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Mecha RPGS- Who plays them?

Started by Geek Messiah, September 06, 2006, 07:30:58 PM

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Geek Messiah

I am just curious who out there plays Mech based Games (Battle Tech, Heavy Gear, Mekton, Etc) and what games you play.

What are some of the things you like about a specific system?  What are some of the dislikes?

JongWK

I'm dying to run/play a Battletech campaign (love the setting), and I might get the new edition. I'm a bit wary of the time it takes for mech battles, though...
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Geek Messiah

Quote from: JongWKI'm dying to run/play a Battletech campaign (love the setting), and I might get the new edition. I'm a bit wary of the time it takes for mech battles, though...

Yeah I have the new box set and it is interesting, they have changed a few things (I dont have it with me so I cant give exacts).

Right now the Mecha RPG I have been working on has been the game I have been running (In playtesting sessions) right now.

Trying to tweak the system to keep it fast and deadly (as Mech combat should be).

Dominus Nox

Do you mean "mecha" or "Anime" games?
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Geek Messiah

Quote from: Dominus NoxDo you mean "mecha" or "Anime" games?

Mecha Games

Gabriel

Me obviously.

Mekton II and Z are my favorites.  I like the way character skill explictly and directly impacts ability in the machine.  I also like the way armor works and have always found the combat engine to most closely  simulate the kinds of things you would see in Robotech or Gundam.

The one flaw?  Keeping track of all the different parts of a lot of mechs is a bit time consuming.

Robotech is what I've been stuck playing the most.  I like the simplicity of the damage/MDC system.  It's inherently quicker to subtract 40 points of damage from 300 hit points than resolve a 6 K hit which ablates 5 K of armor down to 4K and then does 1K of internal structure.  Most of the time hit locations are meaningless in Robotech, which hampers simulation but speeds play.  I'm also a fan of the phased combat system and the way it affects the flow of battle.

There's much more than one flaw to Robotech, so I'll just stop at the positives.

I've tried BESM mecha (BRCS), Silhouette, and had a little bit of exposure to D20 mecha.  I don't feel they handle mechs well at all.  BESM is the one I think does the worst job.

I have a PDF preview of the mecha engine for Random Anime, but have never gotten around to looking at it.  

The D20 Future implementation of mecha definitely screamed of the Americanized version of big stompy unmaneuverable machines, and the idea that you just need to keep on getting bigger machines while the pilot is mostly baggage.

There's some Fudge mecha RPG which I haven't been able to snag yet.  I believe it's called Mecha Aces, or something like that.

Geek Messiah

Quote from: GabrielMe obviously.

I was waiting for you to chime in :D

Quote from: GabrielMekton II and Z are my favorites.  I like the way character skill explictly and directly impacts ability in the machine.  I also like the way armor works and have always found the combat engine to most closely  simulate the kinds of things you would see in Robotech or Gundam.

The one flaw?  Keeping track of all the different parts of a lot of mechs is a bit time consuming.

Yep, running a Mekton Game was a great deal of work.   That's part of the reason I moved away from it

Quote from: GabrielRobotech is what I've been stuck playing the most.  I like the simplicity of the damage/MDC system.  It's inherently quicker to subtract 40 points of damage from 300 hit points than resolve a 6 K hit which ablates 5 K of armor down to 4K and then does 1K of internal structure.  Most of the time hit locations are meaningless in Robotech, which hampers simulation but speeds play.  I'm also a fan of the phased combat system and the way it affects the flow of battle.

There's much more than one flaw to Robotech, so I'll just stop at the positives.

Had Robotech so you wouldnt tell me anything I dont already know

Quote from: GabrielI've tried BESM mecha (BRCS), Silhouette, and had a little bit of exposure to D20 mecha.  I don't feel they handle mechs well at all.  BESM is the one I think does the worst job.

I had BESM and while I never tried a Mecha Game what you are saying is not suprising

Quote from: GabrielI have a PDF preview of the mecha engine for Random Anime, but have never gotten around to looking at it.

When you do let me know what you find

Quote from: GabrielThe D20 Future implementation of mecha definitely screamed of the Americanized version of big stompy unmaneuverable machines, and the idea that you just need to keep on getting bigger machines while the pilot is mostly baggage.

D20 didnt come across to me as a system that could do it.   I am no expert on the system so maybe someone can get it to work, from what I saw from the rpg supplement that I saw I wasnt even going to give it a try.

Quote from: GabrielThere's some Fudge mecha RPG which I haven't been able to snag yet.  I believe it's called Mecha Aces, or something like that.

Again, if you do get it let me know what you come up with.

I am a big fan of Mecha RPGS (Clearly) and I love to play different Mecha RPGS as well as taking the good and the bad from other Mecha Games and incorporate them into the Mecha Game I designed (and have constantly tweaked).

It has changed a great deal from the 1st revision, improving from the good and bad I have seen from other games as well as tons of playtesting (I designed it some time ago but it has playtested a greatr deal).

Silverlion

I love mecha rpg's, I adore Mekton a great deal (2 and Z) and I rather liked BESM though for its simplicity. I love the look and feel of Heavy Gears art, but cant's tand the world or system (i've a friend whose a die hard fan and asked to play...it was odd and had hiccups that made it unwelcome to me to attempt regularly.)


I'm working on my own Mecha game using a card driven dual use system so that PC's and mecha use the same rules for most everything. Its just a matter of scaling.
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Geek Messiah

Quote from: SilverlionI'm working on my own Mecha game using a card driven dual use system so that PC's and mecha use the same rules for most everything. Its just a matter of scaling.

Yeah.   Well to say I am working on a Mecha game is an understatment.   It's a game I created awhile ago and have been tweaking and improving.

Its Mecha but not in an Anime setting.   It's become better and better as the tweaks happen.

I am finishing up the latest revision and then it will be playtest time again.   It may actually be at a point where I can quit tweaking it (at least for awhile).

JamesV

I own and ran a pretty fun Mekton Z campaign a few years ago now. Maybe I'll drag it our again someday, I do have a soft spot for the giant robots.
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Mechnomancer

I'm using HERO to build my own mechs.  A scifi postwar scenario with a mech-warrior / cold war flavor.  Mech combat is not the sole feature of the game, but certainly always an option.
 

RPGPundit

Not since I played Robotech/RIFTSS, the last time being about 12 years ago.

But when I was a teenager, those were my standard games.  Robotech was the first serious game I personally ran a campaign of, and I have nothing but very fond memories of it.

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Zachary The First

I haven't played Robotech in a long while, but also have some great memories of our campaigns.  A lot of Rifts games certainly end up with mecha elements in them, and I'd say that's as close as I get these days...with the possible exception of some Fantasy Steampunk Mecha in Iron Kingdoms...
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Geek Messiah

Quote from: MechnomancerI'm using HERO to build my own mechs.  A scifi postwar scenario with a mech-warrior / cold war flavor.  Mech combat is not the sole feature of the game, but certainly always an option.

As a Hero fan I would think it would be pretty difficult to do with the system.   How is Mecha Buliding with Hero?

Geek Messiah

Quote from: RPGPunditBut when I was a teenager, those were my standard games.  Robotech was the first serious game I personally ran a campaign of, and I have nothing but very fond memories of it.

RPGPundit

I had Robotech as well and while it was OK I felt it did a poor job of emulating the Genre.  I was able to have fun with what I had and thinking back I was not as "Game Savy" then as I am now so my memories may be a bit skewed.

It makes me sad that Palladium may get the license back because all they will do is cut and paste the old material.

I would love to see another company get Robotech and get it the right treatment.