u/Aurora_Whale

I... I don't know where to start.

I just remember the good old days, you know? When we made fanfics, we reviewed, and the review section weren't filled with so many bots and scammers.

I just checked and the last official update from the dev team was more than a year ago. September of 2025.

I remember being so excited to read a new fic, or leave a good review. I don't know if it's me or the fandoms I'm in, but it feels like FFnet is slowly fading.

Or perhaps this is a biased perspective of it, and I just miss the simpler times when I was living a simpler life, still going to campus and worried about exams and projects.

I like to think of it as half and half.

It just hurts to see that the dev team practically forgot, or abandoned, the site and the only thing that's holding it together is the fans and readers who desperately try to keep it alive before it gets forcibly shut down due to a lack of moderation or renewal.

It'd be nice if they at least gave a countdown or date so authors and readers can pick and choose where to migrate and move to next.

It feels... odd. Being this attached to a site, a fanfiction site at that. But I feel like this website, and the FFnet app, took a large part in making me who I am today. Seeing it slowly die, abandoned, makes me tear up a bit. Despite the meme template of the GIF and title of the post, I genuinely feel sadness for the sites and the readers.

To any authors and readers out there in FFNet, much genuine respect to you. I still read some fanfics in FFnet from time to time, as some authors only post there and not crosspost, but I realized that I, as a reader, have migrated to other websites. That being Spacebattles, and Questionable Questing for more graphic fanfictions as Spacebattles doesn't accept explicit-ish NSFW. It's fun and encourages discussion, alongside both Creative Writing fanfiction and Original Creations. Looking back, FFNet at its peak was genuinely beautiful. And the memories we made with it.

New to Gundam, but I love the Zaku. If a Zaku were to be a main character's MS, I'd love to see them as an underdog.

Source: https://www.artstation.com/artwork/Ze081N

So... yeah. I beat AC1.

First and foremost, I want to thank everyone who helped me in the last post. Thanks for the reassurance, kind words, and for telling me to relax. I took "Being a True Raven" a bit too seriously and forgot to just... enjoy playing the game.

And thanks as well for the advice of configuring my controls. Using the face pad to look around literally changed how I played the game. I went from barely clinging on to being somewhat decent. A good improvement, I say.

Just making this post because I feel like I somewhat owe it to my fellow Ravens who helped me get this far, and it's a nice ending to the other two posts of my AC1 journey, finishing this in a neat Trilogy or three-act structure.

Now for my thoughts on Armored Core 1 overall after finishing the game:

Pretty good. I can see why everyone loved it, and why it grew as a franchise. For a PS1 game, it had nice lore and worldbuilding and pretty good mechanics, especially for its time (most likely). Even now, despite my raging, frustrations, and taking the game too seriously, I had fun in the end once I just let myself enjoy playing how I want to and not how I perceived "it should be played".

So, when I actually let myself have fun, I did. I'm happy that I finished playing AC1 with the goal of having fun and not just the goal of beating it so I can say I did.

And honestly?

I'm glad I didn't give up playing it. It makes for a good memory of a good game.

Even if I did internally rage a lot, but hey, that's part of the Armored Core fun!

Thanks for being with me in this journey--especially to those who tried, and did, help me out. I think this is where I'll stop the Reddit posts of my AC journey. I'll keep most of those experiences and memories of playing the rest to myself, as not everything has to be shared.

Stay safe and God bless!!!

I know it's stupid. Asking others whether or not I can call myself a true Raven, but... I don't know.

I just feel genuinely ashamed after making a previous post about being excited to start Armored Core 1, only to realise I can't finish and truly enjoy it--at least not for now.

I feel like I let you all down, fellow Ravens. I tried--I really did try--to play Armored Core from Armored Core 1, but I just... can't. I know it's a skill issue, that the controls take time getting used to and that it's supposed to be a challenge, but instead of having fun, I just get frustrated and feel... stressed? Bad? Pissed? Just generally not having fun.

It sucks too, because I feel like a quitter for deciding that AC1 isn't for me after a day of playing it (though, I got far-ish? I decided that it isn't for me during the Chrome mission in space where I had to deliver a container).

What I do know and understand is that it's genuinely a good game. The worldbuilding of AC1, as well as its gameplay, show clearly why it's an amazing game for its time, possibly even now, but some part of me is just saying that it doesn't want to play this game.

I know it's a stupid, and probably weird, thing to ask people on the internet about this, but if I started from Armored Core 3 onwards, can I still call myself a True Raven and Armored Core fan?

Can I still call myself, and be considered by you Ravens, a True Raven that too flew?

Update:

After taking some time to chill and actually think about why I felt this way, I think I can kind of understand why I felt this way.

(Rambling and Self-Reflection Incoming. Just a warning, haha.)

Armored Core 1 is probably the first single-player game that I decided, or realised, I can't finish because of a skill issue. Not because I wasn't interested or that it was a tech issue, or that the game was just bad.

I can easily call myself a Mass Effect fan--I finished all three. I can also call myself a Halo and Dishonored fan as I finished the first games, and I know I can finish the rest of the franchise. Same with the Project Moon universe as I know I can finish Limbus Company and Library of Ruina, even Lobotomy Corp.

