Official

To: Chips & Candy
From: M. Patrovski (M.Patrovski@psaom.org)
Subject: Chip Trade Event
Message:

It's been a while since we've been in the spooky holiday spirit, but there was one fun little prank that stands out from a while back. Vector was new to the team and understandably unfamiliar with the festivities. Aera was still fairly new to the team as well, but she was really quick in the uptake and her excitement for nearly everything had her eager to dive into the holiday spirit with both feet.

So one day, after talking with Mach, they came up with the idea of pulling a prank on Vector. While he was "hibernating," they applied a temporary decal layer to his frame, and a mirror program placed directly in front of him. It took them a little while, but once he woke back up, he was greeted with the sight of him decked out in a new skeleton paint job! It looked pretty spooky because of his already skeletal-esque form, and the bone white contrasted well with his dark blue color scheme and his single glowing red eye.

Vector's pretty stoic, but he almost immediately whipped out a blade and was ready to attack his reflection! Thankfully nothing got diced and he seemed to grow a fondness for his new look, so we had a good laugh while introducing him to the holiday. Good times...

Attached chip: CrossGunDamage: 140 + Spread 4
Accuracy: A
Description: A gun whose shot penetrates enemies to hit up to four enemies diagonally from it, as if forming a X shape.
Duration: Once
Element: Null
Trader Rank: A

Oh my! That sounds hilarious, hehe! Good thing no-one got hurt though!
-Prose

*grumble grumble*

DruidMan has 3 speed upgrades, so 30k refund, minus 6 levels. Sim never got a speed up, so she's the same. FactoryMan and LanternMan are also unchanged, because they exist for no reason.

Steve finished winding his watch. "Okay, Druidman, you can move again." he said, slotting in a few chips. "I guess you can finish up, now."

"Uh... okay, dude." Druidman replied groggily, he had been lounging around like a slack-jawed yokel. He began to chant, feeling pure healing energy flow through his body, the aches and pains (and chills!) of the last few moments began to slip away from him, and Druidman pushed his hands on the ground and shouted "SANCTIFIED RECOVERY FORCE!!!" Draining vines began to burst from the ground, whipping around, searching for unwary prey.

Still stooped on the ground, Druidman's continued to chant, but this time, the cadence slowed down somewhat, and the sounds of the words began to sound more robust. Green energy channeled it's way through his arms and into the ground near him, extending a small piece of his own essence outwards. "RAMPANT GROWTH FORCE!!!"

"Druidman, I'm sending you something new. But, I think it's something you can work with." Steve said. "In fact, someone might get jealous of it?" he Really Anxiously Intoned.

"Wha?" Druidman looked visibly confused, and looked towards his partner. "Sylk, I guess check this thing out?" he shrugged as he channeled the new chip. Nearby, there was a flicker of embers, and a heat haze forming from nothingness, and, as the shimmering faded, a Spikey virus came into being, like a strange reverse-mirage. "Uh, sic'em, boy?" he said, pointing at his remaining foes. "Protect her, dude!" he added, gesturing to his comrade-in-many-arms. The Spikey complied, leaping about and spouting flame around at the viral survivors.

Loading the remaining chip data, Druidman sent a pulse of electrical energy through his forearms, giving him a strange, numb sort of tingling sensation. The energy coalesced into several orbs, which Druidman flung about the area.

Still channeling electricity, Druidman drew his scimitar, and with a slight grunt, grabbed the tip of the blade and began to bend the weapon into a "U" shape, charged with electricity, the sword became like a magnet, eager to launch out his his grip. Druidman held it back long enough to wait for the perfect angle to strike at the circling plane virus, and then let his fingers slack, launching the magnetized metal skyward.

"Uh, this one is new too, huh, man?" he asked, as a strange sort of feeling spread through his body. Slight shifts in the air around him made it seem as it the very wind itself was shielding him from harm. If he squinted, he could almost swear he saw a shimmer of metal dancing around him, ready to intercept anything foolish enough to get close. "Sylk-Lady, the rest is up to you, dudette!"




