Lancer Core Book: First Edition PDF
A downloadable game
Lancer imagines a future where a survivor humanity has spread to the stars after weathering terrible ecological collapse on Earth - the end of the Anthropocene as a consequence of unrestrained consumption and poor stewardship. Thousands of years later, humanity lives in the wake of a desperate revolution, one where the victorious radicals now manage the galaxy they've won.
The setting features a mix of gritty, mud-and-lasers military science fiction and mythic science fantasy, where conscript pilots mix ranks with flying aces, mercenary guns-for-hire brawl with secretive corpro-state agents, and relativistic paladins cross thermal lances with causality-breaking, unknowable beings. Lancer's galaxy is one where utopia exists, but is under threat, and the struggle is not yet entirely won; the revolution is not yet done.
In Lancer, players adopt the roles of mechanized chassis pilots - mech pilots - comrades together in a galaxy of danger and hope. Some groups will fight to rectify the crimes of previous administrations; others will fight for their nation, pieces in a greater game of hegemony. Others will carry the banner of a corpro-state or mercenary company, working to advance private interests while lining their pockets. Others still will fight for groups acting in opposition to those in power - for the underground, for the forgotten, agents of entropy and agents of yet more radical revolutions.
Lancer offers deep, modular mech customization, a wide range of player backgrounds and hooks to prompt storytelling, and a system and setting with room for any narrative you and your group want to tell. It’s best with a group of 3-5 players, and can be used to run a one-shot session or persistent campaign.
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Included with the PDF of the Lancer Core Book are the following:
- Full, original art from some of the best illustrators working in indie comics, concept design, product design, and character design today.
- Full, deep setting information, GM toolkit, and back-end information to help you plan out your own Lancer narrative.
- Essentially limitless amounts of possible gear combinations to outfit your pilot's chassis.
To open up new avenues for play, be sure to join our fan-run Discord server, and to download a free copy of Comp/Con, Lancer's companion character-builder and compendium app.
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Lancer is a project by Massif Press, an indie publisher run by Tom Parkinson Morgan, author of Kill Six Billion Demons, and Miguel Lopez. Massif is based out of Atlanta, GA, and Portland, OR. For the latest Lancer news, be sure to follow Massif Press on Twitter.
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Sample art and layout credits (in order, top to bottom)
- Tom Parkinson Morgan and Minerva McJanda
- Olympia Sweetman and Minerva McJanda
- Payton Gee
- Conner Fawcett
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Nowhere to go but up, pilots.
Status | Released |
Category | Physical game |
Rating | Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars (667 total ratings) |
Author | Massif Press |
Genre | Role Playing |
Tags | Character Customization, mecha, Mechs, Sci-fi, Space, Tabletop |
Average session | A few hours |
Mentions | itch.io Recommends: tabletop and jam gam..., Looking for a new Tabletop RPG to play?... |
Purchase
In order to download this game you must purchase it at or above the minimum price of $25 USD. You will get access to the following files:
Development log
- 7/1 UpdateJul 01, 2020
Comments
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QR code allowed me to download it, but it didn't let me add it to the "Things I own" collection, so I guess I can only re-download it via the QR code?
hi there
Just wondering if any more community copies will be available?
Kind regards
Thank you for the great game!
I work as a teacher and i played it with some of my students today as a way to break the ice in the new group and they loved it!
sucks that something like this is the only place to voice the problem, I have sent multiple emails now after purchasing the physical book on amazon, it's coming up on two weeks of owning the book and me and my group have still yet to get to play the game. maybe complaining here gets me a response one day.
I emailed massifpress@gmail.com about the QR code issue and they gave me a key code to get the files within 24 hours. (it says to do this on their github page)
I recommend doing this if you have the same problem!
The issue with the QR code in the physical book has been solved yet? ("This download page has been disabled and is no longer available.)
I also cant claim the digital version.
I also have a problem with loading from the QR code - mine says "This download page has been disabled and is no longer available."
