While Raven Republic has the history of competitive Armored Core gameplay, a good chunk of it’s members gave the thought that maybe Armored Core could have a good co-op mode.
When AC6 was announced, there was plenty of speculation to what kind of Armored Core game it will be. One of those, aside from Mecha Sekiro, was Mecha Monster Hunter.
The game is ripe for such a game mode, with various play styles, designs, and weapons, it seems like a no-brainer for Armored Core to become a co-op game. And From Software had the same idea, but was, and still is, figuring out how they can approach co-op multiplayer in Armored Core.
From’s Experiments
Armored Core isn’t a stranger to multiplayer co-op, with its first attempt during Armored Core 2: Another Age with split-screen missions, where players were sometimes tasked to complete the same objectives.
Granted it was a barebones attempt, and felt like it was shoehorned into the split screen versus mode (You can still lock-on and fire at your ally accidentally), it does sow the idea of Armored Core as a cooperative game.
Challenges
Games that have done it
Full PvE coop
PvPvE
Competitive Coop
Mechwarrior 5
Monsterhunter
Pros: extensive and long replayability
Cons: Complete overhaul of the parts and stats, necesitating lower end versions of parts to craft, ending up with severely OP versions.
-The lack of PvP removes the identity of Armored Core to a degree
-Sequential fight
EDF
Ace Combat Infinity
Weapon and part balance has to revolve around PvE, progressively getting stronger.
Armored Core VI’s first big balance patch has arrived. Regulation 1.03.1 is a VERY meaty change, and it’s expected that all kinds of builds will rise and fall in effectiveness as we all play through the update and figure stuff out.
Personally, I haven’t had time to parse all the changes myself, but over in our Discord, heavy discussion is already underway. There’s even this handy breakdown of all the numbers that were changed (originally from Cleric’s Discord).
The following is directly lifted from the official blog post on Bandai Namco’s website. It’s a long one.
ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON – Regulation Update 1.03.1
ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON – Patch Notes 1.03.1
A new regulation patch (1.03.1) has been distributed to make gameplay balance adjustments and bug fixes. Please apply the latest patch before playing the game.
Targeted Platforms:
PlayStation 4 / PlayStation 5 / Xbox One / Xbox Series X|S / Steam
MAJOR ITEMS INCLUDED IN THE LATEST REGULATION UPDATE
Balance Adjustments
Weapon Units
EXPLOSIVE THROWER “DF-ET-09 TAI-YANG-SHOU”: increased Effective Range/Total Rounds, decreased Reload Time LINEAR RIFLE “LR-036 CURTIS”: decreased Recoil/Charge Time LINEAR RIFLE “LR-037 HARRIS”: increased Chg. Attack Power/Cooling, decreased Charge Time SHOTGUN “SG-026 HALDEMAN”: decreased Direct Hit Adjustment SHOTGUN “SG-027 ZIMMERMAN”: decreased Attack Power/Impact/Accumulative Impact/Direct Hit Adjustment HANDGUN “HG-003 COQUILLETT”: increased Total Rounds HANDGUN “HG-004 DUCKETT”: increased Total Rounds BURST HANDGUN “MA-E-211 SAMPU”: increased Total Rounds NEEDLE GUN “EL-PW-00 VIENTO”: increased Total Rounds BAZOOKA “DF-BA-06 XUAN-GE”: increased Projectile Speed, decreased Reload Time BAZOOKA “MAJESTIC”: increased Projectile Speed, decreased Reload Time BAZOOKA “LITTLE GEM”: increased Projectile Speed, decreased Reload Time DETONATING BAZOOKA “44-141 JVLN ALPHA”: increased Projectile Speed, decreased Reload Time GRENADE “DF-GR-07 GOU-CHEN”: increased Total Rounds/Projectile Speed, decreased Reload Time. Rounds now explode upon reaching their Effective Range, even if they don’t make contact GRENADE “DIZZY”: increased Total Rounds/Projectile Speed, decreased Reload Time. Effective Range also adjusted. Rounds now explode upon reaching their Effective Range, even if they don’t make contact GRENADE “IRIDIUM”: increased Total Rounds/Projectile Speed, decreased Reload Time. Reduced sway caused by accumulated Recoil. Effective Range also adjusted. Rounds now explode upon reaching their Effective Range, even if they don’t make contact PLASMA RIFLE “IA-C01W1: NEBULA”: decreased Chg. Attack Power/Chg. Impact/Chg. Accum. Impact, increased Charge Time SIEGE HAND MISSILE “WS-5000 