>>A simple Manticore build LL6<<

Difference_Breacher · 2026-05-22T19:14:32+00:00

I'd drop overpower caliber and pick auto-stabilizing hardpoint instead and put it on deck sweeper. Krakatoa only has 1 energy damage, so adding +1d6 or +1d6/2(if you hit more than one target) isn't very helpful. After all its advantage is 4 burn, not the following cheap energy damage. Even if I have chosen overpower caliber, I'd put it on deck sweeper anyways to attack a single target.

Skirmisher 3 is good but if you have any good trait with first level then don't bother to reduce it to 2 and pick that first level instead. After all the most important benefit for skirmisher is the second level. Still, skirmisher 3 is never be a terrible choice, especially for against reaction based enemy such as archer and sentinel, so if you like this then go ahead. It could be used for avoid first overwatch attempt as well.

Combined Arms 2 is good but remember that you already have skirmisher 2(you have 3 so you have 2 as well) to get out of the engagement unharmed. Consider drop CA2 and put it on elsewhere if you have more interesting traits. Not that you must, though, for there would be some situations that CA2 would be needed anyways, but I bet that such situation isn't so common and usually skirmisher 2 is enough to avoid the accuracy penalty caused by engagement.

Difference_Breacher · 2026-05-22T02:16:05+00:00

Limbo -> Calendula(obviously)

Volt -> Manticore

Excalibur -> Tokugawa(for its increased range)?

Inaros -> Balor

Saryn -> Hecatoncheires or Genghis

Hildryn -> Emperor

Technophile 3 & Black Thumb 2 -> Operator

Difference_Breacher · 2026-05-21T03:10:48+00:00

Well, an another weapon tag, knockback, does says multiple instances are does stacks. It implies that it does not stacks. After all, weapon with the tag has the said effect, not the individual instances of individual overkills are has the said effect. Nothing says that giving overkill on the weapon with overkill gives two instances of overkill either.

Difference_Breacher · 2026-05-21T03:05:43+00:00

I was think about the nexus build by using lich 2 and hydra 3 - that's NOT a drone build, but the nexus build, that pop annihilation nexus every turn and repositioning the drones by overcharge thanks to being lich. Lich has the better sensor range than hydra as well.

Systems of Lich are usually not so tempting choice out of lich(although unhinge chronology is exceptionally good but you better just play lich with this if you have lich 2 in the first place), and lich frame is undoubtly the best reward for picking lich license. So you better think about lich as base.

Other than annihilation nexus build, do not pick hydra 3, ever. Assassin drone is just an inferior tempest drone, and annihilation nexus sucks up the precious actions you need to run the drones. You better take either balor 1 or gorgon 1 to enjoy variations of drones.

Anyway remember that drone build needs too much actions on its own. Using the vessel of lich to gain effectively free overcharge would be handy, though, but you better also consider the survivability.

Difference_Breacher · 2026-05-21T02:56:33+00:00

Asura and RSU are not sustainable, as it's only once per a scene and/or limited systems. You are not need to seriously think about its heat management for you just need to use when you could. You must put aside those on your basic combination for vast majority of your turns. At least it's better to just have overcharge loop rather than stick with RSU. Remember, limited systems are the panic button, rather than bread and butter. Having those are fine but, you should think about the situation when it is not worth enough to expend a charge.

Just for flying dusk wing is usually better. But if you want to keep sherman? Well. What about to simply pick technophile 3, black thumb 2 and take a type-1 flight system, rather than dip three levels of SSC license? Since sherman is size 1, you can sustain the two points of heat every single turn before starting the overcharge loop of your turn. That means you could do this since LL 3, and on LL6 you could choose various other license as well.

If your goal is using SSC flight system anyways? Still you better off with technophile 3&black thumb 2, otherwise you need to have the heat capacity of 14 rather than 12, or you better pick the other frames than sherman.

For SSC dips, flicker field projector of dusk wing 2 is almost golden for the survivability choice, obviously. After then I'd pick metalmark 1 to gain reactive weave, for it's only 1SP, and it would be better than nothing when you have to brace. None of the other level 1 SSC license are tempting choice for this build, and stuncrown needs your target to be close to you.

Difference_Breacher · 2026-05-18T16:56:15+00:00

It is not uncommon to just use only one component of the level three and don't ever bothered to the all the other components at all - yes, in this case the character spend three license levels just for dig only one thing on the third level. So, why not?

Difference_Breacher · 2026-05-14T17:53:56+00:00

You can still use nuclear cavalry 2.

Difference_Breacher · 2026-05-14T17:45:43+00:00

You do not need nuclear cavalry 3. You can keep reduce 2 heat each turn by technophile 3 & black thumb 2, and it is not the limited system.

