Character Creation Discussion

This will be the thread for discussing your character creation, if you would like to come up with a cohesive idea as a whole together. Please be aware you will be License Level 1, so after creating your character, you can gain 1 License Level in a frame of your choice. You won't get the new frame with that level, but it'll at least give you a cool new gun or system to help you lean into the role you want.

If anybody wants more direct help with the character creation process, anywhere from "I don't understand what I should be looking for" to "If I tell you the thing I want to do, will you tell me what Frame to pick?" I'm available. You can post here(and maybe get help from your fellow players), private message me, or even ask for my discord info if you want a more rapid back-and-forth.

In regards to allowed frames: You can take license levels from any frame in the corebook or Long Rim. If you are interested in homebrew mechs, they are welcome on a case by case basis. There are several 3rd party Mech Companies I'm aware of as being generally fairly balanced, so if you want, one, ask.

That said, I have 3 rules when it comes to builds, that I include in every game.

1: The "This doesn't work like I thought it did rule." On a case-by-case basis, I'm willing to let you retrain things that you normally couldn't. This is usually a result of things like "I took this because it looked like the tanky option, but it turns out it's built for skirmishers," and other such build "mistakes."

2: The "Siege Perilous Rule." Once per campaign per player, if you just do not like your character anymore, I will allow a full retcon. This is to help prevent burnout when you get to the point where playing a character is no longer fun for you. This is not a method to bypass bad situations, like playing a "good early game" build and then switching to a "takes some setup" build. The fantasy equivalent is playing a fighter for five levels and then deciding you want to be a wizard with fireball now that you won't have 5 HP. That's not the purpose. If this rule is invoked, I will do my best to retcon things in such a way that your character has always been like this.

3: The "GMs Headache Rule." If you are using a rule in a way that is obviously overpowered in a way that makes the game unfun, I'll ask you to make some changes. I might ask for you to just pull back in the frequency, to not trivialize other players. I might ask that you work with me to come up with an acceptable nerf to the ability(s) involved. Or I might ask you to go back and pick a different ability. This isn't me trying to keep the players weak or anything, I'm a generally generous GM. It's mostly just a failsafe for "I made myself the main character at the expense of everyone else's fun" type stuff. Nobody likes it when the Paladin/Warlock/Bard Multiclass solos the dungeon.

I have a question about the GMS Personalizations system. What counts as a numerical bonus? For example, Death Head's High Stress Mag Clamps system isn't a numerical bonus in the strict sense.

I'm planning on making a mech that uses mostly auxiliary weapons, with the Gunslinger talent. If it works out like I think it should, it would be good at taking out a large number of grunts, but suffer against armored opponents. I'll be going for the Swallowtail frame, since it has an auxiliary weapon with decent range, and good systems for ranged combat.

Disclaimer: I literally read the LANCER rulebook for the first time this week.

My understanding of the Personalizations systems is that it's an excuse to change something about your mech that's mostly narrative flair but might give you a little bonus if the GM agrees it makes sense. For instance, you might use it to declare that your mech has a flexible tail, and then later describe it helping you climb a cliff. If the GM likes that idea, they might give you +1 accuracy on the skill check.

I've been toying with some kind of tech-focused mech. If saevikas is aiming for the Swallowtail, I might go for the Goblin or something similar.

Exactly this. It's meant to be something small, and not always relevant. Not usually combat useful, but flavorful, and providing roleplay effects and an occasional boost to a skill roll or the like.

Alright, after playing around with COMP/CON a bit, here's what I've got so far for my pilot:And a mech design:This is all "first draft" type stuff, so I might make revisions, and I'm open to changing things if there's a conflict with another character.

Hi guys, glad to be here.

I'm still working through the rule book so I may end up with more questions but for now, just one.

It sounds like we are starting at LL1 and can go ahead and build our custom mech if we want but for the first bit everybody has the Everest + a cool gun or something. Am I getting that right?

Yup! License Level 1 doesn't give you access to any new Frames, it just gives you access to a weapon or system or 2, depending on the license you're taking. You'll reach License Level 2 at an appropriate point to the story to get cool custom frames. For now, you've all got pretty standard loadouts, with a few special things to make you stand out.

If it helps to picture in your head, remember that you're basically "the only people in the colony that knew how to fly."

I'm guessing is also valid for build correction/change over time?

