We are a BRO.

>>18567320

>I'll leave the votes open for a bit longer, see if anyone else wants something different.

>>18567320
Agreed we are Bro

Let's be honest. every single player character Raven or LYNX was an autistic wunderkind of AC piloting and fighting.

Which leads me to belive that they're like Heero Yui, only even less talkative.

But hey, that's what comm bunnies are for, I guess.


My vote, the protag has a serious horse fetish. No matter the chargen outcome.

>Only one vote apparently...

You've definitely seen better days. And worse ones for that matter.

Looking at your reflection, you can see the ugly purple bruises starting to form where your harness caught you, and breathing in tells you you've got a cracked rib at the least.

You also take note of the stubble on your face. Judging by the last time you shaved, you've been out for at least three hours. You slowly put on your breather and goggles, and blow the hatch...

>Initiating flashback sequence...
>WHAT is your NAME?

bro

>>18567444

>To be fair, there was very little of the game shown outside giant robot fights.

>For all we know, the various protagonists had a healthy and active social life.

>That said, this quest will have you spending a fair amount of time on foot.

>>18567445

>So uh....

>You guys still here?

>>18567445
Shit, I wanted to vote for being a GUUUUUUUUUURRRL.

Too late, huh? I caught this thread too late.

>>18567466
>you have quite a bit of dialogue between the ravens during mission, outside of combat. White Glint showing up and autisim piloting while Fiona spoke for him notwithstanding.

Also, given the tempo the later games keep you on, I doubt there's much social/free time between missions, travel time, and mech tweaking.

>just pointing it out, not trying to start a fight in your quest or anything. I swear.

>>18567548

>I'll be honest: I'm surprised /tg/ broke the pattern of always choosing a female protagonist.

>>18567557
>>18567548

>Also, kinda need you guys to come up with a name.

>>18567585
Alex Raston

>>18567636
Sounds good

>>18567636

>Only response in almost 20 minutes.
>Alex it is.

You were eight when it happened. Something about a shift in the Earth's poles, some massive event. Within a week the earthquakes and storms had destroyed almost half the civilized world.

Nations collapsed, and the world turned on it's head. You were too young to really understand what that meant to your future. All that mattered at the time was that your father wasn't coming home.

>This sequence might take a little while....

>>18567706

You were ten when it happened. The first semblance to order returning to the world. Recovered information and research data on miniaturized reactor cores and AI algorithms gave the world a real shot at peace.

Soon a building the size of a semi-truck could power a small city, keeping everyone alive and happy. It was a shot at a better tomorrow.

It didn't take long for small minded men to ruin everything.

>>18567777

You were twelve when it happened: the first cores appeared.

A control room designed to take advantage of neural interfacing technology, allowing for an almost tripled effectiveness behind the controls of complicated equipment.

Shit just saw this, who needs sleep.

>>18567827

You were Sixteen when it happened: the weaponized cores had spread like a wildfire. Soon, even bandits in the middle of the wilderness had the basic tech for it, and you found yourself drafted into a militia.

You were coming back from training one day...

"Hey Alex!"

Turning around you see Lawrence, your squad wingman approaching.

"Good to be back in town for some R&R eh? I'm really starting to hate staring at barren landscapes and not shooting bandits."

>How do you respond?

[ ] Boring is good, means nobody dies.
[ ] All this fancy training's going to waste.
[ ] Knew you couldn't keep away, even if I don't feel the same.
[ ] I didn't get enough pestering on patrol?

>>18567958
>[ ] Boring is good, means nobody dies.

[X] Boring is good, means nobody dies.

>>18567958
[X] Knew you couldn't keep away, even if I don't feel the same.

Good natured ribbing is a necessary part of having a wing man.

>>18567958
Boring is good
Nice and chill no jimmy rustlan' do job get paid.

[X] Boring is good, means nobody dies.

>[X] I didn't get enough pestering on patrol?

Lawrence is a prick. I can tell because his name is Lawrence.

>[x] Boring is good, means nobody dies.

we aint no warmonger

"Boring is good. Means nobody dies."

"Huh. You never struck me as the bleeding heart type."

"I'm not. I just don't want to risk being assigned a bigger idiot when you bite it during a real fight."

"Ah! you wound me."

Suddenly you're joined by your team's sniper.

"You know Alex," Elsie begins "If you had as much dick in your pants as your personality, you could make me a VERY happy woman."

"If I had that much dick in my pants, I could fuck the moon." you look over. "Let's stop by the barracks, sooner we file reports, sooner we can go home."

"A-Men to that brother."

>>18568041
Think more Lawrence from spice and wolf then, only in a gaint robot.

>>18568074
This is a curious image you've placed in my head, stranger.

>>18568070
Paperwork, HO!

>>18568113
Well I quite like it, we'll see what everyone else decides as we go along.

>>18568070
file the SHIT out of those FUCKING REPORTS.

>>18568070
Proceed to file reports, have a few brews and go from there.

Time to sign dem papers and get drunk afterwards.

>>18568070

You walk in, and give your CO a respectful nod. fuck salutes.

Lawrence immediately gives him his best parade ground snap, knowing full well it irritates you.

"Alex. Got some new satellite readings. Looks like that migrant column changed course a while ago. They aren't coming here after all."

"Yeah, we just had a boring walkabout in the badlands. How new's the intel?"

"Couple hours. Doesn't look like we're going to be expecting anymore trouble for at least a week. Your team's been on the ground the most, so you got first dibs at some rest in town if you want it."

"Say no more, We'll file out the paper-work and go."

"Nah, get going. I'll take care of that for you."

Lawrence cuts in. "You're nice. Too nice. You're never nice. How is this going to bite us in the ass?"

"It isn't. I just got some good news, thought I'd spread the joy. Now get the hell outta here before I change my mind."

>>18568221
Haha, no paperwork.

It is time to get drunk, very drunk, and once drunk to sing, badly, and only hit the right key when passing from one wrong key to another.

>>18568221
Hell yeah, R&R!

I don't know whats going on here, But whatever.

>>18568243
This sounds like a very good plan.

>>18568221
Well if he insists, looks like we can skip the paper work and head straight for the drink.

>>18568243
I approve of this plan. Bonus points if we try to get into Elsie's pants because why not?

>>18567585
>>I'll be honest: I'm surprised /tg/ broke the pattern of always choosing a female protagonist.


Actually that's a mistaken notion. What you mean is, /tg/ chooses to PURSUE a female protagonist. Also known as waifufagging. I've never seen /tg/ play as a female protagonist in a quest except as Xeno or Alice Boone.

>>18568221

Looking back at the sun slowly disappearing in the distance, you walk out into the colony's dome proper.

"Sooo..." Lawrence begins as he jogs up to you, "Dave and Mooch said they'd catch up as soon as they finished some final checks on their machines. I figure we can make it to the pub, spend some dosh, get some women who love them some soldiers, do something stupid, and spend the rest of the weekend in jail."

Elsie slugs him in the shoulder. "I'm right here."

"Yes, yes you are. I'm sure we can find you a nice woman as ell."

"I don't really swing that way."

"A man can dream."

