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Mark Simmons (scorpio@best.com)
Thu, 23 Nov 2000 13:32:32 -0800
Well, this is all good fun. I'll be away for a few days, but before I go,
one last comment on the Gundam-versus-GM thing... :-)
SJ writes,
>The riddle me this, Batman. How does a 120 mm round kill a two Gundams and a
>Guncannon, yet bounce off a third Gundam without at scratch?
This has bugged me for years. Still, the strength of the Gundam's armor
is established consistently throughout the original series. Since we
don't get a good look at how the other prototypes were destroyed, it's
possible that the Zaku's shells simply hit the transport trucks and
elevator platforms that were carrying the disassembled parts, and they
were thus damaged and/or rendered immovable. Of all the prototype mobile
suits we see at Side 7, Amuro's Gundam is the only one that's not
disassembled for shipping, which would probably make them more vulnerable...
>> But they can't. At least, no one version of the GM can.
>> And it's not like you can turn an Aqua GM into a GM
>> Sniper just by trucking it back to base and swapping
>> out a couple of parts -- each GM version is made like
>> that at the factory, and they can't be converted back
>> and forth at the frontlines...
>
>No one version can in the beginning, but some later versions could. And
those
>were built on the same frame is the first ones.
I can't think of _any_ version of the GM that could be easily converted
for other combat roles and environments. The only convertable GMs I can
recall are the Powered GM from 0083 (presumably there's a regular GM Kai
under there someplace), and the GM III from ZZ (which has plug-on weapons
pods). All the other GM variants I can think of are built that way at the
factory, and can't be modified in the field. Did you have any other
examples in mind?
>I disagree with the idea that all GMs are specialized subsets of the Gundam.
>I believe that the basic GM we see is just as versatile as the Gundam, if a
>bit underpowered in comparison. I believe that the specialized GMs we
see are
>enhancements to specific roles and environments based on modifications that
>had to be done to the Gundam in order for it work in the same roles and
>conditions.
Okay, I think we've arrived at a substantive disagreement here. To my
mind, the stock RGM-79 is _not_ as versatile as the RX-78, due to its
hardware limitations - and those limitations, such as the lack of beam
rifle support and inferior armor, have been established in official
publications for at least 15 years.
Also, I don't think the Gundam needed _any_ modifications to play the
roles of most GM variants. The GM Sniper Custom has a more powerful
generator and extra cooling systems so that it can use a beam rifle -
features that come standard in the Gundam. The Gundam can fight in space,
re-enter, and continue fighting in atmosphere - a feat no GM can
duplicate, let alone those that are tailored exclusively for space or
ground combat. The only GM variants I can think of that have _any_
capabilities the standard, unmodified Gundam didn't are the GM Cannon and
the spurious Aqua GM...
I don't mean to be pedantic, and I'm definitely enjoying this
discussion, but it might be easier to follow your points if you could
cite specific examples rather than general principles. :-)
>GM stands for General-purpose Mass-produced.
As far as I'm aware, it's never been explained _what_ it stands for; to
the best of my knowledge, it's just a contraction of "Gundam."
-- Mark
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Mark Simmons / scorpio@best.com / http://www.gundamproject.com/
"If you can kill it, it's not a god, just a good old-fashioned monster."
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