Two modes of play.

LANCER moves between character-driven scenes and tactical mech combat. The same pilot carries a story outside the cockpit and a specialized machine into the fight.

Narrative play

Pilots investigate, negotiate, travel, plan and deal with the consequences of a mission. When the outcome is uncertain, a skill check gives the table a way to resolve the attempt and its risks.

Use pilot triggers when a character’s training or approach matters.
Let backgrounds and relationships shape what a pilot notices and how people respond.
The GM frames the situation and consequences; players decide how their pilots engage with it.

Mech combat

Combat switches to a measured, map-based mode where position, ranges, actions, terrain and teamwork are explicit. It is a different tool for tense tactical scenes, not a requirement for every session.

Track spaces and line of sight on the battlefield.
Make the mission objective matter alongside defeating opposition.
Coordinate actions so one pilot’s setup creates an opening for another.

A shared campaign

Missions connect the two modes. Choices made during briefing and downtime can change the resources, information and stakes pilots carry into the next deployment.

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.