Spunky steampunk mechanics and their robot sidekicks - Let's Play: Skyborn

Holy crap, forget the gear throwing, fucking POWER TOOLS sound like an amazing RPG weapon!

I agree. Drills would be infinitely more powerful than swords and boomerangs and other what have yous.

Victim?! What are you doing here?!
Oh wait never mind your name is Corwin.

The art is pretty good. I can't wait to see Mr. Cravat. Mmmmmm cravats...

Maybe Victim had to go into Witness Protection to get away from Mia? And then she found him again and he had to hop dimensions to be safe. Those dragon knights were reacting to his inherent Victimhood or maybe they could subconsciously sense that he is not originally from their dimension?

That was the first thing I thought of when I was writing that post... Please let there be no spiders in this game... or calculators...

Claret's worried about Corwin, but he goes back to work like nothing happened.



Claret: We're all out, but I should be able to pick up a new one in the city.

Coggie makes a few concerned beeps.



There's a little circle of light around the treasure box, as if that wasn't the first thing I was gonna go for anyway. Of course, having them on hand isn't good enough. Claret won't leave the store until you actually equip them. But first let's check up on Corwin.



Seriously. It's kind of scary that you're so used to these confrontations that you can just act as though nothing happened.



Sigh. Well, we tried.

Before we go pick up the part Claret need, let's have a little tour of the shop. Here's the upstairs.



And here's the dock.

I thought the same exact thing until the game pointed out that it was supposed to be a dock. Not that that makes it anymore safe, but it's an explanation. Just don't look down.



Outside we find this guy, who basically tells us that we never have to fight outside of plot related battles. I love shiny things.



And then there's this prick. See the guy in the armor standing at one side of the bridge? Well, he patrols back and forth, back and forth, never letting you actually pass him. So even though I can see NPCs on the other side, I can never talk to them. He's gotta be one of te most frustrating barriers ever, cause I know if he moved just one more step Claret could sneak by him. But no. He never does.

Screw it, I'm gonna go talk to the drug dealer in the back alley.

Wait. Is that in her backyard?? Because that would be awesome.

Not being able to talk to all NPCs is driving me to drugs.
Are you happy now, Guardman?
ARE YOU HAPPY NOW?!

Heh. Seriously though I'd love if there was an option in times like these to politely ask to be let through. Even better if the response would be "F*** you citizen I'm PATROLLING." And then have a nearby NPC groan and beg saying "Please sir, I haven't eaten for days."

The background artwork is just absolutely beautiful! Second to last image, in particular, makes me squeal.

(Not) spoilers: Those NPCs don't say anything. You aren't meant to be able to talk to them. By all means, they're practically just decorative dolls.

Also, having played this game before... MR CRAVAT IS A SEXY BEAST AND ADORKABLE AWKWARD DORK ROLLED INTO ONE OMG >:D

Just a little further south from the alley is an item shop, but it's under inspection by the Skyborns. Seems they're going through everyone's homes looking for halfbreeds.



There's a lady in the last shot (lower righthand corner, by a fountain) who told Claret to go visit this old guy. He's is a veteran from the war with the Skyborns that Corwin mentioned.



Wow. You're not racist at all.



As much as I love that third option, he's the second person today who's told Claret about how much they hate halfbreeds. Time to set them straight.

Of course, he just tells Claret to get out of his face. That went well.



Finally I stop dwaddling and get to Blackstone Industries (their motto: "Moving humanity up in the world!"). All the other shops are closed down for inspections, but it seems like Blackstone Industries is big enough to have some influence in the Industrial District. Y'know, since this is the only place open at the moment.



Claret: Thanks! Who says good looks don't get you anywhere?

Well, that's not shallow at all. Before she leaves, Harold tells Claret about their prototype fighting robot (basically: optional practice fight), but I decide to skip out on it. I'm sure we'll get a real plot-related fight soon enough. And if not: exploration nodes!

Can we romance the fighting robot?

I want to see the practice robot! Does it look anything like Gato? I need to know!

I'm with Snark if, and only if, it's a SUPER fighting robot.

Do the fighting robots give you much experience anyway?

I tried fighting the robot when I was playing through the game before deciding that I wanted to LP it. Claret walked away with minimal injuries, and the game points out multiple times that it's a safe fight. So why not?



But first I stop and talk to this chick, since she gives us a little info. Basically, no matter what district you're in, I'm pretty sure there are several rich influential families that even the Skyborns don't bother, and some have more money influence than others. But enough politics. We have a robot to not-fight in a totally safe environment. Claret puts machines together all the time, so taking one apart should be easy, right?



I'm pretty terrible at taking battle shots, since my mind immediately goes from screenshot-mode to killkillkill-mode. I blanked on the first, so this is actually a shot of the beginning of the second round. Looks like Claret got burned.

I didn't consider it a SUPER fighting robot the first time I fought it, partly because it didn't manage to burn me on the first turn last time. It didn't actually manage to burn me at all then, but this time round it's using moves like Missile Fire and Napalm. In the end...



Claret has hardly and HP remaining. But to hell with it --- she got 15 EXP!

Of course, I just realized she lost so much HP because I was using her regular attack as opposed to her special technique. She even specified to use it, and, and... Sigh.



Just barely. I'm sorry.

Finally back at the shop and who's at the door to welcome Claret home but Coggie? Oh, Coggie!! <3

You know, if you'd taken the time to welcome her back, you wouldn't be headless in this screenshot, Corwin.



Claret gets to work, but then Jake walks in. And with him is Mr. Cravat.



Hey, look, I know she's coated in engine grease, but I really don't appreciate you patronizing my heroine.

And, quite frankly, I was expecting a fancier cravat.



Claret gave Mr. Cravat a curt "Hi" in reply before turning to Jake and asking him upfront why they're here.



