The CthulhuTech Broadsword mecha with Vehicles/Robots

[Eukie]

Originally Posted by DangerousThing

I wouldn't bother to stat it out as a full vehicle, but use what CthulhuTech gave you.

You really don't need to build the rest in detail.

There is a fairly abstract way to build mecha with GURPS Spaceships. I strongly recommend that you use 4e for doing this.

I don't really need to if my goal is to build easily game-able mecha, but my goal is partly the joy and process of creation itself, and partly to have the extreme level of detail. I rather enjoy knowing the mass and volume of each components, it's location, and the exact fuel-consumption-rate for various activities. It lets me get an idea of what a (sur)realistic mecha should be able to do within a (sur)realistic framework. There are times when I want to know how much a severed mecha leg weighs, or how many mechanics are needed to lift an arm servo when replacing it. This is something I don't think I'll be able to use Spaceships 4E for.

However, I have come somewhat further in my quest. Since mecha have terrible power-to-weight ratios, I'll almost always want to fill all the available space in their Leg Subassemblies with Leg Drivetrains. Together with speed, this tells me the Motive Power and Maximum Weight of the mecha, and then I can design within those parameters.

(The Nazzadi mecha are more human-proportioned, so I might be able to design them a little easier though; the worked example in GURPS Robots tells me which propotions to use for a slim human being.)