Bay 12 Games Forum

Yuri, of course, is in the Captain's Chair (leadership skill). He is also taking the role of Security Chief (combat skill) since that slot is empty
Nia is First Officer (leadership)
Kira is Head Chef (management)
Torlo is Artillery Chief (artillery)
Poplo is Chief Navigator (navigation)
Gadina is the Fighter Commander (piloting)
Karlo is Chief Mechanic (maintenance)
Tatiana is the Waitress (management)
The only crew member yet to be assigned is Radimir

Bridge: Lead and Assistant Operations (control skill)
Navigation: Helmsman and Chart Officer (navigation skill)
Fire Control: Artillery Officer and Handler (artillery skill), as well as Radar Chief and Operator (control skill)
Engineering: Chief Engineer, Assistant Engineer, and Chief Responder (maintenance skill)
Maintenance: Mechanic and Assistant Mechanic (maintenance skill)
Research and Development: Chief Scientist, Research Assistant, and Researcher (science skill)
Fighters: Squadron 1, 2, and 3 Chiefs (piloting skill)
Sick Bay: Chief Physician, ICU Head, and Nurse (medicine skill)
Ship Management: Chief Accountant, Accountant, and Supply Officer (management skill), Security Chief and Security Officer (combat skill)

First thing we have to do is restore one of our crew members to his rightful throne. To do that, we go to Perekop.

It's worth noting that although the pirate base has been eliminated, there are still random encounters in the sector; probably scattered remnants of the pirate fleet. Torlo ascends to level 4 on the way.

And so, in the lobby of Efimov, Inc...

Employee: Oh! It's the president, Mr. Efimov! Welcome back, sir!

: Thank you. But it's thanks to these good people here that Balik was driven out of the sector.

Employee: Oh, was it, now?! Thank you, then! Because of you, we were able to kick the pirates out of our company as well. Will you be coming back to the company now, Mr. Efimov?

: I'm afraid not. I want to spend more time with these people, traveling the universe. I still have a lot to see and learn.

Wait, what?

Employee: I see, sir. That's a shame for us.

: ...

Employee: But I understand! And while you're gone, we'll do our best to take care of your company for you. Before you leave, please take a look at Efimov's fine products.

AS Missiles S and AS Missiles M can now be equipped at a remodeling shop!

So Karlo will NOT be leaving us! Huzzah! And I wasn't writing as if he would because I forgot, no sir! <_<;

So anyway, we now have our first real weapon option. Any ship with small or medium weapon slots can exchange their default laser weapon for a missile launcher instead. For instance, we could make the PANSY a pure missile ship, or give the LOTUS a missile or two of it's own. Or we could stick with what they already have. Options!

Please remember that when it comes to weapon load outs, I'm not specifically opening any polls or whatever. If someone suggests new weapons to use, I will use those.

Our next stop is back in the Ropesk sector. Seeing as how we'll be examining Elgava'a records on Epitaphs, it might be helpful to have our own, right?
On our way to the Void Gate, Tatiana gains a level from random pirates. She's now level 3!

Just as we enter the Ropesk sector, the party receives a message...

: Yuri, there's an IP communication coming in.

: That's weird for a communication to come in from so far away. You got any idea who it's from?

: None at all. Let's check it out.

(voice): ...read me? This is the owner of the pawnshop "Coronet" in Toropets. Can you read me?

Hey, perfect timing! See, we're on our way to pick up that thing we left off, and--

Pawnshop: Pirates are attacking my shop--Aagh!

*transmission ends*

: The pawnshop in Toropets...

: But that means...My Epitaph!

: Looks like we'd better head back to Toropets.

: And fast!

Ah cashews. To Toropets!

*The owner, wrapped in bandages, can be seen at the back of the pawnshop.

Pawnshop Owner: (groans) I'm sorry. What's left of the Novgorod Pirates, they came in from Lutsk and ransacked my place. They took everything in the shop. Everything!

: You mean, they got my Epitaph?!

Pawnshop Owner: Yes, that too. I'm really very sorry.

: Do you know where they headed after that?

Pawnshop Owner: I think they ran off to the Milesk Sector. I hear they gather there a lot. It was about a six-ship fleet.

: The Milesk Sector, eh? Yeah, come to think of it, I guess there's a starlane between here and there.

: Let's go after them, Nia!

: All right. Let's go!

Odium! Scandal! These vermin dare to steal MY Epitaph?! Six ships won't be nearly enough to stop me!

Ahem. Anyway, Milesk is an empty sector connected to Toropets. Not far to go at all. We get there, power up our weapons, and--



Huh?

: Who are they?

: Novgorod Pirates. And they've been wiped out.

: Who did it?

: Yuri! I'm detecting a gravitational wave! There's something really huge out there! It's more than 2,000 meters long!

: 2,000 meters?! What kind of ship is that big?!

: I've never heard of one that big, either. At least not in the SMC. Well, except for one. But...Nah! It couldn't be.

