Science for Transformers fans

Been toying with this thread idea for a while, but this article just pushed me over the edge:

We now have self-healing electronics.

(Emphasis mine, because SCIENCE!!)

Meanwhile, scientists have developed a (nearly) diamond-strong light-as-air aerogel (using solid neon! As in they took a noble gas and compressed it so much that it became a solid!!).

So, between this, memory-metal, carbon nanoengineering, and constant advances in actual nuts-and-bolts robotics, suddenly our favourite alien mecha don't seem quite as impossible as they once did.

Zelda as an RTS?

So, I've been preparing a birthday gift for a step-nephew of mine. He's a major Legend of Zelda fan, so I'm getting him a bunch of the VizKidz manga (he's a bit young, but his mother has reported that his big incentive in learning to read is the Zelda games, which is awesome).

Anyway, that got me thinking about the Zelda franchise in general, and I started being bothered that there isn't a game about Zelda herself.

Of course, just switching the characters around wouldn't work; Link is the Triforce of Courage, so it makes sense that he'd be the one charging off into battle against insurmountable odds. She may be able to hold her own in a fight, but straight combat just isn't Zelda's style.

The only way to centre a game on her would either be to change who's associated with which Triforce (which would be cool, but kinda goes against the games' own mythology), or make it a completely different game type.

Thinking further, a game based on the Triforce of Wisdom would have to be a strategy-based game --logically, Zelda would need to out-think her enemy. Rather than fighting escalating tides of mooks to boss battles, Zelda would progress from basic strategy up to complicated Xanatos gambits --like, say, deliberately getting herself captured to draw Ganondorf into the open, where Link can take him out.

Thing is, as much as I love strategy games, the only one I've ever really enjoyed is Star Control II (which I only rediscovered thanks to this forum, BTW) --I tend to keep coming up with solutions that conventional games won't let me try. I love that SCII treats diplomacy and alliance-building as being as vital as combat strategy. I prefer to talk and trick my way out of conflicts.

So, a Zelda-led RTS game, based on Star Control II. . .

Start just after Ganondorf seizes power. Hyrule Castle is in ruins, Ganondorf's troops are everywhere, Zelda and Impa have just barely escaped, and are being hunted by Ganondorf's army --Link is nowhere to be found, and Ganondorf's people are scouring Hyrule to find and capture him.

Certain events could be time-related (Link reappears seven years after the conquest), while others are player-dependent (After Zelda wins a few victories, Ganondorf starts relying more on magically-controlled slaves --which causes the Gerudos' loyalty to waver because they think they're being replaced).

Instead of upgrading a starship at a space station, Zelda would need to improve her own fighting skills by training with Impa --signified perhaps by costume changes (that eventually end up with her looking like Sheik). Of course, in order to train you'd need a base (initially Impa's safe-house in Kakariko, with others added as Zelda makes alliances), and Rupees to "pay" for it (cue the resource-gathering/trading missions).

Instead of having a fleet (as in SCII), maybe set up a "party" system, allowing for more traditional RPG elements. Start with Zelda & Impa, then add/remove bodyguards and specialists as Zelda builds her army. The disposition of Zelda's party could influence dialogue trees (Gerudos will attack on sight unless Nabooru is with you, etc).

The different races are obvious; the Gorons, Zora, and Hylians (broken and suppressed under Ganondorf's rule), the Kokiri and Fairies (in hiding, unwilling to join the fight), the Gerudos, Deku Scrubs, and Moblins (servants of Ganondorf), and all of Ganondorf's magically-powered slaves (Stalfos, Redeads, Iron Knuckles, etc). Each would confer different advantages in an alliance, as well as troop numbers.

-The Gorons are the best weaponsmiths in Hyrule, and can provide superior weapons and armour.
-The Zoras can travel undetected along rivers, streams, and lakes.
-The Hylians are numerous, and can blend in.
-The Kokiri are the only ones who can navigate through the Lost Woods.
-Fairies are healers, and can revive dead Heroes if they have one in their party.
-The Deku know the location of all of Ganondorf's forces.
-The Gerudos are Ganondorf's personal guard, and can report his exact location at any given time.
-Moblins and Ganondorf's other slaves cannot be negotiated with; you'll have to thin their ranks the old-fashioned way.

Troop strength would be vital; Ganondorf's army is larger than anything Hyrule can command. Zelda would need to bring in as many allies as possible (even "turning" parts of Ganondorf's own war machine).

Of course, there'll still be a need for Zelda herself to go "hands-on" at times --the Gorons may be loyal to the royal family, but Zelda is still a child; she'll need to face Darunia in single combat to win his respect.

It might be neat to incorporate some sort of "Hero" system --leading to a more traditional RTS, as Zelda can (after unlocking them via alliances) dispatch other parties to different locations. Not just Link, but figures like Darunia (the Heavy), Ruto (the Diplomat), Saria (the Scout), Nabooru (the Thief/Assassin) --and Ganondorf would have his own Heroes: Dark Link, Kotake/Koume, Skull Kid, et al.

It occurs to me that, in a game like this, Link could actually ruin everything; being the Triforce of Courage means that he's headstrong, and will simply charge into battle. Zelda will end up forced to choose between her Long Game (gradually stripping away Ganondorf's power for a guaranteed victory), or supporting Link (throwing all her forces into combat and relying on luck). He'll need to be carefully managed --either added to Zelda's party (which has its own hazards --Zelda, Link, and Ganondorf meeting will trigger the Endgame, whether Zelda's ready for it or not), or used as a pawn.

Defeating Ganondorf himself won't end the war; Zelda will still need to worry about his now-leaderless army running roughshod over Hyrule (and with her allies starting to turn on each other --she'll have to rely on the "Diplomacy" skills of her [surviving] Heroes, dispatching them as peacemakers and ambassadors). Conversely, Link's death would not be an automatic loss; even without his piece of the Triforce, Zelda could weaken Ganondorf's hold and overpower him, restoring peace to Hyrule, but sacrificing her Hero.

Happy Birthday John Williams!

It's that time again. Turn up the volume --some music needs to be played loud.

Personal Canons, Other Continuities

This thread got me thinking.

So, we know personal canon is a thing for Transformers fans (where it's kinda justified by the ongoing multiversal continuity snarl that is official TF fiction), but does anyone here do this for other franchises?

I know some people have reached that point with Star Wars (after NJO/LotF/FotJ), but do you just quit (i.e., the story "ends") or do you make up continuing adventures for your own amusement?

I've gotten to that point with DC Comics (I refuse to follow the New52 universe, so I'm rebuilding the "Old52" continuity in my head) and Robotech (I follow the McKinneyverse rather than the "official" Shadow Chronicles timeline, and "The End of The Circle" leaves room for some Macross-style continuity).

Optimus, Prowl, Ironhide, and Jetfire get a new "cousin"

Meet EyeSight, based on Fuji Heavy Industries' driving support system.

(IMG:http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p65/TMCybersnark/eyesight2_zpsdbaeeefa.png)

(IMG:http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p65/TMCybersnark/eyesight_zpsd3f28edb.png)