But Armored Core? I couldn't finish a game, much more its first game at that. And I guess that just kind of stuck with me. Regarding the "worthiness to be called a True Raven," after some genuine reflection, I realise that it was less about what others thought of me and more of what I thought of myself and my worthiness to call myself a true fan of the franchise, or a Raven (though, I really do appreciate the kind words, reassurances, and reminders to relax and enjoy everyone gave!).

So, yeah. I guess being skill-checked and unable to finish AC1 gave me a life experience, and marks as the very first game I genuinely can't finish because I decided it was too hard, which made me conscious into wondering whether or not I was considered a worthy part of the community, both by others and moreso myself.

I guess you could say that AC1 made me reflect on myself and how I viewed experiencing a video game, as well as being a part of its franchise.

Everyone's words really did help, from the kind ones to the more blunt ones.

Now, I'll just... enjoy playing for the sake of enjoying the gameplay and story. Which is oddly a weird, yet cathartic thing to say since I've done that before, but now I'm rediscovering (and re-practicing) that feeling, goal and practice after realising that I played games a bit too competitively and took being part of a fandom and community too seriously and how I looked at experiencing the "true" way on how to experience to play video games.

Kind of weird how I put this in a comment section, but I just wanted to put this out there.

Thanks for the kind words, advices, and reassurances, Ravens.

Stay safe and God bless!!!

Second Update:

Tried everyone's advice to change the control settings to the face pads and it literally changed my experience.

I just reached the final level, somehow accidentally going on the Chrome path.

Thanks everyone for the help and encouragement, it truly means a lot to be part of this pretty cool community!!

Third Update:

Finished the game!

I just saw this cool fanart again of OreGairu X Pokémon, and I was just a bit curious. Any help is genuinely appreciated! Thanks in advance!

Stay safe and God bless!!!

P.S.: Here's the artist that I found the art of:

https://www.pixiv.net/en/artworks/107291216

Credits to them!

Gotta say...

This game's pretty peak. I felt like an Ace Pilot.

The entire thing took an entire afternoon. Retry and retry and retry.

I can see why people encouraged me to use the Gripen-E with the LACM, and it was pretty nice, but I eventually settled with the A-10C Thunderbolt II with the 4AGM.

The Gripen-E with the LACM dealt massive damage with a pretty good AOE, but the thing was... the way I flew felt incompatible with the weapon. After a few tries, I found out that it really does stick with the long ranged-ness of the weapon. Firing it too close doesn't stick.

Thing is, I tend to fly close to the ground and right next to ground targets. And I fly fast.

So, I eventually settled with the A-10C Thunderbolt II. The 4AGM fit well with my playstyle, and it even curves down, which helped me a lot when the lock ons were behind mountains (which were a real pain sometimes. At times it locks unto targets behind mountains when I had a better target in front of me, but I get the realism aspect that you can't just will which targets you pick. You have to make your HUD track it down).

I always cleaned up the nearest base with the TUs since they gave 1k each. Then the other base nearest to the line, which was difficult at times since I flew low, curving along the mountains, but after I ran out, I immediately rushed to the supply line as I take out any targets in between.

When I come back, I clean up what's left of the mountained base and go to the base at the west.

Now, I did pretty good, but I always kept crashing at one specific part...

That tunnel.

I know that I don't have to do it... but that voiceline of Bandog calling you an idiot for crashing, only for the others to glaze you when you come out the other end, flying through the tunnel?

Chef's kiss. I felt like an Ace Pilot. Machine gunning the Gripens inside were also nice.

Needless to say, I must have redone the mission because I kept crashing down there five times alone.

Keep in mind, this took four to five hours of my afternoon to finish.

After cleaning up the rest, I just kept taking out SAMs, tanks, and AA Machine Guns and the odd jet that flew by until I got the needed 20k.

By the time I reached it, I still had 5 minutes left in the timer, so it was just a good ol' "Mission: Survive" from there.

And trying to evade missiles while on an A-10C Thunderbolt II is a challenge, especially when out of flares.

Though, thank God I didn't crash or got blown out after I got my quota. Somehow, I blew some planes and got 25 thousand overall!

So, yeah.

Thanks to everyone who pitched in and gave advice and tips and lessons! It helped a lot!

Stay safe and God bless!!!

TLDR: I finally beat Long Day after or 4 to 5 hours of an afternoon. Must have redone the mission dozens of times. Half of the time probably because my ego won't let me not pass through the tunnel with the Gripen-Es. I eventually did and survive (a lot of times I crashed before or inside the tunnel) after coming out, got my quota, and survived with 5 minutes left on the clock. Desperately tried, and succeeded, in surviving the swarm of MiGs and other jets with the admittedly slow A-10C Thunderbolt II, and got an overall score of 25 thousand points.

I've seen people critique the lack of creativity and uniqueness of MTF Cosplays, so I'm curious!

