate that the larger targetting computers of their starships actually manage to migitate their own utter incompetance. But on the ground, it is often said - only half in jest - that the safest place to be when a Cybertank is shooting is the spot they are aiming at.

    If it were not that their home system is easily the most heavily defended in the known galaxy, they would have been wiped out long ago by the collected efforts of everyone in the galaxy. As it is, given it is estimated that within that veritable Dyson's Sphere of defences, there are more Cybertank ships than have ever been built by all the human powers combined since the invention of space travel, even attempting such and endeavour would be literal suicide. Those maruading fleets that form the Cybertank Incursions are literally nothing more than a drop in the ocean, excess waste. (It has even been suggested that the Incursion are just excess population, embarking on lemming-like attacks on the rest of the galaxy.) Fortunately, the Cybertank's natural paranoia keeps them from exploiting this fact and wiping us all out. As has been said so many times before, they are "tactically clever, strategically dumb." A fact for which we should all be profoundly grateful.

    Resistor II Grav Tank

    The Resistor II is almost as common a configuration of the Cybertanks as the Resistor I, and both are the iconic configurations whose image is conjured up when the Cybertanks are referred to. Resistor IIs have a smaller particle laser than the Is, but this is supplemented by a mass driver gating. The pyramidal structure at the top emits a smaller particle laser, serving both missile defence and anti-infantry. Two turret smoke dischargers are mounted on the turret, one either side.

    Like all Cybertanks, the Resistors share their omnicidal nature and staggering racial arrogance; and mercifully for the rest of us, their utter inability to hit anything, despite their advanced targeting systems and use of energy weapons. Because of their abundance, we know more about the Resistors than any other configuration. Internally, their technological phyisology is as different from that found in their starships and buildings (i.e their constructed technolgy) as ours is from our own, and is highly complex, and seems more "grown" than "built". And the re are further mysteries. For example, the Cybertank's particle laser technology found on board their starships seems derived from their own bodily weapons, but are subtly different in a way that a conventional tank and shipboard weapon are not; i.e. they are not quite simply different sized versions of each other.

    This all lends credence to the Cybertank's claim they evolved into these vehicular forms naturally. Despite the extreme improbability of these claims, no-one has yet found any evidence to prove otherwise. The truth - if it still exists - lies buried under the surface of the Cybertank's homeworld of Metalyka, where none but Cybertanks have ever stood.

    Capacitor Missile Tank

    The Capacitor provides the cybertanks with missile support. They are generally regarded as the most dangerous in their weight class. Armed with a turreted rapid-fire matter-flux rocket launcher, backed with quad heavy missile launcher with eight reloads, the Capacitor can fight both in the front line or from safety, using Dispersions or Eradicators as target designators. They have their own sensors too, allowing A platoon mates to concentrate a deadly salvo of fire. A Point-Defence particle laser array rounds out their weapons.

    Unlike many such simiLAr vehicles in the armies of other races, Capacitors are not lightly armoured, but have nearly the same shielding and armour as a Resistor, only being slightly lighter in the side and rear arcs. Despite the limited number of matter-flux missiles, Capacitors replenish their matter-flux rockets at an astonishing rate, meaning it is almost impossible for them to run out.

    Cohesion Suppression Tank

    The Cohesion configuration is designated as a "Suppression" tank. For the Cybertanks, this qualifies as a dedicated anti-infantry vehicle. As the Cybertanks are simply too big to fit inside buildings (and rarely feel the need to try and capture anything anyway), the Cybertanks solution to the problem of infantry is the most basic - obliterate the place the infantry are standing in.

    The Cohesion's primary weapon is a cannon that fires a minaturised matterflux shell. This is capable of inflicting vast amounts of damage to structures, plant-life and any vehicle unfortunate enough to be hit by it.

    Interestingly, dead Cohesions have revealed that the design of these shells indicates they have been replicated from the starship technology principles, as opposed to the Cybertank's natural technology. Indeed, old records from early encounters indicate that the shells were a high-explosive weapon, whose design was entirely consist with the internal workings of the Cybertanks.

