THE PHYSICS OF MEGA MAN, PART 2
By Erico and Arath
Halloo, Halloo! After the positive feedback I received from the first edition of my Mega Man Physics, I realized there was still so much more to cover! But also realizing that two heads are better than one, for future sessions of this continuing repartee, I shall be relying partially on the innate, grounded, scientific reason of the Bard Of Science, Arath. If you wanna know who Arath is, then you'd best visit my WEBSITE (http://www.superbard.com) and find out now, shouldn't you?
Needless to say, the opening dialogue here does little besides bore me to tears and want to pull out my Game Boy and do some Mega Man. SO! Without further smoke and mirrors…
MEGA MAN PHYSICS, Part 2: Sabers, Dash Thrusters, and Sigma
First off, let's work with sabers.
What is a beam saber? Well, it's not a lightsaber, and while it may LOOK like it, the principles behind its design are vastly different. If you wanna know simply how beam sabers came to be, it was with experimentation with plasma and electromagnetic fields. Those 21XX scientists liked to watch their Gundam Wing…
Really, that's all a beam saber is. A stable electromagnetic field created by the silver cylinder in the shape of a blade, and plasma vented into the cavity of the field. Therefore, the plasma doesn't escape, but remains roiled inside this energy barrier, growling angrily. You swing it about, it'll make that funky noise as the field crackles and keeps the plasma in line. Swing it through stuff, and the plasma'll eat it up. That's the basic principle behind the saber.
Now for the complicated schtuff. Mainly, variance in designs from the simple saber to the less famous beam daggers, beam lance, beam staff, and what you'll see in DOTP, the beam whip. Also later on, why Zero's saber in X3 is so much more powerful. I'll cover all these in due time.
However, variance in designs comes first. I assume that all of you have played X3 and X4. You can clearly see that Neon Tiger, Double(Jello Man) and Slash Beast all have these nifty little energy blades in their hands(wrists, gauntlets, whatever…) The simple reason is this. A saber's nifty, but it requires the basic cylinder to support its functions. However, a beam dagger can be installed into a reploid's systems with little hassle, not requiring as much of an electromagnetic field generator and as much plasma. It's also a bit more energy efficient, as using basic Buster circuitry, you can successfully install a beam dagger system into any reploid. However, these are tantamount to suicide for people going up against Busters and other long projectile weapons, so you rarely see them. And when you do, the person using them always resorts to dashing slam attacks to lay the smack down on ya. Limited range, a vicious bite, and usually only enabled by Mavericks. Hunters usually go for the saber or Buster.
Now, the beam lance. Chalk this little gadget up to Arath, and his theory's very sound. A beam saber has a shorter handle, and therefore a shorter blade. For the longer 'lance' plasma blade Arath designed, the metallic shaft was also longer to support the greater need for energy for the plasma containment and field generators. Nonetheless, a greater range, but also a different way to wield it. You can't be as kamikaze with this thing, and your attacks have to land more solidly.
Currently, no one in the Mega Man X Universe has used this plasma blade design. At least in the games. If you've read TSOM, you saw how one reploid by the name of Doan successfully used it when he took down the invasion of Cairo, along with Allegro and the now deceased Andante.
Here's the kicker: Doan isn't mine. He's actually Arath's character, but we decided it would be cool to have a consistency with our 'Fics. So Doan'll be in my stuff, and in his 'Fics, my guys will be with his. It's like telling a story from two different points of view, really.
Moving on now, we approach the touchy subject of the beam staff. In the games, we know that Dynamo uses this weapons system in X5, albeit a bit poorly. I have Zero chop him to shreds in mere seconds, he's so damn wussy. His problem is he throws it and leaves himself exposed. The enemy AI in that game was supposed to be stronger…I found X4 to be more of a challenge.
ANYHOO…(Wandering, Erico…Wandering…) Yes, the beam staff. This weapons system is used by Allegro, the late Andante, Bastion, and the mysterious chain murderers of Canark and other reploids like him. Who are these mystery men? They weren't Allegro or Andante, much to the surprise of my readers. But don't worry…You'll find out who they are soon enough in DOTP.