Just a note that I'm not attacking anyone. Personally, I respect anyone cosplaying as SCP MTFs and SCP overall. It must take a decent amount of effort getting ready and preparing your outfit, plus points for role playing!

I just want to see some creative ideas from the community to hopefully share and spread around, so we can all help and inspire one another!

Here's mine:

MTF Eta-10 (“See No Evil”)
Aside from standard gear, they all wear distinct black balaclavas that have no holes. Just pitch black, not leaving themselves to look like shadowy figures. This is also to prevent any normal light from outside to seep into their clothes, preventing them from seeing visual memetic agents.

On the deeper lore side, their helmets have HUDs cover their entire face and show them an image-like representation of the solid surroundings to give them a visual, yet not direct contact. Kind of like how Army Grade Night Vision isn't actually seeing what's in front of you, but more of an image of what's in front of you. They can see it because it shines highly, like looking at a spark's brightest point.

That's just one idea of mine. Thanks for listening in, and feel free to add yours!!

God bless!!!

I was collecting all the documents and relics to get an achievement, but it seems like it didn't register for this particular one.

Which is a bit odd, since I remember collecting it as well!

Did I exit the description/examination too fast?

This kinda sucks, if I have to restart the game to do so.

I'm at the last part too, in the campsite where it says it's my last fast travel.

Any tips and all that? I just want to finish the game with all tombs raided and docs and relics finished.

Thanks in advance!

Stay safe and God bless!!!

Imagining this war, I wonder which SCPs were being used as troops to siege Ganzir.

I know every SCP broke containment, but which in particular could you see being apparent in Ganzir?

Of course this is assuming that the Armored Core 6 (AC6) Armored Cores are up to scale and size to that of a Gundam.

Usual ACs are 30 feet, which is noticably shorter than most iconic Gundams, so with this let's assume they're up to scale and size of most Gundams in terms of weaponry, tools, and armor.

Just curious!

Thanks and God bless!!!

I got the screenshot from another community, apparently from a user named "cosonelo".

Just a small note: These are subjective to our own tastes. I'm not saying I'd do better, I'm saying that there would be this change that I like.

Under the Oak Tree - Riftan slowly becoming gentler for Maxi, at least when they're alone. Not change his personality, but to be a more gentler man.

STOP. YELLING.

It would have been nice to see him take a lot of unspoken queues from her too. Like, come on, dude. You're a knight. You can sense a feint in a duel, but you can't see the obviously distressed girl when you're being demanding?!

Imagine Riftan's character arc to being a gentler man in private be like Zuko's awkward self in his redemption arc. Dorkingly awkward but he's trying his hardest.

Stepmother's Märchen - Norra being aged up a year or two, at least. The same as around Shuri. I can imagine him being a playful older brother figure to Jeremy. It also makes the age gap less weird--I know that's the point of the story. The age and social views, but still--I'd like for Norra to have been a bit older.

Instead of the ML being her stepson's best frienemy, it would be her stepson's mentor (and annoying older brother) figure, which would be quite nice.

Yeonwoo's Innocence - ...

SIKE!

Yeonwoo's Innocence is peak.

No change needed.

HAH!

GOTCHA!

Edit: Just remembered Yeonwoo's Innocence isn't an otome isekai. Sorry, I got carried away. Ignore that.

I just wanted to share peak.

1.) Aoko Aozaki (Nasuverse) - One of the strongest magi in the absurd franchise. A user of the Fifth Magic, a magic that's so powerful in pure destruction that the Goetia's (villain in the franchise which exterminated humanity) ultimate spell, with this description:

"Goetia's main Noble Phantasm is Ars Almadel Salomonis, a band of light made up of all the Magical Energy gathered from Earth and the entire era where it manifests. Having converted 3,000 years worth of Human History into heat, the lightbelt is formed by Hundreds of Millions of beams of light, each as strong as the Holy Sword wielded by the King Arthur from the Fuyuki Singularity. Said attack can also penetrate the planet, and there is nothing on the surface of the Earth that surpasses its heat value."

Is but a fraction of the Fifth Magic which she possesses.

She also iconic for just wearing a white shirt and jeans, even after becoming strong.

2.) L (Death Note) - The (Death Note) world's smartest detective who figured out Light is Kira. He was only beaten by Light since he got too close to the case, and that he needed irrefutable evidence to take Light into jail, despite him already knowing he's Kira.

Definitely not strong physically, but iconic in being one of, if not the only, person in the series to match Light's intellect and maneouvering.

He wears baggy denim jeans and a white sweater.

3.) Toji Fushiguro (Jujutsu Kaisen) - In a world of jujutsu and cursed spirits, he can demolish buildings, slaughter clans and sorcerers, and nearly killed Gojo, with his bare hands and (essentially) enchanted tools. He only didn't kill his clan because he saw them as beneath him, and not worth the effort (as it didn't benefit him).

He wears a white sweater and jogging pants.

I like these characters because it's like walking into a battlefield, and your opponent is someone that's wearing a shirt and jeans, or pajamas, whereas everyone's wearing armour, stylish outfits, and enchantments.

Beware those who don't even need to dress for war, but like they're going out for groceries.