TranzFuzion

Vehicles. Planes, trains, automobiles; they're easy to classify. But what about space stations, cosmo ray-beam projectors, giant robots or sexy skintight powered armor suits? Where do they fit in? Are they Vehicles? Gadgets? Armor? Inventions? Luckily, the Japanese, who love technology, have given the lexicon of high tech the perfect term: Mecha. Derived from the word mechanism, mecha are any complex machine, generally requiring some type of pilot or operator. Mecha include cars, planes, helicopters,ships, spacecraft, giant robots, powered armor, and more.
In general, since mecha are pretty much always superheroic vehicles, they are purchased like other kinds of superpowers. (in fact, GM's can elect to allow players in superheroic settings to spend points on mecha instead of powers, or a combination of both).

Fuzion and Mekton Z
Fuzion's Mecha Plug-In allows the creation of simplified mecha that are fairly compatible with the MEKTON Z RPG. While not intended to offer all the powerful features of its "parent" system, this Plug-In allows Referees and players to easily create new vehicles for Fuzion campaigns.

The Fuzion Plug-in differs from its MEKTON Z parent in the following ways:

• Spaces: Space are ignored in Fuzion. If you plan to convert back to MEKTON Z (which uses Spaces), assume 1 space per each Kill in your mecha, with each weapon/thruster using 1 space per point. Wheels and Treads neither contribute nor use spaces.
• Servo/Torso Kills: In Fuzion, Torso Kills are assumed to be 2 per level. Servo Kills in Fuzion are generalized to be 1 per level; in MEKTON, arms and legs are really 1+(1 per level); other parts remain the same.
• Movement: To convert MEKTON movement to Fuzion, multiply your MA by 5. To get MA from Move reverse the process, dividing MOVE by 5 to get MA.
• Weapons: All FUZION weapons are designed as generic, using the projectile weapon construction rules from MZ+ (to get exact matches for other types, you must use each specific case from MZ+).

BASIC GENERIC MECHA CONCEPTS
Although these rules don't deal with the actual process of constructing specific mecha (this may vary from campaign to campaign) all "mechanism" designs involve the same elements:

• Armor: Most mecha have armor to provide physical or other types of defense. Example: The Mega-Rapier assault mecha has a Killing Defense of 100 in it's mighty armored hull plates
• Kills: A measure of very large scale damage or the ability to take large amounts of damage. Example: The Mega Rapier's 100 PD translates to 2 Kills. See the Damage section for more on Kills.
• Maneuver value [MV]: How responsive the mecha is to its pilot or operator. The MV value is applied to the pilot's REF (& DEX for Powered Suits) whenever Actions are taken or Initiative is rolled.
• Movement: The way the mecha gets around (if it can). Usually expressed as a MOVE characteristic, but different types of Movement may be employed by the same mecha; these are detailed in their descriptions. Example: The RoboBike can drive like a motorcycle (Surface MOVE 25), fly like an aerodyne (Flying MOVE 2) and run like a person (Running MOVE 20).
• Sensors: Vehicles with transparent canopies usually don't rely on computerized information, but machines whose cockpit is enclosed by armor needs sensor systems. If such a machine loses its sensors in battle, its pilot suffers -4 to all combat rolls.
• Structure: Being inanimate, mecha record their damage as either Structural Damage Points (SDP); particularly large or tough mechanisms use Kills, a way of measuring BIG damage.
• Style: A cool-looking enough mecha can actually add to its operator's Presence Characteristic in much the way that a Ferrari can enhance anyone's coolness. Such Styling is always expressed as a bonus to the pilot's PRE characteristic.
• Weapons: Many mecha have built-in or carried weapons. These operate much as other weapons do, but due to their large size and awesome power, their capability to do damage is often measured in flat KILLS rather than DICE of damage.
• Weight: Most mecha, being complex machines, weigh a fair amount. This is usually measured in kilograms or metric tons.
• Special Systems:
  These are special systems that are unique to certain mecha designs. If present, they are always outlined as part of the mecha's description for the individual campaign.
• Transformation: Certain types of mecha can change from one form to another, or otherwise vary their configuration to achieve different effects. This takes 1 Action and is usually part of the mecha's description; the transformer's abilities are also usually listed with this description.
• Automated or Intelligent systems: These are highly advanced computers that can operate the mecha independent of a human pilot. These are generally described as one or two characteristic "characters" (INT and REF for example), unless they are intended to be fully realized artificial intellects.
• Synchro-Systems: These are systems that react or interface with their human operators to a level where they actually enhance their performance. Synchro systems usually give a bonus to their pilot's REF and/or DEX characteristics or WA.

