StarDestroyer.Net BBS

As it's a unique ship, I would say it's fine. Besides, the Star Kingdom is mine to conquer, dammit. I have cultural ties to consider, and you barbarians would blow up museums from orbit.

You're the one who scoops up entire cities from oribt and we're the barbarians?

frigidmagi wrote:You're the one who scoops up entire cities from oribt and we're the barbarians?

The Kzin slaughter their enemies, eat their prisoners, and enslave whoever's left. You are the barbarians because your history only goes back a few hundred years. The corsairs are not barbarians because they don't even rate that high. They are cut-throat privateers and the Kzin would not stoop to eat their flesh, for the pirates are nothing more than cowardly kshat barely fit even to be massacred at the claws of true Heroes. Nyah, and their mother wears army boots.

Is the SD affected by the 5 point soft cap effect?

Yes. It's not as nasty as a squadron of 7 1. pt BBs.

Pablo Sanchez wrote: The Kzin slaughter their enemies, eat their prisoners, and enslave whoever's left. You are the barbarians because your history only goes back a few hundred years. The corsairs are not barbarians because they don't even rate that high. They are cut-throat privateers and the Kzin would not stoop to eat their flesh, for the pirates are nothing more than cowardly kshat barely fit even to be massacred at the claws of true Heroes. Nyah, and their mother wears army boots.

I'm quite certain that one day, the Patriarch will find himself staring at the headsman's axe, and he'll find all the Hero's strength leaving him as he urinates himself like a cowering sthondat. At least, I hope that happens....

*Sharpens the axe.*

If your leaders are so confident of their superiority then they are invited to challenge the Patriarch in single combat at any time.

Might have a SPARTAN consider that at some point later, but no.

Pablo Sanchez wrote:If your leaders are so confident of their superiority then they are invited to challenge the Patriarch in single combat at any time.

I would point out that it is possible for humans in top physical shape, specially trained, to kill Kzin with their bare hands.

Of course, an aging patrician like Delacroix is not one of those people...

Actually, a weird thought- What if some player were to genemod their leader into a killing machine. Could they kill the Patriarch in single combat and take the whole show over?

Thirdfain wrote:Actually, a weird thought- What if some player were to genemod their leader into a killing machine. Could they kill the Patriarch in single combat and take the whole show over?

No. The only person who can ascend to the post by killing the current Patriarch is one of the Patriarch's many sons. The Patriarch would also refuse out of hand any challenge by soft pink-skinned apes, because there is no honor in them.

EDIT:

Thirdfain wrote:I would point out that it is possible for humans in top physical shape, specially trained, to kill Kzin with their bare hands.

If you read the Known Space series more thoroughly, you'll find that this is actually an exaggeration. There really isn't any way for a human to hurt a Kzin barehanded (aside from poking them in the eye) because their bodies are too durable to be bludgeoned with our silly little hands and feet. A Jinxian could maybe pull off joint locks, but grappling with a tiger-man is a bad idea.

The humans trained to fight Kzin hand-to-hand typically used huge Gurkha knives or other weaponry.

Pablo Sanchez wrote: No.

Obviously.

Pablo Sanchez wrote:

Thirdfain wrote:Actually, a weird thought- What if some player were to genemod their leader into a killing machine. Could they kill the Patriarch in single combat and take the whole show over?

No. The only person who can ascend to the post by killing the current Patriarch is one of the Patriarch's many sons. The Patriarch would also refuse out of hand any challenge by soft pink-skinned apes, because there is no honor in them.

I have some SPARTANs who would disagree with the "soft" part.

If you read the Known Space series more thoroughly, you'll find that this is actually an exaggeration. There really isn't any way for a human to hurt a Kzin barehanded (aside from poking them in the eye) because their bodies are too durable to be bludgeoned with our silly little hands and feet. A Jinxian could maybe pull off joint locks, but grappling with a tiger-man is a bad idea.

The humans trained to fight Kzin hand-to-hand typically used huge Gurkha knives or other weaponry.

I remember a specific scene with a particularly muscular and badass special forces type kill a Hero with his bare hands, but I must have read it years ago. I guess he had a knife... They were fighting in zero-G.

-edit- Also, I can't think of a more genuinely badass profession than killing Kzinti with your bare hands. Must be one hell of a turnover, though...

Thirdfain wrote:I remember a specific scene with a particularly muscular and badass special forces type kill a Hero with his bare hands, but I must have read it years ago. I guess he had a knife... They were fighting in zero-G.

You might be thinking of the opening to Iron, which took place in partial gravity. Robert Saxtorph, a highly experienced combat veteran extensively trained in hand-to-hand combat, manages to survive barehanded against a Kzin just long enough for help to arrive, thanks entirely to his superior spacing experience. [They were on a station which was generating gravity by rotation, he moved against the spin which effectively zeroed his gravity and confused the Kzin.] Later in the story he bests several Kzin in hand-to-hand combat--he's wearing an armored space suit and wielding a rock-hammer and a mining drill in either hand.

