File: Drone_Quest_Rules.jpg (1.59 MB, 1944x3848)

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>>1326099
Welcome to Moe Drone Skirmish, a game about war, sacrifice, loyalty and human shaped drones.

This is a tactical turn based collective game where each player takes on the role of a drone commander. Each player controls a squad of drones from the relative safety of one of the command crawlers on the field. While you have lots of units, actions are severely limited so you must work together to fight effectively. Drones are disposable and can be replaced freely, however if a command crawler gets destroyed all commanders on board will die and their drones will self-destruct. If all command crawlers are destroyed then the game is lost.

Rules in pic related.

QM twitter: https://twitter.com/CognisQM

Inspiration for this game came to me after everyone kept bugging me about cutting out the drones from Mecha Mercs. Well here’s a skirmish that’s ALL about drones. I hope you’re happy now!

I liked War of the Human Tanks.

I'm not gonna participate, I just wanted to say that.

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>>1326129
Use green text to denote actions.

The game is hex based. Directions and can be given using traditional notation (e.g NW,SE) or with a number that corresponds to the side of a hex. There will be a hex compass rose on the map.

Distance can be given by placing a number in front of the direction in brackets, or by a string of directions.

Traditional distance and direction:
>4(NW), 2(W), 3(SE)

Numbered distance and direction:
>4(4), 5(1), 6(4)

Traditional String:
>N,N,N,N,NE

Numbered String:
>111246

>>1326162
Well thanks for saying high anyway. DESU this game is a bit of an in-joke, within an in-joke wrapped around 3 games I tossed in a blender, one of them being War of the Human Tanks.

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>>1326200
Drone stats, standby for briefing.

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>>1326226
Breifing: “Attacks from the sub-species of vegetable: curcubitae aka pumpkins have been intensifying over the past few months. Our intel division suspects the growth of multiple pumpkin patches in sector C2. If left unchecked the resulting build-up of forces could threaten crawler operations across the continent, maybe even breach the burn line and attack our base in the desert.

The command crawlers Akolon and Fis’kiire have been diverted to the sector to deal with this threat. Your orders are to board the crawlers, and proceed to the operations area. Once there deploy drone squads and sweep the sector, destroying any pumpkin patches you find. Said patches are extremely dangerous. Once you have made your presence known they will start producing combat forms to defend themselves, they may even begin transforming into Pump-Kings. If this happens you must make every effort to bring them down before they can destroy your crawlers. If more than one Pump-King spawns it may even become necessary to withdraw. Some other more disturbing veggie threats have been sighted in the area. A full intelligence brief has been attached.

>cont

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>>1326329
Terrain is made up of foot hills with some forested areas between them. The hills are too steep for the crawlers to traverse but they should be able to roll over the forests without too much trouble. Traversable areas are marked on your map.

Also General Meirien saw this mission being planned and wanted me to pass on this message to you:

‘GIVE THEM HELL
GIVE THEIR SQUASHY, COWARDLY CORCUBITA SOULS HELL
Pulp 'em! Mash 'em! Bake 'em in a stew!’

He seems especially invested in the destruction of the pumpkins wherever they may be found. Anyway you have your orders, the shuttles leave at 0800.

Glory to Humanity”

>Accepting sign-ups now. I'll be heading off to lunch soon. Be back in a few hours. If we have enough people we can start the game.

oh shit, this is real? Cognis you absolute madman.

so command cap is equal for everyone? either way, please point it out if anything is wrong.

Name: Ventris
Command Cap: 6
Flag: Fis'Kiire
Perks: [Upgraded Drones]
Squad: 2x Skirmisher Drone- KA1, 2x Soldier Drone- KA1
Standing Order: N/A

>>1326684
>>1326774
Yeah it's real, it's an April Fools one shot, but it's real.

Your stat block checks out. Welcome aboard.

Right now Command Cap is equal for everyone. I originally had a perk that increased it, but the mere possibility that I might get multiple players running 8 skirmisher drones stopped me from putting it in.

Anyway. It looks like either nobody cares about this quest or I missed prime time. Either way it seems like I need to wait a bit longer for more players. Let's see if some trickle in over the next few hours and maybe we can start tonight.

>>1327162
okey dokie. I'll just wait around here, the april fools board merging is just hilarious to watch.

>>1327310
Hiya always loved the drones from mechamercs seriously there adorable! Hope to see more of their cuteness!
Name: Arkul
Command cap: 6
Vehicle: Akolon
Perks: [Advanced drones]
Squad: 1x Blade drone, 1x soldier drone, 1x Skirmisher drone.

>>1326099
Holy shit it's real

>>1327710
>>1326099
Grigori reporting command. I shall avenge all those lost before the evacuation! Like poor uncle Malek.

Name: Grigori
Command Cap: 6
Flag: [FSK] Fis'Kiire
Perks: [Master of Delegation]
Squad: 1x Signal Drone, 4x Skirmisher Drone
Standing Order: N/A

>>1327320
>>1327813
Approved, if we can just get one more person on the Akolon that would be ideal.

>>1326099
Purge the uncooked!

Name: Ambrose
Command cap: 6
Flag: Akolon
Perks: [Advanced drones]
Squad: 2x Rail drone

>>1326099
>So fuckin' hype
So, for clarity, can we have a standing order set pre-mission?
>>1326341
"Fuckin' hate Pumpkins. Killed my Grandpappy."

Name: Wendigo
Command Cap: 6
Flag: Akolon
Perks: [Orbital Reserves]
Squad: 2x Signal Drone (4c), 2x Skirmisher Drone (2c)
Standing Order: Hold Position

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>>1327898
>>1327906

Approved. With that we have enough people to start the game. Yes you can have a standing order set pre-mission.

Beginning Deployment...

>>1327912
Question: can orders be issue only to some of the drone complement, or is it always to all of them?

>>1326099
Orbital Command aboard Akolon
Command 6
Squad: 2x Signal, 2x Skirmisher
Orders: None

Logistician Yacherii reporting.

>>1327925
For simplicity of processing I'm going to have to say it always applies to all drones. It'll be enough of a headache to keep track of old orders for drones outside transmission range.

>>1327926
Your stat block isn't quite formatted correctly. I'm assuming you mean:

Name: Yacherii
Command Cap: 6
Flag: Akolon
Perks: [Orbital Reserves]
Squad: 2x Signal Drone , 2x Skirmisher Drone
Standing Order: None

I'll sneak you in anyway.

>>1327935
Righto.

We only have two commanders here on the Fis'Kiire, getting awful lonely... perhaps someone could switch?

>>1327946
I'm fine here though? less people mean more personal space.
also I think I forgot my trip

>>1327950
nope, not that one...

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Fleet Intelligence: "I am Fleet Intelligence and I will be monitoring your mission from orbit. Drone squads are deployed, and the command line is open. Initializing tactical display now..."

1: Ventris
2: Arkul
3: Grigori
4: Ambrose
5: Wendigo
6: Yacherii

"Commanders your drones are marked with your numbers and a letter. Mission is a go, all commanders direct your squads to begin sweep ing the AO."

>Post actions everybody. If you're quick I'll process tonight, otherwise you'll have to wait till tomorrow.

>>1327959
"Grigori, advancing scouts to get visuals inside the forest."
>[Master of Delegation], free order: Drones Advance towards edge of forest.
Wait for Ventris's drones to get out of the way, then:
>Move Carrier 3(S) 3(SE)

>>1327959

"welp, let's get this show on the road."

