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Gargoyles

The Phoenix Gate

Comment Room Archive

Comments for the week ending November 16, 2014

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It could come down to ideology and gargoyle tradition. Traditionally, at least, Hudson has shown a willingness to adopt human customs (his sword and more clothing). Perhaps in time the others will follow suit. But for all that, where Goliath seems the most open to human ways (in more ways than one) even his ex has surpassed him in that arena...and maybe that would even put them collectively off, to follow her example. Except then there's Brooklyn too. While the Manhattan Gargs are still considering themselves as defensive and not offensive, and thereby wanting to limit actual deaths, they may stray away from human weaponry in *general* (with exceptions for certain clan members). If so, that may be a mistake...or not
FTBM

We've also seen Coldstone and Coldfire rejoin the clan, at least for a while, which means additional technological support for them. (I still suspect that Jackal and Hyena will raise a fuss about the gargoyles having a cyborg now among them and call it copyright infringement - disregarding that Coldstone predated their upgrades - and they even saw him in that demo video, so they can't deny it). And Brooklyn seems to have brought back a bit of high-tech weaponry (presumably from 2198) on his return from Timedancing.
Todd Jensen
Hufflepuffs are really good finders

There's also the fact that there's nothing inherent or biological (apart perhaps from the occasional limitations posed by clawed digits...hard to imagine it's easy for a gargoyle to operate most touchscreens without some modification, for example) that preserves that gap.

The average gargoyle is just as smart as the average human. Lexington, Thailog, Demona, and pretty much the entire London Clan prove that taking to technology is hardly an impossible barrier to clear for gargoyles.

And Lex's tech smarts have already been repeatedly employed against the Manhattan Clan's more technologically advanced enemies. Modifying the helicopter, managing the whole VR setup in "Legion," tracing the signal on the Hunters' tracking device back to the source, etc.

I doubt this is a pattern that's going to reverse itself or even slow down anytime soon. The Clan was at a massive tech disadvantage initially but that gap is closing at an exponential pace, if only because virtually all human technology can be adapted and/or optimized for gargoyle use.

Especially once Lex goes into business.

Masterdramon - [kmc12009 at mymail dot pomona dot edu]
"If someone ever tells me it's a mistake to have hope...well then, I'll just tell them they're wrong. And I'll keep telling them until they believe. No matter how many times it takes." - Madoka Kaname

One thing that might help the gargoyles is the traits of their opponents. Many of them, like Demona and Castaway, let their passionate hatred get the better of their judgment, leading to their making mistakes in the heat of battle (ranging from Demona using her laser cannon as a club in "Long Way Till Morning" to Castaway shocking Vinnie so much in "The Journey" that he decides to intervene to save Goliath and Elisa). The more self-controlled ones, like Xanatos and Thailog, see the clan as just a means for achieving their goals, and so are less interested in killing them than in using their confrontations for some larger purpose (such as testing out Xanatos' latest weaponry or obtaining gargoyle DNA for Sevarius to experiment with). That might help even the technological imbalance.
Todd Jensen
Hufflepuffs are really good finders

One thing I wonder about the gargoyles is how exactly they're going to stay on par with their enemies.

The issue has been somewhat present since the series began. The gargoyles were top dogs in the dark ages, but in modern times people have weapons such as guns that can attack them from a distance and significantly wound them. And Xanatos's technological advancements have made things even worse for them.

Just look at Coyote for example. It's a wonder that they keep managing to defeat it. In its latest iterations it can shoot rapid-fire lasers that typically incapacitate a gargoyle in 1-2 hits. Its armor is not easily damaged, especially since it can electrocute you if you try to make contact. It is physically superior to any one or even multiple gargoyles. It has superior manuverability in the air, which makes long-range combat very easy for it while the gargoyles have no such luxury.

The gargoyles are disadvantaged, and not doing anything to make up for that disadvantage. Realistically, I wonder how long it would be before enemies start becoming too durable to damage, or possessing weapons too fast and wide-ranged. This question is especially pertinent considering that there is a spinoff set 200 years in the future, with all the new technology and advancement that comes with it.

Thoughts?

Arias

By all the glories of the day
And the cool evening's benison,
By that last sunset touch that lay
Upon the hills where day was done,
By beauty lavisghly outpoured
And blessings carelessly received,
By all the days that I have lived
Make me a solider, Lord.
By all of man's hopes and fears,
And all the wonders poets sing,
The laughter of unclouded years,
And every sad and lovely thing;
By the romantic ages stored
With high endeavor that was his,
By all his mad catastrophes
Make me a man, O Lord.
I, that on my familiar hill
Saw with uncomprehending eyes
A hundred of Thy sunsets spill
Their fresh and sanguine sacrifice,
Ere the sun swings his noonday sword
Must say goodbye to all of this;--
By all delights that I shall miss,
Help me to die, O Lord.

Before Action-W.N. Hodgson

Matthew
From far, from eve and morning, And yon twelve-winded sky, The stuff of life to knit me, Blew hither: here am I. -A.E. Housman

Thanks for the timely contribution, Battle Beast. We really should continue looking out for appropriate poetry for various days of the year (I'd already similarly marked St. Crispin's Day and Guy Fawkes Day in the preceding weeks).
Todd Jensen
Hufflepuffs are really good finders

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Lest we forget.

Battle Beast - [Canada]
Lest We Forget

A good Veteran's Day to everyone here (or, for those who are British or Canadian, a good Remembrance Day).
Todd Jensen
Hufflepuffs are really good finders

EIGHTH.
Phoenician
"The suspense is terrible, I hope it lasts" -- Willy Wonka

All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players: they have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts, his acts being SEVEN ages.
Anthony Tini

I feel perfect right now. Comes with being sixth, I think.
Brainiac - [OSUBrainiac at gmail dot com]
"It has been said that astronomy is a humbling and character-building experience. There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world. To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known."

Fifth.
Matt - [Saint Louis, Missouri, USA]
"For science, which, as my associate Fang indicated, must move ever forward. Plus there's the money... and I do love the drama!" - Sevarius, "Louse"

Spike Spiegel, Jet Black, Faye Valentine, and Edward Wong Hau Pepelu Tivruski IV!
Masterdramon - [kmc12009 at mymail dot pomona dot edu]
"If someone ever tells me it's a mistake to have hope...well then, I'll just tell them they're wrong. And I'll keep telling them until they believe. No matter how many times it takes." - Madoka Kaname

Third!
Supermorff

Two days until Veteran's Day!
Matthew
From far, from eve and morning, And yon twelve-winded sky, The stuff of life to knit me, Blew hither: here am I. -A.E. Housman

(1st)First!
Vinnie - [tpeano29 at hotmail dot com]
Mark Twain: "Don't argue with stupid people. They'll take you down to their level and beat you with experience."