Just recently bought the hardcover and I am unable to access the digital files. When I scan the QR code it brings me to a page saying this download is owned by another account. Any way to rectify this issue?
Had this issue as well but would you happen to have purchased the Bundle for Racial Justice and Equality in 2020 or so? This full version of Lancer was included and I didn’t realize that I already own it myself so I was able to download it. IIRC everything from that bundle doesn’t automatically appear in your library as to not clutter it so the page here will show a purchase option.
Of course there’s also just the chance that the QR code is broken. But maybe you already own it.
Thanks for the response but unfortunately not the case for me. Seems as the QR code is just not working. But thanks anyways, was a good thought!
I bought the physical and the QR worked on my phone when I first got it but upon trying to use it on a computer today it is claiming to be owned already by FariaAslo. I am sure it will be fixed in a bit.
I also recently bought a physical book and it says my key is already claimed by the account FariaAslo.
I'm having the exact same issue, have you found out anything about it?
They are currently aware of the issue and looking into it:
https://x.com/Lancer_RPG/status/1818738482283790383?t=SWh169Wi8TVEjEzFJXHiPw&s=1...
Thanks, I'm having the exact same issue
For some reason I can't add my npc files to my Comp/Con. Any idea how to solve this issue
If I buy the hardcover book will that include PDF and LCP file access?
Same question
As someone who just received the hardcover edition I can confirm that yes, you do. (Scan the QR code in the front)
How can I access the .lcp files if I bought the Lancer Core Book on the Role.app store?
After years of wanting to try out the game, I finally bought it. Hopefully I can run it well.
Can't wait to play my first game!
I’m hoping to buying a physical copy for my next campaign, will it be available somewhere?
preorders for physical copies are available now, they'll be delivered this summer
Any word on a re-print for a physical version or another kickstarter campaign? Alternatively have you considered DriveThru, given there is a clear demand for Lancer.
Failing that is it possible to get authorisation to take this to a printers if you buy the pdf?
I don't think anyone will stop you from printing out a pdf lol.
Many professional printers require authorise for works which are trademarked/copyrighted.
https://twitter.com/Lancer_RPG/status/1707819933101445176?t=ohT8hI97WDfE-fCoV6ll...
Any news about the hardcover new print?
Just got this book and all the settings and supplements. It's not enough I need more Lancer, it's so damn good!
Any tools included to play solo? Or solo friendly?
Hey, this would be a great question to ask in the (un)official Lancer discord: https://discord.gg/lancer
The folks over there are great, and there are a ton of resources they've got listed for supplements to play.
Hey, uh, what is an lcp file, and what do I do with it?
You get down with the clown.
You put it into COMP//CON, or Foundry, for mech and pilot info. It's how you build pilots/mechs/NPC's out with the books you own.
Are there any plans to make physical copies of Lancer available? I've heard they were available at one point, if only as surplus from the Kickstarter campaign, but I haven't been able to find any other info about them.
Massif tweeted out recently that they're looking at getting more physical copies. But there's no real timeframe on it as of yet. https://twitter.com/Lancer_RPG/status/1614675569588801537?s=20
Good to know! Thank you for the heads-up.
Hey i got the book with https://app.playrole.com/games/ but i didn't get the Comp/con with it is that right?
Comp/con is a website on the internet
Yeah you're right, I apologise for this message. I've made it while I had no way to communicate with the staff due to a shadow-like ban. It has been sorted out thankfully and have just forgot I wrote this message. I'll delete it since it doesn't reflect who I am anymore along with getting a thirdparty for no reason involved.
Hello there,
I would like to know if there is any kind of licensing for another language. We are a small publisher here in Brazil and we are interested in launching Lancer in Portuguese.
I'm waiting for a contact, you can send me a return by email: rpgcomnozes@gmail.com
hey so i have this question, i adquired the lancer pdf in late pledge, and i paid 30 usd for it, and is just the pdf , whats the difference between this 25 usd and the premium pdf i have?
