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Schick is the only diverging source naming 1988, so I guess it's a clerical error. Every other source names 1987; and so does the book itself.
 
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{{Short description|Tabletop anime role-playing game}}
{{italic title}}
{{about|Robotech [[role-playing game]]s||Robotech (disambiguation)}}
{{about|Robotech [[role-playing game]]s||Robotech (disambiguation)}}


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| illustrator =
| illustrator =
| publisher = [[Palladium Books]]
| publisher = [[Palladium Books]]
| years = {{Start date|1986|11}} – {{End date|1998|07}}<br/>{{Start date|2008|03}} – {{End date|2018|03}}
| years = {{Start date|1986|11}} – {{End date|1998|07}}<br />{{Start date|2008|03}} – {{End date|2018|03}}
| genre = [[Science fiction]]
| genre = [[Science fiction]]
| language = [[English language|English]]
| language = [[English language|English]]
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}}
}}


'''''The Robotech Role-Playing Game''''', based on the ''[[Robotech (television series)|Robotech]]'' and ''[[Robotech II: The Sentinels]]'' series, was originally published by [[Palladium Books]] from 1986 to 1995 (and reprinted until 1998). A second series based on ''[[Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles]]'' was released between 2008-2018.
'''''The Robotech Role-Playing Game''''' is a licensed science fiction role-playing game published by [[Palladium Books]] in 1986 that is based on the ''[[Robotech (television series)|Robotech]]'' and ''[[Robotech II: The Sentinels]]'' anime television series, which were, in turn, based on the Japanese [[mecha]] [[anime]] television series ''[[Macross]]''. A second edition of the game, based on ''[[Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles]]'', was released in 2008.


==Description==
⚫
==First edition (1986–1998)==
The game is set in the ''Robotech'' universe. Players create characters by assigning random scores for eight attributes such as IQ, Mental Endurance and Physical Beauty. The player must also choose a occupation for the character such as [[Destroid]] Pilot or Communications Engineer.<ref name=swan />
===Titles===
⚫
;''The Robotech RPG'' sourcebooks
⚫
* ''Book One: Macross'' (November 1986)
⚫
* ''Book Two: Robotech Defense Force Manual'' (March 1987)
⚫
* ''Book Three: Zentraedi'' (March 1987)
⚫
* ''Book Four: Southern Cross'' (September 1987)
⚫
* ''Book Five: Invid Invasion'' (June 1988)
⚫
* ''Book Six: The Return of the Masters'' (July 1989)
⚫
* ''Book Seven: New World Order'' (April 1995)
⚫
* ''Book Eight: Strike Force'' (July 1995)


The rulebook contains statistics for a variety of mecha, and combat rules are given for many different types of weapon systems.<ref name=swan />
;''The Robotech RPG'' adventure books
⚫
#''Ghost Ship'' (February 1988)
⚫
#''Robotech Defense Force Accelerated Training Program'' (March 1988)
⚫
#''Lancer's Rockers'' (December 1989)
⚫
#''Zentraedi Breakout'' (May 1994)


⚫
===Game system===
⚫
;''Robotech II: The RPG''
⚫
{{main|Megaversal system}}
⚫
#''The Sentinels'' (September 1987)
⚫
The ''Robotech'' RPG uses a modified version of the [[Megaversal]] rule system used in the ''[[Palladium Fantasy Role-Playing Game]]'' introduced several years earlier. Clearly patterned after the fantasy role-playing game ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'', the ''Palladium Fantasy RPG'' rules use a very similar rule system based around physical and mental statistics generated by rolling three six-sided dice, and the use of a 20-sided die in combat. Percentile dice are used for skill resolution. ''Robotech'' introduces the concept of mega-damage — "super" hit-points that are equivalent to 100 ordinary-person hit points — to simulate the toughness of the heavily armored [[mecha]]. This concept would later become widely used in Palladium's ''[[Rifts (role-playing game)|Rifts]]'' game.
⚫
#''Robotech Expeditionary Force Field Guide'' (March 1989)


==Publication history==
Books one through five covered the three segments of ''Robotech'' as aired. The initial five volumes were written by [[Kevin Siembieda]].
In 1982, [[Studio Nue]] and [[Artland (company)|Artland]] created the Japanese [[science fiction]] [[mecha]] [[anime]] [[media franchise]]/[[media mix]] {{nihongo|''Macross''|マクロス|Makurosu|{{IPAc-en|lang|m|@|'|k|r|Q|s}}}}. This was translated and adapted into the American television series ''Robotech'' produced by [[Harmony Gold USA]] in association with [[Tatsunoko Production]] in 1985.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Erickson |first1=Hal |title=Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 |date=2005 |edition=2nd |publisher=McFarland & Co |isbn=978-1476665993 |pages=671–674}}</ref>


