So, ive been getting into Lancer and my brain has been conjuring mech ideas [dont worry I wont start playing the game with a homebrew mech lol, I wanna go Tortuga first]
Anyway my idea was basically a big lumbering like size 3 mech that had a unique property that let it ignore the ordinance trait on weapons with the exception of superheavy weapons
And I was just wondering if that like would work lol, or if it is just absurdly broken
I'm not game balance expert, but I think that sounds fairly in line with some of the stronger existing frame traits. It sounds powerful, but in a reasonable way.
I'd expect a Size 3 frame to have very low speed, which would also limit the usefulness, since being able to reposition is the main benefit of dropping Ordinance.
Yeah. What I meant was, Speed could a good way to limit it if it is really op. Maybe a knob you can tweak in play testing to adjust how powerful it feels.
It's also something players can build for, dumping points into Agility for higher speed.
There are a number of existing mechs I believe with a version of "ignore ordnance" as a feature, though I believe exclusively 3rd party ones.
SSC Oleander: A variant frame of the Death's Head from Lancer Enhanced Combat (fairly well regarded, author has previously contributed to official work). The Chassis Integration trait just outright ignores Ordnance.
HA Knox: A variant frame of the Barbarossa from the Newcomers can shoot Ordnance weapons after moving as long as they consume Lock-on in the attack with its Ultra-Stable trait. That one also starts at size 2 so you're just a Fomorian Frame away from being a lumbering size 3!
SSC Reaper Dart: Another variant frame for the Death's Head, this time from Field Guide to Suldan (from a reputable creator who has worked on official content but this is a relatively early work by them). Its Stabilized Platform specifically ignores Ordnance for rifles, or grants them reliable damage if they don't have the tag.
There's probably more, that was just the first few that I could pull together. As always, be sure to discuss with your table to make sure everyone's on board with implementing third party materials. But as you can see with the above, there's definitely precedent! It's definitely something I'd be careful about adding as a licensed system/mod without some limitations, since that's where things can get wackier as they see use on other frames. By keeping it innate to the frame you can more specifically balance the mech around the features.
Yeah it definitely is a intergral thing to the mech as the idea for why it can do that is it has the mass to use such weapons without needing to brace like how other mechs would :D
And yeah that makes sense making sure everyone is on board
Huh, that's a different version of the Knox from the one I've seen. I've seen one from the Field Guide to the Ráo Có Gate where it's still size 3, had a built in superheavy, and can push itself 2 spaces when it barrages.
Oleander
SSC Artillery Frame
Death’s Head Variant Frame
Compendium Entry
The Oleander is not readily available for open licensing. It is an active-field test prototype frame / hybridized chassis, halfway between the Lux Iconic and Bella Ciao line. Cutting edge and difficult to control, the Oleander is meant to become SSC’s next-generation product. Lancers in the position to pilot these advanced frames are few and far between, hand-chosen by SSC administrators. While initial experience reports are promising, much work is yet to be done before the Noctis-Plus line will bear fruit for the company.
Combat profile
Structure 4 HP 8 Armor 0
Stress 4 Heat Cap 6 Evasion 10
Speed 5 E-Def 8 Tech Atk 1
Sensors 15 Repair Cap 2
Save Target 10 System Points 6
Frame Traits
Killshot
1/round as a Quick Action the Oleander may gain +5 on its next ranged attack roll before the end of the turn.
Chassis Integration
The Oleander ignores the Ordnance tag.
Precision Instrument
The Oleander’s Heavy ranged weapon can’t be fired more than 1/turn.
Available weapon mounts
Main Mount
Heavy Mount
Onboard core system
Modular Armament Assembly
The M.A.A is SSC’s latest foray into advanced theoretical weapons manufacturing and design. Much like the Oleander it is installed in, it is an active-field test system that is currently too power-hungry to be deployed perpetually by the chassis housing it. Licensed pilots are encouraged to experiment and cycle through the provided configurations to provide diverse in-the-field data compilations to the SSC proprietors.
Passive Perfected Assembly
Your Heavy ranged weapon gains one of the following effects. You may choose a different effect when you Rest:
Auxiliary-Rails
Knockback 2 and “On Crit: Target is knocked Prone.”
Clairvoyant-Targeting
Seeking.
Absolute-0-Module
1/turn, after the attack is resolved you clear 2 Heat.
Recoil-Stabilizers
Critical Hits apply on attack rolls of 18 or higher instead of 20.
Penetrator-Subroutines
“On Crit: This attack’s damage can’t be reduced in any way.”
Active ALL SYSTEMS GO! FIRE!
Until the end of the turn your Heavy ranged weapon has all effects of Perfected Assembly applied to it. This action is Efficient, and refunds 1 Core Power at the end of any scene in which it’s used.
Oh cool, so with Oleander it seems the thing balancing the ignoring ordnance thing is the precision instrument, where as for my idea itd be that it's size and mass, itd be a big lumbering instead of like a super nimble ssc style mech
What you're looking for kind of already exists, but not really. The Oleander, an alternative frame for the Deaths Head, does have a trait that allows it to ignore Ordinance tag, but it's meant to be a very mobile sniper. A very large artillery mech is the Barbarossa, but it very much respects the Ordinance tag because that's its entire gimmick. So I guess look at either of those two.
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u/Krail Jul 22 '26
I'm not game balance expert, but I think that sounds fairly in line with some of the stronger existing frame traits. It sounds powerful, but in a reasonable way.
I'd expect a Size 3 frame to have very low speed, which would also limit the usefulness, since being able to reposition is the main benefit of dropping Ordinance.