Alrighty, the unit limit has fallen back under the threshold, this happens on route splits sometimes. So everyone goes. We could take less then the limit but eh.
Several battas appear around the Walking Stick. Remember those guys? They haven't gotten much better.Hyoma:There're those annoying Gradosian unmanned units!
Kurz:All right! ...It's almost like they realized they have to protect that thing. How nice of them! Let's return the favor and send 'em to the trash heap!
Mao:Don't get cocky, dumbass.
Calvina:Our goal is the Walking Stick's destruction. Close in and destroy it. All units, follow the procedure outlined in the mission briefing. Also take into consideration that flying is neutralized. If you get shot down, withdraw and remain on standby. Got it?
Sosuke:Roger.
Sara:You don't even have to ask!
Shinobu:Grr... We won't let those Gradosian bastards get away with this!
TURN ONE!
Okay, this is actually kind've interesting. The thing the conditions doesn't mention is that, like Calvina said, we litterally can't fly. If you equipped flight frames on aestivalises before this mission, like I did the first time, you have inadvertantly gimped them. Luckily it's not TOO bad. Also we just have to make it to the walking stick, no need to kill all the battas, although it will probably happen anyway.
Not a very intimidating sight. Those are all battas. Should be simple enough for the first wave anyway. Not a lot of combat in the first few turns either. All of our units will be going on the upper path. The water will slow us down a WHOLE lot, along with having other nasty effects, such as reducing beam weapons to uselessness. So beam rifles and stuff are reduced to 10 damage, the minimum. I think beam swords hold together a bit better but it's still pretty grim. You'd have a hard time breaking 2k damage in the water with a beam sword. Naturally we'll be keeping Domon out of the water, as his only weapon (Vulcans DO NOT COUNT) until he hits decent will levels is a beam sword.
ENEMY PHASE!
None of the Battas move, except the five on the lower left side of the walking stick. They've got a mission, and they're sticking to it.
TURN TWO!
We move everyone up farther. Exciting!
ENEMY PHASE!
Annnd they finally make contact. And they make the stupid decision of getting up in Sosuke's face. The guy that has a giant robot shotgun. Appropriately named "The Shotcannon"
That's that. Pretty much a shotgun. FMP! is not a flashy series (yet). This also reveals a point about FMP!. You may be noticing that they seem to be using fairly human weapons. This is because, in the manga (Super Robot Wars uses the anime version), the "giant robots" were actually only slightly larger then humans, more powered exoskeletons. So they just used normal weapons. For the TV show they upsized everything, to about the size of a small gundam. In both the show and manga I believe the arm slaves are used as tank hunters, which I believe is a neat, and fairly realistic use for smaller giant robots. "Fairly". Of course being an anime, they never actually attack any tanks but that's the intended use, anyway.
The rest of the battas charge him, and he riddles them all with bullets while dodging their attacks. Arm Slaves are fairly dodgy robots. They're S size, by the way. On top of this they have no beam weapons. So if you must have someone in the water, ArmSlaves are a decent choice. This is good, because barring adding flight parts to them(Which isn't a terrible idea honestly), they cannot fly at all.
TURN THREE!
Also of note, All three M9's have different weapons. Kurz has a sniper rifle, Sousuke has a knife and shotcannon, and I believe mao has a wierd chainsaw knife that's better then a normal knife. They all have an anti personel rifles (I'm presuming they mean giant robot "personel", except sosuke, which is their best weapon. The shotcannon is sosuke's best weapon. As a result sosuke is kind've limited to short range combat. And a generic assault rifle that I think everyone has. All these run off bullets except the knives, obviously. Enough words, we need a giant robot knife fight.
It honestly looks more like a short sword. Huh. Either way. More Batta savaging. This time Kurz shows off a bit, with the sniper rifle.
Kurz, I think you have more bullets then most people have friends. Unless you're only counting sniper rifle bullets I guess. Also it's a robot. As a side note, like any good sniper, Kurz has hit and run.
Of note - Mao's unit has a little fin on the top of it. In this game, it IS just for show, BUT in the show and some Super robot wars games, the fin acts as a "jammer". Which is an ability that causes the unit to dodge 50% of the time, regardless of hit rate. It's a neat little touch, and one of the few times when a "B lister" (She's honestly not that far behind sosuke but) is better then an A lister.
One shotted that one. Dancougar doesn't mess around.