>standing order set pre-mission(if possible): (Advance) southeast towards the treeline, after that Move platform 444444
>if not, (Issue Order)-(Advance) direction 4, towards the treeline

Name: Ventris
Command Cap: 6
Flag: Fis'Kiire
Perks: [Upgraded Drones]
Squad: 2x Skirmisher Drone- KA1, 2x Soldier Drone- KA1
Standing Order: N/A

>>1327959
>Drones Advance: 3333

Name: Wendigo
Command Cap: 6
Flag: Akolon
Perks: [Orbital Reserves]
Squad: [2x Signal Drone (4c), 2x Skirmisher Drone (2c)]
5A 6/6 || 5B 6/6 || 5C 4/4 || 5D 4/4
Standing Order: Hold Position

>>1327975
>>1327959
Damn it, getting my orders mixed up already. I'd like my drones to Double Time rather than Advance if that's ok.

>>1327946
My reasoning is that Akolon and its armor will take a more active role, if any, in flattening the trees while Fis'Kiire's action demand is more intermittent. I'll lend support through Orbit in your area if need be.

>>1327959
"Objective: Eyes in the forest."

>Order Advance 3-ward

Name: Yacherii
Command Cap: 6
Flag: Akolon
Perks: [Orbital Reserves]
Squad: 2x Signal Drone , 2x Skirmisher Drone
Standing Order: Advance 3-Ward

>>1327959

Standing order: double-time towards the top of the central hill

Name: Ambrose
Command cap: 6
Flag: Akolon
Perks: [Advanced drones]
Squad: 2x Rail drone
Standing order: double-time towards the top of the central hill

>>1327959
"Lets get a better look at the forest."
>Move the Akalon: 3,3,3,2,

Shit, can't believe I missed this. Stupid tinezones. Too late to join?

>>1327959 #
Uh, designated Crawler Operator Cryptic, reporting in. If you want to focus on the battle Grigori I'll be happy to take the con for you. Somebody has to keep those flyboys upstairs in check.

Name: Cryptic
Command Cap: 6
Flag: [FSK] Fis'Kiire
Perks: [Crawler Operations]
Squad: 1x Signal Drone, 4x Skirmisher Drone
Standing Order: N/A

>>1328015
Whooops I'm not 1 I'm 4

>>1327959
>>1328123
Better add:
>If allowed to deploy this turn, issue standing order, Advance, towards the same point as the Crawler's other drones

>>1327959
Do we have a hard limit in the number of drones we can deploy? Can deployed drones act the same turn they are deployed?

>Orbital drop on top of the central hill

Name: Evergreen
Command Cap: 6/6
Flag: [FSK] Fis'Kiire
Perks: [Orbital Reserves]
Squad: 2xSoldier 1xSignal
Standing Order: Hold Position

>>1327959
///Booting up KailOS///
Directives : Assist operators with mission
Assesment : Long range fire support may be required for the mission. Switching to Advanced Drones control subroutines.
Activating interpersonal relations core.

"Greetings, I am AI core KA1-L, my main directive is to assist pilot operations in the area. As I am still being tested, I might experience a few problems. Remember to fill out the performance survey after the mission so my creator can iron out any problems."
>requesting deployment

Name : KA1-L
Command Cap : 6
Flag : [FSK] Fis'Kiire
Squad : Rail Drone, Rail Drone
Standing Order : Hold Position

>>1328123
>>1328195
>>1328220
You can all join but your squads will be deployed at the end of this turn.

As it stands drones cannot act in the same turn they are deployed.

Processing Turn...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vz2Nfkn7xM&list=PLclgj5uvZRWE7hkIBP02_lxlE-SfmyGX8&index=3

>>1328329
Things I have learnt: War of the Human Tanks is currently 75% off on steam.
http://store.steampowered.com/app/263400/

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>>1328329
Fleet Intelligence:"Enemy contacts detected in the forest."

>standby for enemy phase

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>>1328359
Fleet Intelligence:"Fis'Kiir watch your flak! New commanders have embarked, deploying additional drone squads now."

7:Cryptic
8:Evergreen
9:KA1-L

>Standby for aftermath

>>1328405
Holy boop.
So command, how many more drones do you get with the "spawn more drones" action?

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>>1328405
Fleet Intelligence:"So far losses are well within the acceptable margin. Deploy new drones if you have to and continue the assault."

"Glory to Humanity!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zp-HnsCkwLM

>Declare actions everyone. Next turn will get processed sometime between 7-10pm GMT+8
Hopefully this will give everyone a window to post despite time zones.

>>1328416
Up to your cap.

>>1328421
"Gah, where did these flankers come from!?"
>Deploy new Soldier drone
>[Master of Delegation] Free Order: all drones Fighting Retreat, shooting nearest Green pumpkins.

>>1328421
"Targets sighted. Railgun units, get in position and mow down the enemy."
>Issue order : Engage at will
Name : KA1-L
Command Cap : 6
Flag : [FSK] Fis'Kiire
Squad : Rail Drone, Rail Drone
Standing Order : Hold Position

Rolled 2, 8, 7, 5, 5, 3, 9, 4, 7, 6, 10, 7 = 73 (12d10)

>>1328421
"They really are dears, these drones, but they perform best with simplified problems."

>Fire 3 Turrets at Pump-kin in range (thresh 7), 1 at nearest Gourdo (thresh 5)

Name: Yacherii
Command Cap: 6
Flag: Akolon
Perks: [Orbital Reserves]
Squad: 2x Signal Drone , 2x Skirmisher Drone
Standing Order: Advance 3-Ward

>>1328421
I take it Evergreen's orbital drop didn't work?
Standing order: hold ground

Name: Ambrose
Command cap: 6
Flag: Akolon
Perks: [Advanced drones]
Squad: 2x Rail drone
Standing order: hold ground

>>1328421
"Okay sorry about that, now drones engage the enemy and elminate them however you can!."
>Issue order: Engage at will
Name: Arkul
Command cap: 6
Vehicle: Akolon
Perks: [Advanced drones]
Squad: 1x Blade drone, 1x soldier drone, 1x Skirmisher drone.
Standing order: Engage at will

>>1328502
>>1328421
I'm also missing a soldier drone for some reason

>>1328421
"Well that happened. We need bigger guns!"

>Issue order: fire weapons-launch fighters, target the pump-gilist

Name: Ventris
Command Cap: 6
Flag: Fis'Kiire
Perks: [Upgraded Drones]
Squad: 2x Skirmisher Drone- KA1, 2x Soldier Drone- KA1
Standing Order: N/A

>>1328548
>Issue order:
Shoot, I didn't erase that part, it's a trace of me being indecisive. Please ignore it.

>>1328421
>wonder where my 2nd soldier drone is
>Issue order: Engage at will


Name: Evergreen
Command Cap: 6/6
Flag: [FSK] Fis'Kiire
Perks: [Orbital Reserves]
Squad: 2xSoldier 1xSignal
Standing Order: Engage at will

it's everything
i ever
wanted

>>1328421
Well, Fis'Kiire isn't going anywhere until we can get that Pumpgilist out of the road. Holding position for now.

>Issue Standing Order- Engage at will.

Name: Cryptic
Command Cap: 6
Flag: [FSK] Fis'Kiire
Perks: [Crawler Operations]
Squad: 1x Signal Drone, 4x Skirmisher Drone
Standing Order: Engage At Will

Y-yeah, yeah, I'm awake! I-m awake! I didn't fall asleep in the command chair, promise.

This is operator Redunant reporting, AKO Ops. Threads on and rumbling.

My plan is we drive straight through that forest, then feast on the soup for days afterwards. Make these pumpkin pumkings petrified to see us!

>Deploy
>>1328421

Redundant Thingamjig
Flag: [AKO] Akollon
Perks: Carrier Operations
--
CC : 6 / 6
Squad: Soldiers x3
Standing Order: -- Nil --

>>1328847
To upload tactical data, you want to click that little... yeah there it is, in the corner. No, we don't want to to update the Tac-OS right now. No. No. Skip. No, we don't need spam news for extra drone customization options, ski--

there.

