Login Tabletalk RPG Series: Gundam Senki

Heh heh. So this is a Japanese RPG book, called a TRPG for 'tabletalk', as 'RPG' in Japanese is used almost exclusively for the videogame type. 

This here is a special one. This is the official MS Gundam RPG, using R. Talsorian Games Mekton Z rules. RTG, for those that don't know, was the company behind Cyberpunk 2020, my very favorite RPG. Mekton Z (pronounced 'zeta'), and thus Gundam Senki here, use the same system, Interlok.

Very cool. Not sure I'd have gotten it new, listed at ¥4800 in 1999) but my copy ran less than a quarter of that - and it still has the hex maps and fold-up counters!
 
So, the book is in Japanese of course, and rather difficult language (political, military, and gaming terms abound), but I now have official write-ups of the characters and mecha from the year one war! See, there's Amuro!

The book itself is about B4 sized and a very Japanese dust-jacketed softback. 336 pages, 123 pages of setting, 50 of rules, and the balance of NPC and mecha stats!

Dust Tactics Ideas

So Amazon Japan sells a number of Dust Tactics products. I've ordered a bunch... it's pretty reasonable and perhaps I can get some gaming happening eventually.

Another benefit is the extreme cheapness of Tamiya 1/48 models here. I've snagged a number of them so far. They are assembled into modules, but I haven't finished them, as I'm waiting to secure some decent paint for that. I do not like Japanese acrylic paints. At all. So until I'm rolling in Vallejo, I'm going to delay final assembly to ease the job of painting.

Anyway, in putting the Type 82E together I had this great idea for a 4-door, 3 axel variant. I snapped a pick of the box side art and Gimped up a couple quick sketches.  I will have to revisit this idea latter, with a couple more of the kits.



I also put an M8 Greyhound together... I left off the fenders, which was common among French operated units. I think it completely changes the look of the vehicle... leaner, meaner, more modern. I'd like to mate a MCW Hot Dog turret to it when I can get my hands on a spare one. Think I'll call it a Hellhound.

I have to decide as well on a paint scheme for the Axis. I'm tempted to do 3-color camo schemes on the German equipment, which is more accurate, but Panzer grey is pretty stereotypical. I guess I have some time to think.