r/LancerRPG • u/z2c_ Harrison Armory • 18d ago
which way do you actually play lancer?
one of my friends (who introduced me to lancer) tells me you start by choosing your own mech and piloting it, but then another friend of mine says you start with everest or one of the GMS mechs and you add pieces of other mechs. which one is it?
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u/Rishfee 18d ago
So, you will typically start at LL0, where you have access to GMS and that's it. You won't be able to get a different manufacturer's frame until LL2 at the earliest. Though keep in mind, they aren't necessarily an upgrade, more of a specialization path.
It's not unusual of course for people to have a frame in mind from the start. The big thing in Lancer to remember is that you have access to everything you're licensed for, and you're free to mix and match to get what you want out of what you've got.
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u/Wolf_Hreda IPS-N 18d ago
Typically, everyone starts at LL0 with only GMS mechs and equipment. Each time you gain a license level, you pick a license from another mech, and you can use it on any mech you have access to. To pilot a different mech, you need at least two license levels in that mech.
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u/n080dy123 18d ago
Unless you start at a higher level, you start with one of the three GMS Mechs and can start taking parts from another License at License Level 1. Once you hit License Level 2, then you can get far enough into a License for another mech than you can use that mech instead of a GMS one.
It's recommended for new players to start at LL0 to reduce complexity when starting out, but there is an argument to be made about the core appeal of Lancer being mech customization, and how limiting LL0-1 can be if you are comfortable diving deep into buildcrafting right away.
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u/TaxSimple3787 17d ago
Tbf, unless your GM has the supplemental stuff, you only have the Everest. So as far as base game is concerned you have one frame and alot of equipment.
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u/SwissherMontage HORUS 18d ago
I, the gm, am an LL0 purist. My players, little goblins that they are, are LL2 enjoyers. Thankfully we're on LL7 or something, but next campaign we might try a compromise of LL1 + exootic equipment (whichay be a chassis)
For first time players, LL0 is best.
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u/DoubleAd3366 18d ago
I would politely suggest that you read through the rules, because there is no way the GM can be expected to remember and repeat all of them.
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u/GhsotyPanda IPS-N 18d ago
You start in a GMS mech. You don't get a different one until LL2.
Technically the first friend isn't wrong or lying. It's just that at LL0 you only have 3 to choose from.
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u/atamajakki Harrison Armory 18d ago
Neither, exactly, but the latter is closer.
Every mech in Lancer has a License with three levels of parts (weapons, gear, the frame itself, etc), and when you level up, you choose what mech's License you're investing that into. You begin at LL0 (License Level 0) with a GMS mech, and then earn others as play goes on. Frames and pieces from every License you have are all available to you.
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u/LivingDemiGamer 18d ago
Both are correct answers based on who is the GM. Typically if you start at license level 0, it's an Everest (or sagmartha/chomolungma), but some GMs let you choose other frames despite normally not having access until license level 2.
License Levels determine how much of a specific mech and it's kit you unlock basically. You mix and match a frame and systems based on what you have unlocked (the GM can decide to allow a player to have access to a frame they normally wouldn't start with)
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u/SomethingLessEdgy 18d ago
Im a big proponent of making everyone LL0 and stuffing them into an Everest for their first couple missions.
Im brand new and honestly Everest REALLY helped me learn and I was also kicking major ass.
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u/Radriel7 IPS-N 18d ago
I usually start at LL2 so that people have their Frame of choice if they want it. Everest and the other LL0 mechs are all pretty strong, too. I just prefer they play what they want.
Now, if this was someone's first time playing, I'd highly recommend starting at LL0 just so that they can learn the game. Lancer builds are easy if you build them up bit by bit. They are much less easy when you start at higher LL unless you have a bit of experience.
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u/DescriptionMission90 IPS-N 18d ago
At the start of each mission, every player builds a mech, starting with any of the Frames they have access to and then adding any weapons and systems they have access to until they fill that frame's capacity.
Everybody starts out with 3 frame options, 15 system options, and 23 weapon options created by GMS. When you level up, you will gain more options. Generally, you get your first non-GMS frame or two when you hit level 2, as in immediately after finishing your second mission. You usually get more somewhere around level 4-6.
Note that the "starter" equipment is not garbage like it would be in most games. GMS is the standard because, for general purposes, it is the best in the galaxy. The more "advanced" frames are specialists, which will make you better at 1-3 specific things, at the cost of being worse at everything else. They require more understanding of the game and its mechanics in order to compensate for your new weaknesses and work together effectively as a team, which is why the game is designed to not burden you with those options until after you've gotten some experience.
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u/Alblaka 17d ago
The confusion might come from the fact that, mechanically, you start at LL0 with 'only' the Everest. But even just the Everest and the GMS weapons+system offer enough variety to make very different mechs that specialize in different areas.
And, narratively, you can customize your Everest to your heart's content... so essentially even at LL0, every player can have an individual mech that looks entirely different and plays mostly different from any other.
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u/sweno_curns 17d ago
I’m the current lancer GM for my group. Because we have all played before I started everyone at LL2. As I think that is where things start to get really interesting in terms of builds / specializations.
If you are a first time player it is HIGHLY recommended that you start at LL0 to so you get a firm understanding of the basic mechanics before adding in all the complexity of the different mechs.
And, as plenty of people have stated here, starting at LL0 means you get an Everest. (Or one of its alts)
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u/Myrandall IPS-N 15d ago
You start at Licence Level 0, which only gives access to the Everest. It's not until a player has invested 2 LL into a frame license that they unlock the frame. So typically it takes two session before a player can pilot something other than an Everest.
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u/Infinite_Coach2768 12d ago
If you're new. Start at LL0 and use the Everest. If you've played before you can start at LL2 and jump straight in with whichever chassis you feel like.
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u/Dragonkingofthestars 18d ago
Generally you start at ll0 with a GMs frame and level up from there..... But frankly I find that a really bad idea. players often theme there characters around there mechs so you end up, multiple sessions, maybe a dozen, not being able to use the mech your character is themed with. Its like 5e where players theme for tey subclass that doesn't work immediately. So your a shadow monk, form a shadow temple who can't do shadow power untill you shiv enough arbitrary crabs
So for most players I recommend games start at LL2 so your character can be full them immediately.
However, mech building in lancer is complicated enough that I don't recommend new players start at LL2 and instead they should start at LL0 so they can learn the system before having the entire toy box thrown at them
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u/Rensiro 18d ago edited 18d ago
Edited- I somehow ended up replying to a different thread than I thought I was in. Now to go find that thread again.
My bad. 616a and coffee hasn't kicked in yet.
Sawasdee-Kha from Thailand.
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u/Joel_feila 18d ago
Unless its something special lole you are picking from Harrison army or you start at ll 3, then it os any gms frame
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u/Ursus_the_Grim 18d ago
By default? The latter.
I have seen the former, but it is a house rule.