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I believe this is the current range of our vision. Until the surrounding forest is cleared and sight is opened, the hilltop will be a position vulnerable to attacks from cover and slow to reinforce, as our platforms cannot traverse it. It should still be held from an unexposed position, however, as our side does not have the benefit of cover should an enemy take hold.

With our current set of command skills, we have a force of elites and means to support them within a considerable range from FSK and Orbit, and a degree of precise command in our lone Delegator. For my part, I intend to use the flexibility of Orbital deployment to screen for our elites and hopefully afford their commanders the leisure to micromanage.

>>1326129
It seems that from within a forest, 6 or fewer tiles of forest will not block line of sight. Am I understanding correctly? Can a unit outside a forest target an enemy within if someone else has vision of it?

Also, can Micro be in addition to a previous Standing Order, or is the latter always overridden?

>>1328855
Quite. The lay of the ads is more treacherous to assess than our tactical situations some days.

>>1328421

>Deploy units Tango Bravo & Novemeber Sierra

Name: 60
Command Cap: 6
Flag: Fis'Kiire
Perks: [Advanced Drones]
Squad: 2x Blade Drones
Standing Order: Deploy

"Watch as I kill vegetables to feed starving children! Donate and you might get to name a drone!"

Name: Stream-chan
Command cap: 6
Flag: Akolon
Perks: [High APM]
Squad: 1x Signal Drone, 2x Soldier Drone

Rolled 5, 2, 4, 8, 1, 10, 4, 1, 5 = 40 (9d10)

>>1328359
Command, shouldn't the drones ordered to Advance have shot at some of these gourds (The ones revealed and in range during player-phase)? Have I misunderstood Advance, or did KA1-L's boot-sequence use up all our proccessing power again?
>>1328421
>Deploy Drone: Orbital Drop Skirmisher 333 33 of 5B
>-Standing Order: Hold Position shots- 5A: 3dice. 5B: 3dice. 5D: 3dice, Drone AI should select targets in range.

Name: Wendigo
Command Cap: 6
Flag: Akolon
Perks: [Orbital Reserves]
Squad: [2x Signal Drone (4c), 2x Skirmisher Drone (2c)]
5A 6/6 || 5B 6/6 || 5C 0/4-Replacement Inbound || 5D 4/4
Standing Order: Hold Position

>>1328517
Sorry about that, was sleep deprived when processing. Your drone will magically appear when I process the turn.

>>1328856
Micro does override a standing order.
You can shoot into a forest if a friendly has LoS to target. It basically works like tall grass in a MOBA.

>>1330006
Drones don't go into overwatch if they don't find targets when advancing. However in this case I realise some should have fired, so I'll chalk it up to the latter.

>>1328717
Hey Cryptic, do you want to launch the fighters and bomber against the Pumpgulist? I think you're our only crawler-ops command on the carrier. If no-one else does, I will.

>>1332462
Ventris already did that
No one reads the other's posts here, it seems

>>1328744
>>1328905
>>1329711
Approved.

Very sorry for the late processing guys.

Processing turn now...

>>1332462
>>1332538
Yep, what he said. I would have but was beaten to it. I'll employ the bomber if a tempting enough formation appears, though there's almost certainly AA in them thar woods.

Please leave crawler movement to me though, the carrier has a longer way to go and could really use the move bonus. I can also use it to nope the fuck outta there if needed.

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>>1332591
Fleet Intelligence:"Strike Fighters Launched."

>Standby for enemy phase

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>>1332709
Fleet Intelligence:"Strike fighters have lost sight of the Pump-gulist, diverting to other targets of opportunity."

"Alert! Enemy AA in range, we've lost a strike fighter."

"New Commanders embarking, opening additional C3 channels..."

10: Redundant
11: Stream-chan
12: Operator 60

>standby for aftermath...

>>1332796
Pssddt, your stealth layer

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>>1332770
Fleet Intelligence: "6A has been destroyed... wait I'm still getting a signal from her command line... oh my... Commanders be advised certain enemy units appear to have the ability to infest our drones, advise extreme caution."

"Also our strike fighter managed to ascertain the location of one of the pumpkin patches before it was shot down. We can assume even more pumpkins are lurking deeper into the forest."

>Declare actions
I'll probably process the turn within the same time window tomorrow. (7-10pm GMT +8)

Apologies for the processing errors. I am trying some new techniques to handle mass unit actions but mistakes happen. I have retconned Evergreen's entire squad placement to make up for it.

I'm loving how some people are picking up on all the references I baked into this game.

Which drone is the most adorable?

>>1332801
Oh nooooo

I was wondering what he meant by "we can assume".

>>1332709
Fix this too, if it's not too late.

>>1332806
Strategic analysis:

1. The patches' positions have been confirmed, but there probably are smaller units hidden in the forest.

2. All of the patches can be assumed covered by AA units.

3. The patches' production capability is estimated to be 2 units/turn. Remember that they can't reproduce infested vehicles on the mission timescale.

4. Any engagement with the patches should be as rapid and decisive as possible, to prevent the appearance of a Pump-king

5. That being said, a team of two rail drones can destroy a patch in two turns from beyond its attack range.

6. Since, barring micromanagement, we cannot select targets for the drones, any enemy units in the vicinity of a patch will provide a screen. Micromanaging the hardest hitting drones is necessary to avoid diluting the density of fire.

7. The enemy in general is melee-oriented. Aliied forces should operate in cohestion and close vicinity to each other to concentrate overwhelming firepower on any newly-detected targets.

8. The most adorable drone is 4A.

Recommendation: acting in two teams, close in with the patches without entering drone engagement ranges, clean up any enemy forces in the vicinity, then undertake a concentrated attack on the patches with all available forces. After that, do the same with the third patch.
In case of the start of Pump-king transformation, all fire in range must be immediately concentrated on the transforming patch.
If a Pump-king is spawned, the team facing it should undertake fighting retreat towards the other team to engage it with their combined firepower.

>>1332806

Direct control of 4A: shoot at the Pumkgilist

Name: Ambrose
Command cap: 6
Flag: Akolon
Perks: [Advanced drones]
Squad: 2x Rail drone
Standing order: hold ground

>>1332806
Shoot, I knew they'd have AA in there somewhere.

Well, I won't authorise any more air strikes until we at least have a fix on that gun again, and the Fis'Kiire has beans for armour, so we can't advance either with that Pumpgulist still lurking out there. Advise we hold position until our drones can get back in the woods and get us some actionable recon data.

>>1332806
Command: 5/6
Flag: [FSK] Fis'Kiire
Perks: [Master of Delegation]
Squad: 1x Signal, 1x Skirmisher, 1x Soldier
Standing Order: N/A

"Right, let's try that whole 'moving into the forest' thing again, with less ambushes..."
>Order: Deploy new Skirmisher
>[Master of Delegation] free order: Advance toward forest cautiously.

>>1332824
>>1332832
*sigh* Guess it's too late now... I really need to remember to turn off my stealth layer. I might just move the pumpkin patches since they weren't meant to be revealed.

>>1332832
Fleet Intelligence: "I wouldn't be too sure about anything you saw back there. Satellite recon has been known to be unreliable. I suggest you confirm everything with your drones before launching any blind attacks. "

>>1332832
I was in agreement up to point 7. But it was on point 8 that you called the soundness of your judgement into question. The Signal class is perfection.

On that note: Wendigo or Stream-chan, the Pumpgilist could do with a micro or two from your signallers so that we can make the best of our firepower on it. It dodged a blader just now, so its agility is not negligible.

>>1332806
Troubling. Is she still occupying my Command?

Rolled 2, 6, 3, 2, 9, 1 = 23 (6d10)

Name: Stream-chan
Command cap: 6
Flag: Akolon
Perks: [High APM]
Squad: 1x Signal Drone, 2x Soldier Drone

"Hey guys, I just logged on and already we're going to bag a big one! Check this!"

