Seconding Arbre

May I use the Saffron Crocus for a new Division? by Sergio Turbo on 2011-02-15 20:12:00 UTC Reply

My agents are currently assigned to the PPC Fighter Wing (Division of the Department of Floaters, deals mainly with Ace Combat badfic) as a way of being punished. Since a Division needs somebody to boss agents around, I was thinking of using this Flower instead of making a new one.

Any reason I shouldn't?

Thank you people! by Sergio Turbo on 2011-02-16 09:15:00 UTC Reply

Now I have a clearer picture of what a Division is.

My idea about the roles of the Fighter Wing (formally under the Floaters, but actually going to be used by a lot of Departments) was this:

- Shooting down Sues that fly/ride/drive nearly all the time in Ace Combat, Macross, or similar canons with heavy machinery involved (not Gundam, since only one aircraft in Ace Combat history is space-capable ad for a limited amount of time). Basically, a bigger stick to poke Sues that otherwise would slay Agents when they try to do the kill.
- Helping DOGA cleaning out uncanonical cities and landscapes too big for a single squad of Pyros but too small (e.g. less than the whole solar system) to warrant the use of a Sun Crusher.
- Following action in Ace Combat and similar canons when otherwise Words and extensive portalling would be tedious for the reader.

Why is it a punishment? I though it was more of "try to stay alive when attempting to shoot down Ace!Sues": the mission I am writing right now is about killing off an Ace!Stu!James Sirius Potter (Yes, Harry Potter's son) that flyies around in an F-22 even when still a trainee. My agents have a single F-14A (only aircraft currently own by the Fighter Wing. It's an AC5 one, so quite cheap and hopefully not a money and maintenance sink like the real one.). If Reality Ensues, they're kinda screwed. Not to mention a single error when taking off or landing would reduce Agents and plane to a fireball.

So, any idea on what formally should be the PPC Fighter Wing? Only a couple agents with planes? A Sub-Division? Something else entirely? Shouldn't be existing at all?

My question is... by Huinesoron on 2011-02-20 20:21:00 UTC Reply

... why have you chosen to give them fighters? Is it:

a) Because it's funny

or

b) Because it's easier?

a) is good. b) is not. If you think it's funny to write them shooting down 'Sues by using their own PPC fighter(s), then the Fighter Wing or something like it is a necessity. If you think it'd just be easier, go for funny instead - stealing fighters, using anti-air missiles, tricking the 'Sue into flying into a cliff, etc etc etc. (I specify killing 'Sues - this applies equally to any other department, and to simply chasing the action around). It seems like something that could well be funny - or could just be a way to make life easier for you. Only you know that. Just make sure you do know which it is.

hS, ramblin'

It's a) and absolutely the opposite of b) by Sergio Turbo on 2011-02-22 10:43:00 UTC Reply

It's funny, since they are stilL two common agents who get their hands on a fighter jet (One of my agents had little experience on a DC-3, but I think you all know that a F-14 is a lot different!)

I cannot say what parts will be funny, since they are different from fic to fic, but I can say that in my next mission there will be some.

SPOILER: The planes used by the Stu and his fellow bits during a training exercise are rigged into ejecting the pilot when locked on. A very stupid thing, since you lose a plane for every simulated "kill". When my agents close in and lock on... the Stu ejects. In the end, the Stu is killed by shredding his chute with gunfire.

Obviously there will be some recurring gags such as DoSAT complaining about every single thing done by the agents with the plane and refusing to give them a decent enough plane for the mission, posing as canonical squadrons to scare the hell out of canonicals NOT suppoosed to be flying at all (and subsequent reprimand from Flowers for impersonating canons), and maybe a couple planes crashed on landing...

And not easier, since they have to think how trick Ace!Sues into "meeting" with their weapons while trying to stay alive themselves. I do not have many Ace Combat examples right now, but about that continuum I can say that Sues will surely dodge pretty any kind of missile, even AC4 QAAMs (For those not familiar with AC, they're the "it hits no matter what you do in 95% of cases" missile.)

However, it still is something experimental. If I am not able to work it out well in the first couple missions, the PPC Fighter Wing will cease to exist. Or, rather, it will cease to have ever existed at all, since the mission will became uncanon.

