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I've been building some Tau crisis suits and looking over some old RPG books while the paint dries and I was wondering what the current options for playing a mecha based RPG campaign (like a Robotech or Gundam style setting) are. I'm familiar with the old standby systems like Robotech/Rifts, Heavy Gear, and Mechwarrior but are there newer ones? The first one that came to mind was Mekton Zero but after checking their KS page it looks like it's been in development hell for two years since I saw it funded. I'm familiar with the 40k RPGs and know there is a Tau supplement as well for Rogue Trader but I don't think the system scales well up to that power level. I like the Shadowrun base game mechanics for characters and infantry but when you get to vehicles things get pretty wonky so I wouldn't consider that one a good choice without serious house ruling. GURPS has a plug in for everything after 30 years but I never really liked that system even after multiple tries at cons. I'd guess that superhero systems might be able to handle big stompy robots as well but they might feel shoehorned in between all the super powers that are the big stars of that genre. If I'm completely wrong about some of the former genres/systems feel free to post why or if you have any newer ones that I'm not aware of but I was just trying to list the ones that came to mind for me and possibly why they wouldn't work well.

CthulhuTech has a mecha-focused aspect heavily influenced by Robotech and Eva.

Thanks, that one I was oblivious to and didn't know existed. I only remember Cthulu as a horror genre RPG so I'll have to take a peek.

Battletech RPG is worth playing, in any of its versions. And the universe background is particularly richly developed.

Is that different from the Mechwarrior RPG I mentioned in the OP? I haven't followed it in probably 15-20 years so they certainly could have come out with something else in the meantime.

Another old one that might suit is R Talsorian's Mekton which I remember playing in the dim and distant past


and Remnants which I've never played (but it's actually recent)

It popped up on google when I was looking for Mekton's name

http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/15/15420.phtml

 OrlandotheTechnicoloured wrote:
Another old one that might suit is R Talsorian's Mekton which I remember playing in the dim and distant past


and Remnants which I've never played (but it's actually recent)

It popped up on google when I was looking for Mekton's name

http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/15/15420.phtml

Thanks for the Remnants link as it is another I wasn't aware of. Mekton I mentioned in the OP but referred to the most recent version. I admit that I don't know the differences between them all but figured that I'd look up/mention the most modern edition of it. Another (that might be based on mekton) is the VOTOMs RPG. I have the core book that I picked up on clearance but I've never played it either and I don't know how customizable it is for other worlds.

CthulhuTech is definitely a horror RPG. Or at least horror action. It is also pretty varied, which can be seen as a flaw or a feature. What I mean is, it seems to be made out of at least two games. One is about secret agents that can transform into monsters (so Guyver) and the other one is about mysterious, horrific mecha (Eva).

Any old school style pilot a giant robot to defeat an alien invasion of giant robots, all while yelling out the name of the attack I'm using RPGs out there?

And yes, I'm serious.

 Alpharius wrote:
Any old school style pilot a giant robot to defeat an alien invasion of giant robots, all while yelling out the name of the attack I'm using RPGs out there?

And yes, I'm serious.

I don't believe any of the above mentioned RPGs restrict what you scream as you roll the dice in the official rules. That's more a players and GM around you restricting you type of thing.

 Alpharius wrote:
Any old school style pilot a giant robot to defeat an alien invasion of giant robots, all while yelling out the name of the attack I'm using RPGs out there?

And yes, I'm serious.

My friend had the Defect: Shout Move Name as a custom defect in BESM for his "Super Martial Artist" character.

@Warboss BESM 3rd is out of print, but there are ways to get it . If you like point based "effect" system works great for Giant Robots, if you like anime style combat.

Well, I was actually kidding about shouting the stuff out.

But not about finding an RPG where you're a giant robot pilot ala Gaiking, Grendizer, Getter Robo, etc.

Thanks for the tip about BESM. I remember that one from years ago when I went to gencon but never played and forgot about it completely. I'm surprised to hear that it is out of print though given the higher visibility anime has for the past few years.

 Alpharius wrote:
Well, I was actually kidding about shouting the stuff out.

But not about finding an RPG where you're a giant robot pilot ala Gaiking, Grendizer, Getter Robo, etc.

Battletech has the MechWarrior RPG. You can role play in and out of your mech.

I had a stealth!

I shot a dude in the face with a flame thrower once!

Can you make a sneak attack with a ballista as well? (the medieval seige weapon, not some potential BTech weapon or mech that may share the name, lol)

Mekton Z Plus. Hands down. You can build any mecha from any show or imagination you can think of. The rules have the great balance of streamlined, detailed and fun. It's still my favorite ruleset.
Also, a similar system to Cyberpunk 2020. (same company) and you can mix the rules if you want more gritty detail outside the mecha.
I ran a Gundam: One Year War campaign that was amazing.

I'm sure you can find it for cheap or free out there on the interwebz.

 warboss wrote:
Thanks for the tip about BESM. I remember that one from years ago when I went to gencon but never played and forgot about it completely. I'm surprised to hear that it is out of print though given the higher visibility anime has for the past few years.

The sad part is it had nothing to do with the game (3rd edition was the best yet). But, every thing to do with the stock market bottoming out and having to give the right to White Wolf, WW they did do one print run (part of the deal for transfer) before they buried it as a PDF.

 MWHistorian wrote:
Mekton Z Plus. Hands down. You can build any mecha from any show or imagination you can think of. The rules have the great balance of streamlined, detailed and fun. It's still my favorite ruleset.
Also, a similar system to Cyberpunk 2020. (same company) and you can mix the rules if you want more gritty detail outside the mecha.
I ran a Gundam: One Year War campaign that was amazing.

I'm sure you can find it for cheap or free out there on the interwebz.

I'll definitely try to find Mekton Z Plus - thanks!

Is Mekton Z plus substantially different from the Mekton KS coming SOONtm?

I have no idea - is it?

That's my question. It was more directed though to the guy that suggested the game since he likely knows more than both of us combined about it.

Definitely more than me!