Mecha games with ideas worth stealing?

[Fred Sloniker]

I'm planning on, sometime in the future, running a mecha game loosely
based on the Super Robot Wars series of games (which is to say, take
any giant robot you want, throw it in there, and fight the evil
robots). I haven't decided on a system yet, though I'm leaning
towards FATE; the aspects seem an interesting way to model different
robots' advantages and disadvantages without getting into the minutiae
of something like the Hero system. I also want to have two basic
'phases' of play: the battle phase, where the pilots are out in their
robots kicking butt, and the social phase, where the pilots are
dealing with their relationship webs (Pilot A is rivals with Pilot B,
who's in love with Pilot C, who's friends with Support Character D,
who's the little sister of Pilot A...)

Naturally, I'm doing some research, and I've asked over on the
rec.arts.anime side of things for anime recommendations, but I figured
I'd ask here for system recommendations. What systems and sourcebooks
would you recommend I look at, either to run the game in or as a
source for Good Ideas to swipe for my own use?

[Russell Wallace]

BESM might be worth a try; it was specifically designed for this genre
after all.

[Fred Sloniker]

Post by Russell Wallace
BESM might be worth a try; it was specifically designed for this genre
after all.

Thanks for the suggestion. I'm surprised that yours has been the only
reply, though. Is there somewhere else I should be asking to get more
feedback?

[gleichman]

Post by Fred Sloniker
I'm surprised that yours has been the only
reply, though. Is there somewhere else I should be asking to get more
feedback?

Very small group here, likely on the edge of disappearing again. The
question didn't strike much of cord with those who remain, for instance you
specifically excluded what would have been my suggestion.

Given the little information in your original post, I'd suggest www.rpg.net.
The forums there should be able to provide suggestions for various light
weight rulesets.

[c***@yahoo.com]

Post by Russell Wallace
BESM might be worth a try; it was specifically designed for this genre
after all.

I'll second this. Nice system, not very difficult mechanics.

(Also perfectly useable for the action genre in general, not just
anime)

Brandon

[Peter Knutsen]

Post by c***@yahoo.com

Post by Russell Wallace
BESM might be worth a try; it was specifically designed for this genre
after all.

I'll second this. Nice system, not very difficult mechanics.

BESM 3rd Edition is a lot cleaner, and solves a bunch of character
creation omissions, with which I had severe issues, in 2nd Edition.

Post by c***@yahoo.com
(Also perfectly useable for the action genre in general, not just
anime)

I'm always surprised when people complete that BESm is an animé system.

There's no such thing as an animé *genre*. BESM can be used for many of
the same things that Hero System or GURPS (or MA RPG) can be used for.
The focus is a little different, the assumed importance of combat is
off-key relative to most other systems, but it is simply wrong to
describe BESM as an animé system.

(Note: I'm only familiar with 2nd and 3rd Edition - I'm gambling on 1st
being largely similar to the newer ones.)

[gleichman]

I'm always surprised when people complete that BESm is an anim� system.
There's no such thing as an anim� *genre*.

I've heard that said, however from the PoV of the typical US person
who's seen the most common anime products- I doubt one could seriously
debate that there is a common anime 'style'.

Not that BESM does anything special to capture it. I don't think it's
possible (or at least desirable) mechanically.

[Russell Wallace]

Post by gleichman
Not that BESM does anything special to capture it. I don't think it's
possible (or at least desirable) mechanically.

No, but what it does do is refrain (more than most systems) from getting
in the way - which I think is both possible and desirable.

[gleichman]

Post by Russell Wallace

Post by gleichman
Not that BESM does anything special to capture it. I don't think it's
possible (or at least desirable) mechanically.

No, but what it does do is refrain (more than most systems) from getting
in the way - which I think is both possible and desirable.

I would agree in concept.

In specifics, I imagine it would depend upon what exact type of anime and
the group goals in selecting it. Any system by nature will get in the way
for some people's goals.

I find it useful when making a system choice to list the 5 most desired
elements you want reflected in the mechanics, and/or the 5 most difficult
barriers you've found to the concept in other systems. I tend to focus on
barriers while most IME focus on desired elements.