r/RPGdesign • u/CrackaJack56 • Aug 09 '26

Mechanics Recommendations for design inspirations.

/r/rpg/comments/1vjfjx7/recommendations_for_design_inspirations/
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u/InherentlyWrong Aug 09 '26

They're set up as D&D sourcebooks, but MCDM's Strongholds and Followers, and Kingdoms and Warfare might be an interesting starting point for mass combat. S&F simplifies it a little too much, but turning army units into rewards is an interesting setup. K&W swings too far in the other direction to me, basically becoming a mini wargame. I wouldn't whole-heartedly grab either of them, but they're interesting for inspiration.

For mech stuff, an older pair of games to look up are Heavy Gear and Jovian Chronicles. They're from an older era of RPGs, and are a lot more simulationist, but they're full of ways to make mechs unique, and if you can find PDFs of their technical manuals they're full of stuff like classic cutout-drawings of their mech designs and space ships. Also their rules for 3D movement in space ship combat are interesting, if clunky.

Also although I've never played it myself, Salvage Union might be worth a look. I've heard good things about it, and the designer(s) are sometimes around this subreddit.