>Order: Micromanage 11A & 11B
>11B: Move facing 3, 4 times
>11B: Fire at Pumpugilist, 1st 3d10
>11A: Move 3-3-2
>11A: Fire at Pumpugilist, 2nd 3d10

>>1332806
"Priority target PK-03a, codename Pumpkin Patch detected. All units, proceed towards the objective. Tactical analysis suggests destroying it in one blow, as soon as possible for optimal results. Please cover my advance as I set up a shooting position."

>Issue Order : Double Time 333333

Name : KA1-L
Command Cap : 6
Flag : [FSK] Fis'Kiire
Squad : Rail Drone, Rail Drone
Standing Order : Hold Position

>>1332806
>Issue order: Advance east

Name: Evergreen
Command Cap: 6/6
Flag: [FSK] Fis'Kiire
Perks: [Orbital Reserves]
Squad: 2xSoldier 1xSignal
Standing Order: Hold Position

>>1332806
Bit late to get stuck in, I suppose? I'll try to be around for session two, should it happen.

>>1332806
If a drone with an Advance order has no viable target will it usually overwatch be default?

>Issue Order- Advance into the woods

Name: Cryptic
Command Cap: 6
Flag: [FSK] Fis'Kiire
Perks: [Crawler Operations]
Squad: 1x Signal Drone, 4x Skirmisher Drone
Standing Order: Advance into woods

>all the references
...is it just me, or are automato's one to DMC2? (infested is an unusual choice of words)

>Which drone is the most adorable?
All Rail Drones are the cutest. I'd have taken a pair too if the squad hadn't been short a crawler operator.

>>1332806
Hyper skirmisher a cute! A CUTE!

>>1332806
Blade drone, i find it so adorable!
>Action: Micromanage Blade Drone: Drone! STAB IT TO DEATH!

Rolled 2, 5, 8, 8, 9, 9, 6, 2, 10, 10, 5, 2 = 76 (12d10)

>>1332901
>>1332806
Is the penalty from signal drones cumulative, or does a target only get affected once?

"Aw yeah, git some!"
>Drone Command: Advance 2223
>-3dice each, all units look to have targets in range.

Name: Wendigo
Command Cap: 6
Flag: Akolon
Perks: [Orbital Reserves]
Squad: [2x Signal Drone (4c), 2x Skirmisher Drone (2c)]
5A 6/6 || 5B 6/6 || 5C 4/4 || 5D 4/4
Standing Order: Hold Position

The most adorable drones are my drones, of course.

>>1332957
Affirmative, KA1-L. Well, I'm a little out of the way but I imagine someone else can cover you just fine.

>>1332832
There's always smaller units in the forest. That's what makes the forests so delicious!
--


We should get this rust-can moving, 'least-wise we get bugged down in interminable fighting out here. We're mostly even with sheer troops with the Patches, so best we round them up and grind them up before they tip the scales with a king. Lets see the lovelies on ahead, then I'll roll up this thread-crusher following them securing most of the zone.

Everyone okay with that? Screen with the drones, then I'll push with the crawler in a few.

>>1332806
>Order: Redundant Squad, Engage At Will!

Redundant Thingamjig
Flag: [AKO] Akollon
Perks: Carrier Operations
--
CC : 6 / 6
Squad: Soldiers x3
Standing Order: Engage At Will!

Rolled 4, 6, 7, 10, 6, 2, 6, 3, 6, 10, 10, 7 = 77 (12d10)

>>1332806
I'll soon have plenty of command available to land screening forces wherever needed. I might put eyes on the southern Patch if the Pumpgilist there has been neutralized and our railguns are in position.

>Fire flank turrets at closer Gourdo
>Left front at further Gourdo
>Right front at Infested

Name: Yacherii
Command Cap: 6
Flag: Akolon
Perks: [Orbital Reserves]
Squad: 1 Skirmisher
Standing Order: Advance 3-Ward

>>1332806
"Well, at least we got something of that. Drones, continue advance."

>issue order: Advance towards the forest

Name: Ventris
Command Cap: 6
Flag: Fis'Kiire
Perks: [Upgraded Drones]
Squad: 1x Skirmisher Drone- KA1, 2x Soldier Drone- KA1
Standing Order: Advance

>>1332806

"What have you dragged me into this time Nine Sierra?"

"Trust me, it's just a little game!"

"Tch..."

>Issue Order 33333

Name: 6O
Command Cap: 6
Flag: Fis'Kiire
Perks: [Advanced Drones]
Squad: 2x Blade Drones
Standing Order: Deploy

File: 075.jpg (28 KB, 680x383)

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>>1333341

Update might be a bit late again today, sorry.

File: Officer_Drones.jpg (179 KB, 1087x718)

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I'm sorry to report that I'll have to postpone turn processing till tomorrow morning. In the meantime though I'll answer some of your questions.

>>1332901
>Is she still occupying my Command?
Infested Drones no longer take up cap.

>>1333341
>are automato's one to DMC2?
Never played DMC2. They don't really reference anything in particular although there is a food item in Starbound called an automato (It's a metal tomato grown by the robot race.)

>>1333531
>Is the penalty from signal drones cumulative, or does a target only get affected once?

Only once.

>>1334654
I'm assuming that's an advance order you're giving there.

Good night, and while you wait here's an alternate design for the Signal Drone that I dropped in favour of the current one.

Fun Fact: The Signal Drone used to be known as the Officer drone and conferred a free micromanagement action for every one you had. I cut this ability because I wanted to keep the action economy tight.

File: DMC2_Infested_Chopper.png (373 KB, 500x451)

373 KB PNG

>>1335783
>Never played DMC2
This is for the best. It had a couple of demonically possessed military vehicles called the Infested Tank/Chopper/Whatever. They were cool in concept, but incredibly tedious, like most things in that game.

It tickles me that of all the things to survive the veggiepocalypse the Pugilist had to be among them. I feel like there's probably an epic tale told around lunar habitation units of Guye's last stand against the vegetable menace. That is if he isn't still out there somewhere after 500 years.

>conferred a free micromanagement action for every one you had.
...Yeah, it's probably just as well you did this, considering the sheer abuse heaped by the players on the action economy of Mecha Mercs.

Okay let's get to it.

Processing Turn...

File: Map_P3.jpg (2.61 MB, 2098x1746)

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>>1333531
Wendigo: [Command line error]: No Drone ID designated for micromanagement.

>>1333518
Arkul:[Command line error]: "IT" is not a valid target ID. There are two possible targets "IT" could refer to, you are going to have to be more specific.

Fleet Intelligence:"Our Strike Fighter has returned, beginning rearming."

BTW You can recover lost aircraft as a deployment action.

>standby for enemy phase.

File: Map_E3.jpg (2.54 MB, 2098x1746)

2.54 MB JPG

>>1338334
Fleet Intelligence:"Enemies incoming"

>standby for aftermath...

File: Map_A3.jpg (2.51 MB, 2098x1746)

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>>1338386
Minor processing error on my part, drone 2B should have only taken 5 damage in the last phase.

Fleet Intelligence:"We've lost contact with Drone 1B..."

>Declare actions I'll process the turn tomorrow morning between 8-11am GMT+8

>>1338386
4B definitely had LOS and range to the pumpkin that attacked 2B, and we know that targets in forest can be overwatched. Something's not right.

>Single-turn order: double-time towards the top of the central hill

Name: Ambrose
Command cap: 6
Flag: Akolon
Perks: [Advanced drones]
Squad: 2x Rail drone
Standing order: hold ground

>>1338593
Ah sorry, you're right. Most of the stuff in this game has such a short range I forgot all about 4B.

Consider that Pump-kin dead and 2B undamaged.