Not quite a one shot. Takes a lump in return. As a note, the range boosts on bellzelute have been incredibly helpful, so good on you folks for voting for Katia and the sniper parts. Those shot launchers are damn handy. Combattler finishes the last batta from the attack wave off as well. This thing is incredibly poorly defended. I mean... fourteen battas is all you've got?
Really?
ENEMY PHASE
None of them move. They're smart ones.
TURN FOUR!
I move Domon forward and end the turn. He was falling behind the group, and, since he has so many plot missions in this game, and his bosses are fairly rough, it's important he's, at the very least, at a decent level, if not upgraded a bit. I'll be putting a booster on him next time we get one.
ENEMY PHASE
The remaining battas move forward. I'll wait for them here, and patch up what little damage we've taken while domon gets into position.
TURN FIVE!
Sayaka repairs Bellzelute. Domon, Bellzelute, and the M9's get into position.
ENEMY PHASE
Battas make contact with Domon, as expected. He has defensive support from Mao, which is important.
Almost one shots him, which isn't bad given how light the beam sword hits. Also of note is M9's actually take hits pretty well too, probably better then a gundam, if you forget the fact that most gundams have barriers. They're technically grunt mechs but they're pretty high class ones, to be sure. Domon almost kills two more battas, and takes a defended long range hit from another. Now the pins are set up.
TURN SIX!
Using the assault rifles of two of the M9's, we take out two battas. then Kurz moves a bit closer, and reveals...
Urzu strike! The only thing the M9's use energy for. This is actually quite a boon, because M9's are stronger then Aesties, our only other team attacking units so far, so this can actually put the hurt on bosses and such if you really want to field the M9s against them. The combined efforts of Bellzelute and Combattler V take down another Batta, and Sayaka repairs domon. Domon then proceeds to one shot a Batta, and activate super mode. Now he's cookin. Everyone else moves forward. We're making some nice progress towards the walking stick, only a couple of battas in the way.
ENEMY PHASE
The only enemy attacks Dancougar with missles, and does less then 1000 damage. Pretty bad.
TURN SEVEN!
Akito, not to be shown up by all the one shotting going on, pastes a batta himself and gains a level.
All that's left is to have an agile unit rush in and take the walking stick. Unfortunately most of our agile units are on the Archangel. I'll leave it to Dancougar since they've been getting kind've neglected, mostly just due to positioning. Also because they've got accel. Everyone else hangs behind, and gets patched up. I wonder why? HMMM.
ENEMY PHASE
Nobody moves.
TURN EIGHT!
Dancougar rushes the three battas defending the walking stick, and dispatches one with it's awesome martial arts abilities.
And... doesn't actually kill it. Huh. Maybe it's on defensive terrain. At any rate, it activates instinct for them, so that should make future attacks more lethal.
Huh. Wild damage variance, I'll be.
ENEMY PHASE
All three battas attack Dancouga.
They got a level out of that. No new nothin. Also the last batta actually dodged. I wasn't expecting it, so I didn't get a picture.
TURN NINE!
Dancouga moves onto the walking stick, while simultainiously one shotting the remaining batta.Sara:Shinobu, what are you screwing around for? We're here, so hurry up and finish it off!
Shinobu:Will you shut up already?! Here I come!
Calvina:Enemy annihilation confirmed. Proceeding to destroy the Walking Stick.
The walking stick explodes.Domon:Heh, we did it, huh... What?! It's regenerating?! No way, are those DG Cells?! That means THEY'RE responsible...!
An explosion on the mountainside nearby occurs! - Also, reminder, DG cells cause regeneration in pretty much anything they're put into ,not just organic materials.Koji:W-What the?!
The ground rumbles!Akito:An earthquake?!
Another explosion occurs, and the Devil Gundam emerges from the mountain!Kyoji:Heheheheheheh... Haaaahahahahaah!
Calvina:That's...
Domon:...The Devil Gundam?! You finally dare to stand before me, Kyoji!?
Mao:Dammit! Who would have thought it was hidden here, of all places?
Calvina:Do you know anything about that thing?
Sosuke:Affirmative. It's been a target of Mithril for quite some time.
Masato:But... What's it doing HERE?
Domon:That doesn't matter! You won't be escaping today, Kyoji... I WILL take you down! Listen up, everyone! Stay back! I'll take him down myself!
