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Message: <blockquote data-quote="jian" data-source="post: 9610050" data-attributes="member: 78087">I kind of expect this one to be very far ranging, because people have very different views of what they want from a mecha game. Some want the careful tactical gameplay of Battletech or Lancer; some want the finely balanced mecha creation rules of Mekton or GURPS Mecha; some want minimalist invisible rules to allow for dramatic stories so characteristic of real mecha* anime; some want fantastic pyrotechnic combat rules allowing for mecha combining, transforming mecha, mecha who are actually supernatural beings, and all the rule of cool excesses of super mecha* anime. These various ideals aren’t remotely mutually exclusive.*A quick note for those who don’t know: mecha anime/manga: real and super mecha are roughly opposite poles of the genre. The older genre is super mecha, giant robots as unique superheroes like Mazinger Z or Beast King GoLion (Voltron in the US), while real mecha, giant robots as military vehicles with some degree of realism, took off in the 1970s with AT Votoms and Gundam. In both cases, mecha allow for human struggles on a greater scale, but with different genre flavours and assumptions. The two poles are thoroughly mixed by now, but they’re useful markers nonetheless.I haven’t played all mecha RPGs by any means - for instance, while I’ve read Lancer, Mekton, and GURPS Mecha, I’ve never played them. I will mention a few that are more prominent at the moment. <ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Lancer: The new hotness in mecha RPGs for the last few years, <a href="https://massif-press.itch.io/corebook-pdf-free" target="_blank">Lancer</a> benefits from amazing art (by the creator of the Kill Six Billion Demons webcomic) and a solid tactical rule set similar to D&D 4E. I don’t think my group will ever play it, but it is a work of art.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The Mecha Hack: A simple streamlined game based on the Black Hack, <a href="https://absolutetabletop.itch.io/the-mecha-hack" target="_blank">TMH</a> is easy to pick up and play and cleverly streamlined. I don’t think all the chargen options are well balanced, but it’s a nice try.  There’s a more recent iteration based on its own science fantasy setting, <a href="https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/471014/aether-nexus-fantasy-mecha-roleplaying-game" target="_blank">Aether Nexus,</a> which is very cool but insists on using its own terminology for almost everything.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Apocalypse Frame: An interesting light real mecha game based on LUMEN, <a href="https://binary-star-games.itch.io/apocalypse-frame" target="_blank">AF</a> really ought to work well for this kind of fast mecha action.</li> </ul>Anyway, what’s everyone’s favourite? What makes you want to play a mecha game, and what game sparks your interest for doing so?</blockquote>

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