Author Topic: 'remained behind so that others might reach the Vega node'  (Read 7333 times)

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Offline General Battuta

  • Poe's Law In Action
  • 214
  • i wonder when my postcount will exceed my iq
'remained behind so that others might reach the Vega node'
I can't say Petrarch's observers were very reliable.

I, for one, was burning as hard as I could for the Vega node and got roastedanyway my first time. I can only imagine the heroic things those observers must have detected Alpha 1 broadcasting.

Seriously, even if you do stay behind and try to defend some transports, there's no way they're going to make it. I wonder if this is another testament to the inhuman 'grunt effect' of the Freespace story -- you can't really do much to effect anything in the end. The Shivans and all the events they trigger are just unstoppable.

The one time I did manage to feel like I died heroically was when one of the transports in the convoy got disabled. I parked my Perseus behind it and started ramming it towards the node, and stubbornly continued right up until the shockwave annihilated us both.

What could you possibly do to deserve Petrarch's praise? Empty the warheads from your Trebuchets, transfer kittens and small children from an Argo into the now-emptied missiles, and fire them into the subspace vortex of another vessel fleeing through the node?

Any other ideas on exactly how to maximize your heroism in the final minutes of 'Apocalypse'?
« Last Edit: January 04, 2008, 11:16:19 am by General Battuta »

 

Offline BlackDove

  • Star Killer
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  • Section 3 of the GTVI
    • http://www.shatteredstar.org
Re: 'remained behind so that others might reach the Vega node'
Disable the Cain and don't destory it.

 

Offline Jeff Vader

  • The Back of the Hero!
  • 212
  • Bwahaha
Re: 'remained behind so that others might reach the Vega node'
I parked my Persus behind it and started ramming it towards the node
A bit off-topic. From a Finnish point of view, I'm currently rofling at that typo.  :lol:

But otherwise, that did actually sound heroic.

Edit: Oh, piss eggs. Now you fixed it. It isn't funny anymore.  :(
« Last Edit: January 04, 2008, 11:51:15 am by Lobo »
23:40 < achillion > EveningTea: ass
23:40 < achillion > wait no
23:40 < achillion > evilbagel: ass
23:40 < EveningTea > ?
23:40 < achillion > 2-letter tab complete failure

14:08 < achillion > there's too much talk of butts and dongs in here
14:08 < achillion > the level of discourse has really plummeted
14:08 < achillion > Let's talk about politics instead
14:08 <@The_E > butts and dongs are part of #hard-light's brand now
14:08 <@The_E > well
14:08 <@The_E > EvilBagel's brand, at least

01:06 < T-Rog > welp
01:07 < T-Rog > I've got to take some very strong antibiotics
01:07 < achillion > penis infection?
01:08 < T-Rog > Chlamydia
01:08 < achillion > O.o
01:09 < achillion > well
01:09 < achillion > I guess that happens
01:09 < T-Rog > at least it's curable
01:09 < achillion > yeah
01:10 < T-Rog > I take it you weren't actually expecting it to be a penis infection
01:10 < achillion > I was not

14:04 < achillion > Sometimes the way to simplify is to just have a habit and not think about it too much
14:05 < achillion > until stuff explodes
14:05 < achillion > then you start thinking about it

22:16 < T-Rog > I don't know how my gf would feel about Jewish conspiracy porn

15:41 <-INFO > EveningTea [[email protected]] has joined #hard-light
15:47 < EvilBagel> butt
15:51 < Achillion> yes
15:53 <-INFO > EveningTea [[email protected]] has quit [Quit: http://www.mibbit.com ajax IRC Client]

18:53 < Achillion> Dicks are fun

21:41 < MatthTheGeek> you can't spell assassin without two asses

20:05 < sigtau> i'm mining titcoins from now on

00:31 < oldlaptop> Drunken antisocial educated freezing hicks with good Internet == Finland stereotype

11:46 <-INFO > Kobrar [[email protected]] has joined #hard-light
11:50 < achtung> Surely you've heard of DVDA
11:50 < achtung> Double Vaginal Double ANal
11:51 < Kobrar> ...
11:51 <-INFO > Kobrar [[email protected]] has left #hard-light []

 

Offline General Battuta

  • Poe's Law In Action
  • 214
  • i wonder when my postcount will exceed my iq
Re: 'remained behind so that others might reach the Vega node'
I'm aware of the bug with the disabled cruisers (earned someone the 'Savior of Capella' title, didn't it?)

Perhaps the Shivans have highly developed loyalty to each other, and they weren't willing to sacrifice the Cain's crew, so they delayed the supernova! (Yeah, okay, that's not to be taken as serious speculation.)