"Anyway," As she turns to you, eyes twinkling with mischief "We could do something else that's fun, with less chance of getting a court-marshal and wasting money on booze."

"Blasphemy, booze money is never a waste."

"Shut up Laurie. Also, wouldn't be a bad idea to check in with your mom and sis before we end up in too deep shit either way."

[ ] But the nobody would laugh at Laurie making an ass of himself.
[ ] What sort of alternative to a bar crawl you got in mind?
[ ] Family first. THEN we party.

>>18568348
So that means we're gonna have to bone Lawrence to break the pattern?

>>18568335

Nah, Elsie's just like one of the guys.
Although she'd definitely be a better squadmate to shag than Lawrence, that prick.

>>18568221

It wouldn't behoove us to ignore such a kind gesture.

That said, let's get sloshed.

>>18568348
The protagonist is female in Privateer Quest, Planetary Governor Quest, MAQuest, and For House and Dominion. Those are just some of the quests running right now.

[X] Family first. THEN we party

>>18568360
Family then laughing at Laury?

>>18568360

Family first. But inquire as to the alternate bar crawl for after.

>>18568348

>Almost every quest I've seen where /tg/ had a chance to pick gender, it's been female. I'd honestly be surprised if this turned out to be the exception rather than the rule.

[X] What sort of alternative to a bar crawl you got in mind?

And I guess we'll visit our family after we have a bit if fun.

>>18568360
>[X] But then nobody would laugh at Laurie making an ass of himself.

Unless, of course, Elsie's alternative also involves Lawrence making an ass of himself.

Lets check on our family first but lets here what Elsie has to say on the way.

>>18568360
GO HOME AND BE A FAMILY MAN
and then see what Elsie has in store.

>vague hints towards the Great Destruction
So the setting is in the era of 1, yes?
>[x] Go pick up that ultra broken rapid fire laser cannon that wastes everything in a few seconds, the 01QL, was it?
But on a more serious note, family time.

>>18568348
Bloodquest, Rubyquest, Frost Giantess, H.A.N.A. quest, Privateer, Planet Governor, and more. There are more non-female protags than female due to a similar number of male ones and a good percentage of quests have nonhuman protags or you are a company or completely sexless entity.

>>18568360
[X] What sort of alternative to a bar crawl you got in mind?

>>18568419
Lets be honest he will always make an ass of himself.

Armored Core? Depending on the era, I doubt people other than independent warlords can afford an AC. Mostly just Muscle Tracers.

>>18568492
I'm not so sure we pilot an AC at this point. We're flashbacking to our days in the militia, remember?

>Looks like family's winning.

"Sorry to disappoint, but I should really check in on family first."

"Can't blame you for being responsible."

"The hell we can't. You wanna go home and be a family man? Fine. But don't expect there to be any women or booze left when I get done."

The two of you watch him walk away. "Now I kinda wanna see what the hell he's going to get into."

"Don't follow. That just means he wins."

"Meh." You hit a vending machine, get a drink. As you start to walk to the tram home, Elsie falls in beside you.

"So, what other kind of fun did you have in mind?"

"Oh, nothing special. Go for a walk, get a bite to eat, maybe catch a show..."

You take a drink of iced tea.

"....fuck like animals until our hips give out...."

You choke on your iced tea.

"Too easy." She says with a smirk.

>>18568541
Note to self: Get augmented hips.

>>18568541

Had a feeling. Well, we'll get her back when the time comes. Patience will serve our revenge.

That said, FAMILY TIME.

>>18568541
I'm hardly easy if you're offering to take me to a nice dinner and a show first. It was going to be a nice dinner and a show right?

>>18568564

TOP OF THE LINE augmented hips.
Also, I vote that we try to play along with her game on the way home.

>Some clarification seems needed.
>This quest is not ties to any of the series or continuities from the Armored Core franchise.
>Other than generally bleak tone, names, and themes, this is a new setting filled with Armored Core related shit.

>Like an AU.

>At this point in time, you are a Core pilot in your colony's militia.
>More detail will be added either as it comes up, and/or is requested.

>Feel free to ask questions, I'll try and work in answers when I can.

>>18568621
How long have we been a pilot for?
How much if any, combat have we seen as well as severity?
Who's our family?

>>18568621
Where's our shiny new Karasawa?

>>18568564
>>18568609
We didn't ask for this.

>>18568701
Yes we damn well did. Well, not the whole world collapse thing, but definitely the hips.

>>18568701
Then we damn well should have!

>>18568621
What are the specs of our core? What weapons does it have? Is it standardized?

>>18568541

"Ah you bitch, you got some up my nose!"

She laughs at your predicament.

"Fuck, I think I inhaled some."

She laughs harder.

After you've both calmed down a bit you turn to her.

"I think I'm offend by you calling me easy. You were after all planning to take me to dinner and a show. It was going to be a nice meal right? Not some cheap affair where you say you love me and you really mean 'I love cock'."

And with that she spits out her soda. Revenge is sweet.

You don't laugh at her misfortune, and choose instead to feel smug about it. Until her soda can hits you in the side of the head.

"Asshole."

"You started it."

You see your house ahead.

[ ] Tell Elsie you'll catch up with her later.
[ ] Ask her to wait. It's only a quick visit after all.
[ ] Bring her along.

Bring her along, whats the harm?

>>18568739
>[X] Bring her along.
We're in the locale militia, right? It's probably an everyone knows everyone, thing.

Besides, she was the one who suggested we visit our family.

>>18568739
Might as well bring her along

Less chance she'll backstab us for a buck later.

What? Mercinay work gets ugly

>>18568739
Bring her along, she's our bro, our family probably knows her and it means our family and troll her by calling her our new girlfriend. And our Mom might have baked cookies, and we aren't going to let her miss out on those.

>>18568739

We'll catch up to her.

>>18568757

NEVER. ASK. THAT.

>[X] Bring her along

>>18568770
We're millitia at the moment though. Not saying that she wouldn't just pointing that out.

>>18568647

>At this point, you aren't quite 20. If you count training sims as 'pilot' you've been at it for about three years. Just actual seat time? about a year running patrols.
>You've been in a couple of skirmishes, but no serious combat. You have, however, played the SHIT out of some combat sims, so you do know what you're doing.
>Family currently consists of your mom and your little sister.

>>18568697

>Like you could afford one.

>>18568724

>Basic mid-weight bipedal. Built mostly for high-mobility mid-range combat. Elise has a reverse jointed sniper, Mooch runs over-watch, and Dave is a fucking artist in a melee. Lawrence is Recon. As much as you tease, he's pretty good at reading everything that isn't a poker-face or a woman.

>>18568697
Karasawa's suck

Machine guns nigger. Bunny hopping and good AP for those hits that get through are all you need. Way better then those measly 50 shots, or in the newest game, measly 4 shots

>>18568769

>Militia's about 200 strong. Only about 20 pilots though. Two squads sharing a set of mechs, alternating patrols.

>>18568851
How they set up?

>>18568820
>he's pretty good at reading everything that isn't a poker-face or a woman.
I laughed far more at that last bit then I should have.

>>18568739

You walk right up to the door and knock.

Seeing Elsie stand back, you grab her by the sleeve and pull her up.