I'm interested in a NHP specialist teacher type that want to protect this new entity he helped shape from abuse and destruction.
My first choice would be the Balor frame, but a few others could be fun also if we gonna go for some team approach/combo

Balor looks like a fun frame, and in terms of team combos, my Goblin licenses will at least give me tech attacks that can help get/keep enemies in your death zones.

I'm good for playing almost anything. I've played a lock-on support and a hacking support lately, so I might like trying striker or artillery to do something different (though I wouldn't mind rebuilding that lock-on support.)

I currently have a preference for the Raleigh Frame, and go for a Gunslinger, (Tactician or Vanguard) and Walking Armory.

Once we start getting new frames I think I want to go with an IPS and focus on melee.

Do we want to try to recreate some of the old Knights of the Round Table or just make new dudes who fit the knightly theme? At least I think a knightly theme is what we're going for.

Right now I'm aiming more at just fitting in with the knightly theme as opposed to emulating a specific Knight of the Round Table. That said, Martyn is a bit more underhanded in tactics than one might expect from a "knight."

I was thinking 'heart of gold' old western gunslinger character. Strong morals, but not necessarily law abiding.

How small is the colony? And how well are we gonna know each other at start?

Here's what I've got so far.As the game goes on I think I want to stick with using the pike but I'll likely later try to use the Tortuga frame. That'll be a few levels in. I also am willing to swap things around if there is too much overlap with one of you guys.

I don't think I'll worry about being a reincarnation of a Knight but I did name this guy after Percival.

After looking at the preview that spoiler looks kinda weird. This is my first game on gamersplane so I'll probably have some growing pains.

Hey, sorry for the delay in response, folx! I'll try to address some of your questions and concerns.

@TheVagrant: Correct, that can be used for slow retraining your skills. The Siege Perilous idea is more of a "wow actually I hate my character concept" panic button. I don't see it used often.

@Eggillis, you're not expected to try and play a reincarnation of a specific knight or anything like that. More of a "We're the next Knights" type situation. When it comes to the original Knights, well...I've got a plan for that.

@TheVagrant again, no a large colony. Think a small moon, with likely a decent sized port-city, and then a few small settlements dotted around for specific purposes, like around mines, or food production, or people who just didn't want to live "in the city." If you've played Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel at all, Elpis is a good touchstone.


In addition, if it affects anybody's build, you'll likely all be gaining access to small NHPs as the story progresses. Nothing too fancy, just a dummy plug with a little extra. But if that's something you want to factor into your thoughts of how to build, there it is.

This is the character I am looking at right now, though I think there are some tweaks to still be done.

» INDIGO «
Yuen Trueman
PENAL COLONIST, LL0
GRIT:0 // H:2 A:0 S:0 E:0
[ SKILL TRIGGERS ]
CHARM (+2), READ A SITUATION (+2)
TAKE CONTROL (+2), SURVIVE (+2)
[ TALENTS ]
GUNSLINGER 1, VANGUARD 1
TACTICIAN 1
[ GEAR ]
MOBILITY HARDSUIT, LIGHT SIGNATURE
MEDIUM A/C, FLEXSUIT
PERSONAL DRONE, PATCH

----------
« LOSS OF CONTROL »
[ GMS STANDARD PATTERN I EVEREST ]
STRUCTURE:4/4 HP:14/14 ARMOR:0
STRESS:4/4 HEAT:0/6 REPAIR:6/6
ATK BONUS:0 TECH ATK:0 LTD BONUS:0
SPD:4 EVA:8 EDEF:8 SENS:10 SAVE:10
[ WEAPONS ]
Main Mount: MISSILE RACK
Flex Mount: PISTOL / PISTOL
Heavy Mount: HEAVY MACHINE GUN
[ SYSTEMS ]
STABLE STRUCTURE, RAPID BURST JUMP JET SYSTEM
TURRET DRONES

Since I don't have access to any good auxiliary ranged weapons yet, I'll use auxiliary melee weapons instead, and I'll change the talent from Hunter to Gunslinger the next LL.

Second draft of Martyn, made some tweaks to his talents and skill triggers after thinking about things some more and seeing what other people were picking for their characters. Mech is still the same as before.In terms of backstory, I've got this idea that Martyn's settlement held a tournament to decide what pilot they should send to join the scouting mission referenced in the game description. Martyn was ineligible to compete owing to a lack of status and resources, so he first drugged one of the competitors so that he could take his place, and then proceeded to make a farce of the tournament by employing every dirty trick and clever move he had.