Pathway Into Darkness Information Megathread

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Inferno
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Pathway Into Darkness Information Megathread

This thread is mostly going to be info on the Votoms Universe. Please, just pretend it's locked like the TftF thread.

Contents
Canon List
The Factions
The Armored Trooper
The Astragius Galaxy
Last edited by Inferno on Fri Aug 31, 2012 1:11 pm, edited 4 times in total.
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Re: Pathway Into Darkness Information Megathread

Pathway Into Darkness Canon List: AKA What you should watch

Armored Trooper VOTOMS Red Shoulder Document: Roots of Ambition
Armored Trooper VOTOMS: Pailsen Files
Armored Trooper VOTOMS (TV series)
Armored Trooper VOTOMS: The Last Red Shoulder

Armored Trooper VOTOMS: Big Battle
Armor Hunter Merowlink
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THE FACTIONS OF THE ASTRAGIUS GALAXY

GILGAMESH CONFEDERATION
Spoiler
By the end of the first Galactic War, a mere 20 words belonged to the Gilgamesh Confederation. By the third Galactic War a millennium later, there were over 100. Many of these were destroyed over the course of the war, survivors entrusting themselves to the Melkian Federation. Based on the planet Melkia, the Melkian Federation had the best integrated military strength as wella s an excellent munitions military, making it possible for them to unite underdeveloped worlds on behalf of Gilgamesh. Much of this was done during the last 50 years of the war, during which time the Melkian Planetary Government slowly became a puppet of it's own military. Once Melkia had control of the Sovereignty, Gilgamesh was given greater mobility, especially after creating new versions of the AT and other far more deadly and secretive weapons.
BALARANT UNION
Spoiler
The Balarant Union's recorded history began before the First Galactic War, and their union consisted of 30-40 planets. Using Balan as their capitol World, they later grew to encompass 130 planets. The Balarant Union's special characteristics are the absolute loyalty and fealty of its members to the cause of expansion. As a result, their population outgrew the ability of their planets to support them, and more habitable worlds were needed to sustain them.
THE RED SHOULDERS
Spoiler
The Gilgamesh Confederation's 24th Melkian Strategic Armored Trooper Special Operations Corps Unit X-1, also called the "Red Shoulders" for the trademark crimson pauldron on their Scopedogs, was a distinguished Gilgamesh unit. Founded by Colonel Yoran Pailsen, the Red Shoulders endured hellish training to prove themselves as expert soldiers. They were elite, soldiers without limits, for better and for worse. Even though the Red Shoulders always succeeded, they also happened to kill any ally or civilian that happened to get in their way. Their most infamous battle was the Sunsa campaign, where untold thousands of innocents died and the planet's very atmosphere bled away into space. This atrocity lead them to be formally disbanded, and Colonel Pailsen arrested.
THE NEO-RED SHOULDERS
Spoiler
Founded by Varg Bertros, the Neo-Red Shoulders aim to finish what Pailsen started. After the disasterous failure at Scarax, Bertros gathered anyone still loyal to him, including several former Red Shoulders, and began forging to Scarax's arctic north, where they are believed to be hiding. Their doctrine is limited, but it seems to espouse the similar values of the Red Shoulders- no retreat, no surrender, no mercy.
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The Armored Trooper

First deployed at the Battle of Dalium, the armored trooper soon became a mainstay of the Gilgamesh forces. The breakout success of the AT was also key in Melkia's rise to power over the course of the war.

Armored Troopers are humanoid mecha that stand at only a few meters tall. They generally have one pilot, and are controlled by a central computer. A combination of this and the Polymer Ringer solution enable the AT to mimic human movement. The computer allows both manual control by the pilot, and automatic actions taken by a "Mission Disk" that contain more complex maneuvers.

Polymer Ringer solution is the blood of the Armored Trooper. It has to be purified and refined for use, and most ATs have a method of recycling the used fluid. Of course, after a while, the PR solution will become totally useless and will need to be replaced.

Gilgamesh Armored Troopers

ATM-09-ST Scopedog
ATH-14-ST Standing Tortoise

Balarant Armored Troopers

B-ATM-03 Fatty
B-ATM-03-DT Fatty Land Type A
B-ATM-03-DT Fatty Land Type B
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The Astragius Galaxy

People

The Astragius Galaxy is as heterogeneous as Earth. However, oddly enough it seems that there is a universal currency and language. While religion is just as diverse, there is no central faith, and many have given up on the higher powers after seeing the horrors of war. Most food is synthetic, and real food is a rare delicacy.

Government

Each planet seems to have its own form of government. However, in almost every case, the government is subject to the whims of the military. The more war-torn regions generally are lawless, and dictatorships are incredibly common. Nearly every major business has been nationalized to support the war effort.