: It's heading this way









See that speck in the middle? That's the PANSY. Eep.

: It's enormous! I didn't know ships could be that big.

: This is not good! I never thought we'd run into this guy in a sector this remote.

: Wait a minute. Do you know who that is?

: Yup, I'm pretty sure I do, unfortunately. That ship is on just about everyone's do-not-cross list. It's the "Corsair", and it belongs to Valantin the Pirate.

: Valantin!

Valantin? Now where did I hear that name before?



EEEEEEEEEEEEP.

Valantin: Har har har! Do you read me, there, you tiny little sloop? All the treasure these Novgorod fools had on their ships...has already been claimed by me, Valantin the Pirate! You're too late to get a single farthing!

: Son of a-- Kira, open up a line for me!

: Hey, wait a minute, kiddo! What are you--?

: Do it now!

: I'm on it!

: This is Yuri, the captain of this ship. Give me back my Epitaph!

Valantin: Epitaph? So that was yours, eh?

: That's right! That's my Epitaph! Give it back to me now!

I know we're all about to die, but I gotta say: Yuri has some big brass ones.

Valantin: Heh heh. Gah ha ha! All right, you're on! But if you want it back so badly, you're gonna have to fight me for it!

*BOOM!*

: Eek!

: Wh-What's going on?!

: I think they've pulled up alongside us!

: They're gonna board for a melee battle! Hmph. A pirate through and through, that guy.

: A melee?!

: That's right. Do you know how a melee works?

Well, of course I do.

: Well, it doesn't look like we've got much of a choice. Come on! Let's knock 'em into Grus!

I'll summarize it for the folks reading along. Basically, it's rock-paper-scissors. There are three commands you can make: Leader, Slash, and Shoot. Leader beats Slash, Slash beats Shoot, and Shoot beats Leader. Once a command is entered, you cannot change it until the Command Gauge refills. Given the RPS nature of melee, making the wrong choice will be pretty punishing. Whichever side runs out of crew first loses.

Also, most melee-oriented crew members have a special ability that can be used if they are in the Security Chief slot (or in this case, Yuri does thanks to that slot being empty). Each special skill is like a souped-up version of one of the basic attacks, and should be used when the enemy is using the command that is weak to your special. There is also the Retreat command, which can only be used during a fleet battle and doesn't always work. It also leaves you vulnerable while a timer runs.

Hope you got all that.



Yay for more complicated screens! Ok, the bottom half is pretty self-explanatory. You have your three commands arranged in a neat triangle, the Commander button for Yuri's special ability (a buffed up Slash attack), and where there would normally be a retreat button.
On the top screen, you have pictures of the two opposing commanders. Underneath those are six purple squares which represent the leader's health, which is damaged by the Leader command. The large number above the "Stand By" text is the number of soldiers on each side. Underneath the Stand By is a number representing each side's power. We're a little lower, but we outnumber the enemy 4-1 so it shouldn't be a problem. The orange bars are the command gauges, which fill up at nearly exactly the same rate. New commands can only be issued when the gauge is completely full.

Gonna be honest here, I think that melee battles are the weakest part of this game. Unlike in say Fire Emblem, where choosing correctly on the weapons triangle is not a simple I-win button, choosing the wrong command here will result in losing dozens of soldiers while not even denting the enemy force. You'll continue losing soldiers while you wait for the gauge to refill and issue a new command, and once you do there's a decent chance that the enemy will continue having the advantage. It's entirely possible to lose this battle, and every melee battle in the future, despite having a tremendous numerical and skill advantage.

Eh, I'm probably complaining too much. When you manage to thrash the enemy while taking few casualties, you feel pretty badass. The battles also have some nice touches. I'm just not a fan of the system they used.

Enough talk! To battle!



I manage to get lucky with Shoot in the first round. I may be able to wipe them all out!



Suddenly, the enemy retreats!

: (panting) D-Did we drive them back?

??: We haven't even started yet.

: You!



Ladies and gentlemen, may I re-introduce Captain Badass?

: Heh heh heh. That's Valantin the Pirate to you, boy! Didn't expect ya to be quite so young, but I'm warning ya. I don't hold back for nobody!

Ha! That's a double-negative, fool! You'll regret holding back after I--









: Ngh!

: Yuri! Are you all right?!

: Damn it...Give me back my Epitaph...

: Heh heh. You got spirit, and that's a good thing, kid, but you gotta choose your opponents wisely. Out here in space, if you misjudge the enemy...this is what you're gonna get!



: Aaa....



Yuri: AAAAAAAAGH!





: Eeeeeeeeeek! Yuri! Yuriiiiiiiii!

: Yuri!

: Heh heh heh. I'll let it go with just one eye this time. All right, my men! Let's go! Heh heh heh. Ha ha ha ha ha!



: There's more than one Epitaph, ya know! And the Epitaphs will come to he who was meant to have 'em! If you were meant to have 'em, well, then I guess we'll meet again someday. Har har har!

