Union Pattern Everest - GK Type

Originally posted May 31, 2024

Meet the new neighbors.

UNION PATTERN EVEREST [G][K] TYPE.

Deployed in limited numbers, these upgraded veteran units were pivotal in the Cressidium Conflict.

Special version of art I did for the upcoming @Lancer_RPG supplement, Operation Winter Scar by @kaitave_. pic.twitter.com/a0VR6qIlCC

— Peyton (@Gee0Man) May 31, 2024

Say hello to the new neighbors.

Another design done for the mecha ttrpg Lancer, this time for their upcoming supplement Operation Winter Scar, which serves as a sequel to last year's Operation Solstice Rain. The two together basically form a comprehensive starter campaign that can take your players from character creation to the game's equivalent of a D&D midgame. It's not out yet but you can expect me to put the call out when it's published.

I've decided to go full 90s anime poster maximalist with this one. Was inspired by the kind of illustration and layout you might see in the strategy guide or loading screen of a PS1 era mecha game. I suppose what they say is true about becoming nostalgic for a medium's technical limitations. I loved these kinds of layouts growing up.

_{Pages from strategy guides for Xenogears, Armored Core, and Xenoblade Chronicles X}

Putting illustrated key art against a rudimentary 3D render really shows you how important those illustrations were for early 3D games. These kinds of pages served as the bridge between the artist's vision and your own imagination as the player. That's not really necessary in modern games and so you don't really see it much anymore. But I will always appreciate a good piece of official key art.

_{Front Mission key art and its in-game model}

It's been said that giant robots are a man's romance. This is usually in the context of hypermasculine super robot anime. Hot blooded men announcing their finishing moves while Ichiro Mizuki (RIP) croons in the background. Personally, I think it can be applied to real robot works as well. The detailed orthographic breakdowns, the made up technical jargon, the wireframe 3D renders. In some regards that too, is romance.

_{Promo art for PC Engine game Browning}

Anyway, the GMS Everest [G][K] Type! Like last time, I'm going to go into some of my design notes.

Since this is a followup to a beginner centric campaign, I was asked once again to help design another Everest, the frame every new player begins with in Lancer. This time designing one at a higher level to represent the players' own progression since the first book.

For the original Everest design, I deliberately slimmed down some of its proportions to better communicate it as a mass produced starter machine. For the Everest Custom (or Kai, if you will), I was given free reign to power it up and the first thing I wanted to focus on was a significant increase in bulk and dynamism. This is the Jesta to the Everest's Jegan. The GM Powered of Everests, though hopefully with a less criminally embarrassing combat record.

_{Hajime Katoki's Jegan and Jesta art}

My intent was to create a machine that communicates a big brother/cool uncle feeling. The kind of mecha piloted by the gruff ace veteran who sacrifices his/her life to save our hero during a pivotal battle, briefly punching well above their weight class in a blaze of glory.

This mentality is reflected in the equipment as well. While the [K] Type is meant to represent the umbrella of all Everests that make it to LL2 and beyond, I wanted my key art to portray one that felt a lot beefier and specialized than what was seen in my first art.

The Assault Rifle remains to keep it in line with the ethos of a mass produced model, but it's been enhanced with the Ammo Case III system upgrade. Taking three license levels in Sherman also gives this specific Everest [G][K] Type some real juice. The shoulder mounted ANDROMEDA-Pattern Heavy Laser and Redundant Systems Upgrade vastly increases its threat potential. The addition of the ASURA-class NHP gives the Everest its own EXAM system, a dangerously powerful but unstable super mode it can briefly tap into.

Finally, I found an excuse to give a Lancer frame a pilebunker, the most mecha weapon of all. This is a surprisingly difficult thing to do in-game and requires putting license levels into fairly specific frames. Thankfully @kaitave, Winter Scar's lead writer, gave me an out and wrote a piece of exotic equipment that functions the same as a pilebunker without requiring the redundant levels. The result is a table legal LL3 custom Everest. The [G][K] Type is ready for deployment. Yours may not look the same, but I hope it might inspire you to take the fight to the Vestan Sovereignty in Operation Winter Scar.