She seems slightly surprised by this, but relents quickly enough.

You sister opens the door. "Alex?"

"Hey Ari."

"What's up?"

"Got some time off, figured I should be a good boy and check on you and Mom."

"Oh. Come on in then." She pauses. "Who's this?"

[ ] "This is Elsie, she's in my squad."
[ ] "Elsie. She's a friend of mine."
[ ] "Your future sister in law."
[ ] Let Elsie handle this one. You smell GINGER SNAPS.

>>18568945
I say a combo of 3 and 1. Everyone will get a laugh out of the sister in law and then the truth part is the...truth

This is Elsie and she-I smell GINGERSNAPS

>Cloudflare giving anyone else problems?

>>18568945

[x] Future sister in law.

>>18568945
[x] "Your future sister in law."

Trolling mode engaged.

>>18568945

Leave her hanging. There's cookies to be had!

>>18568978
Not that I've seen...

Sister in-law then right off to ginger snaps. Leave them gapping

>>18568978
Cloudflare's just a backup. It only shows up when 4chan's fucking with you.

I did lose my phone's network for about 15 minutes, though.

>>18568945
Future sister in law, run past her while she's still in shock and acquire ginger snaps.

>>18568978
Cloud flares being a pain on my end.

[X] Let Elsie handle this one. You smell GINGER SNAPS.

>>18568993
>>18569004
Trolling + Ginger Snaps thirded

So, do we get to decide what sort of core we get?

"This is Elsie."

Elsie gives a weak wave. Seems like she's uncomfortable with this social situation.

Ain't that just a damn shame.

"She's your future sister in law."

Her hand freezes mid wave, and she turns slowly to regard you, while your sister slowly cocks an eyebrow.

"Only one reason for you to man up like that. I assume you're the father?"

Elsie seems even more shocked.

"God I hope so, otherwise I'm going to look like an idiot for buying that ring."

Elsie seems to be on the verge of overcoming her shock at the situation.

"Do I smell cookies?"

"Yeah, Mom's pulling some 'snaps out of the oven."

"I have fantastic timing."

You walk past your sister, towards the kitchen while Elsie makes hand gestures and tries to remember how to talk.

>>18569046
Probably down the line. Right now we got a mid ranged mid spec average man on loan.


Gonna be interesting when all of /tg/ tries to decide what to upgrade and what line we'll go down

(I like mid-heavy AC's with high defence and a focus on internals. Give it a machine gun and a rocket pod and there you go)

>>18569046

>Eventually. This bit's a less open, since it's more or less the prologue.

>You're going to leave the rails behind more or less forever in two to three threads though.

>>18569084
That might be best decided by rolling for it, just for shitstorm avoidance.

Or AC-Guy has something planned already.

>>18569084
>Gonna be interesting when all of /tg/ tries to decide what to upgrade and what line we'll go down

We need some sort of mobile base so we can quick-change parts, because I don't think we're ever going to agree.

>>18569075
'And this is why you shouldn't throw soda cans at people.'

>>18568841
Well now that I'm out of the shower
>machine guns
>better than Karasawa
Only in 3, Silent Line, and V, boyo. As far as the rest of the series goes, there's a reason it's famous.
Well, if we're talking PVP, then you've also got me in 4(lol4) and For Answer.

>>18569084
>>18569096

>Upgrades are going to be limited by a couple of factors, like availability, weight, energy consumption, and cost.

>If you want to hook a new part to your machine, you're going to need to buy it, figure out a way to make it hook up without making your legs buckle underneath you, and provide the energy necessary for it to work.

>>18569100
We should say this when she hunts us down.

>>18569128
So it's more-or-less just like the game?

>>18569138

>More-or-less.

>I'm trying to keep the basic feel of the game while allowing the relative freedom of a table-top.

>>18569075
Our sister is kind of awesome.

Anyway, we should let our mom in on the gag; we don't want her actually thinking we're getting married, and if she raised a couple smartasses like us and our sister she might well be good to have in the pranking party.

>>18569128
Are you going to use parts from the games, or ones you came up with yourself?

>>18569122
True enough. I remember my AC1 ac was just it with two exrra ammo pods for back slots. Still the machine gun is a good range, good damage and does not run out of ammo unless you are a horrid shot.

And in 4a you're better off with assault rifles

Still my main design philosopy is to outlast your opponents. That means heavy acs with guns that have huge ammo count and a big generator/booster to make it move like the lighter ones. Dodge the shots that need be dodged. The AC 1 and 2 Karasawa can fit in that because they were good. Can't say that for the other games

>>18569075

"Hi Mom."

"Hello Alex. Didn't know you were coming home."

"Didn't know myself, until about an hour ago."

"Surprise leave?"

"Smelled cookies."

She smirks. "You're going to have to wait for them to cool. I notice you've brought someone with you?"

You turn to see Elsie enter the kitchen. She looks kinda cute when she's angry. You'll be sure to bring that up if you decide you hate having legs. "This is Elsie, she's a friend of mine."

"Is that why you told your sister that I was PREGNANT with your CHILD?"

"No, I did that because you threw a can at my head earlier. That hurt."

"Like hell an empty soda can injured you."

"It hurt my feelings."

"That's great. Why shouldn't I kill you where you stand?"

"I have cookies for a peace offering."

"These had better be the best Ginger snaps I've had in my life."

You watch as she takes one and bites into it. "Your verdict?"

"These cookies just saved your life."

>>18569159

>Bit of Both.

>>18569209
Thank Mom for the life saving cookie.

It's only polite.

>>18569209

Mom rocks. Let's enjoy some quality time, then hit the town with Elsie.
Hopefully we'll be nearby when Lawrence manages to get himself arrested.

Proceed to devour cookies, check in with mom and sister. Thank mom for cookies.

>>18569209

"Hey, it's not like that won't happen someday."

Then eat one of dem snaps with the biggest smirk/poker face we can put on.

>>18569098
You mean like that AC mobile command trailer in the Brave New World series?

>>18569269
I've never heard of it before, but it sounds like exactly the kind of thing I want.

>>18569209
Eat some cookies, hug our mom and sister. Take a small bag of cookies with us to share at the barracks, hit the town with Elsie.

>>18569209

After you and Elsie agree on a temporary truce, you get a couple more cookies in you before your Mother chases you away from the pan.

After a bit of a chat you find out that Ari's doing good in class, and those bribes to the staff to put her behind a command desk instead of a Cockpit seem to be doing well. Best she doesn't learn about that, seeing as how much she looks up to you for joining the Militia.

Your Mom gets you to take out the trash, and on the way back in, you catch an interesting exchange. "So are you two a couple?"

"Not really. It's mostly jokes, some sexual tension. We're friends."

"SOME tension huh? That's a funny way of saying you lust after my brother."

"W-wha-"

That's when you walk into the room. And you get to see your sister pantomiming sucking a dick. This is not something you ever wanted to see Ariana doing.

Your eyes meet. Yours speaks volumes of your disapproval. Hers says only 'I regret nothing'.

Elsie practically drags you out the door, while you say goodbye to your family, and remind Ari on the importance of dental health.

