Reel Robot Fishing:
> You should come prepared with a
> A Game of Patience, Vulnerability
and Giant Robots for 1 Player
> Rules and Setting by Alessandro
Arena-DeRosa - @sandromaycry
> Additional Design Kudos to Duffy
Muller - @orxalot
> Cover Art by Bayleigh Underwood -
iceghostart.com
> See more Mobile Engagement Chassis:
Steel Hearts @ steelhearts.info
Concept:
> Even MEC Pilots need time to
relax. You have charted a boat
into a massive lake or perhaps
the seas or oceans for some quiet
time to yourself. Here you will
take turns trying to catch
something or Reflecting about
life. The game ends after a set
time (usually an hour) has passed
and the sun has begun to set.
Ambience:
> You should put on a gentle
ambience. The chirping of
cicadas, the rhythmic lapping of
waves, perhaps some calm piano
music.
> You are encouraged to prepare
your favorite drinks. A crisp
soda, a thermos of chrysanthemum
tea, a mug of strong coffee.
Preferably something your Pilot
would drink.
> When Reeling in a Catch, you
are encouraged to play amped up
orchestral or hard rock music.
Something that screams JRPG BS.
Preparation:
> It is important to remember
Pilot and MEC in mind. You can
either use your existing Pilot
from Mobile Engagement Chassis:
Steel Hearts (or any other
Tabletop Mecha System) or come up
with a new Pilot for this outing.
> You can either have a journal
ready to record your Reflections,
or maintain a more ephemeral
feels by not recording answers.
> You need one D4 and two D6.
> You should write down two
things that your MEC is good at
and one thing your Pilot is good
at. These will be referred to as
“Edges”. You should similarly
write two things your MEC
struggles with one thing your
Pilot struggles with. These will
be referred to as “Threats”.
> You should determine two unique
pieces of mechanical gear your
MEC has that will be active
during the outing and take note.
> IF you are playing with
preexisting MECs from an ongoing
campaign, you can instead use any
relevant equipment from your
MEC’s Diagnostics Sheet.
> You will have to print out the
appropriate Casting Board and
prepare it in front of you.
> The game takes place in
relatively real time, with the
suggested time for an outing
being an hour. You can either set
a timer or keep an eye on the
clock.
The Outing:
that the time you spend at the
table should not be fully
dedicated to taking turns or
ensuring a fish is caught.
Rather, you should make room for
quiet moments and allow yourself
to get swept up in whatever
musings emerge.
> Once you have written down your
Edges and Threats, you can set a
timer (roughly an hour) for how
long the game will last. Ensure
the timer’s alarm is silent, as
not to disrupt the ambience.
> Before the timer begins, each
you will roll a D6 to see what
additional fishing equipment you
have brought:
1. Plenty of snacks.
2. Industrial amounts of bug
repellent
3. Fancy techno-lures
4. Repair/first aid kits
5. Map and encyclopedia of local
wildlife
6. Diving gear for the Pilot and
MEC
> Remember to take a deep breath
and soak in the scenery before
beginning. When you feel like you
can see and smell your
environment you can cast your
REEL (Robustly Engineered
Electronic Line).
> You will take turns Casting
using their REEL and Reflecting
when nothing bites.
> You will continue to Cast until
the Outing is over.

Making a Cast:
> Being roughly one arm’s length
away, you will roll a D4 at the
Casting Board and follow the Reeling
Prompts.
> Landing outside the prompts or
ambiguously on a line leads to
Nothing Biting. You will then roll
for a Topic of Reflection.
Reeling in a Catch:
> When Reeling in a Catch, you will
imagine the challenges you face using
the Casting Board prompts.
> You will roll 2D6 to resolve
problems, adding +1 for each Edge and
-1 for each Threat.
> 1-5 = Failure, the Catch is lost.
Take a deep breath, have a good
laugh, then roll on the Topics of
Reflection Table.
> 6-9 = A Complication. You gain a
Success towards your catch, but
you’ve either lost something or
another issue has arisen.
> 10+ = You succeed magnificently and
gain a Success towards your Catch.
> On a Successful Catch you can
decide to Store or Release your Catch
before your turn passes.
REELs & Storing Catches:
> One of the advantages of REEL
Technology is that it uses faint
sonar and electrical pulses to
harmlessly stun whatever you Catch.
Thus, Catches can either be safely
thrown back in the water or brought
back from the outing (alive or dead).
> Pilots can only store two Catches
to bring back with them.
Topics of Reflection:
> When rolling for a Topic of
Reflection, first roll a D6 to see
which general topic you will be
addressing. Then roll the D6 again to
see what specifically your Pilot will
reflect on. Reroll if needed.
> The reflection you have can be as
long or short as you feel it needs to
be. However, always make sure to
address why you answered how you did.
1 – The World
1 – Where would you like to travel?
2 – What has been your favorite place that you
have traveled to?
3 – What do you think of the current state of
the world?
4 – Is there a faction or group you feel
particularly aligned with?
5 – Is there a faction or group you feel
particularly concerned about?
6 – Where feels the most like home?
2 – The Self
1 – What is your greatest fear?
2 – What is your greatest hope?
3 – What is something you have never told
anyone?
4 – List three things you appreciate about
yourself.
5 – What is something you want to do before you
die? Are you afraid of dying?
6 – Why is your MEC important to you?
3 – The Other
1 – Who is your greatest rival? Do you have
any? If not, why not?
2 – Who in your life do you feel closest to?
3 – Who in your life would you like to know
better? About what?
4 – Say one thing you appreciate about each of
your usual or past companions.
5 – Who is someone you wish could be on the
Outing with you?
6 – Who is your favorite family member? (This
can include found family)
4 – The Ecosystem
1 – What is your favorite animal?
2 – What is your favorite weather?
3 – How do you see yourself in relation to the
natural world?
4 – How do you feel you treat the natural
world?
5 – Have you ever had pets? Or wanted them?
6 – Would you trade your MEC for a rideable and
friendly giant creature?
5 – The Past
1 – What is your favorite childhood memory?
2 – What is a memory you wish you could forget?
3 – What is your greatest triumph?
4 – Do you regret any of your choices?
5 – Recount a cherished memory that involves a
usual or past companion.
6 – What has been the theme of your life?
6 – The Future
1 – What are your plans for the week?
2 – What is something you would like to do with
your MEC?
3 – What is something you would like to do with
one of your usual companions in the future?
4 – What is something you would love to show
your usual companions in the future?
5 – What about your life do you plan to change?
6 – What do you think your life will be like
when you are old?
Wrapping Up:
> When the timer goes off the sun will set, and
you will be encouraged to pack up your fishing
gear. This of course is not mandatory if you
are still enjoying the evening. However, a
change of lighting and ambient music would be
appropriate and is encouraged.