Greetings, Dan here!

Welcome back to the Beneath Twisted Earth: Overdrive preview series where you can get a sneak peak into each of the sections contained in the expansion. Naturally, you cannot have an expansion to a mech game without new equipment for your machine! This week begins our dive into the expanded garage section with new Utility Systems. One of the goals for new equipment options for mechs in this expansion was to add options that some may have found missing in the core rules. While through open theming of the existing mechanics, players could build almost any mech they could think of, there were just some specialty options that didn't quite make it into the available options. The new sets of equipment will help greatly expand into these mech fiction niches while also adding new and exciting abilities in combat.

While I've been sharing two options from each section thus far, I decided to include three three this time, as one is a rather special addition:

• Autodoc: As an action, the autodoc system built into the mech’s cockpit will provide basic treatment to a pilot’s injuries, healing the pilot 1d6+2 HP. Can only be used once per injury. The pilot must suffer HP damage again before an autodoc can be activated.

• SKATE System: This movement system is tied to a mech’s weapons systems. After completing an attack action the pilot may expend a reaction to free move up to 2 ranges from its current position.

• Combiner Converter: As an action, initiate a combiner sequence handshake with an ally with a combiner converter within melee range. Once accepted, both mechs reconfigure into a combined mode. Once combined the converter can be activated as an action again to separate back into an individual mech. Refer to the Combiner Rules section below for a full rules explanation.

Combiner Mechs was something that I would have liked to have included in the core rules, but it took some time to work out how best to represent mechs of that nature in The Vibe System. Next time we'll take a look at the Combiner Rules with a special advance PDF that can be used right away with any BTE Campaigns currently running out there. 

In the meantime, thank you for your interest. I  look forward to seeing you at the launch of the premium versions of Beneath Twisted Earth and Beneath Twisted Earth Overdrive!