Your Mother tells you that dinner will be at around eight if you and your 'lady friend' wanted to have a home cooked meal.

>>18569366
So do we know if Elsie has any family? If so why not go visit her now? Kinda 'I showed you mine now you show me yours.'
If she doesn't and or isn't on good terms then lets find Lawrence.

>>18569366
Comedy gold issues from your keyboard, sir. You have my respect.

>>18569393

I second this idea.

>>18569393
This, and go back home for dinner, if Elsie's family doesn't invite us.

>>18569393
I say we suggest this, but let Elsie decide what we do.
Finding Lawrence should be hilarious, though.

>>18569366

The two of you walk off into the beginning of the evening gloom, Elsie trying to hide her embarrassment behind her long hair.

She's failing miserably, but some things you don't call a friend on.

Since she doesn't seem to want to start the conversation....

[ ] "So we left Mooch, Dave, and Laurie unattended. Wanna see what sort of trouble they're in?"
[ ] "You know, we can get a good view of the Stars past the schools...."
[ ] "That was fun. Never seen you blush so much. Shall we get a drink next, or skip right to bouncy fun times?"
[ ] Say NOTHING. Try and out aloof his quiet ass.

>>18569366

You make me smile.

>>18569393

This.

>>18569435
>[ ] "You know, we can get a good view of the Stars past the schools...."

Sorry guys, mis-posted the info about trucks in the other AC thread.

Link is here: >>18569387

Say Nothing.
Eventually the embarrassed sexual tension will break her.

>>18569435
[x] "So we left Mooch, Dave, and Laurie unattended. Wanna see what sort of trouble they're in?"

>>18569435

>[X] "You know, we can get a good view of the Stars past the schools...."

>>18569393

>Elsie's an Orphan. You found this out after asking your CO to get a hold of them when she broke her leg in training about a year and a half ago. Mom died in child birth, Dad died in action in the militia.

>It's why she always reminds you to be good to your family. It's also probably why she didn't know how to handle the teasing very well, being an only child during the brief period of having any family.

>[X] "You know, we can get a good view of the Stars past the schools...."

>>18569435
>[x]See what kind of trouble they're in

If this follows normal AC guidelines, everyone we work with except our personal desk-jockey will be dead by the time the actual plot starts. We might as well hang out with them a bit first.

>>18569475
See what kind of trouble they're in then.

>[x] You know, we can get a good view of the Stars past the schools....

>>18569482
Recon guy might live, what with not being built for combat.

>>18569435
View of the stars, but bring some alcohol with.

>>18569163
I played the fuck out of AC3 and Nexus. By the end, I used only one core, with varying gun loadouts. It had the best armored core and tank legs and the best reactor and boosters I had available. The other parts didn't really matter.

The loadout I used most consisted of grenade arms for ACs and 2 back chain guns for everthing else. I never bothered manuvering. You close the distance and pound whatever it is into submission.

I beat nearly all the missions on the game with this, and I could put down nineball, or any other area opponent, in less than a minute. It's been a few years since I've played, though.

>>18569435
>[x] "So we left Mooch, Dave, and Laurie unattended. Wanna see what sort of trouble they're in?"

TEAM MEMBERS ASSEMBLE!

>>18569652

Gotta find out what kind of guy has 'Mooch' for a nickname. Or God forbid, it's his actual name...

To you, >>18569652 I say pic related.
And to you, >>18569678 as a general rule, callsigns (among fighter jocks anyway) are likely to be some form of good-natured insult or ribbing. You're more likely to meet a guy called "Snakeshit" than a guy called "Wolverine".

>Sorry for the delay guys, I forgot my socks in the dryer, and apparently this warrants a lecture.
>Bitch, I will get my whites when I'm done with my giant robot game.

"Sooo.."

Elsie looks over at you.

"We kinda left Mooch Dave, and Laurie unattended. Wanna go see what sort of trouble they've got themselves in?"

She pauses. "Oh shit, I never thought of that. We need to go. Where are they?"

"Laurie said they were going to the pub, so that's a good place to start. After that we can just follow the screams and destruction."

"I really wish I could write that off as smarmy banter."

"Me too."

>>18569752

Surprisingly enough, the bar's intact when you get there.

Lawrence seems to be losing a game of pool. Those poor bastards have no idea how bad he's playing them. Dave's chatting with a girl who seems less than interested in his advances.

Mooch is sitting calmly at a table.

On the ceiling.

"Mooch?"

He looks your way. "Elsie. Alex. Sup?"

"Mooch, why are you on the ceiling?"

"Less crowded."

"HOW are you on the ceiling?"

"SCIENCE. And duct-tape."

He takes a long slow pull from the beer he's holding.

Suddenly Dave's shenanigans have caught your attention. It appears that the woman wasn't interested because she was already taken. By a rather large man, it seems. One who seems to be holding a chair in a less than friendly manner when he got Dave's attention.

[ ] See Dave run, run Dave run. See Alex Laugh. Laugh Alex Laugh.
[ ] Try and pull Dave out of the situation.
[ ] Barfight.
[ ] Grab Elsie and leave quickly. You'll bail them out in the morning.

>>18569713
Of course, in front of the ladies it's SOP to make up a cool sounding one on the spot. And the pilots code of honor says you go with your bros made up callsign in front of her untill he gets laid later that night.

>Thread dead or just slowed?

>>18569815
>[x] Try and pull Dave out of the situation.

We chose to be a bro, so a bro we will be.

>>18569815
[x]Try and pull Dave out

He is our squadmate, after all.

>>18569815
Is there an invite Mooch to dinner option? If not the bars still standing lets pick them up from lockdown in the morning

>>18569815
>"SCIENCE. And duct-tape."
I love Mooch.

>[X] Try and pull Dave out of the situation.

>>18569678
>>18569713

>Mooch is.... interesting.
>He has a real name, but nobody ever calls him by it. To the extent where he signs papers as 'Mooch'.

>>18569815
Pull him out, as much of an idiot as he is he is our team mate.

>>18569815
Save dave!

>>18569830

This.

>>18569815

"We should try and help Dave."

"He brought this on himself."

"Because we left him without adult supervision."

"Fine. How are we gonna play this?"

"Dave's mentally challenged?"

"Did that last time."

"You're Dave's angry girlfriend?"

"Last time we did that he grabbed my ass. He's better pilot without broken fingers."

"Flash your tits?"

She slugs you in the shoulder. "I doubt my B's are going to be turning heads anyway."

"Fine then. Mooch?"

"Sup?"

"We need a distraction."

"Caaaaan do."

With that he lets go of his chair, drops to the floor next to you, and disappears out the side door.

>>18569896
Mooch, stop getting more awesome by the second. Stop it right now.

>>18569815
>[x] Try and pull Dave out of the situation.
And if that don't work, get our barfight on.
>>18569826
Of course. And anyone who claims mech pilots don't have a personal culture similar to that of fighter jocks is an idiot.

>>18569896
I think I love Mooch, I have already developed a man-crush on him. And we haven't even seen him save our collective ass in combat with his over-watch skills.

>>18569907
At this point I don't think he can. That fucker better not suffer from AC syndrome.

