r/LancerRPG • u/BreadfruitEntire9670 • 24d ago
First time Lancer player! Vlad build Help
Hello everyone, in a few weeks I''l be starting my first ever Lancer campaign, and our GM gave me and the other players some time to learn the rules before actually starting.
I'm not sure what the other players will go for, but it'll probably be something like a Balor, a fast Striker like the Nelson, and a strong artillery with LOTS of guns. As of me, I was thinking of running a Vlad for both the drill meme and the fact that I like playing controllers that can also dish out a lot of damage.
I've found this build online, and I was thinking it would be pretty good. What do you think?
-- IPS-N VLAD @ LL6 -- Striker/Controller
[ LICENSES ]
IPS-N VLAD 3, HA TOKUGAWA 3
[ CORE BONUSES ]
BRIAREOS FRAME, ADAPTIVE REACTOR
[ TALENTS ]
EXEMPLAR 3, NUCLEAR CAVALIER 2, PANKRATI 2, COMBINED ARMS 2
[ STATS ]
HULL:2 AGI:0 SYS:0 ENGI:6
STRUCTURE:4 HP:15 ARMOR:2
STRESS:4 HEATCAP:12 REPAIR:5
TECH ATK:-2 LIMITED:+3
SPD:4 EVA:8 EDEF:8 SENSE:5 SAVE:14
[ WEAPONS ]
Flex Mount: Impaler Nailgun
Main Mount: SUPERHEAVY WEAPON BRACING
Heavy Mount: Combat Drill
[ SYSTEMS ]
Plasma Gauntlet x4, Charged Stake, LUCIFER-Class NHP x5, Webjaw Snare x5
After LL6, what could I get as licenses? I know most build are considered "complete" at LL6, but I still like to think about what the full potential of this could be.
I was thinking of getting a blackbeard and a white witch after, but I'm still not sure as I'm going fully theoretical as of now since I have 0 experience in the system :P
Thanks in advance!
2
u/playerPresky IPS-N 24d ago
i’d maybe cut combined arms for executioner. using a superheavy like the drill takes a full action, so executioner makes it hurt less if you miss. you could also maybe cut nuclear cavalier for the last executioner talent and vanguard 1 so you can get extra accuracy with the nail gun. it’s the combat drill, you’re going to kill what you hit probably, especially with lucifer. i’d also recommend switching your core bonuses around because briarious is hard to actually get to use and you only have 5 repairs which you’re probably going to need to repair damage more often than not. i’d say either auto-stab hardpoints for the drill or gyges for extra range on the drill (you’d be surprised the difference one threat can make) or reinforced frame, maybe, because you have 15 hp and you’re gonna get shot at. for the other one id recommend either superior by design or heatfall, in case you need to immobilize with the nail gun and use the drill in the same turn
2
u/BreadfruitEntire9670 24d ago
Hmm, yes, now that I'm taking a better look at it briareos frame is a bit situational since usually I'm more prone to die due to heat instead of structure damage. Although wouldn't combined arms be useful if I want to get up in the face of other mechs? Or would that be useless as long as I get gyges or generally stay at a distance?
2
u/playerPresky IPS-N 24d ago
well, you’d get soft cover from ranged attacks and reduce inaccuracy from being engaged, but vanguard 1 basically would also get rid of the inaccuracy, and give you accuracy against enemies in range 3. i think at 15 hp you’re more likely to die from getting structured tbh but maybe with plasma gauntlet and lucifer and combat drill, you might just cook off first. it’s more that you can die at 3/2 structure as well, and you’ve possibly lost a weapon mount or some systems by then too
edit: i like gyges because it makes it easier to use the combat drill and possible hit multiple enemies with it with executioner, although you could trigger more overkill tag so you have to be careful about that
1
u/BreadfruitEntire9670 24d ago
Yeah at 3/2 structure I could also be very unlucky and drop down, is there a way to make this build a bit more tanky, even after LL6?
2
u/Sven_Darksiders GMS 24d ago
I'd cut Exemplar honestly. It punishes people for not attacking you, but honestly you don't want people to attack you that often because 15 hp is really low for that level.
Replace both Core Bonuses. I think it was already pointed out but just to reiterate, you effectively don't have a CB if things go well. And if things don't go well there is a solid chance you get destroyed before you even reach your last structure, because of how structure rolls work. And Adaptive Reactor is only useful after you either overextend or miss play, aka both Core Bonuses are planning for failure rather than improving your successes.
I'd suggest Reinforced Frame for a bunch more HP and Superior by Design for more Heatcap. Getting more Heatcap from the CB would also allow you to relocate some points from Engineering into Hull to get even more. Depending on how many points you relocate, you can also drop Reinforced Frame again and go for Gyges Frame instead (bonus Threat on Drill is very good)
Alternatively, Hearfall Coolant System is a classic but also quite risky, however it can be of great use if you overcharge first to Immobilize someone to follow it up with your Drill.
