XENOGEARS

By Andrew Besuden (bobcat68@sprynet.com)

Author's Note

First and foremost, I'd like to thank Squaresoft for making the game Xenogears, without the game I wouldn't have come up with this idea.

Secondly, these rules are up to the storyteller. What he says goes. Not to mention certain chronicles lose their appeal when you have giant robots fight in it. If you think that a chronicle is unsuitable for Gears, please don't use the gears.

Introduction

Rumors abound of giant robotic machines fighting. Some claim that it's all a delusion of the witnesses mind, while others think that the witnesses have seen one too many Anime. The disclaimers are wrong. There are giant robots fighting around the world. They're called Gears.

Powers of Gears

• Gearts stand between four and seven stories high, though there have been reports of larger ones.
• Unique Gears automatically synchronize with the Pilot.
• Gears cannot be the target of powers that alter the form of or unsynchronize the gear (i.e., Arts, Gifts, Arcanoi, Disciplines, Spheres that alter shapes or forms) from the pilot. Note: The gears can be damaged by powers like Holy Strike or Thunder Clap and Wraiths can inhabit Non-synchronized Gears and this effects you as well.
• Gears have a chi pool that can be recharged whenever the pilot commands the Gear to recharge. 1 chi point is recharged when a player dedicates a turn to recharging).
• All Gears have Armor to soak damage (Soak difficulties against Non-gear opponents, unless they are very large are reduced by 2).

Weaknesses of Gears

• All physical attacks, Functions, and Parts require 1 chi point unless the Function or Part says differently.
• All ability and Physical rolls, except Intelligence and Damage Rolls, are rolled with Pilot + Ability.
• All difficulties of attacks on Non-gear opponents, unless they are very large are increased by 2.
• Players can not use Disciplines, Arts, etc. in their Gear unless they have the Part: Ether Machine.

Background Requirements

You think that you can just waltz right up here and order a Gear like it's the Sunday Special kid? Wrong! You need certain requirements depending on what kind of Supernatural you are. In case you've forgotten from the beginners manual we provide a copy of what's needed:
• Fetish: 5 (for Werewolf)
• Magical Artifact: 5 (for Vampire)
• Talisman: 5 (for Mage)
• Treasure: 5 (for Changeling)
• Jade Talisman: 5 (for All Supernaturals)

Now the reason behind this system is one thing. Gears are ancient technology, older even than most vampires. The cost for these Gears would be roughly one-third the US national debt. The technology, as stated before, is ancient. It's taken some time for these Gears to be understood. Mass production may not be possible for a long time.

Synchronization

So, you want to pilot a Gear huh? Well just lookin' pretty isn't going to help you out here. All Gears come in two groups: Unique and Regular. Regular Gears are simple; they don't require synchronization in order to function with a pilot. However, this means fighting in a regular Gear will be harder since the Gear is linked in with your thoughts. Unique Gears gives the pilot the advantage of synchronization. what's that you ask? Synchronization is where we take some of your DNA and scan it into your new Gear. If the Synchronization is successful, that Gear is yours until you die. In fact, the Gear will take the Fighting style you normally use. That means a gunslinger and swordsman have their Gears fight with weapons similar to theirs. Don't fret about the Garou boy; their gears don't go into the half-man and half-wolf form when they do that, after all these aren't the ultimate power. Now that you know what's expected of you son, you better make this old soldier proud. Dismissed!

Gear Statistics and Creation

Attributes: All physical attributes start at 7. Mental attributes are equal to the Pilot of the Gear

Abilities: Unlike most systems, Gear's abilities are determined by the Functions and Parts chosen. For example, if I choose the Function Hover, I would put Flight 2 and Dodge 3 in the abilities section.

Functions: Functions are the permanent powers of a Gear; these give the gear special advantages and make them unique. You are given three slots for Functions, one of which is arranged for combat. There may not be more than one type of Function in a single Gear.

Parts: Unlike Functions, Parts are interchangeable. Like Functions, however, you may not have more than one type of Part in a single Gear. You are given two slots for Parts.

