DTL Season 5-Week 2 (Set 3)

[Harlekin]

I won't be responding to the points that are dependant on our own strategies, which I feel both are valid. For one, we both have a different plan for Aquaman and Lightray. I think it's up to the voters to decide which is the most likely/feasible.

Should it come down to it, and we are actively opposed before the bell, I suspect that we will both be barred from further interefering with the database. But we will certainly both know there was a conflict.

Which should then also negate Richards using his resources as neither would be allow to interfere with the databases. Even then, the first second into battle, the Worldmind can hack into Richards' resources, at least putting up a fight, distracting Mr. Fantastic long enough to take down Vixen.

He has recently told Circe he has power beyond her*, and even if it clearly weren't meant to refer to any one-time power-ups she may have held, it still puts him outside the immediate sphere of a very powerful magician.

From what I know of Circe though, she doesn't come near Fate levels though.

What exactly can Aquaman do to Ares? I've made sure to respect his abilities in my write-up, but I'm not personally familiar with the extent of the Hand's abilities, both offensively and defensively.

The hand has numerous functions. The only that actually applies here is his ability to dispel magic. It pretty much prevents any real magic offensive attack against Aquaman. It should therefore also negate any enchantments.

Physically, I'm thinking of A League of One, where Wonder Woman just plucked him from the ground and carried him into Poseidon's torrents against his remonstrations. I see no reason why Ares could not similarly dismiss him, and he if he does grab hold of him, he can just teleport inspite of it.

Well, obviously, Aquaman still had his hook hand during A League of One. Wonder Woman pretty much dispatched with the entire league with ease, and that was fuelled by the plot, not really her feats. Aquaman should be able to stand up to Wonder Woman for at least a little while. Working with Nova should make sure that Ares can't take Aquaman the full fifteen rounds. As for the teleportation, as long as it's not magically fuelled, you're right that he would have no defence against it.

In regards his willingess to kill a god, isn't he Poseidon's champion? Not that Poseidon would presently be much opposed to slaying Ares. Still, that link may well be enough for Ares to be rather comprehensively familiar with Orin, given the roles other such champions play in the wars of the gods.

Uhm, no. He's not.

One final question: Even if Nova does determine Ares is about to teleport him, how does he avoid it? He does not seem to hold that power himself, or travel in-between dimensions, and opening a stargate would prove massively destructive. Taking that point further, how has Nova Force traditionally fared against mystical opposition?

I assume Ares has to home in on his opponent to have any effect on him. Nova's superior speed and ability to predict the manoeuvre should allow him to avoid that. If I'm wrong about that though, then he obviously can't. I can't say for certain.

The Nova/Ares fight was extremely off.

Nova's not "blasting his head off". Nor is any uber in this thing.

Please don't do that X. Wait till voting.

 

[X]

Rather irritated by "Nah, I'll let it go. I was probably gonna lose anyways. At least I showed up!" lad.

Cuse' me.

 

[Harlekin]

It's cool.

 

[X]

Eh, I seriously do apologize.

Won't do it again. Excuse my all too common crankiness.

 

[DTL Commish]

Voting may now begin.

 

[Dark Gog]

Teams aren't actually occupying New York at the same time during preparation time, otherwise they could just immediately engage. At least, that's how I remember prep times from last season.

I must have misread this earlier, because I took it to mean you considered prep to occur somewhere other than New York.

So there's really no defence against the Worldmind, and it's doubtful Richards would prepare for it either, since he doesn't know a thing about Nova besides what Iron Man could've told him, which is pretty much nothing beyond the fact that Nova is now hella powerful.

Actually, he was around to deal with the original Supernova, wasn't he?

From what I know of Circe though, she doesn't come near Fate levels though.

In all honesty, I lack the full perspective to gouge either's power, although I'd hesitate to say she's downright out of his league, or even class. Circe would not be the only frame of reference we have though. Ares was already capable of moving in and out of Paradise Island prior to taking over Hades (when the Amazons believed he could not set foot on the Isles, although their knowledge on such matters may be questioned, and which again we know Circe could not have accomplished), and break the gods' edict that no weapon could remain in that land.

Well, obviously, Aquaman still had his hook hand during A League of One. Wonder Woman pretty much dispatched with the entire league with ease, and that was fuelled by the plot, not really her feats. Aquaman should be able to stand up to Wonder Woman for at least a little while. Working with Nova should make sure that Ares can't take Aquaman the full fifteen rounds. As for the teleportation, as long as it's not magically fuelled, you're right that he would have no defence against it.

I think we hold very different views regarding both that book in particular, and how Orin and Diana compare in strength. Still, we are discussing Ares here, not Wonder Woman, and I find it fair to claim Aquaman would barely serve as a distraction to him. (No more than he would have been to Nova, had things been different.)

Uhm, no. He's not.

Wasn't it a point of sorts of OWAW?

I assume Ares has to home in on his opponent to have any effect on him. Nova's superior speed and ability to predict the manoeuvre should allow him to avoid that. If I'm wrong about that though, then he obviously can't. I can't say for certain.

That's a logical assumption, and I can't be sure entirely how close to home it hits. Just reading the Rucka issues I have, Ares appears to have used at-least three different effects for teleportation (fading, a blue energy grid, and eldritch fire), and that's not counting other runs and the reflective surfaces stunt Johns etrapolated from it. Mostly it seemed point-and-click, even when transporting others, but of-course I cannot tell just how much time it took.

Aphrodite clearly did so instantly at one point, but she was actually more powerful than Ares.

