I like big robots. But I am particular about what kind of big robots I like. I like the big stompy robots, the ugly clumsy ones. The ones more reminiscent of battle tanks rather than suits of armor.
There is a spectrum of big robots. On the one end are the ones indistinguishable from giant metal men, able to move with grace and finesse. Often seen wielding giant laser swords. On the other end are the robots I like, better described as land cruisers than as giant robots at all.
Battletech is great, but it sits closer to the middle than I would like. As such, I would like to propose a project: The minimal change in rules necessary to make Battletech about BattleCruizers rather then BattleMechs. (The change of name is cosmetic only, to distinguish the two rulesets from each other.)
The goals of Cruizertech, from what I can see right now, are as follows:
1: Make hands and other manipulators more costly and less effective. These are warmachines, they shouldn’t be dainty.
2:Make QuadCruizers more worthwhile than QuadMechs. In fact, other mobility types should also be addressed. While wheels, tracks, and massive hovercraft skirts may impinge somewhat on combat vees, Cruizers are more closely related to them than Mechs.
3: Identify and rectify other issues ground those fancy-prancy Battlemechs in gritty stompy glory once and for all!
The problem is, I don't know where to start. I'm not well-versed in the balance of the game, and in a system as complex as this small changes can propagate in a big way. Any suggestions?