In 1986, Palladium Books acquired the game license for ''Robotech'', and [[Kevin Siembieda]] designed the 110-page core rulebook titled ''Robotech the Role-Playing Game: The Macross Saga''. The book contains rules for character creation, and personal and mecha combat, as well as descriptions and statistics for a variety of war machines.<ref name=grog>{{cite web|url =https://www.legrog.org/jeux/robotech/robotech-en | date=2009-05-08|title= Robotech |website=Guide du Rôliste Galactique| access-date= 2023-11-29 |language=fr}}</ref>
Books seven, eight, and all but one of the adventure books took place during or shortly after the ''Macross'' segment. The two "Robotech II" books also took place after Macross.


Over the next three years, Palladium published five sourcebooks written by Siembieda that added depth to the campaign setting, roughly following the ''Robotech'' television series.
Book six and ''Lancer's Rockers'' took place after the series ended.


Another three sourcebooks and a number of adventures were also published by Palladium, written by various Palladium regulars and freelance authors.
⚫
Other Palladium regulars and freelance authors contributed to the later sourcebooks and adventure books. Illustrations consisted of line art taken from original Japanese source material in addition to new black-and-white line art done by Palladium artists such as [[Kevin Long (artist)|Kevin Long]].


⚫
Illustrations consisted of line art taken from original Japanese source material in addition to new black-and-white line art done by Palladium artists such as [[Kevin Long (artist)|Kevin Long]].
⚫
Palladium also published ''[[Macross II: The Role-Playing Game]]'', a separate RPG based on the ''[[Macross II]]'' anime, but this was entirely unrelated to the ''Robotech'' continuity.

===Storyline===
The original ''Robotech'' RPG by and large followed the TV series storyline, attempting in its own way to fill in gaps just as the [[Robotech (novels)|novelizations]] by [[Jack McKinney (writer)|Jack McKinney]] did. Several of the sourcebooks covered different parts of the world during or shortly after the Macross era, where there was the most room for expansion. However, the RPG diverged from the McKinney stories after the events covered in the ''Robotech'' series ended. Where McKinney followed Scott Bernard and the others in their search for Admiral Rick Hunter, leaving behind a peaceful planet earth, Palladium posited the Invid returning to earth a few months after they were driven away.

The books ''Return of the Masters'' and ''Lancer's Rockers'' were set during this second Invid invasion, and introduced concepts and events not suggested by the original material. ''Return of the Masters'', set in Asia, features a system of gladiatorial mecha martial arts combat called [[Mecha Su-Dai]]. ''Lancer's Rockers'' concerns a network of travelling performers following in the footsteps of New Generation rock star Lancer/Yellow Dancer, carrying protoculture-powered musical instruments that double as powerful weapons (reminiscent of, but unrelated to, similar developments in the Macross sequel ''[[Macross 7]]'').

The ''Sentinels'' RPG also diverged in some respects from the story covered in the ''Sentinels'' novels and comic books, having been developed independently based on the same incomplete source material provided by [[Harmony Gold USA|Harmony Gold]]. The two primary differences are the idea that the SDF-3 left with an entire fleet of REF ships accompanying them, and that the REF and the Sentinels joined in a protracted war against the Invid Regent. The game also suggested that members of the Sentinels' races would openly join the REF.

⚫
===Game system===
⚫
{{main|Megaversal system}}
⚫
The ''Robotech'' RPG used a modified version of the rule system used in the [[Palladium Fantasy Role-Playing Game]] introduced several years earlier. Clearly patterned after ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'', the ''Palladium Fantasy RPG'' used a very similar rule system based around physical and mental statistics generated by rolling 3D6 (three six-sided dice), and the use of a D20 (20-sided die) in combat. Percentile dice (two ten-sided dice, one read as a tens column and the other as a ones column) are used for skill resolution. The ''Robotech'' RPG introduced the concept of '''mega-damage'''—"super" hit-points that are equivalent to 100 ordinary-person hit points—to simulate the toughness of the heavily armored [[mecha]]. This concept would become widely used in Palladium's ''[[Rifts (role-playing game)|Rifts]]'' game.


