Mercurial Morpheus

Thanks for the pic, Gaijin. That'll help in prop-building. I'm actually using Belladonna. It seems to help the buffs well enough to be worthwhile.

I agree that I'm still iffy on the accent myself (so not hinted at in the trailers outside of a narration you didn't know was her), though considering how that Japanese voice is usually dubbed, this is most likely for the best. I'm liking her a lot so far. My least favorite is Hope, mostly for his attitude. Yes, I get what happened and sympathize, but Vanille was right about how to handle it, yet the game wants him to mope for half of it and hate Snow. The Lightning arcs fixing it though. I'd say my favorite so far is Sahz. Though i think these characters are meant to be a bit unlikeable early on (particularly Lightning and Snow), as we're still learning about them, and they themselves.

I'm looking for it too. I'd love to build a mockup of that sucker. Definitely a multi-joint system. I sort of like the dark blade of the Gladius. I think I'm pretty much using the same weapons. Though even with Sahz in commando, he'll use Ruin to take advantage of it. The latest weapons are murder on the upgrade points (1200 vs 400-600)

Thanks for the point David. I'd generally found that using about 5 or 6 tend to trigger it. Now that I know it's specifically organic stuff, I'll be upgrading more too. Story wise, I agree with your observation in the first post. A lot of it is feels like you're missing something early on. Back when the trailers were out, i couldn't even discern the general story. So some characters aren't quite s likeable as they should be. Of course, as you move along, it all starts to come together. This might help: http://dilly-shilly.blogspot.com/search/la...0Fantasy%20XIII That's the Chapter Zero novella posted on Square's website back before and during the Japanese release in English. I haven't read it myself, but I'm sure it fills in some gaps. Battle system so far has me liking it. The real challenge does seem to be getting the hang of Paradigms though. Finding the right combos, and remembering the order you have them in. Concentrating on that, health, and the Chain Gauge really makes things feel fast. The Sahz/Vanille/Hope part was a real pain because of how hard it was keeping the gauge high without a Commando to slow its fall. Without Hope was a touch easier since I had fewer options for Paradigms to worry about. The upgrade system is interesting in that if you fight everything, you generally can get all skills. I fought one Wyvern. Didn't really have any problem with it. I'm about 20 hours in, at PulemPolum.

As far as I know, that doesn't conflict with anything, so I should be there. I may be up for the film, funds provided of course. Shame it's dubbed though (spot checking it however, it doesn't sound too bad).

Yeah, that one's looked horribly bland for sometime. Looks like it never improved. She looks like you just told her something she neither comprehends nor cares about. The ever popular "Why are we talking about this still?" look. Banpresto actually makes some decent figures for their price range. That Ranka's looking none too shabby for a bikini figure. Awesome that you too have the fruit drops. I need to find my can. As for best Sherry figure, my moneys still being scrounged up for a Don't be Late. NA is okay once the bullets gone, but the face is a touch creepy (much like the art). Great sculpt though. Still, I'm pretty much stuck with Sheryl keychains for now. More important characters to buy. I still want Black Bunny, even without the awesome witchcraft eyes.

To my knowledge, that's actually just how the figure is, a castoff like the Ranka and Megahouse Sheryl. Nothing special about it in that sense. Amusing that people love the pasties as they were rather reviled on the Ranka figure (though I found them quite within appropriate context). There is a variant paint job version though, like the Ranka. Pinker hair, with silvery outfit and probably different colored pasties. http://myfigurecollection.net/figure/26554_sheryl_nome Though why do we keep discussing figures in the movie thread? I don't believe this figure has any actual tie in to the film in particular. There's a more appropriate thread in the Toy forum. I guess there's no new to speak of yet. Is the closure actually confirmed? I remember reading that it'll be handled different, which suggests it, but doesn't cement it.

I agree that it's rather bland, but it's nice to see a non-stage focused Sheryl for once.

Nice work, but I think it could benefit from a little flash cleanup. The remaining sprue parts detract from the look a bit too much. My Quebeley is on indefinite hold due to missing paints at the moment. I'm attempting a second metallic paintjob, as I thought it would be befitting to Haman.

i wasn't aware of that. Though that begs the question of why the "Answerman" constantly gives ADV the credit for the restoration (twice!).

I recommend flat as well. Gloss paints do tend to give models a very toy like appearance. The scale also makes shiny objects appear flat anyway. I've used gloss (metailic actually) and flat paints for Gundams, and the flats just plain look more authentic and pricey. As for white vs grey, the Bandai remaster made all the valks steel grey, though I generally prefer white, or at least an off white/very pale grey.

Not to mention how breathy and soft she tends to be.

Yeah, I was amazed ANN caught that. Youtube has it too, mostly locked out in North America (usually the last part isn't). It just keeps getting better. "Time to dance, Milia!", "Let's tango, Max!" "Gotcha suckah" and the unneeded audio during the bombardment. Also, could someone clear up whether Station Liberty was a Robotech reference? I can't remember for certain.

The more I watch, the funnier it gets. "Gotcha, Suckah!!" And boy is Misa shrill.

Twas a noble thing you did. Reminds me of the elderly gentleman at the end of A Night to Remember "Don't worry, we find mummie, we'll soon find her...".

