[Mecha Crusade] Sample Mecha (Battletech, Robotech)

[jaults]

    What follows is my first attempt at emulating a Battlemech using the straight Mecha Crusade rules. I was pretty pleased with how accurate I was able to make it to the "spirit" of Battletech. However, I think the rules (or at least the components) are more geared towards sources like Gundam. In particular, in order to better emulate Battletech, Robotech and Heavy Gear (at least), we need missile packs that do less damage per missile, but can fire masses of them at a time. In Battletech for instance, missile packs go from SRM\2 (2 short range missiles) all the way up to LRM\20 (20 long range missiles).
    I would like to see some info on how the components are priced - that would certainly make creating my own easier. Any chance of something like that from Dave Noonan, Erik?

    Lemme know if you have any questions or comments.
    Jason

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Generic Battlemech
Huge (10 m tall)

+16 Str
-2 attack
-2 defense
-8 Hide
Slam Attack: 2d6 damage
Reach: 4 m
Spd: 16 m

Total Cost: 19,640 BP (BP for 5th level is 17,500 and BP for 6th level is 20,100)

Mecha Structure
===============
Duralloy (6,000 BP)
    Hardness 15
    200 HP
    +6 defense

Structural Options
==================
Light Fortification (1,000 BP)
    Reduce crit to regular hit 25%

Components
==========
Miscellaneous
-------------
Cockpit
    Location: Helmet + Torso

Mk.7b Oracle Targeting System (1,000 BP)
    Location: Visor
    Adds +2 to ranged attacks for one weapon component at a time

Omicron 1100 thruster backpack (3,000 BP)
    Location: Back
    Fly spd 30 (clumsy) - could be modified (1/3 cost?) to be jump jets, +30 to jump check?

Weapons-Ranged
--------------
M-53 Barracuda rocket launcher (6,250 BP + 125 BP)
    Location: Shoulders + Left Arm (ammo)
    Ammo: 6 rockets
    Range: no range increment, 80 m max range
    Saving Throw: reflex half (DC 17)
    10d6 heat damage

M-9 Barrage chaingun (2,145 BP + 120 BP)
    Location: Left Hand
    Ammo: 50 shells x 4 ammo belts
    Range: 20 m range increment, 200 m max range
    Saving Throw: none
    3d6 damage/shell, autofire capable

Remaining Slots
---------------
    Right Arm
    Right Hand
    Belt
    Boots

 

[Wikidogre]

Lets keep this going!

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SparrowHawk
Large (6 m tall)

+8 Str
-1 attack
-1 defense
-4 Hide
Slam Attack: 1d8 damage
Reach: 4 m
Spd: 12 m

Total Cost: 28,700 Bp

Mecha Structure
===============
Alumisteel (2,500 BP)
Hardness 10
100 HP
+5 defense

Structural Options
==================
Stealth Kit (500 BP)
+10 bonus to hide and move silent checks

Components
==========
Miscellaneous
-------------
Cockpit
Location: Helmet + Torso

K-2E Kestrel Maneuver Wings (1,000 BP)
Location: Back
Upgrades flight maneuverability by one category.

Nimbus 3,000 Thrusters (8,000 BP)
Location: Boots
Fly spd 80m (poor)*Average with K-2E Wings.

Bastion v20 Defense Shield (4,500 Bp)
Location: Right Arm
+6 equipment bonus to Defense.

Weapons
--------------
H42a Excalibur Energy Sword (4,200 Bp)
Location: Left Arm
Range: Touch
+3 enhancement bonus on attacks and damage
4d6 (1/2 Regular;1/2 Plasma) damage

M-2 Puma Pop-Up Turret (5,000 Bp)
Location: Shoulders
Activation: Attack Action
Range: 30m
Target: Single target
8d6 Plasma damage

Remaining Slots
---------------
None

 

[jaults]

Veritech

    Here's a try at a classic mech: the standard Veritech from the Robotech cartoon. I used the Robotech RPG from Palladium Books as my source. I gave the mech Basic Transform, but I basically just threw all of the various components onto the thing in Battloid mode. I will edit it when I have time to show the three modes (Battloid, Guardian/Gerwalk and Jet).
    According to the Robotech RPG, a Veritech can run 120 MPH, can fly 680 MPH in Guardian mode, and can fly 2700 MPH in jet mode. The speeds in Mecha Crusade don't approach that. I think a speed of 20 meters is about 30 MPH when making a Run action (4x spd).
    All in all, I think it came out very close to the source material. Again, however, there are certainly components that do not yet exist that would help...