    Dispersion Ultra Light Grav Tank

    The Dispersion configuration typically operates in the scouting role, often supplemented by Radicals. The Dispersion configuration is slower and much more durable then the latter. The Dispersions have better sensors, but are lighter armed. They carry only a single light particle laser turret, whcih serves double duty and anti-armour and anti-infantry/anti-aircraft. Their offensive punch comes mainly from the four fixed missile tubes on its flanks. Missile warheads and loads vary, but when the Dispersion is carrying a typical load of missiles, it carries about four reloads for each tube. Like all Cybertanks, the Dispersion does not "reload" a magazine, but literally grows new missiles to replace expended ones as part of it's physiology; again time varies, but can be as little as a few hours.

    The four emitters found at the corner of each hull, are like all Cybertanks, proximity-range tractor beam emitters, allowing the Cybertanks to manipulate objects. Their fine control is merely passable (it might be better were it not compounded by Cybertank ineptitude), and their strength, while considerable by human standards, is not in the superhuman range. They might be able to lift a weight such as a typical car, but not throw one. Still, they are capable of tossing around lighter objects (such as squishy hominoids) if they get too close (though their proficiency depends on the individual Cybertank.)

    Eradicator Heavy Tank

    The Eradictor Heavy Grav Tank is often seen as the command unit for large number of Cybertank ground units. It is far more rarely operating as a unit. Eradicators are cunning and canny leaders, though, like most Cybertanks, they are not averse to casualties if required. This is another point often raised that size correllates to age and experience. This is by no means certain, as others have pointed - the larger size may come from the function, and not the other way around.

    Regardless, Eradicators are extremely dangerous on the battle field. With very heavy shields, considerable armour and a powerful sensor array, they are both hard to surprise, let alone destroy. They are armed with a massive double-barreled particle laser cannon turret, supplemented by two matterflux missile launchers (typically carrying 48 missiles in total). These weapons can fire up to six missiles each at once, but then require a brief break with they are reloaded. The Eradicator's weapons are further rounded out by four magnetic linear accelerator gatlings covering each direction and four heavy point-defence particle laser arrays. Combined with the Eradicator's excellent ECM system, these last render it virtually impregable to individual missiles; a large or sustained salvo is required to even have a chance

    Radical Recon Tank

    The smallest and lightest of the Cybertank configurations ever seen, the Radical performs function as a scout. A Radical has the highest speed of all gravitic Cybertanks. They are lightly armed and shielded, but their primary particle laser turret is extremely powerful, matching that of some lighter main battle tanks. It also has a considerable arc of fire, allowing the Radical to perform in anti-infantry, anti-drone and anti-aircraft roles, supplement by the small particle laser emitter on the top of the turret.

    Radicals have a noted tendancy for over-confidence and rashness, and are prone to making poor descisions and displaying an arrogance which is high even by Cybertank standards. Some attribute this to their particular speciality, i.e. not disimilar to a "fighter jockey" effect. Others suggest that this lends credance to the theory that Cybertanks "evolve" into larger forms as they age and this attitude is the folly of youth. As always with the Cybertanks, the truth is a mystery.

    Vaporiser Light Tank

    The unusual Vaporiser is less a tank and more a mobile pill box. With a fixed manetic linear accelerator gatling, and very heavy front armour (approaching that of the Eradicator), it is often seen functioning as a latter-day inpromptu fixed-line machine gun. It’s main weapon, however, is the omnidirectional partical laser beam array mounted on the back, often confused for a sensor array. This has considerable range and is equally capable at anti-air or anti-armour roles. Their side armour is considerably less, and their shields are not stronger than the Radical’s.

