Misused: Super Prototype

Does anyone have that TRS backlog somewhere? I can't remember ever having that discussion, but my memory is kind of shot to hell.

Nope its been a while. I was one of the biggest opponants to the merge though they are very different in terms of how they are treated in the fanbase and story.

• Super Prototype: Prototype unit built to max specs cost and such does not matter. MP units might be released later depending on if the Super Prototype is successful but not always. These do include unique units especially those that have prototype or new tech in them. (IE the Gundams in Gundam Wing) The enemy usually reverse engineers or copies the tech to fight them, when they cant they might go entirely other direction from said new tech or Gundam Jack.

• Ace Custom: taking an already successful unit and producing an enhanced version for your Ace Pilot s to use usually customized to meet that pilots skills. (Char Custom Rule is almost always in effect) Now if these are enhanced into a second generation model that start getting MP that is quite different. (IE The GM and the GM II) If they arnt built for and given to Ace Pilot s it is not this trope.

• And imo there is just The Prototype like the GOUF in Gundam Seed Destiny which was not stronger than the MP units produced later the only difference being they have a slightly different main weapon. The prototype was not really flawed it is almost exactly the same model as the MP unit later.
  • This happens often in video games where you face a unit solo then later you face the same units more at once later but have exactly the same stats, you are probably stronger to deal with the numbers or upped difficulty.

Can Super Prototype and Ace Custom have some overlap? Yes, depending on the example but it really depends on the example it is very rare when they do.

• I can only think of two that do Zeta Gundam, and Nu Gundam and those are both Playing with a Trope being testbeds for prototype tech being Super at that and built specifically for one pilot to fly. (because said pilots built them.) Both did get MP designs. Really they are still just Super Prototype s.

edited 17th Mar '12 8:59:43 AM by Raso

I'm with Martello on this. You don't have to be limited to fighting mecha stories to know the difference between a personalized custom job and a prototype.

Made crowner here.

Crowner hooked.

Yeah, I'm for splitting. A prototype and a custom upgrade are not the same thing.

Been more than a week; should we call the crowner?

Who voted to merge them in the first place? 12-2 for splitting is a pretty big margin. I wasn't part of the original merge discussion, but I wish I could see what the arguments were.

I think it was before the purge of old threads.

I thought TRS threads didn't get purged.

edited 1st Apr '12 9:20:33 PM by ThatHuman

Not anymore. It happened once, and Eddie was convinced that was a bad idea. I think the merge happened before that purge.

It was a long time ago and happened rather quickly I think I only posted in to once stating that it was a bad idea and the reasons why I thought so... The crowner was attached the second that the thread opened too.

I dont think I came to that thread again till it was all over.

Ace Custom definitely needs split from Super Prototype. A lot of examples don't fit the definition of one or the other.

For instance the Wing Zero Gundam and the (original) Tallgeese are Super Prototypes, they were the basis for which later models (Gundam and grunt suits) were made. Epyon is an Ace Custom built per Treize's specifications. So are all the mobile suits Lucrezia Noin pilots. (Well at least the white painted Tauruses are.)

Hm, do we have a trope for a custom built unit as opposed to a custom modified one, or would that just fit into Ace Custom. Also, what do we do with units that aren't mass produced due to cost but are customized to some degree (IE Evangelions)?

Crowner's been going for two weeks and has pretty much stabilized. Can we call it, please?

edited 5th Apr '12 7:53:07 PM by NativeJovian

Calling in favor of a split.

Sandboxes up at Sandbox.Super Prototype and Sandbox.Ace Custom. Holy crap there's a ton of natter and Not Subversions in the examples. I've cleaned up Sandbox.Super Prototype, but Sandbox.Ace Custom still has the full list from Main.Super Prototype. I'll work on that later.

edited 21st Apr '12 2:42:01 PM by NativeJovian

Pruned Sandbox.Ace Custom's example list as well.

Ace Custom s commonly get a "Kai" suffix at the end of their name to indicate its an improved suit.

When I get some time I will expand the Gundam example, there are so many Char's Zaku II, Johnny's Gelgoog (char's was actually the base model.) Qubeley II (Qubeley I was a Super Prototype, and weak MP ones got produced from that, probably the straightest example of the whole Mecha line.) the Delta Plus, the Kai versions of Sandrock, Deathscythe, Altron, the GM command type, any suit flown by Mr Bushido, the gold SUMO.

The thousands of the MSV (mobile suit variations.) books, models and artwork have tons of them.

Too many.

Does Prototype Jack from Tekken fit in this category?

Is he a stronger, more expensive, more advanced prototype than the later MP produced versions? (or planned MP versions)

If he is not then he is just a Prototype.

If he is weaker has issues and such that are improved on or corrected in the MP versions its Flawed Prototype.

edited 23rd Apr '12 5:57:52 AM by Raso

Is there anything else we need to do here, or can we drop the sandbox versions into the main namespace?

Oh, hey, this thread. Sandbox versions are now live at Super Prototype and Ace Custom, and the sandbox versions are cutlisted. Ace Custom could use a quote and a picture, but I got nuthin' on either.

We can finally lock this thread.

Locking up.