The metagame explanation for Petrarch's words, of course, is that they want the player to feel okay about dying -- and I think many people actually prefer that ending. (Confirm?)

However, from an in-game point of view, I wonder if the GTVA needed a few propaganda victories to cling to after the catastrophe. Alpha 1 was a convenient hero. It would be an interesting point of view to examine in a fanfic or campaign. I wonder of Petrarch made the decision himself, or if he was pressured from higher-up to make his favorite pilot (and probably friend) into a saint.

 

Offline TrashMan

  • T-tower Avenger. srsly.
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    • Minecraft
    • FLAMES OF WAR
Re: 'remained behind so that others might reach the Vega node'
ORIGINAL END TRANSMISSION:

Alpha1: Oh God! F**! Sh**! Blasted shivans. I'm not gonna make it to the node in time!
Transport1: You can't leave us behind!
Alpha1: F*** you! You're dead anyway. Why the heck is this thing so sloooo..-----


TRANSMISSION MADE PUBLIC BY THE GTVA:

Alpha1: Die you foul shivans! You're not gonna harm these refugees while I'm alive!
Transport1: Leave, run for the node! You cannot help us anymore! Save yourself!
Alpha1: Never! I shall fight to the end! The righteous goverment of the GTVA and it's armed forces will protect you with their lives if need be!..also, buy Coca Cola!


« Last Edit: January 04, 2008, 11:58:10 am by TrashMan »
Nobody dies as a virgin - the life ****s us all!

You're a wrongularity from which no right can escape!

 

Offline BlackDove

  • Star Killer
  • 211
  • Section 3 of the GTVI
    • http://www.shatteredstar.org
Re: 'remained behind so that others might reach the Vega node'
Don't know, I died along with the rest of the pack always when I was a kid, but when I grew up, I always made the jump, and left the rest of the slow transports to fend for themselves in the supernova.

Fact is, there's nothing to be done. The **** is exploding, and you either make it or you don't. It's better to make it, maybe you'll matter in another skirmish down the line, Shivan or otherwise. If you don't, that's it for you.

 
Re: 'remained behind so that others might reach the Vega node'
I actually felt quite heroic when i heard that ending...if i'm dead, it doesen't matter what i did to die then, right?

:lol:
Fun while it lasted.

Then bitter.

 

Offline Desert Tyrant

  • 27
  • Meh.
Re: 'remained behind so that others might reach the Vega node'
I'm aware of the bug with the disabled cruisers (earned someone the 'Savior of Capella' title, didn't it?)

That title was given to Grey Wolf in This Thread. 

I almost wish I had a title. (Flaming Noob?)


 
Re: 'remained behind so that others might reach the Vega node'
Flaming Noob? Aren't noob titles supposed to star with a P?
Fun while it lasted.

Then bitter.

 

Offline Jeff Vader

  • The Back of the Hero!
  • 212
  • Bwahaha
Re: 'remained behind so that others might reach the Vega node'
Phlaming Noob?
23:40 < achillion > EveningTea: ass
23:40 < achillion > wait no
23:40 < achillion > evilbagel: ass
23:40 < EveningTea > ?
23:40 < achillion > 2-letter tab complete failure

14:08 < achillion > there's too much talk of butts and dongs in here
14:08 < achillion > the level of discourse has really plummeted
14:08 < achillion > Let's talk about politics instead
14:08 <@The_E > butts and dongs are part of #hard-light's brand now
14:08 <@The_E > well
14:08 <@The_E > EvilBagel's brand, at least

01:06 < T-Rog > welp
01:07 < T-Rog > I've got to take some very strong antibiotics
01:07 < achillion > penis infection?
01:08 < T-Rog > Chlamydia
01:08 < achillion > O.o
01:09 < achillion > well
01:09 < achillion > I guess that happens
01:09 < T-Rog > at least it's curable
01:09 < achillion > yeah
01:10 < T-Rog > I take it you weren't actually expecting it to be a penis infection
01:10 < achillion > I was not

14:04 < achillion > Sometimes the way to simplify is to just have a habit and not think about it too much
14:05 < achillion > until stuff explodes
14:05 < achillion > then you start thinking about it

22:16 < T-Rog > I don't know how my gf would feel about Jewish conspiracy porn

15:41 <-INFO > EveningTea [[email protected]] has joined #hard-light
15:47 < EvilBagel> butt
15:51 < Achillion> yes
15:53 <-INFO > EveningTea [[email protected]] has quit [Quit: http://www.mibbit.com ajax IRC Client]

18:53 < Achillion> Dicks are fun

21:41 < MatthTheGeek> you can't spell assassin without two asses

20:05 < sigtau> i'm mining titcoins from now on

00:31 < oldlaptop> Drunken antisocial educated freezing hicks with good Internet == Finland stereotype

11:46 <-INFO > Kobrar [[email protected]] has joined #hard-light
11:50 < achtung> Surely you've heard of DVDA
11:50 < achtung> Double Vaginal Double ANal
11:51 < Kobrar> ...
11:51 <-INFO > Kobrar [[email protected]] has left #hard-light []

 
Re: 'remained behind so that others might reach the Vega node'
there we go.
Fun while it lasted.

