Tactical Mech Battles and Deep RP - Beginners Welcome!
The far-flung colony planet of Hercynia has sounded a distress call - but that's just the beginning. Power up your mech, pilot - it's time to drop!
$18.00
/ Session
Details
Bi-weekly / Monday – 11:00 PM UTC
3–3.5 Hour Duration
1 / 5 Seats Filled
About the adventure
The cockpit rumbles around you as you thumb the control levers forward, displays lighting up across your dashboard as your faithful mech lumbers forward. Your viewscreen shows you the dense, foreboding jungle all around you - the targeting laser of your mech's railgun traces the treeline, waiting to send the first enemy that shows themselves into the dirt. "Contact!" Your teammate yells over comms as the blinding light of laser-fire spills through the trees in front of you. "Multiple hostiles, I count 5 mechs!" You take a deep, steadying breath as you send your mech into a run to reinforce them - only to be met with the sight of a tall, lanky enemy machine emerging from the jungle to intercept. As it raises a massive carbon-fibre sword to strike, you hammer your firing triggers and feel the familiar kick of your mech's railgun - time to rock and roll! Enter an optimistic-yet-gritty sci-fi setting, become a mech pilot, and fight for a better future in Lancer: the mecha RPG! You'll respond to a distress call from the far-flung colony world of Hercynia, a mysterious planet with a secret history. As you travel Hercynia's verdant landscapes and meet its people, you'll discover secrets that could shake the galaxy to its foundations and find that the past can never truly be buried. What begins as a simple mission escalates into a high-stakes adventure with difficult choices, fearsome enemies, and wonders too terrible to describe. A scarred world is about to tell the story of its wounds... Lancer is an sci-fi mecha RPG with crunchy combat, fully-customizable mechs, and a setting that is optimistic but gritty. If you like sci-fi rp about the horrors of war, piloting a big ol' robot, and/or tactical combat, this game might be for you! Though the combat mechanics might seem intimidating at first, the system is set up to ease new players in, and you have tons of control over your mech's capabilities - for lots of people, this is the system that convinces them that ttrpg combat can actually be really fun! Plus, when the narrative calls on players to be outside of their war machines, the rules relax into a much more simple, freeform system that allows for easy roleplay and narrative action. Whether you've heard the buzz about Lancer and are curious to give it a try or you're a grizzled veteran of the Long Rim, No Room for a Wallflower offers an exciting and dramatic narrative, and I'm more than eager to share it with you! (thumbnail credits: background building and nature assets by Starlight Furnace, mech tokens by FighterChimp via Retrograde Minis. All items were used with creator permission).
Game style
Rules as Written (RaW)
Combat Heavy
Roleplay Heavy
Game themes
Meet the Game Master
About me
Hi, I'm Harry! I'm 23 and I've been running tabletop rpgs for 8-11 years, depending on what you count as a "real" campaign. Tabletop RPGs are my favorite form of media, and a major part of my life. I'm endlessly enchanted by the narratives and experiences they enable, which are possible in almost no other medium (movies, video games, etc.). I usually like a balance between combat (if the system emphasizes combat) and narrative elements, and I tend to be pretty loyal to the rules, but I certainly prioritize my group's experiences and preferences above all. I especially enjoy science fiction and horror games, though I have nothing against fantasy; and I prefer more serious tones (while leaving room for some shenanigans). I love roleplay, arcing narratives, and enjoy incorporating player ideas into my games. I take this stuff pretty seriously, and it's my goal to make sure my players have a fun, memorable experience at my table!
View Profile →Character creation
Creating your character
Characters will begin at LL0, Lancer's beginning level. Players are encouraged to check out lore videos (and rulebooks, which I'm happy to provide) before session 0 to get some ideas about what kind of character they might like to play, but to be flexible! Character creation will happen as a group in session 0, but if it bleeds into the first session so be it - I'm happy to review statblocks and answer questions over discord between sessions. All official player options are allowed starting out.
What to expect
Preparing for the session
A mic and headphones are a must, but a webcam is totally optional. The only software/site that would require outside engagement is Comp Con, a free web app that acts as a rules compendium and character builder for Lancer - imagine D&DBeyond, but you don't have to give WotC (or anyone else) any money! Additionally, an itch.io account will be very helpful in accessing the free player-facing content for Lancer, but not essential as I will have it in the discord. I'll send around some rules and things before session 0 for players to browse as they like, and I do encourage players to at least skim the rulebook before session 0.
What Harry brings to the table
I have a license for Foundry VTT, which will be our primary platform, with many modules and data packs to allow for an immersive, highly functional experience that will cut down strongly on the complexity of Lancer's combat system. I've run Lancer over foundry for over two years now, and am very adept at using it and teaching others how to use it. Our primary platform for campaign organization and non-combat sessions will be Discord, and Players are encouraged to check out Massif Press's Comp/Con app, which I am more than happy to walk newcomers through the use of. I am a legendary member of Retrograde Minis, meaning I am fully capable of providing cool, detailed digital miniatures or components of miniatures for my players, as well as beautiful isometric battlemaps! As a GM, I describe myself as cleaving pretty loyally to the rules, but this is *mostly* just true for combat! With that said, I'm always eager to enable player creativity with the understanding that we're all on the same side. I love roleplay and character interactions just as much as combat, and Lancer's narrative ruleset allows for lots of interesting, player-focused situations and action (and yes, I absolutely do character voices). I've been running Lancer for over two years and TTRPGs for much longer, so I've become pretty good at teaching games (even complex ones like Lancer) to newcomers, and I pride myself on my patience in doing so - we all have to start somewhere, and there's nothing wrong with being new! Finally, I have an extensive library of Lancer's expansion content, meaning that you'll get to explore any official options you like! While Lancer's focus on balance makes me a little leery of homebrew, I'm not fully against it as long as it's run by me first (I would encourage first-timers, however, to stick to official options).
Equipment needed to play
Computer
Headphones
Internet
Microphone
Platforms used
Safety
How Harry creates a safe table
I have an extensive lines and veils document I use (and adapt) for all my games, and would send that around to prospective players to fill out (anonymously, if they would prefer) - this form includes a place to mention anything not listed already! Our session 0 would touch on any indicated elements that could be a risk in this particular campaign, as well as the desired game tone and levels of comfort with baked-in themes such as violence and war (as well as standard session 0 things like character creation, lore/setting overviews, and rules clarifications). There will be a 5-10 minute break each session, and I'm happy to accommodate any requests for additional breaks mid-session for any reason. Finally, I'll stick around after sessions to help talk anyone who needs it through bleed or other concerns, either over call or text. X, N, and O cards will be handled over Foundry via modules or Discord via server emotes depending on the session, and will be respected and available to everyone.
Content warnings
Safety tools used