Armor Rating: All Gears' base armor rating is 5. The armor rating is used to soak damage (including aggravated damage).

Health Levels: OK x 8, -1 x 5, -2 x 5, -3 x 2, Disabled

Chi: This is the stuff that powers Gears, their fuel. All Gears start with at least twenty Chi points. Gears use Chi for combat, flight and certain special powers. However, Chi can run out from your Gear. That's why they're installed with a Chi Recharger (system: The pilot must not have the Gear engaged in combat, then spends one Willpower point to regenerate one chi point. No more than five Willpower points may be spent in this way for one day).

Body Type: The body type of a gear gives it certain Function and Part restrictions. There are three body types: Humanoid, Beast-like, and Machine-like.

Functions and Parts

Note: Any Function or part maked with an "^*" requires no Chi point activation to use.

Combat functions for your Gear is identical to the combat style you use. When you change your particular combat style (guns to swords for example) your combat function for your gear will change as well.

Brawl

You Gear is proficient in a particular brawl style.

Ability: Brawl 5

Examples of Brawl styles: Wrestling, Street Fighting, etc.

Fire Arms

Guns offer your Gear no problems.

Ability: Firearms 5

Firearm styles: Rifles, Machine Guns, etc.

Martial Arts

Your Gear is proficient in one style of Martial Arts.

Ability: Martial Arts 5

Martial Arts styles: Karate, Judo, etc.

Melee

Your Gear uses non-ballistic weapons

Ability: Melee 5

Examples: Swords, Whips, Axes, etc.

Flight^*

Your Gear can fly, whether it's by wings, jet pack or both. This can not be taken with Hover.

Ability: Flight 5

Note: In order to Fly, the pilot must spend one Chi point and roll Pilot + Flight.

Power Amplifier

The pilot's Disciplines, Arts, etc. are strengthened. This cannot be taken without the Part Ether Machine.

System: Whenever the pilot uses a sphere, discipline, art, etc. he/she gets two success for the powerbs rolls.

Chi Blast

The Gear can shoot out a blast of energy.

Ability: Chi Manipulation 4

System: Player spends two Chi points and rolls Pilot + Chi Manipulation, difficulty 5. Damage is 5 dice.

Hover^*

Your Gear hovers above the ground, allowing it dodge more easily. This can not be taken with flight.

Ability: Flight 2, Dodge 3

Booster

This Function allows your Gear to move faster in combat.

System: Spend one point of Chi to activate during combat. The Gear is given two additional combat turns. This works every turn but will drain your chi pool by one point for every three combat turns (this means the one normal turn plus the Booster turns).

Stealth Mode^*

Your Gear does not make any loud noises.

Ability: Stealth 3 Dodge 2

Extra Strength^*

Your Gear's strength is increased.

System: The Gear's strength increases by two.

Extra Stamina

Your Gear's Stamina is increased.

System: The Gear's stamina is increased by two.

Auto Repair

System: Whenever Gear is in combat , 1 health level healed per hour.

Beck and Call

The Gear will approach you when summoned.

System: Spend 1 Willpower to summon Gear.

Mind's Movement

Gear gains telekinetic abilities.

System: Spend 3 Chi and roll Gear's Strength plus Intelligence (difficulty 7).

Combiner

This Function allows a Gear to transform and merge with other Gears into a giant Gear.

System: Each Pilot with the Combiner function wishing to join together spends 4 chi points. The maximum number of merging Gears is four. Each Pilot then rolls the Gear's stamina + Pilot, difficulty based on storyteller's idea.

(Climate) Circuit^*

The Gear has a an advantage in a particular climate of your choice (listed below).

Climates: Tundra, Dessert, Jungle, City, underwater, Wastelands, Mountains, Caverns

System: A Gear with this part gets an automatic initiative if he's in the climate named in the circuit.

Example: Bart's Gear has the Desert Climate Circuit and is currently fighting a group of bandits in the dessert. Bart automatically goes first due to his climate control Partbs specification for desserts. Bye, bye bandits!