    However, these are not the reasons the Vaporisers are most notorious. They six double-sized sized tractor emitters, four at the front and two at the rear, provided them with enormous strength and manipulative ability. They can lift about 80 tons, and can throw around eight - more than enough to uproot and hurl a tree. There are few vehicles that can traverse woods or other difficult terrain so easily – the Vaporisers simply shove the trees out of their path like a man would brush aside undergrowth. They are sufficiently skilled at this, they can do at nearly full speed. The resulting clear trail allows the following Cybertanks to launch an expected strike from an unexpected direction.


    The single most important thing I got from this is the bit about them upgrading their missiles since the first encounters.
    They're not frozen. They're getting stronger.
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    "Don't know what I do, I just asked a simple que -" *FOUR THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED WORDS*

    Comprehensive! That was good reading, I'll get back to you on this.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Litewarior View Post
    Synopsis for Season 2 finale.

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    I believe the comments accurately describe my reaction. Wat.
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    Iiinteresting. Come to think of it, Shining Armor does share colors with Twilight's parents.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Aotrs Commander View Post
    Spoiled for long and not-very-pony...
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    Phylactery-bound Liches, by their very nature, don't get nearly so many abilities, nor spirit-vessel will reinforcement, because their soul is ultimately bound in a thingy, and not basically haunting their body, which they are at best "projecting" into. Spirit-binding is just overall better, with phylactery-bindings only advantages are that you can suffer destruction of your puppet-body and survive - but the trade off it that you're completely vulnerable while you regenerate a new body - and that it is something that you can do to yourself.

    Spirit-binding is not something you can cast on yourself, unless you can actually cast spells while dead (and I mean "dead" not Undead, it's as hard as casting Resurrection on yourself.) However, it's faster, infinitely cheaper, and gives you a lot better chance out of the gate of not having your body destroyed in the first place.



    Also, what magic is proof against destruction in a low-tech fantasy environment rapidly becomes not so when you reach our level of technology. And magic has levels of advancement as well, and a low-magic-advancement anti-scrying spell might stop most magic detection - but it won't stop sensors, or someone whose effectively using WW2 radar jamming against your 21st century top-of-the-line radar systems, as it were. Because high-"tech"-magic will naturally include the counters to lower stuff, for example, imagine an illusion spell that would fool True Seeing, because they were designed to specifically spoof True Seeing , like Shield foils Magic Missile as part of it's spell description. (Though like high-tech, you have to understand the science of magic in ways you just can't do with low tech, in the same way you can't understand micro-biology (properly) without a microcsrope, and you can't do finite element analysis without a computer.)

    And more to the point, the baleful level of energies most vehicular weapons - let alone fighter or starship weapons - put out match and exceed what, not only most mortal magic, but a fair chunk immortal magic can tolerate.



    Long story short, Xykon can Epic-protect his phylactery up the wazoo, but if, due to the thaumaic technology disparity, he's essentially painting it really convincing horizon pink camoflage and I'm looking for it with millimetric radar, it's not going to help. And I doubt even the One Ring could withstand the full force of a capital starship energy beam.

    (Remember, a 20th century nuke is hotter than the sun. A typical-yield starship missiles are much often better than that - and a capital energy beam will have a power output greater than several of them combined.)

    I use a Rocket Launcher because the amount of damage it's capable of dealing is far more efficient than what I can output with magic. I mean, I can do some fairly awesome crap, but even I can't take on a whole platoon of Cybertanks (at once) single-handedly. Because hammering away at their shields takes some effort - and they pretty much only have to hit me once, even if fully buffed up with defences. (And, outside of D&D, the whole save-or-die thing tends to only be as effective as blasting is in D&D; i.e. viable, but often not as efficient as the alternative.)
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    Hmm, true. I suppose I cannot argue with the bit about tech, but I must say my peice about spirit-binding: thing is, a spirit-bound creature is more like a mummy than anything like a Death Knight or a Lich proper. Yes, the advantages of having a more robust skill set is undeniable, but the underlieing fact is something you said yourself: you don't have much options about the matter.