At least he's gotten a bit more polite about it.Master Asia:(Heheheheheh, yes... Come on, Domon. A little further... Just a little further...)
An explosion occurs in the forest beneath the mountainside!? ? ?: Wait, Domon Kasshu!
Master Asia:What?!
Four gundams appear!
Koji:W-Who are those guys?!
Joker:Domon, you will not move even one step. This is all a trap designed by Master Asia.
Master Asia:Grrrrrr... How dare you!
Domon:Master?!
Masato:That old man was hidden there this whole time!
Master Asia:Delicious... Truly delicious! If you'd only played along a little longer, you could have been my ally...
Domon:What are you talking about, Master?!
Master Asia:You fool! You still haven't realized my true identity?!
A small Squadron of Death Army appear around Master Asia and the Devil Gundam.Hyoma:Don't tell me...
Akatsuki:What the hell's happening?! We were completely certain the Walking Stick was a Gradosian weapon!
Kosuke:This is highly improbable!
Joker:Yes, the Devil Gundam was responsible for this... ...With its power, they managed to control that alien weapon.
Shinobu:What?!
Ace:And then he followed you...
Spades:...All in order to buy time for this trap...
Jack:...Which you were more than willing to help him with!
Domon:No! Master, the noble former King of Hearts, is helping the Devil Gundam?! You're lying!
Joker:Our words are true.
Master Asia:I don't care if you're surprised. I don't care if you believe it. This is reality. Despair, Domon! Or maybe you're... enraged? This is the true face of your master! Believe in me, and you will be saved. I will always be with you, so come here... ...The Devil Gundam and your brother are waiting!
Domon:My brother is waiting... with Master...
Akito:Domon?!
Shinobu:Tch! That geezer had the wool pulled over our eyes this whole time... Hey, what are you doing?! Domon Kasshu, answer me!
Joker flies near Domon.Joker: Leave this to me. Haah!
A wave of light emerges from Joker's gundam.Domon:Ugh... What happened...?
Master Asia:Grah, damn you!
Joker:Master Asia, there can be no forgiveness for your deeds!
Ace:How dare you sully the name of the Alliance like this!
Spades:As your former friends, we find this to be intolerable!
Jack:And for your crimes, you will pay with your life!
Master Asia:You dare say that to me after all these years?! You dare say that to your former leader, the ex-King of Hearts, the Undefeated of the East?!
Joker:Precisely.
Master Asia:Ridiculous!
Joker:Master, I take it that you're challenging us to a battle? If that is the case...
Domon:W-Wait, members of the Shuffle Alliance! Let us take care of this!
Hikaru:Us?
Juzo:Why the hell is he including US now?
Kurz:This guy is wack...
Ace:What now, Joker?
Joker:Fine. Let us see if Domon Kasshu is truly worthy of bearing the true Crest of the King of Hearts. Will our seed bear fruit? We will find out soon enough.
Spades:Shall we do some sightseeing, then?
Jack:Let's.
The Shuffle Alliance leaves.Master Asia:Hehehehehe.... Do you truly believe you can defeat me by simply borrowing the power of those irrelevant fools? Let me see the abilities that took you this far in battle!
Domon:Shut up! My Master isn't a man who would commit these atrocities! You're nothing more than a fake seeking to tarnish his name! I will defeat you AND the Devil Gundam alike!
Master Asia:I'm a fake, am I? Then come! Let's see if you still believe that when I shove my fist down your throat! Your feeble techniques will never work on me... ...Come on, then! You, and the rest of your weakling friends!
Katia:What are we going to do now?
Calvina:We still haven't completed our mission objective. If we don't defeat that thing, then we can't destroy the Walking Stick completely. All units, is that clear? Neutralize Master Asia and the Devil Gundam!
So yeah, super robot wars J even includes the shuffle alliance, rather then just Domon. It's pretty comprehensive usually. Incidentally the shuffle alliance is an organization dedicated to stopping war when it happens etcetc yadda yadda. Gundam Fight has in essence replaced war in the G Gundam timeline, so it doesn't count.
The death army hasn't really gotten any more threatening, but the devil gundam and another boss is up there, so yeah. We're gonna hang back for a turn until they decide to move, so we don't have to put people at risk of running into Devil Gundam attacks.
ENEMY PHASE
About half of the death army moves forward. Should be out of range of Devil Gundam's long range attacks now, so we're probably safe.
