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Platinum Mecha vehicles were first seen in The Legend of Korra, and can be brought into yourAvatar Legendscampaign thanks to the Republic City campaign setting toolkit. While these should be used sparingly, NPCs, enemies, and player-characters alike can make use of Mecha, even customizing their own weapons to their heart’s content.
However, there are a lot of different aspects that go into incorporating Mecha into your campaign. If you’re new to the Republic City toolkit, you might soon realize that there’s a lot to absorb. That’s why we’ve created this guide that shows you how to use Mecha in your Avatar Legends campaign.
How Mecha Traits Work
When it comes to using pre-built Mecha or customizing your own,there are four basic traits that all Mecha havethat you’ll need to understand.
The skin is thearmor and outer coveringsof the Mecha.
Modules
The modules represent theMecha’s arms, legs, head, and any other physical piecesthat the Mecha can use to move, function, or attack.
Energy functions like fatiguedoes for player-characters.
Typically, Mecha have anywhere from5-15 energy cells.
Each of the Mecha’s four basic modules, which can be found detailed in Chapter Three of the Republic City Toolkit,represents the Mecha’s four basic techniques: retaliate, seize a position, strike, and smash.
Chassis
In the Republic City campaign toolkit,there are three types of chassis for Mechas. Each of these types give you predetermined energy and modules.
Additionally,each chassis has a quality type, which also modifies the Mecha’s traits:
Skin
Similar to the chassis,the skin of the Mecha also adds buffs and nerfs to the Mecha.
Platinum is the only skin type that cannot be affected by metalbenders.
These banes and boons typically affect damage done to the Mecha by other attacks, and determine whether or not the Mecha is susceptible to metalbending or not.
As mentioned,modules determine which techniques a Mecha can use, and can be used to customize a Mecha to your liking.
You can also invent and homebrew new modulesfor yourself! Just be sure to clear it with your GM before you do so.
If you’re not sure what to do when it comes to customizing a module,reskin a technique from the core rulebookand adapt its ruleset to Mecha.
A full list of these modules can be found in the Republic City toolkit, along with their effects and gained techniques.
Energy
As alluded to previously,energy works like fatigue does for PCs. If a Mecha runs out of energy, it shuts down, effectively taking it out of play. Various techniques and Mecha abilities consume energy.
Various Mecha combat techniques can also be found on page 98 of the Republic City toolkit.
How To Use Mecha
At the end of the day,Mecha are going to be primarily used for combat purposesin Avatar Legends. Outside of combat, there’s not much need to use specific rules to implement Mecha, just let the fiction guide you!
Technologists Only
Only someone withtraining in Technologycan use a Mecha.
This is one way it pays to choose non-bending training. Ultimately,a waterbender with no Technology training can’t use Mecha.
Damage
As mentioned,energy represents fatigue for Mecha. Additionally,the Mecha’smodules represent their conditions.
When running combat exchanges,mark off Mecha energy 1:1 for fatigue, and mark off modules 1:1 for conditions. In this way, you can use normal combat techniques against Mecha without having to alter rules.
Mecha Pilots
While inside the Mecha,any PC or NPC is safe from harm. All damage is done to the Mecha.
Repairs
Mecha needs to be repaired in between sessions, not during combat exchanges.
Though energy and modules operate 1:1 with fatigue and conditions, respectively,techniques that might restore fatigue and conditions don’t necessarily apply here.Instead, players must rely on their skills and training to repair their Mecha later.
If a player tries to repair a Mecha mid-fight, they can attempt to do so by relying on their skills and training,but at best, can only clear one module or three energy.
Outside of these specific rules,Mecha in combat works the exact same way as combat between PCs and NPCs. Simply follow the rules for normal combat exchanges.
Players should work with their GM between sessionsto improve and upgrade their Mechaif they so choose. This requires them to use the rely on skills and training move.