APERITIF”: increased Reload Time, decreased Guidance GRENADE CANNON “EARSHOT”: decreased Reload Time. Rounds now explode upon reaching their Effective Range, even if they don’t make contact GRENADE CANNON ”SONGBIRDS”: decreased Attack Power/Impact/Accumulative Impact. Rounds now explode upon reaching their Effective Range, even if they don’t make contact STUN NEEDLE LAUNCHER “VE-60SNA”: decreased Impact/Accumulative Impact/Direct Hit Adjustment/Attack Power on consecutive attacks LASER CANNON “VP-60LCS”: increased Total Rounds DIFFUSE LASER CANNON “VP-60LCD”: increased Total Rounds PULSE SHIELD LAUNCHER “EULE/60D”: increased Total Rounds/Pulse Shield Durability, decreased Weight/EN Load LIGHT WAVE CANNON “IA-C01W3: AURORA”: decreased EN Load. Energy Firearm Spec now applies to this weapon DUAL MISSILE “BML-G1/P31DUO-02”: increased Attack Power/Impact/Accumulative Impact/Guidance/Projectile Speed DUAL MISSILE “BML-G1/P32DUO-03”: increased Attack Power/Impact/Accumulative Impact/Guidance/Projectile Speed DUAL MISSILE “BML-G2/P08DUO-03”: increased Attack Power/Impact/Accumulative Impact/Guidance/Projectile Speed ACTIVE HOMING MISSILE “BML-G3/P04ACT-01”: increased Guidance/Homing Lock Time/Projectile Speed ACTIVE HOMING MISSILE “BML-G3/P05ACT-02”: increased Guidance/Homing Lock Time/Projectile Speed NEEDLE MISSILE “EL-PW-01 TRUENO”: decreased Guidance. Projectiles now follow a stable trajectory CORAL MISSILE “IB-C03W3: NGI 006”: decreased Chg. Attack Power/Chg. Impact/Chg. Accum. Impact/Direct Hit Adjustment LASER ORBIT “45-091 ORBT”: increased Attack Power/Direct Hit Adjustment/Ideal Range/Effective Range/Projectile Speed LASER TURRET “VP-60LT”: increased Projectile Speed/Laser Turret Attack Frequency
Frame Parts
HEAD “AH-J-124 BASHO”: increased System Recovery HEAD “HD-011 MELANDER”: increased Attitude Stability/System Recovery HEAD “HD-033M VERRILL”: increased System Recovery HEAD “HD-012 MELANDER C3”: increased Attitude Stability/System Recovery HEAD “DF-HD-08 TIAN-QIANG”: increased Attitude Stability/System Recovery HEAD “VP-44S”: increased Attitude Stability/System Recovery HEAD “VP-44D”: decreased Attitude Stability HEAD “VE-44A”: increased Attitude Stability/System Recovery HEAD “HC-2000 FINDER EYE”: increased System Recovery HEAD “HC-2000/BC SHADE EYE”: increased System Recovery HEAD “HC-3000 WRECKER”: increased System Recovery HEAD “HS-5000 APPETIZER”: increased Attitude Stability/System Recovery HEAD “EL-TH-10 FIRMEZA”: increased System Recovery HEAD “EL-PH-00 ALBA”: increased System Recovery HEAD “20-081 MIND ALPHA”: increased Attitude Stability/System Recovery HEAD “20-082 MIND BETA”: decreased System Recovery HEAD “IB-C03H: HAL 826”: increased Attitude Stability CORE “NACHTREIHER/40E”: increased Attitude Stability/Generator Output Adj. CORE “IA-C01C: EPHEMERA”: decreased AP/Anti-Energy Defense/Anti-Explosive Defense/Attitude Stability ARMS “AA-J-123 BASHO”: decreased Anti-Kinetic Defense/Anti-Explosive Defense ARMS “AA-J-123/RC JAILBREAK”: decreased Anti-Kinetic Defense/Anti-Explosive Defense ARMS “AR-011 MELANDER”: increased Recoil Control ARMS “AR-012 MELANDER C3”: increased Recoil Control ARMS “DF-AR-08 TIAN-QIANG”: increased Recoil Control ARMS “DF-AR-09 TIAN-LAO”: increased Recoil Control ARMS “VP-46S”: increased Recoil Control ARMS “VP-46D”: increased Recoil Control ARMS “NACHTREIHER/46E”: increased Recoil Control ARMS “VE-46A”: increased Recoil Control ARMS “AC-2000 TOOL ARM”: increased Recoil Control ARMS “AS-5000 SALAD”: increased Recoil Control ARMS “EL-TA-10 FIRMEZA”: increased Recoil Control ARMS “EL-PA-00 ALBA”: increased Recoil Control ARMS “04-101 MIND ALPHA”: increased Recoil Control ARMS “IA-C01A: EPHEMERA”: increased Recoil Control ARMS “IB-C03A: HAL 826”: increased Recoil Control BIPEDAL “AL-J-121 BASHO”: increased Attitude Stability/Jump Distance BIPEDAL “AL-J-121/RC JAILBREAK”: increased Attitude Stability/Jump Distance BIPEDAL “LG-011 MELANDER”: increased Attitude Stability/Jump Distance BIPEDAL “LG-012 MELANDER C3”: increased Attitude Stability/Jump Distance BIPEDAL “DF-LG-08 TIAN-QIANG”: increased Attitude Stability/Jump Distance BIPEDAL “VP-422”: increased Attitude Stability/Jump Distance BIPEDAL “VE-42A”: increased AP/Attitude Stability/Jump Distanc BIPEDAL “2C-2000 CRAWLER”: increased Attitude