TURN TEN!
We start up the brawl. Most of our units are gonna be in that forest the shuffle alliance inexplicibly exploded out of, as they provide decent defensive bonuses.
Note, the counterattack from the death army did ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY THREE DAMAGE. Don't think those armor upgrades are going to waste. I think Mazinger could probably take on all the grunts in this stage on his own at this point, without repairs. On that note, shortly after this Sayaka repairs someone and gains a level and strike out of the deal. Dunno how useful it'll be, but hey.
After those two kills (Yeah, mazinger didn't one shot his somehow.), it's time to show off the shining gundam's ultimate attack. That SHOULD'VE finished off the devil gundam last stage. Ahem.
Shining finger sword! You need to build up a little bit of will even after super mode activates but it's definitely worth it.
And with that, we end the turn, after moving some people farther up.
ENEMY PHASE
The death army kinda piles onto Akito, but he takes absolutely no damage from any of them, with a little help from mazinger, because he's a boss. Aditionally one attacks domon in range of his shining finger sword, presumably because he is tired of being alive.
Sadly enough, it does not kill him somehow. He is doomed to life. For now. Master Asia in his Master Gundam decides he wants to throw in his two cents on this, however, and attacks Domon.Domon:With these fists of mine... I will take back my Master!
Master Asia:Foolish disciple!
Master Asia's gundam can clone itself and teleport. It is litterally magical. It's not quite as hard hitting as the Devil Gundam, but it's also only size M. I'd say he's probably not quite as big a threat, just because he doesn't have a nasty MAP attack. He's still not something to mess around with though, so we'll get sayaka and a defensive supporter up there right away.
TURN TWELVE!
Domon chews through the death army from the previous turn with his beam sabers, after using Guts. Gained a level, no spirits. Dancouga also rushes in after using Guts, and one shots a death army. As such.
More carnage occurs afterwords.
With how fast units have been dropping in this mission, the shot launchers have been very handy. Akatsuki kills another death army after that, bringing Mazinger into Mazinpower. We move everyone else up and prepare to take on Master Asia.
ENEMY PHASE
A death army attacks HIkaru, misses, and is countered. The Devil gundam snipes Dancougar with death army. Hits him, and they miss the counterattack. This was from like, 8 squares away so I'm not terribly surprised. And Master gundam goes after Domon again with the same attack.
TURN THIRTEEN!
We start off the attack on Master Asia with Bellzelute.Calvina:I was the one stupid enough to let you come with us. Time to take responsibility!
Master Asia:Heheheheh, fool! I've already seen through your attack patterns!
She nails him and dodges the counterattack. So much for that. Dancouga activates guard and takes a swing themselves, and nails him. Sosuke shanks a death army, and kills it, and Kurz snipes Master Asia.
Master asia is not faring very well. Hyoma does his part.
And reveals a new Master Gundam attack, Darkness finger. Luckily wall was activated. Koji up to bat...
He's at about half HP at this point. The Aestivalises follow it up with a barrage of their own attacks, and unfortunately hikaru gets one shotted. Such is the woe of being a small robot in a super robot heavy stage. Izumi gains a level out of all this as well. Akatsuki does too, gaining a support defense level on top of it. But Akito is the one to finish this aestivalis charge off...
He's out of energy, and so is master asia. Also new attack, Master Cloth. No more darkness fingers! But he still has a combo attack, and it cuts Ryoko in half to boot. Hmm. He's down to a few thousand HP, I think it's time to end this. In the only way Domon knows how.
It doesn't quite finish him though! Whatever will we do?! He apparently still had a darkness finger in him too, that was pretty dramatic. I'm pretty sad that didn't finish him.
ENEMY PHASE
The devil gundam attacks Koji again, he defends. As a note, despite the stage saying we need to kill Master Asia, and The devil gundam, I'm pretty sure we just have to finish Master Asia. If not this is gonna take another day! And Master Asia takes a swing at domon with Darkness finger. Let's try this again. Maybe we need some music. 
Beautiful.Master Asia:What?! Ugh, how dare you do this to me... I've little choice. I must retreat for now, but the next time we meet, I will take all of your lives as payment!
Master Asia and the Devil Gundam fall back.Domon:Dammit, wait!
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Topic: SO MANY REINFORCEMENTS (Let's Play Super Robot Wars J)Current Series: Voltes V (Read 101708 times)