Oct 26, 2020 8:40 pm
Who are Lancers? Well in short just about anyone from any walk of life may become a Lancer however they are more likely to wash-out which usually leaves them as a non-viable entity of society as such most wash-outs are just never seen again. What actually happens to them is about as well known as who actually pulls the strings behind the scenes. Now if you are in the dark about that, well then that is just they way they want it to stay.
Still what makes one a viable Lancer versus a wash-out well here in lies the rub, in short they simply have not figure that one out. They do know that certain genomes are more likely to survive but that the best of the best usually come from a genome base whose odds of success are very low. All they truly know is that there is something within the person's spirit or something else equally non-quantitatively measurable that determines their final fate and being able to recognize these traits in potential candidates is something that can make a spotter very wealthy. Once a candidate has been selected and asked to join (aka drafted usually without them knowing it). They are quickly moved into the program and begin to undergo the physiological transformation and training that will turn them hopefully into a viable Lancer. Which is to say while there are pilots out there, and pilots that can pilot mechs, these pilots are not Lancers. Lancers are individuals that are engineered to seamlessly meld (plug directly into a neuro net) with the high-end mechs and operate them without succumbing to a literal mental melt down and have their brains leak out their nose and ears. Further they bodies are also augmented to enhance their physical abilities to withstand the higher physical stresses that are placed upon their bodies when piloting one of these high-end mechs. So while the individual is still very much human, they are much more than human as well and this is where we begin. The character is someone who joined (willingly or not so willingly) the program and successfully finished the surgical, physical, and mental training regimes.
In Lancer, the pilot progresses by completing missions and gaining Access Levels. The AL is as integral to the pilot as it is of the Mech. For as the pilot gains an AL it opens that AL up to its Mech. So what are these ALs? Well in short it is basically the maturing of the interfacing of the pilot which is only obtainable via stress under fire. As these various elements are used they become more stable and more firmly assimilated into the pilots physiology allowing them to Access more complex features without destroying the mech and/or themselves in the process. Of course with such experience also comes other improvements as the pilot is able to improve their Triggers, Mech Skills, and Grit and allows them to choose Talents to further customize their abilities to what they envision is the best form of Lancer Pilot.
A new pilot starts at AL0 having just completed augmentation and basic training and given their basic mech (the GMS-SP1 Everest) but have not put themselves or their mech threw a high stress run to see how well they and their mech respond as an integrated unit. The completion of that run will of course be their next pinnacle achievement and their way to becoming a great Lancer.
Characters Start With the Following:
... Pts -- Asset Description
.... 1 --- Background
.... 4 --- Pilot Triggers +2
.... 3 --- Talent Ranks +1
.... 2 --- Mech Skill +1 or +2
.... 1 --- AL0 General Massive Systems and a GMS-SP1 "Everest" Mech Frame
Mech Modularity
Mechs are powerful machines, but what makes them more powerful – and a Lancer more unique than other pilots – is that they have the ability to combine mech weapons, parts, and gear from many different sources. Mechs in Lancer are modular: each Frame comes with a list of Access restricted gear that, once unlocked, can be freely swapped between all the mechs one has available. Because of this customizability, Lancers are as much experts at building their machines as they are at piloting them.
Still what makes one a viable Lancer versus a wash-out well here in lies the rub, in short they simply have not figure that one out. They do know that certain genomes are more likely to survive but that the best of the best usually come from a genome base whose odds of success are very low. All they truly know is that there is something within the person's spirit or something else equally non-quantitatively measurable that determines their final fate and being able to recognize these traits in potential candidates is something that can make a spotter very wealthy. Once a candidate has been selected and asked to join (aka drafted usually without them knowing it). They are quickly moved into the program and begin to undergo the physiological transformation and training that will turn them hopefully into a viable Lancer. Which is to say while there are pilots out there, and pilots that can pilot mechs, these pilots are not Lancers. Lancers are individuals that are engineered to seamlessly meld (plug directly into a neuro net) with the high-end mechs and operate them without succumbing to a literal mental melt down and have their brains leak out their nose and ears. Further they bodies are also augmented to enhance their physical abilities to withstand the higher physical stresses that are placed upon their bodies when piloting one of these high-end mechs. So while the individual is still very much human, they are much more than human as well and this is where we begin. The character is someone who joined (willingly or not so willingly) the program and successfully finished the surgical, physical, and mental training regimes.
In Lancer, the pilot progresses by completing missions and gaining Access Levels. The AL is as integral to the pilot as it is of the Mech. For as the pilot gains an AL it opens that AL up to its Mech. So what are these ALs? Well in short it is basically the maturing of the interfacing of the pilot which is only obtainable via stress under fire. As these various elements are used they become more stable and more firmly assimilated into the pilots physiology allowing them to Access more complex features without destroying the mech and/or themselves in the process. Of course with such experience also comes other improvements as the pilot is able to improve their Triggers, Mech Skills, and Grit and allows them to choose Talents to further customize their abilities to what they envision is the best form of Lancer Pilot.
A new pilot starts at AL0 having just completed augmentation and basic training and given their basic mech (the GMS-SP1 Everest) but have not put themselves or their mech threw a high stress run to see how well they and their mech respond as an integrated unit. The completion of that run will of course be their next pinnacle achievement and their way to becoming a great Lancer.
Characters Start With the Following:
... Pts -- Asset Description
.... 1 --- Background
.... 4 --- Pilot Triggers +2
.... 3 --- Talent Ranks +1
.... 2 --- Mech Skill +1 or +2
.... 1 --- AL0 General Massive Systems and a GMS-SP1 "Everest" Mech Frame
Mech Modularity
Mechs are powerful machines, but what makes them more powerful – and a Lancer more unique than other pilots – is that they have the ability to combine mech weapons, parts, and gear from many different sources. Mechs in Lancer are modular: each Frame comes with a list of Access restricted gear that, once unlocked, can be freely swapped between all the mechs one has available. Because of this customizability, Lancers are as much experts at building their machines as they are at piloting them.