@Tactical@lonestarr So many options. Do it. Use this one if you want, I don't know if it's ever been used before >Golem type mecha — literally a mecha made out of rocks that operates by the pilot's mana/willpower. Easily allows for shape change and "damage" that can be repaired using specialty spells. Some mages specialize in manipulation of rock components for repair work (fantasy tech priest). Different stone materials have different properties, including some that use various crystals and gems for different effects.
The general idea is that there would be some ancient ruins from the ancient Arkinthian (roman empire with dragonpeople) civilization and that Jesus made mechas to kick their shit in for being evil and now you have Fantasy Germans, Russians, and Frenchies + Britbongs excavating them to put guns on it
Bro imagine being a 40 year old fantasy boomer reading the first book
"Oh yeah, this is just like Black Company, gritty warfare... Some weird race choices though."
make it to book 2.
"...What the fuck, why is the author intent on having all the romances be foxgirls / wolfgirls, why does he reference some group called the Ebanites, why is everyone obsessed with politics"
Make it to book 3
"Uoh fluffy wolfwoman sorceress lady needs to save me 😭 "
Break Blade kinda has a similar thing. The mechs are made of quarts and magic controls them. The fights were cool. The animation studio did mostly henty iirc and liked doing non booba things. https://youtu.be/c0UZXBE0Lks