Mekton: Operation Rimfire saved my gaming soul.
Fast flashback to 1992. I was a young twink at that point in time (15 years old) and had been gaming for about four years. All I knew at this point in time, basically, was Palladium (I started on Star Wars, but sadly, the experience was wasted on an 11-year-old kid who just wanted to blow stuff up). I found a book on the shelf at a local comic store with the title "Mekton: Operation Rimfire." Seeing the giant robot on the cover and knowing NOTHING about the contents, I bought it.
I expected a lot of cool robots in the style of Robotech.
No way, man. No way.
What I got was something COMPLETELY unlike anything I had seen in gaming up until that time - a tale of romance, betrayal, love, hate, peace and war wrapped up in a 22-part adventure scenario. It completely changed my conception of what a role-playing game should be, and for that, I thank R. Talsorian Games from the bottom of my heart.
Ten PCs, three major NPCs and dozens of minor characters. Several lovingly detailed mecha. A story that takes you from Dion, the moon of Algol, to the surface, to deep space aboard the spaceship Rimfire. Love interests, psychic baddies, a would-be world dictator, more crosses and double-crosses than you can (or would want to) shake a stick at. And GIANT SPACE-SHATTERING STARSHIP BATTLES! MY GOD! THE CARNAGE!
OK, I'm better now.
One warning is that Rimfire is a bit more scripted than most RPG adventures are or probably should be. In order to fit the story into an anime series style setting, some of the freedom of choice that players usually take for granted is missing.
However, the adventure transcends its limitations. I bought Mekton Zeta (and later, Mekton II and the original Mekton Techbook) in order to be able to run Operation Rimfire. It changed me, for the better.
As a world sourcebook, Rimfire is excellent. As an adventure, it's even better.
If you can find this gem, my heartiest recommendations.
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