*.)ShotMeteor attack to FighterBomberV4.
*.)Resolute Steel Force: Passive Hardbody
1.)Sanctified Recovery Force: 60Wood+Drain to Lunaroid2.
2.)Rampant Growth Force: Medium Grass Terrain.
3.) Spikey3HP: 280
Damage: 75 Fire + Spread 2 (Line shape)
Accuracy: A
Description: Creates a Spikey3 virus to aid you. Attacks by firing a HeatSide.
Duration: Until defeated
Element: Fire
Special: Allied Virus: This virus has two actions per turn, and is fully controllable by the summoner. If no orders are given, it will perform actions at random, but will never intentionally interfere with or damage the summoner or their allies. Deleting this virus will grant no additional rewards to either side.
Trader Rank: A: 280HP Virus: 75 + Spread 1 / 3 Action (Acc: A)
4.) ClusterShot2Damage: 10 x 8 Shots + Variable Targeting
Accuracy: B
Description: Launches a volley of eight plasma spheres at targets designated by the user.
Duration: Once
Element: Elec
Special: Variable Targeting: Allows the user to select a target for each individual hit of an attack. This means they may strike the same target multiple times, multiple different targets, or a mix of the two as they wish.
Trader Rank: C: 10 x 8 Shots + Variable Targeting (Acc: B) to Lunaroid2/FighterBomberV4.
5.) MagBolt2Damage: 110 + Stun + Magnetic Pull
Accuracy: B
Description: Uses an electromagnet to pull the target into range, then stuns them with a close range electrical shock.
Duration: Once
Element: Elec
Special: Magnetic Pull: A stronger version of the Pull effect that either pulls the target towards you, or you towards the target over a greater distance than normal.
Trader Rank: C: 110 + Stun + Magnetic Pull (Acc: B) to FighterBomberV4.
6.) AntiDamageDamage: Trap((Negate Attack) Then (100 Slashing x 3 Shots)): Damaging Null Element Attack
Accuracy: B
Description: Negates one Non-Elemental attack and counters with 3 Shuriken.
Duration: One Attack
Element: Null
Special: (Trap(Effect): Trigger): Trap effects are sprung when Trigger conditions are met. Traps do not trigger and cannot be triggered by other Traps. Traps are negated on contact by the Nullify effect, and do not trigger against attacks that include the Nullify effect. Traps do not trigger against Allies. Only one Trap may be set by an individual at a time, and setting a second will overwrite the first regardless of type. Traps remain in place until triggered, overwritten, or destroyed.
Trader Rank: B: Trap((Negate Attack) Then (100 Slashing x 3 Shots)): Damaging Null Element Attack (Acc: B) to DruidMan.

s1.)Attack Lunaroid2.
s2.)Attack FighterBomberV4.
s3.)Attack FighterBomberV4.

I think Mach could use some Netiday spirit, maybe doing something nice for folks could take his mind off things... sign us up!
-Mazer Patrovski, operator for MachMan.EXE

--WARNING-- Major revamp due to Mach's reliance on Passives --WARNING--

Sig Attacks: (Pool: 2100/2120) [PE #51]Max Cap: 420 (630 nerfed)

--OLD--
Heavy Shielding: 5-hit Shield + 3TCD (100pts)
Auto-Injectors: (Heal 135 + 5TCD) (180pts)
SCRAM Boost: Teleport +2TCD (80pts)
Blitz Assault: Teleport + Stun(Nova2) + 4TCD (140pts)
Scrambler Missiles: ((Confusion x 2) x 2 Targets) then (Blind x 2 Targets) + BusterLock + 11TCD (360pts +80Nerf)
Auto-Cage Gyros: [Passive] Status Cure (120pts)
Overclocking:(x2) [Passive] Dodge (160pts)
Enhanced Perception: [Passive] Accuracy Enhancement (160pts)
Anti-Gravity Engines: [Passive] Haste (160pts)
Force Multiplier: [Passive] Spawn 2 Machman Decoys (160pts)

-Shrike-
SCRAM Boost: Teleport + 2TCD (80pts)
Optic Blast: 80dmg Fire + Break + Blind + 4TCD (160pts)
Divert Power: Dodge + Sig Chill + 2TCD (80pts)