Ether Machine

This Part is a must have if you want your Gear to use your Disciplines, Gifts etc.

System: Spend one Willpower point to allow the Pilot to channel certain Disciplines, Gifts, etc. through the Gear. The effects last for one scene and no more than five Willpower points may be spent in one day.

(Elemental) Guard^*

The Gear is able to absorb damage of elemental attacks. Choose one Element to absorb.

System: The Gear absorbs damage equal to its stamina.

Old Circuit^*

This part increase a Gear's response and defense.

System: The Gear gets + 2 successes on both initiative and soak rolls.

Super Recharger^*

This Part increases a Gear's Recharger power.

System: Recharger now provides two points of Chi instead of one.

Lens Enhancer^*

This Part improves a Gear's vision.

System: All difficulties for Perception rolls on sight are reduced by two.

Extra Armor^*

This Part increases a Gear's Armor Rating.

System: The Gear's armor rating increases by two.

(Elemental) Mode

This Part allows a Gear to deal damage based on a specific element (earth, fire, air, or water).

System: The Pilot spends one chi to activate (Elemental) Mode for one scene. The damage dealt by the Gear during this scene is based on one of the four elements.

Agility Circuit^*

This Part makes a Gear more Agile.

Ability: Acrobatics 3, Dodge 2

Lite Armor^*

This Part is much like the Part Extra Armor only it allows a Gear to be more Agile.

Ability: Acrobatics 1

System: The Gear's armor rating increases by one.

Missile Launcher

This Part gives the Gear the ability to fire missiles at a target. A Missile Launcher Part has about twenty missiles in it and fires in groups of four missiles.

Ability: Heavy Weapons 3

System: The Pilot spends one Chi point for every four missiles to be fired, then rolls Heavy Weapons + Pilot, difficulty 6. Missiles deal damage equal to 4 + each group of missile used during the current combat turn. You must launch at least one group of missiles.

Body Types

Each body type gives a Gear certain Restrictions. There are only three main types of Gears in the world for Most people. These body types, except for Humanoid, also have certain special functions that must be taken with the body type. There are rumors, however, of a class of Gears known as Omnigears, but no one has ever verified these accounts. There are also reports of other body types for Gears, but these are very rare.

This basic type of Gear looks like a human.

Function Restrictions: None

Parts Restrictions: Must take the Part: Ether Machine.

These types of Gears look like animals.

Special Function: (Elemental) Shot. This Function is usable only Beast-Like body type Gears. A beast Gear may be able to attack a target with a shot of Elemental Energy of the type Chosen.

Ability: (Elemental) Surge 4

System: The Pilot spends two Chi points and rolls (Elemental) Surge + Pilot (difficulty 7), damage is 5 dice.

Function Restrictions: Beast-Like Gears may only take the Combat Function: Brawl. These Gears must also take the Function: (Elemental) Shot.

Parts Restrictions: Must take the Part: (Elemental) Guard.

These Gears are War Gears that look like half-robot, half-vehicle machines.

Special Function: Grafted Weapons^*. This Function gives a gear built-in weapons from his Combat Function and is only available to Machine-Like Gears. For example, a Gear with the Firearms Function would have a gun arm instead of a regular arm.

System: Combat roll difficulties are increased by one.

Function Restrictions: Machine-Like Gears may only take Combat Functions Melee or Brawl. These also must take the Function: Grafted Weapons.

Parts Restrictions: Machine-Like Gears can not take Parts: Lite Armor or Agility Circuit.

Final Words

You've been briefed on how these Gears work. Now here some interesting information you might like to know. It is believed that there is a legendary Part or Parts all around this planet. One Part, called the Mass Accelerator, is very potent. Legends do not describe the full powers of this Part but the disappearance of Mt. Meru may be linked to it. Rumors also persist that is a way to turn a unique Gear into an Omnigear, but no one knows what's needed. Finally, pilots may want to study up on their pilot skills. Now start the afterburners baby!