ROBOTECH RPG - its back, and its new

[Imperialus]

All I have to say is that I'm freaking tired of every time a thread about Palladium gets going on here or RPG.net that some jackasses need to show up and crap in my cornflakes.

Surely you must admit that a two-month release schedule and proudly claiming they'll be recycling artwork and text is not really a good sign. I have no real problem with PB, I had a blast playing Hero's Unlimited and RIFTS, but really what will this offer me that my old edition won’t?

 

[mcrow]

Surely you must admit that a two-month release schedule and proudly claiming they'll be recycling artwork and text is not really a good sign. I have no real problem with PB, I had a blast playing Hero's Unlimited and RIFTS, but really what will this offer me that my old edition won’t?

Well, I guess that to some people resusing SOME art and SOME of the text means the whole book is going to be basically a reprint. Yet, overlook the substantially rewritten part in the press release. People tend to put on their blinders and read only the bits that are suitable to their anti-palladium agenda.

That said, I have no reason to think you are a Palladium hater but some of the others here show up in every palladium thread just so they can make sure they het their digs in.

 

[Imperialus]

Well, I guess that to some people resusing SOME art and SOME of the text means the whole book is going to be basically a reprint. Yet, overlook the substantially rewritten part in the press release. People tend to put on their blinders and read only the bits that are suitable to their anti-palladium agenda.

That said, I have no reason to think you are a Palladium hater but some of the others here show up in every palladium thread just so they can make sure they het their digs in.

Another way to look at it would be to say. I love the picture of "Emekrol the Chaotic" in the 1st ed DMG (PHB?) and the wandering harlot table is one of the best tables ever made but I don't think they have a place in 4th ed.

 

[Deset Gled]

[imager]Palladium's first release will be Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles RPG, planned for late November release. In homage to the Japanese origins of the Robotech property, the RPG will be released in a 192-page, manga-size trade paperback.

I'm a little skeptical about the "manga size trade paperback" format. I never liked that format, even for comics. For an RPG, it seems like it's just a way to cut down on publishing costs. Of course, that's not necessarily a bad thing (I know that printing costs are huge in the RPG industry and can really limit publishers), but it does make me worry about the artworked being scaled down.

I haven't watched anything Robotech related since Macross Zero. This sounds like as good of an excuse as any to pick the series back up. I doubt Shadow Chronicles will beat the awesomeness that is Macross Plus, but seing Rick Hunter again should be cool.

 

[GreatLemur]

Ouch. Yeah. I've gotta agree with the rest of the thread: You lost me at "Kevin Siembieda".

 

[TheLe]

I'm a little skeptical about the "manga size trade paperback" format. I never liked that format, even for comics. For an RPG, it seems like it's just a way to cut down on publishing costs. Of course, that's not necessarily a bad thing (I know that printing costs are huge in the RPG industry and can really limit publishers), but it does make me worry about the artworked being scaled down.

My local game store owner says that RPG players typically do not like small format books. "Players like to open book up and keep them at the table," he said, and so large sizes sell.

`Le

 

[tenkar]

Since Kevin basically has his books laid out by hand it is going to be interesting how this gets cutdown to a non standard size layout.

 

[dmccoy1693]

My local game store owner says that RPG players typically do not like small format books. "Players like to open book up and keep them at the table," he said, and so large sizes sell.

Just knowing myself, I like big tall book. I'm not a fan of the SWSE square and a manga size book, I'm going to like even less. Exactly how much RPG material can you fit on a 5 x 7 page? The page has less then 40% the surface area as an 8-1/2 x 11 page. That means that for it to have the same amount of information as a 160 page book it has to be over 400 pages. That's either an awfully thick manga or its going to have a alot less information in it then a 160 page RPG book.

 

[Mokona]

Mutants & Masterminds would be perfect for Robotech.

 

[Goblyn]

I dunno. I thought Robotech ran pretty well with Palladium system ... I don't know much about M&M, so don't consider this a counter-argument.

Wait; wasn't there a d20 Mecha book a few years back? Anyone know how that set differs from Robotech?

 

[Donovan Morningfire]

As someone else said, hoo-ray for a Robotech RPG. Hopefully it will prove to be a good resource for fans of the various Robotech series.

But I doubt I'll buy a single book given that it's a Palladium product and thus using the same rule set as the prior edition. Personal eccentricities aside, Kevin really needs to sit down and overhaul the Palladium system.

