THE MISSION
be taking into the field. Oportunities to change their gear might
STAGE 1: BRIEFING
Determine the situation, the goal, and the stakes.
THE SITUATION
Establish clearly what the players know about the
mission and the situation on the ground
THE GOAL
Regardless of the situation, the goal is what the
players hope to achieve. This might align with the
objectives set by the GM, or it might not.
THE STAKES
The stakes are the possible mission outcomes and their
significance. The consecuences of whatever result the
mission has. Decided by the GM, but affected by the players.
STAGE 2: PREPARATION
In this stage players choose their mechs and the gear they will
NARRATIVE PLAY
SKILL CHECKS
Only necessary to determine the outcome of tense or
complicated actions, mundane tasks will usually always suceed.
• Name the goal
• The GM explains the consequences of failure
• Determine relevant triggers and whether your
background applies (+1accuracy or +1difficulty)
• Roll the skill check, 10+ accomplishes the goal
TEAMWORK
If people are helping, add +1 accuracy to the
roll, regardless of how many help
DIFFICULT, RISKY, HEROIC ROLLS
Depending on the check in question, the GM can
decide if it's gonna be Difficult, Risky, or Heroic.
• Difficult rolls have +1 difficulty
• Risky rolls has clear complications in rolls
under 20. Risky rolls can also be difficult
• Heroic rolls are only successful on a 20+.
Heroic rolls can also be difficult
PUSHING IT
Try again, regular becomes risky, risky
becomes heroic with GM approval.
CONSEQUENCES
When a regular roll fails, or a Risky roll is not critically
successful, the player has to face the consequences.
• Harm: regular 1-2, dangerous 3-5, deadly 6+
• Time: The action will take longer than usual
DOWN AND OUT
6 Glancing Blow Your pilot barely shrugs off the hit (or it’s a close call) – they return to 1 HP.
Your pilot gains the Down And Out status (and the Stunned condition) and
remains at 0 HP. They are unconscious, pinned, bleeding out, or otherwise unable
2-5 Bodily Trauma
to act. If you’re in mech combat, they are Stunned and their Evasion drops to 5. If
they take any more damage – from being shot in the head, for instance – they die.
1 Lethal hit Your pilot’s luck has run out – they die immediately.
• Full Tech: Perform two Quick Tech actions (potentially
arise later on, but this is what they start the mission with.
STAGE 3: RESERVES
Now the players establish the reserves they will be bringing
along with them for the mission. This stage is important to
define what is avaliable in a mission and to prevent unnecessary
attempts to acquire items or discussions as to who has what.
STAGE 4: BOOTS ON THE GROUND
Now the game cuts straight to the players' arrival to
the mission scene. This doesn't necessarily mean
that they will start in combat straight away.
STAGE 5: DEBRIEF
After the mission the players have a moment to
breathe, now it is the time for levelling up and to
talk about the mission they just went through.
• Resources: Resources will be expended
• Collateral: Someone or something
takes unintended damage
• Position: Put in a bad position, literally or figuratively
• Effectiveness: The action is less effective
than intended, or dangerously effective.
SKILL CHALLENGE
When a group does a check in concert. Determined
by the proportion of successful rolls.
COMBAT IN NARRATIVE PLAY
It is resolved using relevant skill checks, it is not necessary
to track hp or stats. To make combat more structured,
skill challenges can be used, or a combat can be split
into multiple sub-parts that need to be overcome.
HIT POINTS, DAMAGE, AND INJURY
• Minor damage is 1–2 damage. Minor damage
might be a result of being shot by small arms fire,
stabbed, punched, or being hit by a flying rock.
• Major damage is 3–5. Major damage might
be dealt by assault and heavy weapons, long
falls, toxic gas, or exposure to vacuum.
• Lethal damage is 6+. Lethal damage is catastrophic – a
pilot might receive it if a mech falls on them, they’re hit by a
mech-scale weapon, or a grenade blows up under them.
Pilots can have Armor of 1 or 2. Armor is ignored
by dramatic events or AP weapons.
DOWN AND OUT
On reaching 0 HP, pilots must roll 1d6 on the following table:
PLAYER MECH COMBAT
ATTACKING
MELEE ATTACK
1d20 + Grit » Evasion
Threat. Ignores cover
TECH ATTACK
1d20 + Tech » E-Defense
Sensors and Line of Sight. Ignores cover
RANGED ATTACK
1d20 Grit » Evasion
Range and Line of Sight
+1difficulty when Engaged
+1difficulty with Soft Cover
+2difficulty with Hard cover
HARM
• Roll damage with relevant reductions or increases
• Subtract target’s armor from total.