Actually, I saw him perform it live years ago. He also did a pretty mean version of "We Can Win". It kicked so much ass, he was forced to do it again. That's right, We Can Win actually not sucking in it's repetitiveness. Nice one, Fleiflug88

Well, it's not like the Zentradi knew of where all our bases and such were. So it's not like they'd be aiming for Washington anyway. With the UN in control, who's to say Washington's a prime target anymore anyway. I also figure that since we've been recieving those broadcasts from the Macross, we'd also prepare for it. Hence Macross World is technically the last bastion to humanity on Earth.

So how are you guys celebrating V-S day, and mourning the lost of most of our planet? I figure since Hulu put it up, I'll watch all three version of 26 and 27 (assuming I can stomach the ADV dub).

Man, I meant to post this last night before hitting the sack (well, not the Robotech song [still you got me back, Noriko]). Today's the day, and i didn't make it to Alaska as initially (jokingly) planned. Though I think Modesto's so lame as is, the lasers probably missed here. Afterall, the bombardment wasn't as strong as the one demonstrated earlier. The atmosphere didn't burn off, so it stands to reason someplaces survived. I volunteer the unlikely survival of Modesto, the San Francisco bay area (for later inclusion aboard Macross Frontier), Yosemite valley, and Disneyland.v After all, we're all still posting here, and the blasts certainly didn't wake me until just now. Who's to say Edgewater and Annapolis, MD along with Colorado Springs didn't at least partially survive? I'd say, it's V-S day. Though with much of the Earth desolate, who's really celebrating? SOUND OFF HERE IF YOU'RE STILL ALIVE! Come in Grand Cannon.

It's more that a lot of con goers also watch fansubs (which in turn is very good for the dealers hall).

That's some cool stuff, man. I particularly like the Skull-one.

Nope. Nose Art was strictly a morale boosting phenomenon. Basically, you'd have men stationed on military airbases for long periods of time, missing loved ones, or dealing with hormones. The further from the head office they were, the more laid back the commanding officers would be concerning personalization of aircraft. In WWII, your bomber was essentially part of the crew, so she'd be decorated to bring comfort. You'd have cartoon characters with bombs and caricatures or portraits of sweethearts. You'd also have those influenced by the works of Elvgren and particularly Vargas and would paint pin ups, such as what this is suppose to represent. Though as someone with several books detailing WWII era European theatre nose art (my grandfather was a B-17 mechanic) and a deep appreciator of pin up art in general, I can tell you that that Sheryl is perhaps a little too over the line. Pin up's tended to emphasize sensuality, without directly going into the oversexual. Sure, there was nudity, but it was more the Playboy style than the Hustler one. The worse I've seen (and someone here used as an example) was "Mount'n'Ride", where the pin up's body line followed that of a mountain with the suggestive line. Generally the kicker here that either kills the figure or not is the phallic representation in the form of the artillery shell that she's enticing you to "Rise Up". There were plenty of bomb riders, but I've rarely seen a case of full on suggested penetration. Mount'N'Ride is the closest, and that's still lacking the physical representation this has. That might have existed in the Pacific theatre (like "The Dragon and His tail, which said dragon has a maiden in a rather lusty grip"), but otherwise that's a very modern taste take on "nose art". It's more stripper than pin up in my book. The Ranka piece is much more in keeping with the pin up concept and a fair better representation of "real world nose art". Suggestive, yet enticingly tasteful. Rise Up is quite laughable in that regard. More an amusing joke than anything, so i choose to take it lightheartedly. I'm still amazed that they made a figure of it, but after so many years of figure collecting, I suppose i shouldn't be surprised at what these Japanese companies tend to do to cater to the otaku. They hit a goldmine of sexual persuasion with Sherry's stage persona. So much of the art is of that Sheryl, and not the rather insecure character she generally was. Though, like they say, "Sex sells". Though cute does to in Japan, so it's still a little surprising. I guess they figure that market's for Ranka. This is all about WWII nose art, by the way. In Korea and Vietnam especially, it evolved into a much more nihilistic approach. I also have no problem with the sexual nature of this figure, or others. I just don't think this fits the bill as "pin up nose art", and am a bit dejected at all those who apparently do. It's "sexy suggestive art" aping the nose art style by throwing a word banner in. It's great in that respect, but nose art is a stretch. That said, it's a nice figure, if the eyes don't creep you out too much and you don't mind the starry breasts (which I find fit it well). The bullet's removable and improves the look considerably (just as viewing it from the side with the bullet is the be all end all of why some don't like it). Anyway, this debate already happened on the figure thread, so I think this is getting a touch off topic. As for the character poll, Amazing to see SEED characters on there (EDIT: just know noticed it was a decade edition). I though Japan tended to forget old news? She's being beaten by Lacus! I'm not much of a Sheryl fan, but even I have to admit that she's a deeper character than little miss perfect. Though I put no real weight into these polls anyway. Just cause you're popular doesn't always make you good. Your mileage may very. Most of my favorites are either old and forgotten or obscure to begin with.

"Are you just gonna sit back and let that little bitch steal him from you?" WTF!? Wow, I didn't know Claudia looked so harshly upon Minmay. I know I'd only seen a little before, but hate to say it, the Robotech voices are way better. Yeah, that title's pretty lame.

That Yoko's been on my list for some time, but I haven't come across her yet.

Just a heads up, but AOD this last weekend was a near blitzkrieg of Frontier cosplay. I saw almost as much Sheryls and Rankas as I did at Fanime's gathering. Even saw a more recent art take on Minmay. I got a few on my phone that I'll probably dump latter.