Lancer: Operation Solstice Rain | Learn to play Lancer RPG!

Creating your character

Players may opt to make characters before joining in Lancer's CompCon program, but are not required to. I'll help players create and complete characters during our Session Zero, and provide the resources needed to do so. I also have a library of pre-made characters available for players to use if they do not wish to design their own. Mechanically, players will begin with LL0 (License Level) characters, created using the basic rules for character creation found in the Core Rulebook. All options made available via officially-released supplements are acceptable, including talents, mechs, equipment, etc. Story-wise, players are welcome to devise backgrounds for their characters and tie them into the Lancer universe as much (or as little) as they would like. In context, this campaign assumes that the player characters are Lancers, or mech pilots, that have just recently completed their training and are on their first deployment for Union, the post-scarcity Utopian central government of the explored galaxy.

Preparing for the session

Players will need a Discord account to join a server that I will have available for each session's Voice chat and (optional) Video chat. The server will also have guides and tutorials for the game and VTT, system lore and campaign background story for those interested, and character creation resources and discussion. Players will need to make a free account at https://forge-vtt.com/, the hosting service I use for my Foundry VTT servers. This will be used to log into the virtual tabletop for our game sessions. Optionally, players can choose to create and submit any art they would like to use for their pilot characters, their mechs, or any other elements they wish to create for their characters and wish to see in-game. Players may also wish to create an account at https://compcon.app/, Lancer's official online character creator and manager. Characters and mechs can be imported from CompCon into our Foundry VTT server to save time, but this is not a requirement; we can also build characters within the VTT.

What Emgee brings to the table

Most important resources and materials for Lancer RPG are free to players, either on Massif Press' store page (https://massif-press.itch.io/) or via Lancer's online character manager (https://compcon.app/). This includes the player-facing Core Rulebook. Any campaign-specific materials or official support content will be provided by me via the Discord channel, including .lcp files for CompCon. Players shouldn't feel like they need to study or memorize the rules beforehand. I'm very happy to explain the rules of Lancer as we go, as this campaign does a great job of building complexity alongside player experience. Lancer has a very clear split between its combat and narrative gameplay modes; while the combat is tactical, precise, and concrete, the roleplaying side is very open and malleable. While some combat actions may affect the narrative and some roleplay choices may likewise affect future combat scenes, these modes are generally separate. While I am happy to use Rule of Cool, collaborative scene creation, and Player Privilege concepts in the roleplaying mode, players can expect a more rules-as-written, technical approach to mech combat. Regarding style, I'll add character voices for most NPCs (as long as players are alright with it) and rely primarily on a 'Theater of the Mind'-style of roleplaying for narrative scenes, supported by maps, flavor images, digital handouts, and other tools to help players stay connected. I put a lot of time into making my Foundry server fun for players to engage with; players that are distracted easily or need 'fidget' options during long play sessions can look forward to 'Codex Entry'-style journals to read during sessions. During Session Zero, I ask players if they are interested in sound effects and animations during combat scenes, background music during the sessions, etc. All such options will be based on unanimous group choice. I will do my best to provide support and character creation brainstorming via the game's Discord channel, so players that wish to integrate their characters with the campaign's story or ask about the system's lore are free to contact me between sessions.

Homebrew rules

I don't have any particular homebrew rules I use in this campaign. Because this campaign is short and designed as an introduction to the Lancer RPG system, I opt not to use the optional Bonds system introduced in the Karrakin Trade Baronies sourcebook.

How Emgee creates a safe table

Operation Solstice Rain is a story about how violent ideology can obstruct peace and diplomacy. During our Session Zero, I'll check with our players for any relevant triggers that they would like me to avoid during the game, and reiterate the content warnings for the campaign—primarily guerilla warfare and terrorism. Also during the Session Zero, I'll walk through the X Card safety tool and how it can be used by players (and myself) to ensure anyone experiencing discomfort can halt and potentially alter play. I use digital X-Card mechanisms in Foundry VTT, saying "X" or "X-Card" via voice chat, or making an "X" symbol with fingers or arms in video chat to implement the X-Card tool. I like to conduct regular check-ins with my players in the provided Discord to gauge how folks are enjoying the campaign, style, and vibe of our sessions. Safety isn't something that is taken care of once at the beginning of a campaign for me; players should feel safe and able to let loose/unmask in my games, even if that means changes throughout the campaign.