Rolled 2, 1, 6, 7, 4, 9, 5, 4, 9 = 47 (9d10)

>>1338334
Formatting error, command, that was supposed to be a general order. Looks like it worked well enough.
>>1338561
>Micromanage 5A: Move 2222 3323
>-Hold Position Standing Order attacks: 9dice

Name: Wendigo
Command Cap: 6
Flag: Akolon
Perks: [Orbital Reserves]
Squad: [2x Signal Drone (4c), 2x Skirmisher Drone (2c)]
5A 6/6 || 5B 6/6 || 5E 4/4 || 5D 4/4
Standing Order: Hold Position

>>1338561
Command Cap: 6/6
Flag: [FSK] Fis'Kiire
Perks: [Master of Delegation]
Squad: 1x Signal, 2x Skirmisher, 1x Soldier
Standing Order: N/A

"Overseeing an orbital fighter resupply"
>Deploy new Strike Fighter
>[Master of Delegation] free order: Advance into forest.

...does our airsupport have moe drone pilot-brains?

Rolled 1, 9, 3, 4, 8, 10 = 35 (6d10)

Name: Stream-chan
Command cap: 6
Flag: Akolon
Perks: [High APM]
Squad: 1x Signal Drone, 2x Soldier Drone

"Wrekt! Got worried by that latency issue but we got him! Next up those little guys, we're gonna sweep them up!"

>Order: Micromanage 11A & 11C
>11C: Move 3333
>11C: Fire at Gourdo 2222222 (1st 3d10)
>11A: Move 3333
>11A: Fire at Gourdo 333344 (2nd 3d10)

>>1338561
FSK, this is Yacherii, redeploying in your AO. I intend to guide your heavies Pump-ward and destroy enemy anti-air.

>Drop 4 Skirmishers at 4, 3, 23, and 2223 of TB
>Drop 2 Skirmishers at 444444 and 344444 of 8B
>-Standing Order advance 3-ward.

Name: Yacherii
Command Cap: 6
Flag: Akolon
Perks: [Orbital Reserves]
Squad: 6 Skirmishers
Standing Order: Advance 3-Ward

Rolled 10, 1, 8 = 19 (3d10)

>>1338561
>Micro 8C
>Move 4 4 4 5
>Attack Pumpgilist

Name: Evergreen
Command Cap: 6/6
Flag: [FSK] Fis'Kiire
Perks: [Orbital Reserves]
Squad: 2xSoldier(5/8B)(8/8C) 1xSignal
Standing Order: Advance

>>1338561
I'll see if I can get a line on anything behind the woods.

>Micromanage 7A, move 3344 4443

Name: Cryptic
Command Cap: 6
Flag: [FSK] Fis'Kiire
Perks: [Crawler Operations]
Squad: 1x Signal Drone, 4x Skirmisher Drone
Standing Order: Advance into woods

Know what the nice thing is about a system where you almost never have to roll die yourself? Being able to delete your post when you make stupid formatting mistakes.

Rolled 10 (1d10)

>>1338561
"Target in range. To all units, please stay out of the firing line. Assuming direct control of drone 9B.

Prelimininary calculations complete. Anchoring drone for full power shot. Powering up rail cannon. Final adjustments complete. Target locked. Warning, stand clear."
>Micromanage Drone 9B : Fire Full Power Railgun Shot at the Pumpkin Patch.
"Railgun cooling down. Thank you for using Apex™ Weapon Systems. For any reclamations, contact the Apex™ customer service."

Name : KA1-L
Command Cap : 6
Flag : [FSK] Fis'Kiire
Squad : Rail Drone, Rail Drone
Standing Order : Hold Position

>>1338971
Please don't go at the patch with a single drone, or we can have a Pump-King on our hands.

>>1339006
Two full power Railgun shots are almost enough to kill a patch in one round. And even if it does mutate into a Pumpking, it'll still have to close the gap. Better to pop this thing as soon as possible, while the crawler is still far away.

>>1339009
You have only one shot, and if we're unlucky, Pump-King transformation heals the patch.

>>1339014
And leaving the patch alone will allow it to spawn more minions. Those minions are additional targets, diverting firepower off the patch. If there's too many enemies, our drones won't focus fire, hell, they won't even be able to cross the forest. As much as I'd love destrying the patch in one round without any risks to ourselves, this won't happen. Even if the transformation heals the patch, it won't be able to reach our drones in one turn. Meaning even if it transforms, we'll be able to focus fire it down next turn.

>>1338561
"I guess I should have expected that. Need more drones..."
>Deploy two more KA-1 Skirmish drones

Name: Ventris
Command Cap: 6
Flag: Fis'Kiire
Perks: [Upgraded Drones]
Squad: 2x Soldier Drone- KA1
Standing Order: Advance

>>1338561

"We're being attacked by the Vegetation? These aren't robotic lifeforms!"

>TB: Attack pumpkin
>NS: Move 4, 3 & Hold position

Name: 6O
Command Cap: 6
Flag: Fis'Kiire
Perks: [Advanced Drones]
Squad: 2x Blade Drones [3/6, 6/6]
Standing Order: Attack

>>1339216
You unfortunately can not control both drones so specifically.

As of last turn your drones were under the Standing order of Hold Position (the default of Deploy), overridden for that turn only by your Advance order. As of the beginning of this turn, they are still Holding. So, if you want to accomplish approximately what you intend, you'll have to use your /single/ Command action to either micromanage a single drone or to issue a general order and hope for the best. Don't forget that orders default to one-time only unless specified as Standing.

>>1338649
Well, I mean, I usually program them to blurt out chirpy chiptunes but I guess you could all that storage space for an adorable personality, yes.

>>1338593
>>1338626
>>1338747
>>1338765
So, are we driving this threaded junk into that forest? Yes. Yes we are. Scream your defiance now, or grab on to the nearest armrest.

>>1339216
>>1339298

Changing my order then.

>Move TB 65

>>1338561
"Note to self specify the target next time."
>Micromanage: Have the blade drone [stab] the Pump-kin.

Name: Arkul
Command cap: 6
Vehicle: Akolon
Perks: [Advanced drones]
Squad: 1x Blade drone, 1x soldier drone, 1x Skirmisher drone
Standing order: advance.

Beginning turn processing...

File: Map_P4.jpg (2.66 MB, 2098x1746)

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>>1338649
>...does our airsupport have moe drone pilot-brains?

No they have simple AIs that just coldly focus on flying and acquiring targets.

Fleet Intelligence:"A new strike fighter has been fabricated, mass drop of Skirmishers approved."

>Standby for Enemy Phase

File: Map_E4.jpg (2.58 MB, 2098x1746)

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>>1341123
Forgot to process Redundant's standing order.

Fleet Intelligence:"Alert! The far eastern pumpkin patch it beginning it's transformation into a pump-king!"

>standby for aftermath...

File: Map_A4.jpg (2.57 MB, 2098x1746)

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>>1341186


>Declare actions everyone. I'll process the turn whenever the hell I get up tomorrow.

Rolled 9 (1d10)

>>1341205
>Micromanage 9B : Fire Charged Railgun Shot at the Pumpkin Patch.
"Priority target is down. Clear the area of hostiles, then move on to the next mission objective."

Name : KA1-L
Command Cap : 6
Flag : [FSK] Fis'Kiire
Squad : Rail Drone, Rail Drone
Standing Order : Hold Position

Rolled 5, 3, 1, 7, 10, 6 = 32 (6d10)

Name: Stream-chan
Command cap: 6
Flag: Akolon
Perks: [High APM]
Squad: 1x Signal Drone, 2x Soldier Drone

"Classic, we're gonna flank 'em and get 'em by surprise! I'm sure our teammates can handle the stragglers here. As a coincidental reminder, harassment in chat towards other operators won't be tolerated, and I've got the best volunteer moderators to enforce it! They do it for free!"