>>18569896

Mooch returns through the door on the other side of the bar moments later, riding what looks like a giant rocket powered dildo.

"yippY KAY AYYyyeee" He cries out in his brief flight from back door to out the front window. Everyone is distracted by this turn of events, even you. Luckily you recover first and quickly pull Dave out the back.

Where you and Elsie take a few minutes to slap the stupid out of him.

>>18569913
There needs to be some bit of distictive clothing only mech jockeys wear. Like a pilots flight jacket. Some way of showing the whole world were a raven, and thus better than them.

>>18569954
He what? Uhh so new bar then?

>>18569984
I've been trying to devise something like that for years, but I can't think of anything that is both really unique (there are still pilots in most mecha settings, so the jacket is right out) AND doesn't look friggin' stupid.

>>18569954
Mooch is the best friend a giy could have.

>>18569998
How about a beret?

>>18569998
It would start as something used while running a mech, becoming purely symbolic later. So maybe some sort of plasticly jumpsuit you have to wear in combat, or a harness you have to wear to keep from hitting the roof of your cockpit if you go inverted.

>>18569954

Mooch finds you.

"Hey, be easy on Dave. He's the only one crazy enough to follow my insane plans."

"Do you need him alive for these plans?"

"Mostly. Though I do think I have a lead on making a zombie virus...."

"Mooch? Remember how you told us to tell you when you have bad ideas?"

"Yes. And I still think that you're all jealous that I thought of an AC sized Harpoon first."

"Yeeaah... Well Zombies? I think the world has enough problems."

"Hmmmm.... I will consider this."

"What the hell was that thing you were riding anyway?"

"Oh that? Something Dave's had me working on. He wanted to see if it was possible to have a small enough reactor core power a personal vehicle. In this case some kind of hover-bike. So far that's as small as I've managed."

"Does the fact that it looks kinda like...."

"A rocket dick?" Dave adds as he gets off the ground. "It's not quite what I had in mind. Then again."

"Why do you even WANT a flying bike."

"Flying Bikes get ALL the bitches. Currently however, I'm stuck with the Love Commander."

"The... The WHAT? You're calling that thing the love commander?" Elsie always did have problems with the unique thinking pattern that makes up Mooch and Dave's world.

"What would you call it?" Without waiting for a response, he turns and grabs Mooch and begins to wander off. "Mooch, I've been thinking about a way to extend air-time in an AC. What do you think about making one transform into a plane?"

Well.

That happened.

[ ] Go back inside. Technically, YOU never did anything wrong.
[ ] Go look at the stars.
[ ] Home cooked meal.

>>18570073
Lets get some home cooking

>>18570073
[x] Home cooked meal.

>>18570073
Acquire a bottle of alcohol, find a nice place to look at the stars and pass it between ourself and Elsie. Maybe stumble back home past midnight and raid the fridge for the leftovers Mom left.

>>18570073

Stars. Then meal.

>>18569984
>>18569998

>Way I see it, Mech pilots see the world in two flavors: People who pilot mechs, and people who don't have access to ludicrously destructive giant war-machines. They just wear whatever the hell they want, unless somebody in a bigger robot says otherwise.

>You, Elsie and Laurence wear something resembling a uniform. Dave mostly dresses casual, except for special occasions. Mooch looks like some sort of cross between a hobo-wizard and a Blade Runner extra most of the time. Given the fact that he's less than sane, and in more or less THE GUY to talk to when you want something mechanical done, people just kinda let it slide.

>>18570073
>[x] Go look at the stars.
>>18570065
Harness of some kind isn't a bad idea. Maybe cover it in pockets to make up for the fact that you can't really fit a jacket into the cockpit (I feel naked if I don't have at least ten pockets spread out among my clothing, I don't really know why). The early ones having been huge bulky things kinda like a rappelling harness, but by the "now" of setting they've been reduced in size to the point that they're kinda like a pair of bandoleers...
Oh god, I'm thinking like Rob Liefeld. Kill me. Please.

>>18570073
>[X] Home cooked meal.
We have a pretty cool family. We should spend more time with them.

What happened to our dad, anyway?

>Two votes for stars, two for meal, one for both.

>Well then.

You suggest going back to your mother's place for dinner, Elsie seems slightly dismayed at confronting your family again, but agrees when you insist on dragging her along.

You note that you still have most of an hour until dinner, so you take something of a scenic route there. Along the way, you pass by the school, and look up at the sky. Elsie doesn't seem to notice. You take careful note of where the best view would be.

You walk in silence. It's almost like going on patrol, nothing to talk about, so you don't talk. Don't need to look at her to know she's there, and you sorta take comfort in the fact she is.

It's weird though, you've been joking back and forth for almost as long as you've known each other, but until today you never really thought about her in something resembling a romantic context.

You're kinda glad she doesn't talk.

You aren't sure what you'd say.

You wonder if she feels the same way.

That's how the two of you arrive at your family's home, shortly before eight. Together in body, alone with your thoughts.

>You guys want me to keep going? This seems like a good dropping off point, but I'm game to go for another hour or two, where there'd be another point that'd work just dandy.

>Keep going means more PLOT and DAWWW.

>Drop here means more developing the world itself.

I remember whe MW1 was released...

>>18570183

>You do try to at least pop in and visit whenever you get the chance.

>As for your father... You don't know exactly. All you know is that he worked in some sort of emergency services thing, and went out to try and help in the beginning stages of the world going completely to shit.

>>18570261
Keep going, I'm enjoying this. Also the more PLOT and DAWWW you use the more we care about the story, characters and what happens to them, and that's what I'm looking for.

>>18570261
"BRING OUT YOUR DAWWW!!!!!!!"

>>18570275

>Alright. Gimmie a minute and let me get something to drink.

>>18570129
>>18570130
What if the harness was part of the uniform? So the distinctive outfit is a camo uniform with black stripes runing across the chest and around the shoulders, like a rock climbing harness. If you looked close, youd see the the black stripes were made out of a differnt material than the rest of the suit.

Originanly the harnesses had to be sown into the uniforms by hand, and the strange looking uniforms became a status symbol. Now they make them standerd, but the mech boys demanded that they leave the harness visable.

>>18570304
I like the way you think anon.

>>18570304

>It's an interesting idea. But whenever I think of the inside of a mech, I always picture either the ones from Gundam Wing, or the ones from Zoids. Big comfy seat, screens everywhere, giant seat-belt harness thing built in.

>Personally, I like the idea of some sort of a combat vest thing. You could put pockets on in for practical things, but some sort of plates in it for stopping bullets, build in holsters on the inside, easily customize them to make them visually distinct for the pilot while still looking vaguely uniform, and doesn't restrict arm movement at all.

>>18570378
That'd be great for a comfy cockpits setting, but for some reason I've always pictured the cramped, hard to fit inside things, like in Full Metal Panic. Tiny little space where you're just barely able to move, and my interest is primarily for a setting I'm trying to cobble together to run for my group. I'm the big mecha nerd in the group and they asked me to pick a system and put together a setting and GM a mecha campaign after our current campaign (modern day, gun-runners. Basically Jormungand) ends.