    First off, the whole point of a lich is to be immortal and to feel fine about the whole deal. A soul-jar using lichiform (honastly, it fits the topic) can shove there soul into any little object they can find, hide it real good, and even if the worst comes to worst and the thing is broken, the lich can make a brand-new one with time and effort. Second chances: something that only so many varities of the unliving dead can have.

    As for spirit-bound liches, the body is less a meat puppet so much as the soul-jar proper. You get a single chance at it, and once your puppet-body is gone, your gone. Not only that, but you are most likely not going to have much choice in your first body unless your part of some sort of cult with some magical supplies and a orginised group of casters.

    ..... Actualy, if you would not mind, I think we all would like to know a bit on how you became a lich, exactly. Think of it like your cuti-mark story, exept that it involves the blackest energies of the nether realms and potent magical effort.


    Quote Originally Posted by Litewarior View Post
    Synopsis for Season 2 finale.

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    I believe the comments accurately describe my reaction. Wat.
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    Wut. I mean, I was not expecting some sort of epic opponent to drop in (thats for season premiers) but wut. If this is true, season two has broken everyones fanon.
    Last edited by Pokonic; 2012-03-06 at 08:10 PM.
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    Pokonic look what you have done! You fool, you`ve doomed us all!
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sadistic Seraph View Post
    I have a question (well technically several questions) for both Kairaven and the thread at large: What do you think of (potential) human enhancement/alteration? Is there anything you’d have done? Mind upload? Functional immortality? Laser cannon grafted to your chest?
    All for it. Main thing? Cybernetic eye connected to a computer. Make a database of every single person I meet, and never again have that awkward moment when I know I know someone but have no idea who they are. Admittedly, I could also get that fixed with an eidietic memory implant, but whatevs. I like the cyber-eye setup more. Acrobatic capabilities on the level of your average anime ninja would be another one I'd sign up for. And if we're getting reallyfancy, a personal short-range teleportation device (I hate waiting for the lights to cross a street).

    I know, I know. I think small. Functional Immortality, mind upload, internet-in-your-head, those are all things I'm in favour of too. Don't really understand the "losing humanity" thingy. Concerns re:Eugenics and uneven implementation are very legitimate concerns, though.
    Truth resists simplicity.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Even Human View Post
    All for it. Main thing? Cybernetic eye connected to a computer. Make a database of every single person I meet, and never again have that awkward moment when I know I know someone but have no idea who they are. Admittedly, I could also get that fixed with an eidietic memory implant, but whatevs. I like the cyber-eye setup more.
    I foresee a world where everyone's facebook accounts is connected to the cybernetics internet; just by looking at someone you can see their status, if they're looking for relationship or a conversation, or even if they just want to be left alone.

    You could eat at a shopping mall and put up a digital sign saying 'Bored. Talk to me?' and thus silently invite passerby to sit down and have a conversation. Your cybernetics would also import contact lists, music tastes, friends - "Oh, you know Robert? I was in high school with him!". Filters could similarly be put up; members of a brony group for example would see other bronies clearly while keeping it hidden from others.

    There are privacy issues, naturally, and having this kind of information freely available about everyone would redefine human social conduct. I also see it as the most logical and inevitable conclusion of the advances made in facial recognition/photography, portable computing, facebook and social media, and biotech advances.

    I think it'd be fascinating. Privacy issues, identity theft, all problems as usual, but it seems the logical conclusion of the direction our technology is heading in.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Thanqol View Post
    I foresee a world where everyone's facebook accounts is connected to the cybernetics internet; just by looking at someone you can see their status, if they're looking for relationship or a conversation, or even if they just want to be left alone.

    You could eat at a shopping mall and put up a digital sign saying 'Bored. Talk to me?' and thus silently invite passerby to sit down and have a conversation. Your cybernetics would also import contact lists, music tastes, friends - "Oh, you know Robert? I was in high school with him!". Filters could similarly be put up; members of a brony group for example would see other bronies clearly while keeping it hidden from others.

