Mech's Anyone?

[Polaris]

Greetings all,

I am wanting to add battle mechs to my game. The world the PCs come from (Terra) is still rather new to making Battle mechs, so I intend on adding disadvantages to some of the systems (in particular activation rolls to simulate the unreliability of the mech), but some worlds have been using Mechs as long as Earth has been using MBTs.

Does anyone have any Mecha made that they would be willing to share?

Thanks in advance! :)

Polaris

[BobGreenwade]

Do you have The Ultimate Vehicle? There are a few pretty decent ones in there. :)

[Lord Liaden]

Here are some samples of mecha which have been posted to these boards recently:

http://www.herogames.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=90&highlight=mech+OR+mecha

http://www.herogames.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=125&highlight=mech+OR+mecha

http://www.herogames.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2976&highlight=mech+OR+mecha

There used to be a very extensive thread on mecha on the old pre-DOS boards - many of them were for 4th Ed. HERO System, but the differences were minimal. Unfortunately, the bulk of that thread doesn't seem to have been loaded into Old Forum Threads archive yet. :(

[Lord Liaden]

There must have been some technical glitch when I tried to access the Old Forum Thread on mecha which I mentioned above - I tried later and was able to access it, although only the first page of three. Here's the link:

http://www.herogames.com/oldForum/OtherGenres/000033.html

[Polaris]

Wow, thanks guys!! :)

That is a HUGE help! :)

Polaris

[Mastermind]

Anyone ever thought of doing Battletech HERO?

[TheEmerged]

Funny you should mention that, Mastermind. My players and I were discussing my old "Alternate History Battletech" last night, and the topic of TUV came up :D

[Lord Liaden]

Thanks to input from resident programming ace Dan Simon, I was able to find the second and third pages of the "Sample Mecha" thread:

http://www.herogames.com/oldForum/OtherGenres/000033-2.html

http://www.herogames.com/oldForum/OtherGenres/000033-3.html

[BobGreenwade]

Originally posted by Mastermind
Anyone ever thought of doing Battletech HERO? I've been hoping for an opportunity to do something like this for the new Hero Universe (as something in the mid-fourth millennium). Sadly, I don't think Steve would be willing to do, based on a comment he's made about Spacer's Toolkit having "the closest thing to a mech you'll ever see in the Hero Universe" (not necessarily an exact quote).

[Polaris]

Bob,

Steve might not be interested in publishing a book about Mecha hero (I am unsure if he would be interested or not), but perhaps if you did a DH article, it might (depending upon the reaction) demonstrate enough interest for an ebook?

It is just a thought...:) I think businesses can be persuaded by market interest.

Polaris

[NuSoardGraphite]

There does tend to be a lot more people around here asking about mecha since the release of the FREd. Maybe because Mekton is all but dead....

[BobGreenwade]

Originally posted by Polaris
Bob,

Steve might not be interested in publishing a book about Mecha hero (I am unsure if he would be interested or not), but perhaps if you did a DH article, it might (depending upon the reaction) demonstrate enough interest for an ebook?

It is just a thought...:) I think businesses can be persuaded by market interest. It probably could, but I'd prefer to write it as a future setting than a genre book. I'd certainly jump at the chance to write a 5th-ed redux of Robot Warriors (as a Star Hero subgenre book) -- especially since The Ultimate Vehicle actually started life as The Ultimate Giant Robot -- but given the choice I'd like to cover it as a Star Hero setting.

[Logan D]

Originally posted by NuSoardGraphite
There does tend to be a lot more people around here asking about mecha since the release of the FREd. Maybe because Mekton is all but dead....

If that's the case, I am very saddened. I always liked that game system. Thought it was truly cool. Quite possibly the best dedicated anime mecha game ever made. I've been wanting to get a copy of the Mekton Zeta and Mekton Zeta Plus books for some time now. A friend of mine ran a variant of the Mospeada universe with that system and the story and action just rocked.

Granted, Hero does a fine job with mecha. But it's a general toolkit where you have to do more work to come up with an interpretation on effects. My friend Corey once took me step by step through the design process he went through in coming up with his version of the Armo Fighter/Diver/Soldier from Mospeada and it was like watching the factory make the damn thing almost. Sometimes I _like_ fiddly detail like that. But thankfully it never got in the way of actual gameplay. The design process was complex, but the gameplay was lightning fast by comparison. Rather like Hero, come to think of it.