>Order: Micromanage Soldier 11A & Soldier 11C
>11A: Move 4444 (1st 3d10)
>11A: Fire at Gourdo 444455
>11C: Move 3333 (2nd 3d10)
>11C: Fire at Gourdo 44444444

Rolled 4, 3, 6 = 13 (3d10)

>>1341123
By my understanding, the micro on the railgun and the armor of the Patch mean that there should be a 14 and a smattering of 3s around the southern Patch. Just as dead, anyway.

---

Good work, FSK. Ventris and Grigori, your squads are best in positioned to aid me in destruction of anti-air in the vicinity. Aid me in this and Cryptic will be clear for to bomb out anything competing for railgun attention.

If this succeeds, Cryptic, be advised of eastern antiair.

>Micro 6C 33334, attack Automato
>-Standing order advance 3-ward

Name: Yacherii
Command Cap: 6
Flag: Akolon
Perks: [Orbital Reserves]
Squad: 4 Skirmishers
Standing Order: Advance 3-Ward

>>1341205

There's a large enemy group SE of the centrasl hill. Requesting reinforcements.

>Micro 4B: move 6, shoot Gourdo 333 333

Name: Ambrose
Command cap: 6
Flag: Akolon
Perks: [Advanced drones]
Squad: 2x Rail drone
Standing order: hold ground

Rolled 9, 10 = 19 (2d10)

>>1341205
Command Cap: 6/6
Flag: [FSK] Fis'Kiire
Perks: [Master of Delegation]
Squad: 1x Signal, 1x Soldier, 2x Skirmisher
Standing Order: N/A

>>1341307
"Roger Yacherii, focussing fire on AA-platforms."

>Micromanage soldier 3D: move 3333, fire at automato (or nearest enemy if already dead)
>[Master of Delegation] free order: rest of squad Advance in 3 direction. Shoot Pump-kins.

>>1341205
>>1341307
Roger Yacheri, confirm AA down. Should be able to risk it.

All units be advised, I will be commencing saturation bombing of the target area, with intent of mopping up as many hostile contacts as possible. Be sure and steer clear if you can.

>Launch bomber, .place spread to hit as many hostile units as possible (with preference to minimise friendly fire).

Name: Cryptic
Command Cap: 6
Flag: [FSK] Fis'Kiire
Perks: [Crawler Operations]
Squad: 1x Signal Drone, 4x Skirmisher Drone
Standing Order: Advance into woods

File: Target.jpg (118 KB, 819x428)

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>>1341205
>Squad Advance 4hexes towards indicated location.

Name: Wendigo
Command Cap: 6
Flag: Akolon
Perks: [Orbital Reserves]
Squad: [1x Signal Drone (2c), 2x Skirmisher Drone (2c)]
5A 0/6 || 5B 6/6 || 5E 4/4 || 5D 4/4
Standing Order: Hold Position

>>1341205
Are the fighters ready to launch?

>>1341857
Yes

>>1341883

"Well then, launch fighters! AA be damned, that pumpkin patch must not survive, before it turns!"

>launch fighters, prioritize the turning pumpkin patch, AA be damned. If spare shots are left then try to aim for automatos.

Name: Ventris
Command Cap: 6
Flag: Fis'Kiire
Perks: [Upgraded Drones]
Squad: 2x Soldier Drone- KA1
Standing Order: Advance

>>1342086
>Squad: 2x Soldier Drone- KA1
Whoops, there should be two more KA-1 skirmish drones in there as well.

>>1342086
I believe KA1-L already finished it off. Which would mean...you're sending the air units to attack the anti-air units.

Ventris.
Ventris stahp.

It might use up a couple missiles at least?

>>1342682
No, Kail killed the western injured patch. The eastern one at the back is the transforming one, which Ventris sent fighters at in a last-ditch attempt to prevent the transformation.

Interestingly, the transformation appeared to be triggered by our attack on the eastern patch. The patches might well be in communication somehow, perhaps through connected underground roots.

>>1342725
Damnable pumpkins. General Merein is right not to trust them further than he can chew them.

>>1342725
It's still rather questionable. Even if the fighters by some miracle aren't shot down, and even if transformation is not completed this turn, only a single microed railgun would be in range of it.

Ideally, we'd have all our railguns lying in wait, trash targets cleared away, and fighters in our pockets, but 1.5/3's not terrible in this case.

>>1341205
>Deploy/drop 4 skirmishers:
>4 of 8A
>3 of 8A
>5 of 8A
>2 of 8A

Name: Evergreen
Command Cap: 6/6
Flag: [FSK] Fis'Kiire
Perks: [Orbital Reserves]
Squad: (8/8C) 1xSignal
Standing Order: Advance

>>1342845
There's no telling the specifics, seeing as I had to give a vague order instead of a specific target area since the enemies would have moved by the time it reached them, but the bomber ought to clear up a sizeable chunk of trash targets, if not all of them.

I do have to question the apparent plan of clogging the AA guns with the wreckage of our planes though. They get reaction fire the instant our aircraft enter their (long) range, so I'm pretty sure they'll die without achieving anything. My bomber might still get shot down, but the fighters definitely will.

>>1341186
You know, I've just remembered the other Homeworld game this was reminiscent of after noticing the way units run the risk of infection if they get too close.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDcELUCroDs
This could be us if we don't clean and wash our veggies properly. Exercise hygiene!

Processing Turn...

>>1343838
HANG ON NOW.

>>1341205
>Carrier Operations - advance carrier Akolon 3, 3, 3, 3, 3

Redundant Thingamjig
Flag: [AKO] Akollon
Perks: Carrier Operations
--
CC : 6 / 6
Squad: Soldiers x3
Standing Order: ENGAGE AT WILL

Oh so that's how you get it to switch to manual. Right.

>>1343919
Alright I'll accept this one. I did wake up a bit earlier today.

File: Map_P5.jpg (2.65 MB, 2098x1746)

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>>1341348
Fleet Intelligence:"One of the patches has been terminated, Aircraft Launching."

>standby for enemy phase...

>>1344113

>That horde of cute drones

*sniff* "It's beautiful."

File: Map_E5.jpg (2.52 MB, 2098x1746)

2.52 MB JPG

>>1344113
Fleet Intelligence:"Priority Alert! We have two active Pump-Kings on the field. Commanders the brass are getting nervous. The loss of even a single crawler is devastating."

"Strike fighters have been shot down."

>Standby for aftermath...

File: Map_A5.jpg (2.49 MB, 2098x1746)

2.49 MB JPG

>>1344248

Fleet Intelligence:"The Akolon is dangerously exposed."

>Declare actions, same deal. I'll process when I wake up tomorrow in just under 24 hours.

Rolled 10, 5, 9, 7, 3, 2 = 36 (6d10)

Name: Stream-chan
Command cap: 6
Flag: Akolon
Perks: [High APM]
Squad: 1x Signal Drone, 2x Soldier Drone

"Whew, big guy coming in! Don't worry though, my subscribers, we've got him on lock!"

>Order: Micromanage Soldier 11A & Signal 11B
>11B: Move 322
>11B: Fire at Pumpking 22221 (1st 3d10)
>11A: Fire at Pumpking 22211111 (2nd 3d10)

>>1344269
Roger, Intel. Airborne assets have been prematurely disposed, but the situation is well in hand.

Crawler Operator Redundant! Leave navigation to me and overclock our turrets! With our charity streamer's assistance, you can't miss.

Keep things simple for our railguns' targeting algorithms. Squad preservation is only secondary.

