Title: Death's Head
Author: Gideon020
Rating: M
Genre: Drama/Action
Status: Abandoned
Fandom: Worm
Pairings: None
Summary: none
Link: Spacebattles, Sufficient Velocity

Death's Head is another AU where Taylor triggers with a different power, but this time a more serious and darker story. Taylor triggers with the tinker power to build Wolfenstein tech, with the flaw being that every invention that she creates needs to prominently and visibly display the swastika. So, basically, Taylor becomes a nazi tinker, which she absolutely loathes because she knows that she can never become a hero like this, so, her goal becomes to cleanse the symbol of its previous meaning and make it her own. She becomes rather ruthless quite soon and it is really interesting to follow. Features an interesting partnership with Purity. Irregular updates, decent length and uncompleted.

 

Death's Head is looking like it could be quite good, although Taylor does seem to be acting a bit weirdly about the Nazi symbolism - not even attempting to cover the symbols with a glued on bit of card, or speaking to the Wards about it.

Definitely recommended.

 

She can't cover the symbols up. If the swastika is not completely and clearly visible, the inventions could either just dysfunction or, more likely, blow up in her face.

As to speaking to the Wards, it is rather unlikely that they would sponsor a cape who is covered head to toe with that particular symbol. Maybe they could make it work but I can understand Taylor's hesitation to go to them and risk incarceration or something.

 

Yeah, that's pretty much a copout which makes the story quite a bit less awesome. Still fun, though. And I'd take a worm fanfic wherever I get it.

 

How is it a copout? If she could just cover it up, there would be no real conflict.

 

I tried reading Death's Head a while back, but I thought that the author made the tinker tech far too easy to make. One of the drawbacks of that class of powers was thus eliminated which soured it and I stopped reading.

 

To use better phrasing: it's quite a contrived limitation that provides the story its central conflict, and is often so absurd that it hampers immersion.

 

To be fair, it's no more absurd than Leet's "If I build it again, it explodes" thing. It's contrived, certainly, but it's not like there's no precedent for things very much like it in canon.

 

Started reading Death's Hand. On one hand (get it), it's pretty cool. The writing's not amazing, but fairly solid solid - at least, enough not to detract from the story. The premise is actually awesome, all contrived notions aside. I mean, come on. Imagining Taylor going around murdering people dressed like THIS? Doesn't get more badass than that.

But on the other hand, there are some issues. For one, Taylor is way ooc. And I get that she's an angrier, darker version of herself because of her shitty power, but still - that wouldn't change her core values. Also, the reason for Taylor to start taking out the bad guys? Really pretty weak here -- to make people respect the swastika? Really? Which brings me to my other issue with the story. The weird racist undertones throughout the text and the very odd obsession with the swastika. I mean, some of the inner dialogue in this story is just bizarre.

So yeah, taking it for what it is -- it's fun. Just get ready to suspend your disbelief.

 

Head, not hand. Your pun's been murdered.

 

eh, oh well.

 

Reads more like /tg/ than /b/. Everyone knows that all fiction can be improved by the presence of SPESS MUHRINES!!!

 

It started off on a good foot, but really went off the rails about the time of Dinah's introduction. What was all of that?

I think that Gideon020 was inspired by Wolfenstein in regards to Taylor's tech, but he didn't take their tech designs exactly. It's Worm/Wolfensteinish rather than a true crossover.

 

Couldn't really get into this.

I think for me it's Taylor's character and the way she interacts with everyone. If this had started off directly at her Trigger and you got to see how Taylor's power causes her personality to turn hostile and angry, I think I would have enjoyed it a bit more. As it is, I dunno, just couldn't feel her at all.

The plot wasn't anything special either. 3/5 - it just seems like another Taylor triggers with an AU power story, albeit with something a bit more unique.