NH-29 Nekovalkyrja (Brainstorming)

[Fred]

I'm going to just go and revive an aging thread! Yay me!

Frankly, I'm a bit astounded at the way this brainstorming is turning up. There's one big element I feel you've all missed.

Why make a NH-29 at all? If I'm not mistaken, the whole idea in creating Yamataians (ahem, the NH-22C) was to allow the Nekovalkyrja and Geshrin to merge into a single species, also allowing the nekos whom had served the Star Army to have to possibility to 'move on' / reap the rewards of their labor and actually have a normal life of their own instead of being a weapon. The Yamataians are already enhanced over what the Geshrin.

Creating another NH series that could be their own species seems to fly right in the face of the very purpose the Yamataians have (and they are supposed to be relatively recent too).

While the Yamatai Star Empire is encouraging the older NH types to switch to be Yamataians, there is still obviously a need for the Star Army to have dedicated soldier units - they developped the NH-27's. On the other hand, the Geshrins have so far managed to do relatively well as crew members/armor pilots... so, there's really no reason why the more performant Yamataians couldn't do so.

They pushed the soldier units even farther and created the first NIWS NH-28. That stands fairly well for their catgirl-based weapon of mass destruction, in my opinion (they're so powerful they don't even need power armor - how cool is that?). I mean, it emphasises the weapon aspect of the nekos perfectly and it doesn't really need to socialize. Heck, you can have a Yamataian control one through telepathy/nodal control if needed.

Working on the NH-29 would only increase the coming cultural clash Yamatai has going for it. The Yamataians we're already an elegant response to their need and don't really need to be refined. In my opinion, it would make more sense to devise a M4 space-superiority power armor type to equalize Kylie users with the Mindy's performance rather than treat the empire's bio-engineered population as something you can play Yo-Yo with.

The Yamataians could be 'upgraded' eventually, but I feel the wait for that should be quite longer than it has already been. A couple of generations to see how they go before actually implementing large-scale changes.

(also, I don't think it's really necessary to have the Neko number follow the actual year number ~_^ )

 

[Jadg Wolf]

They don't always follow the year number, I believe (my character was put in a new NH-8 in the early YE 20's). Also, NH-29's could be used to upgrade nekos in older model bodies. I'm no expert, though, so I'll let someone else respond.

 

[Fred]

The NH-27, NH-28 and the NH-29 would in this instance. That seems to be the current trend. Heck, even the fleet reorganisation is called "Type-29". Seems like more than a coincidence to me. XD

*sigh* well, like I said, the Yamataians are supposed to be the 'upgrade' of the older neko models. The NH-27 can probably be the mainstay for some time until most of them are fazed out (K.I.A. or turned into Yamataian after their tour of duty to settle down to 'normal life').

On a related subject... anyone notice that Nekovalkyrjas seem to have significant psyche problems pop up around the age of 20? (like Mizuho and former-Empress Ayame?).

 

[Wes]

On a related subject... anyone notice that Nekovalkyrjas seem to have significant psyche problems pop up around the age of 20? (like Mizuho and former-Empress Ayame?).

Yes, that's true. Since a lot of the Star Army is inspired by the Imperial Japanese Naval Air Force, the weapons tend to be named by the year, to include guns and, more recently, Nekovalkyrja.

On a related subject... anyone notice that Nekovalkyrjas seem to have significant psyche problems pop up around the age of 20? (like Mizuho and former-Empress Ayame?).

Yes, that does seem to be true.

*sigh* well, like I said, the Yamataians are supposed to be the 'upgrade' of the older neko models. The NH-27 can probably be the mainstay for some time until most of them are fazed out (K.I.A. or turned into Yamataian after their tour of duty to settle down to 'normal life').

The Yamataian program doesn't seem to be going all that well, unfortunately.

 

[Fred]

Well, all Geshrin could technically turn into Yamataians and be the better for it. That would swell the numbers considerably.

As for Mizuho, I'm under the opinion that becoming a Yamataian would do her good. Get out of the Star Army, go to Yamatai and raise children. She seems so sick of facing death, yet she seems to refuse to let her life move on beyond the military... since that's probably an unknown to her (speculating here).

Anyhow. I think you may want to include in the CCG that the Geshrin could be everybit as, erm, obsolete as the NH-17 are and that new characters wanting to be the generic 'human' with a few pluses should for for Yamataians. It's more a matter of player choice rather than that the population wouldn't have gone for it.