 

[ShinHakkaider]

I prefer using Mekton Zeta for my mecha anime fix personally.

I never, NEVER liked the palladium rules for Robotech, I hope that they do something a little different at least.

 

[Katowice]

Oh no!

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

Someone explain to me the difference between Robotech and Battletech.

Heck, I remember watching Robotech cartoons as a kid and playing Battletech computer games in college (Mechwarrior & Crescent Hawk's Inception, yum ...) but even then I had a hard time telling them apart. Obviously, I'm clueless.

 

[HelloChristian]

Someone explain to me the difference between Robotech and Battletech.

Heck, I remember watching Robotech cartoons as a kid and playing Battletech computer games in college (Mechwarrior & Crescent Hawk's Inception, yum ...) but even then I had a hard time telling them apart. Obviously, I'm clueless.

It's easy to be confused. For a while FASA was using mechs that looked exactly like those from Robotech. Mechs like the Wasp, Warhammer, Rifleman and Super Phoenix were dead ringers of those seen on the Robotech cartoon. I believe FASA was ordered to cease and desist the use of those representations.

 

[Deset Gled]

Someone explain to me the difference between Robotech and Battletech.

A quick rundown that I did no research for:

Robotech: In the year 1999, a spaceship crashed to earth. Using the alien technology, terrans created a humongous Space Defence Fortress (SDF1). The SDF housed Macross City.

One of the most important things that terrans learned about the aliens is that they were giants compared to humans. Knowing that there might be an alien/human conflict in the future, they designed a special air fleet for the SDF. This fleet was comprised of special fighter planes that could transform into humanoid mechs to fight the aliens in man-to-man combat. They also had a hybrid plane/mech form. The transformation from plane to mech (and to a lesser extent, the hybrid form) are staples of the Robotech/Macross universe. Mechs are also typically very human like. A common mech weapon is a rifle that the mech carries like a gun.

Enter the Robotech saga, where the aliens come and attack earth, are defeated, make peace with earth, Minmei happens, etc. More SDFs are made. Some humans leave to colonize other planets, fun things are learned about aliens. Eventually, other planets are colonized, etc, etc, etc.

Battletech:

Takes place in a alternate galaxy/universe/whatever that has nothing to do with earth. There are 5 main houses that are always fighting. They fight primarily with Mechs. Major plotlines typically center around bloodlines or mercenaries fighting between the houses.

There are three main types of mechs: small (the Locust), medium (Pheonix Hawk), and large (Maurader). Mechs are humanoid, but only loosly so in some cases. Small and medium mechs sometimes have "jump jets", but the mechs are otherwise ground based. Weapons follow the same small/medium/large pattern as the mechs. Heat is always an issue when piloting a mech, and damage to parts of the mech (arms, legs, head, torso) is a common theme.

 

[Gentlegamer]

All I have to say is that I'm freaking tired of every time a thread about Palladium gets going on here or RPG.net that some jackasses need to show up and crap in my cornflakes.

Seconded.

 

[Nyarlathotep]

Loved Robotech (both cartoon and rpg) as a kid, but unless there are some major rule revisions, I'm going to pass on this one. (can't say I'm fond of the smaller book size either).

 

[Taladas]

Since Kevin basically has his books laid out by hand it is going to be interesting how this gets cutdown to a non standard size layout.

They use computer layout now. Alex Marciniszyn has mentioned this a couple of times on rpg.net.


I do find it weird that they are going manga size. Are there any manga size Robotech comics in the U.S. ? It there that much crossover between the two markets?

 

[Rykion]

Battletech:

Takes place in a alternate galaxy/universe/whatever that has nothing to do with earth. There are 5 main houses that are always fighting. They fight primarily with Mechs. Major plotlines typically center around bloodlines or mercenaries fighting between the houses.

There are three main types of mechs: small (the Locust), medium (Pheonix Hawk), and large (Maurader). Mechs are humanoid, but only loosly so in some cases. Small and medium mechs sometimes have "jump jets", but the mechs are otherwise ground based. Weapons follow the same small/medium/large pattern as the mechs. Heat is always an issue when piloting a mech, and damage to parts of the mech (arms, legs, head, torso) is a common theme.

Basically correct for early Battletech except for one thing. It isn't an alternate universe. It's the year 3025, or later as the storyline progresses. They call Earth Terra.