Any idea as to what's going on with the Mekton fan community, if any?

[Polaris]

Logan,

Mekton rules can be found online for free (I am not sure of the URL, but I found it from a google search on Mecha)... so I know that Mekton is still around.

Polaris

[NuSoardGraphite]

Originally posted by Logan D


Any idea as to what's going on with the Mekton fan community, if any?

There is a small fan community presence on the Web. Nothing like what can be found for WOD or D&D or even compared to Hero, but its there. If you go to the R-Talisorian site, they have a sparsely travelled BBS you can post on.

The next "Big Thing" from RTG is the Gundam RPG thats supposed to be released soon. Apparently it in editing right now. Hopefully that'll breathe some new life into the old fella...

[Melchior777]

I think part of the reason for the recent popularity in Mech games is Microsofts Mechwarrior computer games. Plus the resurgence of BattleTech in the form of the Mechwarrior: Dark Age clix game. I'm currently working on converting seveal of the mech's to Hero. Also, the Kazai 5 book that's available for download from the e-books section of this site does a good job with mechs.

[NuSoardGraphite]

Actualy, I believe is more due to the growing popularity of Anime in the West. Shows like Gundam Wing and Evangelion being extremely popular here.

[Melchior777]

True, but Macross (Robotech), Transformers, and the Battletech board game have been around for ages. Why are people only now starting to pick them up?

[NuSoardGraphite]

Originally posted by Melchior777
True, but Macross (Robotech), Transformers, and the Battletech board game have been around for ages. Why are people only now starting to pick them up?

Actually, there was a time when Mecha-type RPG's were popular, most especially Robotech and the aforementioned Battletech. There was also Mekton, Riftsand a little-known game called Mecha!. There was even a magazine dedicated specifically to Mecha Roleplaying called Mecha Press which lasted for several years.

This was because of the generation of roleplayers who grew up on tv animation like Robotech, Transformers and Voltron. After those shows were gone, and there were no more shows like them on TV, interest in Mecha roleplaying waned. Now that Anime is back with a vengence, and Mecha are at the forefront of that wave, Mecha roleplaying is once again being focussed upon by the industry. (there's GURPS Mecha, Big Robots-Cool Starships for BESM, TUV-which includes Mecha for Hero and RTG is preparing to release their Gundam RPG for Mekton)

The popularity of mecha videogames may have had a little something to do with it (games like Mech Warrior and Amored Core being extremely popular) but mostly its due to the increased influence of Anime on Pop culture in the U.S. since the late 90's

[NuSoardGraphite]

Oh, and lets not forget that the D20 Mecha book just came out recently. I saw it when I bought my copy of Ninja Hero a few weeks back.

[Logan D]

Uhm... How can D20 Mecha be out yet alreay? I'm one of the artists on that book and the deadline isn't even until next week on that... :eek:

[MarkusDark]

Originally posted by Logan D
Uhm... How can D20 Mecha be out yet alreay? I'm one of the artists on that book and the deadline isn't even until next week on that... :eek:

Another company beat your company to it? I'd go and check, Logan. That would SUUUUUCK!

[Logan D]

Well, the company I'm doing the art for is Guardians of Order. The people who do SAS and BESM.

[MarkusDark]

I see that there are places that are taking orders for GOO's d20 Mecha already. Dunno if these are 'pre sales' or not. Amazon.com says it was released in May 2003. You might wanna call someone. Maybe yer working on a suppliment or a revamp...

Dream Pod 9 also offers a d20 Mecha Compandium - it is their first d20 gaming product. www.dreampod9.com and it seems to be 'almost through its second printing'.

[NuSoardGraphite]

There is indeed a mecha book for D20 out. (Damn that OGL!)

Don't know who produced it, as I don't play D20, but anything with mecha on the cover catches my eye and it happened to be sitting right next to the Hero books on the shelf.

