This game operates on the famous d20 system. It revolves around you saying what you want to do followed by the GM rolling a 20-sided die (or a different one, depending on the situation, but mostly a 20). That number is then factored into the "story-line". i.e.- An Owens is attacking a Cougar's arm. In order to have a semi-damaging hit, the pilot needs a 7 on a 12-sided die. They roll a 5. The GM could say 'The shot barely grazed the tip of the Cougar's gun doing a mere 10 damage to the arm'. On the other hand, if an 11 was rolled, the GM could say 'The shot was a direct hit and it struck major circuitry, doing an extra 30 damage.' It'll all become VERY clear once you start playing.
For joining the individual battle sessions, you'll need to have AOL instant messager (if you don't, it's a free download). This should work if it's operated in the group chat option. The GM's will start a chat, and the competitors will join it, and spectators are warmly welcomed (just don't interfere or tell others "good moves") The battle times, as well as the battle session's host, will be posted regularly under the 'Arena Schedule' section on the home page. So if you're a GM, I need you to let me know what times you can host and on what days.
About battling in the Arena, you will need to state what weapon you're attacking with. Then, a 10-sided die is rolled. The number corresponds with a certain body part and that part will take damage. Once it reaches zero, that part is useless. You can, however, target a certain body part with the cost of a -4 on the attack roll. You cannot choose to attack the head, but you can get it on a random dice roll. If the head is destroyed, that Mech is automatically out of the battle. If a leg is "destroyed" then the Mech suffers a -3 on evasion rolls and -6 if both are "destroyed" (on the advanced rules, the move roll is cut in half, then in a quarter, plus the evasion penalties).
On the "'Mech Arena RPG' News" section on the main page, you might notice a name followed by brackets with 2 or 3 letters (this may or may not be there depending on if the person is in a clan or not) then another name in the parentheses. The first name is the pilot's call sign, the clan, and in parentheses is the Mech's name. For example, 'Razor {MS} (Diablo)'. Clan symbol listings are under the 'Clan Directory' page.