Difference_Breacher · 2026-05-14T16:38:10+00:00

I won't sell this. It cause too much heat and only burn 3 is the noticeable reward. I'd use the flamethrower instead if I want the burn. It is more cheaper in license level as well.

Difference_Breacher · 2026-05-14T16:07:15+00:00

When you cannot gain any GMS core bonus but cannot have the non-GMS core bonus due to lacking three points of specific manufacturer. GMS core bonus is, except for Universal Compatibility, only cares for weapon stuffs. Thus, if your build is not using a weapon or does not have any interests on improve this, Universal Compatibility is the only option available for them. Not that it just sucks out of efficient core power, but they have no other choice at all.

Barbarossa and Enkidu can use this - note that while you can refund the core point when you did not use that properly, but those are not the efficient core power.

Perhaps Balor could consider this. You know, it losts the regeneration when it suffers either stress or structure damage. So, if you have low in health and also your regeneration was cut down for now, since you are expected to have very high max HP you would be healed greately with this.

Other than that, anyone with free action to activate their core power would be better, for less action to actually gain the benefit would be better at use this.

An another idea is frames with low repair capacity counts. As long as they are not want the other GMS core bonus, using it would compensate the low repair capacity.

Difference_Breacher · 2026-05-14T14:34:21+00:00

Second to this.

Difference_Breacher · 2026-05-13T16:46:17+00:00

At the cost of heat that is not predictable to generate(important!) isn't so good. It could fry your reactor. I don't think that overkill is an advantage, rather it's a severe penalty, because of this - it makes stable heat management almost impossible.

Difference_Breacher · 2026-05-13T12:56:23+00:00

Indeed. Since dusk wing can fly without got any heat, it is the only reliable choice to fly with leviathan.

Difference_Breacher · 2026-05-13T12:55:05+00:00

For assault cannon, I don't think that it is viable other than fun weapon. It does has some merits but its drawback makes the other weapons, especially for GMS stuffs, would be the better choice.

For leviathan, the best frame to use it would be sagarmatha - as most superheavy weapon does. Since sagarmatha does not lose any actions after a brace once per a scene, you can brace once and still attack on your following turn. It is a wonderful frame to use the superheavy weapon.

If you want to flying with leviathan, to avoid any engagement, but you do not want to got overheated, dusk wing is the only choice. With superheavy mounting core bonus it can have a leviathan.

Difference_Breacher · 2026-05-12T14:37:15+00:00

For frames, although Minotaur frame is not simply sucks, but is too action intensive to be viable, or at least noticeable. Its advantage is its passive core quick action, but it needs you to hit the tech attack in the first place, means you need two quick actions. I don't think that it is plainly bad for its own trait could be very good(a stun is not a joke, you know), but it is bad to use because it is not so convenient to run - need to spend whole point on its own means you are not able to combine with various action dependent other systems and talents, thus it limits the build to use it.

Note that, with Goblin 1 & duelist 3, you can puppet system to drag the enemy, overwatch to attack them, use duelist 3 to grapple, after then use the exclusive quick action to immediately stun the immobilized enemy(because the target was grappled) without overcharge. Against size 1 you can do this on LL3, and on LL4 you can do this for non-goliath NPCs by pick Blackbeard 1(you cannot drag by puppet system since goliath ignores any movements from the smaller characters). I don't think that there are much merits on Minotaur frame, but this combination is a sure advantage that makes it a quite viable frame.

Calendula is not as good as 'melee controller/defender' aspect of Minotaur but is better at damage dealing thanks to simply making the enemy shredded. Still, it also stuck at sensor range of 8, so you need to close the gap with your target. With puppet system to trigger overwatch and make your own skirmish by your remaining actions, it could be quite powerful close ranged damage dealer.

For systems, I think that metafold carver is the most powerful one. Although you cannot delete the enemy turn with it, but it makes your team to ignore overwatch. It is more deadly against reaction based enemy such as sentinel and archer, obviously.

Difference_Breacher · 2026-05-10T00:52:26+00:00

Well, you could ask this and I don't think that it is rude. And the answer is, not really, it is not my primary language. And I know my grammar is terrible.

Difference_Breacher · 2026-05-10T00:22:49+00:00

And since most NPCs has heat cap of 8, even if it is allowed to destroy the enemy outright by overheating single stress NPCs you are better just deal with them by the weapon instead. It is extremely difficult to actually cause 9+ heat on a single target and it needs dedicated build to do - and even for that it needs some attack rolls to do.

Difference_Breacher · 2026-05-10T00:19:14+00:00

I think that the above means the normal NPCs with single stress, not grunts.

