C&C with Mecha

[everloss]

I've been dreaming up ways in which to use the awesome new classes made by clavis123 in a steampunk-ish, Renaissance meets Victorian era high fantasy campaign I've been slowly building up.

I wanted to include some sort of steam/magic-powered mecha (think Final Fantasy 3) suits but gave myself a headache trying to think of a way to create all-new ways of incorporating that into Castles and Crusades.

But then I had an epiphany!

Mekton Zeta!

Just got done building my first wee 'lil power-armored suit, and designed a simple conversion for it to C&C. I doubt I can post it here since copyrights and such, but I'm pretty excited and happy!

[Omote]

The Siege rules make it possible to do many things... including powered armor. Just invent!

~O

[everloss]

oh, it fits ridiculously easy within the SEIGE mechanic! That's why I'm so happy with myself - I was over thinking it. I just used Mekton to build the power armor; to give myself an idea of size and placement and locomotion, etc. The conversion is actually very simple; Hits (Roadstriker rules) divided by 10 equals Armor Class bonus. Basically, the power armor is used the same as regular Armor for AC purposes.

In the future, I doubt I will need to use Mekton to create further mecha. Because the mecha in this world are so simple (steam-powered, no special sensors, blackpowder high-caliber smoothbore rifles, open cock-pits, etc) it just doesn't seem necessary anymore.

[serleran]

There is, naturally, StarSIEGE to cover such things as well. I've not dug deep enough into how simple it would be to make, but I do not imagine it being hard.

[everloss]

I am unfamiliar with StarSIEGE. In fact, I don't think I've ever heard of it until just now. I'll check it out though, thanks.

[clavis123]

As a lover of stream-punk, I think it's a great idea. I hope the OP will keep us posted about how the campaign evolves!

[Lord Crimson]

There is, naturally, StarSIEGE to cover such things as well. I've not dug deep enough into how simple it would be to make, but I do not imagine it being hard.

My only concern is how would you convert the trappings system into something that made sense for C&C.

Reliability translates fairly easily. Value doesn't so much (though perhaps one could use the size table to figure something out cost wise). Size doesn't translate, but you could probably use it as a rough approximation (size 11 = twice as big as a man, size 12 = 4 times as big... etc). But Tech Level doesn't have much, if any, meaning in C&C.

Even the bonuses would be kind of arbitrary. Boosts to stats would probably make sense... but boosts to skills (and combat, since combat is just a skill in StarSIEGE) less so.

Most of the SFX should be relatively easy to convert though.

[clavis123]

You could simply think of the "mecha" as magic items, except that they are powered by weird science rather than "magic" per se. There is really no mechanical difference between a Potion of Flying and a single use Jetpack that become useless after it expends its pressurized fuel. The "Mecha" could be essentially magical armor with various enhancements.

A 9-foot tall "battle suit" that grants +2 strength and allows its pilot to fly would be mechanically identical to plate armor +1 with Enlarge, and Fly enchantments on it. Using the rules from Magic and Treasure, such an item might cost 1,000 for the metal suit itself, + 5,000 gp for the Enlarge effects (additional size and strength), and 15,000 for the ability to Fly. In all 21,000 gp. If you use my "Mad Scientist" class, such a suit could be created by an 11th Level character.

[Go0gleplex]

You could also consider them specialized constructs...golem bodies with a need for a master to ride with in wearing a "helm of command" (the head) with a set STR of 19 or 20 (mecha are constructed within set standardized parameters) and a modified "jump"-like spell, not really flight.

The downside of "man-sized" powersuits is that the wearer is going to suffer a percentage of the damage inflicted on the suit. Pilots of larger "constructs", where the pilot is in the upper torso/head area, will likely suffer little, if any, damage from creatures or constructs smaller than their construct. The STR would obviously go up...and I'd keep the maximum size roughly 30-50 feet in height.

Spells, likewise, will need to be considered in how they will affect the construct or how they might be used by the construct, such as "lightening bolt" for a particle beam or "fire ball" for a plasma bolt equivalent.

In AD&D, the Apparatus of Kwalish (sp) could be considered a mecha, relegating such things to artifact status.

I've actually considered adapting C&C for use as the RPG portion of my combined arms miniatures game, Wardogs. Just not done anything with it as yet. As with clavis, this should be interesting to see where the OP goes with this.

[Relaxo]

OMG this sounds SO COOL.
Keep us posted on how this goes!

[everloss]

My vision was to have knights riding into battle on mechanical vehicles, rather than horses. With built in lances and mini-cannon and spotlights and so on.

As such, I figured basing it on a horse with barding was the simplest step - mechanically, the mecha would work the same as a horse anyway. The real challenge is keeping the atmosphere and feel through description and role playing.

All of the ideas you guys have come up with have been thought provoking to say the least.

[Relaxo]

How about that floating robot horse / barding thing from the old videogame DragonsLair? that still freaks me out in a good way.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

This all reminds me of Modesitt's Recluce saga. The blend of magic and technology makes for a fun twist to the fantasy/sci-fi genre (and with Recluce, you can never quite tell which you're reading, which makes it all the more fun).