STEP ONE: CHOOSE A FORM

• What is your mecha going to look like? Is it a giant robot, a crimefighter's car or maybe a super jet? In general, there are five common types of mecha, each with its own special abilities:
• Humanoid: This is the form used to create the "giant robot" of Japanese animé. In smaller forms, it can be used to create power armor or personal fighting armors. Abilities: +3 to MV; this is the only form that can use hand weapons.
• Vehicle: This is the form used to create cars, tanks, boats and submarines, In general, this form consists of a main body and some type of movement system on the underside, such as wheels, treads, props, thrusters or ground effect (GEV) systems. Abilities: Surface Move +3, -1 MV.
• Animorphic: This is the form used to create animals of all types, from giant tigers to spiders. The animorphic form usually consists of a main body and two or more pairs of legs; a tail is optional. Abilities: +2 Surface MOVE. +1 SDPs or KILLs (as applicable) to melee damage.
• Aircraft: This is the form used to create all types of flying vehicles, including spaceships. In general, this form consists of a main body and two or more paired wings; although an aircraft doesn't require wings in many cases. Abilities: Thruster speed doubled, -2MV.
• Bases: This is the form used to create non moving, protected places. The form consists of a main body (in this case, the largest" room" and several extremities (or subrooms/ passages). A Base cannot be moved.Abilities: +2 Armor SDPs or KILLs (as applicable), 360º firing arc.

BUY THE PARTS
Decide how big the main body (aka the torso) of your vehicle is. The examples on the table will give you a few ideas of rough sizes; pick the closest approximation. Now, buy your main body. If you have heads, arms, legs, wings, tentacles, wheels, treads or other extremities (aka servos) attached to the main body, buy these next. Extremities may not be more than 1 level greater than the Main Body and Servos with SDP may not be combined with Kills.

Level	Example	mainbody	PP	weight	extremeties armor	PP	weight
Microlight 1	light body armor	10sdp	0.3	10kg	5sdp	0.1	0.1 5kg
Microlight 2	hvy body armor	20sdp	0.4	22kg	10sdp	0.2	11kg
Microlight 3	cycle, small car	40sdp	0.5	.4ton/400kg	25sdp	0.3	.3ton/300kg
Microlight 4	car, copter, power armor	60sdp	0.8	.6ton/600kg	35sdp	0.4	.4ton/400kg
Microlight 5	big car, small truck	80sdp	1.0	.8ton/800kg	45sdp	0.5	.5ton/500kg
Microlight 6	truck	2k	1.5	1ton/1000kg	50sdp	0.6	.6ton/600kg
Superlight	small plane	3k	2	1ton	1k	0.7	.5tons
Lightweight	apc, armored car	4k	4	2ton	2k	1	1tons
Striker	fighter jet	6k	6	3ton	3k	2	1.5tons
Medium Striker	tank	8k	8	4ton	4k	3	2tons
Heavy Striker	cargo jet	10k	10	5ton	5k	4	2.5tons
Mediumweight	small giant robot	12k	12	6tons	6k	5	3tons
Light Heavy	jumbo jet	14k	14	7tons	7k	6	3.5tons
Medium Heavy	typical giant robot	16k	16	8tons	8k	7	4tons
Armored Heavy	big giant robot	18k	18	9tons	9k	8	4.5tons
Superheavy	small ship, spaceship	20k	20	10tons	10k	9	5tons
Megaheavy	huge giant robot	22k	22	11tons	11k	10	5.5tons

BUY ARMOR
This is the Phyiscal Defense (PD) of your vehicle. You'll use the same column of the table as you did for Extremities.The PD level of armor on the table above is as listed for that level; the OP cost is the PD multiplied by the number of extremities and your main body combined. You may not armor a mecha higher than 2 levels over its Main Body level, all areas must be armored at the same level, and you may not combine SDPs with Kills.

Choose Weapons (if any):
Using the weapons table below, choose how you want to arm your mecha. Weapons are purchased by their damage classes, not by any specific weapon; the weapons listed are only examples. Feel free to invent the effects and style of the weapon you want. Weapons are constructed by buying the basic DC or Kills of the weapon, then buy the range and accuracy of the weapon. Note: The largest weapon you may place on any Microlight main bodied mecha is 3K .