⚫
Palladium also published ''[[Macross II: The Role-Playing Game]]'', a separate role-playing game based on the ''[[Macross II]]'' anime series, but this was entirely unrelated to the ''Robotech'' continuity.
===Inaccuracies===
===Inaccuracies===
The creators of the ''Robotech'' RPG originally lacked access to the complete source material, working against deadlines based on what could be seen from show footage and limited-scope translations.<ref name="interview2">{{cite web |url=http://recordings.talkshoe.com/TS-8187.mp3 |title=Kevin Siembieda Interview, Part 1 |date=2007-02-19 |last=Meadows |first=Chris |accessdate=2007-02-20 |format=mp3 |work=talkshoe.com |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927200525/http://recordings.talkshoe.com/TS-8187.mp3 |archivedate=2007-09-27 |df= }}</ref> As a result of incomplete availability, compounded by animation and dubbing errors, some descriptions of mecha and weapon systems given in the First-Edition books are inconsistent with either the animation or subsequently uncovered source material. The confusion is particularly strong in ''Southern Cross'', where the many humanoid robots, battloids, and suits of armor are often confused for one another.<ref name=bundy2>{{cite web | last = Bundy | first = Stan |author2=Brian Myers |author3=Robert McDaniel |author4=Dustin Ramsey |author5=Rodney Stott | title = Section 5: The Anime-Based Games: Robotech & Macross II | work = The Palladium FAQ | date = 2002-09-01 | url = http://home.kih.net/~sbundy/pal-faq.html#Section5 | accessdate = 2007-02-20 |display-authors=etal}}</ref> These inaccuracies are genuine errors and distinct from creative choices that Palladium writers made to elaborate on the Robotech storyline as discussed previously.
The creators of ''Robotech'' originally lacked access to the complete source material, working against deadlines based on what could be gleaned from show footage and limited-scope translations.<ref name="interview2">{{cite web |url=http://recordings.talkshoe.com/TS-8187.mp3 |title=Kevin Siembieda Interview, Part 1 |date=2007-02-19 |last=Meadows |first=Chris |accessdate=2007-02-20 |format=mp3 |work=talkshoe.com |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927200525/http://recordings.talkshoe.com/TS-8187.mp3 |archivedate=2007-09-27 }}</ref> As a result of incomplete availability, compounded by animation and dubbing errors, some descriptions of mecha and weapon systems given in the first edition books are inconsistent with either the animation or subsequently uncovered source material. The confusion is particularly strong in the fourth sourcebook ''Southern Cross'', where the many humanoid robots, battloids, and suits of armor are often confused for one another.<ref name=bundy2>{{cite web | last = Bundy | first = Stan |author2=Brian Myers |author3=Robert McDaniel |author4=Dustin Ramsey |author5=Rodney Stott | title = Section 5: The Anime-Based Games: Robotech & Macross II | work = The Palladium FAQ | date = 2002-09-01 | url = http://home.kih.net/~sbundy/pal-faq.html#Section5 | accessdate = 2007-02-20 |display-authors=etal}}</ref>


===Cancellation===
===Cancellation===
Contractual issues in the wake of Harmony Gold's aborted ''[[Robotech 3000]]'' project, as well as a general refocusing of the company on production of its flagship ''[[Rifts (role-playing game)|Rifts]]'' line, caused Palladium to forgo renewing the ''Robotech'' license. The ''Robotech'' RPG line went out of print as of June 30, 2001.
Contractual issues in the wake of Harmony Gold's aborted ''[[Robotech 3000]]'' project, as well as a general refocusing of Palladium's production on its flagship ''[[Rifts (role-playing game)|Rifts]]'' line, caused Palladium to forgo renewing the ''Robotech'' license. The ''Robotech'' line went out of print as of June 30, 2001.