The Corsair speeds off to parts unknown. Back on the PANSY...

Yuri: Unh...

: Nia! Yuri's eye!

: It's gonna be all right. Calm down, Kira. Does it hurt bad, kiddo?

Yuri: Th-this is nothing.

: Atta boy! Okay, don't worry. It just looks like the crystalline lens of your eye got vaporized.

Looked like a lot worse than that, if you ask me!

: You'll be as good as new after a few regeneration treatments.

Yuri: Thanks, Nia. But I wonder when I'm ever going to be good enough to take Valantin on...

: Oh, Yuri...

: ...

You can now use the Melee command during battle!

I will almost never do that.

Well, shit. The Epitaph is gone, in the hands of the most ruthless person in the known universe, and Yuri received eye surgery from a katana. I hate Ropesk, can we leave yet?

Not quite. We stop on Toropets so the crew can recover from their mauling.

: Hey, kiddo, you got a sec?

: Sure, Nia.

Sadly, no eye-patch for Yuri. Oh well, I guess I'd rather have two functioning eyes instead of a patch, no matter how badass it looked.

: I just wanted to know how your eye is doin'.

: Oh, that? It's fine now, thanks. After the treatment, my eye was kind of blurry for a while, but I feel like I'm almost as good as new again.

: Good. I'm glad. And I'm glad it didn't make you give up.

: Why would I give up?

: I mean, guys who say they wanna be zero-G dogs are a dime a dozen. But once something bad happens, they sure can change their minds in a hurry.

: Nah, I'm fine. I was pretty much prepared for anything the day I came out to space.

: Heh. Well, I guess you were. Anyway, I'm really glad.

: Thanks. Well, I have to go take care of the port entry processing.

: Oh, hold on. There's one more thing.

: Hm?

: You lost your Epitaph, and I kind of feel responsible...

: Aw, it's not your fault, Nia.

: I had a feeling you'd say that. But still, I thought maybe I'd stay on as part of your crew, at least until you get your Epitaph back. Whaddya think?

: Yeah, of course I want you to stay! As long as you're sure about this?

: Well, good then. I'm stayin'. But on one condition.

: What's that?

: You may look all sweet and meek, but I know that you've got a real competitive streak in ya. I want you to promise me you're not gonna do some damn reckless thing and wind up in an early grave.

: Of course I'm not going to! I don't want to die. I want to gain experience and get really good, and be able to beat Valantin one day!

: Ha ha ha! Well, that's good then. You just do that, Captain.

: I will-- *kiss* (M-My cheek...)

Awwwwww.

We move on to Hapsal. Along the way, I blow up a Ropesk security ship for the lulz. Remember, these are the things that the DAISY could take on solo.

Remember Radimir, the barkeep here? The one who wanted money? Probably not, but I go ahead and talk to him anyway.

: All right, fine. I'll give you money.

: You will?! Oh, thank you!

: But, in return, I want you to join my crew.

: What? But that would defeat the whole purpose! I need money to keep this tavern open!

: A little bit of money ain't gonna fix your troubles. You're gonna be back in the same boat before you know it! Make a clean break of it while you can.

: (groans) Fine. Fine! I'll do it.

Radimir joined your crew!



Hmm...Radimir would probably be best in either Maintenance or Engineering. Of course, he could be assigned pretty much anywhere. Make your choices!

We just have one thing left to do here, and we couldn't do it earlier. We head for the planet Lutsk to meet another we know. Along the way, Poplo hits level 5!

: So, Yuri, I hear you're looking after that good-for-nothing butt-kisser nowadays.

: Good-for-nothing...? Oh, you mean Radimir?

Harsh.

: Well, he really surprised me I've got to admit. I hadn't heard from him in ages, and he gets in touch to tell me he's working for you now! Well, as long as you have him on board, make sure you work him good and proper! Maybe being a zero-G dog will finally put a little backbone into that loser.

Poor Radimir gets no love. Maybe someday, dude

And now, the moment you've all been waiting for...after these important messages!



: Argun! Argun, where are you, my brother? Ah, Argun! There you are!



: Balik. It's good to see you. But do tell me...What the Grus happened to your ship? It looks like you've been through a firestorm and back!

: Yes, yes! Listen to what happened to me, my brother! It's all due to this one annoying punk...Ugh! I must be losing my touch.

: What's this? I didn't know the Elgavan army had soldiers with that kind of backbone!

: No, he's not a soldier. He's a little brat! I, the great Balik, have been bested by a mere child! Oh, it's so humiliating.

: What's this, now?! Is that really true? This child sounds quite interesting! I think I would enjoy killing him, slowly and with relish. In any case, there's plenty of wine and wenches here. Relax and make yourself at home. And do tell me the whole story!

Oh dear! The villains are plotting! But no matter, for we are finally in...



...Central Elgava! See you next time, as we explore this vast and exciting new sector!