The beam staff is really no more complex than two beam sabers stuck together. In fact, that's how Bristol and Hazil designed Bastion's. They gave him two beam sabers that were able to join at their bases to form an elongated melee weapon with dual blades of death. With this, Bastion gained a new special move aside from his Whirling Slasher, known as the Dual Slash. Fun. However, Allegro, Andante, and the mystery murderers wield a little more complex version. It does not separate into two different sabers, but rather pemanently remains as one longer staff. Ergo, the basic beam saber recharge pack(Which we always see Zero wearing in X4 and X5) is too short for them. So much like Link's across the back sword sheathe, they must use a longer sheathe recharger to juice up their weapon.
Which design is better for the beam staff? I'd say Bastion's, but people are silly, so we see Dynamo wielding the simple 'all for one' version in X5.
The beam whip. This is the oddball out, not featured in any of my 'Fics. YET. Keep your eyes peeled on DOTP, I'll get to that point soon enough…
The beam whip implies a certain level of flexibility in the attack design. A simple electromagnetic field with contained plasma, like the beam saber or dagger, won't work here. Fluidity and maximum movement is a necessary. Ergo, what we use for the beam whip is a modified beam saber cylinder casing, but it doesn't contain the plasma packs or the field generator. NO! What it actually contains in the beam whip configuration is a long chain of diamond shaped, semi-thick metallic links, able to bend and contort in any direction. Each link holds its own plasma pack and field generator, so what we have when the entire assembly is turned on is a glowing luminescent chain of plasma orbs about each metallic link.
Now you're wondering, why doesn't the metal blow up? It's surrounded by plasma! Well, you've seen those metallic cases on Slash Beast's train in X4. The one that's immune to Zero's saber and X's Buster? Same idea. There are at least some metal alloys in the X Universe that have the ability to deflect, or even be unaffected by plasma. There has to be. We see this anti-plasma metal in everything from Violen's tail Mace in X2 to Kaiser Sigma's almost entire body in X3. It does exist. However, the cost of producing it is pretty high, so we can assume the beam whip we'll be seeing in action later in DOTP costs somewhere up about as much as a Ferrari…or more.
The only downside to the beam whip? And realize, seeing as it's my own darn weapon, I decide the rules…
The beam whip, as far as DOTP is concerned, lacks the weapons copy ability that Zero holds for it in X4 and X5. However, certain events AFTER DOTP will bring about a small collection of individuals who will solve that problem…
NOW! The question that has been bugging everyone. Why is it in X3 that Zero's saber can slice through anything and axe off half their energy, but in X4, is comparitively weak? Simple. It all comes down to hypercharging.
EH?! HYPERCHARGING?!
Yes, hypercharging. In X3, Zero has to charge up his Busters to the green level before he can fire first, two supershots, and THEN whip out his saber for the ultimate slash. Reason for this: Hypercharging. Zero is actually adding more juice to his saber before he begins to play Jack the Ripper. This is why it's more powerful. The plasma strength has increased dramatically, and as an added bonus, also releases a small amount from its tip before completing the slash. This combination of the stronger plasma slice, and the plasma discharge results in a more devastating attack. So why do we not see this saber charging system later on in X4 or X5?
Simple. Zero realized that while Hypercharging may kick booty all at once, he was being left a sitting duck before and after the strike while he was charging up again.
So he leaves his Busters be, and sticks with the saber. This is why I prefer to play him in X4 and X5. HE'S A FREAKIN BANSHEE WITH A BEAM SABER!!! I affectionately call him 'The Untouchable.'
Thus ends the sermon on Beam Sabers.
Stuff you should not take as kosher(For lack of a better word):
Arath and I have been tinkering with these ideas for months now, and to say we were less than one hundred percent sure about our accuracy would only be degrading that work. So really, all of this is really dead on the money. For now, anyways.
DASH THRUSTERS
Just so you know, typing up the summary on beam sabers, the super Zero system, and their variations took me 45 minutes…
But I move on! Dash Thrusters…
Aah, yes. The glories of 21XX Technology, and also seen in Bass's Design in the Super Famicom game "Rockman And Forte". I'll simply let Bass be aloe with himself and his Dash Thrusters, because it's obvious that when Wily built them into him, he was also putting them in Zero.
