"Best Mech Rules?" Topic

I have some Gundam and thought it would be cool to play a game with them. I know there are a lot of options. What are some of the TMPers favorites?

The closest I've played was Battletech and that was decades ago.

I'd like something with only 1-3 mechs per side.

It depends on what you think makes it a "mech" game.

We use QILS to play mech and kaiju games. There's a mech sourcebook specifically for that tpye of game.

Wings of Glory has a tripods and triplanes expansion has kind of a unique flair to it.

Mekton Zeta is a RPG, but it has excellent combat rules that can easily be pulled to fight mecha on mecha battles. Some folks out there have made up stats for most Gundam mecha too. Be aware, it is as crunchy, rules wise,as BattleTech.

I love BattleTech, but it won't do Gundam very well. Mechs are a different animal from mecha. Mechs are plodding, slow warmachines that batter each other to pieces. Mecha are fast but poorly armored dancers that die with single shots. BattleMechs are just too durable. I think Mekton covers that aspect of the genre very well. Plus, it has rules for building mecha.

Battle Suit Alpha by Wiley Games should fit. I believe they would work for that.

Thanks.

John

Mech Attack is a fun set of mech rules that is fairly easy to learn.

link

I am getting a lot of Facebook posts on a system called BotWars. Youmight check it out. Looks interesting.

Battletech can be played complicated or fast depending on which rules that you play.

Our group has tried the new Battletech: Alpha Strike and it's been heavily streamlined from the older version, so it plays much faster. The other option is Fistful of Mechs, which is the sci-fi version of the Fistful of Lead skirmish rules.

As a life long fan of Battletech who has played since it was Battledroids and has a humungous collection of BT stuff (and even worked at FASA Interactive) and plays regularly to this day, I have to say that BT or Alpha Strike are great games, but not at all good for Gundam play. Battletech is its own thing in its own universe and is great for that, but bad for Gundam.

You could do it if you learned the mech creation rules and came up with your own weapons analogs, but that's a lot of heavy lifting for not a lot of Gundam feel.

Here's a video on alternative rules as well… Not sure any of these will really fit, but you can check them out.

YouTube link

I still think Mech Attack is a good possibility for you.

Hi, Fistful of Mechs is actually Battlesuit Alpha by Wiley Games. Galactic Heroes by Wiley Games is the scif variant for mainly non-mech combat.

Thanks.

John

It's not for Gundam (but it IS for Lego): link

BattleTech Alpha Strike, can be played with small forces for a quick game or large forces for a game that can still be finished in a reasonable amount of time.

For me is Meka Tac Giant Stomping Robots (GSRE) by Lloyd Krasner.

There is always Robotech RPG Tactics too. It was built for Macross, but could be modified to fit other backgrounds. It was quickly tossed away by the folks who made it (Palladium Books) because of the disaster Kickstarter, but the rules were pretty solid. Some interesting ideas in it that give a nice Japanese fast robot battle. The Jon and the guys over at All Miniatures Great and Small did a couple of battle reports on it. I personally enjoyed it!

A link to the rules PDF with all of the cards:
link

The All Miniatures Great and small Battle Report
YouTube link

Jon was pretty new to the whole AAR thing, so it's a bit rough and the music can be… annoying, but otherwise it's a great overview of the game.