Stability/Load Limit/Jump Distance BIPEDAL “2C-3000 WRECKER”: increased AP/Attitude Stability/Jump Distance BIPEDAL “2S-5000 DESSERT”: increased AP/Attitude Stability/Jump Distance BIPEDAL “EL-TL-10 FIRMEZA”: increased Jump Distance BIPEDAL “EL-PL-00 ALBA”: increased Attitude Stability/Jump Distance BIPEDAL “06-041 MIND ALPHA”: increased Attitude Stability/Jump Distance BIPEDAL “IA-C01L: EPHEMERA”: increased Attitude Stability/Jump Distance BIPEDAL “IB-C03L: HAL 826”: increased Attitude Stability/Jump Distance REVERSE JOINT “KASUAR/42Z”: increased Attitude Stability REVERSE JOINT “06-042 MIND BETA”: increased Attitude Stability REVERSE JOINT “RC-2000 SPRING CHICKEN”: increased Attitude Stability TETRAPOD “LG-033M VERRILL”: decreased AP TETRAPOD “VP-424”: decreased AP TANK “EL-TL-11 FORTALEZA”: decreased Anti-Kinetic Defense/Anti-Energy Defense/Anti-Explosive Defense/Attitude Stability
Adjusted Attitude Recovery rate according to Total Weight. ACS Strain now dissipates much faster on lighter ACs, and slightly slower on heavier ACs
Adjusted various Boost Speed rates according to Total Weight
Decreased top speed during Assault Boost for heavier ACs
Decreased Boost Kick attack range for Tetrapod legs
Increased EN Consumption while hovering with Tetrapod legs
Decreased Impact reduction effect during Assault Boost
Decreased Impact/Accumulative Impact dealt when colliding with enemies during Assault Boost
Decreased Impact/Accumulative Impact dealt by Boost Kick from all leg types except Reverse Joint
Adjusted damage dealt by certain weapons when attacking the pulse shield deployed from PULSE SHIELD LAUNCHER “EULE/60D”
Bug fixes
Fixed a bug with CORAL OSCILLATOR “IB-C03W2: WLT 101” where charged attacks would have stronger tracking than intended when using Tetrapod legs
Fixed a bug where the attack warning marker would not display for an enemy AC firing DETONATING MISSILE “45-091 JVLN BETA” equipped to the left back slot
Fixed a bug where the attack warning sound would not play correctly for an enemy firing GRENADE “IRIDIUM”
Fixed a bug where charged attacks from LIGHT WAVE BLADE “IA-C01W2: MOONLIGHT” and CORAL OSCILLATOR “IA-C01W7: ML-REDSHIFT” would clip through certain structures/objects
Fixed a bug where reloading with a full magazine would cause certain weapons to fire unintentionally
Other bug fixes
The version number of this update shown at the lower right corner of the Title Screen will be as follows: App Ver. 30 Regulation Ver. 1.03.1 *
This regulation update is required for online play.
We will continue to provide improvement updates in the future to allow players to further enjoy ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON.
Thank you all for your support.
*Notice to PS4, PS5, XboxOne and XSX|S players: If the game is set to boot to offline mode in the Network Settings inside the System Menu, the latest regulation files will not be downloaded. Please ensure the game is set to online mode before attempting to apply this update.
That was fast. ACD just concluded their Week 1 Tournament for Armored Core VI.
A staggering 233 players took part. Whew. Double elimination format too, so that’s a lotta fighting. Full brackets, rules, and ban list can be found here.
In spite of all the talk regarding the balance of dual ZIMMERMANs and VE-60SNAs, it was Boles who prevailed as champion, rocking a tank missile boat, complete with two APERITIFs.
Check out the seven hours of 1v1 AC action from the VODs below, c/o Celtic Spear.
So it’s not just us doing a retrospective on Armored Core’s rich PvP history. It turns out, the Japanese AC community were thinking of the same thing. On 20 August, a mere 5 days before AC6’s launch, renowned Armored Core PvP players from all over Japan, spanning all generations of Armored Core, were interviewed to talk about their stories and experiences.
These include the famous YOU of Gen1, Mr. Light who was famous for participating in the Japan vs Korea AC special, Mr. Saikawa, semi-finalist in Battle Arena, and many others. They also point out which parts were overpowered/restricted from competitions, giving a historical perspective on how Armored Core PvP evolved through the generations.
Give this almost 8 hour program a watch:
Thanks to Val and Rascal over at ACD for sharing this gem of a historical piece.