But I'm working on X! After all, X has the most dynamic changes in Dash Thruster design in all the games, and it seems like everyone else just follows him. Also, further on I'll give you mention of the "Warp Boots" we see occasionally. Not to mention the pestersome problem of Dash Boot limitations, and how to get around them.
So we'll start from the beginning. Only proper, unless you read Muslim or Atlantian texts.
In X1, we see from X's schematics that Light never had the chance to add in the Dash Boots to X's design before sealing him up in the capsule for the 30 year Diagnostic run. However, that problem is soon fixed. Yay. So now X can dash. Yay. Now, you've seen the thrusters in action in that game! A fiery plume erupts from their boots, for crying out loud! They're being pushed by MINI-ROCKETS! So why can't they go airborne dash?
Simple. Not enough thrust. They need a solid surface to push off of to give them enough of a kickstart for their dash thrusters to push them farther. Like the Space Shuttle's rockets. They need the big red booster to push 'em up high enough before their more power limited shuttle thrusters can do them any good. But WHEE!!! Boy, can they move!
So now we reach X2. The X1 Thrusters have now been fully examined, and Dash Boots can be put in any reploid now. Yay. But X can go farther, higher, faster, and better thanks to the miracle worker known as Doc Light. So he receives…HUZZAH…
THE AIR DASH THRUSTERS! Yes, yes, yes. Now, these suckers have enough thrusting force to be able to give him dashing capabilities in midair. Highly regarded as worthy of the Heavenly Host by many, the X2 Dash Boots led the way in innovation.
Come X3, X's new boots allow him to go vertical. Why not in X2? Simple. Merely traveling straight, and not fully repelling the earth's gravity takes a bit less force than actually COMPLETELY repelling it. When X does a Vert thrust, he's really acting like a bit of a robot rocket. Like I said, years go by, and the Capsules come up with something bigger and better.
Now we're up to X4. Aside from the Basic Air-Dash, like in X2, X receives the "Hover System." This allows him to float in midair, while his dash boots emit a constant stream of fuel for a brief few moments. Handy for times when the floor becomes electrically charged for those few seconds, or you need to keep facing something above you. However, the Vert Thrust is now missing from X's repertoire, and we never see it again.
I will not go into X5, seeing as their Dash boots are really nothing more than X4's.
Now what's left…AAH, YES! Warp boots and dash boot limitations. Warp boots are really only seen in the following enemies: Boomer Kuwanger and Magna Centipede. Those of you may be yelling Cyber Peacock, but remember his little adventure occurs in cyberspace, where the rules can be bent. You all remember the crazy shifting Magna did, and how Boomer blasted about his room, shifting in and out and preventing shots from hitting? That's warp boots. It's also implied that X1 and X2 Sigma had these, from their moves, and the X4 Zero/Sigma Fight Movie. Simple principle, unlike direct thrust used in normal Dash Boots, Warp Boots operate on shifting one's entire body just out of phase, making you able to dance about the room like a skittish person.
Thus ends Dash Boots.
Now, Dash Thruster limitations. You know what I'm talking about. You hit the button to dash, and you're scooting along, and POOT. The thrust stops, X grinds to a halt on screen. The thing chasing you grinds you into a pulp. This is done in the games to stop you from going crazy, although a simple in game explanation would be for reasons of fuel conservation. Short bursts are easily replaced by the rechargers in the boots. Longer thrusts…No.
You disable the safeties on your dash boots, you're really shutting down the fuel conservation short burst, and giving yourself full control of the amount of thrust and time put into it. This is usually frowned upon because it drains your fuel quickly, but in certain situations, it is INDREDIBLY helpful.
Like in TSOM, Wycost disables the safeties on his Dash Boots to allow himself full thrust. He then uses this to fly across the entire width of the Aswan Dam and collect the explosive charges placed by Nitro Narwhal. Without the full thrust, he could not have accomplished this goal in time, and the mission would have been a failure.
Luckily, his mind was firing on all cylinders. Figuratively speaking...
So, while you'll never see X or Zero disable their Dash Boot safeties in the game, make no mistake it is a viable course of action that the Hunters, and almost everyone else equipped with Dash Thrusters, may use at some point where longer blasts are needed.