>Drive Akolon 3222
>-Standing Order Advance 3-ward

Name: Yacherii
Command Cap: 6
Flag: Akolon
Perks: [Orbital Reserves]
Squad: 6 Skirmishers
Standing Order: Advance 3-Ward

>>1344269

4A, nooooo!
Ok, 4B, you're the cutest now. Work hard on your new position.
>Deploy another rail drone between the carrier and the Pump-King

Name: Ambrose
Command cap: 6
Flag: Akolon
Perks: [Advanced drones]
Squad: 2x Rail drone
Standing order: hold ground

File: LZ.jpg (199 KB, 898x625)

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Rolled 3, 2, 6, 5, 10, 1 = 27 (6d10)

>>1344269
>Deploy Drones at Designated Locations
>-Yellow=Skirmisher
>-Red=Signal
>-Standing Order Hold Position, 5B: 3dice, 5E:3dice
"Arkul, Got signal to your slice'n'dice, git her in here, yeah? 5F, kick the PumpKing's ass."

Name: Wendigo
Command Cap: 6
Flag: Akolon
Perks: [Orbital Reserves]
Squad: [2x Signal Drone (2c), 2x Skirmisher Drone (4c)]
5B 6/6 || 5F 6/6 || 5E 4/4 || 5G 4/4
Standing Order: Hold Position

Rolled 1 (1d10)

>>1344269
"Target out of range. My drones will stand their ground and protect the Fis'Kiire. Try to lure the king towards the crawler."
>micromanage 9B : Overwatch charged railgun shot

Name : KA1-L
Command Cap : 6
Flag : [FSK] Fis'Kiire
Squad : Rail Drone, Rail Drone
Standing Order : Hold Position

>>1344269

>Recover lost aircraft

Name: Cryptic
Command Cap: 6
Flag: [FSK] Fis'Kiire
Perks: [Crawler Operations]
Squad: 1x Signal Drone, 4x Skirmisher Drone
Standing Order: Advance into woods

>>1344269
Command Cap: 6/6
Flag: [FSK] Fis'Kiire
Perks: [Master of Delegation]
Squad: 1x Signal, 1x Soldier, 2x Skirmisher
Standing Order: N/A

"The fighters may have been shot down, but they ensured the effectiveness of the bomber. though at this rate, we'll likely go over-budget this mission."
>Deploy more Fighters
>[Master of Delegation] free order: All drones Advance toward central hill, firing on Pump-King

>>1344269
"Drone wall tactics go go go!"
>Orbital drop 2 skirmisher drones
>3 of 8A
>2 of 8A

Name: Evergreen
Command Cap: 6/6
Flag: [FSK] Fis'Kiire
Perks: [Orbital Reserves]
Squad: 1xSignal 2xSkirmisher
Standing Order: Advance

>>1344804
>Recover lost aircraft
>>1344858
>Deploy more Fighters

"Uh... guys? I don't think we can fit more than three."

Rolled 6, 8, 10 = 24 (3d10)

>>1344269

"Well, okay then."
>Micrimanage drone 1c, fire autocannon at pumpking

Name: Ventris
Command Cap: 6
Flag: Fis'Kiire
Perks: [Upgraded Drones]
Squad: 2x Soldier Drone- KA1
Standing Order: Advance

>>1344941
>>1344804
It depends whether you can get both fighters back with a single Deploy action.
At any rate, I've got literally nothing else to do with my action this turn. So perhaps Cryptic would like to do something else?

File: Bomber_Transfer.jpg (76 KB, 841x352)

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>>1344941
>>1345191
You can replenish all lost aircraft with a single deploy order.

Fleet Intelligence:"I've noticed that certain commanders have not been issuing orders recently. If their drones are needed for an urgent task but they are unable to respond it may become necessary to execute Battle Override Transfer protocols to assume temporary control of their assets. I leave it up to your discretion of course, excessive or unwarranted use of B.O.T protocols can become a point of major contention among commanders. "

>>1345217

>1: Ventris
<2: Arkul
>3: Grigori
>4: Ambrose
>5: Wendigo
>6: Yacherii
>7:Cryptic
>8:Evergreen
>9:KA1-L
<10: Redundant
>11: Stream-chan
<12: Operator 60

>>1345263
We had Redundant this last turn, actually.

Apologies all I'll be postponing processing in order to attend to some work.

I'll try and process the turn by the end of the day.

Rolled 10, 5, 10, 5, 3, 6, 10, 9, 8, 5, 3, 5, 5, 5, 7, 6, 10, 8, 3, 3 = 126 (20d10)

>>1345275
>>1345263
I'm in the chair, soldier! I've got the control stick because
>>1344409
Because I've got something to do. Spinning up the turrets!

>>1344269

>Carrier Operations - fire all point defense turrets at the Pumpking ( +2 Hit, Range, Shot )

Well, this is a pretty big target. Oh dear.

>>1347394

I'm gettting some flatlined signal from my drone telemetry. Did anyone see 10B? Did I run it over? Oh dear.

Redundant Thingamjig
Flag: [AKO] Akollon
Perks: Carrier Operations
--
CC : 2 / 6
Squad: Soldiers x1
Standing Order: ENGAGE AT WILL (Courageous 10C)

File: Non-standard_blade_drone.jpg (101 KB, 418x719)

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More apologies. I have been bogged down by a piece of particularly dry academic coursework. Doing it is like pulling teeth.

While you wait here's a close up of the "non-standard" blade drone.

>>1347980
Always worth waiting for.

>>1347980
Estuans interius ira vehementi
Estuans interius ira vehementi
NOVEMBER SIERRA!

>>1341205
"GO MY LITTLE BLADE DRONE KICK THAT PUMP-KING ass!"
>Micromanage: Have bladedrone [Charge] The pump-king

Name: Arkul
Command cap: 6
Vehicle: Akolon
Perks: [Advanced drones]
Squad: 1x Blade drone, 1x soldier drone, 1x Skirmisher drone
Standing order: advance.

>>1347995
Oddly enough Sephiroth was one of the other inspirations for the design of the blade drone.

Right, let's do this before the thread drops off the board.

Processing turn...

Praise be! Our deliverance has come.

File: Map_P6.jpg (2.53 MB, 2098x1746)

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>>1348170
Fleet Intelligence: "Our units are focusing fire on the Pump-Kings. The sheer weight of fire is obscuring our sensors, standby..."

[spoilers]Past a certain point I just stopped adding damage numbers. You guys have done more than enough damage.[/spoilers]

>standby for aftermath

>>1348248
Good job 10C! You're looking especially menancing today.

And good job the rest of you operators. Now does anyone want to call up HQ and inform them how many new bullets we'll need?

File: Map_A6.jpg (2.47 MB, 2098x1746)

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>>1348248
Fleet Intelligence:"The Pump-Kings are down! I repeat we have two confirmed Pump-King kills! Sensors show all lesser curcubitae have been exterminated and the surviving Automatos are fleeing the battlefield."

"Good job commanders. Have the drones form a perimeter and prepare to receive salvage teams. The habitats will eat well tonight, glory to humanity!"

MISSION COMPLETE

Thanks for playing guys. Running skirmishes is a pain in the ass and the creative itch can only push me so far. In the end your participation and enjoyment are what makes this worth it.

Even though this was just an April Fools one shot feel free to hang out and give feed back while the thread is still alive. There are some mechanics and concepts here I may consider adapting for my other games.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2kjMZZMyIM&index=29&list=PLclgj5uvZRWE7hkIBP02_lxlE-SfmyGX8

Are you all satisfied!? Have you gotten the moe drones out of your system!? Because I am not doing this again!

...
Discuss who is best drone.

>>1348267
You.

you are the best drone

>>1348267
I must say the system feels rocket-taggy. Either you go first and kill everything with your horde of drones, or the enemy goes first and kills all your drones with AoE melee.

4A still best drone. RIP. No one can replace you.

>>1348267
"HA! Semper Pie, motherfuckers!"
>Moe Drones will never be out of my system.
Mechanical concept that I enjoyed: Standing Orders. Does a pretty good job of letting the gm know what a player wants from a horde without bogging everything down in micromanaging.