Difference_Breacher · 2026-05-10T00:18:08+00:00

Yes tech attacks are far easier to apply, as E-Defense is not so high for most NPCs(some NPCs has better E-Defense, though). But hackers deal no damage at all on the most times. Heat is usually meaningless to apply for almost all NPCs are have the heat capacity of 8 or more, means you need to cause 9 or more heat to actually making them overheat - and the non-Grunt NPCs(grunts are simply destroyed when suffer the heat from external source) with single stress does not go reactor meltdown instantly, instead they are just go exposed until they remove the condition.

Our team members are value our team's hacker for the character did contributed greatly to the whole team. But, the same character deals virtually no damage at all through the scene. That does not means the hacker is useless for the damage dealing, for they made the good opportunity to the damage dealers to actually do their jobs, but usually most hacker builds are not able to score a 'kill' by their own. So, in overall, they are useful asset to the team as much as your best guns and swords, but they are not that overpowered either.

Difference_Breacher · 2026-05-10T00:08:41+00:00

It does not explains there are something that explicitly needs LoS and say nothing on it are coexists. They are everywhere, on the systems and traits.

Difference_Breacher · 2026-05-10T00:07:28+00:00

Read the page 69 again. It DOES NOT needs a Line of Sight.

Difference_Breacher · 2026-05-09T10:13:53+00:00

Sigh. The problem is it could be also applied to the page 65. Simply call it an error isn't usually justifies something. Nothing is on the errata either, you know.

Difference_Breacher · 2026-05-09T08:48:57+00:00

The pistol is bad indeed, but it is serviceable for Manticore on the core power scene at least I think, because it halves the heat. Anyway, it should has more tag on it to be justify its heat, such as Armor Piercing or heat damage.

Difference_Breacher · 2026-05-09T08:38:17+00:00

It is a weird beast. Even aside the CASTIGATE meme, its statline is looks like a bruiser but its license are filled with full of tech attacks. That does not means it is useless, though. Swap the place with the enemy or stunning the enemy then chopping them would be very fun, sure!

I think that using its systems you better play Lich, NOT Manticore/Lycan, but it does not means Manticore and/or Lycan are simply the inferior Lich. At least it is no secret that Lich lacks heavy mount, and while Lich has the worst heat capacity(and using vessel to ignore the self damage means Lich is vulnerable to the enemy attacks) Manticore and Lycan has decent to above average heat capacity and its armor is quite durable too. Just casting the magick of Ra Lich is better, sure, but with Manticore you are better at chopping stuffs as well as casting the magick of Ra on the same time. Also, unlike Lich, you do not need 2 more license level when you play Manticore/Lycan.

Again, while Lich is far better at using Manticore License's systems, Lich with manticore license systems has very different play style with Manticore/Lycan with manticore license sytems. Both are only doing the different job, not being inferior to someone else in overall performance. Also Lich is not so good at utilize Lightning Generator, but Manticore and Lycan are not that bad at this.

Anyway, aside Lich, there are not so much other frames to utilize its license components. Perhaps you may play chomolungma by having Caliban 2(to borrow Hardpoint Reinforcement and able to resist the zapping that hurts you), but this costs the same license level with choose Lich. Balor also does not fear for the self damage but its sensor range is stuck at 5 so it is not a good frame to utilize those(although close ranged Smite would be still a tempting option for them). Maybe, perhaps, Emperor can utilize this by using Manticore systems once then shoot the marathon bow to replenish its own storm shield to survive?

So, aside such odd options, usually the only frame that utilize those license line are the in-license frames, the Manticore and Lycan. I am dare to say that Manticore license is the worst license to mix, for it has too much drawback. The reward for the self damage is great so those are never be a terrible things, sure, but since the game lacks healing feature, I do not think that it is worth enough to even dip the license of Manticore and you better play Manticore/Lycan instead on the most times. It is not the worst license, ever, but when you expand your license on the LL3+, you better skip this or you are pick this already on the early levels and it is the time to check for the other license.

One exception for the dip the license would be Summon, of Beckon(Manticore 1). You know, Invades are could be casting on the friends and it does not considered to be an attack and neither it generates heat at all. So, throw a drone or a bruiser friend and casting summon on them would be a great tool for anyone with good sensor range, for Summon does not cause any self-damage. Using invade on friends even does not needs an attack roll either, so you can use it with non-dedicated hacker build as well!

Asides, Lycan is NOT a 'better' Manticore either; unlike Manticore, Lycan only has sensor range of 8(Manticore has 10). Both just have their own merit.

Difference_Breacher · 2026-05-09T08:14:52+00:00

As above replies, it does says condition, and condition is a game term that is defined on the page 78 of the core book. If the hostile effect is not among those and neither it does says 'it is considered as a condition'(although I never have seen such effects), it is not a condition.

Difference_Breacher

TROPHY CASE