That Doom Guy's page

http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1504/15040578/2426681-titanfall titansize.png

When I started this little thread I didn't think I would get many responses. Pleasant surprise this is! The link I have above is the size I am considering for a mech based Starfinder campaign. The idea is to have the party spend the lower levels, like 1-5, proving themselves worthy of becoming Pilots for Titans (the types of mechs in the picture.) Just wanted a more experienced opinion(s) on the idea.

In one D&D campaign world I ran, the party came upon an arsenal of golem 'mechs' of various kinds, along with a collection of talismans. Each talisman was keyed to one specific golem (not golem type). Whoever wore the talisman and spoke the correct command word while touching the golem would be magically absorbed into the golem and assume control over it, like a Synthesist Summoner does with their eidolon. The "golem armors" were considered magic items as well as constructs.

The physical body of the 'pilot' was tucked away in a pocket dimension inside the golem, while the pilot took spiritual possession of the golem. There were likely certain conditions and game effects which could force the golem to eject the pilot as well, but we never really explored that aspect of it.

The requirements of the talisman, command word, and physical contact were all security measures to prevent these war machines from being captured and used against their creators, although the talisman itself could be stolen if the owner did not take sufficient precautions. It was never decided what would happen if a talisman were destroyed or damaged.

Our party also Awakened a couple of them, which was pretty cool too.

You raise a good point, security. Something like a neural link between pilot and mech would have to be established as a rule to prevent a mech from being stolen in a Science-Fantasy setting. Also, did you keep any of those golems, because that sounded like a pretty amazing asset to the party.

Due to magic, some ride mechs, others grow giant and wear mech-like battle suits.

Good point. There might even be species that big without using magic to grow, so either they have no mechs or their mechs are gargantuan.

Here are a few ideas and things that can balance the types of mechs were talking about. (For reference to the rest of this Google "Titanfall Titan Height.)

1. Not all mechs are equal. I will use Titanfall 2 for an example, a standard issue Titan has few defense systems and limited A.I. while Vanguard Class Titans are equipped with regenerative energy shields and A.I. so advanced they are legally alive. Make it so that player characters don't have a Vanguard Class titan off the bat.

2. A mech might be big and scary, but it is still limited. A fast moving rogue with a grenade launcher, a powerful psionic attack, a well placed rocket, or just sheer overwhelming gunfire could cripple a mech of the size were talking about. Bigger mechs would be like Archmage Variel said epic/mythic level.

3. Take your fights to the z-axis. If your adding mechs, make the area in which you encounter said mech peppered with areas that the mech cannot reach and high and low points that characters can climb to put pressure on the mech with gunfire. If a character or the entire party is using a mech, don't be afraid to give them a few times that they can gun down an infantry squad. Let them let their guard down for that mech armed with an armor piercing railgun that can see them immediately because they have no cover.

4 (Bonus). Make sure that the mech is able to be customized. Not as in sheer "I can deal/take more damage", I mean if a player killed a monster and took its skull as a trophy, let them put it on the front of their mech as a way of customization. Or if they are now favored by a faction, let them emblazon the factions symbol, have some of the mech sculpted to show something like wings on the shoulder pads. This plus paintjobs and decals (think WW2 plane decals) would add depth in my opinion.

I have read that a lot of people want mechs in Starfinder. I do to. But not just any mechs. I want the kinda mechs from Titanfall 2, jumping in and out of your mech as need be. For example, a pesky rogue with a grenade is on the back of your mech. Hop out, shoot the nuisance, hop back in. Or a high value target is about to escape, and you cant very well blow him to pieces with a 40mm Cannon. Hop out shoot him in the legs and capture him. These mechs wouldn't exactly be rare, but not common, kind of "Where they need to be" kinda thing. I want to know what other people think about this.