===Reception to 1st edition===
In his 1990 book ''[[The Complete Guide to Role-Playing Games]]'', game critic [[Rick Swan]] noted that if terms like "Zentaedi" and "destruction of the SDF-1 and 2" were unfamiliar, "''Robotech'' is probably not the giant robot game for you. But for fans ... ''Robotoech'' is giant robot heaven, a remarkably detailed simulation ... that's as certain to satisfy the obsessed as it is to baffle the uninitiated." Swan questioned if some of the detail required for character creation was necessary, asking, for example, if "Physical Beauty will be relevant very often in ''Robotech'' adventures." But Swan found the war machine descriptions "faultless. Every nut, bolt, and circuit is lovingly detailed." Swan admitted that the combat rules might seem excessive, but pointed out that "they allow players to relish every smack, crunch, and spurt of a Mecha assault, which is what ''Robotech'' is all about." Swan concluded by giving the game a rating of 2.5 out of 4.<ref name=swan>{{cite book | last =Swan | first =Rick | author-link=Rick Swan |title =[[The Complete Guide to Role-Playing Games]] | publisher =St. Martin's Press | date =1990 | location =New York | pages =169–171}}</ref>


==Second edition (2008–2018)==
==Second edition (2008–2018)==
In 2007 Palladium reacquired the ''Robotech'' license, coinciding with the DVD release of the animated feature film ''Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles''. The game was released under the new title ''[[Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles Role-Playing Game]]''.
In 2007 Palladium reacquired the ''Robotech'' license, coinciding with the DVD release of the animated feature film ''Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles''. The new edition was released under the title ''[[Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles Role-Playing Game]]''.


Palladium's license for the game expired on March 31st, 2018, and is not being renewed.<ref>https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/rrpgt/robotech-rpg-tacticstm/posts/2120399 Announcement that Kickstarter will not be completed</ref>
Palladium's license for the game expired on March 31, 2018, and was not renewed.<ref>https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/rrpgt/robotech-rpg-tacticstm/posts/2120399 Announcement that Kickstarter will not be completed</ref>


== Robotech RPG Tactics (2013-2018) ==
== Robotech RPG Tactics (2013-2018) ==


On April 18, 2013, Palladium Books initiated a [[Kickstarter]] campaign to raise $70,000 needed to develop a new [[miniature wargaming]] system called ''Robotech RPG Tactics''. The campaign raised $1,442,312 from 5,342 backers by its close on May 20, 2013. The funded game was scheduled to ship in December 2013,<ref>{{cite web | author = Palladium Books | title = Robotech® RPG Tactics | publisher = [[Kickstarter]] | date = 2013-05-20 | url = http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/rrpgt/robotech-rpg-tacticstm | accessdate = 2013-07-06 }}</ref> but was eventually delayed.
In 2013, Palladium Books ran a [[Kickstarter]] campaign to raise money to develop a new [[miniature wargaming]] system called ''Robotech RPG Tactics''. The campaign raised $1,442,312 from 5,342 backers by its close on May 20, 2013, and Wave 1 of the game was shipped to backers in late 2014. However, delays marked Wave 2 of the game, and on 28 February 2018 it was announced that the ''Robotech RPG Tactics Wave Two'' rewards would not be realized, and that Palladium's license had expired and was not being renewed.<ref>https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/rrpgt/robotech-rpg-tacticstm/posts/2120399 Announcement that Kickstarter will not be completed</ref>


==Strange Machine Games==
As of September 2014 the game had begun to be shipped, with Wave 1 shipping expected to continue throughout the fall.
After Palladium lost the license, it was acquired by [[Strange Machine Games]], which published a new version of the ''Robotech'' role-playing game. The first volume was released in December 2019.<ref name="SMG">{{cite web |url=https://bleedingcool.com/games/robotech-the-macross-saga-just-got-a-tabletop-rpg/|title="Robotech: The Macross Saga" Just Got A Tabletop RPG|date=2019-09-18 |last=Sheehan|first=Gavin|accessdate=2019-09-18 |format=Website|work=Website}}</ref> On November 2, 2021, Strange Machine Games finished funding of their second book, ''Robotech: Homefront''. The book will feature the second and third seasons of ''Robotech, The Masters Saga and New Generations''.


==Publications==
Partial delivery of the Kickstarter rewards had been in progress since 3Q 2014 through 1Q 2015. Despite all claims and given the history so far of Palladium Books regarding delivery dates, there had been no real evidence shown of any progress on the rest of the miniatures and no clue on a time frame as noted starting in the updates to the project from 30 Jan 2014 as the entire "Wave 1" line was put through preproduction starting after the delivery date was missed. [https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/rrpgt/robotech-rpg-tacticstm/posts/734271?ref=backer_project_update] No pictures of the "Wave 2" products were ever shown.
⚫
===First edition (1986–1998)===
⚫
* ''Book One: Macross'' (November 1986)
⚫
* ''Book Two: Robotech Defense Force Manual'' (March 1987)
⚫
* ''Book Three: Zentraedi'' (March 1987)
⚫
* ''Book Four: Southern Cross'' (September 1987)
⚫
* ''[[The Robotech RPG Book Five: Invid Invasion|Book Five: Invid Invasion]]'' (June 1988)
⚫
* ''Book Six: The Return of the Masters'' (July 1989)
⚫
* ''Book Seven: New World Order'' (April 1995)
⚫
* ''Book Eight: Strike Force'' (July 1995)