Then bitter.

 

Offline Desert Tyrant

  • 27
  • Meh.
Re: 'remained behind so that others might reach the Vega node'
Flaming Noob? Aren't noob titles supposed to star with a P?

Not always.  Vasudan Commander's original title before he whined about it was 'The Biggest Noob on HLP... and Proud of it!'  Besides, it was just a random thought at any rate.

 
Re: 'remained behind so that others might reach the Vega node'
i thought it was because he wanted it, not cause an admin put it there.
Fun while it lasted.

Then bitter.

 

Offline Agent_Koopa

  • 28
  • These words make the page load that much slower.
Re: 'remained behind so that others might reach the Vega node'
I don't dare request a title. If I do, the admins will slap me with something deliciously ironic and funny to everyone but me.
Interestingly enough, this signature is none of the following:
A witty remark on whatever sad state of affairs the world may or may not be in
A series of localized forum in-jokes
A clever and self-referential comment on the nature of signatures themselves.

Hobo Queens are Crowned, but Hobo Kings are Found.

 
Re: 'remained behind so that others might reach the Vega node'
I always felt like I was fight a lousing war, and that I was going to die anyways so it did not matter. Sorta like the one Im in now, doing my best, but no matter what I do people are going to keep dieing. It sorta seems pointless, but it has to be done, and you get retarded orders.

However, I maybe biased
Fat people are harder to kidnap :ha:

  

Offline WMCoolmon

  • Purveyor of space crack
  • 213
Re: 'remained behind so that others might reach the Vega node'
I can't say Petrarch's observers were very reliable.

Nor, for that matter, did they necessarily remain at their posts as ordered.

What better way to cover your own ass than to make up a tale of heroism and bravery of such magnitude that no one would ever dare dispute it. :p

It is ironic that the one time that Alpha 1 can't do ****, he gets praise for being an extraordinary pilot.
-C

 

Offline Snail

  • SC 5
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Re: 'remained behind so that others might reach the Vega node'
I don't dare request a title. If I do, the admins will slap me with something deliciously ironic and funny to everyone but me.

Like mine?

 

Offline BlackDove

  • Star Killer
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    • http://www.shatteredstar.org
Re: 'remained behind so that others might reach the Vega node'
Hoooooooo, someone needs to come in here and push a few buttons.

 

Offline karajorma

  • King Louie - Jungle VIP
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    • Karajorma's Freespace FAQ
Re: 'remained behind so that others might reach the Vega node'
Actually I'm just going to tell people to get back on topic.
Karajorma's Freespace FAQ. It's almost like asking me yourself.

[ Diaspora ] - [ Seeds Of Rebellion ] - [ Mind Games ]

 
Re: 'remained behind so that others might reach the Vega node'
There's a few important things to note here.

First, you don't have to save ANY ships to win the mission. You can just jet right to the node and pop out of there, and nobody will say a word. Second, the mission is set up very specifically, to force a choice on the part of the player- you can either be close to the node and escape, or you can devote yourself to defending the transports. If you constantly try to protect the transports instead of making a run for it to save your own hide, you'll be 30 kicks away from the node when the sun goes BOOM.

Now, the first time you play that mission, you have no idea that Capella is going to go supernova, so you focus on doing your job- defending the transports, which is a death sentence for you when the star goes boom. Even dis-regarding the nova, it's a heroic thing to do, considering that the odds against you are incredible, (I was sick and tired of bombers by the end of that mission, oh, man,) and that you're not required to stick around- the second and third convoys have their own (meager) fighter escort, after all.

The point is, if you don't emerge from the Vega node, Command knows why you were too far away to make a run for it- you were busy doing your job defending civilians, and they give you props for it. They wouldn't bat an eye at you running like mad and telling the transports to stuff it when the star goes nova- there's nothing you can do to save them, nothing, and there's no reason you shouldn't try to save yourself. The reason you were too far away from the node at all was because you were doing your job, defending civilians- and that's worthy of commendation. (Note that command didn't actually have any observers in the system, aside from the last ship to jump out that saw you still hanging back, fending off attackers from the last convoy.)