--New--
Heavy Shielding: 6-hit Shield + 3TCD (120pts)
Auto-Injectors: (Heal 150 + 5TCD) (200pts)
SCRAM Boost: Teleport +2TCD (80pts)
Blitz Assault: Teleport + Glitch + Stun(Nova2) + 4TCD (160pts)
Scrambler Missiles: ((Confusion x 2) x 2 Targets) then (Blind x 2 Targets) + BusterLock + 11TCD (360pts +80Nerf)

Surgical Strafe: After calibrating his targeting system, Mach swoops in for a precision bombardment of the enemy's position.
(Accuracy Enhancement + Buster Shotx2 + Movement +3TD) (120pts)

MachMan Missile Massacre: Mach unleashes a salvo of twenty-five missiles towards a single enemy, then lines up for another shot.
(Buster Shotx5 + Take Aim +4TCD) (160pts)

Reload: Mach utilizes the brief pause in his assault to dodge enemy fire and reload, so he can go back in "guns blazing."
(Dodge + Sig Chill + 2TCD) (80pts) x2

Decoy Squadron: A quartet of holo drones are jettisoned from Mach's frame, that then take the shape of their master
((Decoy x4)x2 turns + Dodge +5TCD) (200pts)


-Shrike-
SCRAM Boost: Teleport + 2TCD (80pts)
Optic Blast: 80dmg Fire + Break + Blind + 4TCD (160pts)
Divert Power: Dodge + Sig Chill + 2TCD (80pts)

Dazzle Ray: Shrike sweeps two targets with a rapidly shifting, multi-frequency beam to "dazzle" and confuse the enemy, but the effect is neither damaging nor permanent.
(Confusion x2 Targets + 4TCD) (160pts)

Terrain Denial: The ocular SP utilizes its searing glare like a thermal lance to carve into the battlefield with blazing heat, leaving behind a long scar of glowing, bubbling lava.
(Large-Area Terrain Effect [Lava] + Strengthen 40 +2TCD) (80pts)

New Total: 2120/2120

My nominations:
MeleeMan - obvious reasons
RedRidingHood - winner of the Net Tournament

Other possible contenders:
TennisMan - first to get a BeastOut
SplashMan - first successful UnderNet exploration
Broadside - because mecha

Mach's furious assault was ultimately successful, with the added bonus of removing the reinforcements as their master laid slain (in two, rapidly derezzing pieces). With the sounds of torn metal, explosions, and searing flames finally gone, the torn battlefield was quiet again, save for the sputtering growl of Shrike's bullet-riddled engines.

The squat SP's wobbling descent was punctuated with a dull thud when the program clattered to the ground. Its large, mechanical eye briefly struggled to move in the soot-dusted ground, then shakily panned to its Navi's much more gradual and controlled landing. "R-Radar Cl-ear. Damage Cri-i-i-i-itical," the SP dutifully reported in its monotone, androgynous voice.

Though Mach couldn't physically see the debris field of scattered zenny, bugfrags, and battlechip data, his sensors allowed him to at least "detect" their presence around him. He could also, from the HP read-out, tell his SP was in no shape to continue, or even help gather up the spoils. ["Good work, Shrike. I'm bringing you back for repairs, stand by,"] Mazer's now rarely-heard voice came in through both Program's internal comms. A second later, the heavily-damaged SP disappeared in a flash of cyan light, leaving Mach alone in the clearing, surrounded by ominous-looking woods.

Seemingly undeterred, the Navi silently got to work. It took a few minutes, but when all was said and done he'd collected a sizeable amount of zenny, bugfrags, and two fairly impressive battlechips; a good haul, and a decent place to call it quits... for now. With his SP out for repairs for a while, Mach decided to utilize a seldom-used subchip. After selecting the subchip, a green wireframe (obviously unseen by Mach) materialized in the air about a meter in front of him. The wireframe eventually formed the shape of a long rectangle, standing vertically, with a slightly curled bit protruding from the top, like a bit of string, then disappeared with a little chime indicating the BookMark subchip had been successfully "placed."

