User:Zellfaze/Mecha D20/Mecha Points

Each mecha design will cost a certain number of Mecha Points depending on its statistics and qualities. Mecha Points are an abstract representation of the qualitative value of the mecha. A character gains a number of Mecha Points depending on his or her access to resources as well as the character's importance in organisations — see Starting Mecha Points, below.

Mecha Points can also be converted into the monetary systems used in many other d20 games. Conversions for d20 Anime, d20 Modern, D&D, and other games are listed on this page as well.

Starting Mecha Points

The information below provides examples of Mecha Point power levels. The equivalent Ranks of the Own a Big Mecha Attributes from Anime d20 are also indicated.

Street/Soldier Level — 200 Mecha Points

In d20 Anime this is known as Personal Gear.

This will buy the kind of vehicles and mecha one would expect in a game about street-level operatives, like bounty hunters or gangsters. A bullet-proof hotrod, for example. It is also suitable for a team of modern soldiers. Thus, a crew of four player-characters could pool their Mecha Points and buy an M1 Abrams tank.

Agent Level — 400 Mecha Points

In d20 Anime this is known as Own a Big Mecha Level 1.

This will buy the kind of gear that super agents or cyberpunk anime heroes have. Personal powered suits, for example, or a "do anything" spy car.

Mecha Troopers Level — 800 Mecha Points

In d20 Anime this is known as Own a Big Mecha Level 2.

This will buy a one-man mecha roughly as powerful as a modern-day battle tank or jet fighter A group of characters who pool their Mecha Points could buy a small fighting ship or space cruiser. Many giant robot anime shows have mecha at this power level.

Super Mecha Level — 1,200 to 1,600 Mecha Points

In d20 Anime this is known as Own a Big Mecha Level 3 or 4.

This will buy a mecha that is far beyond any modern day fighting machine. This is the standard power level for mecha in giant robot shows where the heroes' mecha are far tougher than the typical "grunt" mecha (usually built on 800 Points) they face.

Guardians Level — 2,000 to 2,400 Mecha Points

In d20 Anime this is known as Own a Big Mecha Level 5 or 6.

This will buy a mecha that is potentially world-shaking in its power. Campaigns similar to anime series where the characters are a small group of teenagers who are the only beings preventing the destruction of Earth will often start with mecha at that this level.

Mecha Point Equivalence

Many d20 System games use different mechanisms to represent the value of equipment and gadgets, from gold pieces to various unique Point systems. If using Mecha d20 with another d20 System game, the GM may desire to retain their existing system. Here are a few guidelines for converting Mecha Points into other systems:

Mecha Points in Anime d20

Each Level of the Own a Big Mecha attribute in Anime d20 gives 400 Mecha Points with which to build a mecha. Characters can pool their Mecha Points to create larger mecha, but should not usually be allowed to combine Mecha Points with non-player characters.

Each "major" item of Personal Gear in Anime d20 can be used to buy a mecha worth up to 100 Mecha Points, or to add additional Mecha Points to an existing mecha (through custom upgrades, etc.) or build a mecha of intermediate value.

The GM may vary the threshold to better balance mecha against other elements of the game.

Mecha Points as US Dollars

An approximate dollar value in modern US dollars can be found using this conversion:

Dollar Value = Mecha Points x Mecha Points x $2

Also, multiply the cost by 1 to 5 if the mecha was built for a government agency or the military, by 5 if it can travel in space or underwater, and by 10 if it is a custom-built machine or experimental prototype. All increases are cumulative; a mecha built for the military (x2 cost), that flies in space, and is a prototype, is 2 x 5 x 10 = 100 x cost.

Mecha Points as Interstellar Credits

In some science fiction settings, the cost in credits, or whatever other monetary unit is in use, will be roughly the same as the cost in dollars. This means that a space fighter or giant robot will cost millions of credits. For this conversion, just use the US dollar price.

In other settings, big robots and spacecraft are pretty cheap — any scoundrel can own a star freighter and any mercenary aristocrat can have a giant robot — the relative cost is more like a big semi-truck or a light plane. If so, the GM may wish to use this formula instead:

Interstellar Credits = Mecha Points x 200 credits

Apply the same cost multipliers detailed for US dollars.

Mecha Points as Gold Pieces

In fantasy settings the GM may wish to price mecha in comparison to things like full plate armour or galleys, or compare their value to that of magic items or constructs such as golems. This cost scheme gives a price in gold pieces. It assumes that very powerful mecha are rare, and intended to give a reasonable price for sailing ships and other vehicles that are also built using this system:

Gold Pieces = Mecha Points x Mecha Points x 2 gp

Double the cost if the GM feels the mecha requires technology more advanced than the campaign setting, or magic.

For example, a boat built with 10 Mecha Points will end up costing 200 gp, while a medium-sized galley built with 100 Mecha Points will cost 20,000 gp. A potent magical steam-powered mecha built on 400 Mecha Points — capable of arm wrestling an iron golem or taking on a young dragon — costs 640,000 gp.

Mecha Points and Character Level

GMs of some d20 System games may prefer to assign a specific requisition Level to each mecha; characters must be of that Level or greater to be assigned to it.

To find a mecha's Level, use a calculator. Take the square root of its Mecha Point cost, then divide the result by 4, rounding fractions up. That is the Level equivalent. Thus, a mecha that cost 400 Mecha Points would have a Level equivalent of 5, since the square root of 400, is 20, which when divided by 4 is 5.

This can also be used for games that typically assign characters equipment, requisition, or gadget Point per Level. GMs may vary the divisor to make mecha easier or harder to come by.

This Level equivalent can also be used as a mecha's Challenge Rating/Effective Character Level.

Mecha Points and Purchase Difficulty Class

Some d20 System games have characters roll to determine if they can acquire equipment, based on a wealth ability score or other attribute. A suggested Purchase DC for mecha is:

(Square root of Mecha Point Cost) + 15, rounded to nearest whole number.

Add +4 to DC if mecha was built for a government agency or the military, +7 to DC if it can fly or travel in space, and +10 DC if it is a custom-built machine or experimental prototype. All increases are cumulative; a mecha built for the military, that flies, and is a prototype, is +1 plus +7 plus +10 = +21 DC.

For example, if a main battle tank may cost 700 Mecha Points. The square root of 700 is 26.45, rounded to 26. The DC is 41, but since it is military hardware, it would be DC 46.

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