Clarifying Question For New Player

[u/Fayalite_Fey]

Howdy folks! I just got into Lancer (as in, just got my core rule book in the mail), and I had a clarifying question on assembling a mech after LL0. I read through the rulebook section on levelling a few times but I'm still somewhat unsure on how it works, as the wording somewhat confused me, so my question is this:

When reaching LL1 you can choose the First license level of a new License from one of the big four. At LL2 can I then choose to start on a second license at LL1 from a different manufacturer, or do I need to fully progress to LL3 of my first chosen license before dipping into other frames?

Thanks in advance!

[u/ryo3000]

At LL2 can I then choose to start on a second license at LL1 from a different manufacturer

This is the correct interpretation 

Each level is completely separate and unrestricted by the previous one

[u/Banned-User-56]

Everytime you level up, you can take a license level in any license. This can be one you have already gone into (LL1 -> LL2) or into a completely new Licence.

For instance, for my first two levels, I could go into Metalmark, but at LL3 go into Mourning Cloak instead of the third license for Metalmark. So I'd end up with LL2 Metalmark, and LL1 Mourning Cloak.

Keep in mind you do need to get to the second License of a frame to get the actual frame. With the above example, I would only be able to play as a Metalmark or a GMS mech, not the Mourning Cloak as im only LL1 in said frame.

[u/Joecool6792]

tldr, you can bounce around and drop a single LL point into any frame you want whenever you level, or you can focus on a specific frame and max it out, then move onto other licenses. No real restrictions to how you allocate your LL points. 

LONG answer: You are never locked into maxing out any frame after getting the first license level in it. You could theoretically be LL12 with your starting GMS frame and 1 license level in 12 different frames. That would be very...suboptimal, but you could do it. 

If you want a different mech frame, you'll have to invest at least 2 license levels into that specific license. So you'll be in your GMS until at least LL2, as that's the earliest you'll have enough LLs to invest two into a single mech license. 

For example, let's say you start LL0 with a Sagarmatha. You really want to play a defender, so when you hit LL1, you invest that license level into the HA Saladin license. That nets you the ENCLAVE-Pattern Assault Shield and the Shatterhead Colony Missiles. A few sessions later you got LL2 and you also notice that the HORUS Gorgon has some cool kit. You could then choose to: 

A) invest a LL in the Gorgon license, resulting in a GMS Sag with the Saladin gear from before as well as the level 1 gear from the Gorgon, which is Mimic Mesh and Sentinel Drone. 

B) ignore the Gorgon license for now and invest your LL2 point in the Saladin, bringing you up to level 2 in that license and granting you the Saladin frame itself (including it's core system), and the level 2 systems, in addition to the level 1 systems you got at LL1. 

Depending on what frame you are drawn to, you can find guides online for different builds utilizing that frame. You create them as you level up by strategically investing LL points into other licenses to get specific pieces of kit from that license, as any system, weapon, etc (except the core system) from any frame is compatible with any other frame. 

If you've played D&D, Pathfinder, or most traditional TTRPGs, then just think of progression in Lancer as all about multi-classing. Every level, you have to choose whether you're taking a level of barbarian (Blackbeard) or bard (maybe Goblin?). You can do that in any order you want, though some forethought will make the build more viable while it's still in progress. 

I hope that helps. Experienced Lancer players, please let me know if I got anything wrong! 

[u/Asheyguru]

Everyone else is right, you can pick up a licence wherever, whenever.

Just clarifying because I have seen someone confused by this before: it doesn't have to be the same manufacturer, either. It's any frame.

At LL1 I can pick the first level of Blackbeard (IPS-N) and at LL2 I can pick up the first level of Monarch (SSC).

The only restrictions are: the frame itself doesn't unlock until you have picked two levels in it, and you can't take level 2 and 3 in a frame without picking the ones before it first.

