*This is a long-overdue re-imagining of an RP I started pre-guildfall and restarted a year or so ago; but it didn't get off the ground so well because I neglected it for other interests in-between college work - I suck, I know. However, having since graduated and finding quite a bit of free time on my hands, I want to restart it and make it up to Guild friends I've worked with in the past on projects that fell out one way or another.*
FRAME was/is intended to be a futuristic, mild sci-fi setting drawing inspiration from games and anime franchises like Armored Core, Front Mission, VOTOMS, Patlabor, Ghost in the Shell, Heavy Gear, etc. It revolves around the exploits of pilots and their FRAME machines (F.ully R.eactive A.rmored M.obile E.ngines). FRAME blends storytelling with a light numbers system - players are encouraged to modify their FRAMES using simple mechanics and reap the benefits within the IC narrative. While mech-on-mech action is its main appeal, Mobile FRAME also has the opportunity to grow into a deep space opera, wrapping players up in political and economical tensions and including possibilities for character development. While the original setting took place in our Solar System and involved a dominant Earth government and many independent planetary colonies, this reboot will take place on a fictional planet and in its immediate orbit, not unlike the Strangereal universe of Ace Combat. Detailed information on the setting, FRAMEs and so on can be found below:
It is the year 2173 of the so-called 'New Renaissance' era. Mankind probes beyond the reaches of Earth, entertaining the possibility of establishing colonies elsewhere in the Solar System. Technological developments are at an all-time high and civilization has prospered thanks to the contributions of scientific and mechanical advancements. However, not all is tranquil on our blue planet.
The sovereignty of Earth's countries have given way to the dominance of powerful supranational unions and massive global corporations. The planet toils under the growing demands of its population as businesses churn out products, foodstuffs and other necessities. Hungry for more resources to maintain their growing populations and drive up profit, Earth's major powers turn their gazes to their neighbors. Strife between supranational powers and corporate entities is a common and expected phenomenon. While no official declarations of war have been declared in recent years, tensions have sparked armed skirmishes across the globe, often in the form of false-flag operations and by means of proxy states.
Caught in the tension between the transnational governments and corporations are dozens of mercenary regiments which sell out their talents to the highest bidder. Often military veterans or deserters, these hired guns do most of their employers' dirty work - keeping their clients' hands clean, for a fee. There are many sell-swords out there willing to do just about anything for money and a bit of thrill, while others are more politically motivated. Mercenary regiments are as diverse as they come, yet one thing's for certain - in a web of intrigue and backdoor deals, the jobs are never in short supply.
"FRAME" is the name attributed to the machines which have taken Earth by storm. FRAME stands for “Fully Reactive Armored Mobile Engine.” They are (usually) humaoid in appearance - comprised of two arms and legs, a torso and head of some kind. These machines are designed to carry out functions which can be done by humans, only on a much larger scale. Initially used for labor, FRAMEs are more often associated with a military context nowadays.
While they are relied on greatly in civilian life, FRAME development has been guided by military-grade research. Within a combat role, FRAMEs are ideal machines for high-speed, high-mobility operations, in which other vehicles would be too unwieldy. They operate not unlike conventional infantry, but upscaled. FRAMEs vary in size depending on their purpose, although most military FRAMEs top off at six meters (approx. nineteen-and-a-half feet) in height. Civilian FRAMEs are considerably smaller.
FRAME squadrons are typically deployed as semi-independent strike units and given objectives such as force reconnaissance, or flanking maneuvers in conjunction with a conventional armor force. FRAMEs are ideal counters to infantry and light armored vehicles, and can easily outmaneuver heavier vehicles in compact urban or jungle environments. They are intermediaries between armored vehicles and infantry, more versatile than a typical IFV and bringing more firepower to bear than a standard infantry fireteam. Despite this, FRAMEs are rather vulnerable individually and hardly ever operate alone.
As semi-modular machines, FRAMEs can be fitted with a variety of equipment and weaponry and can bring an array of powerful armaments to an engagement. Most are armed with autocannons resembling up-scaled rifles as primary weapons. Supplementary armaments can include missile and grenade launchers, rockets, cannons and so on. Most FRAMEs can carry around three armaments at maximum, with the addition of antipersonnel or integrally-mounted weapons. Light machine guns, Gatling guns and canister shells are typical defensive weaponry. While the combat protocol of most militaries pass the notion of hand-to-hand between FRAMEs as unrealistic and impractical, there are mercenaries who try to make use of melee weapons on their FRAMEs, whether for better or for worse. Their effectiveness is dubious, but that hasn't stopped them from trying.
