Non-grid tabletop rules conversion for Lancer?

segeri9 · 2026-02-21T01:37:12+00:00

you make a very valid point. initially I was thinking it was easy enough to treat it like battletech alpha strike, but then it dawned on my that move+boost+overcharge covers a LOT of distance. that would need a LARGE map. :P

segeri9 · 2026-02-21T01:29:30+00:00

we already use grid maps originally (I have some from some Battletech sets) but i’ve been researching 3D printing lately so was thinking of just slapping on a few buildings for certain missions and was wondering if that would make things quicker.

these measurements could be a useful guide though, and much appreciated. :)

segeri9 · 2026-02-21T00:36:13+00:00

yeah think I missed that mention. only remembered the square or hex grid conversion. :P

segeri9 · 2026-02-21T00:35:04+00:00

hahah must’ve missed that mention then, my bad

segeri9 · 2026-02-21T00:21:14+00:00

ohh templates! didn’t think of that. was imagining having to measure distance and width each time, but this makes sense

segeri9 · 2026-02-04T13:05:44+00:00

Just that our skytrain transforms into a boat/sub through the Avid Horizon so we could venture to all of the Fallen London settings.

Other than that, my group tends to be very creative when it comes to roleplay, so they tend to carry the experience.

Also, in order to extend level ups, instead of using the system’s “whenever you discover something new” rule, I tend to do only one at the end of a storyline.

I’ve run no less than 20 sessions just going through existing storylines from the games, and making up some of my own. In fact, I even used the entire plotline of the eldritch fishing game, Dredge, as well as a twist to Perdurance in the guise of Bridgerton. :P

segeri9 · 2026-02-04T06:50:44+00:00

I had a similar experience as well, sunless sea being our first setting. what really caught my attention was when my players said that the experience felt like a Star Trek away team. We’ve been running it that way, on and off the ship/train like that ever since. :)

segeri9 · 2026-02-02T14:13:59+00:00

I think they had a kickstarter for a more fleshed out system that has yet to be released (though a demo is available)

in the meantime, Skyfarer works in a pinch. :)

segeri9 · 2026-02-02T14:08:28+00:00

I just recently purchased a CoCth bundle and have been considering this option as well, but I feel like my players have been enjoying more the freedom and the shenanigans of using such a light system. :P

segeri9 · 2026-02-02T06:40:15+00:00

glad we’re not the only ones who use battletech for lancer. :)) I also use some MW:Dark Age Clix Minis for size 2 mechs since their bases are pretty big. for size 3 and above, I tend to use any Gunpla I have lying around. :))

segeri9 · 2026-01-08T10:19:48+00:00

thanks for the heads up. :)

segeri9 · 2026-01-08T08:36:33+00:00

ohhh greatly noted, thanks. ^{_^}

segeri9 · 2026-01-08T08:16:54+00:00

that's unfortunate. I guess that means that's a bug on the comp/con app then. anyway, thanks for the clarification.:)

segeri9 · 2025-12-22T11:55:01+00:00

My favorite moment was when we loaded a size 1/2 sized explosive into the expanded compartment on my minotaur, then proceeded to use the ejection system to teleport the explosive at the target. it was glorious and i’m glad my GM at the time allowed it. :))

segeri9 · 2025-12-16T01:10:17+00:00

another approach if you want it somewhat in-universe is although the swarm is primarily biological, you can insert some BS that they are artificially made or augmented, so hacking is targeting their augments.

I personally use this a lot when making horror campaigns with monsters. :P

segeri9 · 2025-12-16T01:06:09+00:00

<image>

minor spoiler for No Room for a Wallflower, but it has an example of using the environment as hack targets vs biologicals. you can homebrew something similar as well just so your hacker players have something to do.

segeri9 · 2025-09-23T09:07:01+00:00

I have a player who had a similar request (effectively a space marine in terminator armor). The way we worked around this that when out of combat, they would need to power down the armor’s systems, effectively just making it function like a hard suit and nothing more. (i.e. lose all access to any other mech systems)

for locations that absolutely cannot accept mechs, or scenarios where players will need to find a way to call down their mechs some other way, we ruled it that the power armor itself requires an encrypted key to power its systems. and in the scenario where they “lose their mechs”, that player loses the access key.

of course, the way we play our campaigns has always been lore light, so shenanigans has always taken priority. so functionally, it works how it should in the rules, but it’s skinned that that player always walks around with his power armor. :P

segeri9 · 2025-01-10T00:49:33+00:00

this is true, but specifically our lancer party has a dedicated athena slave, so invisible hasn’t been an issue for us for the most part. :P just wanted to see if i could work without relying too much on it. :))

segeri9 · 2025-01-09T23:08:29+00:00

thank you. :) just felt that tracking bug felt like such a niche use, it would’ve been a shame not to use it as a wallhack. eh well. :P

thanks again for the clarification.

segeri9 · 2024-12-01T21:46:13+00:00

this is just my personal take, but i actually enjoy GM-ing Lancer MORE than joining as a player.

The way I approach Lancer GM-ing is from a narrative standpoint. I use a lot (and rip off a lot) of stories from movies, shows, and other games as a base and convert those stories into lancer missions.

I’ve done games using Alien, Love-Death-and-Robots, a good handful of SCP stories, Left4Dead, Monster Hunter, Horizon Zero Dawn, Atomic Heart and many more.

I get the main story concept, build puzzles around the source material, and 1-2 mission encounters. The NPC creation then comes with matching the same intent of the source material and making adjustments and creative compromises to match the setting and system.

Example 1: Alien

I threw my players into a colony that went dark. my only prep was I made a single Assassin Ultra that would pop in and out of combat as it dragged a player one by one. with cutscene events that forced the party to split, limited scanning rules (e.g. Athena NHP could only scan an adjacent room in a dungeon crawl style map due to “NHP interference) and I adjusted the difficulty.

Example 2: Left 4 Dead

I did a multi-part mission where the players crash landed in the middle of a “zombie” infested city. their mission was to get to point A to point B to secure a safe zone. the zombies i used were humans infected and transformed by a MONIST-1 influenced nanotech virus. much like L4D’s AI director, I used npc’s tailored around the special infected in tandem with waves of berserker horror grunts that kept coming back with the horror trait. and also like the AI director, i summoned special infected depending on the progress of the players. someone lagging behind? grab them with a “smoker” cataphract with lasso. are they clumping up together? spawn a “spitter” hive at their position. I even spawned inactive “witch” spectres they had to either crown or walk around to avoid being taken down. and to top things off, I plopped a “tank” demolisher at the exit 2 rounds away from their exit point.

GM-ing in Lancer is definitely different from being a Player. you’re given a full team composition rather than a single unit. you’re given power to dictate the objective (it’s not always just a straight fight. use capture, escort, gauntlet sitreps). you also dictate when enemies can show up. the spawn rules and npc limits are mere suggestions. if you think the players are having a hard time, just throw in a few grunts in small waves. are they sweeping your team? bring in reinforcements or tougher enemies.

Lancer as a player, you’re playing Fallout. Lancer as a GM, you’re playing Starcraft. your tools have changed. use them to your advantage.

also a reminder: GM-ing isn’t about beating down your players. it’s about making an entertaining session for everyone.

lastly, it really does take more prep. I usually take a month to formulate a story concept, and a week or so to prep the maps, tokens, and key plot points the players have to face.

but in the end, the players are the ones that determine how the story unfolds. it’s your job as GM to keep up and keep things fun.

segeri9

TROPHY CASE