Aura Power in Dunbine

[Underrated GM Custom]

I'm doing a rewatch of Aura Battler Dunbine and just finished Episode 34 titled Aura Barrier. I was curious about a few things since a few things were different from the last Upper Earth arc but fortunately the MAHQ episode commentary answered a few questions.

First off is the revelation that all the Aura Battlers and Aura Ships have a powerful barrier which prevents them from being harmed by those from Upper Earth. Although this somewhat contradicts what we saw when Shou first went to Upper Earth, its an interesting thing to note since the military forces on Upper Earth will really have to ‘up the ante’ to do any damage to forces from Byston Well.

https://www.mahq.net/dunbineep34/

I found the Aura Barriers fascinating because as the author notes the last time Shou and Dunbine were on upper earth conventional weapons appeared to be effective. My first thought was perhaps the aura barriers are dependent on the pilot's aura power, and with the Aura power of many of the protagonists and antagonists growing over the series perhaps that is why the aura barriers function now while they didn't in the past.

Aside from the TV show is there any details out there for how the Aura Barriers work both in Upper Earth and in Byston Well including any limitations?

On a related note are there any websites dedicated to Aura Battler Dunbine? Something like how the Macross Mecha Manual site is dedicated to Macross or the Moon Cocoon site is dedicated to Turn A? I think Dunbine is one of Tomino's more fascinating works and I'd love to read any deep dives people have put together on the subject.

[Seto Kaiba]

I found the Aura Barriers fascinating because as the author notes the last time Shou and Dunbine were on upper earth conventional weapons appeared to be effective. My first thought was perhaps the aura barriers are dependent on the pilot's aura power, and with the Aura power of many of the protagonists and antagonists growing over the series perhaps that is why the aura barriers function now while they didn't in the past.

Aside from the TV show is there any details out there for how the Aura Barriers work both in Upper Earth and in Byston Well including any limitations?

Detailed information for Dunbine is pretty limited... which is not altogether surprising given that the pilot of an aura machine is also the source of the aura power that drives it, which is quasi-mystical and might as well be magic, ESP, or "fighting spirit". Any part of an aura machine that uses aura power to operate is dependent on the aura power output of the pilot, which includes most of the weaponry and the aura barrier.

Aura power is suppressed while in Byston Well, so they're more effective on Upper Earth.

[D_I]

i actually just started watching this yesterday

[Underrated GM Custom]

Sorry I thought I replied to this a while ago but I must have forgotten.

Detailed information for Dunbine is pretty limited...

Makes sense, I'll rely on the anime as a primary source then. I need to rewatch some of the early episodes since I remember them distinctly talking about manufacturing electronics for the aura battlers under Shot Weapon's supervision.

which is not altogether surprising given that the pilot of an aura machine is also the source of the aura power that drives it, which is quasi-mystical and might as well be magic, ESP, or "fighting spirit". Any part of an aura machine that uses aura power to operate is dependent on the aura power output of the pilot,

So the Billbine in notable for supplying it's own Aura power, at least that's what the translation seems to imply when it shows up. It's aura cannons appears to work like an E-Cap though since it doesn't have unlimited ammo as seen in a later episode.

Also from what I recall the people of Byston well develop their own technology to enhance their aura power to keep up with the people from upper earth who naturally have stronger aura power. The Zwarth bolstering Bern Burnings strength for instance.

which includes most of the weaponry and the aura barrier.

That only applies to weapons and 'beams' right? Like the disposable missile launcher on Dunbine's arm wouldn't be effected by that right?

i actually just started watching this yesterday

It's one of Tomino's best shows, I hope you're enjoying it.

[Seto Kaiba]

So the Billbine in notable for supplying it's own Aura power, at least that's what the translation seems to imply when it shows up. It's aura cannons appears to work like an E-Cap though since it doesn't have unlimited ammo as seen in a later episode.

Nah, the Billbine's definitely still running on the aura power supplied by the pilot. It's said to be one of the most demanding Aura Battlers ever built in terms of aura power requirements, to the level of being considered something only a Holy Warrior can operate.

Descriptions of the weapons are somewhat vague, as with most things in Aura Battler Dunbine, but aura shots and aura cannons both fire solid projectiles using nitrocellulose (AKA "gun cotton"). The Dunbine Master File suggests both types of weapon use rocket-propelled ammunition too, using an initial charge in the cartridge to get the round moving and ignite the internal rocket motor... making it similar, in in principle, to "gyrojet" weapons or the fictional Bolters of Warhammer 40,000. The main/key difference between an aura shot and aura cannon appears to be scale and the presence of rifling. The aura shot is a smoothbore weapon with short range and low accuracy that relies on the rocket motor to stabilize a round's trajectory while the aura cannon is a larger rifled gun with a higher initial velocity, better accuracy, and more stopping power. (It isn't clear if those shells are further enhanced with aura power the way an aura sword is, but even without aura power being supplied it's still a cannon that fires hard rounds using explosive propellant.)

Also from what I recall the people of Byston well develop their own technology to enhance their aura power to keep up with the people from upper earth who naturally have stronger aura power. The Zwarth bolstering Bern Burnings strength for instance.

Yeah, the aura amplifier was developed in part to reduce Byston Well's dependence on people from the surface.

[Kuruni]

Supposedly, only the 4 aura battleships have their own aura generators.

[Underrated GM Custom]

That makes sense that the 4 Aura Ships have their own Aura Generators, since presumably they would need a lot of room.

Nah, the Billbine's definitely still running on the aura power supplied by the pilot. It's said to be one of the most demanding Aura Battlers ever built in terms of aura power requirements, to the level of being considered something only a Holy Warrior can operate.

Interesting, I put EP31 back on and just before the 3 minute mark after Shou notices the Billbine has power roughly comparable to a battleship he says "This power doesn't come from my aura, It's something Ciela bestowed upon me." My interpretation when I had watched that was the Billbine was supplying it's own Aura Power, although perhaps it's more accurate to say the Billbine is amplifying Shou's aura power.

Descriptions of the weapons are somewhat vague, as with most things in Aura Battler Dunbine, but aura shots and aura cannons both fire solid projectiles using nitrocellulose (AKA "gun cotton"). The Dunbine Master File

Awesome, there is a book on background material!

(It isn't clear if those shells are further enhanced with aura power the way an aura sword is, but even without aura power being supplied it's still a cannon that fires hard rounds using explosive propellant.)

Shou says the above quote after using the Billbine's aura cannons to obliterate a battleship at range so I'd have to assume Aura Power is affecting the munitions in that regard. Although in all the episodes previous, the ranged weapons never seemed to be affected when one of the main cast had a significant display of Aura, whereas Aura Swords definitely showcase that power such as when Shou and Todd battle with the Dunbine and Vierres and the episode where they have to fight that dragon.

[Seto Kaiba]

Awesome, there is a book on background material!

Like the others, it's not exactly a useful one... so much in Dunbine is either unexplained or very poorly explained, so a huge portion of what's in the Master File is just a summary of the different types of Aura Battlers in the same terms found in other artbooks and many of the statements that describe various systems simply adopt the conceit that the in-universe reference work being referenced is missing pages or explanations for how the system in question works.

[Underrated GM Custom]

Ah I see, so the Master File is more of a Master Summary then haha. Well thank you for checking regardless.