DC	Typical Weapon Example	Base Cost
dc 7	light rifle	5
dc 8	heavy rifle	8
dc 10	50 cal machinegun	10
dc 11	man portable howitzer	11
dc 12	15mm cannon, man portable laser cannon	12
dc 13	20mm cannon	13
1k	railgun, 30-50mm cannon, lt. beam gun	14
2k	60-80mm cannon, rocket pod, beam sword*	15
3k	90-100mm cannon, mecha machine cannon	16
4k	120-140mm cannon, beam cannon	17
5k	150-200mm cannon, mecha melee weapon*	18
6k	hvy. autocannon, missile pod, hvy. beam gun	19
7k	300mm cannon	20
8k	hvy. beam cannon,	21
9k	Artillery Cannon, mecha howitzer,	22
10k	Large Artillery Cannon, mega beam cannon	23
11k	battleship cannon	24
12k	Cruise missile, 18in battleship cannon	10

*Range is automatically 1

Ranges & WAs

The Base Range for a ranged Weapon is 200m/yds; you'll add+1 for every doubling of range. Weapon Accuracy (WA) is purchased at +1 point for each additional level over a starting base of +0.

 

Get a Final Total of SDP or Kills)

Now, add the SDP (or Kills) of your main body, all extremities, all armor and all weapons together. This is the total SDP or Kills of your vehicle.

 

Buy Thrusters

Thrusters allow your mecha to fly. To determine a cost, multiply your total weight (by x 0.0075 for mecha a ton or more, or 0.125 for mecha under a ton), then multiply that result by the MOVE you want as your top flight speed and round off. Example: For a 76.5 ton mecha to fly at a MOVE of 100 would cost 57 OP (76.5 x 0.0075=0.57; 0.57 x100=57.3 rounded down to 57.)

But even with a MOVE of 100, our mecha barely gets over 400 mph. So how do we get faster mecha? We get around this by using a game convention called The Afterburner Rule. With this rule, you can buy the Option (below) to move at one Mach level (@750mph) for every 100 MOVE of thrusters purchased. This Mach Speed is only useable in high speed, straight line, non-combat movement.

 

Buy Options

Now decide what options you want to add to your mecha. Options (like hands, computers, etc.) are purchased as add-on parts. (Note: that hands, claws, talons etc.must be bought for each extremity they'll be used on. Body Armors don't need hands; the operator's hands will do). Buy these options separately from Cost Multipliers (below).

Cost Multipliers are options applied overall to your mecha to get the effects you want. Choose the Cost Multipliers you want, add them together to get one Cost Multiplier number, then apply that to your mecha's Cost. Add that result to the mecha's Base Cost to get its Total Cost.

 

Hand	2ea
Security system	0.5
Claw	4ea
Escape System	1
Talon	2ea
Pincer	2ea
Sensors	4ea
Weapon Linkage	1ea
Computer	1 per level of INT
Containment Facilities	1per person
Laboratory	1 per type of speciality
Storage	0.1 per 50kg

  Cost Multipliers

Auto systems	x0.1 for each level of INT, REF, DEX +5 skills at +5 each
Land Speed	x0.05 per +5MOVE, no max.
Faster Than Light Speed	x1.25
Mach Speed	x.25
Maneuverability	x0.1 per +1MV, up to max of 0.
Scale up Kills by factor of 10 (weight goes up x10)	x25
Scale up Kills by factor of 100 (weight goes up x1000)	x500
Stealth or Cloaking Field (defined by GM)	x0.3
Style	x0.01 for each +1 bonus to Pilot's PRE, to a max of +3
Sublight speeds (escape velocities, up to 1AU per day at GM's choice)	x0.75
Synchro Systems	x0.5 for +2 to Pilot's REF & DEX, +1 to all WA's
Transformation Total Cost	x 0.3 for every form taken
Water Propulsion	x0.025 for every +5 MOVE

Calculate Your Surface Move & MV Add up the weight of all the parts of your mecha to determine it's total weight. Then check below to determine its MOVE and its Maneuver Value (i.e., how maneuverable it is-MV reduces your REF, and thus your piloting/driving skills). Example: Our 76.5-ton Beastmecha has a MOVE of 15 and an MV of -7.

Weight	MOVE	MV	Mph/Kph
<1 ton	35	-0 to REF	70/105
01-19t	30	-1 to REF	60/90
20-29t	25	-2 to REF	50/75
30-39t	25	-3 to REF	50/75
40-49t	20	-4 to REF	40/60
50-59t	20	-5 to REF	40/60
60-69t	15	-6 to REF	30/45
70-79t	15	-7 to REF	30/45
80-89t	10	-8 to REF	20/30
90-99t	10	-9 to REF	20/30
100t +	10	-10 to REF	20/30