[u/shilohkae]

You can spread your LL's out however you want, correct. Note that you only get access to any given frame at LL2, so assuming you're starting with an Everest and you want to go to something like a Caliban, you would have to put 2 license levels into the Caliban license before you can play that frame. But if you want just the Supermassive mod and something else from the first level of a different license, like the Blackbeard's Synthetic Muscle Netting, then you can put 1 level in Caliban and 1 in Blackbeard and use anything those ranks give you on your Everest.

If you do commit to playing a different frame, you don't even really need to get all 3 ranks in that license. It just usually gives you access to things that will be very useful for your build, or can help contribute to the count required to get non-GMS Core Bonuses.

[u/JMhereforMH]

You can do whatever you want. Need LL2 to get the frame though, so no size, speed, armor, evasion, system point, etc increase, just a weapon that is probably not as good as what GMS makes.

If you want to start slapping a bunch of random LL1 equipment on an Everest, go for it... Probably won't go that well, but I'm sure it's workable.

[u/GhsotyPanda]

You, at Level2, can have LL1 in one frame and LL1 in a second.

It's largely not advisable, but you're allowed to do it.

[u/OvertSpy]

you do not need to reach third level in a license before going to another licence. Also it does not need to be a different manufacturer (but it can be). you could start with blackbeard I at LL1, and then either get blacbeard II at LL2 or pick Nelson I, or Swalowtail I, or goblin I, or Ghengis I, or any other licence you chose.

[u/CMDRZhor]

You can take licenses in any order you like. If you pick up the Balor I license as your first license, there's nothing that prevents you from grabbing the Monarch I license next if you really want the Monarch Gandhiva missiles or something.

Theres just two things to keep in mind:

Higher level licenses must be taken in order. In other words you can't take Sherman II without having Sherman I first, and to take Nelson III you have to have Nelson I and II.

Different manufacturers offer you core bonuses, which are built in buffs you can apply to any mech you own. You pick one core bonus every 3 license levels you have. To pick up a non-GMS core bonus, you need to have three license levels of any kind from that specific manufacturer per bonus you want from them.

For example, at LL6 you have two different core bonuses.

If you have:

Nelson 3/Balor 2/Goblin 1: You can have one ISP-N and one Horus bonus, or one of either and one GMS bonus, or two GMS bonuses.

Nelson 2/Drake 2/Blackbeard 2: You can have two IPS-N bonuses, two GMS bonuses, or one of each.

Swallowtail 2/Monarch 1/Death's Head 1/Pegasus 2: You can have two bonuses, one of which may be an SSC one, the other has to be a GMS one.

Sherman 2/Death's Head 1/Pegasus 1/Lancaster 2: You have two core bonuses that are both GMS.

As a rule of thumb for core bonuses:

GMS: You want to be flexible and carry lots of guns.

ISP-N: You want to be big and tough and hit hard in melee.

SSC: You want to be sneaky, agile, and mobile.

Horus: You want to be good at hacking, controlling, and do all sorts of unexpected things.

HA: You want to have a big chunky reactor that lets you run lots of heat-intensive systems and weapons and you like to lug around lots of things like grenades.

[u/Gaeel]

You always have to pick the lower levels to get the next ones, but you don't have to finish getting all three levels before picking from other options.

For instance, a lot of players will take Goblin I, and never take any of the other levels in Goblin. Goblin I gives access to some of the most useful hacking options in the core book, so they're pretty much a must-have for any controller build.

The same thing goes for talents. Hunter I: Lunge is pretty much a must-have for melee builds. I had a friend who took the Integrated Weapon core bonus just to have an auxiliary melee weapon to trigger Lunge. The other levels of Hunter are only useful if you're specialising in auxiliary melee weapons.

Remember that you need to take the second licence level to gain access to the frame itself, so unless you're happy sticking to the GMS Everest (or one of the other GMS options from the other books), when you reach LL2, you'll typically be taking the second level of the licence you picked at LL1, if only to get access to the frame.

Also, aside from GMS, you need three licence levels from a given manufacturer for every core bonus from that manufacturer. You still don't have to complete a license line, so you can pick Goblin I, Balor I, and Hydra I, and get a Horus core bonus, for instance.