• Other reductions are applied, such as
Resistance, talents, or reactions.
• Remaining damage is subtracted from HP
• On reaching 0 HP, take 1 Structure damage, roll for effects
(d6 equal to the accumulated structure damage, pick the
lowest) and restore HP. Subtract any excess damage to new
HP pool. On reaching 0 Sturcture, the mech is destroyed.
QUICK ACTIONS
• Skirmish: Attack with one weapon (excluding superheavy)
• Boost: Move your Speed again.
• Ram: Melee attack to knock target prone/back one space.
• Grapple: Melee attack to grapple (pg. 69).
• Hide: Attampt to hide, requires lack of line of sight (pg. 69).
• Search: Look for a Hidden target (pg. 69).
• Self-Destruct: Set a mech to explode with Burst 2, 4d6explosive
dmg. at the end of the next turn or up to 2 turns later. (pg. 71).
• Shut Down: Mech gains the Shut Down status. (pg. 72).
• Eject: Dismount your mech, flying 6
spaces in any direction (pg. 71).
• Prepare: Ready a quick action to be used as a reaction.
• Quick Tech: Make a tech attack to choose
one of the Quick Tech actions (pg. 69).
FULL ACTIONS
• Barrage: Attack with two weapons, or
one superheavy one (pg. 71).
• Improvised Attack: Attack unarmed or with an
improvised melee weapon for 1d6kinetic damage (pg. 71).
• Disengage: Until the end of your turn, movement ignores
engagement, and won’t provoke reactions (pg. 71).
PILOTS IN MECH COMBAT
BASE STATS
Base stats are affected by gear.
HP: 6 + GRIT
Evasion: 10
E-Defense: 10
Size: 1/2
Speed: 4
Armor: 0
PILOT COMBAT RULES
All attacks and saves are done with Grit instead of triggers
Pilots are Biological. Immune to all tech actions except for
Lock On and Scan, instead of Heat they take Energy damage.
Don't get any benefits from talents, can't aid mechs, can't
receive any bonuses that apply to mech-scale weapons.
Can't cause Engaged and can't count as obstructions.
FULL ACTIONS:
the same) or one more complex tech action (pg. 71).
• Mount/Dismount: Get in and out of the mech. Getting
out requires an adjacent free space (pg. 71).
• Boot Up: Power up a Shut Down mech, ending the
condition. Requires you to pilot the mech (pg. 71).
• Skill Check: Any action not covered by other
actions that has a clear goal (pg. 72).
• Stabilize: Choose one of the following:
• Cool mech, resetting heat and removing Exposed.
• Spend 1 Repair to restore all HP.
And one of the following:
• Reload all Loading weapons.
• Clear any Burn from your mech.
• Clear a condition not caused by any of your systems.
• End one of one of these conditions affecting
yourself or an ally: Jammed, Impaired, Lock
On, Immobilized, Slowed (pg. 71).
QUICK TECH
• Bolster: Target gets +2 Accuracy on next skill
check or save before the end of its next turn.
• Scan: Make a Tech Attack, and learn either: The target’s
full stats, weapons, and systems; or hidden information
about the target. (Current mission, pilot ID, info caches
onboard, etc.); or publicly available information.
• Lock-On: Target gets the Lock On condition.
• Invade: Target takes 1d3heat, and choose one:
• Fragment Signal/Feed Misinformation: Target is Impaired.
• Restricting Code: Target is Slowed.
• Attack Systems: inflict an additional 1d3heat.
OVERCHARGE
• Push a mech past its limits, gaining an extra quick
action as a free action at the cost of heat.
• Heat taken: 1, 1d3, 1d6, then 1d6+4 according
to uses since last Full Repair (pg. 73).
REACTIONS
• Brace: Brace a mech for impact, reducing damage
at the cost of next turn’s actions (pg. 73).
• Overwatch: Attack a nearby target if
it attempts to move (pg. 73).
PILOT ACTIONS
Pilots on foot can take the following actions and
reactions: Boost, Hide, Search, Activate, Skill
Check, Disengage, Prepare, Overwatch, and Brace.
They also get the following unique actions (pg. 74):
• Fight (full): Attack with one weapon.
• Jockey (full): Attempt to climb and attack a mech.
• Reload (quick): Reload a pilot weapon with the Loading tag.
PILOT ACTIONS
Boost, Hide, Search, Activate, Disengage, Prepare,
Overwatch, Mount/Dismount, Fight, Jockey, and Reload.
FIGHT (FULL ACTION)
Make an attack with one pilot weapon in Threat or Range.
