Today we want to talk about some of the basics that guide what a session of Heavy Gear looks and plays like. Before getting into any of that though, we should talk about optional rules. Heavy Gear Fourth Edition contains some rules which are tagged optional. By default these are on but a Director might choose to play without them. These rules add more complexity to the game and cover area’s otherwise entirely left to Director discretion. They can be thought of like mods to a video game – something that is rarely essential but provides a richer experience. The game functions fine without any of them, and may be a more streamlined experience, but we recommend using them. Some examples of optional rules are the wealth system, burden (how much players can carry), and Archetypes (which act like character classes in other systems.)  

Getting your character made in Heavy Gear is pretty simple once you know the concepts. It can be done before the game, but is really best done with all the players and the Narrator together as a sort of session zero. Today we are going to run through the process.

Building the Team, National Origin, and Lifepath   

The player characters in Heavy Gear are referred to as a Team. They might be a military, corporate contractors, or even a group of criminals brought together for a heist. The important part is that they are in this together. The Team works for a Sponsor, such as the military the Team serves in, a corporate entity, a revolutionary movement, or just about anything else. The Sponsor helps determine which vehicles the Team can choose from.   

It’s with great pride and pleasure that Dream Pod 9 announces the final Heavy Gear 4th Edition Roleplaying Game plans. Writing and basic layout is now complete for the HG 4th Ed RPG Rulebook, which clocks in at a massive 480 pages and includes everything players and gamemasters need to play and run games. Inside players will find a detailed history of the world, the core game rules, character creation, plus a massive library of gears, vehicles, and equipment to use in the game. The new edition calls back to the beloved 2nd Edition, while also presenting Heavy Gear to a modern audience. It focuses on roleplaying and storytelling while using an updated version of the Silhouette d6 system. Instead of just additional 6’s giving you a +1, now other results can do so as well, like in Heavy Gear Blitz. Also, players can customize not only their character but their gear.

HACS-08MG-D SPEARHEAD TIGER

We are soon to go live on kickstarter to fund some of the high quality art and storytelling that goes into the core book. And it’s going to be a very full core book. You will find information on all the Terra Novan factions, overviews of all other planets previously written about, and over 200 Heavy Gears and Vehicles for your character to use.

Miranda and Julius

T-XM1500 ROCK MAMBA

The Southern Republic is currently interested in expanding its ability to dominate the mountainous areas of Terra Nova in general and of especially in the Badlands -an airborne insertion in many of these areas is not always possible and a specialized strike team is often required. Also, while this is somewhat unavowed, the Rock Mamba’s abilities would prove invaluable in dislodging Northern forces from their defensive locations in the mountains should a North-South conflict occur. For that very reason, a special emphasis has been placed on the Rock Mamba’s ability to travel the rough terrain native to the mountainous areas. The Black Mamba, as one of the best Gears of the South, seemed the perfect subject to modify.

Talon Lead