In my opinion... by Sonne on 2011-02-23 15:31:00 UTC Reply

you could make a couple of agents who call themselves "PPC Fighter Wing" just out of vanity; i.e. after their first mission ends with no one of them dead, they start to swagger around HQ about it. Doing it for fun seems good, and for funnier, think of something like Nieuport XXVIII, Albatros D V or even a zeppelin.

Seems a good idea. by Sergio Turbo on 2011-02-23 17:03:00 UTC Reply

But zeppelins and biplanes are right out. You know, Sues have a preference for F-22s, Su-47s, or superfighters. Even a dinky F-5 would be inadequate.

I'll re-write part of my mission, your idea of a "Fighter Wing" actually being two-agents-and-a-couple-planes seems good.

I had an specific idea for that by Sonne on 2011-02-23 18:53:00 UTC Reply

"DoSAT already sent our equipment into the fic" said agent A.
"Ok, let's go" answered agent B.
Inside the fic
"They must be kidding" muttered agent B.
Agent A was just looking expressionlessly at the huge plane in front of him, holding loosely a piece of cloth that had been used to cover it.
"Zeppelin." He said shaking a bit. "A freaking zeppelin..."
He dropped himself to the floor, his face towards the sky. "What we do now?"
Agent B looked thoughtfully at the ground.
"Steal a F-22?"

Hilarious. by Sergio Turbo on 2011-02-23 19:03:00 UTC Reply

I was thinking about a similar things: agents get sent in with a plane decent but not perfect (F-14, exactly. But maybe I downgrade it to a F-4.), but somehow send back to HQ a couple F-22s. (The badfic should have a lot of them around, since it's basically giving the most advanced and expensive fighter plane in the world to FREAKING TRAINEEES)

However, having them steal a better plane to just be able to do the mission is a better idea. Thanks! I'll give you credit for helping out!

*blushes* by Sonne on 2011-02-24 14:02:00 UTC Reply

Once it had to happen; me having a good idea, y'know *blushes again*

Seconding Arbre by Neshomeh on 2011-02-15 22:55:00 UTC Reply

It seems to me that what you've got is in effect a canon division authorized to use special equipment due to the nature of the canon, so like Arbre said, that wouldn't warrant a division head. They'd still answer directly to the Floating Hyacinth (not to mention having DoSAT breathing down their necks about treating the equipment well).

Another thing, though: exactly how is being transferred to a division that allows the use of fighter jets a punishment? To me, it sounds too high on the badass scale to truly be a bad thing.

~Neshomeh
Guess I'm one of those oldbies refered to by IndeMaat on 2011-02-15 21:50:00 UTC Reply

A while back there was a call to stop creating new divisions.

I believe this was in response to people seeming to create new divisions at the drop of a hat (not head, no matter what my fingers think). The point then was -- and I think it still stands now -- is it really, really necessary to create a new division?

And more of question to put my missions in line with everyone else's: do divisions really need their own head? My agents seem to do "fine" being bossed around by the head of the department. Or any flower with authority over agents.
My perspective... by L'homme_Arbre on 2011-02-15 21:19:00 UTC Reply

There are two types of divisions - those based on different canons, and those created for specific jobs. For example, the Harry Potter Division of the DBS is one of the former, while the Division of Mpreg would be one of the latter. What's important to note is that while Mpreg has a Division Head, HP would not. Now, from what you're saying, the Fighter Wing sounds more specialized than canon, even if you mostly spork Ace Combat fics, and therefore having a flower just for them sounds fine to me.

Now, I personally don't see why you shouldn't use the Crocus. In a consensual reality like ours, it's generally better to reuse something rather than make something new up, and I don't see why this would be any different. However, newbie-shrimp that I am, my approval is not the Board's approval, and you should probably wait for one of the Oldbies to confirm or deny what I'm saying before you do anything.

Hope this helps a bit. Ciao.
Well by caddy-shack on 2011-02-15 21:12:00 UTC Reply

I don't see it being a problem, but I doubt I'm allowed to give permission for this type of thing. A suggestion I might make is that you make the division more inclusive, possibly turn it into a division for fics that would require agents to use vehicles? Though you don't have too, we did have a Legend of Zelda division at some point.

I do like your idea though, hopefully it comes through.