Tanks with Legs: Mechwarrior RPG by FASA
Written: Jul 27 '05
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Rich background story.
Cons: Character Generation system is outdated.
The Bottom Line: Recommended to experienced RPGS and hardcore Mechwarrior fans.
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| maza's Full Review: Mechwarrior The Battletech Role Playing Game Book... |
This is a review about the 2nd edition of MechWarrior RPG, published by FASA. This new edition goes a long way towards improving the flavour of roleplaying in the BattleTech universe. The 168 page softcover is divided into the following sections:
1) Characters
2) Personal Combat
3) Running the Game
4) Equipment
5) The BattleTech Universe
I'll cover these in reverse order due to the nature of the changes. The last section is information about the MechWarrior universe (a derivative of the Battletech board game universe), going up to circa 3050 - historical overview, the Successor States (with some thumbnail sketches of units/personalities), the Clans, ComStar, economics, space travel, and some new guidelines on HyperPulse Generators and the Solaris games. The Equipment section includes most of the original stuff, plus some of the 3026 Tech Readout goodies
"Running the Game" gives some tips for novice GMs, an expanded "how to generate the rest of the regiment" section (now including Clan units), and what looks like exactly the same information on enounters as in MW1."Personal Combat" is essentially the same as in MW1, but some cosmetic changes have been made to fit in with the new character generation/game mechanics rules. These changes, however, will speed up play - the system is somewhat like Top Secret/SI, for those familiar with that system. Combat is still lethal in the extreme.
The major changes, however, have been made in the character generation rules and game mechanics. I've been told that the new system is somewhat like the Shadowrun rules. Essentially the mechanics are based around the 2d6 Skill Check (roll above target, given by Characteristic - Level + modifiers) and the 3d6 Saving Roll (best two of 3d6, against Characteristic + modifiers). Untrained skill use requires a Skill Check with the worst two of 3d6, and opposed checks (your Stealth versus his Perception) are determined by the relative margin of success. Another new concept is "Edge" - sort of like Hero points, if you spend a point of Edge you can elect to reroll an undesired outcome. Edge regenerates each _gaming session_ (which should prevent widespread abuse...).
Characters are now based around five Attributes (Build, Reflexes, Intuition, Learn, Charisma) and four attribute-determined Characteristics (Athletic, Physical, Mental, Social) which affect Skill rolls. The Skill list has been enlarged, with some modifications. A new character starts off with just five numbers - "Priority Levels". Standard rules are one each of levels 0,1,2,3,4, but optionally and set totalling 10. Coincidentally there are five areas to assign Priorities - Race, Attributes, Skills, Advantages, and Mech Class. Obviously, the higher Priority you assign to an area, the more points/skills/tonnage you have to play with. The Race area allows players to have Clan warriors (Warriors, Pilots, Elementals) with better Attributes and starting skill packages. Advantages cover the old categories of Sixth Sense, Ambidextrous, etc...notes that there are no longer any DISadvantages. One word of caution - Natural Aptitude can unbalance a game chronically, especially if it is taken in one of the combat skills (e.g. Gunnery/Mech) - it lets you take the best two of 3d6 when rolling, which skews the combat results drastically. Caution with use is recommended! University/Academy packages have been streamlines, you can take special areas of study, but otherwise the generation is then the same as MW1. Some useful Archtypes (pregenerated character outlines) are included as examples.
The only other comment I'd like to make is the the interior artwork is excellent. The are two colour sections, numerous BW illustrations, and some schematics of Mechs/equipment/etc. Unfortunately the cover isn't quite up to this standard (IMHO) - I always liked the old version.....
Anyhow, its certainly worth a look by those whose interests lie around the Inner Sphere and Periphery...and even beyond.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
maza
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Member: Nick Maza
Location: Greece
Reviews written: 40
Trusted by: 14 members
About Me:
I live in Greece. I hate the summers.
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