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A mecha by any other name...

Started by jrients, September 07, 2006, 09:25:22 AM

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jrients

September 07, 2006, 09:25:22 AM
I want to run a mecha mini-campaign in the near future, maybe by the beginning of next year.  Maybe sooner.  I've got a setting in mind, but I would really like a unique name for the giant robots.  Mecha and mekton and mech all carry too much connotation.  My first thought was to go with BattleRovers, but I think that term is from the Zoids.  If one of the players is a Zoids fan he might get the wrong impression.

Anybody got any other ideas?  Don't hesitate to suggest something stupid.  As one of my players once said "the stupid stuff is your favorite part, Jeff".
Jeff Rients
My gameblog

JamesV

#1
September 07, 2006, 09:31:43 AM
Hum. I'll just fire off whatever comes out of my head for the next 3 minutes.
Wargears
Chromehounds. Sure it's the title of a Xbox game, it also kind of a fun name.
Versatile Tanks (VersaTank)
Slaughterbots
Armored Fighting Walkers (AFW)
Longarms
Runningunners
Armored Incursion Unit
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Playing: Star Wars D20 Rev.

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Gabriel

#2
September 07, 2006, 09:32:06 AM
Whenever I name them something different, the players just call them "mechs" anyway, and anything transformable becomes a "Veritech" somethingorother.

JamesV

#3
September 07, 2006, 09:35:29 AM
Ground Pounders
Steel GIs
Armaplatforms
Bloodservos
Killer Cogs
Running: Dogs of WAR - Beer & Pretzels & Bullets
Planning to Run: Godbound or Stars Without Number
Playing: Star Wars D20 Rev.

A lack of moderation doesn\'t mean saying every asshole thing that pops into your head.

jrients

#4
September 07, 2006, 09:36:56 AM
Quote from: GabrielWhenever I name them something different, the players just call them "mechs" anyway, and anything transformable becomes a "Veritech" somethingorother.

If that happens I won't fight it, but I want to start out on the right foot.
Jeff Rients
My gameblog

Settembrini

#5
September 07, 2006, 10:09:14 AM
Labour?
If there can\'t be a TPK against the will of the players it\'s not an RPG.- Pierce Inverarity

Gabriel

#6
September 07, 2006, 10:19:59 AM
Quote from: jrientsIf that happens I won't fight it, but I want to start out on the right foot.

Just saying.

It depends on what the mechs are like though.  The best thing is to just take descriptive words about the machines and look in a thesaurus and/or use word fragments.

Armored Strider
Blitzgunner
S-Tank (The Sergeant better not hear you pronouncing it as a single word.)
Gunnader (Gun Parader)

beejazz

#7
September 07, 2006, 12:10:26 PM
Make each one unique and name them after demiurgical deities.
Mythological naming conventions tend to make technology sound more ominous.

jrients

#8
September 07, 2006, 12:19:02 PM
Quote from: beejazzMake each one unique and name them after demiurgical deities.
Mythological naming conventions tend to make technology sound more ominous.

While for this particular campaign I am looking more for things along the line of WarStompers or Robo-Battlers, that is a thoroughly awesome idea.
Jeff Rients
My gameblog

Silverlion

#9
September 07, 2006, 12:25:28 PM
Iron Walkers
Iron Soldiers
Ironmen (Tetsujin)
Wegpanzer (Walk Tank)
Man Amplified Power Suits (MAPS from Top Secret/Freelancers setting)
Excursion Suits
K-Suits
Recoursers
Heavy Gear (from HG RPG)

Video Games:
Mech
Walkers
Versatile Tanks
Vertical Tanks
Armored Cores (and Muscle Tracers)--AC's and MT's
Chromehounds
Battle Engine
Wanzers


You might use battlerovers but shorten them to BR. or change it to Warrovers/combat rovers, or Battlewalkers, Battlerangers etc.
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Dominus Nox

#10
September 07, 2006, 07:43:23 PM
The great Masamune Shirow calles his small mechas "Landmates".

In the excellent series "Patlabor" mechs are called "labors", the police patrol versions are "Patlabors".

They could be caled "Exorigs" maybe, or just "exos".

Maybe "Shells" would do.

Amps, for "amplifiers" which is what they do to human strength. Along similar lines, Augs, for "Augmentation suits/shells/exos/whatever. Of just Augmenter...
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#11
September 07, 2006, 09:35:11 PM
Quote from: jrientsAnybody got any other ideas?  Don't hesitate to suggest something stupid.  As one of my players once said "the stupid stuff is your favorite part, Jeff".

You could always borrow from Five Star Stories: "Mortar Headds"

The pilots are "Headdliners".  They are built by "Meights".  They are maintained by "Meisters".  They are controlled via "Fatima" co-pilots (though simpler "etriml" can be used).  

Wikipedia has a good summary:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_Star_Stories

Pictures of the Led Mirage Mortar Headd:

http://www.cybercombatclub.com/usa/anime_mangas/five_star_stories/motar_headd_five_star_stories_mechas_ledmirage_ve.htm
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beejazz

#12
September 07, 2006, 10:51:49 PM
Quote from: jrientsWhile for this particular campaign I am looking more for things along the line of WarStompers or Robo-Battlers, that is a thoroughly awesome idea.
In that case, just call 'em "walkers". It's brief, descriptive, and thus far I've only seen it used as a suffix (a real shame, IMHO).

Phostarius

#13
September 08, 2006, 06:22:54 AM
from the late Mekton mecha manual:
Air Gunner
Hardshell (Organic Dunbine-style)
Gladiator Machine (ah, Roman sci-fi)
Slave Driver (Landmate-style)
Hard Bodies (Knight Sabers)

I can also recommend
Seventh Sanctum's anime section

After all, Suave Oddfellow wouldn't pass up a seat in:
Experimental Awesomeram: Argus Zero vs. Mighty Slave: Covert Kaiser!
 
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