Sunday, November 23, 2025

Fic Failure Rates, 2025 Edition

We’ve reached episode 499 (1) of the Rebuild of Elmer Studios, which means that we’re on the cusp of a major anniversary. I think that this is a good time to take a look back over the Rebuild period as a whole and examine some trends and patterns across the fics we’ve covered and see what we can find. There’s a couple of interesting surprises along the way

Saturday, November 22, 2025

Episode 499 - Transformers Prime x ROBOTECH - Season 1

Episode 499: Transformers Prime x ROBOTECH - Season 1

We live on God’s face.

It’s a triple date with hate here as we feature a three-way* crossover. Having managed to miss the most important events in the world for the last decade, the Autobots send their agents to a tiny island in the South Pacific, only to find that it is home to a giant alien spaceship that they were somehow completely unaware of. And when said island is attacked by bad guys for no real reason, it’s up to the Autobots to save the day while the humans stand around and exposit. So grab your motorcycle helmet (hologram or real) and be amazed by the existence of walls for Transformers Prime x ROBOTECH - Season 1. Featuring all your favourite characters such as Random Destroid Pilot and Nameless Power Armour Guy.

*For very generous values of the number three.



Written by: Zogster and Rick R.

Sunday, October 26, 2025

Episode 498 - Shining Jewels of America, chapters 5-7

 Episode 498: Shining Jewels of America, chapters 5-7

I'm cheering for Filler Team A.

So far, Shining Jewels has given us an aggressively unlikeable protagonist, long lists of what parts everyone's Gundam is made from and demands to send OCs. That means it must be time for the tournament arc which is never completed because the fic is abandoned, and what do you know, the fic does (or doesn't) disappoint. And so as Mathias gets a creepy stalker who is still more likeable than he is, Adrian continues being an entity that exists and we all pretend to be impressed by the guy that we've never heard of before we bid a fond farewell to The Shining Jewels of America. And remember, it's not cheating if the entire system is set up to support the guy who does it.



Written by: Zogster and Rick R.

Sunday, September 28, 2025

Episode 497 - Shining Jewels of America, chapters 3-4

Episode 497: Shining Jewels of America, chapters 3-4

Were you having sex dreams about Full Frontal again?

Meet Mister and Mrs Winns. They're both veteran Gundam fighters who have built up an entertainment empire that exists entirely to benefit the pair of them. It means that they can sit back, relax and absolve themselves of all responsibly for their son being a toxic jackarse all the time. And so as they sip margaritas and foster Matthias' personal problems on a pair of complete strangers, we engage in yet another round of boring filler Gundam fights, because that's what this fic is really about. So once again it's time to get your overly long list of Gundam parts and tour recycled reader-submitted OC for another segment of Shining Jewels of America. Still 100% jewel-free, shining or otherwise



Riffers: Dan, Rebecca Bartley, Tsuneo Tateo and Rick R. Mortis

Written by: Zogster and Rick R.

Saturday, August 30, 2025

Episode 496 - Shining Jewels of America, chapters 1-2

Episode 496: Shining Jewels of America, chapters 1-2

His Gundam hit her Gundam which punched his Gundam in the Gundam before she Gudamned his Gundam with a Gumdam Gundam bacon baked beans and Gundam.

Meet Mathias Winns. He's an aggressively unlikeable jerk who is actively hostile to the people around him, carries himself with a sense of perpetual entitlement, hates the idea of other people having fun and has an unhealthy relationship with his Gundam. That's right, it's another Gundam Build Fighters fic that keeps the proud (?) traditions of those that have come before it going. It’s a fic about a trio of people who less are a team and more are in a mutually loathsome arrangement that none of them are willing to leave, but that's okay because one of them is barely there anyway. So it's time to deliberately sabotage your teammates and wrestle an alligator* for the first part of The Shining Jewels of America.

*Sadly this does not happen



Riffers: Dan, Rebecca Bartley, Tsuneo Tateo and Rick R. Mortis

Written by: Zogster and Rick R.

Sunday, August 3, 2025

Episode 495 - Guns and Roses, chapters 8-11

Episode 495: Guns and Roses, chapters 8-11

You're in the middle of a citywide gang war, but cake is what's important

In this exciting portion of Guns and Roses, Ambrose Leigh Rivera DeFizz sends out birthday invites and tries to appeal to the better nature of an obviously unstable vengeance-fuelled madman. She also has a dramatic confrontation with her ex, a moment that is completely undercut by our having no clue at all who he is nor having any real reason to care. On top of that the boss also has a confrontation with his ex that we don't know or care about either, so at least the fic is giving us the option which is nice, I guess. So it’s time to throw a party and threaten an innocent bystander with a gun for the final chunk of Guns and Roses. This is the improved version!



Riffers: Dan, Rebecca Bartley, Tsuneo Tateo and Rick R. Mortis

Written by: Zogster and Rick R.

Sunday, July 27, 2025

Episode 494 - Guns and Roses, chapters 5-7

Episode 494: Guns and Roses, chapters 5-7

I can feel a good old ‘Suck it up, Princess’ coming on.

The Spectres have launched a devastating attack on the Saints and have taken control of half of Steelport. In response to this threat, the Boss continues to make kissy faces at Amber while she infodumps her entire life story and plays a pointless guessing game. That right, it's time for more of this, and the fic is not going to hold back in giving you more than you could have ever wanted of the world's two dumbest and horniest people staring blankly at each other while regurgitating text. I mean, there might be some other stuff going on, but none of it actually matters because it's not them. So get your RC possessor, your stupid prototype gun and chunky block exposition for the second part of Guns and Roses. It contains all you need to know about Venezuela!*

*It does not.


Riffers: Dan, Rebecca Bartley, Tsuneo Tateo and Rick R. Mortis

Written by: Zogster and Rick R.