Robotech RPG: Old vs. New!?!

[Knightfall]

I've just started to get into Palladium Books role-playing games. I've decided that I'm not interested in RIFTS; however, I've already bought a few Robotech books.

I have the original Robotech RPG book and Southern Cross as well as the new Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles RPG hardcover. (I'm already looking at getting the other new Robotech sourcebooks: the Macross Saga Sourcebook and the Masters Saga Sourcebook.)

I bought the two older books first, but now that I have the new RPG book, I'm wondering if I really need them. The short reviews I read on Amazon.com told me very little about the older RPG books. Therefore...

Which of these older Robotech RPG books are good? Which ones are bad? Which ones are truly awful?

Robotech: The Role Playing Game (I have this but haven't started reading it yet)
Book 2: The RDF Manual
Book 3: Zentraedi
Book 4: Southern Cross (I have this but haven't started reading it yet)
Book 5: Invid Invasion
Book 6: The Return of the Masters
Book 7: New World Order
Book 8: Strike Force

Robotech II: The Sentinels
REF Field Guide

Macross II: The Role-Playing Game
Macross II: Sourcebook One
Macross II: Spacecraft Deck Plans, Volume One
Macross II: Spacecraft Deck Plans, Volume Two
Macross II: Spacecraft Deck Plans, Volume Three

Ghost Ship
Lancer's Rockers
The RDF Accelerated Training Program
Zentraedi Breakout

Here's my knowledge about Robotech....

I've watched very little of the original Robotech TV series -- one or two episodes back in the day (maybe). I remember that I liked it, but I know very little about the overall story arc. I seem to remember reading a few Robotech comic books, which I thought were very good.

I haven't seen The Shadow Chronicles sequel either and didn't know it existed until I saw the RPG book.

Any help would be appreciated,

KF

 

[vegaserik01]

First off I'd rent or buy the dvd's - and watch the series - it's awesome. Also there was a line of novels that was based on the series, that went further then the series did. As I recall there were Robotech II The Sentinels books where the series went only the three episodes. Recently there were reprints done of the original comics put into graphic novels - which depicted the series as well.

As far as the books go, Macross II isn't actually part of Robotech. It's a Japanese sequel to the series that was the first 36 episodes of Robotech called Macross. Robotech was essentially 3 different anime series put together. Google Robotech and you can find out all you need to know about that. That being said there are more Mechs and equipment that can add to your game.

I never read any of the adventures or saw any of the Deckplans, but most of the other books have new Mechs and equipment, a few new classes and races as well. It all depends on what you like and want to run. Me - I prefer the Macross storyline to Southern Cross or Masters, so I'd use Macross books alot more. The three new books are all pretty nice, plus they're digest sized.

 

[Krensky]

The Super Dimension Fortress Macross holds up amazingly well (even with the infamously bad animation in the AnimeFriend and Star Pro animated parts) almost twenty years later. Super Dimensional Cavalry Southern Cross and Genesis Climber MOSPEADA don't hold up nearly as well. If you're going to be watching the Macross episodes, I recommend finding either the Animego Remastered Subtitle version or the ADV dub of the original series which uses Animego's video. As an adult, you'll appreciate the slightly more complex story and more complex characters. Also, Mari Iijima's rendition of Minmay is far better and the character is more pitiable then annoying in the original.

The dub is on Hulu : Super Dimension Fortress Macross - Full Episodes and Clips streaming online - Hulu

Sadly, other then Macross Plus, you'll have go hunting for fansubs of the other series (Macross Zero, Macross 7, and Macross Frontier). Macross II is a non-canon parallel universe story.

 

[Knightfall]

The Super Dimension Fortress Macross holds up amazingly well (even with the infamously bad animation in the AnimeFriend and Star Pro animated parts) almost twenty years later. Super Dimensional Cavalry Southern Cross and Genesis Climber MOSPEADA don't hold up nearly as well. If you're going to be watching the Macross episodes, I recommend finding either the Animego Remastered Subtitle version or the ADV dub of the original series which uses Animego's video. As an adult, you'll appreciate the slightly more complex story and more complex characters. Also, Mari Iijima's rendition of Minmay is far better and the character is more pitiable then annoying in the original.

The dub is on Hulu : Super Dimension Fortress Macross - Full Episodes and Clips streaming online - Hulu

Sadly, other then Macross Plus, you'll have go hunting for fansubs of the other series (Macross Zero, Macross 7, and Macross Frontier). Macross II is a non-canon parallel universe story.

That dub isn't viewable outside of the United States. (I'm in Canada.)

 

[Krensky]

That dub isn't viewable outside of the United States. (I'm in Canada.)

Well, if you gave an actual location...

Then you'll need to look around. Sadly ADV (who published the DVDs of Robotech, Robotech Remastered, and the dub of Macross) is out of business.

When you go looking, the Macross dubs specifically do not say Robotech on them.

 

[Knightfall]

Well, if you gave an actual location...

Then you'll need to look around. Sadly ADV (who published the DVDs of Robotech, Robotech Remastered, and the dub of Macross) is out of business.

When you go looking, the Macross dubs specifically do not say Robotech on them.

I didn't have to give it a location. I knew I was outside of the US.

 

[Krensky]

I didn't have to give it a location. I knew I was outside of the US.

I meant over to the left, under your nickname.

 

[Knightfall]

Well, I decided to trade away the two older Robotech books today. I just felt like they weren't worth keeping now that I have The Shadow Chronicles RPG book. (I got Midnight 2E for them.)

 

[Krensky]

Only tangentally related...

Damn you Knightfall for making me sit down to rewatch my Macross collection. Three TV series, two movies, and thre OVA series. Almost two hundred hours.

Thanks, I hope you're happy with yourself.

 

[Kannik]

I've watched very little of the original Robotech TV series -- one or two episodes back in the day (maybe). I remember that I liked it, but I know very little about the overall story arc. I seem to remember reading a few Robotech comic books, which I thought were very good.

Nicely, the whole series is now up on YouTube, put up legitly even:

YouTube - Robotech: The Macross Saga

That'll get you to the first 36 episodes. }

Having run a few Palladium RTech games back in the day I found it works best starting small to get a feel of how the game and combat runs (it's different than it is in the series) and also to let the characters develop as it is done in the series. Rick starts out as just a wingman (albeit a good one, as any PC would be) and grows to lead a few, then lead a whole squadron, and later one of the prime soldiers in all of the RDF. If your players expect to be the super top dog like Hikaru is in the Macross Movie right off the bat, well, there's little place for them to go from there.

Enjoy!

Kannik

edit: Oh, look at that, it's on Hulu too... http://www.hulu.com/robotech-macross-saga