But this all hinges on the assumption such a move may be predicted, which is far from a given, and may be gotten around by performing while in physical contact.


On the subject of Lightray's mobility, let's bear in mind even if he were restricted to sub-sonic speeds near ground level, all he'd actually need to do in practice is fly up at ~300 meters/second (and he's already well in the air to begin with) and then accelerate. There is, of-course, also the fact that he can create Boom Tubes, should they prove necessary.

 

[Harlekin]

Again: some stuff for the voters to decide.

Actually, he was around to deal with the original Supernova, wasn't he?

Yep, but the concept of the Worldmind didn't actually exist back then.

I think we hold very different views regarding both that book in particular, and how Orin and Diana compare in strength. Still, we are discussing Ares here, not Wonder Woman, and I find it fair to claim Aquaman would barely serve as a distraction to him. (No more than he would have been to Nova, had things been different.)

Agree to disagree than.

Wasn't it a point of sorts of OWAW?

There's no mention of it in recent continuity and the latest news of him serving as some sort of champion would be to The Lady of the Lake, from which he got his Waterbearer hand.

But this all hinges on the assumption such a move may be predicted, which is far from a given, and may be gotten around by performing while in physical contact.

Good point. Still, if magical in nature, Aquaman should be able to counteract this. Otherwise, a simple spell from Fate could bring him back. Just have a magical locator tracer on him. That's pretty par de course for mages.

There is, of-course, also the fact that he can create Boom Tubes, should they prove necessary.

Boom Tubes would be quite dangerous in the city. They're called BOOM Tubes for a reason after all. It's not about how they fast they teleport you, but the deafening sound they make.

Either way, I'm pretty sure we're expected to stop debating now to make way for voting.

 

[LadyVader]

Harlekin and X

While I appreciate Dark Gog's writing immensely, I'd rather he butt out of his own matches in order to make it easier for the reader. He was always intervening and it made it hard for me to follow what was going on.


I've already told X what I think about his write-up. He just didn't put that much effort into it but then again there wasn't much of a competition. Fact is X has one of the strongest rosters in this thing and even if the game wasn't so unbalanced, it would still be intimidating I guess.

 

[Harlekin]

X

No opposition. Good write-up. Still a nice mix of story and strategy. Zatanna went down a little too easy for my tastes, but otherwise, yeah, xmanblacklight's team gets slaughtered in a scenario like this.

 

[Khellendros]

Gog wins. Ares is a goddamn beast, seriously. And I have to say, Gog's writing was just pretty enjoyable to read.

X wins. The brutality was just sexy. And, yes, that's all you get you attention ****e.

 

[Nightwing]

votes - X and Dark Gog

It wouldve been cool if xman had posted to see his version of events but hey life takes priority etc

As for Dark Gog/Harl's match...again two tough battles and i thought that it was gonna be Harl but it was the large portion of the debate that swung it for me with the whole Ares underplayed thing.....

 

[Who?]

X

Dark Gog

 

[XFanTim]

I really enjoyed Harl's writeup style. Concise, while still conveying a clear description of how each fight would be won (rather than just explaining why his characters should win). Dark Gog's was a bit wordier, but also very good, both in terms of writing and strategy. Ultimately, I guess I'll go with Dark Gog. I agree that Ares went down a bit to easily.

In the other match, my vote goes to X. Again, I enjoyed X's writeup format -- concise, while still able to convey some drama. His strategies all seemed pretty sound, and I think emphasizing the ruthlessness of his team was a good point given the populated environment (although the future titans are villainous too, yes?) Anyway, the only things I wasn't quite sure about were (1) Thanos making Imus immune to telepathy -- did he do this with some established anti-telepathy tech, or just with his own telepathy? I think we've decided to be more skeptical of characters providing their whole team with anti-telepathy shields, unless it's been proven that they can do this in the comics. It's not a standard ability of Marvel telepaths to give people preemptive immunity to telepathy, even though we acted like it was in past seasons. (2) What are the rules on Thanos using spacecraft? He's allowed to use his planet-destroying ship, Dreadnought 666? If so, is he also allowed to use a whole fleet of ships, as he has at times in the past? (I'm not saying you shouldn't have done this -- I'm genuinely unsure of what he is allowed to use in this regard.)

 

[Dark Gog]

In the absence of any serious opposition, X, of-course.

 

[wiegeabo]

X
Team Alpha Wolf Squadron

Although Ares could have put up more of a fight, I found Harl's writeup easier to follow, and liked some of his ideas a little more (like the sound logic of why Hector would beat Kent).

X had a good writeup. Although I did have a problem with the Batman/Patriarch fight. There's no way Bats (even if it's Tim) would just stand off against an enemy like that. Especially if he knows Patriarch's powers. And especially if he doesn't. He'd hide in the shadows like the ninja Bruce trained him to be, and hit Patriarch by surprise. But I do think Patriarch would still hand Tim his ass anyway. (And, now that I think about it, Patriach could do that literally).

BTW, xman. If your writeup is (almost) done, and your opponent doesn't have a problem with you posting it a little late, go ahead. A day late is one thing, but a few minutes, or an hour or so, isn't a big deal.

 

[DTL Commish]

Voting is over.
Final Results:

Zatanna and the Titans of Tomorrow 0
X 7

Dark Gog 4
Team Alpha Wolf Squadron 2

 

[Harlekin]

Congrats Gog. Nicely done.

 

[Dark Gog]

Yeah, good match and all that.