Building mechs is really simple. Much simpler than SF characters. Would you want it to be as complex as making characters? I'm sure it could be made so, though it might take more than half of one book.
The numbers treadmill is built into SF though, and removing it would take much more than that.
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I do think there should probably be more options you unlock as you get higher levels rather than just everything being available at level 1 but cost scaling. That said I actually like basics of building mechs so far(as said, I'd rather have them not be as complex as creating characters)
Building mechs is boring, lacks flavor, feels like a numbers treadmill (which might just be a deeper problem with the game), and also is too much like homework.
Can you provide examples of why you think this is as opposed to simply throwing out some impressions?
I'm not saying your feelings on the matter aren't valid but providing a little more information would be helpful.
It be cool to offer options for different mech materials. Biotech mechs, magic hybrid mechs, necrotech mechs, and even more fantastic options. Also manufacturer modifications.
Example: This mech was made in the celestial HEAVENS and was designed to kill demons! Made by Seventh Heaven, LLC. Sponsored by the drink, Paladin's Smite.
This could easily be done as a template that offers a few benefits here and there, with some vulnerability trade offs.
I also agree there should be more options as you unlock at higher levels. Let these options have level prerequisites.
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I do think there should probably be more options you unlock as you get higher levels rather than just everything being available at level 1 but cost scaling. That said I actually like basics of building mechs so far(as said, I'd rather have them not be as complex as creating characters)
I agree. Something like 'You can't equip a gravity cannon to a mech less than tier 5'. So there can be some options with more oomph that you're looking forward to grab if you're playing a campaign with upgradable mechs.
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Agreed. The existing mech rules make them look like their capabilities stay identical from 1-20, which is both not very exciting or fun, nor does it match how everything else is designed (classes get much more in the way of fancy abilities as they rise in level).
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I made a mech using the rules, will post the full work through (I'm sure there's a ton of errors, especially when the half point values are considered)(Also, sorry for the poor formatting, forums and all)
Here's my practice Mech, a tier 2 mech I intend to insert as an encounter in my Aeon Throne game, the Azlanti Pacification Frame.
Azlanti Pacification Frame:
Huge Quadruped Skirmisher Mecha
HP: 37 SP: 9 Speed: 70ft (ground)
EAC: 17 KAC: 20 Fort: +5 Ref: +5
Strength Mod: +4
Power Core: Eternal Aeon Core MK 1 –
PP Gain Rate: 1 Maximum PP: 9 Initial PP: 4
Special: Once per round, an operator can spend an unused spell slot to grant the mech a number of power points equal to half the spell slot’s level, rounded down.
Weapons:
Weapon Range Damage Location Capacity Critical Special
Plasma Rifle 100ft. 2d6+2 E&F Torso 10 Wound Line
Swordwhip Melee 1d8+6 S/1d8+6 S&F Arm - - / burn Whip Mode
Auxiliary Systems: Ammo Reserve (+2 reloads for all weapons), Plow Plating (ignore difficult terrain, +2 for bull rush [2pp] )
Enhancements: Enhanced Shields, Reinforced Frame
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As an aside, associated with my post, I had a lot of fun doing this mech, but I also see two issues:
I could not do this a TON, like if I were going to do a mech heavy campaign, this would get tedious very quickly without tools like a worksheet to help with the building and a coherent mech sheet.
There needs to be more options, which I'm assuming the final book will have. I just felt like none of the auxiliary systems or enhancements really "fit" thematically with what I was going for, so I just settled on stuff that would work.
It'd be fairly easy to make a spreadsheet with drop-down options to make this system more easy to use. Alternately it'd also be fairly easy to put together a hundred mech types with a cost of 20 MP per tier (at that cost they'd work from 1-20). If one or both of these existed, would that make people happier?
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It'd be fairly easy to make a spreadsheet with drop-down options to make this system more easy to use. Alternately it'd also be fairly easy to put together a hundred mech types with a cost of 20 MP per tier (at that cost they'd work from 1-20). If one or both of these existed, would that make people happier?
Yes, yes it would. Still recovering from GenCon and only now diving into the mech stuff.
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Sorry, didn't get around to either due to a resounding lack of interest. Here's a handful of 20 MP/level mechs I did design if not tidy up. D1 is the tier and changing it changes dependent values.
There's more in a thread on battletech conversions elsewhere on this forum.
This is very useful, thank you!
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I agree that building mechs/calculating the cost isn't very fun.
So I made an Excel spreadsheet for myself to build mechs.
It doesn't use 100% official terminology, it isn't perfect (I noted things that are "off"), and the layout is very lazily done, but if anyone else wants to use it:
Here it is on Dropbox.
Just enter the tier you want to build, choose the parts from the dropdown menus, and there you go.