    Jason

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Veritech
Gargantuan (13 m tall)

+24 Str
-2 Dex
-4 attack
-4 defense
-12 Hide
Slam Attack: 2d8 damage
Reach: 6 m
Spd: 20 m

Total Cost: 70,300 BP (BP for 15th level is 70,800)

Mecha Structure
===============
Neovulcanium (14,000 BP)
    Hardness 20
    400 HP
    +6 defense

Structural Options
==================
Basic Transform (13,500 BP)
    Transform as full-round action

Greater Energy Resistance - Heat (6,000 BP)
    Ignore 30 points of heat/round

Components
==========
Miscellaneous
-------------
Cockpit
    Location: Torso 1 + Torso 2

Nimbus 3000 thrusters (16,000 BP)
    Location: Boots
    Fly spd 80 (poor)

K-2E Kestrel maneuver wings (2,000 BP)
    Location: Left Shoulder + Right Shoulder
    Improves maneuverability category to average

F100 Gazelle afterburner system x4 (6,400 BP)
    Location: Lower Back
    Fly spd x2 for 4 rounds

Mk.7a Oracle Targeting System (250 BP)
    Location: Cranium
    Adds +1 to ranged attacks for one weapon component at a time (Missiles)

Mk.7b Oracle Targeting System (1,000 BP)
    Location: Visor
    Adds +2 to ranged attacks for one weapon component at a time (GU-11)

Weapons-Ranged
--------------
M-55 Talon missile launcher (4,800 BP + 400 BP)
    Location: Upper Back + Left Arm
    Ammo: 4 misses
    Range: 800 m
    15d6 plasma, +10 attack
    (All Veritech have hardpoints on their wings to carry medium and long range missiles)

Mk.1 Warpath recoilless rifle (4,170 BP + 170 BP)
    Location: Right Hand + Left Leg, Right Arm (ammo)
    Ammo: 20 shells x 2 bays
    Range: 16 m range increment / 160 m max
    10d6 damage / shell
    (The GU-11 Gunpod)

L-KEN Corona microwave gun (1,610 BP)
    Location: Helmet
    Range: 6 m range increment / 60 m max
    5d6 heat damage
    (Veritechs have lasers on their head in Battloid mode)


Remaining Slots
---------------
    Left Hand
    Right Leg
    Belt

 

[NewLifeForm]

I think I'm gonna hurl...

Joke Rant Are GO-

Battletech, Robotech...ack! Copies and Ripoffs of the source material (mostly Macross and Dougram). What in the name of all that's holy is a Veritech? Valkyrie! The fighters are called Valkyries!

Heaven forbid we would want to supply the american youth in our audience with a real word they'd have to look up somewhere

Just kiddin' (sorta).

My main questions are:

1) How flexible is it. Can the rules make Gundams and super robots (Mazinger, Getta Robo or Shogun Warriors for the non-Otakus on the list)? And...

2) How's the art? For a genre that is largely popular due to it's look, the art in most giant robot and anime game is quite poor.

I'm in an odd mood today. Please ignore me


NewLife Form
Where No One Has Gone Before...

 

[jaults]

Re: I think I'm gonna hurl...

My main questions are:

1) How flexible is it. Can the rules make Gundams and super robots (Mazinger, Getta Robo or Shogun Warriors for the non-Otakus on the list)? And...

    Alas, I am a non-otaku (I think you meant to say "for the otakus on the list." In my understanding, an otaku is someone obsessed with something, in this instance, anime or manga. And I assume you mentioned specific anime for the anime fans in the crowd. But I digress...), so I have no idea. The rules seem awfully flexible to me, and actually (as I mentioned in a previous post) appear to lean towards Gundam-style mechs, rather than tanks with legs that are the Battlemechs and Heavy Gear.

2) How's the art? For a genre that is largely popular due to it's look, the art in most giant robot and anime game is quite poor.

    I have no idea which style of art you prefer, so I couldn't say. I like quite a bit of the art (the cover, by Stephan Martiniere, in particular). Some of it is very anime-styled, while most of the advanced class renderings are of a darker tone. Actually, now that I am looking at the article again, there really isn't a ton of art. Each of the components (35 or so) are drawn out in a simple but effective line-drawing style and interspersed throughout the article, and there is a picture of each advanced class. Beyond that, there are a total of only five pictures plus one size/scale comparison.

    Jason

 

[NewLifeForm]

My Bad...

    Alas, I am a non-otaku (I think you meant to say "for the otakus on the list." In my understanding, an otaku is someone obsessed with something, in this instance, anime or manga. And I assume you mentioned specific anime for the anime fans in the crowd. But I digress
    Jason

You are correct. I meant "for the otaku". As I stated at the end of my post - ignore me - yesterday was not the best of days.

I do thank you for your mini-review and opinions though. As I stated, I'm always surprised by the lack of artwork and often the lack of quality artwork that is appropriate to the genre. As long as the images work and work well for the article, I suppose I'll be happy.

I can't wait to finally get a hold of this article and try the system out. All of my players are anime fans and more then half are artists. Woo hoo!

NewLifeForm
Where No One Has Gone Before...

 

[JDragon]

Who puts out this Mecha Crusade?
& how long has it been out?

JDragon

 

[Ranger REG]

It's a d20 Modern mini-game that can be found in Dung/Polyhedron no. 95/154. If you're a subscriber, you should have it in your mailbox. Stores will get them this month (hopefully).

 

[JDragon]

Thanks Ranger!

JDragon

 

[beta-ray]

DUNG?!