>>18570378
Like I said, its a symbolic thing. In the first days, weight on the mech was more critical, so they left out the fancy seats. The stripes on the uniform are still there even though they serve no purpose. Nowadays even military aircraft are air conditioned, but the pilots still wear the flight jackets their forefathers wore to keep out the cold.

In the end, it dosn't really matter what the uniform looks like, only that its flashy and distinctive. Like in real life.

>>18570453
Also, if the uniforms still have the metal loops that would have been used to attach them to the cockpit, then you could hang all kinds of useful shit off of them.

>>18570261

When you get there, your sister answers the door again. This time she smiles when she sees the two of you.

You go inside, and see that your mother has already set out a couple of extra plates for you.

Dinner isn't anything extravagant: Some chicken, some potatoes, some corn.

Elsie and your sister join you soon enough, Apparently Ari has decided to apologize for teasing her so much last time she was here.

Dinner goes smoothly enough. Your family seems glad that you're alright, and that you have relatively normal friends as well. Everything goes quite smoothly, until your sister hits upon an awkward spot.

"So what about your family Elsie? You didn't go visit them while you were on leave?"

[ ] Talk about how these potatoes are SO GOOD and try to distract from the topic.
[ ] Try and intervene on Elsie's behalf.
[ ] Damn shame you can't get involved directly, with this conveniently full mouth.
[ ] Choke on a piece of chicken. go for a different kind of awkward.

>>18570474
Before doing anything, determine if she actually wants us to intervene, by using our extensive knowledge of human body language.

[x] Try and intervene on Elsie's behalf.

>>18570474
Have a choking fit, use our coughing to cover for stomping on the sisters foot and give her "the look". This should give Ariana the message and give us a chance to change the topic if necessary.

>>18570467

Theyre called carabiners. And my immpresion is that they would be deleted on modern uniforms to stop them from hitting you in the back every time you took a step>>18570467
. The staps would have lots of loops to hang thing off of, though.

>>18570416
If people acually use the harness, there will also be be a set of straps around the legs connected to a reinforced belt. And the belt will have straps connected to the ones on the chest. Look up full body harnesses for reference.

>>18570488
this
If Elsie starts talking about it anyway, give her hand a supportive squeeze.
Stealthily

>>18570474
Kick your sis in the leg while pretending to choke on your chicken.

>>18570592
No, we choke on potato, because Human throats are entirely too narrow.
STUPID POTATO -CHOMP-!

>>18570480
This and then chocking on a potatoe.

You decide to help your friend in the most inconspicuous way possible.

By literally inhaling a piece of chicken.

A few seconds into your chocking/coughing fit, you feel like there was probably a smarter way to do this.

It is remarkably painful.

After the brief panic over the affair, conversation returns to normal after you assure them that everything is in fact fine. Then your Mother decides to broach an even more uncomfortable topic.

"So, since you brought up the topic earlier.... when exactly ARE you planning to give me grandchildren?"

She chose to say this while you're drinking your iced tea. Making it both the second time you've chocked at dinner AND on iced tea that day.

>>18570627
I love our family...

>>18570627
Oh not cool mom.

>>18570627
You get children when I'm no longer risking my life piloting a massive engine of death, which means it is going to be a long while as I happen to enjoy massive engines of destruction and I'm pretty damn good at it.

>>18570627
Goddammit we are only 20 or so. WTF mom, WTF.

>>18570627
"Motherrrrr..."

>>18570627
[spoilerlol]I could start right now...[/spoilerlol]

>>18570627
As soon as I figure out where to get my pelvis augmented.

>>18570627

"This is a topic to shelve for now, and pick up never."

"i like now."

"Mom, I don't think I'm old enough to handle something like kids responsibly."

"You pilot a literal engine of death on an almost daily basis, and just had two near death experiences in regards to chocking in the last hour. I'm no longer sure you'll LIVE to a responsible age."

"You'll always have Ari."

"Leave me out of this."

"Fine, fine, I'll drop it for now. But only because I know it'll be gnawing at your for weeks afterwards."

"That's... thanks Mom."

The rest of dinner was eaten in awkward silence.

>>18570627
As soon as Elsie coughs up the dough for that nice dinner.

>>18570677
"My pelvis is augmented"

>>18570687
I love our family, they take trolling us to an art form. And we can't get mad at our Mom due to cookies.

Finish dinner, find somewhere quiet to talk with Elsie, let her know that she can borrow our family any time she wants.

>>18570702
brb, reinstalling Deus Ex.

>>18570687

After dinner you help clean up, and decide to take Elsie out star gazing. There is that nice spot behind the school that you saw on the way over.

Your mom quietly hands you a bag before you leave.

The two of you grab your coats and leave after saying goodbye to your family.

You wander for a while, seemingly aimless, only to end up right where you wanted to be, a small hill near the school, just under some trees. The view of the sky is just as perfect as you were hoping it would be.

While Elsie looks up at the sky, you take a moment to inspect the bag. Inside, there's a pair of large thermal blankets, one with a checkered print and one a simple dark red.

Tucked inside them is a pair of glasses, a bottle of wine, and a note from your mother.

'Hey Alex, thought you might need a little help connecting with your lady friend, and Wine's the classy way to get her liquored up and easy. I would have packed condoms as well, but I want BABIES.'

>>18570779
Our mom is an awesome mom
She reigns from the house in town
With trolling cookies and love
Our mom is an awesome mom

>>18570779

>>18570779
Pour some wine, share a blanket with her and have a nice talk with Elsie under the stars.

Silently thank our mother for being the chillest mom to ever grace this earth.

>>18570779
Oh god choking IRL

>>18570779
Welp guess we better do as she said. Look at stars drink and chat.

>>18570779
Be as classy as possible about this. She's wonderful, and she deserves the best.

>>18570779

You take a deep breath.

On the one hand, you're glad your mother is so supportive and everything.

On the other, what the fuck mother.

Elsie's just a friend.... right?

Today seems to be one of those days. You can remember feeling like this a couple of times. When your Dad left that day. When the cores were first revealed. When you joined the militia.

A feeling like somehow, your life is about to change.

Elsie hasn't noticed your indecision yet, but you need to think about your next move.

[ ] Inform her that your mother seems dead set on playing matchmaker.
[ ] Throw down a blanket like it's a picnic blanket, relax over wine while watching the sky.
[ ] Fuck this sack, whatever happens next is on US, not some outside interference.

>A note: all routes can lead to a potential romance, but this is going to be one of those defining character moments.

>>18570883
I just realised, we've provided her with dinner and a show tonight. (I consider our little escapade with the love commander to have been the show)

>>18570894
Eh may as well let her know about the match maker thing, play it off as a laugh though. Either that or 'what ever happens next is on us'.

>[x] Fuck this sack, whatever happens next is on US, not some outside interference.
Sorry mom. We love ya, but we do shit OUR way and in our own good time.

>>18570894
[X] Throw down a blanket like it's a picnic blanket, relax over wine while watching the sky.

No reason to waste a perfectly good bottle of wine and a nice blanket, and I'd rather not bring up our mother's current interference in our love life. Also it's romantic as fuck.