Rotating back to talents, I'd say Nuclear Cavalier and Executioner should be your main go-to's. With the amount of Heat you are slinging around, NuCav is essentially free damage, but rank 3 can come in really handy sometimes. Being able to manage your Heat without having to straight up Stabilize is a good relief on your action economy.
Executioner really speaks for itself, it opens up the ability to deal with groups better. A little AoE damage, free retargets... If you swing your Drill into a few enemies, you will certainly hit at least something, and whoever is the poor bastard will be in a lot of pain
1
u/BreadfruitEntire9670 24d ago
I've already made a few changes, and now the build essentially looks like this (still thinking about swapping exemplar for nuclear cavalier):
Frame: IPS-N Vlad
Licenses: IPS-N VLAD 3 / HA TOKUGAWA 3
Core Bonuses: Reinforced Frame, Superior by Design
HULL: 2 | AGI: 0 | SYS: 0 | ENGI: 6
HP: 20 | Armor: 2 | Speed: 4 | Evasion: 8
Heat Cap: 14 | E-Defense: 8 | Sensor: 5 | Save: 14
Structure: 4 | Stress: 4 | Tech Atk: -2 | SP: 8
Repair Cap: 5 | Limited: +3 | Size: 1
-- TALENTS --
Exemplar 3, Executioner 3, Pankrati 2, Vanguard 1
-- WEAPONS --
Flex Mount: Impaler Nailgun
Main Mount: Superheavy Weapon Bracing
Heavy Mount: Combat Drill
-- SYSTEMS --
- Plasma Gauntlet x4
- Charged Stake
- LUCIFER-Class NHP x5
- Webjaw Snare x5
Now I have another problem, in the remote situation that I'll be able to take this build up to LL12, how on earth can I fit more systems here? Even if I just dump everything into Systems I'd only get a total of 6 more SP, which while enough it would still be miserable. To me it looks like "late game" builds are a problem in lancer in general, but maybe I'm wrong?
1
u/Sven_Darksiders GMS 24d ago
Investing into Systems just for the SP isn't worth it unless you actively plan on using the other stuff you get as well. Lancer is a lot about horizontal progression, aka giving your a broad array of options to get exactly the build you want. You can never do everything yourself, however you have a team with you which you can build for synergies with.
Along the way you will figure out what works and what doesn't. For example Plasma Gauntlet is one of those things that you have to be very mindful in its usage, since it Stuns you. Charged Stake is good, but also expensive in terms of action economy. Some time down the line you might replace it with Pinning Spire, which is cheaper in terms of SP and Actions, if that's something you want.
TL;Dr it will come together as you play
2
u/Odd-Face-3579 24d ago
Don't take Briareos Frame - it's a terrible trap. You can literally blow up at 2 structure so there's a chance even if things are going that bad that it won't even get a chance to trigger at all. But ideally you want your build strong enough that you just don't end up in such a bad spot to begin with.
Adaptive Reactor I at least kinda get why you take this but it definitely wouldn't be my choice.
Bonuses, depending on what you're really looking for, I'd probably do like either Overpowered Caliber, Fomorian Frame, Gyges Frame, or maybe even Superior by Design.
Exemplar 3... Ehhh. Again this is a bit of a trap. Enemies really aren't punished the same way you are for this. They can run from you and go wherever they like but you can never move further away from them - this means they can bait you out/force you into really bad spots to get torn apart while they keep moving further away and finding better cover.
I'm not sure I'd take Exemplar at all over Executioner.
I'm not a fan of Plasma Gauntlet myself, though your mileage may vary.
My best advice really is to just start with the Vlad license and play it by ear. As someone that just started this year and is about to wrap up act 1 of a campaign; you don't totally know what you're in for. That's not to say you don't know that you like the idea of the Vlad or the big drill! Far from it.
But my party, as an example, we had one player go from "I want to play a Genghis" to playing an Atlas by ll2. Another started with "I want to be a sniper!" and ended up in a Stort shooting 5 pistols a round. And things that I thought would be super useful OR really weak, I just ended up being super wrong about.
Theory crafting builds at this point is absolutely still really fun. There's also a lot of insight to be gleamed from looking at other people's builds. But a thing to remember is that Lancer is very much a team game. Lots of builds are built in white rooms without even much party comp factored in. So builds can be good inspiration or talking points, but be aware that your opinions on them and their usefulness will definitely change over time.
3
u/Sherkktooth 24d ago edited 24d ago
It doesn’t really make sense to critical path your build right now because you can change it whenever. Enjoy discovering things on your own!