If this were not a one-shot, what would be he method of progression? More perks, improved perks, more CC, or drone improvements?

>Moedrone best drone.

>>1348267
Thanks for running it, was very fun!

How was it to run a swarm system vs mecha mercs? Was the removal of most micromanaged moves enough to make it less nightmarish?

I think that Orbital Assets was probably the most OP of the perks. The ability to just bombard the map with endless re-inforcements felt like it made much positioning rather irrelevant.

The airsupport was fun and interesting. Using drone-aircraft that need a player to use an action to fire was an interesting thing, and made it less of a logistical-debate and/or overwhelming powerful.

Over a longer campaign, I think the optimal strategy is to have one person with Master of Delegation running a full squad of signal drones per carrier, and driving it around with the other action. Then everyone else can focus on more guns and/or carrier weapons.

Signal drone a cute.

>>1348391
Standing orders is pretty great. Just declaring a "Charge!" and what cute drones carry it out.

>>1348393
Optimal Strategy is to have 2 people with carrier operations and 2 Akolon Carriers.

"This Carrier Kills Pumpkings".

--

I enjoyed the flow between large, powerful but vulnerable lynchpin units (carriers) and weaker, disposal units (drones). That's a good mix. It also means you can have havoc and casualties that kills the drones, and makes you feel actual loss, but the commanders in chair-force one feel like actual commanders.

>>1348267
Echoing the rocket tag feel, though I don't feel it so much as a player since I'm working on the level of disposable swarms. They're a blunt force, and blunt resistance is par for the course. Rail drones were what felt a little too potent, though that's mostly due to the sheer number of drones screening them.

I think more of the single command system could be explored if enemies had more flexible methods of deployment, or had other ways to make players really feel the action crunch. Reinforce? Countermand the investment of an earlier standing order to attack an off-the-path threat? Move the crawler into signal range? Every action forced out of the players is a challenge this system is perhaps uniquely suited to posing.

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>>1348317
>No one can replace you.
Pic related

I admit the system gives a massive advantage to those who get in the first hit and the unit balance might not be that great, but I'm not that bothered. I ran this mainly for shits and giggles.
Any mechanical lessons will likely be applied to other games.

Maybe I might run a more serious version of this system, who knows.
Maybe I'll indulge my inner fanboy and run TotallyNot!DesertsofKarak skirmish.

>>1348391
The core mechanics themselves a fairly simple. There's not a lot I could add in terms of progression in terms of perks. Maybe squeeze out one or two drone types? I consider the design in those areas pretty tight. Letting a commander level up and have even two perks would be pretty powerful (Orbital reserves + Upgraded Drones).

Any kind of progression would likely be applied to the crawlers.

>>1348393
This was a little easier to run. Mecha Mercs has fewer units but the fact that each individual unit has a larger stat block combined with having to process up to 10 detailed orders added up to a huge processing load.

Here the fact that I resolved the majority of the actions myself without having to constantly check a player's move string really helped lighten the load despite having more units to work with.

I'm surprised all the perks were taken at least once. I thought everyone would just go for Upgraded Drones or Advanced Drones and view the rest as sub-optimal.

>>1348411
I agree. If I tuned this system it could make for some tense moments. I let you guys off easy with generous transmission ranges and an enemy that came from only one direction.

I actually have a question for you guys:

How frequently do you prefer a skirmish to update:

>Kinda like regular quests (Rapid turn processing over the course of 4-6 hours)

>One turn resolved every 24-48 hours.

>2-3 turns resolved a week.

>>1348393
With the relative hugeness of signal coverage, driving can actually be left to anyone with drones already productively occupied on a given turn. MoD certainly has use there, but is perhaps stronger as a demi-APM that can reliably command larger squads.

Agreed on Orbit power, with the caveat that you're still working with normal drones. Could be reigned in by making them vulnerable to anti-air or landing off-target if lacking multiple signal sources.

Regular quests & One Turn are the most viable methods. Crunching a short session can work out - this 6 turn mission could have been done in an evening of about 5½ hours, looking at your post times from stating "Processing" to the next post of turns.

One turn a day means you have something specific to look forward to and do. More than time than that and threads will start dying.

>>1348448
>Pic related
It's not the same man.
Not the same.

>>1348448
>TotallyNot!DesertsofKarak
Fuck yes. The Homeworld series is my favourite vidya ever, and this did feel a little like jungle!Karak.

>How frequently do you prefer a skirmish to update?
1 turn per day is my prefered. Helps with people being in different time zones, and allows for some planning and co-ordination.

>>1348448
Supporting 1/day, though not without reluctance.

Unit balance/Player skill balance actually seemed pretty good to me, perhaps with the exception of rail drones. I saw a decent use for most player skill & drone combos. I am a bit uncertain as to how the use of the drones with single-shot weapons would be implemented - would they use these at the GM's discretion during a standing order, or would they require a micromanage order to use?

Signal drone micromanage debuff stronk though. From the wording it doesn't even require a hit? I don't think anyone else played with it but that made signal + soldier drone micromanage pretty great at clearing basically anything.

>>1348267
Thanks for running!

It seemed like the players had the advantage due to sheer weight of numbers. Some rubberbanding might be in order if dealing with large groups of players.

I feel like there wasn't really much incentive to move the Fis'Kiire because its control radius was so massive it covered most of the map anyway.

>>1348448
Once per day, it gives a good window for everybody to get actions in no matter their schedule. Though that said 2-3 turns a week is actually the same as this but with a longer window to both give and process orders, so I think it works too.

>>1348267
Rail drones, obviously.

>>1348448
>One turn resolved every 24-48 hours.
Given the slow speed of /qst/ we won't have to be worried about being bumped off the board.

>>1348448
>A turn every 12-24h works pretty well for my schedule.
>But there is something fun about the scramble of 15-30minute windows between turns. High-stress=?fun

As far as advancement goes, I was thinking minor boosts to the perks would be nice. I didn't really care which crawler I was in, desu.
AdvDrones: KA1 variants of rail/blade drone, pick one per advance
UpgDrones: +xCC per adv
MoD: a few options- determine which drones in your squad obey the free order, micromanaged drones will also follow the free order, issue orders to allied drone(s) (BOT protocol overides, hah!)
H AMP: Micromanage an additional drone per adv, micromanage allied drone (advance again to stack with High AMP's base ability)
C-Op: Apply standing order to crawler, +x to crawler actions, upgrade crawler
OrbRes: Scan Location action, Enhance Transmission Range (crawler or signal done), Orbital Bombs

Some of those upgrades might be game-breaking, but I think you get the idea.

>>1348657
Right now the Signal drone's debuff doesn't need to to hit. I gave it that ability because I was having trouble thinking of a stat buff to give it.

>>1348728
Yeah the transmission range mechanic would need tweaking.

>>1348411
>Rail drones were what felt a little too potent
Rail Drones are glass cannons. Powerful attack, they themselves move slowly and are easily destroyed. I felt that offset their power adequately.

Their power could be mitigated by enemy abilities which block line of sight.

Maybe a slight range debuff may be in order but otherwise they work as intended.

>>1351487
Some perks are easier to expand on than others. I specifically decided that there would be no way to expand Command Cap. 6 units per player was the maximum I was willing to deal with.

I need to consider processing load when I think up new abilities.

Doubt anyone's still watching the thread, but I'll try this anyway. Cognis, would it be all right if I tinkered with the rules and ran a game myself to share findings with you?

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>>1357477
I don't know if you'll see this in time, but sure, go right ahead. I'll even give you a picture of the game assets at the size they are on the map.

Tinker away, all I ask is that you credit me as the original creator of the rule set.

>>1357586
That I'll do.