Lancer Legacy
Scope
The motivation behind building Lancer Legacy
A Pilot's Legacy is a world that seamlessly falls to war and turmoil. After Earth has lost its colonies, humanity has not resorted to fighting over Earth. Some choose to fight over land, resources, religion, a nation, money, or even just a dream. However, of all people in the world, there is one group that can make these things a reality, lancers. Lancers are elite pilots that operate high-tech mechs that can turn the tide of war. While most nations have elite lancers operating the most high-tech mechs in the world, there are still the outliers who choose to fight under no banner. These outlier lancers are known as mercenary pilots, who are part of mercenary companies that offer their services to nations, politicians, corporations, or local populations.
The goal of the project
I'm creating first a tabletop roleplay for lancer the tabletop roleplay game and secondary a light novel series.
Lancer Legacy's Unique Selling point
Lancer pilot mercenaries are contracted to fight in conflicts that are way bigger than any of them. The battles they fight always have more to them. The Lancer mercenaries' companies they work for are just as complex as the world they live in. They will make friends and foes from all sides, one day working with another company and the next they are paid to kill them. While money is a factor that determines a Lancer merc's motivation to fight, everyone has something that they really fight for. That's the legacy that every pilot must forge for themselves, only through the trial by fire of battle can they make a name for themselves.
Theme
Genre
The technology is modern but leaning more sci-fi and cyberpunk. Think in terms of ballistics, lasers, and energy weapons'. Humanity has yet to rebuild to go back to space to colonize again but they have the tech to have mechs, flying cars, flying ships, cloning, holograms, androids, and virtual reality.
Reader Experience
I wanted the players/readers to feel this sense of grand spectacle and awe when they see massive battles, the cities of the future, and grand mechs. But I also want them to feel conflicted by putting them in moral, and emotional conflicts that make them question what the character truly values. The world may be grim in its reality of war, but it’s just as hopeful as the dreams of those who want to change it. Lancers are the embodiment of change, and with them, they all have a story to tell. What will be your legacy lancer?
Reader Tone
While the tone is leaning towards the dark, it does not stop it from finding the middle ground of tone, where there can be hope and a sense of light that shines through the darkness. It’s just the darkness of war and the grim reality of human actions is that makes it dark.
Recurring Themes
What will be your legacy? What are you truly fighting for? How far are you willing to go for money? How many lives are you willing to take to get what you want? Will humans ever change? Or are we meant to be this war? Is the cycle of war and violence possible to stop? What path forward will lead to peace? What kind of bonds can be forged on the battlefield?
Man vs Man Man vs Machines
Character Agency
Every action, from every battle to every exchange will have a lasting effect. The world of Lancer is real, full of actions and consequences. The main characters and players will be able to truly change how the world turns, and they may change the fate of others without even knowing it. That is why it’s called A Pilot's Legacy.