Sadly, it doesn't seem like it.
I made a video review of this game on YouTube. Check it out:
Hello, I was wondering if there is a way to get a hard copy of the game. Thank you for your time.
It looks like they started selling a physical copy, perhaps fairly recently; it's available from Massif's online store. https://massif.netlify.app/shop
Yep, that site launched March 25: https://twitter.com/Lancer_RPG/status/1375101296823439360
I'm loving the book and finally have someone interested in playing it! My question is: in the section talking about non-human intelligences, when you mention the Egregori in the footnotes you mention that there is an expansion coming that will dive deeper into this topic called No Room for a Wallflower. I noticed it's not available in the store yet, is there any info you can give us on when it'll be coming out?
It's out now!
Act 1 is now out, here: https://massif-press.itch.io/no-room-for-a-wallflower-act-1
It's the first part of a 2(?)-act campaign.
Hey there was an update for Comp/Con that changed the Long Rim program stuff, where do I go to get the update?
The official discord has a dedicated comp/con channel with faqs. https://discord.gg/DmRRQFAccf Remember to backup often.
If you're using the webapp the content manager is on the home screen or in the top right context menu marked by three dots. It should be under directory.
I bought a copy for someone that I found out already had it. Is there a way I can get a refund?
It looks like all refunds on itch.io would have to go through itch.io's support regardless: https://itch.io/docs/legal/terms#9-refunds
You can contact support by emailing support@itch.io.
Thank you, I'll give that a try.
Can we expect a physical version at any point?
As of March 25, they've launched a site where you can buy a physical copy of the core book here: https://massif.netlify.app/shop
Apparently, this game was in the Racial Justice bundle, but I can't download it, only buy. Is it just me ?
Go into the bundle directly and click download on the game.
That's due to how the itch.io Bundle for Racial Justice and Equality was structured - there's an absurd number of products in it, so rather than automatically showing them all as owned automatically, you have to manually click "claim" on them from the bundle page first for that to happen (I think).
Best. Game. EVER.
This is truly comparable to playing with mind LEGO's!
Why does the itch.io "More information" box say this product was "updated" 4 days ago (September 7th), even though the downloads page doesn't show any of the included files having been updated since 53 days ago?
Probably cleaning up some of the text in the description on itch.io?
Hi, I bought the pdf and it is amazing. Is there a physical book I can also buy? Would love to have it in my collection :)
Yes, I would also like to get a print version.
According to the company in the KS (@lancer_rpg on twitter) they did have surplus copies, and watch their twitter for information as they figure out how to make them available.
I got this on a bundle on itch.io and i can't find the lancer npc data for comp/con. Any clue where it is or how can i download it?
For the paid/premium version of the core book (which I believe is what was included in the itch.io Racial Justice and Equality bundle), the NPC data is listed alongside the other downloads.
Hi, I just got a physical copy of the main book (bought on backerkit), how can I enable the npc feature in Comp Con? Thank you!
Are you asking about how to put it into Comp/Con or where to find the file?
If it's the latter: For the paid/premium version of the core book, the NPC data is listed alongside the other downloads.
If you don't have the material associated with your itch.io account: I believe that if you got it on BackerKit, you should have received an email with a link to an itch.io page where you could download/access it from.
Is there a difference between the corebook presented here, and the free version?
The core book has all of the information for game runners, with NPC character sheets, advice and rules for running cmpaigns, and extra information about the game's setting to help tell the story.
To play, you'll need the GM to have this book, but the players only need the free book to learn how to play, build their character, and learn enough about the setting to enjoy the game
In addition to what Gaeel said, purchasing this version also gives you the .lcp files for the NPC mechs for use in COMP/CON. And it appears that mech token images have been recently added to the downloads here too :)
Absolutely loving this game. Plenty of lore to sink into. An aggressive progression system that encourages some risk taking. Easy to prep for, and with the comp/con app, easy to run.