Kotori, for one, intends to become one. She wants to eventually enjoy the fruits of her labor, settle and have a familly. If she can have that mindset, I don't see why others wouldn't at one point or another.

My argument stands : I feel there is not sufficient cause to create the NH-29s if there are already 3 other choices which haven't been used to their fullest potential : the NH-27 is not yet the standard Nekovalkyrja type, the NH-28 is still experimental and the Yamataians have just recently come up.

If the issue is combat fatigue, then the Yamataians happen to solve that problem, not having that weakness. Design an M4 suit to even up the Yamataians with the Nekos and there will be no sufficient reason not to take one over a Neko ~_^ That was the point of it, right? To reduce the Neko population and combine them with the Geshrin?

 

[Kimura]

I think the issue is that it says in the NH-27 section that you have to be Ittou Hei in order to be one, and newbies have no idea what that means aside from the fact that it means they can't be one, so they skip over it.

Then, they arrive on 'Yamataians' and read the bit about 'Relatively new; most Yamataians would have previously been a Geshrin or something', then follow the links to NH-17 or Geshrin and forget that they started planning a Yamataian.

Plus, the first Geshrin page says "You probably picked a Geshrin because they're similar to humans. Not surprisingly, role-playing a Geshrin is pretty much the same as role-playing a human." and people are all like "Oh phew," without getting all that neat stuff Wes said about it being like a postmodern Japanese utopia.

By now, they've got about 3 tabs (or windows, if they're n0ebs and use IE) open, and they are starting to just want to get done, so they run with it and put "Pretty much normal" in all the rest of the stuff since it does say 'normal is good.'...and it is, but it tends not to lead to the generation of Yamataian characters.

Personally, I was trying to generate a Yamataian but then I got all confused about NH-22C and Yamataians (still am, by the way) and just took out all references to it in my bio.

 

[Wes]

Hopefully the prefabricated characters (staff forum link) we're adding will help elimatinate some of that confusion.

 

[Tsuki]

I think that the NH-22C is the Yamataian and the NH-22M is possibly the 27 or 28.

My character is still an NH-17, because Yamataians were invented after I made Tsuki, and the HS limitations bum me out (Plus the minor fact that Tsuki is on the SS. Kiroshi, which is in the middle of nowhere being attacked by evil bio-goop just might have something to do with it. Maybe Tsuki should keep her military-class abilities just for that kinda thing spontaneously happening to our ship.)

(...Oh wait, I started that plot, so it wasn't spontaneous at all.)

 

[Jadg Wolf]

and newbies have no idea what that means aside from the fact that it means they can't be one, so they skip over it.

Don't forget who's still a newbie.

I believe Wes has said that the NH-29 is for game-balance issues. There's no real IC reason for it, but it's something that should be done, like the reduction of the fleets.

 

[Fred]

The whole point of my argument is to point out that the NH-22C - The Yamataians - already fulfills this - IC or not. It's not their usefulness which is lacking, it's how they are represented.

Wes did share to me over YIM yesterday (or was it this morning? ugh) that he was strongly considering actually using the NH-22M series... but I don't think this would fix the problem. The Yamataians were created and now, well, they need to see wider use, not see another Nekovalkyrja series do most of the things the Yamataians can do if not more.

Not to mention making the NH-29 race would be sort of unfair for Yamataian players. they don't have as much strengths as the Nekovalkyrjas, but they do have good points. All the setting has to do is accomodate things more for them.

 

[Wes]

What I'm going for with the NH-29 is a return to the "classic," natural Nekovalkyrja, that is a bit toned down so it's more fair. The reason that one side of the Empire is pushing for Yamataians, and the other for new Nekovalkyrja is simple--there are multiple factions within the YSE that have different goals. In the RP, the NH-29 is being made by Nekovalkyrja (mostly in SARA) who want to continue their species. The Yamataians are mainly advocated by anti-nekoists in the Yamataian government, as most Geshrin seem to be plenty satisfied with their bodies--as are most Nekovalkryja.

 

[Fred]

Okay, that does make some amount of sense. I'll guess I'll just quote stuff from the first post and say my thoughts on it.

# Based on NH-17, designed for natural birth and reproduction cycle.

Like the NH-22C. Okay.

# Neko ears with human type positioning

Nothing new. Seems to be a clarification.