⚫
;''The Robotech RPG'' adventure books
What was delivered so far was substandard in quality compared to even low end wargame miniatures manufacturers. This was noted by multiple miniature wargaming sites and model builders, such as talkwargaming,<ref>http://www.talkwargaming.com/2014/11/product-review-robotech-rpg-tactics-by.html</ref> theminaturespage forums <ref>http://www.theminiaturespage.com/boards/msg.mv?id=367394</ref>(where use of scale model rather than game miniature manufacturing processes was noted), and deltavector,<ref>http://deltavector.blogspot.com/2015/01/robotech-rpg-tactics-miniatures-review.html</ref> whose summary reads:
⚫
#''Ghost Ship'' (February 1988)
⚫
#''Robotech Defense Force Accelerated Training Program'' (March 1988)
⚫
#''Lancer's Rockers'' (December 1989)
⚫
#''Zentraedi Breakout'' (May 1994)


⚫
;''Robotech II: The Sentinels''
{{quote|Basically, the miniatures are all like mini 1:300 versions of 1:48 Revell kits rather than wargaming pieces. It's like they have no idea who their target audience is:
⚫
#''[[Robotech II: The Sentinels (Palladium Books)|The Sentinels]]'' (September 1987)
* Hobbyists - who enjoy assembling stuff are better off with large, detailed kits?
⚫
#''Robotech Expeditionary Force Field Guide'' (March 1989)
* Wargamers - tend to view models as playing pieces, and don't want to spend 12 hours assembling?
* Boardgame/RPGers - who tend to have even less patience for assembly than wargamers?

Basically, they've made a product that combines the worst of all worlds. It's too tiny to be a good display model, and too hideously complicated for a gamer.

There is a ridiculous amount of parts for such tiny models - a Valkyrie battleoid (the same size as a 28mm mini) comes in 16 pieces. Heck, I've seen 1:300 jet models that had similar detail - cast in ONE piece.}}

As noted in the sample references above and simple comparisons to miniatures from Games Workshop [http://www.games-workshop.com], Zvezda [http://www.zvezda.org.ru/?lng=1&cat=7], Battlefront (Flames of War)[http://www.flamesofwar.com/], Wargames Factory [http://www.wargamesfactory.com/], Hawk Wargames [http://www.hawkwargames.com/] and many others revealed that RRPGT miniatures were less detailed, with glaring errors in manufacturing requiring additional work by customers to correct [https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/rrpgt/robotech-rpg-tacticstm/posts/776662] (seams highly visible in the middle of supposedly flat areas), extremely high piece counts comparable to much larger vehicle miniatures by other miniature manufacturers (Space Marine Terminators have six or so, Space Marines have eight or so, while none of the RRPGT minis were in single figures and many were closer to 20+ pieces) and the lack of simple industry standard basics like clear acrylic flight stands for flying units (see references to multiple miniature companies above). Also, posability out of the box was limited since many square peg & slot connections were used rather than round ones, which required yet further customer modification of the base miniatures to gain something other than a few different clones of each miniature, all available in the Kickstarter updates referenced above.

On 28th February 2018 it was announced that the Robotech® RPG Tactics Wave Two rewards would not be realised, and that Palladium's license has expired and is not being renewed.<ref>https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/rrpgt/robotech-rpg-tacticstm/posts/2120399 Announcement that Kickstarter will not be completed</ref>


== References ==
== References ==
Line 103: Line 92:
*''Robotech'' role-playing games at [http://index.rpg.net/display-search.phtml?key=system&value=Robotech RPGnet Game Index]
*''Robotech'' role-playing games at [http://index.rpg.net/display-search.phtml?key=system&value=Robotech RPGnet Game Index]
* [http://www.robotech.com/infopedia/bibliography/rpg/ Robotech Bibliography] - Listings of RPG books in and out of print.
* [http://www.robotech.com/infopedia/bibliography/rpg/ Robotech Bibliography] - Listings of RPG books in and out of print.
*[https://strangemachinegames.com/robotechrpg/ Product page]