JOCKEY (FULL ACTION)
Aggressively attack a mech while on foot. Must be adjacent to
target, roll with Grit against Hull. On a success climb the mech.
As part of a jockey action the pilot can
• Distract: Make the mech Impaired and
Slowed until the end of the turn
• Shred: Deal 2 Heat to the mech
• Damage: Deal 4 kinetic damage to the mech
The mech can try to shake you off by rerolling Hull vs Grit.
RELOAD (QUICK ACTION)
Reload all pilot weapons with the Loading tag
NPC MECH COMBAT
TIERS • Barrage: Attack with up to two weapons
T1: LL1-4  •  T2: LL5-8  •  T3: LL9-12 or one Superheavy weapon.
• Full Tech: use a Full Tech option only.
ACTIONS • Improvised Attack: Melee attack with a
bomus of +1/2/3 and 3/4/6 damage.
QUICK ACTIONS:
• Stabilize: the NPC clears all heat and Exposed
• Boost: The NPC moves equal their speed.
and reloads all Loading weapons.
• Grapple: Melee attack with a bomus of +1/2/3.
• Hide: the NPC hides. REACTIONS:
• Prepare: the NPC prepares a Quick Action. • Overwatch: Take a Skirmish action when a character
• Skirmish: The NPC attacks with a non-Superheavy weapon. starts movement within Threatthreat of the NPC.
• Ram: Melee attack with a bomus of +1/2/3.
• Quick Tech: choose one of Invade, Lock On,
or a Quick Tech option on their profile.
• Search: The NPC searches for a hidden target.
STATUSES AND CONDITIONS
• Danger zone: Enables some attacks, talents and • Shut Down:
effects. Gained when a mech has half or more heat. • All heat and Exposed is cleared
• Down and out: Unconscious and Stunned, • Cascading NHPs are restored
any more damage means death. Regain • Statuses caused by Tech actions are removed.
consciousness and half HP after resting. • Immune to Tech actions.
• Engaged: Gained when adjacent to a hostile • Stunned inefinitely
character. If engaging by a target of equal or larger • Immobilized: Cannot make voluntary movements
size, stop and lose all remeining movement. • Impaired: +1 Difficulty on all attacks, saves, and skill checks.
• Exposed: All kinetickinetic, explosiveexplosive and • Jammed: character can’t
energyenergy damage is doubled. • Use comms
• Hidden: Hidden characters can’t be targeted by • Attack other than Improvised Attack, Grapple, and Ram
hostile attacks or actions, don’t cause Engaged, • Take reactions, or benefit from tech actions.
and their location is only approximately known. • Lock On: Consumed for +1accuracy on attack.
• Invisible: Attacks against Invisible targets have a • Shredded: character doesn’t get Armor or Resistance.
50% chance to miss. Can Hide without cover. • Slowed: can only make a standard move.
• Prone: Attacks against prone target receive • Stunned: cannot Overcharge, move, or take
+1accuracy. Prone characters are Slowed and any Actions. Pilots can still Mount, Dismount,
count as moving in Difficult Terrain. or Eject. Stunned mechs have a maximum of 5
Evasion and fail all Hull and Agility checks
STRUCTURE DAMAGE TABLE
Emergency systems kick in and stabilize your mech, but it’s Impaired until the end
5-6 Glancing Blow
of your next turn.
Roll 1d6. On a 1–3, all weapons on one mount of your choice are destroyed;
on a 4–6, a system of your choice is destroyed. Limited systems and
2-4 System Trauma weapons that are out of charges are not valid choices. If there are no valid
choices remaining, it becomes the other result. If there are no valid systems
or weapons remaining, this result becomes a Direct Hit instead.
The result depends on your mech’s remaining Sturcture:
• 3+ Sturcture: Your mech is Stunned until the end of your next turn.
1 Direct Hit • 2 Sturcture: Roll a Hull check. On a success, your mech is Stunned
Multiple 1s Crushing Hit
until the end of your next turn. On a failure, your mech is destroyed.
• 1 Sturcture: Your mech is destroyed
Your mech is damaged beyond repair – it is destroyed. You may still exit it as normal.
OVERHEATING TABLE
Emergency Your mech’s cooling systems manage to contain the increasing heat; however,
5-6
Shunt your mech becomes Impaired until the end of your next turn.
Destabilized The power plant becomes unstable, beginning to eject jets of plasma. Your mech
2-4
Power Plant becomes Exposed.
The result depends on your mech’s remaining Stress:
• 3+ Stress: Your mech becomes Exposed.
• 2 Stress: Roll an Engineering check. On a success, your mech is Exposed; on a
1 Meltdown
failure, it suffers a reactor meltdown after 1d6 of your turns (rolled by the GM). A
reactor meltdown can be prevented by rolling again on this table as a full action.