Technology

Being that VOTOMS is from the 80's, the tech is somewhat schizophrenic. On one hand, there is FTL travel. On the other, the idea of the internet, cell phones, or any other advanced communication. Telephones primarily work via landlines, with sattelite being unheard-of. Radio is still the most powerful form of communication, even if it requires a bulky set to transmit waves into orbit, or an even more powerful transmitter for FTL communication.
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HOW TO CUSTOMIZE YOUR ARMORED TROOPER

On the fly, this is the system I've made for AT customization. THIS IS A BETA, PRONE TO REVISION.

Weight Class

Armored Troopers come in three weight classes- light, medium, and heavy. Weapons are the same. Each weight class is limited to a maximum of the same weight class of weapons- so while light ATs can only wield light weapons, but Heavy ATs can wield light, medium, and heavy weapons. Default Scopedogs are medium, and default Standing Tortoises are heavy.

Armored Trooper Modifications
Spoiler
Light Scopedog

A simple customization, this takes a standard, medium Scopedog and lowers its weight class to light. To do this, it costs the Scopedog multiple pieces of armor and an arm punch. However, the speed boost is incredible. These customizations have been invaluable for Recon ATs.

Heavy Scopedog

This is essentially the opposite of the Light Scopedog, instead adding more armor to make a slower, yet more resilient Scopedog. It's often favored when a Standing Tortoise isn't available but heavy weapons are needed.
Armored Trooper Light Weapons
Spoiler
GAT-22C Compact HMG with Grenade Launcher

A stripped down version of the basic GAT-22. It lacks the long-range accuracy, but is easier to carry. Any unit that takes a GAT-22C usually does so as a sidearm. (NOTE- Medium or Heavy ATs can take an additional weapon)

X-SAT-06 Handy Solid Shooter

A fully automatic hand-held bazooka, it lacks the accuracy or distance of the larger explosive weapons. Still, it's a fully automatic Bazooka. Isn't that pretty freaking cool?

HRAT-23 Rocket Launcher

It might not be as flashy as the X-SAT-06 with the lack of full auto, but it brings a bigger boom!
Armored Trooper Medium weapons
Spoiler
GAT-22 HMG with Grenade Launcher

Accurate, deadly, powerful, this is the standard Scopedog assault rifle. It's reliable, proven and shown to perform time and time again.

GAT-19 HMG

While not as accurate as the more advanced GAT-22, the GAT-19 has the distinct advantage of working in nearly any climate. Not only that, but it's not nearly as large as the GAT-22, meaning it is far more useful for close-quarters combat.

GAT-49min Pentatrooper

The be-all end-all of close-quarters combat, the pentatrooper fires 50mm slugs that rip through armor. Not necessarily accurate, but if you're going to use it you're probably too close to miss anyway. (NOTE- Can either be taken as a weapon or be mounted on the forearm of any Scopedog, Heavy Scopedog, or Standing Tortoises, and an additional weapon may be taken)

SAT-03 Solid Shooter Bazooka

Tanks are big, nasty, and no one likes them. Fortunatly, this big fella offers a 60mm explosive solution to any tank problems you might have. Or any AT problems. Or any infantry problems. Or any sort of living thing problems.

FTAT-16 Flamethrower

Fire might not be practical, but it's pretty fun. It's even more fun when you remember how PMR is highly flammable. Just make sure that it doesn't get damaged- Napalm is a lot less fun when it gets on you.

SMAT-38 Shoulder Missile Gunpod

It's got nine fun ways to deal with pesky aircraft or anything else that is proving hard to hit. (NOTE- can be taken as a weapon or mounted on the shoulder of Scopedogs and Heavy Scopedogs and an additional weapon may be taken)
Heavy Armored Trooper Weapons
Spoiler
HMAT-38 Hand Missile Launcher

Do you want to turn your AT into a mobile rocket artillery platform? Don't lie, you've thought about it. Well this will let you. Spotters will make long distance strikes a dream come true, although it's still a useful mid-range support weapon.

HRAT-30 Rocket Gun

This bad boy has two settings- semi-auto, to be a wonderful rocket launcher, or "Full Burst" just because there's no joy like having a handheld Itano circus.

SAT-01 Solid Shooter Bazooka

It might only fire a 50mm round, but it's guaranteed to shred anything you point it at. It lacks the precision of the SAT-03, but makes up for it with more mass destruction and larger explosions. Hardly a bad thing, is it?

SMAT-32 Shoulder Missile Pod

Some men will tell you that it's a bad idea to mount six highly-explosive missiles on your shoulders. Those men are what we call "sissies". (NOTE- only equippable on Standing Tortoises and an additional weapon may be taken)
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