LANCER Levels Up: Dark Horse and Massif Press Bring Fulcrum Dawn and Setting Guide Vol. 1 to Print

Mech pilots, clear some shelf space. Dark Horse Books and Massif Press are taking more of the LANCER universe from digital tables to physical books with two new hardcover releases arriving in March 2027.

Following the success of the LANCER: TTRPG Core Rulebook, the publishers are bringing Operation Fulcrum Dawn: Introductory Narrative Modules for LANCER and LANCER: Setting Guide Volume 1 to print. Both books are designed to expand campaigns with new missions, tactical material, setting lore, player options and, naturally, more giant machines built to turn a quiet evening into a tactical disaster in the best possible way.

Operation Fulcrum Dawn collects Operation Solstice Rain and Operation Winter Scar, two structured narrative modules written and designed to introduce players and game masters to LANCER’s mix of story-driven roleplaying and crunchy mech combat.

Operation Solstice Rain takes rookie Union pilots from License Level 0 to LL2 across two missions set in the city of Nov Elysia. What begins as a rescue operation drops the squad into a growing conflict between the Leandric States Alliance and Vestan Sovereignty, giving new players a baptism by missiles, metal and questionable tactical decisions.

Operation Winter Scar continues the campaign and pushes pilots toward LL4, raising the stakes with more experienced enemies, advanced combat chassis and main battle tanks from the Vestan Sovereignty Armed Forces.

Together, the two modules deliver twelve combat scenes, illustrated tactical maps and extensive advice for new GMs. The collection also adds new player options, including mechs, talents, weapons, gear and other campaign toys for groups that have already mastered the basics and are looking for more ways to customize their squad.

Operation Fulcrum Dawn: Introductory Narrative Modules for LANCER arrives in bookstores and comic shops on March 16, 2027 for $29.99.

The second release goes bigger on world-building. LANCER: Setting Guide Volume 1 collects The Karrakin Trade Baronies and The Long Rim, two major setting expansions that give GMs and players more places, factions and conflicts to build campaigns around.

The Karrakin Trade Baronies are one of the oldest human civilizations in Union space, a region defined by tradition, political intrigue and growing social division. Industrial power is beginning to stall while republican movements threaten the existing order, creating exactly the kind of unstable environment where a heavily armed mech squad can become very relevant, very quickly.

The Long Rim heads in a different direction, dropping players into a lawless stretch of Union space filled with pirates, competing enterprises, HORUS cells, the Horizon Collective and plenty of opportunities for crews to make a name for themselves. Hero, scoundrel or something comfortably messy in the middle, the Rim is built for campaigns where every job can become a problem before the briefing is even over.

The book also includes systems for generating maps and characters, new rulesets and additional mechs to expand the LANCER sandbox. LANCER: Setting Guide Volume 1 lands on March 30, 2027 for $29.99.

Both books continue Dark Horse and Massif Press’ push to give LANCER players more physical options for a game that has built its reputation around deep mech customization, tactical combat and a massive science-fiction setting. The pairing makes sense: Fulcrum Dawn gives newer groups a structured runway into the system, while Setting Guide Volume 1 gives established campaigns more galaxy to break, save or accidentally set on fire.

The releases feature work from creators including Kai Tave, Tom Bloom and Miguel Lopez, with art contributions from E.M. Fields, Peyton Gee, Juan Gee Tan, Gwen Williamson, Theotime Galmiche and Conner Dodd, plus design work from Dunya Kat.

Preorders are open now through Dark Horse and major booksellers, with both hardcovers also expected through local bookstores and comic shops.

Pilots, start planning the campaign now. March 2027 is bringing more maps, more lore, more hardware and a whole lot more reasons to yell at the dice. The Crusade Never Ends!