[Polaris]

GoO's book "d20 Mecha" has been pushed back to an "early August" release. While preparing the book, they worked with another company called "Dream Pod 9", who was interested in converting all of their mecha into d20. DP9 used the mecha creation system devised by GoO, and wrote a book called "d20 Mecha Compendium". Originally, the two books were to be released at about the same time, but when GoO kept postponing the release of d20 Mecha, DP9 decided to proceed with the release of the d20 Mecha Compendium.

In essence, we have the sourcebook (the compendium) out months before the core book (d20 mecha).

Polaris

[NuSoardGraphite]

Ah yes. The Mecha Compendium. That was it. Yeah, it had a bunch of DP9 stuff in it like Heavy Gear and Jovian Chronicles mecha...

[comfortmd]

if you want, mekton has some good rules for mechs, and for bubblegum crisis rules / conversions into hero system look for the "bubblegum crisis : Before and after" which contains guidelines for converting bubblegum crisis/interlock/fuzion mechs and characters into hero and vice versa

[NuSoardGraphite]

Originally posted by comfortmd
if you want, mekton has some good rules for mechs, and for bubblegum crisis rules / conversions into hero system look for the "bubblegum crisis : Before and after" which contains guidelines for converting bubblegum crisis/interlock/fuzion mechs and characters into hero and vice versa

Some of us here are familiar with Mekton.

Interlock is my second favorite game system, after Hero. The BGC Rpg came out during the "Fuzion" phase of Hero and RTG (and RTG is still supporting it somewhat) and a lot of us old-timers have it (or at least, the Fuzion version of Champions: The New Millenium)

I converted the Hardsuits and Motoslaves over to Hero 4th edition years ago :)

[Polaris]

Greetings,

When I began role playing years ago, I played in TSR's Marvel game and WEG's Star Wars. When I was introduced to Fuzion, i really liked it and that system is what brought me over to playing Champions. If Mekton (or some other mecha game) is in Fuzion, then converting it should be very easy (is it in Fuzion, or did I misunderstand?)

I am going to go out today or tomorrow and see if I can get Spacer's Toolkit. If it as good as people are saying, then it may be what I have been looking for.

Thanks again everyone for your help!
Polaris

[NuSoardGraphite]

Originally posted by Polaris


When I began role playing years ago, I played in TSR's Marvel game and WEG's Star Wars. When I was introduced to Fuzion, i really liked it and that system is what brought me over to playing Champions. If Mekton (or some other mecha game) is in Fuzion, then converting it should be very easy (is it in Fuzion, or did I misunderstand?)

Polaris

Actualy, Mekton is part of the Interlock System from R-Talisorian games (which includes Cyberpunk 2020)

Fuzion was a mixture of Hero and Interlock when Hero and RTG entered into a brief partnership a few years back. Bubblegum Crisis was the first game released which used the Fuzion rules. They were made to go hand in hand with the Mecha construction rules in Mekton (well, sorta).

[BobGreenwade]

Originally posted by Polaris
Greetings,

When I began role playing years ago, I played in TSR's Marvel game and WEG's Star Wars. When I was introduced to Fuzion, i really liked it and that system is what brought me over to playing Champions. If Mekton (or some other mecha game) is in Fuzion, then converting it should be very easy (is it in Fuzion, or did I misunderstand?)

I am going to go out today or tomorrow and see if I can get Spacer's Toolkit. If it as good as people are saying, then it may be what I have been looking for.

Thanks again everyone for your help!
Polaris The Mekton system is indeed one of the influences in Fuzion. The "default" vehicle plug-in, in fact, is almost directly out of Mekton, though a bit hard to translate into Hero.

And be warned that the Spacer's Toolkit contains exactly one mech, and even that's debatable (Steve has called it, to paraphrase only slightly, "the closest thing the Hero Universe will ever have to a mech"). It has many other wonderful devices from medical treatments to starships, but only one ground vehicle with legs.

[comfortmd]

i've got a star hero game i am running, hard sf, but the players wanted mechs, so i went and spent three days working out vehicle size / payload options, equipment optionsa, and carryable / mountable weapons. Works out pretty well, mechs as small as a human to sizes like a small battleship

[NuSoardGraphite]

Hmm...PA sized to Uber-Mecha. Sounds cool.

Let me know how it works out for ya.