Which Fantasy Mech book is best?

[JoeGKushner]

Dream Pod 9 Mecha Companion isn't really about constructing mechs as much as creating them.

I love the idea of Doom Striders, but when I tried to use it, found many, many, many, errors and had lots of FAQs (check my review for 'em.)

Iron Kingdoms is'nt really a mech book per say.

d20 Mecha from GoO is solid, but relies on it's own little system.

Dragonmech so far seems pretty solid. Haven't made any mechs yet but that's next on the list.

 

[Angel Tarragon]

I voted for Dragonmech. Haven't played or DMed it yet, but it lokks very promising.

 

[TheAuldGrump]

OGL Steampunk from Mongoose has rules for creating Amazing Machines (including structures, vehicles, personal weapons, vehicle sized weapons, & equipment) from the ground up. You can most certainly create any size of mecha you feel necessary. (The only ones I am likely to have in my game are 6 inches tall and powered by a spring... wound by a key in the back.)

The only problem for a standard fantasy game is that it uses the wealth system from D20 Modern, though there are conversion outlines.

The Auld Grump

 

[Arnwyn]

Since DP9's Mecha Compendium is really just a mecha book that uses GoO's d20 Mecha, my vote is (currently) for GoO's d20 Mecha. Build 'em how you want 'em!

Re: OGL Steampunk:

The only problem for a standard fantasy game is that it uses the wealth system from D20 Modern, though there are conversion outlines.

Crap. I was going to start a thread asking for the best "steampunk creation system" book (for use in a particular region in my big FR campaign), and I was very curious about Mongoose's OGL Steampunk. But using D20 Modern's wealth system is a strike against it...

This thread has been quite helpful, though.

 

[TheAuldGrump]

Well, like I said, there is a conversion table in the book.

I have been running an OGL Steampunk game for a few weeks, and the more I use the Purchase DC method the more I like it. Given that I am running the game as a Steampunk/Espionage campaign not bogging down with how many gold/silver/copper has been a big help. While the game has some shortcomings in general I am quite happy with it.

I created a few 'mass produced' pieces of equipment, dropping the DCs for those. This campaign was about the quickest that I have ever created a world for, finishing the broad strokes in 3 weeks. Since then I have been filling in the minor details, and statting out the more common Amazing Machines. (No mecha, I really don't like the concept at all, at all, But they would be easy enough to do, the rules for 'em are in there...) Rules for creating Automata (robots/constructs are also in the game, though I think I neglected to mention them earlier, in fact one of the PC races given are the CoGS sentient constructs in a variety of types and materials.

I have also been using Steam & Steel by E.N. Publishing. The creature templates in particular have been very handy. (A creatures section is one of the shortcomings in OGL Steampunk I mentioned above. Oddly they have a list of creature qualities, but no creatures to accompany them.The other big one is a rather poor weapons section, they essentially substituted D&D weapons for the ones in OGL Modern, changed the prices to purchase DCs and called it a day)

If you can find a copy check it out.

The Auld Grump