• 1 Stress: Your mech suffers a reactor meltdown at the end of your next turn.
Irreversible The reactor goes critical – your mech suffers a reactor meltdown at the end
Multiple 1s
Meltdown of your next turn.
 DOWNTIME
There are two components to downtime: structured
downtime actions, and freeform play.
DOWNTIME ACTIONS
These allow the players to gain Reserves and are
usually limited to one, but sometimes two.
POWER AT A COST
Name what you want, the GM chooses
one or two of the following:
• It’s going to take a more time.
• It’s going to be risky.
• Give something up or leave something behind.
• Piss off someone or something important and powerful.
• Things are going to go wildly off-plan.
• You’ll need more information to proceed safely.
• It’s going to fall apart damn soon.
• You’ll need more resources, but you know where to find them.
• You can get a lesser version, or less of it.
BUY SOME TIME
Get some extra time for something in the next
mission. Describe your plan and roll:
• -9 You can only buy a little time if you act now
• 10-19 You get the time, next time will be harder
• 20+ Get as much time as you want
GATHER INFORMATION
Get intelligence on something. Name the
subject and how your method and roll:
• -9 You either get what you want but get in
trouble, or you don't get anything.
• 10-19 You get what you want but you leave evidence
or you have to implicate someone else
• 20+ You get what you want, no complications
GET A DAMN DRINK
Go hang out and socialize. State your intent and roll:
• -9 You get to keep one of: your dignity, possessions, memory.
• 10-19 Gain one lose one: a reputation, a friend or
connection, an item or info, an opportunity
• 20+ Gain two from above, lose nothing.
GET CREATIVE
Make something new. Describe the project and roll:
• -9 You don't make progress, but next time you def will.
• 10-19 You can finish next time, but you first need
one of: materials, knowledge, tools, a workspace.
• 20+ You finish in one go, next time won't be so easy.
GET FOCUSED
Improve your skills. Name what you want to learn, get
a +2 trigger based on your practice or studies.
GET ORGANIZED
Start, run, or improve an organization, business or venture.
State the organization's purpose or goal and choose
a focus: military, scientific, academic, criminal,
humanitarian, industrial, entertainment, or political.
The organization begins with +2 in either Efficiency
or Influence. Efficiency determines how effective
the organization is at its activities. Influence
determines its size, reach, wealth and reputation.
You can use Efficiency or Influence as a static modifier
in checks where the organization is involved.
Each downtime after the first roll 1d20:
• -9 choose one or disband the organization: -2
Efficiency and -2 Influence (min 0); or the organization
needs to pay debts, make an aggressive more or get
bailed out, you choose and the GM interprets.
• 10-19 the organization gains either +2
Efficiency or Influence (max 6)
• 20+ the organization gains both +2
Efficiency and +2 Influence (max 6)
GET CONNECTED
Make connections, get help or support.
Name your contact and roll:
• -9 You get the help but you need to do
something for them before.
• 10-19 You get help but you need to do something for them
afterwards, if you don't you'll need to do it next time.
• 20+ You get help, no strings attached, this time.
SCROUNGE AND BARTER
Get your hands on gear and assets. Name what you want and roll:
• -9 Get what you want but choose one: it's stolen and
someone is looking for it, it's degraded or malfunctioning,
someone else has it and won't give it up easily
• 10-19 Get what you want at the price
of time, dignity or reputation.
• 20+ Get what you want for free

RESERVES
RESOURCES TACTICAL ADV. MECH GEAR
1-2 Access 1-2 Scouting 1-2 Ammo +1/+2 uses for Loadin equip.
3-4 Backing 3-4 Vehicle 3-4 Rented gear Access to unlicened equipment
5-6 Supplies 5-6 Reinforcements 5-6 Extra repairs +2 Repair Cap
7-8 Disguise 7-8 Env. shielding 7-8 CORE battery +1 CORE
9-10 Diversion 9-10 Accuracy 9-10 Deployable shield Size 1, burst 2 soft cover once
11-12 Blackmail 11-12 Bombardment 11-12 Redundant repair Stabilize as a free action once
13-14 Reputation 13-14 Ext. Harness 13-14 Sys. reinforcement +1 Accuracy for checks in one skill
15-16 Safe Harbor 15-16 Ambush 15-16 Smart ammo All weapons get Smart
17-18 Tracking 17-18 Orbital drop 17-18 Boosted servos Immunity to Slowed
19-20 Knowledge 19-20 NHP Assistant 19-20 Jump jets Get jumpjet system