Thus ends the indepth review of Dash Thrusters.
UNKOSHER STUFF IN THIS LESSON:
Warp boots, most likely. Still, how else are you going to explain Magna Centipede, Boomer Kuwanger, and X1 and X2 Sigma? Popping in and popping out like crazy, shifting about…Hey, Warp Boots sounded like a good idea.
And now, chilluns…The Final Lesson.
The Greatest Maverick, Sir Sigma
What is puzzling about this twip? Mainly, why he keeps coming back. How does he do it? Simple! But this explanation will also take up a bit of time.
When Sigma was infected with the Maverick Virus before X1(AUF and X4 Correlate this), his mind became warped. Although its goals bent to the Virus's will, it also shifted into the "Let's commit human genocide!" kick, which fit right in with the Virus's first primary command. Destroy.
Still, Sigma had some control during X1. When X kicked his royal arse in at the end of that game, what was left of the original Sigma completely vanished. What was transmitted from that exploding flying fortress was the Maverick Virus's main code…and also something that was now embedded within its framework.
Sigma's maniacal and twisted essence. Now here's the deal. All that's left of Sigma is what little shred of his egomaniacal self is attached to the Maverick Virus. This combined "Sigma Virus" as it were, is able to transmit itself away from danger to new bases. This is how Sigma survives from one game to the next. And for those of you wondering how he survived in X3…
After you and Zero warp out of Doppler's lab, and the explosion goes critical…turn your speakers up and you'll hear a THIRD warp sound effect. That would be Sigma. By some miracle, managing to overcome the nullifier and blast his crucial datastream out of the base.
Same principle behind how he survives any game. Of course, EOAD is the exception now, isn't it? Deep down in Tokyo's sewers, he really can't radio his core program out of the lair. His whole purpose in EOAD was to try and turn Zero to his side.
Sadly, he failed in that endeavor. So it became the task of the sole surviving Maverick in that base…Fluid Ferret…to support Sigma for the course of one year and one month, until the events of late TSOM occurred.
Simple enough. Plugging the temporary control chip into Ferret's systems saved Sigma's brain patterns, and also had the unforeseen benefit of giving Fluid Ferret the ability to create Virogens that ranked from low level "Zombie" protocols to higher berserkers, like you'd find in normal Maverick Generals. Mixing Viruses makes for weird crap. Play X5, you'll see it happen there as well.
One thing while I'm talking. EOAD IS NOT X5. EOAD occurs shortly after X4, with the assumption that at least 20 years passes between X4 and X5. After all, no sign of Cain in X5, everything on base is old and rusted and decrepit…Use common sense.
So where was I…
Aah, yes! So as long as Sigma can transmit his core "Sigma Virus" program to a new locale, or use a surviving Maverick to carry his temporary control chip until a new body can be created, he'll continue to walk the earth, possessed with three things:
Having Zero join the cause.
Destroying X.
Killing off every last human on earth.
After all, you can't blame it all on Sigma. Wily, the creator of the Maverick Virus is a little at fault as well. Okay, A LOT at fault.
Thus Endeth the Sermon
Stuff Here That Isn't Kosher
It goes without saying my Fanfics aren't canon. Sorry, just the way it is when you try to provide a good experience. However, if you've read AUF, you've not only seen the game, but a little extra History that's also truth.
It was just never put down before.
So, needless to say, the events of Sigma surrounding EOAD and TSOM, and thusly DOTP and all that may or may not follow isn't "Capcom approved." It IS However, Bard approved. By me, by Arath, and by the others in our little cluster. We work with what we have.
And there can be little more you want.
So this concludes the second session of Erico's "Mega Man Physics." Most of it is as on the ball as you'll ever find, some of it's guesswork.
More will follow as soon as I can line up another list of topics to cover in Part 3 of this running Dialogue. Feel free to gimme a holler at my E-Mail (Wycost21@yahoo.com) or you could always come and visit our little block party at (http://www.superbard.com) because in our Main Forum, Arath and I also keep a running Dialogue of Q and A going.
One way or another, I plan to solve as many of the scientific unknowns as I can.
After all, knowledge is power.
And the Mega Men always knew a lot.
-Erico