We continue with A True and Accurate History of the Raven Republic. In this edition, we look at what RR was up to during the days of Armored Core V, Verdict Day, and the long lull until the announcement of Armored Core VI.
Raven Republic in the Fifth Generation
When Armored Core V arrived, Raven Republic finally had its chance to shine on the global stage. Despite the relatively small ACV/VD player base worldwide, the tradition of playing Armored Core purely for the joy of it continued.
Initially, Raven Republic consisted of seasoned members, friends, and active participants from our real-life gatherings. On Armored Core V’s release, RR held a launch party on March of 2012 at DT’s house, the site of PACT 1, where we brought in our PS3s to start taking our first territories.
Over time, and with our name on the conquest map, the community attracted new members from both inside and outside the Philippines who shared RR’s core values – that is, having fun with Armored Core while maintaining a touch of competitiveness. Though some earlier members weren’t into gen 5, many enthusiastic newcomers made a lasting impression on fellow members and the AC community at large.
Raven Republic in ACV and VD
Accounts from our members, including NiX, Etherstrife, AcesZeph, Arrui, Zefyr, Gradlein, Ravenflau, JienFury, and Goat, highlight their experiences as they infused their MMO guild management expertise and passion for giant robots into the clan-focused gameplay of ACV and VD.
RR’s activities made the group quite well-known in ACV’s online community. The goal of putting our emblems on the map (punctuated by our own mascot of course) not only became our driving force to play but also led to notoriety and in-game rivalries. Notably, one member initially belonged to a rival group, but he was won over by RR’s conversations and eventually switched sides. To this day he’s still a cherished and integral part of the gang.
Waifus on mechs, before it was cool
The growth of RR’s numbers led to the creation of Raven Republic 2 within the game’s team function to accommodate the active players, while RR1 remained a space for legacy pilots to relax, play, and hang out. The two groups alternated as they placed their distinct emblems across the map. Overall, recruitment was a simple process, where signing up for the forums was the only mandatory requirement for official RR membership.
During the VD era, while RR took conquest seriously, the freebattle environment was much more relaxed. Still, the community prided itself on its emblems, out-of-meta builds, and clutch victories, where RR members prevailed despite being outnumbered and overwhelmed.
A generally realistic portrayal of what the map might have looked at the height of activity
A notable lesson learned during the fifth generation was that practice and dedication breed improvement. Members also discovered the importance of finding like-minded individuals, diversifying their builds, and aiming to complement each other’s strengths within the team. Unlike the one-on-one dynamics of the older titles, the fifth generation largely emphasized teamwork.
But despite the serious approach, we were no strangers to having fun. Among RR’s amusing antics were tank drag races, head transformation recordings, and Overed Weapon demonstrations.
For us, the best memories were simply the hours spent playing together – small moments like goofing off on the map, or giving each other’s ACs love taps (AKA kicking/pile driving) at the end of a sortie. These lighthearted interactions elevated friendships and strengthened the bonds that endure until today, where things go beyond just playing Armored Core.
The Decade Without a New Armored Core
The ties within the RR crew extended beyond the game, marking milestones in each other’s lives. These connections led to invitations to weddings, anniversaries, send-offs, birthday celebrations, as well as the odd burger raid here and there. Some even became extended family members.
Commemorating our 2nd Anniversary
During this time, RR continued returning to the game that united them, equipped with fading PS2s and CRT monitors, ready to relive the experience. We’d occasionally engage in gimmick matches like Godzilla (1v3) or blind attack (guided by handlers/operators) to keep things fresh. Eventually, RR meets became more of a gathering of friends united by a common love for Armored Core.
We managed to maintain an unbroken streak of annual meetups (usually every August) and Christmas parties from our founding until the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020. With it, in-person gatherings ceased, and Discord became the primary means of communication. Online movie viewings served as a coping mechanism for the isolation, but it didn’t have the same effect as meeting in person. We had a small gathering in 2022, but obviously with limited participation due to ongoing pandemic concerns.
The Month We Almost Died
On November 2022, a crucial announcement quietly shook the community:
While the decision was understandable given the community’s shift to Discord, Facebook, and real-life interactions, the forums held a wealth of information accumulated over 15+ years – including AC designs, emblems, tournament records, research, photos, and most importantly, memories. This article, for example, greatly benefited from the rich history in the forums.
As of this article’s posting, Raven Republic as well as the entire Armored Core community has experienced a revival unlike any before. The past few months have felt like those halcyon days in 2006 when assembling six Ravens under one roof was like a dream come true, with excitement and anticipation running high. The hype surrounding Armored Core 6 pretty much broke all previous high water marks for the series, and it’s only just begun.
