Today we’re releasing MechaStellar VER9, thank you for all the feedback on the draft rules, profile and layout updates. Below you will find a summary of updates for VER9 as well as a roster rebalance to go along with the new layout. The VER9 Design Goal post covers several of these updates in detail.
VER 9 Core Rules Updates
- Super Titans type split into Super Titan (Super Robot) and Kaiju / Super Heavy (Jaeger, Megadeus)
- Power is no longer a requirement for Super Titans and Kaiju, they now operate the same as a MS does choosing a weapon and firing solely with actions.
- The Power stat now provides a bonus to your attacks. For Kaiju / Super Heavies it is named Havoc and provides an alternate bonus.
- Not every unit will have a Power or Havoc stat, typically it is used for very powerful units, or ones who specialize in throwing their opponents and destroying terrain.
- Updated Crash Through rules under Full Throttle & Destroy Terrain
- Cut down on mental math for Indirect Fire
- Added Throw Terrain under Shooting Attack
- Added Target Lock which gives +1 ARM PEN in Sensors range.
- Reverted “Pilot Tier” nomenclature to “Pilot Level” to prevent confusion with unit tiers based on Performance (i.e. Performance 5+ is a Tier 2 unit which is worth more VP)
- Adjusted the Improvise skill and moved it to Universal skills. Added the Seize the Day Universal Skill.
- Moved Expert Evasion to the core rules as replacement for Flawless Evasion for small size games. Updated cost to be [M-X]
- Expanded Pilot Skills section – Removed the cost reduction for Indomitable, Heavy Arms & Assault Types.
- Pilot Traits: Added Zeal (Driven II) and Solo Operative (Lone Wolf II). Combined Legendary & Genius Pilot. Combined Noble with Fighting Spirit. Updated Close Combat Mastery.
- Updated the Decimator Commander Trait
- Updated Stun DMG to also affect the new Power / Havoc stat.
- Clarified Battle Damage regarding stacking of effects.
- Gritty MS – Shield Breaks are now optional.
- Updated the SRW Module
- Updated Destroy Terrain. Added Dangerous Terrain
Mecha Unit Profiles
- Super Titans gain +1 Evade but have lower HP compared to a Kaiju / Super Heavy.
- Performance 5+ Super Titans now gain a Movement bonus
- Updated HP Bonus for Performance 5+ Units
- Updated role for GM Cannon II & Dra-C.
- Rebalanced multiple units from Mazinger Z, Getter Robo, Big O, Evangelion, G & Gundam Wing and a handful of UC Gundam units. Fixed errors on GaoGaiGar & Dino Geist.
- Updated Kaiju / Titan Throw to be 1000 DMG or M-1 to put it on the same playing field as Crushing Strength / Lashing Whips
- Tweaked EXAM activation to be EXAM Units vice Newtypes / EXAM
- Updated Ambusher to be first attack within 24″ to close a loophole with Snipers and Artillery taking a very powerful +10pt upgrade
- Size increase for units with the Slow and Laborious Trait (Pacific Rim & Big O)
- Upgraded Newtype to also reroll Melee DEF dice
- HP boost to units with Super Alloy Z, Gundarium Armor & Cast in the Name of God
- Updated This Hand of Mine and similar abilities to be Round 3+ to prevent Alpha striking
Weapons
- Rebalanced the flamethrower profiles for Hades
- Updated Aphrodite, Diana, Venus A and Getter-3 to use the Missile Barrage profile instead of the Antiship Missile profile
- High PEN and High Crit thrown weapons (Tomahawks and Rocket drills) upgraded to 300 DMG. Units affected: Getter-1/2, MechaSaurus’, Slattern, Toeizinger, Ghostflame V9, Bolt Gundam.
- Upgraded attack growth for heat whips, boomerangs & Shotguns. Units affected: Maxter, Mazinger, Venus A, Baron Ashura, Hades, Deathscythe, Otachi, Tacit Ronin, Kampfer, Efreet, G-Line Assault.
- Upgraded Beam Spray Gun to be DMG 300.
- Upgraded Overwatch on Needle Missiles & AA Missiles
- Merged Machinegun and Gatling Gun profiles. Gatling Guns are now a Machine Gun with 1 slot upgrading the range.
- Updated Shields to give the Bonus Block vs Weapons <300 DMG protecting against the following new weapons. Beam Machine Gun, Beam Boomerang, Heat Whip. Similarly updated the Focus action and Practiced Professional / Headhunter traits to follow suit
- Clarified wording on Indirect Fire for Remote Weapons (Bits, Funnels, etc.)
Wargame Rules & Mission Packs
- Added several options to Unit Upgrades
- Minor wording tweaks for secondary objectives
- Minor wording tweaks to Defend the City
- Minor tweaks to ranges replacing most 6″ with 8″ and most 12″ with 16″
- Updated the Sandbox Mission packs to comply with revised points costs for a few units (Zaku Half Cannon, GM Light Armor, Gouf Custom, Guntank MP, GM Guard & Intercept Custom)
Unit Roster Update
- Added 5 Units from GaoGaiGar and 4 Units from Exkizer. Roster Update post.
- Added the following units: Shin Matsunaga’s Zaku II, Gato’s Rick Dom, Roy Greenwood’s Dom Tropical Test Type, Siemen’s Gelgoog High Mobility R Type, GP02 with Antiship Rifle, Dra-C Heavy Custom, Big Zam (Mass Produced), Alex piloted by Amuro,
- Added the following units: Romeo Blue, Horizong Brave, Tresspasser (Kaiju), Getter-1 (Musashi), Boss Borot (Toei)
- Updated all mecha unit profiles to the VER9 layout to improve readability and cut down on empty space. Consolidated several profiles for Federation and Zeon and instead provided weapon loadout options. This trimmed down the page count considerably. For example The VER 8 Federation layout had 86 profiles on 26 pages, VER9 layout cuts it down to 75 profiles on 16 pages.
MechaStellar 