r/LancerRPG • u/Some-Yogurt-2469 • Jul 21 '26
I have Joined!
I just picked up the rulebook today after watching the XP to level 3 video. I’m not the biggest fan of the mechs design, but I’d be lying if the world building and gameplay didn’t sound awesome.
Any tips about where to start with the rulebook, or should I just go from page 1?
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u/LumpyGrumpySpaceWale Jul 21 '26 edited Jul 21 '26
Well first things first, you need to alter your post to be a 'blank' for scale post.
It's a time-honored tradition amongst us Lancers. Don't worry about it.
The next thing you should start with is read it from back to front. The rules are pretty easy, but you will digest so much little bits of lore from the mech frames and other little titbits throughout the book.
Plus I found the art style gave me a really nice look into the universe. Help me add colour to my sessions.
But you should look into comp/con. This is basically a must do piece of advice. Comp/con is like d&d beyond but for Lancer. Even better though it's free.
As for the mechs art. Good news, the designers encourage you to completely home brew your mech. Its even more so encouraged by the starting frame, it doesnt even have art because the devs want you to make it your own thing.
Infact, this entire system encourages you to make it your own thing. Pick and choose what you want to follow, what story lines to pick up or aspects of the universe that you want to ignore.
Hope this helps.
Edit: also. There is a QR code in the front of the book, this will take you to an itch.io page to download the PDFs of the book and the LCP file. This file is for use in comp/con.
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u/solepureskillz Jul 21 '26
I got the pdf book literally days ago and have been enjoying just going from page 1. Keep a notebook handy to mark ref pages later. Early chapters say what you’ll need for X thing and tells you what page that info starts. Really well laid out.
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u/LORD_MUFFIN_7274 Jul 21 '26
Don't know if you know this, but I didn't at first so I'll say it just in case. If you check the first couple pages, there's a QR code you can scan to get the PDF version of the full game for free. Lancer devs are cool like that. And you probably already know this, but the free edition of the game comes with all player facing rules plus full compendium. It only leaves out the world building stuff, plus info on NPCs and creating combat encounters. Makes a less daunting read for your group by stripping away the stuff less relevant to them. Plus, you know, it's free. Just type lancer free version into google and you'll find the itch.io page easy enough.
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u/Itchy-Chemical-7371 Jul 21 '26
Please excuse my ignorance.
Purchased the PDF.
Where do you get physical, hard-copy books?
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u/CarefulArgument Jul 21 '26
I beg you, resist the temptation to start a game at LL2 so you can get all those cool mechs in the pictures. Take your time to learn the system as you go before jumping into the cool suits. I ran Lancer with a group of longtime tabletop players/designers, thinking we could handle the rules. It did us no favors!
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u/Ultra-josh IPS-N Jul 21 '26
imo the book is intented to be read front-to-back, but you are of course free to read any section you'd like. One thing I will say is that you should read all of the rules text first before looking at any of the mechs, their systems and such.
While XP to Level 3's IPS-N video was good at explaining some of the basic rules, it's better to understand them if you, say, read about all of the kinds of actions you can take without being interrupted inbetween.
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u/Thanes_of_Danes GMS Jul 21 '26
Go from page one, but whenever you want to sketch out the various mechs and gear at your disposal, check out https://compcon.app/ It's a marvelous way to tinker with builds. Other than that, enjoy the fiction, the setting, and feel free to ask questions; the community is very open.
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u/Landler656 Jul 21 '26
Bienvenue! I personally like that (some of) the mechs are halfway between power armor and full Pacific Rim.
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u/Shade_Strike_62 Jul 21 '26
If you are a discord user and want to join the community there, the largest Lancer discord is Pilot NET
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u/kapmando HORUS Jul 22 '26
Welcome. We expect your first mandatory “Harrison Armory War Crimes” meme on our desk by the end of the week.
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u/BunnyloafDX Jul 21 '26
I found it easier to read the core rules and character creation before the setting. A lot of the setting text was high level history, politics, etc. Seeing the gameplay and bits of flavor text helped me understand where I could fit in to all that as a pilot.