Claret: His airship?



... Why are you blushing?



I like to imagine him describing the noise by imitation, like people do with their cars.

Claret: Ha! The 'clanking' was just ONE of your problems. The timing belt's slipped, causing the engine to misfire. But I also found a bent propeller, worn-out struts, loose lug nuts and a giant gouge in the hull! This poor girl's been through the ringer! Your pilot should be fired!



No, sir. Clearly you are that bad.

Note that Claret's character sprite is in Angry/Defiant Stance.



Jake is obviously worried about what his sister might say, but Claret gives no fucks.



I thought we were calling him Mr. Cravat?

Claret's about to lose it, so Jake, the face and public relations manager of Spencer Drydock and Repair, takes control of the situation in the most professional way possible.



By dragging the client away.



She's so angry she jumps up and down a few times as she shouts this.

Once Jake and Mr. Fancypants Cravat are gone, Corwin walks over from the front desk.



You're not helping. And whose side are you on, anyway?



I like how the fact that he acted like a pompous ass is second to the fact that his airship was so damaged.



Corwin: We could really use their business.



Claret: ... Assuming he doesn't crash his ship into the Celestial Palace or something... sigh.

I love all of these characters!

And I'm glad I'm not the only one who was expecting a fancier cravat. That's nothing like the Wyndham Waterfall! It's not even a Mail Coach Knot! I mean, credit for not going for the half-assed Napoleon, but...uh...

*coughs*

It's not like I really know enough about cravats to critique them, anyway. Strictly amateur hour here. But I had expected a little more fanciness. Cute character and all, but...pff. Cravats. That's practically a scarf.

What kind of "perfectly safe" training robot shoots fucking napalm????

Maybe the robot was made from a safe?

Seems legit.

Agreed. Cravats should be poofier and rufflier.
Not only does Mr. Fancypants not know how to run an airship, he doesn't know proper Cravat fashion.

No, no. The training robot is perfectly safe, because it has napalm to defend itself with. No one is going to damage that training robot!

We will just have to educate him on all of the above.

...or, if "we" is Claret, we can educate him on how to run an airship, and Corwin can educate him on proper cravat fashion. A man with a nice vest like that surely knows how to help someone tie a proper cravat.

(In a completely unconnected turn of events, I spent this weekend reading a book in which cravat fashion was, if not quite a plot point, certain a recurring theme. That and cross-dressing. It warmed my heart.)

If a cravat isn't at least this fancy, I don't consider it a cravat at all.
Hmph. Mr. Fancypants indeed.

Eeeeeeedgeworth. <3

I love the fact that Edgeworth sets the standard for cravats. Now, where were we?



Oh, right. Fixing the ship. We saw a quick scene of Claret working with Coggie wheeling around the workshop. Now, the airship is pretty much ready to go.

The camera pans over to the front of the shop, where Jake and Sullivan are walking downstairs.



Looks like they finished their deal.



That's nice. Shop's closed. See you tomorrow.





Sullivan leaves and Jake sighs.

Jake: Claret, don't you think that just this once, you could have tried to make a good impression?

Claret: What now?
Jake: I don't think you're going to like it much.
Claret: Okay...
Jake: In fact, I probably should have talked to you a little sooner...





Claret: ...



First napalm, now this bombshell. Bad day.

I just realized, that shop looks a lot bigger inside than outside.

Home sweet home. The logic of video games. However you wanna think of it, really.

Can i say that I really adore the airship? That thing is hand-painted and it's AWESOME.

Your name isn't Luke, it's Jake. And hate to break it you, but you're not the main character. Hell, you don't even have a sprite!

Besides, you don't fix the widgets. Claret does.



Jake and Claret had horrible parents.

Jake: Can't blame 'em - they probably didn't want to be stuck here, either!

Oh, you're right. It makes perfect sense why they abandoned their two children now.



At least you'll always have Coggie. And maybe Corwin.



Then he shoves a ton of money in Claret's face. Now we can make it rain.

But that doesn't really change the fact the Claret's losing both her house and her job, does it, Jake?



Oh. Well, then... What did you have in mind? Making Claret manager or something? It'd still be a huge step down from co-owner.



Jake: You become Mrs. Chestford!



Claret thinks this over for a moment. Then she starts to freak out and run around in little circles. She seems to do that a lot with her brother. When she's done she gets right in his face.



Every word appears one at a time for this line, either because she's emphasizing each word or she's just out of breath. Could be either or.

Maybe you could have, I dunno, consulted Claret --- co-owner and your own sister --- about this "business" proposal before you began haggling and agreeing?



That's cold.



And that's just rude.



Claret would agree, but she's a little upset.



Okay, she's really upset.

100th image, btw.



So, like a mature adult, she runs up to her room.



And Coggie follows. Best pet robot ever.

Upstairs in her room, Claret is laying in bed and talking to Coggie.

Claret: Homeless, unemployed, humiliated...



I like you, Claret. You're in an arranged marriage with quite possibly the richest eligible bachelor around, and you don't give a shit.



Not only that, but she refuses to sit around and mope about it.



And she's going to get out of this mess by running away with Mr. Fancypants Cravat's airship. I love this heroine.

This game has quickly achieved the point many rpgs strive for: When you resent it over being unable to stab NPCs in the face.

Was the brother replaced by his really douchy doppelganger from another dimension or something?

Brother... what the fuck. Seriously. What the fuck.

Arrogant douchenozzle or not, I am unreasonably attracted to this man's smirk. Also his clothes. Just...damn. The combination of black gloves, white pirate-y shirt, and red vest tailcoat thing just pushes all of my steampunk-fancying buttons. And I've always been a fan of red hair.

Please let him be a main character. *crosses fingers*