{{Robotech}}
{{Robotech}}
{{Palladium Books}}
{{Palladium Books}}


[[Category:Robotech games]]
[[Category:Mecha role-playing games]]
[[Category:Megaverse (Palladium Books)]]
[[Category:Megaverse (Palladium Books)]]
[[Category:Science fiction role-playing games]]
[[Category:Robotech games]]
[[Category:Anime role-playing games]]
[[Category:Role-playing games based on anime and manga]]
[[Category:Role-playing games based on anime and manga]]
[[Category:Role-playing games introduced in 1986]]
[[Category:Role-playing games introduced in 1986]]
[[Category:Mecha role-playing games]]


[[ja:ロボテック#ロールプレイング・ゲーム本]]
[[ja:ロボテック#ロールプレイング・ゲーム本]]

Latest revision as of 23:51, 23 April 2024

This article is about Robotech role-playing games. For other uses, see Robotech (disambiguation).
The Robotech Role-Playing Game
Front cover of Book 1: Macross, the Robotech RPG core rulebook, illustrated by Kevin Long
DesignersKevin Siembieda
PublishersPalladium Books
Years activeNovember 1986 (1986-11) – July 1998 (1998-07)
March 2008 (2008-03) – March 2018 (2018-03)
GenresScience fiction
LanguagesEnglish
SystemsMegaversal
Websitepalladiumbooks.com

The Robotech Role-Playing Game is a licensed science fiction role-playing game published by Palladium Books in 1986 that is based on the Robotech and Robotech II: The Sentinels anime television series, which were, in turn, based on the Japanese mecha anime television series Macross. A second edition of the game, based on Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles, was released in 2008.

Description

[edit]

The game is set in the Robotech universe. Players create characters by assigning random scores for eight attributes such as IQ, Mental Endurance and Physical Beauty. The player must also choose a occupation for the character such as Destroid Pilot or Communications Engineer.[1]

The rulebook contains statistics for a variety of mecha, and combat rules are given for many different types of weapon systems.[1]

Game system

[edit]
Main article: Megaversal system

The Robotech RPG uses a modified version of the Megaversal rule system used in the Palladium Fantasy Role-Playing Game introduced several years earlier. Clearly patterned after the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons, the Palladium Fantasy RPG rules use a very similar rule system based around physical and mental statistics generated by rolling three six-sided dice, and the use of a 20-sided die in combat. Percentile dice are used for skill resolution. Robotech introduces the concept of mega-damage — "super" hit-points that are equivalent to 100 ordinary-person hit points — to simulate the toughness of the heavily armored mecha. This concept would later become widely used in Palladium's Rifts game.

Publication history

[edit]

In 1982, Studio Nue and Artland created the Japanese science fiction mecha anime media franchise/media mix Macross (マクロス, Makurosu, English: /məˈkrɒs/). This was translated and adapted into the American television series Robotech produced by Harmony Gold USA in association with Tatsunoko Production in 1985.[2]

In 1986, Palladium Books acquired the game license for Robotech, and Kevin Siembieda designed the 110-page core rulebook titled Robotech the Role-Playing Game: The Macross Saga. The book contains rules for character creation, and personal and mecha combat, as well as descriptions and statistics for a variety of war machines.[3]

Over the next three years, Palladium published five sourcebooks written by Siembieda that added depth to the campaign setting, roughly following the Robotech television series.

Another three sourcebooks and a number of adventures were also published by Palladium, written by various Palladium regulars and freelance authors.

Illustrations consisted of line art taken from original Japanese source material in addition to new black-and-white line art done by Palladium artists such as Kevin Long.

Palladium also published Macross II: The Role-Playing Game, a separate role-playing game based on the Macross II anime series, but this was entirely unrelated to the Robotech continuity.

Inaccuracies

[edit]

The creators of Robotech originally lacked access to the complete source material, working against deadlines based on what could be gleaned from show footage and limited-scope translations.[4] As a result of incomplete availability, compounded by animation and dubbing errors, some descriptions of mecha and weapon systems given in the first edition books are inconsistent with either the animation or subsequently uncovered source material. The confusion is particularly strong in the fourth sourcebook Southern Cross, where the many humanoid robots, battloids, and suits of armor are often confused for one another.[5]

Cancellation

[edit]

Contractual issues in the wake of Harmony Gold's aborted Robotech 3000 project, as well as a general refocusing of Palladium's production on its flagship Rifts line, caused Palladium to forgo renewing the Robotech license. The Robotech line went out of print as of June 30, 2001.

