Reel Robot Fishing:
> Each player should come
> A Game of Patience, Vulnerability
and Giant Robots for 2+ Players
> Rules and Setting by Alessandro
Arena-DeRosa - @sandromaycry
> Additional Design Kudos to Duffy
Muller - @orxalot
> Cover Art by Bayleigh Underwood -
iceghostart.com
> See more Mobile Engagement Chassis:
Steel Hearts @ steelhearts.info
Concept:
> Even MEC Pilots need time to
relax. You have charted a boat
into a massive lake or perhaps
the seas or oceans for a quiet
get-away. Here you will take
turns trying to catch something
or conversing about life. The
game ends after a set time
(usually an hour) has passed and
the sun has begun to set.
Ambience:
> The Host should put on a gentle
ambience. The chirping of
cicadas, the rhythmic lapping of
waves, perhaps some calm piano
music.
> Players are encouraged to bring
their favorite drinks. A crisp
soda, a thermos of chrysanthemum
tea, a mug of strong coffee.
Preferably something your Pilot
would drink.
> When Reeling in a Catch, you
are encouraged to play amped up
orchestral or hard rock music.
Something that screams JRPG BS.
Preparation:
> It is important to remember
prepared with a Pilot and MEC in
mind. You can either use your
existing Pilots from Mobile
Engagement Chassis: Steel Hearts
(or any other Tabletop Mecha
System) or come up with new
Pilots just for this outing.
> Players should decide how their
Pilots know each other if they do
not already.
> Each Player will need one D4
and two D6.
> Each Player should write down
two things that their MEC is good
at and one thing their Pilot is
good at. These will be referred
to as “Edges”. They should
similarly write two things their
MEC struggles with one thing
their Pilot struggles with. These
will be referred to as “Threats”.
> Each Player should determine
two unique pieces of mechanical
gear their MEC has that will be
active during the outing and take
note.
> IF Players are playing with
preexisting MECs from an ongoing
campaign, they can instead use
any relevant equipment from their
MEC’s Diagnostics Sheet.
> The Host will have to print out
the appropriate Casting Board, as
well a several copies of this
sheet.
> The game takes place in
relatively real time, with the
suggested time for an outing
being an hour.
The Outing:
that the time you spend at the
table should not be fully
dedicated to taking turns or
ensuring a fish is caught.
Rather, you should make room for
quiet moments at the table and
allow yourselves to get swept up
in whatever conversations emerge.
> Once all Players have written
down their Edges and Threats, the
Host should set a timer (roughly
an hour) for how long the game
will last. Ensure the timer’s
alarm is silent, as not to
disrupt the ambience.
> Before the timer begins, each
Player will roll a D6 to see what
additional fishing equipment they
have brought:
1. Plenty of snacks.
2. Industrial amounts of bug
repellent
3. Fancy techno-lures
4. Repair/first aid kits
5. Map and encyclopedia of local
wildlife
6. Diving gear for the Pilot and
MEC
> The Player who woke up the
earliest will Cast first using
their REEL (Robustly Engineered
Electronic Line) and be given a
bucket of Wyrm Bait.
> Pilots will take turns Casting
using their REEL in clockwise
order.
> Players will continue to Cast
until the Outing is over.

Making a Cast:
> Standing roughly one arm’s length
away, Players will roll a D4 at the
Casting Board and follow the Reeling
Prompts.
> Landing outside the prompts or
ambiguously on a line leads to
Nothing Biting. You will then roll
for a Topic of Conversation.
Reeling in a Catch:
> When Reeling in a Catch, the Player
opposite of you (or the Host) will
narrate the challenges you face using
the Casting Board prompts.
> Players will roll 2D6 to resolve
problems, adding +1 for each Edge and
-1 for each Threat.
> Pilots can assist one another,
allowing up to 1 D6 to be rerolled.
> 1-5 = Failure, the Catch is lost.
Take a deep breath, have a good
laugh, then roll on the Topics of
Conversation Table.
> 6-9 = A Complication. You gain a
Success towards your catch, but
you’ve either lost something or
another issue has arisen.
> 10+ = You succeed magnificently and
gain a Success towards your Catch.
> On a Successful Catch you can
decide to Store or Release your Catch
before your turn passes.
REELs & Storing Catches:
> One of the advantages of REEL
Technology is that it uses faint
sonar and electrical pulses to
harmlessly stun whatever you Catch.
Thus, Catches can either be safely
thrown back in the water or brought
back from the outing (alive or dead).
> Pilots can only store two Catches
to bring back with them.
Topics of Conversation:
> When rolling for a Topic of
Conversation, first roll a D6 to see
which general topic you will be
addressing. Then roll the D6 again to
see what specifically your Pilot will
be talking about. Reroll if needed.
> The conversation you lead can be as
long or short as you feel it needs to
be. However, always make sure to
address why you answered how you did.
1 – The World
1 – Where would you like to travel?
2 – What has been your favorite place that you
have traveled to?
3 – What do you think of the current state of
the world?
4 – Is there a faction or group you feel
particularly aligned with?
5 – Is there a faction or group you feel
particularly concerned about?
6 – Where feels the most like home?
2 – The Self
1 – What is your greatest fear?
2 – What is your greatest hope?
3 – What is something you have never told
anyone?
4 – List three things you appreciate about
yourself.
5 – What is something you want to do before you
die? Are you afraid of dying?
6 – Why is your MEC important to you?
3 – The Other
1 – Who is your greatest rival? Do you have
any? If not, why not?
2 – Who among the party do you feel closest to?
3 – Who among the party would you like to know
better? About what?
4 – Say one thing you appreciate about each of
your companions.
5 – Who is someone you wish could be on the
Outing with you?
6 – Who is your favorite family member? (This
can include found family)
4 – The Ecosystem
1 – What is your favorite animal?
2 – What is your favorite weather?
3 – How do you see yourself in relation to the
natural world?
4 – How do you feel the party treats the
natural world?
5 – Have you ever had pets? Or wanted them?
6 – Would you trade your MEC for a rideable and
friendly giant creature?
5 – The Past
1 – What is your favorite childhood memory?
2 – What is a memory you wish you could forget?
3 – What is your greatest triumph?
4 – Do you regret any of your choices?
5 – Recount a cherished memory that involves
someone in the party.
6 – What has been the theme of your life?
6 – The Future
1 – What are your plans for the week?
2 – What is something you would like to do with
your MEC?
3 – What is something you would like to do with
someone in the party in the future?
4 – What is something you would love to show
the party in the future?
5 – What about your life do you plan to change?
6 – What do you think your life will be like
when you are old?
Wrapping Up:
> When the timer goes off the sun will set, and
Pilots will be encouraged to pack up their
fishing gear. This of course is not mandatory
if all parties are enjoying the evening.
However, a change of lighting and ambient music
would be appropriate and is encouraged.