Wow, it's been two months since I last wrote one of these.

Not for me lacking in goofy build ideas, of course, just haven't really thought to put any of them out into the ether with the readiness of the others. For example, there's an upgraded sniper-type build using a Ptolemy that I got to test a little in a one-shot. Good times. But I figured it was time to present a different build today.

The grappling rules in Lancer are a little complex - melee hit to grapple, then both units are considered Engaged and cannot Boost or use Reactions. Then the larger of the two (either actually larger or the one who has seized control through a Protocol contested Hull check) can drag the now-Immobilized smaller around, until either it takes control (if same size) or spends a Quick to break the grapple with another contested Hull check. It's a lot to internalize and remember for when you're trying to use it in the middle of a heated combat.

That said, what if you wanted to give it a try anyway and build a mech that was specifically for grappling? And - to make it funnier - what if we make it a half-size mech that can successfully grapple and drag around larger units like they were in a cartoon? Well, that's the wellspring where this idea comes from.

(Also, did you know Jerry's super-strong cousin is legit called "MUSCLE MOUSE"? I didn't until I looked him up to get a fitting picture for this chost.)

---

Lil' Mech

The Resources

• Lancer Long Rim
• Lancer Dustgrave
• Field Guide to Suldan
• Field Guide - Liminal Space
• Grimm and Sons

The Build

-- SSC Atlas @ LL12 --
[ LICENSES ]
  SSC Atlas 2, IPS-N Zheng 3, C&H PESILAT 2,
  MOI NIMUE 3, IPS-N Blackbeard 1, G&S Volk 1
[ CORE BONUSES ]
  Sibyl Analysis Suite, Gyges Frame, 
  Superheavy Mounting, Overpower Caliber
[ TALENTS ]
  Duelist 3, Executioner 3, Brawler 3, Spaceborn 3,
  Blade Dancer 2, Bruiser 1
[ STATS ]
  H:6 A:4 S:2 E:2 SIZE:0.5
  STRUCTURE:4/4 HP:24/24 ARMOR:0
  STRESS:4/4 HEAT:0/6 REPAIR:5/5
  ATK BONUS:6 TECH ATK:0 LTD BONUS:1
  SPD:8 EVA:16 EDEF:8 SENS:3 SAVE:16
[ WEAPONS ]
  SUPERHEAVY MOUNT: D/D 288 // Overpower Caliber
  FLEX MOUNT: Claíomh Solais
  MAIN MOUNT: SUPERHEAVY WEAPON BRACING
[ SYSTEMS ]
  Spaceborn EVA, Armament Redundancy, Utility Saws,
  Synthetic Muscle Netting, Total Strength Suite II,
  Crashing Avalanche Module, Falling Star Module

The Breakdown

So, the main purpose of this sucker is to get in close real quick and get that grapple going, then maintain that as you beat them about the head and shoulders with your weapons. With Armament Redundancy helping keep your weapons should you take a structure and risk losing a weapon. Or, conversely, you can just use THEM as a weapon instead thanks to the Pesilat's Falling Star Module and hit a guy with another guy.

With the Atlas frame, it grapples as a Size 1 unit due to its Giantkiller trait. Add in the Synthetic Muscle Netting from Blackbeard and it grapples as a Size 2 against Size 1 and smaller targets, and otherwise matches the size of the largest mech in the grapple. Add in the +1 accuracy to Hull checks from the Gyges Frame core bonus, and you could probably grab a Titan and swing it around if you wanted to, and I feel like I'd want to! To add further insult to injury, the Utility Saws from the Volk to deal a free 2 damage on grab. Because hey, free real estate.

Getting there and staying there is pretty easy too with our high Hull - which also makes our contested Hull checks better - and Agility. The Atlas can also be in the same square as larger units and get soft cover for doing so, made better with Sibyl Analyst Suite making sure you will always have that cover - even from attacks that would otherwise ignore it (i.e. Seeking, Tech Attacks, and Melee). Duelist's Blademaster also gives plenty of defensive options if you DO get hit, and its Unstoppable lets you grapple as a free action after a melee attack. So you can move into the cover that is your target, barrage with your weapons, and grapple for free at the end of it.

Once they're in your clutches, though? Then things get silly. Total Strength Suite II from the Zheng means you just do 1d6 damage to whoever you're grappling at the start of the turn. Meanwhile, the Crashing Avalanche Module from Pesilat lets you reposition them and they take 2 damage when they try to take control or break free from your grapple. Again, as a Protocol, so this all happens before you even start actually taking your turn in earnest.

At which point, you just start smacking them around with your weapons and/or using them as your weapon as mentioned earlier. Keeping in mind you get accuracy from Brawler's Hold and Lock to hit the poor guy in your clutches, on top of Duelist's Partisan (for main melee) and Bruiser's Reckless Swing (likely added to your superheavy D/D 288 or your unwilling new weapon). Then you have the option of Barraging with the Uncharged D/D (2d6 thanks to Overpowered Caliber) plus Claíomh Solais (1 energy, 5 burn), or charging up the D/D and show them your version of Doc Louis' Star Punch with a meaty 5d6+8 damage.

And if you can Prone them (made even easier with the +1 difficulty from Spaceborn's Scrapper) you get a free bonus 1d6 of damage on top of all that because of the Atlas' Finishing Blow trait. Such as through, say, hitting a dude with your dude... or tripping them with a Blademaster die. And if you want to play with your Systems some, you also have access to Total Strength Suite III which lets you throw your dude into a bunch of other dudes as a Full Action and prone them all when you don't want to hold onto him no more.

...

Also, a fun note for this: the Atlas' licenses aren't used for anything besides getting the frame used in this setup.

So you could easily swap it out for any other mech you want to turn into a grappler and you'd have basically the same setup minus access to Finishing Blow and Giantkiller. In fact, if you decide to use any of the following you already have access to from the build:

• the Nimue (another 1/-2 size which can also be in an enemy's space for soft cover)
• the Zheng (for creating and subsequently detonating hard cover), or
• the Pesilat (and maybe dip into some of that unarmed hacking goodness)

... then you could drop the Atlas entirely and have two more free licenses to use however you want. Plus the Nimue is mostly there for the nice weapon and Sibyl Analyst Suite Core Bonus, so that also could also be swapped out if you have other ideas.

But what do you think? What mech frame do you think this would work best with? I'd love to hear your own ideas!