What's new
Star Army

Star ArmyⓇ is a landmark of forum roleplaying. Opened in 2002, Star Army is like an internet clubhouse for people who love roleplaying, art, and worldbuilding. Anyone 18 or older may join for free. New members are welcome! Use the "Register" button below.

Note: This is a play-by-post RPG site. If you're looking for the tabletop miniatures wargame "5150: Star Army" instead, see Two Hour Wargames.

  • If you were supposed to get an email from the forum but didn't (e.g. to verify your account for registration), email Wes at [email protected] or talk to me on Discord for help. Sometimes the server hits our limit of emails we can send per hour.
  • Get in our Discord chat! Discord.gg/stararmy
  • 📅 October and November 2024 are YE 46.8 in the RP.

Mecha vs. Power Armor

Marr

Marr

Inactive Member
Just curious, but what is the difference between Power Armor and Mechas. They seem pretty similar but I couldn't figure out why they would be given different names.
 
as a general rule, Power Armor are around the size of a person, being an enhanced personal armor, whereas Mecha are generally very large, and are more of a humanoid vehicle.

The Wiki somewhat confuses this; many older PA are referred to as Mecha.
 
Basically, power armor is a suit a person wears, whereas mecha is generally a robot that a person or AI pilots.
 
Of course, there is no real distinction between giant robots and powered armor other than size and control interface, which is a difference in fluff, but not statistics.

And to be accurate, power armor (and any type of vehicle or craft) are technically mecha; the western definition of mecha implies only giant robots, but the original term applied to all devices including weapons, IIRC.

Wasn't there a proposition that ADR (powered armor) and VDR (vehicles and giant robots) be split? I can't find the article anywhere.
 
RPG-D RPGfix
Back
Top