The Road Goes Ever On
The common thread that united us was the simple joy of playing Armored Core and other games. The near-death experience of the previous year highlighted the importance of preserving the tales of the past, and that’s exactly what we’ve tried to do with this little series of articles. As RR embarks on a new journey with Armored Core VI, looking back provides a roadmap for moving forward – a way to avoid past mistakes or to find inspiration and hope. It demonstrates that even the smallest of common interests can blossom into enduring connections that stand the test of time.
Both old and new members are coming together, and while the future remains uncertain, the shared passion for giant robots, games, and friendship will undoubtedly carry us forward. Ultimately, we are all united by the sheer happiness of being part of this journey.
Thank you for taking the time to delve into the extensive and authentic history of The Raven Republic.
***END OF TRANSMISION***
Personal Thoughts from the Author
To all our new and upcoming members, we’re excited to have you on board. You’ll be part of a long and very proud tradition that spans almost two decades, and counting. And if you haven’t joined yet, what are you waiting for? If you’re from the Philippines, sali na! To the rest of the world, we’d love to have you with us. Our socials are on top of the page.
To Grim – Thank you for bringing Raven Republic out into this world. I’m sure you never imagined your little project to reach the heights that it has today. Thank you for keeping it running smoothly, for preserving the memories, and for starting the culture that allowed RR to soar. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you. On a personal note, thank you for being an Ace of a friend, and I always wish for success in your life.
To Nix – I am forever honored you chose me to be the godfather of your kid, to me you’re the GOAT Raven. What you’ve done for the RR community is nothing short of impactful, instrumental to how it lasted this long, and continues to grow. From the the early 2000s till today; thank you, rival, ally, and very good friend.
To AEA1, DT, and Cabs – You marvelous guys, you kept the fire burning in the early days of Gen1, and are still up for AC in this upcoming 6th gen. Thank you for letting us use your place in the early days, that allowed our grassroots community to grow to what it has become today, establishing the Armored Core community in the Philippines.
To Sforza – There’s a reason why people call you the benefactor, thank you for taking care of us whenever we visited your place (numerous times). It was never easy for you to host, but you did it anyway, all for the love of the community and AC.
To our GEN5 crew (Etherstrife, AcesZeph, Arrui, Zefyr, Gradlein, Ravenflau, JienFury, and Goat) – Thank you for keeping the fires burning. Without you guys, our group would be less than what it is right now. Thank you for being that new (and some old) blood that allows communities to grow, evolve, and flourish. I’m so happy to hear you’re all back to play in AC6 with everyone, and I’m looking forward to playing AC with you guys.
Trace-02 – Thank you for bringing our Sophie to life, your art forever awakened something in us that will never die. It’s been a while, but we’re always hoping to hear from you again.
To Fox, Serene, Raff, Super Ting Bros – I love you all, you’re the meme makers in our community, and really cemented the personal identity of the group. You guys are a freaking riot during RR meets it’d be so hard to think of what we’d be without you. Looking forward to our meetups to chill, talk about mecha, etc. See you in AC6.
Special shout-outs to the guys at Armored Core Universe, AC Discord, r/armoredcore, Raven’s Haven, ACL, Zealous (thanks for the shout-out during your AC6 presentation BTW), FromCheng, JinX, Penguin Deus, TMRaven, many others I’ve missed, and you reading this long article. You’re all truly wonderful, and we’ll see you at planetfall on Rubicon 3.
Months after the previous tournament, Raven Republic members were itching for an excuse to gather and compete again. So, on the 7th of June 2008, the Raven Republic held its fourth PACT tournament, again graciously hosted by Sforza.
Unfinished PACT 4 Promotional by Trace-02
The rules this time were still based on PACT 3 but modified to be less restrictive.
Two (2) ACs with no repeating parts (except for optional parts) shall be allowed per person. The AC can use the same leg type, but not the same exact part (i.e. you can use tank legs for both of your units, but not the exact same tank leg part model) per AC, including internals and weapons.
A participant shall use one (1) AC against the opponent’s other AC. The second round will force players to swap their ACs with the one in reserve. The 3rd round shall allow both participants to choose which ever AC they wish to use.
The scoring system using the AP score format will be retained. This format computes the total amount of AP left for the three (3) bouts for each pair of participants. The participant with the higher total sum AP after the three (3) rounds shall be declared the winner.
By now, the process was familiar for everyone, from organizing in the forums, to transportation and logistics, and borrowing TVs and PlayStation 2s.
The brackets may have been lost to time, but Ethermaster and Moonlight_Raven were the ones to make it to the finals. Moonlight_Raven was Ethermaster’s Armored Core mentor prior to finding the Raven Republic. But now, there was a championship at stake. And in the end, Ethermaster came out with the win to become the new PACT champion.
