Greetings, Dan here,

Today we're going to be building the Neue Ziel from Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory. I'll admit I have some history with this one (which is why I chose it for today's "groundless" mech option over the Zeong). One of my first roleplaying experiences was on a play-by-post Gundam RPG where I piloted the Neue Ziel. It's an impressive mecha design which has inspired other franchises space mechs. Today we'll be building a terrestrial version, and I chose to challenge myself by focusing on a low-to-mid tier build. This mech sheet will represent a player who has gone on a few missions and has successfully amassed some credits to customize and improve their original build. As such, not all weapons or features will be present on the Neue Ziel, but we should be able to fit most of them in there.

For context behind the mech. The Neue Ziel was designed as a prototype superweapon by the Axis Zeon remnants after the One Year War. They designed it to be fast, powerful, and installed four I-Field generators to make it resistant to beam weapons. In this case, we will start with a Caballero Frame for 12 AP. Likely this would be one of the hypothetical player's next improvements, but when forced to choose between upgrades in this case, they would have chosen other areas. Next, we'll install Blitz Tech Boosters for a Movement Rate of 2. Also likely needing to improve one more level, but in this case, the player will have spent their credits on an Anodyne Labs CPU, giving the Neue Ziel 3 utility systems. Finally, we'll install a Blitz Radiator for a Heat Rating of 10.

For our three Utilities we'll install an Aerial Frame. This will allow the mech to apply its movement rate into the air. The rules do not stipulate that any movement must be applied to the ground once the special movement frames are installed, allowing for a "groundless" mech like the Neue Ziel. The next utility we will install is the Shield Generator, giving the mech 10 Shield Points to soak damage, that will recharge one point per round. Lastly, to give the weapon systems more power, we'll install a Heat Sink increasing the radiator's Heat Rating by +2.

Now the Neue Ziel has multiple weapon systems, but the two most notable are a series of Mega Particle Cannons across its body, and a pair of computer-guided claws that extend at a distance out on wires. Because of this, we'll focus on building these two weapons. First we'll build the Mega Particle Cannons with a total HR of 7. We'll spend two heat and optimize the damage for a total of 1d6+3. Two heat for the rate of fire will give the particle cannons 2 attacks per round. One heat will give it 4 ammo. Lastly, two heat for range will let us make the cannons effective at Medium thru Far range.

Next we'll build the Wired Claw Arms at 5 HR. For damage, we'll keep it at base level with 1d4 dmg for one heat. For rate of fire, we'll spend one heat, but optimize it to get 2 attacks per round. We'll put one heat into ammunition for 4 ammo. Lastly we'll spend two heat on range to make the claws effective at Melee thru Close Range. Because the player has advanced some we'll be able to install a mod on the weapon system. In this case, we'll start with a Targeting AI, granting a bonus to weapon attacks.

We will also give the Neue Ziel a couple of disposable equipment in a Rocket Deck, and an Ammo Hopper for the Mega Particle Cannon. The player could consider another hopper for the Wired Claw Arms, but it least those are effective at melee range so they will be able to continue attacking at reduced damage once the ammo is expended.

Possible improvements as the player gains credits would be to install a FLOAT system on the Wired Claw Arms so they can attack autonomously on the player's turn, a higher grade frame for more AP, or a high grade Radiator to improve/add to the weapon systems. Right now, we have a build with decent mobility, and the ability to attack multiple targets each round. While it may not be able to tank on the front line, it can provide fire support at Medium range to crush the unwary.

Next time we'll keep up the pace of non-humanoid mechs with what I think is the oldest example of both a walking tank and a bio mech. We'll build the Tripods from HG Wells' War of the Worlds. Until then, thank you once more for your interest, and I look forward to seeing you at the launch for the print version of BTE.