A Kzin male ranges to about 200 kilograms of rock-hard bone and muscle, with very little of that mass lost to fat, and they don't have little weak spots like humans. There simply isn't any place for a normal human to hit the ratcat and expect it to make any impression. Physically speaking, a Kzin is pretty much a cross between the Bengal tiger and a human. With a nice big bowie knife or what have you, a well-trained human stands a damn good chance, however.

Physically speaking, a SPARTAN or Space Marine is a human made combat machine. Boot to the head, bitches.

That's it!

Man, this brings back some great memories. Remember the Heroic Myth of Lt. Nora Argamentine? It's far and away one of the most disturbing sci-fi stories I've ever read. Trainer-of-Slaves always represented the very worst of the Kzinti for me- the way they mirror us in their quest to suck everything they come across into their cultural paradigm. The very physical/psychologicla way Trainer does this to humans really bothered and frightened me. It's one of the reasons I've always wanted to smash the Patriarchy.

Rogue 9 wrote:Physically speaking, a SPARTAN or Space Marine is a human made combat machine. Boot to the head, bitches.

Of course people have a handful of special forces operatives who can beat on a Kzin. Before you start blowing your load about it, however, it might do to remember that I have an Empire teeming with Heroes, and you can count the number of your SPARTAN units in service on one hand. The only nation which has regular units of higher quality than the Patriarchy is the Corsair Republic.

Pablo Sanchez wrote:

Rogue 9 wrote:Physically speaking, a SPARTAN or Space Marine is a human made combat machine. Boot to the head, bitches.

Of course people have a handful of special forces operatives who can beat on a Kzin. Before you start blowing your load about it, however, it might do to remember that I have an Empire teeming with Heroes, and you can count the number of your SPARTAN units in service on one hand. The only nation which has regular units of higher quality than the Patriarchy is the Corsair Republic.

So far. Spending cruiser points on more next build cycle. But yeah, beside the point.

Pablo Sanchez wrote: Of course people have a handful of special forces operatives who can beat on a Kzin. Before you start blowing your load about it, however, it might do to remember that I have an Empire teeming with Heroes, and you can count the number of your SPARTAN units in service on one hand. The only nation which has regular units of higher quality than the Patriarchy is the Corsair Republic.

I feel like power-armored infantry is over-rated. The real casualties are inflicted by crew-served weapons and artillary, which you don't need power-armor to field. Better a vast force of soldiers in flak jackets and NBC protection with orbital superiority and lots of heavy weapons.

Thirdfain wrote:

Pablo Sanchez wrote: Of course people have a handful of special forces operatives who can beat on a Kzin. Before you start blowing your load about it, however, it might do to remember that I have an Empire teeming with Heroes, and you can count the number of your SPARTAN units in service on one hand. The only nation which has regular units of higher quality than the Patriarchy is the Corsair Republic.

I feel like power-armored infantry is over-rated. The real casualties are inflicted by crew-served weapons and artillary, which you don't need power-armor to field. Better a vast force of soldiers in flak jackets and NBC protection with orbital superiority and lots of heavy weapons.

Not to mention tanks.

Rogue 9 wrote: Not to mention tanks.

Exactly. I see power-armored troops as being useful for a handful of missions- city combat, "cavalry" roles, special forces. It's just too damn expensive to use em as primary combatants. Unpowered infantry needs much less supply and equipment, and can be just as mobile thanks to cheap mechanized transport.

Thirdfain wrote:I feel like power-armored infantry is over-rated. The real casualties are inflicted by crew-served weapons and artillary, which you don't need power-armor to field. Better a vast force of soldiers in flak jackets and NBC protection with orbital superiority and lots of heavy weapons.

Which is pretty much exactly what the Patriarch's army amounts to. Kzin are simply tougher and meaner than human troops, so divisions can dish out as well as absorb more damage before they become ineffective. There are power-armor divisions (analogues to the USMC), though.

Pablo Sanchez wrote: Kzin are simply tougher and meaner than human troops, so divisions can dish out as well as absorb more damage before they become ineffective.

Ain't that the case...

Thirdfain wrote:Ain't that the case...

Heh. Also they have the advantage of being able to sustain a very high birthrate as needed (and Kzin litters are always twins, one female and one male), so I can play fast and loose with my... uh... "manpower" to an extent that most other powers can't.

Note to self, if it ever comes down to fighting the Kzin, get Zambaran infantry on the front... (Think Wookiees with four arms and a different facial structure. Also, they're usually black.)