Star Blazers Lambda mecha design

From Star Blazers/Yamato fan club magazine Vol. 7, May 2020

Innovative mecha design from a game of catch between Junichiro Tamamori and Ryuko Azuma

Anti-Seireness fleet NerfThis

A fleet organized to counter Seireness. The name Nerfdis comes from the gamer slang “Nerf This!” meaning a “I dare you to weaken this.” Each battleship is equipped with a space-time crystal in its core ship, which functions in a way that follows the characteristic of its Topness operator.

The mecha designs shown here are from Mr. Tamamori’s construction stage; fine adjustments and changes may occur in the drawing.

Mark 01 Nelson Ship (operator: Nina Nelson)

Equipped with a large number of drones called Second Sight, which are the eyes and ears of the fleet. By processing and sharing data received from Second Sight, the accuracy of the fleet is greatly increased. Mark 01 has the role of the fleet’s tactical commander.

Mark 02 Missouri Ship (operator: Laine Missouri)

The fastest speedster of the fleet. Its armor is thin, but it evades attacks with a space jump called a Disjunct. Special metal needles called Bind Needles pierce 3-dimensional space and attach to the enemy Seireness.

Mark 03 Richelieu Ship (operator: Hugo Richileu)

Flanker. Equipped with a large number of drones called Thundercloud that can emit a powerful electric shock. Thundercloud can also be retained to fire lightning bolts like a Wave-Motion Gun.

Mark 04 Fraser Ship (operator: Marina Fraser)

Generates a large ice flower called Frost Aster, a shield that can divide the enemy and defend against attacks. It can also switch modes to freeze approaching enemies with a freezer beam. Used as a shield for battleships deployed on the front line.

Mark 05 Mejider Ship (operator: Aisha Mejider)

Healer. Has the role of repairing fleet damage. Damage is scanned and repair materials are instantly released from numerous launch pads. Its 3D printer gun can also generate ribbons that tear up approaching enemies.

Mark 06 Yamato Ship (operator: Yu Yamato)

Equipped with a Wave-Motion Gun, giving it the strongest firepower in the fleet. Firing preparations for the Wave Gun take some time, and it specializes in destruction over a wide area (such as giant Seireness wormholes). Firing the gun can also greatly damage Yu.

Mark 07 Aegis Ship (operator: Linne Aegis)

Performs a counter-function against Seireness’ expanding gravitational fields. Fires a micro black hole bullet that disables an enemy gravity field. It acts as a shield for the fleet, and particularly stands out in collaboration with Yu’s Mark 06.











Design Materials Collection

Featuring Junichiro Tamamori’s design materials

From the manga paperbacks

NerfThis Core ship

This is the unit at the heart of each ship that Yu and the rest of the Topness pilots board. They contain Space-Time Crystals and function according to the characteristics of the Topness on board.

Junichiro Tamamori comment

The first challenge I faced in designing this model was to make it both a “one-seater” and a “space battleship.” It is based on the design that the Topness pilots created in the Star Sailor game using their personal preferences. The core ship is the result of our thinking that a common mechanism prepared by the “adult side” is necessary. It is an entity that connects the an individual person to a battleship tens or hundreds of meters in length.

NerfThis MARK 1 (Nelson ship)

This ship is equipped with a number of Second Sight drone systems that serve as the eyes and ears of the fleet. By processing the information coming from Second Sight and sharing the markers, the fleet’s hit rate is dramatically increased. It is the operational command center of the fleet that produces tactics.

Pilot: Nina Nelson, leader

Nina Nelson is the leader of the NerfThis team, and she is in charge of creating the NerfThis strategy based on information coming from the Second Sight drones. Information and strategies are quickly shared with the fleet. Sinking the Mark 1, the eyes and ears of the fleet, will directly lead to the annihilation of the fleet.

Junichiro Tamamori comment

The concept for this is the “Dream Whale” that Nina promised Yu she would go to the aquarium to see with him. I used images of airships and tankers for the design, but following Mr. Azuma’s idea, we decided to proceed with a more specific whale shape. I gave it the stateliness of England after the industrial revolution.

NerfThis MARK 2 (Missouri ship)

The fastest speedster in the fleet. Its armor is thin, but it can evade attacks using disjunct (a space jump). Special metal needles called Bind Needles can pierce three-dimensional space and spear the enemy Seireness.

Pilot: Laine Missouri, attacker

A metal “Bind Needle” that pierces three-dimensional space, attacking Seireness and taking away their freedom of movement. The Bind Needle can also be made to grow and tear apart Seireness that have been speared. Laine can also use the “Disjunct” space jump to get behind enemies and avoid their attacks. It’s a front-line fighter and the most maneuverable ship in the fleet.

Junichiro Tamamori comment

The image was of a traditional Polynesian canoe, a catamaran, as a highly maneuverable spaceship. I wasn’t able to come up with a concrete idea of how cool this ship would be. However, a unique idea that came out of the exchange of designs with Mr. Azuma was a trigger for me, and we were able to solidify the direction.

NerfThis MARK 3 (Richelieu ship)

This flanker fights on the front lines with the Mark 2. It is equipped with a number of Thunderstorm drones that can emit powerful electric shocks. The Thunderstorm can also be stowed to fire the Lightning Bolt like a Wave-Motion Gun.

