Temple of Ranma's Sailor Senshi Seifuku

I've always wondered: what is the perfect (canonical) mecha for Ranma? I've yet to find my own opinion on the matter, but I wanna ask ya'll. And the fact that there's so many Gundams (Among other mechs) out there, I could not track one to find one.

That, and I couldn't decide if this question fell under substantial 'Fic Research' outlines, but meh.

Considering that Ranma tends to prefer being active when fighting, I doubt he'd use most Gundams or other "real" robot types. Something like the FMP Master Slave System or the system used by the Gundam pilots in G Gundam seems much more Ranma's style since it would make the mecha more of an exstension of his body rather than having him use computer and joystick type controls.

Daimos

The pilot must be versed in martial arts to use it, as the robot mimics the pilot, and many of its weapons are melee-type.

Valefar/Yadabiout Apotheosized Yadabiout

Vlose combat in spades. Feed off life energy. However, a Banpresto original, Shura General mech/Shura God, so you may have trouble fiting it into a story.

Alternately DaiRaiOh. Featuring a DML (direct motion link) system, astounding power and specialized for hand to hand, it seems to be perfect for Ranma.

Finally, suggestion that would get him really, REALLY pissed off, the Valsione. Like the above, but Girly, at the pilot's insistance. She also has reflexes good enough to give her a 50% dodge rate against anything, so there is a bit of leeway there.

Ugh, Daimos, I can understand (though, thanks, mondu, for bringing up some sweet childhood memories), but now, I have to research the SRW series. I knew I missed a series out there...

DAMN YOU, MAHQ!

EDIT:
Oh, wait... there is a SRW section in MAHQ...wierd...

I'd vote for either a Landmaster from the remake of Appleseed, a scout mech from Battletech, something from Heavy Gear (some of the smallest mechs in existance, at barely above 7 feet tall, and some even shorter) or the mechs from near the end of GitS: SAC.

Well, wouldn't using Ki attacks work with the Valefar, Yadabiout and Apotheosized Yadabiout?

You could always just slap him in a Armored Muscle Suit, which increase control and helps to channel such energies as well as amplifying muscle power. Of course Oboro considers them toys, but Oboro is basically Kenshiro just faster and able to do whatever he wants by touching you once.

There's also:
-Bioboosted Armor (Guyver)
-The Tekkaman System (Tekkaman Blade)
-The Witchblade

Things like the Guges-D that ESWAT uses shouldn't have issues as the arms are simply sheathed in armor. The more conventional landmate armored mitten approach on the other hand, not so much.

The real question is what size class and how over the top you want to go. Most canon Ranma combat does not involve Ki except as presumed by fans for augmentation. Unlike say Saint Seiya or Naruto it is not canon they're using Ki to do any such thing however, unless I've somehow missed a reference to such. Plus there are series where the giant robot doesn't have a cockpit such as Neo-Ranga. Once you've defined these parameters of what you want to do, you can then tweak things for universe balance within fanfic.

The only real rule is if there's a size differential the villians mech should be bigger, unless you're just wanting to play them as a badass. This helps to put the hero under threat which is important for conflict.

Personally if I was going to do something like that I'd set Ranma up with Getter Robo to emphasize the dysfunctional relationships.

The "perfect mecha" for Ranma is pretty dependant on both your interpretation of him and his skills, and of course exactly what he's supposed to be fighting. Different tools for different jobs, and all that. It also depends on how you're going to introduce Ranma to the mecha and get him to pilot it...

To begin with, I'd advise against giving him any kind of "super mecha", that'll instantly own everything so long as the pilot is decently skilled, unless you can sell it as it being the only mecha able to keep up with his skill. (Ranma would be pretty touchy about people saying he won only because of his superior mecha, rather than superior skill). I can see him turning down the opportunity to pilot a gundam unless forced to since he's costing too much in grunt suit replacement parts. Once he does get into a Gundam, especially one of the late UC psycho-frame ones that work off your willpower, I bet he'll love it...

But above all, to get Ranma into any mecha at all will involve getting him to give up on the idea of fighting whatever it is that needs fighting in hand-to-hand, which with Ranma's canonical skill set might turn out to be a pretty tough deal. He's cocky enough to go toe to toe with full-size Zentraedi and the like, after all...

SP

to get Ranma into any mecha at all will involve getting him to give up on the idea of fighting whatever it is that needs fighting in hand-to-hand

Shouldn't be that difficult since Ranma has used other tactics besides hand to hand. Hand to hand isn't even usually his first option. He first tries to talk it out like with Ryoga or Ukyo. Failing that he tries to manipulate the people like how he did to Principal Kuno to get the coconut or constantly does to Ryoga. Then uses hand to hand but not always sometimes he'll try another tactic like drugs (tried to drug Kuno's food used knock out powder on Shampoo), magic (suggestion incense used twice, girl repellent), or offering to date them (like the little boy or Shampoo so as to manipulate her).

Getting Ranma to use a mecha would probably be very easy. He would most likely see a mecha as just another tool to use the same way he did the other tools he used, like the magic fire breathing sentient staff, various implements he grabs up to use in combat, or when he tried to get the magical dogi. Unlike fanon Ranma has no problem with using weapons, using power-ups (tried to get two of them), or getting help when he thinks he could use it or needs it (he has had people like Akane help him - example had Akane sew magic girl repellent onto Happosai for him). If his abilities are insufficient on there own, he would use a mecha.

Spokavriel wrote: When there are large Mecha the enemies almost always have the Gojira factor going for them. Size does matter.

By large mecha do you mean just Gundam-type size, or do you mean "I can crush Gundams like ants" size? TTGL and Getter Emperor don't count.