The cockpit of a FRAME is located in the torso and allows the pilot to perceive the outside world through electronic monitors. These displays are connected to various cameras fitted on the FRAME's body; the primary of which is typically mounted on a head unit. A number of sensor suites are also contained within the head unit, allowing it to see in infrared, thermal and night vision. Other systems allow for target acquisition, designation and enable use of GPS. Many FRAMEs are partially controlled through a helmet-mounted display. The pilot is able to slave his machine’s weapon systems to their helmet display, effectively controlling the movement of his weapons with his head, much like the system used by Apache helicopter gunners. Cockpit designs closely resemble that of jets, having control systems that make use of combinations of sticks, throttles, and foot pedals. Overall appearances and controls may vary from one manufacturer to another.
The latest military-grade FRAMEs are powered by miniaturized, thermonuclear reactors and held together by an internal skeleton of sorts, to which armor and components are attached. Myomers, thin tubes of artificial musculature, sheathe actuators, which are essentially the joints of a FRAME. The combination of these components allows FRAMEs to perform precise movements and to an extent, mimic that of the human body at the pilot’s slightest touch. Multiple layers of laminated steel and composite armor protect the FRAME's internals. In comparison to a main battle tank or armored personnel carrier, a FRAME’s armor integrity is rather light by necessity. To remain mobile, FRAMEs sacrifice protection for ease of movement and speed, fulfilling a niche role on the battlefield. While impervious to small arms and machine gun fire, FRAMEs can be damaged by a direct hit from a high velocity 40 mm grenade launcher and will fare worse to anything more powerful. Armor-piercing autocannon rounds can threaten a FRAME’s armor, and anti-tank rockets or missiles will surely knock it out. To protect themselves against guided weaponry, FRAMEs are fitted with smoke, chaff and flare launchers, and most have electronic warfare packages installed. Main battle tanks, and aircraft are a FRAME’s most dangerous adversaries, especially on open ground. Despite this, FRAMEs can just as easily destroy each of these with the appropriate weaponry, especially when cooperating as a team.
FRAMEs are able to operate in a wide range of environments. Common methods of deployment include airdrops from aircraft with sturdy parachutes, amphibious landings by use of underwater propulsion packs, or direct transit via ground-based carriers. All FRAMEs have wheels affixed to the soles of the feet, which are what makes them so mobile. They can use these wheels to “skate” over both short and long distances and perform quick maneuvers or evasion. The style of wheels can be swapped depending on the terrain and can be replaced with tracks. Legs can even be replaced entirely with a tank or IFV chassis. The multitude of options available to FRAMEs makes them truly versatile machines.
This installment of FRAMEs follows a mercenary FRAME unit called the Preying Panthers, presently in the employ of Cradle Dynamics, one of the globe's major corporate powers. What your life was like prior to joining the Panthers and what you’ve been through hardly matters; This is your family now. The Panthers are a collection of folks with nothing to lose, many looking for a last chance at prosperity. There are ex-military and security personnel, ex-criminals, union workers, civil servants, university dropouts. Men and women from many walks of life have thrown their lot in with the Panthers, and in turn have been drilled, trained and whipped into some of the most respected sellswords in the business.
Hope that's enough bait to dangle over the edge and get some bites! As mentioned previously, there'll be a light system for customizing FRAMEs based on weight/power ratios and theoretical damage thresholds for weaponry. At the RP's start and at various shops, there will be a list of parts and weapons available for purchase. Missions will yield monetary rewards upon their completion, and equipment can be sold. For the most part, there will be no random damage calculation or hit detection IC - I trust the players to write believable posts within the capabilities of their machines. The system is mostly for flavor and a bit of fun.
Feel free to ask questions and/or leave interest. I'm anxious to kick this off again in a much better shape than it's been left in!
This. This. This. Absolutely love the work put into the concept. Sign me up.
Though I have a few questions, well, one really so far. Are particular FRAMES capable if being modified for players ease of use? I just have dozens of mech concepts and theoretical engineering id like to incorporate if at all possible.
To answer your question - certainly! I'm going to assume that our pilots have tinkered with their machines to make them as user-friendly as possible. Modifications here and there are to be expected and can be included in an extra section of the character/FRAME sheets. Internal calibrations to increase a pilot's familiarity with his/her machine sort of falls outside the realm of the customization mechanics I was working on, but can be assumed for all pilots. The customization mechanic mostly deals with chassis parts, weaponry, extra systems (engines, boosters, better radar/targeting computers, etc.) and other bells and whistles.
Not sure if that answers your question; Did you have something in particular in mind?
Armored Core is one of the key inspirations for the RP, namely the corporate rivalries, customization factor and Raven-like mercenary focus. Though our version of customization will be greatly simplified; more like the original Front Mission.
Armored Core is one of the key inspirations for the RP, namely the corporate rivalries, customization factor and Raven-like mercenary focus. Though our version of customization will be greatly simplified; more like the original Front Mission.
The OOC is in the works and will contain all the information in the OP, plus more in-depth looks at key factions, organization of the Preying Panthers and of course, the customization system. The pace of the RP will look something like *Briefing, Preparation, Mission, Downtime/Plot progression*, rinse-and-repeat. I don't want to bog down the action, but I also don't want to drown the story in a trainride of combat after combat. Hopefully, this pacing will allow for an even distribution of both.