Also a relationship like this is probably the only one that would work for us, I don't think we could go out with someone who didn't know the world we lived in and who we'd constantly worry.

>>18570894
chuckle at mom
>Fuck this sack, whatever happens next is on US, not some outside interference.
we'll take the wine though...

"Well, not quite the plan, but that I think that counts as dinner and a show..."

Just lean back, relax, and enjoy the stars

>>18570894
[x] Throw down a blanket like it's a picnic blanket, relax over wine while watching the sky.

Mother knows best.

>>18570894
[ ] Fuck this sack, whatever happens next is on US, not some outside interference.

>>18570924
actually, this is probably more in line with
>Throw down a blanket like it's a picnic blanket, relax over wine while watching the sky.
only not bothering with the blanket

>Seems like the second choice won.

One smooth flick of the wrist lays the blanket out nice and smooth.

The slight rustling noise makes Elsie turn around just in time to catch the tail end of your amazed 'can't believe it just laid out like that' expression. You quickly switch back to suave as you pop the cork.

"Oh? What's this then?"

"Had some wine, thought I'd drink. Care to join me?"

"How could I refuse?"

You pour a couple glasses of wine, and look up at the stars.

[ ] Make conversation.
[ ] Slowly put an arm around her.
[ ] enjoy the silence.

[x] Slowly put an arm around her.

>>18571045
[x] Slowly put an arm around her.

It's worked for centuries.

>>18571045
Slowly put an arm around her.

>>18571045
>Enjoy silence.
We're not trying to get into her pants, but we're sure as hell not going to fight it if it were to occur.

enjoy the silence

>>18571045
>[ ] Slowly put an arm around her.
>>18571060
When we accepted the sack, we committed to making her a very happy woman. No reason to stop now.

Out of the corner of your eye, you see her looking up at the sky. You don't know why, but you feel compelled to reach out. To touch her.

Your arm reaches out, out and around. She's only about a foot away. Slowly your arm comes in, ever slower. Some part of you is afraid. Afraid of how she might react, afraid to break the silence.

Your arm finally catches her.

She stiffens. For a moment, for a single gut wrenching heartbeat, she freezes. Then she slowly relaxes. Then she leans into you.

Her weight slowly settles into you, and you gently let out the breath you didn't know you were holding in.

Then she speaks. "Hey Alex?"

"Yeah?"

"What do you think about us?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean.... I've known you for years now. You were the first person from Hope I met, other than my Father. We've been friends for most of it. You've always been there, like family should be, whenever I wanted to talk. You were the only person to come talk to me when my Dad died. I mean, we've joked about it off and on, but I've always thought of you like... a friend. Or a brother maybe." She's quiet for a long moment, the lets out a sigh. "Then today happened. I... don't know. It's like It's like I got a peek at what could be, and I'm not sure how I feel about that. I mean, I love you, you know that. You're probably the only friend I had before our squad got put together. But there's Love, and then there's LOVE love. Romantic love. I just... wanted to know how you feel."

[ ] You're my closest friend.
[ ] I think maybe I've always loved you a little bit.
[ ] You've just summed up how I've felt all day.
[ ] GET OUT OF MY HEAD CHARLES.

>[x] I think maybe I've always loved you a little bit.
FUCK THE DAWWW YES!

>>18571168
I think maybe I loved you a little bit

>>18571168
[x] I think maybe I've always loved you a little bit.

But it took a soda can to the head to make me realize...

>>18571168

>One road leads to sex.
>One road leads to DAWWW
>One road leads to an actual relationship.

>[Choose wisely.]

>Last road leads to HUE.
>But nobody really wants that, since it's sad and not funny at all.

>>18571189

>Also, not necessarily that order for things either.

>>18571189
I think we're shooting for a relationship, but it's hard as hell to figure out which one gets us on the road to grandchildren.

You bastard.

>>18571214

>I'll give you a freebie.

>It's not "Let's be friends."

Fuck you OP, now I wana go back and play though all my AC games, and maybe start work on an AC fanfic or something.

The AC universe really is perfect for tragic romance, so much death and destruction, with little tiny glimmers of hope that spring up and get crushed all the time.

>>18571228

>I only promised to do this the next time MSQ had down-time, so it had a chance.

>Hardly my fault that From Software makes the best damned games.

[x] I think maybe I've always loved you a little bit.

>>18571189
>nobody wants HUE
riiight...

>You've just summed up how I've felt all day.
"I wouldn't object to trying to love you, though. If you would be OK with the idea?"

>>18571168
[x] You've just summed up how I've felt all day.

>>18571177
>>18571178
>>18571179
>>18571245

>So, it's unanimous then?
>Last chance to change votes. Not saying this is or isn't the route you're shooting for, but this decision could very well set the tone for the entire game.
>And it's very possible to get a canon bad-end that'll haunt you the whole quest.

>>18571270
This is >>18571177
I'm locking in my vote. No way you're gonna Who Wants To Be A Millionaire ME with that "Is that your final answer?" crap.
Oh dear god I hope I chose well.

>>18571270
Nah, I wanna go the charles- HUE route....OF COURSE, 'Love you a little bit" is the one I want

>>18571270
It's Armored Core, there are no Good Ends, only Less Bad Ends, Bad Ends, Really Bad Ends, and I Just Accidentally Everything Ends.

Anything you might call a Good End is just a brief respite until the sequel comes out and you get your shit all fucked up anyway.

>>18571294

>No such thing as a good end?

>Oh no, there's a couple of legitimate good ends, but they're VERY much 'earn your happy ending'.

>Which includes playing the long game. Which includes thinking ahead.

You hold her close.

"I don't know. I think... I think maybe I always loved you, just a little bit. I just never realized it."

She looks at you. She seems conflicted somehow. Slowly, she pulls you and kisses you.

Hours pass in her embrace. You never really expected this to happen.

You wake up the next day, Elsie curled in your arms. Both of you still naked and sweating from last nights activities. You wonder what it is that woke you. Then you realize it.

You smell smoke.

You gently roll her off to one side, she seems less that awake still. You move quickly and see it.

Hope, your home, the reason you fight. Hope, everything you have to live for....

Hope is burning.

>To be continued next episode: AC Quest Episode two, The Death of Hope.

So then, thread over.

Green-text dropped.

Anything you guys wanna talk about in the after-thread?

>>18571410
>Hope is burning
Well that came sooner then I expected.
I eagerly await the next thread.

>>18571431

It's probably going to be either today, later on, or tomorrow.

Either way, it'll hopefully start at about the same time.

Also holy balls, I started this at seven local time, it's now 3 am. I have been going for like 8 hours.

>>18571420
>Hope is burning
>would have gotten scramble orders if we were back home and had access to a phone
>might have been able to prevent this
Did we...did we choose poorly?

>>18571420
>One road leads to sex.
>One road leads to DAWWW
>One road leads to an actual relationship.

Did we get number one? Does getting number one preclude getting number three?

Damn, we must have really been spent if we fucking slept though the opening attack. I can see this leading to some serious fucking survivors guilt too, if not for us, then for Elsie definitely, which she's probably going to end up blaming on us. Such is life in a semi-apocalyptic future fraught with giant mecha battles.