PACT 4 Results (Wins/Losses/Matches/Win %):
Ethermaster 5/0/5 100%
Moonlight_Raven 4/2/6 67%
atdsutm 3/2/5 60%
Sforza 3/2/5 60%
Archangel (Mjting) 2/2/4 50%
Grim 2/1/3 67%
AEA1 1/2/3 33%
Mikeberserkr 1/2/3 33%
Fox 1/2/3 33%
Azuriel 0/2/2 0%
Grimweld 0/2/2 0%
Serene 0/2/2 0%
Championship match (Volume Warning):
And finally, as was tradition, we all went out for dinner afterwards:
After tourney dinner
PACT 5 – Grab a Friend, TOTAL (Two-On-Two-Action-League) Fun
In another experimental attempt to shake things up for an aged Armored Core title, it was decided that PACT 5 would be a two-on-two tournament.
On tournament day, August 1, 2009, the random selection of partners began at 1:00 PM, with the restriction that previous PACT placers would be seeded into the brackets, and they could not be paired with each other.
After the team-ups were determined, participants were given an hour to strategize and coordinate their ACs with their partners. During this time, each pair was allocated a maximum of 15 minutes on a PS2 to adjust their ACs. The pair then declared their ACs for use, and a marshal ensured PACT compliance using standard rules.
The other rules were the usual ones – banned maps as before, a random map selection for each round, a best-of-3 format for regular matches, and best-of-5 for the finals, with a 5-minute time limit.
The teams:
Leperman and Beaskiller
Nix and Goat
Maitreya and Ardjin
TwinSkies and Azuriel
Atdsutm and Arch_Angel
Clonezero and Serene
Grimweld and AEA1
Once all ACs were declared, the tournament began at 2:30 PM, putting part knowledge and team coordination to the test.
PACT 5 brought a refreshing change to the congested Last Raven scene, introducing an entirely different metagame with the 2-on-2 format. Kudos to NiX and Goat for their victory and their excellent attack combo. They proved that firepower and defense weren’t the only paths to success in a 2-on-2 match.
A salute to the Ting brothers, who performed splendidly and even managed to take down a formidable opponent. Jokes aside, their teamwork was commendable.
Ardjin deserved credit for being an outstanding partner, showcasing impressive skills and the famed Jetstream attack.
Considering the stats, it seems the Tings deserved second place, as Jin and I lucked out with byes. A lighthearted observation, of course.
The results were as follows:
NiX + Goat (11-1)
Maitreya + Ardjin (5-6)
Andrew + Mark (9-6)
AEA1 + Grimweld (3-4)
Leperman + Beastkiller (1-4)
Twin-Skies + Azuriel (0-4)
Clone + Nerese (0-4)
PACT 5 Brackets
Fortunately, PACT 5 was the first tournament to have actual match footage.
PACT 5 Match Video Playlist:
The two-on-two format highlighted the importance of synergy and teamwork rather than just individual skill. This showed in NiX and Goat’s focus-firing tactics that won them the championship.
PACT 5 worked to keep the competition alive a bit longer while being more laid back than previous tournaments. But after so many years of playing Last Raven, interest in it had naturally started waning.
Talk about another tournament was quickly floated right after PACT 5 without gaining much traction. But two and a half years later, with the impending release of the English version of Armored Core V, there was finally enough push for a last goodbye to competitive Last Raven.
Going back to basics, a classic 1-on-1 tournament was decided. The rules were mostly the same as PACT 1, but in a double-elimination format.
Unlike previous tournaments, this one was actually held in a public venue. And on February 11, 2012, the tournament commenced.
PACT VI Match Video Playlist:
Fifteen players registered for the tournament. Knowing that this might be the last one, some players were highly motivated to compete. Mjting, a relatively newer member at the time, was particularly fired up. He had practiced heavily during the time leading up to the tournament, and he took every opportunity to consult and play with previous PACT podium placers.
His efforts paid off. In the third round, he sent tournament-favorite Lord Leperman to the losers’ bracket. But he was sent to the losers bracket himself by NiX in the round after, where he had to claw his way through to face an equally determined Fox.
Coming out of the winners’ bracket with a twice-to-beat advantage was NiX. And with a hard-fought place out of the losers’ bracket was Mjting. In what seemed to be a recurring theme since PACT 3, teacher against protege faced off in the finals, yet again.
Learning and adapting from their earlier fourth-round encounter, Mjting and his RL midweight took the first two rounds in convincing fashion. But NiX, in his GL quad, made his own adjustments to take back momentum. NiX won the next three close rounds to finally take his first 1-on-1 tournament title.
With the conclusion of PACT VI, the members of Raven Republic didn’t say it out loud, but they understood that it was a farewell to Last Raven. And what a farewell it was.
In the days to follow, Raven Republic eagerly awaited Armored Core V, where there would be more adventures (and notoriety) to come. Stay tuned for our recounting of that!
