Black Star vs Lancer
Compare Black Star and Lancer side by side. See differences in complexity, dice, genre, cost, and more.
| Black Star | Lancer | |
|---|---|---|
| Genre | Scifi | Scifi |
| Play Style | Rules-Light, Pulp Action, Space Opera, Beginner-Friendly, Fast-Paced, Mana Points | Tactical, Mecha, Grid-Based, Character Building, Combat-Heavy, Heroic, Crunchy |
| Core Mechanic | Roll 2d6 + ability, 9+ to succeed. Ten abilities rated 0–5. Pick two archetypes from ten options (Commander, Engineer, Mystic, Scoundrel, etc.) to define your character's strengths. Resolve serves as both HP and hero points — spend it to boost rolls or fuel special abilities, but run out and you're down. Advantages and disadvantages modify the roll. | Narrative scenes use d20 roll-over (10+ succeeds), with backgrounds granting advantage and triggers adding flat bonuses. Mech combat is grid-based and tactical — no initiative, players and NPCs alternate turns. Pilots progress through License Levels (LL0–LL12), unlocking new chassis, weapons, and systems across five manufacturers with 30+ mech frames. |
| Dice | 2d6 | d20 + d6 |
| Complexity | Low | High |
| Accessibility | Very High | High |
| Community | Low | Medium |
| License | All Rights Reserved | Lancer Third Party License |
| Cost | $ | Free (PDF) / $$ |
| Publisher | Lakeside Games | Massif Press |
| Year | 2023 | 2019 |
| Best For | Groups who want fast, pulpy space opera with simple rules — pick two archetypes, grab some d6s, and blast off into adventure. | Groups who want deep tactical mech combat with meaningful customization layered on top of accessible narrative play — giant robot enthusiasts seeking a modern alternative to BattleTech. |
| Highlights | Simple to learn, dual archetype system creates unique combinations, Resolve as HP-and-hero-points is a clean design, fast character creation, suited for one-shots and pickup games | Free core PDF, extensive mech customization with 30+ frames, clean split between rules-light narrative and crunchy tactical combat, Comp/Con companion app is well-integrated, active community |
| Considerations | Limited advancement options, narrow space opera focus, lacks deep tactical combat | Mech combat dominates — narrative half feels thin by comparison, steep learning curve from sheer volume of mech options, genre-locked to sci-fi mech fiction, requires grid/VTT for combat |