Here's the posts about Lorica for Swords & Wizardry so far:
So far, things are a bit bland. The only thing customized at this point are the names of the various mecha that I've generated stats for. Before moving on to critical hits, conducting battles, character classes and the Weird, here's some ways to making these mech rules your own.
1. Personalize the Weapon Names
The d20 Future Mecha file available from WOTC provides weapons with evocative names like the M87 Talon Missile Launcher or the Thunderbolt Shock Rod. Here's some random ways to come up with names:
Add a random letter and then d%
Pick a destructive name:
01 - abrogator
02 - annihilator
03 - crusher
04 - decimater
05 - demolisher
06 - eraser
07 - exterminator
08 - liquidator
09 - obliterater
10 - razer or razor
Synonyms for slug throwers:
01 - Mass Cannon
02 - Mass Driver
03 - Chaingun
04 - Railgun
05 - Coilgun
06 - Fountain
07 - Kinetic Energy Penetrator (or KEP)
08 - Gauss Rifle
Synonyms for Lasers
01 - Microwave Beam
02 - Particle Cannon
03 - Laser Cannon
04 - Energy Cannon
05 - Plasma Cannon
06 - Lightning Gun
Names for Missile Systems
01 - Starburst
02 - Kamikaze
03 - Bloomers
04 - Striker
Use old gun names
01 - arquebus
02 - hackbut
03 - blunderbuss
04 - musketoon
05 - ballista
06 - fire lance
2. Add your various factions/aliens
Standard mecha games have various houses, each with a particular style of battle and specialized mecha. If you make various houses, they could be limited to certain sets of light, medium and heavy mecha.
Aliens are bound to have a different physiology - at the very least, the size of the pilot compartment could be different. Other variations could include requiring two of each weapon (these aliens use two pilots with mirrored controls) or having mecha that are not bipedal.
3. Provide different vendors
Two or more companies make an ol' reliable 100mm slug thrower, but which one is better? One vendor could make a 100mm model that is 10% lighter (weighs only 35 tons instead of 38), 10% cheaper (156,000 credits), 10% more/less damage (3d10+2 or 3d10-2) or a combination of these.
Another way to add vendors is to limit availability of the top-of-the-line 10% better equipment.
Of course the Loanzas from the Delta Sector gets pummeled. They use Nago-Kishi M-35 Razers! Everyone knows equipment from NK sucks. Good thing we got Kingston Railguns.
4. Add specialized systems
Someone is bound to invent better computer AI to punch lasers through shields. This could be equipment that provides a bonus to hit mecha with shields.
Introduce melee weapons (my favorite is a urumi that features whips similar to ones used by Red Omega from the comics).
Have a defensive system that dissipates laser damage (Anti-laser fog) in the same manner as Sandcasters mitigate missile damage.
5. Give slug throwers specialized ammunition
Why obliterate an opponent when you can send an EMP round to completely disable them? Makes salvage of a defeated mech that much more profitable.
That's just a few ideas, I'm sure that you can come up with more.