Welcome back to Raven Republic’s ongoing series about Armored Core’s competitive history. In this edition, the focus is on Raven Republic itself and its own Philippine Armored Core Tournament (PACT) series. But first, a little historical context:
Armored Core in the Philippines
The Armored Core games for the PlayStation and PlayStation 2 were quite easy to find in the Philippines (because of unofficial distribution that we don’t need to talk about here). Because of this, most gamers at the time would have at least heard of Armored Core. But the game was still obscure enough that only a handful of people in any given area took the game seriously, if there were any at all. Internet penetration was low, and transportation infrastructure was (and still is) limited, so finding and meeting like-minded Armored Core players was difficult.
During Armored Core 3 was when the internet was becoming more readily accessible in the Philippines. So, it was around this time when some Filipino Ravens thought to look online for others like them. But since most English-language forums and message boards for Armored Core were based in the USA, these Filipinos joined but only blended in, not knowing that they had compatriots among them. It took until 2006, around the time of Armored Core: Last Raven, for a few Filipino members of the prominent Armored Core Online forums to find each other, and for one of them to decide to create his own site for Armored Core fans, particularly those in the Philippines.
Banner from the cjb.net site
On August 13, 2006, Grim finally launched Raven Republic with the goal of serving as a hub for Filipino Ravens. V1 of the message boards was found on one of those free create-a-forum sites (InvisionFree), complete with a free domain name hosted on cjb.net. Slowly but surely, the target audience found their way to the site by searching for “Armored Core Philippines” or by word of mouth from their own contacts and small AC playgroups. Activity in the budding community kept growing, and eventually, Grim floated the idea of meeting up in person.
The First Congregation
A shitposter in the Armored Core: Last Raven board of GameFAQs turned out to be from Manila. An RR member who also posted there was incited enough to challenge this troll in person, with other RR members in tow. From there, RR’s first official meet was organized.
On September 9, 2006, in Neo One LAN Shop at Marikina Riverbanks Mall, five RR members, many hailing from other online AC communities, gathered in person for the first time to challenge JV from GameFAQs. The RR members that came were Grim (Armored Core Online), Lord_Leperman (Raven’s Haven), NiX (Armored Core Garage), AEA1 (GameFAQs), and Cabs. Few as they were, that was already more Ravens in one place than any of them had been around.
This meeting was significant, not only because it was the first, but because it was there, over pizza after the games, that the idea of organizing a local Armored Core tournament was first discussed. And over the succeeding weeks, more and more Ravens found their way to the community.
Doom Trigger (DT), who had previously hosted a few small fighting game tournaments, generously offered his home as the venue.
The basic format was adapted from Master of California, while the list of AC parts to ban were refined from existing lists from Western forums. AC designs were to be submitted beforehand to a non-participant to check for regulation compliance. Specific rules were as follows:
Game: Armored Core: Last Raven
Single elimination. Random pairings on tournament day.
One AC entry per contestant.
Best of three rounds, 5 minutes per round.
Best of five rounds, 5 minutes per round for the finals.
Round loser can choose the next map.
Match Rules:
A ring out counts as a loss.
A double KO is a draw. The round will be considered null and will be repeated.
When both ACs are out of ammo and any other means of lowering their opponent’s AP, the AC with the higher AP automatically gets the win, whether time has run out or not.
Conceding rounds is allowed.
Map Pool:
Advanced Base
AC Garage
Crest Base
Military District
Marine Base
Born City
Banned Parts:
UA core with hangers
Lemur2 arms + left arm gun or shield (including hangered left guns)
Loris arms + left arm gun or shield (including hangered left guns)
TP boosters
Pegasus back part
all ECM pods
ROE2 ammo extensions
H3 handgun
HP handgun in the hangers
ROC4 pulse rifle in the hangers
Any GameSharked or Action Replayed files (or hacked files of any kind)
On October 28, 2006, participants came from all over the metro and nearby provinces to make the trip to Quezon City. A few had to carpool or rendezvous at designated locations. Eager volunteers had already arrived early to help with preparations. And when everyone had arrived, the tournament finally began.
The event lasted the entire day, with DT even sponsoring the food for both guests and participants. And as the matches continued to be played, four semi-finalists emerged: NiX in a midweight sniper, Twin-Skies in a heavy GL quad, Lord_Leperman in a heavy biped, and Beastkiller in a heavy tank. NiX eliminated Twin-Skies in a close series, and Lord_Leperman eliminated Beastkiller. Finally, it was down to NiX and Lord_Leperman for the championship.
After the dust had settled, Lord_Leperman came out on top and was the champion of the very first PACT.
PACT 1 BracketsPACT 1 Rankers
PACK 2 – PalPACT! You don’t need power to have fun
Before we start, a little Filipino lesson for everyone: palpak (păl′păk″) – a colloquial Filipino word meaning failure, badly done, thwarted effort. Don’t worry, it will make sense after a while.
After a few months, and a Christmas party thrown in between, members couldn’t get enough AC battles and friendship. Almost every holiday since PACT 1 was spent hanging out with RR members for a round of AC, or just to chill. Eventually another rumbling of PACT was being talked about among members.
