Save Jenna Campaign

[F50]

The R5 is probably a bit better for cyndocysts than the MX.
I'm still kind of iffy on giving Jenna the R5. The S500 isn't quite as strong, but would do well.

[goat not sheep]

Someone should have missles... someone.

[FAD]

The R5 is probably a bit better for cyndocysts than the MX.
I'm still kind of iffy on giving Jenna the R5. The S500 isn't quite as strong, but would do well.

Yep, I had thought about the S500 after posting the R5. Agreeing that it's not quite as strong as an R5 (where Ion is concerned), it is a well balanced shield that could get her through a few systems before she gets taken out.

Looking at these proposed level 6 stats;

TeV 9 blaster - particle damage @ 5-26 damage rate.
Yoroi S500 shield @ 95 HP (well balanced, no resistance, no vulnerability)
Heavy ceralloy armor @ 60 HP (Ion resistance, blast vulnerable)
Another armor option; Advanced plasteel armor @ 60 HP (well balanced, no resistance, no vulnerability)

Anyone have other options?

[F50]

Use a dual particle over a TeV9, it just seems more lake a Ronin to me.

[dvlenk6]

I made a dockable wingman (a renegade penitent order pilot).
If you dock while you are moving, you just keep right on going. If you are doing anything time consuming in the dockscreens, you can drift WAY out of the system.

I guess the 'wait here' could solve that.

[FAD]

The duel particle cannon was an original suggestion and would also make a fine weapon for Jenna. It being 2-9 damage x 2 @ 4-18 potential, providing both shots hit the target. Not too much less than a TeV9.

George, have you drawn any conclusions as to what Jenna's ship should be upgraded to? And do you think our suggestions have been too over-rated, placing her at an advantage?
Her current ship has level 2 shields, level 3 armor, and level 4 weapon. The most suggestions from everyone (so far) would place her ship at level 6 with all items, respectively. Which is where the player would be on average, by the time Jenna enters the picture.

[george moromisato]

George, have you drawn any conclusions as to what Jenna's ship should be upgraded to?

In general, I really like the suggestions everyone is making--they seem well-balanced and aligned with what I had in mind. I don't have any firm conclusions--some of it we will just have to try.

I want to keep her in a Ronin (as someone said, it is good to distinguish her from Rama).

I think shields are probably the most important enhancement, followed by weapons and then armor.

I like the idea of a level V or VI shield, though I'm not sure if the S500 is best (from a role-playing perspective). I always think of the Yoroi series as being corporate, not militia (but I'm not sure of the militia equivalent other than the R series).

What about a Nephren P25? It's level V, but it is resistant to particle and ion (particle-resistance will help with all the Sung).

Or what about a Mammoth 25MW?

I like the idea of her having dual particle cannons. That makes sense.

It might also make sense to give her better accuracy and/or speed.

p.s.: Burzmali's suggestion of upgrading makes sense--I probably won't get to that yet because I think it will be trick (for example, I think ships will need to dock with a station to get upgraded--the player won't be able to upgrade them directly).

p.p.s: It might make sense to upgrade Rama's shields also.

[Burzmali]

Actually, I've got some the upgrade code written but untested. Right now, all it does is exchange the current weapon for the one the player gives him. I am trying to code it so that he flies to the nearest CW base and upgrades, by changing his orders and setting event triggers but I haven't finished yet.

[dvlenk6]

Between the Nephren P25 and Mammoth 25MW:
I like the Mammoth. It's high hit points would let Jenna survive pretty tough fire fights. It takes a while to regen., but the player could always avoid heavy fighting until it's back up to (at least close to) full strength.

- - - - -

I'd like it if the wingmen could go all the way to Heretic and beyond with a careful player, or one that is willing to invest in upgrading the wingman's equipment.
Maybe that's a bias from role-playing in general, but I like to have groups of 'characters' to control, which is why the missions with temporary wingmen are fun for me.

EDIT
Isn't there any way that the install block from the luminous drones could be used (along with shpRemoveDevice) to directly install a device from a dockscreen?

[F50]

I think I prefer the Nephren in this case. The Nephren's resistances are great. The Mamoth 25 is good, but slow regen w/o Domina heal...

[evilbob]

hmmm... looking at dvlenk's post, I got the idea for an allies info display. like the one for your own ship. maybe above it, but half the size or something?

[OddBob]

I got the idea for an allies info display. like the one for your own ship. maybe above it, but half the size or something?

If companions become a bigger part of the game (a very big part, although not quite mandatory, a state I wouldn't mind) then I would be very much for this, but now it seems a bit excessive. I wouldn't want it to be too "party" ish

I'd also put it above the shields and have it be about half the size of the reactor panel. Two bars for armor, shields and one line for weapon (and maybe an option to change weapons, like "everybody switch to EMP" or something.

[FAD]

It would be interesting to see how she would fair with a Mammoth 25, especially with those Sung Wind Slaver's repeatedly spawning in groups of 4, and often. As slow as that shield is, it can take quite a pounding before collapsing. Between the two shields, the Nephren P25 would probably be the better one for her I think. While it will help her against the particle and ion weapons, it is also vulnerable to blast, so that could allow the player to know when to use extra caution and protect her when blast-equipped enemies are around. It'd be a give and take against the Dwarg, for example, as they use both blast and ion.
Her duel particle cannon would help balance it out there, even though the Zoanthrope Raiders 20 HP chiton armor is particle resistant, they fall easily to even a single particle cannon.

The idea of having a "mini" HUD for the player to easily check the stat's of companion ships is killer! Could also use a switch key in order to cycle through each ship as well, for when/if both Jenna and Rama joins you.

In a virtual frame of mind, this is the kind of stuff that allows and puts added realism into the game. It does make sense that your wingman should be able to upgrade their ship when possible and dock at a base every so often. And having them at or around the equipment level that they should be at when they join you, is also logical.

[F50]

Only upgrade to R5 and MX if you won't be able to re-equip Jenna and Rama.

[Dosgamer3]

Okay, here's my idea:

First, add heavy Duralloy armor to the game (regenerates, but vulnerable
to blast damage)

Give Jenna a Ronin with an enhanced Nephren P25 (+25%) and heavy Duralloy armor. Also, give her a dual particle beam weapon, give her missile usage ability, and give her 100 Stileto missiles.

Add in these abilites and limitations:

-- Allow her to run out of fuel like a real ship and have her start messaging
you when she's low. No fuel tech over Heliotrope fuel.

-- Give her the ability to come into stations with you (but refuse to enter Black Market stations) and when she sees something to upgrade her ship,
ask you to buy it for her and then install it.

BUT PUT A LIMIT ON IT!! Her ship cannot use tech over level V.

-- Any ship has some cargo space, so does hers. Add a command to tell her (and any wingmen) to stop, and then dock with her ship to transfer cargo.


Oh, and to add personality, make her scared to death of the Ranx. Perhaps a childhood trauma?