    There are privacy issues, naturally, and having this kind of information freely available about everyone would redefine human social conduct. I also see it as the most logical and inevitable conclusion of the advances made in facial recognition/photography, portable computing, facebook and social media, and biotech advances.

    I think it'd be fascinating. Privacy issues, identity theft, all problems as usual, but it seems the logical conclusion of the direction our technology is heading in.
    So, it would be like WoW, a chat room, and a social media website? Huh. What happens if someone drops some bad IRL's and such?
    Quote Originally Posted by Tychris1 View Post
    Pokonic look what you have done! You fool, you`ve doomed us all!
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    Quote Originally Posted by Pokonic View Post
    So, it would be like WoW, a chat room, and a social media website? Huh. What happens if someone drops some bad IRL's and such?
    Then people add him to their ignore list, and recommend all their friends do the same. You can get blacklisted by hundreds of people just by being a jerk once.

    There's also going to be a high amount of social sculpting and image cultivation; people will have different private and professional accounts, for instance. Hacking and privacy protection will naturally be issues in this environment.

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    I return from the internet, bearing gifts.

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    And now, off to food.
    Quote Originally Posted by darthbobcat View Post
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    Quote Originally Posted by Thanqol View Post
    Then people add him to their ignore list, and recommend all their friends do the same. You can get blacklisted by hundreds of people just by being a jerk once.

    There's also going to be a high amount of social sculpting and image cultivation; people will have different private and professional accounts, for instance. Hacking and privacy protection will naturally be issues in this environment.
    Forgive me if I'm not optimistic, then. I'd rather not have to live my life knowing that every little-

    *ahem*

    Apologies for my previous comment. We are the Borg. You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile; we will add your cultural and societal distinctiveness to our own.
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    Yeah, pretty much my thinking about this whole conversation.
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    Quote Originally Posted by Litewarior View Post
    Synopsis for Season 2 finale.

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    I believe the comments accurately describe my reaction. Wat.
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    "Aieeeeeeee! Panic, panic, panic!" *runs around in circles*


    I mean...

    Hm... I guess I'm vaguely nervous about that, but that certainly could be interesting. Can't wait to see where how they do this.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Siosilvar View Post
    Forgive me if I'm not optimistic, then. I'd rather not have to live my life knowing that every little-

    *ahem*

    Apologies for my previous comment. We are the Borg. You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile; we will add your cultural and societal distinctiveness to our own.
    Presumably there'd be privacy and filter settings on your end, too - you wouldn't have to know the tragic backstory of every other person in the food court. You could, for instance, set it to only show the names and data of single young men. Or, if you're Pinkie Pie, filter out everyone except people who are having a bad day.

    We already have incredible access to information through the internet; I expect us to simply become less and less reliant on external technology to access that information.

    EDIT: I'm not even saying this is ideal or desirable; my own thought is just that the impact would be fascinating. I'm just saying that this is probable given a basic extrapolation of existing technological tends.
    Last edited by Thanqol; 2012-03-06 at 08:51 PM.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Litewarior View Post
    Synopsis for Season 2 finale.

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    I believe the comments accurately describe my reaction. Wat.
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    You hear that? It is the sound of a thousand fanons imploding. Though it isn't like this came out of absolutely nowhere, it makes a surprising amount of sense when you think about it. This looks like it could be either amazing or horrible, no in between.
    Last edited by Gamerlord; 2012-03-06 at 08:52 PM.
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    Quote Originally Posted by Gamerlord View Post
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    You hear that? It is the sound of a thousand fanons imploding. This looks like it could be either amazing or horrible, no in between.
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    To be fair, when we got our first look at Discord, who would have thought he would be so epic? Certantly not the majority. I have faith that Studio B can pull it off.
    Quote Originally Posted by Tychris1 View Post
    Pokonic look what you have done! You fool, you`ve doomed us all!
    Quote Originally Posted by Doorhandle View Post
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