After a long discussion and plenty of adjustments, PACT II was settled to take place on 19 May 2007, a little more than 6 months from the first tournament, and again at DT’s place.
Around 18 people signed up, and after tons of organizing, carpool planning, and equipment checks, the day finally arrived. Everyone had been practicing hard, hyped for potential runbacks. Plenty of new faces showed up too. Most notably, a crew from the Cavite province south of Manila made plans to attend and participate after hearing about the success of the first tournament.
On the day itself, everything was smooth and on schedule. TVs, chairs, and tables were set up immediately. And finally, the Playstation 2s were plugged in. Then there was a very loud pop, and DT’s house lost power. Something smelled burnt.
All the excitement disappeared. Plugging in the second PS2 not only overloaded the house’s power supply, it also caused a blackout for the whole block.
But it wasn’t a total loss. The participants instead used the time to laugh about the situation and bond over common hobbies aside from Armored Core. There was talk of making a doujin AC manga, or what if AC was set in the Philippines, and other wild tangents. People stayed until after having pizza for dinner, which was a long time considering it wasn’t spent playing video games.
RR going delulu, pretending to play AC without any electricity
PACT 2.1 – The Redemption
Right after the unfortunate circumstances of the previous event, the group was highly motivated to organize another real tournament. After numerous forum posts and planning, PACT 2.1 was set for June 16, 2007 at NiX’s home.
The spot at NiX’s
Though there were fewer attendees than the previous gatherings, this allowed for a more intimate event. DT entrusted his equipment even though he couldn’t attend, and AEA1 was still dying to compete despite coming from a 36-hour shift. New participant Sforza, who was also relatively new to Armored Core, spent the month prior training with the defending PACT champion. A few others who missed the first tournament also joined.
Rules were mostly the same as the previous tournament.
NiX and Lord_Leperman faced off in the finals again. And again, Lord_Leperman took it all the way with his aerial lightweight AC.
And what was the prize for making it back to the mountaintop? A McChicken sandwich.
NiX presents The McPrize.
PACT 3 – Battle Arena Style
For the third PACT, the consensus was to spice things up with a new format. Taking inspiration from FromSoft’s Battle Arena 2004, the rule was to use 3 designs without repeating parts (including internals), and without repeating leg types. The hope was to force creativity in designing, and to shake up the metagame. The discussion for the tournament was largely set in this forum thread.
The tournament was set for October 27, 2007, a day removed from the anniversary of the first tournament. This time, it was held in Sforza’s house, which was to be the site of numerous RR gatherings to come.
Specific rules:
Each player must bring 3 unique ACs (up to 5 ACs, depending on whatever is decided upon for a particular tournament). Players who fail to present a complete garage will be DISQUALIFIED.
The ACs in a particular garage MUST be of varying leg types (Humanoid, RJ, Quad, Tank, Hover). Players can only have one AC per leg type (ex. Only one humanoid AC is allowed per garage). A different weight class (light, mid, heavy) does not count as a different leg type (ex. Having a light humanoid and a mid humanoid in the same garage is not allowed).
The ACs in your garage should have NO, as in ZERO, common parts EXCEPT for optional parts.
However, a particular AC may be equipped with a pair of the same weapon (ex. A KARURA for each back slot/ An R3 for each arm, etc.). BUT if one AC in a particular garage has, let’s say, a KARURA on the left back slot, other ACs in that garage can no longer equip a KARURA even for the right back slot. This still applies to hand-mounted and hangered weapons.
Players MUST switch to another AC after every round/match – For the first round of a match, the players may opt to use any AC in their respective garages. ACs that have already been used in a certain round of a particular match may no longer be used in the succeeding rounds of that match.
In the event of a fourth round in a FINALS match, the players may reuse any AC in their respective garages.
In the event of a fifth round in a FINALS match, the players may opt to use any AC that was NOT USED in the fourth round of that match.
Participants included most of the mainstays and a few newcomers. Because of the newly implemented losers’ bracket, this tournament was more drawn out than the previous two. A second meeting on November 10, 2007 had to be held to resolve the remaining matches, forcing some players to forfeit due to logistical reasons.
The results were as follows:
PACT 3 Brackets
For the finals, it was Lord_Leperman versus Sforza in a duel between master and protege. Yet again, Lord_Leperman took the championship to complete the hat trick, cementing himself as the greatest Armored Core player in the country.
PACT 3 Rankers
But aside from Armored Core, the group also held a casual Tekken 5 tournament, some retro gaming on the SNES and PlayStation, and other shenanigans.
Retro gaming when it was retro
And now, exactly 17 years later since its founding, Raven Republic looks back fondly on these past events that had become a regular part of the members’ lives.
Editor’s note: There’s still more to this story leading up to present day and Armored Core 6, but as you can see this post has run rather long… so stay tuned for PACT IV and beyond in the next one!