>>18571451

Depends on your point of view.

Telling Elsie that you'd be happy with friends would have led to DAAWWW and potential relationship stuff down the road.

It would also have placed her in the barracks, and in an amazing place to try and stop this.

If you had gone the non committal route, you would have ended up making out briefly, then going back into town to find out what happened to your friends after you left.

As far as Damage to Hope goes, it was the second best choice, and had the best chance at serious romance.

Right now? When the quest picks up again, you're going to be running damage control on all fronts.

Hope's dead, but maybe you can save most of the people from dieing. Do a good job and you might get to keep the girl too.

>>18571493
>Do a good job and you might get to keep the girl too.
You'd better fucking have meant girlS...
I will haunt your ass, GM

>>18571460

Not completely. It will make it significantly harder in the long run though.

>>18571463

>must have been really spent

To quote Elsie: 'fuck like animals until our hips give out'.

>>18571509

>Plural.

You lost me.

I mean, we give Laurie shit, but still a dude.

>>18571516
Could've gotten them augmented, would've prevented this whole situation.

>>18571493
Next episode when?

I should probably archive this....

>>18571519
>Mom and Ari
If we just lost our family, quest for love will be complicated by our quest for non-proportional vengeance and dancing a giant mecha on their unmarked and salted graves.

>>18571537

Ah. Well, guess that's a good reason to show up tomorrow.

>>18571534

Either today, board time, or tomorrow. Roughly the same starting time.

>>18571537
And then we discover the corporations are digging something up on Mars.
It's Armored Core time, except with non-silent protagonist.

BTW, I take it we're a NORMAL pilot? We seem to live in a nice quite podunk little town, and there aint no way in fucking hell even a moderately sized city is going to have militia with several NEXT units, let alone a double shift of LYNXs. I take it then we're going to be taking the ZOE path?

>>18571558

As far as Cores and capabilities go, think AC5. There's a bit smaller, and have slightly less insane power.

At least to start with. CRAZY SHIT is going to happen when we hit endgame territory. Seriously, it's going to look like something directed by Michael Bay on the action side of things.

>>18571493
So, yes, we essentially chose the worst possible route, both in terms of long-term relationship with Elsie, preventing damage to the town, and keeping our family safe.

Way to go, TG.

>>18571574
BAYSPLOSIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ugh, I have not played AC:V yet, and I do not plan on doing so after the reviews I have read.

If I wanted a more tactical feel to my mech games, I'd go play Front Mission. I play Armored Core for the same reason I play Ace Combat, so I can be an over the top badass who takes on whole armies and has vicious solo duels with enemy pilots.

And what did I get with the latest installment for each game, a watered down shit pile pandering to the masses.

>>18571592

Burned hand teaches best friend. I don't pull punches in my games.

That said, as far as the relationship with Elsie goes.... A lot of couples that go through hell together like this don't make it. Some do. Those that do tend to be the diamond hard unbreakable relationships after the fact.

>>18571601

Personally, I think Armored Core gets better with every single game.

Think about it: In the first series, starting with the original Armored Core, It was testing the viability. "Can we make this game, and will it be good?".

Starting with Armored Core 2, they started focusing of different aspects of the game to try and maximize that one aspects potential. The most obvious one of these changes was in the 4 series (4 and 4A) where the focus was on High mobility combat.

Right now, they're exploring a more tactical approach to combat.

I think by the time we hit series nine or ten, we're going to see some CRAZY SHIT in terms of insanity.

AC5 is great, if you can get a half-way decent team to play with.

Seriously, that alone takes the score from like a 7 to a 9.5 out of ten. Some of the shit you get to do once your team kicks into gear...

>>18571592
HEYHEYHEYHEYHEYHEYHEY! I'm going to tell you something important now, so you better dig the wax out of those ears of yours, and listen! The reputation of Armored Core Quest echoes far and wide... When they talk about its bad ass protagonist, the man of indomitable spirit and masculinity, they're talking about us! The Mighty Alex Raston! Just who the hell do you think we are? Our core is the core that's gonna bust straight through heaven and earth and even tomorrow!

>>18571642
hmm... I've only played 4 and 4A
>still haven't gotten past White Glint...
Then my xbox broke. Seems I'll need to get a new one, or a ps3.

>>18571602
That assumes that they learn the lesson you want them to learn.

That said, we need to run home and make sure that our family is okay. On the way we need to appropriate a vehicle and once our mom and sis are safely in a bunker, get to the base and into our AC.

>>18571642
All the the videos I've watched and reviews I've read turn me off. The whole team aspect is one of my biggest gripes too. I'm not a big fan of mulitplayer in any game, unless I'm playing with a very select, and very small group of people. The fact that so much revolves around team play now really irks me.

I don't like the scaled down aspect of the game either. After the huge and fast paced fights and interesting places that AC4 and FA took me, city fighting seems to dull and boring. AC:V is too much like a mecha version Modern Warfare/Battlefield.

>>18571651
Auspicious words from one so small in deeds. Lets see if Mr. Rason can attain feats even a quarter as great and might as the great David Lister or Zolomon Ringo.

>>18571682

As someone who owns and plays the game, it's soooo much better than you think.

There's a story there, there's also enough side-quest missions to keep you busy. Seriously, there has to be at least a hundred hours of game in the single players bits alone, and it's all as solid as AC4's.

But when you play the game with friends... You only need like five people to access the biggest, craziest shit.

And the shit does get quite big and crazy.

Imagine a robot arms fort the size of one of AC4's MAPS. Covered in enemy ACs. And it's you, and a couple of your friends going A-TEAM on it.

Fuck Singapore time. I tried posting earlier but my computer freaked out every time I hit submit.

Anyhow, I eagerly await the next installment.

>mfw this doesn't send

>>18571651
Right. The "badass protagonist" that let his hometown get wrecked, couldn't save his mom or little sister, and sabotaged a chance at a long-term relationship with his sniper squad mate.

>>18571704
Zeon Quest has resolved. It's no longer running. However, in our memories, and within our plans, it goes on within us! We will blast a hole in heaven itself. Even if that hole becomes our grave, as long as we break through, that is our victory! Who do you think we are? We're Alex. We're NOT Lister. We're NOT Ringo WE ARE OURSELF! ALEX RASTON!

>>18571720
My problem is I don't even KNOW one person who I would be interested in playing with, which means unless I want to team up with some retard online.

I hear they also took out Arena, and you need to grind to get money/parts now.

I was able to solo Arms Forts in FA, I want to be a one man A-Team. It's that mission-specific hyper-optimization that made me a one man army that I found fun.

If I wanted tactics and team work, again, I'd play Front Mission, or a Chrome Hounds if the servers were still up.

>>18571731
Kamina used the boasting as a way to deal with being scared out of his wits. He only kept up the boasting because everybody expected him to be the fearless badass leader he always claimed to be when they were still down in Jiha Village. In short, that, my friend, is the joke.

>find this thread
>listening to

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJ-F8uZbx2M&feature=plcp&context=C47dca94VDvjVQa1PpcFNlei3yea
fPSWTfiYMvIVKCgFXBvJpEyTo%3D&noredirect=1

>it's destiny