# Hands: Three fingers plus thumb, no fingernails

Kotori has three fingers and a thumb... at least the way I drew her. But lacking fingernails? I'm not sure that's a good idea. Specifying that they don't have claws is one thing, but nails do get to be useful now and then.

# Feet: Four toes of about equal size (second to middle is longest)

Considering the hand setup, it makes sense. Do Nekovalkyrjas have a preference for walking on their heels or on the ball of the feet?

# Not as fabulously strong (not needed so much now that we have power armors)

Good point. From what info I got on the Mishhuarv- erk, the SMX, they always we're stronger anyways. The power armor do in effect compensate. Leave the brawn work to the NH-28.

# Don't form objects out of blood (except organ regrowth)

Feels odd to form a tentacle anyways ^_^;;

# Heal all injuries within 3 days (not as fast)

Um... sure.

# Long lifespan--100 years (As opposed to only 25 years for NH-17)

The Yamataians live for around 150 years. Why would the NH-29 lifespan be shorter?

# New type of connection to replace SLICS? (Shoulder holes)

I heartily recommend the interface system be changed from being hinged on the shoulders. There's a mention that the armor can still function without limbs, but the shoulder is part of the arm. Personally, I'd base it on the region of the spinal column, where the nerve center is strong anyways. No extensions to shoulders needed and it's already in direct contact with the flesh-core part of a suit - not to mention better protected - this would require a overhaul of the Mindy armor though.

# Front teeth: VUUV (only two flat ones between canines)

That's original and would sort of support why the have pointy chins (as in most delicate looking anime girls).

# NH-17 style anti-gravity (float) abilities

Yay! Levitation rocks.

# Computer-style memory and telepathic data-transfer ability

That's nothing new and it's kinda a neat feature, from a metagame point of view. Allows to access information that belongs to the database or a character readout, even if the character herself wouldn't know about it. I find that trait rather useful for Kotori.

# Body hair: very short and thin, except for long, straight hair on the head.

Personally, I prefer smooth skinned, with eyebrows and hair. Are Neko ears furred too? I can't tell from the banner artwork.

# Enhanced reproductive orifice?

Well, they can make babies every 3-4 months. I say it's enhanced enough ~_~

# Lower dietary and energy requirements

Less strength but stronger metabolism seems to go well hand-in-hand for that design.

* * *

Different goals for different factions? With the SMX being driven back and weakening... do I spy the signs of a budding civil war?

 

[Wes]

Considering the hand setup, it makes sense. Do Nekovalkyrjas have a preference for walking on their heels or on the ball of the feet?

they tend to prance around with their weight mostly centered on the front of their feet, near their toes.

The Yamataians live for around 150 years. Why would the NH-29 lifespan be shorter?

This was arbitrary. I suppose could be 150, too. I just don't like it when people RP characters that are like 5 times their ages (though this wouldn't be an issue for a long time).

Well, they can make babies every 3-4 months. I say it's enhanced enough ~_~

Nekovalkyrja: Ribbed for his pleasure. >,>

Different goals for different factions? With the SMX being driven back and weakening... do I spy the signs of a budding civil war?

There's certainly conflict brewing, but a civil war might be a little much. Then again, Nepleslia's already seceeded...

 

[Kimura]

Do nekos have a killswitch as it stands?

 

[Tyler]

Yes, deep genetic scans make them instantly vaporize

 

[Kimura]

Could you run a deep genetic scan on a large mob of angry Nekos, though, if there was an uprising?

 

[Fred]

*Points at the Neko-Mishhu hybrid* I'm not sure those would vaporize...

 

[Rob]

*Points at the Neko-Mishhu hybrid* I'm not sure those would vaporize...

Neko-Mishu hybrid... interesting idea, although I don't want to know how it happened (yay, evil thoughts for you all! ... hell, catgirls + tentacle beasties...).

Neko run the empire... why would there be an uprising? Geshrin are second class citizens (As was mentioned a while ago in an RP, although not directly. I believe it was something along the lines of "Don't touch me, or the star army will be obliged to remove your reproductive organs." "You're not a neko, they don't care!" *commence fight*).

Anyway, I think any kind of uprising within the empire as it stands would be a) quick and bloody, with the neko winning or b) covert. I do, of course, assume that it will be the geshrin who initiate conflict...

 

[Fred]

So, the NH-29 would be completely devoid of any camouflage and see-through-skin capabilities as well?

 

[Rei]

That's the idea. The power armors are a more practical for that purpose anyway.