Pilot: Hugo Richelieu, flanker

Equipped with the Thunderstorm attack drone. It attacks the Seireness with static electricity emitted from metallic smoke. The metallic smoke is effective for a certain period of time, so it can not only attack, but also prevent enemies from advancing. It can also store up Thunderstorms and unleash a powerful Lightning bolt.

Junichiro Tamamori comment

This design was difficult until the end. The theme I was given was “Thunder God.” The “drums” of the god of thunder are strung around the ship. The “skull” was presented by Mr. Azuma at the end, a monster or a battleship. In the end, it became a ship of artistic power with the appearance of a “ghost ship” based on a French galleon. It is my personal favorite.

NerfThis MARK 4 (Fraser ship)

Frost Aster is a large ice flower that can be used to divide enemies and defend against enemy attacks. By switching modes, you can use the freeze blaster to freeze approaching enemies. It is also a shield for battleships deployed on the front line.

Pilot: Marina Fraser, ground control

Although it doesn’t have much offensive power, the Mark 4’s Frost Aster can temporarily prevent Seireness from attacking, and it can also divide enemies to focus an attack. The Freeze Blaster, a melee attack, can freeze approaching Seireness. Together with the Mark 2 and Mark 3, it acts as a shield on the front line.

Junichiro Tamamori comment

The motif is a kayak of the Arctic Circle Inuit. It is equipped with a cantilevered outrigger. In the sense that each ship is given a role in the world of the game, it’s easy to make each ship unique. However, I had a hard time creating a certain size and difference from the Mark 2, which has the same catamaran.

NerfThis MARK 5 (Mezedier ship)

Healer of damage for the fleet. It can scan for damage and unleash a myriad of repair materials to provide first aid to battleships. It can also create ribbons with a 3D printer cannon to tear apart approaching enemies.

Pilot: Aisha Mezedier, healer

Repairs damaged ships with the First Aider, a 3D printer gun that provides temporary first aid. The repaired ship can then return to operational activities. The “Colored Ribbon” melee attack can tear apart approaching Seirenes.

Junichiro Tamamori comment

A “healing” ship. Mr. Azuma’s original idea had a circle of angels on it. I went in the direction of an ambulance, but I projected an image of a bearded bear because of the sea. It looks like a capybara, and I think its humorousness will help heal people in the harsh battlefield. It also has an image of a rescue helicopter. This was difficult to produce.

NerfThis MARK 6 (Yamato ship)

This rear-guard attacker is equipped with a Wave-Motion Gun, the most powerful weapon in the fleet. It takes time to prepare for firing and is mainly used to destroy Arias (the giant seireness that open worm holes). Firing the gun also inflicts a lot of damage on Yu.

Pilot: Yu Yamato, long range attacker

A specialized anti-Aria ship, the Mark 6 boasts the most powerful firepower in the fleet and destroys Arias with its super-powerful Wave Motion-Gun. The gun needs to be filled with energy to fire, so it can’t fire continuously. In addition, the Mark 7 must cancel the Seireness’ song (gravity shield) for the Mark 6 to be able to hit them.

Junichiro Tamamori comment

This is a space battleship version of the battleship Yamato.

What is the appropriate form for this work? I found a hint while I was touring the city of Kure. It is often referred to as the “large cannon principle.” In order to turn an oft-ridiculed negative element into a plus, the range of the vector expands outward. This concept goes back to a time before the battleship Yamato, to the Kongo and Mikasa types.

Also, what is the significance of the “triple cannon” that does not need to be used in a battle against the Seireness? I’ve run out of words, so I’ll continue this story another time.

NerfThis MARK 7 (Aegis ship)

Functions as a counter to the Seireness, which deploy a gravitational field. The micro black hole projectiles fired by the Mark 7 chip away at the enemy’s gravity field. The Mark 7 is the shield of the fleet, and works in close cooperation with the Mark 6, piloted by Yu.

Pilot: Linne Aegis, tank

The shield of the fleet, Mark 7 cancels the Seireness’ song (gravity shield). The Mark 7’s main job is to generate gravity shields to protect the rear guard. It also pushes the front line and brings the Mark 6 into range.

Junichiro Tamamori comment

This was the first ship I designed, and I determined its shape by asking, “What does this character think about?” Mr. Azuma answered the question immediately. Even before he started writing, the characters were alive.

I’ve been trying to move closer toward hard science fiction. Since “there is no up or down in space,” it gave us a chance to change its direction, thinking it could exist as a lens to look into a story world beyond imagination. I tried to make it look like a singer on a stage from any angle.

NerfThis Basic Tactics

The seven ships of NerfThis, from Mark 1 to Mark 7, each have their own unique characteristics. Here the author, Ryuko Azuma, will explain the basic tactics of NerfThis, and the abilities and roles of each ship.

Azuma’s Commentary

Conventional fleet warfare is based on a system of command similar to that of a football game. Based on the signs given by the coach, a formation is made and the game is played. However, NerfThis’ battles are like soccer. There is a general strategy, but each individual’s decision determines the battlefield.

Nina, the Leader, produces tactics based on the information that comes in as the battle progresses. Each ship has its own unique abilities and performance, but they must work together as a team to defeat the Seireness. In addition, inspiration on the battlefield is very important.

In Lambda‘s battle rules, the victory condition is “Yu shoots the Wave-Motion Gun.” NerfThis’ goal is to get Yu into a situation where he can fire. On the other hand, the basic rule for Seireness is to prevent Yu from firing it.


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