Mazer minimized Shrike's repair window upon hearing the chime, and saw a little message scroll across the top of his screen. ["Good call, let's take a break,"] Mazer remarked, and let Shrike's repair program run on its own, as now he didn't have a tight deadline. ["If you want, I can send you by the shops on your way back,"] he continued with a suggestion. The Navi stood up straight as the last of the collected data disappeared from the download, then replied with a brief "Sure."

A few seconds later, Mach was enveloped in a cyan glow, then rocketed straight up as a beam of light and disappeared.

((Used: BookMark))
((To InternetCity))

MachMan: Speed Upgrade 1-3 (30000z, -6 levels)
Shrike: Speed+V1,V2 (300 Bugfrags, -10 levels)
KaijuMan: Speed Upgrade 1 (5000z, -2 levels)
HangMan: Speed Upgrade 1 (5000z, -2 levels)

While the Broadcast Bot commented on the "bird" that faced it, Shrike got to work on further thinning the field of its comrades. Its cycloptic gaze focused on the minigun-wielding program, then shot a searing glare in its direction with a flash of red from its glowing mechanical pupil. The air was briefly lanced with a crimson ray of heat, which lasted little more than a second.

Mach also kept up the assault; he lunged towards the speaking camera bot with his clawed left hand splayed open. Mach's right hand was still laying in a crumpled heap near where the war hammer had exploded against the floor, so he had little more than a torn stump at the end of his right arm. That "disability" seemed to do little to affect his ability as he whipped his left arm and hand forward in a climbing diagonal swipe through the program's position, attempting to cleave into the program's surprisingly stalwart armor a second time.

" FlameLine3Damage: 170 + Ground Attack + Wide Attack
Accuracy: B
Description: A wall of fire erupts from the ground, burning up to 3 targets.
Duration: Once
Element: Fire
Trader Rank: B, StepCrossDamage: 120 + Slashing + X-Range Attack + Teleport
Accuracy: S for primary target, B for additional targets.
Description: The user warps in front of an enemy, then quickly performs two sword slashes to create an X shape. Can hit up to 5 targets with good RP. Rare
Duration: Once.
Element: Null
Special: Teleport: When RP Quality is excellent, this attack also counts as a free dodge.
Trader Rank: B, HawkCut3Damage: 50 + Consecutive Strike + Slashing x 3 hits
Accuracy: B
Description: Performs a flashy 3-hit sword strike. Gets stronger with each hit, but it's very easy for the timing to be thrown off and fail.
Duration: Once
Element: Null
Special: Consecutive Strike: This attack's power increases by 10 with each consecutive successful hit. This stacks with other HawkCut series chips, including DeltaRayEdge. This chip immediately ends upon missing, and the power boost is reset to 0.
Trader Rank: B, and AuraHead3Damage: 150 + Break + Line Attack3 + Aura Boost
Accuracy: B / C / D
Description: Launches a Megallian Aura Head that smashes through up to 3 targets/objects in a straight line. Accuracy decreases with each hit.
Duration: Once
Element: Null
Special: Aura Boost: +20 Attack Damage when user of this chip is protected by a Barrier. +50 Attack Damage when user of this chip is protected by an Aura.
Trader Rank: B" Mach commanded with a grunt after he recovered from the clawed swipe, then tapped his throttles to jet himself near and around the camera-laden program. His movements were slightly erratic in hopes of making himself harder to hit, but had enough force to propel him a significant distance if his foe tried to fall back to a better position or turn tail and run. With the assist of his thrust vectoring paddles, control surfaces, and various vents, he tried his best to keep the Bot within arm's length, at least long enough for him to strike.

He punched his left arm forward and drove his open left hand palm-first towards his foe. Though his prosthetic arms were longer than his original limbs, he'd had plenty of time with them to become used to his extended reach, and had the added bonus of looking almost akin to the long, slender leg and talons of a bird of prey. He continued to use his engines and control surfaces to assist in his own aim, as his strategy was riding on the success of this attack. He tried to clasp his sharpened fingers around any limb he could grab, or dig his claws in like five simplistic can openers. If Mach had a choice, he'd go for the neck.

