Choose a frame
Start with the frame’s base statistics, traits, core system and mount layout. Those details describe the chassis’s strengths and the kinds of loadouts it can support.
Build for the mission.
A frame is the chassis foundation. Your finished mech also depends on its pilot, installed weapons and systems, license access and the job ahead.
Install weapons and systems
Weapons occupy compatible mounts. Mech systems use system points. A legal loadout must respect those limits and the equipment the pilot has unlocked.
Think in team roles
A build is most useful when it helps the squad complete the objective. Consider how it will approach targets, protect allies, control space, gather information or sustain the team.
Rebuild between missions
LANCER supports changing mech loadouts as the campaign develops. Treat the hangar as a place to adapt to new information and try a different configuration.
These editorial notes paraphrase concepts from the free player-facing LANCER Core Rulebook. They omit exceptions and full mechanics; the published book and your GM are authoritative.