Reception to 1st edition

[edit]

In his 1990 book The Complete Guide to Role-Playing Games, game critic Rick Swan noted that if terms like "Zentaedi" and "destruction of the SDF-1 and 2" were unfamiliar, "Robotech is probably not the giant robot game for you. But for fans ... Robotoech is giant robot heaven, a remarkably detailed simulation ... that's as certain to satisfy the obsessed as it is to baffle the uninitiated." Swan questioned if some of the detail required for character creation was necessary, asking, for example, if "Physical Beauty will be relevant very often in Robotech adventures." But Swan found the war machine descriptions "faultless. Every nut, bolt, and circuit is lovingly detailed." Swan admitted that the combat rules might seem excessive, but pointed out that "they allow players to relish every smack, crunch, and spurt of a Mecha assault, which is what Robotech is all about." Swan concluded by giving the game a rating of 2.5 out of 4.[1]

Second edition (2008–2018)

[edit]

In 2007 Palladium reacquired the Robotech license, coinciding with the DVD release of the animated feature film Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles. The new edition was released under the title Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles Role-Playing Game.

Palladium's license for the game expired on March 31, 2018, and was not renewed.[6]

Robotech RPG Tactics (2013-2018)

[edit]

In 2013, Palladium Books ran a Kickstarter campaign to raise money to develop a new miniature wargaming system called Robotech RPG Tactics. The campaign raised $1,442,312 from 5,342 backers by its close on May 20, 2013, and Wave 1 of the game was shipped to backers in late 2014. However, delays marked Wave 2 of the game, and on 28 February 2018 it was announced that the Robotech RPG Tactics Wave Two rewards would not be realized, and that Palladium's license had expired and was not being renewed.[7]

Strange Machine Games

[edit]

After Palladium lost the license, it was acquired by Strange Machine Games, which published a new version of the Robotech role-playing game. The first volume was released in December 2019.[8] On November 2, 2021, Strange Machine Games finished funding of their second book, Robotech: Homefront. The book will feature the second and third seasons of Robotech, The Masters Saga and New Generations.

Publications

[edit]

First edition (1986–1998)

[edit]
  • Book One: Macross (November 1986)
  • Book Two: Robotech Defense Force Manual (March 1987)
  • Book Three: Zentraedi (March 1987)
  • Book Four: Southern Cross (September 1987)
  • Book Five: Invid Invasion (June 1988)
  • Book Six: The Return of the Masters (July 1989)
  • Book Seven: New World Order (April 1995)
  • Book Eight: Strike Force (July 1995)
The Robotech RPG adventure books
  1. Ghost Ship (February 1988)
  2. Robotech Defense Force Accelerated Training Program (March 1988)
  3. Lancer's Rockers (December 1989)
  4. Zentraedi Breakout (May 1994)
Robotech II: The Sentinels
  1. The Sentinels (September 1987)
  2. Robotech Expeditionary Force Field Guide (March 1989)

References

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  1. ^ a b c Swan, Rick (1990). The Complete Guide to Role-Playing Games. New York: St. Martin's Press. pp. 169–171.
  2. ^ Erickson, Hal (2005). Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 (2nd ed.). McFarland & Co. pp. 671–674. ISBN 978-1476665993.
  3. ^ "Robotech". Guide du Rôliste Galactique (in French). 2009-05-08. Retrieved 2023-11-29.
  4. ^ Meadows, Chris (2007-02-19). "Kevin Siembieda Interview, Part 1". talkshoe.com. Archived from the original (mp3) on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-02-20.
  5. ^ Bundy, Stan; Brian Myers; Robert McDaniel; Dustin Ramsey; Rodney Stott; et al. (2002-09-01). "Section 5: The Anime-Based Games: Robotech & Macross II". The Palladium FAQ. Retrieved 2007-02-20.
  6. ^ https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/rrpgt/robotech-rpg-tacticstm/posts/2120399 Announcement that Kickstarter will not be completed
  7. ^ https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/rrpgt/robotech-rpg-tacticstm/posts/2120399 Announcement that Kickstarter will not be completed
  8. ^ Sheehan, Gavin (2019-09-18). ""Robotech: The Macross Saga" Just Got A Tabletop RPG" (Website). Website. Retrieved 2019-09-18.
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