I look forward to answering more questions as I work on the main thread!
I'm... interested if you'll have me. I am quite a bit rusty from not writing in a long while but I should be able to shake it all off by the time I feel I have made a proper sheet.
@Aristo Sounds good. To answer your question I had several weapons/engine concepts in mind. However my personal installments may be a little too 'gundam', as this seems like its mechs are more along the lines of Eureka 7 and Code Geass(hate em both). Correct me if I'm wrong, however.
@AristoHowever my personal installments may be a little too 'gundam', as this seems like its mechs are more along the lines of Eureka 7 and Code Geass(hate em both).
Quite the contrary; the mechs in FRAME are 100% real robots, rather than super robots. I've never actually watched Geass or Eurekea Seven, but our mechs are comparable to Patlabors', VOTOMS' and Universal Century-era Gundam's. All-mechanical, mass-produced goodness. For a bit of inspiration and a better idea of what to expect, here are a couple videos from series with comparable aesthetics:
Ah man, I'm on a mech(a) binge at the moment thanks to finding a long lost copy of Mechwarrior 3 (it's older than me!), but I think I'll wait a bit to see where this RP ends up on the "pseudo-realism" scale.
Paltabor, Heavy Gear and Mechwarrior are more the type of settings I'd go for, but either way, good luck! :)
I am interested in participating, but am wholly uninterested in starting out as a member of the Preying Panthers.
I'll wait until the OOC is up before elaborating too much, but with the current information I'd say I'll probably be more interested in Cradle Dynamics and the Prep/Afterparty periods of the RP. I may play as one of the shops, as a matter of fact. I still intend to get in on the mech combat of course, but at first that will probably just be in a supporting role.
I get the whole armored mechs and all- but is there any place for air support?
Perhaps a more logistical mech that uses all the sensors and data coming in from the other mechs, to build a real-time 3-D map to free up processing power for other mechs to target and react faster, while relaying orders and pointing out suspicious things, or giving some tips on how to take down an enemy.
And then also remote-controlling dropships, whether for resupply or reinforcement, surgical strike against entrenched enemies, etc.
@AristoNow that the others bring light to it, I would like to know specifics of what our role options are. The idea of having a sensory unit to enhance a squads tactical understanding of terrain could be hella useful.
And yeah, I want to say we are more along the edge of 'fast mechs', but I can't speak for you, and I'm honestly curious, too.
@AristoNow that the others bring light to it, I would like to know specifics of what our role options are. The idea of having a sensory unit to enhance a squads tactical understanding of terrain could be hella useful.
And yeah, I want to say we are more along the edge of 'fast mechs', but I can't speak for you, and I'm honestly curious, too.
Regarding fast mechs- could we still keep it more realistic? I liked the stuff from Front Mission, but that Armored Core 4 booster thing that was used to avoid enemy rounds- physically impossible to speed up that much, and then DROP that speed a moment later as if it never existed. It just bothers me, you know?
@WilsonTurner While the RP focuses on the perspective of the Panthers' pilots, there's room for logistical personnel within the company. I'm not sure if any of you are familiar with Gundam's 08th MS Team installment, but the team operates alongside a support truck that gives additional support in the form of sonar and comm suites. In the original SNES Front Mission game, your team has a supply truck for mid-operation rearms and repairs. So a position like that is entirely feasible, but best left to a maximum of one or two players per vehicle. Assets like air support and transports are intended to be restricted to NPCs, since their use is not guaranteed for each and every operation, and I cannot promise a player who's solely dedicated to one of those will have much to do when they're not in use.
@Terminal I'm not sure how to handle non-Panther characters, since the organization's FRAME team is the focus of the RP. Cradle Dynamics is a client of the Panthers at the immediate start of the RP, though there's no guarantee it will stay that way over time. I suppose you could tag along with the Panthers as an arms dealer of sorts, scavenging from downed FRAMEs after operations and helping the crews work on the Panthers' machines? Different shops will carry different assortments of FRAME equipment and we'll be doing a bit of travel. If you're still interested when the OOC goes up, you can run some more ideas by me. There's no hard player limit, but do note that Panther characters take precedence, being the focus of the RP.
@Sophrus@Gun@Vigfast I'll try to be specific here; the pace of combat is intended to be slower and more deliberate than Armored Core or Gundam, but faster than Battletech/Mechwarrior. Imagine an infantry fireteam sweeping through the hallways of a building. Now imagine FRAMEs sweeping through urban streets. FRAME combat has the potential to be faster, as evident by the 'skate' ability they have, but you won't see many pilots zipping around everywhere in the middle of a firefight (unless they're dashing to cover or making a hit-and-run attack, perhaps).
Here are a couple more cinematics to take reference from. Combat in the RP will probably be more deliberate and won't feature as much skating than they depict, but otherwise, they're pretty similar. FRAMEs are pretty mobile and are known for hitting quickly and hard.