If he managed to snare the bot in his claw, he wasted no time to give his foe the temporary extra title of "projectile." He 'looked' to his left using his onboard sensors to confirm the bit-user hadn't moved from its impromptu foxhole, then slammed his left throttle forward. The engine roared and spewed a cone of flame before whipping his body, arm, and snared enemy in a clockwise rotation in the air. Mach's goal was to gain enough momentum to only require one full rotation before hurling the broadcast bot towards its huddled ally. He snapped his hand open as quickly as he could to ensure a "clean" throw, but he really just wanted the program to land in the vicinity of its comrade.

Regardless of the foe's status and position, Shrike followed up by engaging as well with its immolating glare. Its large eye had little trouble tracking the target, then tightened its iris as its pupil changed from green to red. A split second later, a perfectly straight line from Shrike (and hopefully ending at the Broadcast Bot) of glowing red light and heat flickered in the air. The beam briefly pulsed as Shrike devoted more time and power into the attack, and attempted to carve into the program with the beam of heat.

Meanwhile, Mach's first chip had been uploaded by Mazer, and his right arm rapidly began to take shape of the manifestation of said chip. A more astute observer would also notice Mach's discarded hand fragmented and disappeared as well, as part of the reformatting of the limb. It quickly took the form of a single, long barrel with four cylindrical fixtures splayed outwards at the "breech" of the weapon. Said cylinders suddenly began to glow a vibrant orange and become hot to the touch, but then seemed to drain into the barrel.

Mach aimed the weapon towards his primary target, whom he hoped was still near its subterranian comrade. He still fired the weapon either way; a single rocket burst forth from the barrel of the weapon and streaked down towards the ground, leaving behind a white trail of smoke from its solid fuel motor. The rocket impacted the ground with an initially anticlimactic *thud*, but immediately afterwards the ground seemed to crack like a pane of glass, but instead of dark fissures or holes, the cracks were glowing in a rapidly intensifying orange light. A split-second later, a vast swath of ground erupted in a jagged wall of flame and heat, bathing a significant portion of the battlefield in fire.

Mach didn't pause to admire his fiery handiwork, he instead abandoned his firing position in the air by cartwheeling to his right. He anticipated the explosion of flame wouldn't keep the enemy from firing back, pun not intended, so he had no intention of being caught unaware. The wall of flame died down and disappeared rather quickly, then Mach himself disappeared even faster.

He reappeared directly behind the main camera program, and his left hand had reformatted to its default manipulator, but was then clutching the rectangular hilt of his energy sword. Though it initially appeared as if his arm just appeared to slightly blur, as if it went out of focus, the sudden appearance of two bright, intersecting cyan crescents in the air through the target's position showed Mach actually delivered an incredibly fast pair of slashes as soon as he appeared.

Though the initial assault was impressive to see, Mach wasn't finished; he continued to press on, using his engines to keep his prey in range. He continued to wield his energy sword and swung the thin cyan blade straight up in a vertical, rising slash aimed up the camera bot's mechanical spine. As soon as his arm brought the weapon pointing directly above his head, he then traced a semi-circle above and to the left of his head to "turn" the blade in the air while keeping as much momentum as possible. With that, was able to smoothly swing his arm down and to the right, whipping a diving diagonal slash with the energy blade. After delivering the second slash, his right engine barked and coughed flame to abruptly stop Mach's upper torso at the end of the swing.

If his two swings managed to hit, he then added a bit of flair by switching off the beam emitter in the hilt. The blade disappeared in a whisp of cyan energy as he twirled the hilt in his fingers, then clamped his grip down with the hilt now facing upside down. He then flicked the emitter back on as he drove the bottom of his fist up and forward, aiming towards the underside of the target's chest in one last attempt to skewer the program on his blade.

Mach then let go of the sword, keeping it active and hopefully embedded in the camera program, and "stood" upright to face his target. Then the large, bust statue-like form of a Megalian materialized directly ahead of the angular, armored Navi. The violet and tan virus's eyes and mouth were initially just dark pits of shadow, but a second later they flickered and burned with cyan light as its expression shifted to a silent battle cry. The virus's head launched forward like a cannonball, aimed towards the Broadcast Bot. It attempted to deliver a crushing, ballistic headbutt in the hopes of smashing through its armor, or possibly more.