# Celestial Bodies tags: #game/rpg/celestial-bodies ![[Celestial Bodies (cover).jpg]] **Celestial Bodies** by Charlotte Laskowski is a mecha tabletop RPG where players take on the roles of "lamplighters," pilots of mechs serving a home-ship in a universe where humanity is struggling to colonize the cosmos. The game combines narrative depth with tactical mech combat, exploring themes of survival, legacy, and the cost of expansionism. It's set against the backdrop of giant Titan corpses, which serve as resources for the human diaspora. The game has evolved through several editions, each introducing new mechanics and content. ## Core Die Resolution Mechanics: Celestial Bodies uses a dice pool system where players roll a number of six-sided dice (d6) based on their character's attributes and the mech's loadout. Success is typically determined by rolling a certain number or higher on the dice, with modifications based on situational factors. The game's unique mechanic is The Grid™️, a loadout system where mechs are defined by a grid layout. Each component of the mech fits into this grid, and positioning can affect both functionality and efficiency. For example, weapons and systems must be placed adjacent to power sources like reactors, influencing combat capabilities. As editions have progressed, mechanics have been refined, notably with the introduction of more complex mech construction in the Titan Edition and the addition of a faction reputation system in the Titan Edition v1.0. ## Changes Between Editions: - Terrestrial Edition introduced the basic concept of The Grid and the narrative of humanity's struggle post-catastrophe. - Titan Edition expanded on mech customization with more factions, additional Titan Frames, and a mission system that can be run GMlessly. It also introduced the concept of becoming "spacetouched," where pilots can gain abilities by giving part of themselves to the Titans. - Titan Edition v1.0 further refined the faction system and added a reputation mechanic that impacts how NPCs interact with the players. ## References - [Official game page - Itch.io](https://selkie.itch.io/celestial-bodies)