Folded Steel thoughts of the morning is the idea of “Folds”, how they relate to Enclaves, and what the currently…

Folded Steel thoughts of the morning is the idea of “Folds”, how they relate to Enclaves, and what the currently planned playbooks are.

Before I talk about Enclaves I need to establish the idea of “Folds.” Folded Steel is in some series ways shaped by my young love of Robotech just as much as it is by more modern Mecha media. In particular this can be seen with Folds, which are explicit different ages to play in that are meant to emulate certain subgenres while also allowing the Enclave to progess through time in a more clear way that my original idea of tiered Crew Playbooks did when this first came up. Each Fold features a specific thematic things the Enclaves are trying to manage.

The First Fold is Pre-Invasion – This looks like near future sci-fi with a hint of things to come. Mechs and energy weapons are new technologies in their infancy enabled by the discovery of a strange new energy field. Enclaves are less unified, but tend to be worried about securing Funding and managing Exposure.

The Second Fold is Occupation – An outside force drawn by the use of the mysterious energy have come to our dimension to occupied the earth. Mechs now represent mankind’s best hope of throwing off the yoke of these oppressors. Enclaves are about rebellion, and having to manage the Heat from the Empire as well as the Resources needed to keep their particular brand of revolution going.

The Third Fold is Reconstruction – The Empire has been defeated but reality itself is in ruins, but there is still a future. Enclaves are defined by their particular vision for recovery, and must nurture Hope while also finding the Scraps that they need to keep moving forward.

If you so desire you can play through from Pre-Invasion all the way to the reconstruction, chronicling how your Enclave has changed with the Folds, or you can instead just tell the story of one Fold and the tragedy or triumph it brings. Each Fold will have three Enclaves specific to it, and mechanics on how you can call back to the previous Fold and be shaped by the time before.

No matter which Fold you are in the brave people willing to wrap themselves in a mech remain the same. Current planned pilot playbooks (names are subject to change):

Ace – a natural pilot who excels in his mech in ways that others cannot.

Tech -scientists, communications experts, and mechanics

Commander – tactical commander able to get others to do what is needed.

Specialist – Combat specialist who is as deadly in their mech as out.

Psychic – People changed by the energy field capable of strange feats.