Customer Reviews

Robotech the Role-Playing Game

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I purchased my first copy of the Robotech RPG waaaaayyy back in the '80s when it first came out. I saw it in an advertisement in a Dragon magazine and just had to have it. I couldn't talk my parents into getting it for me, and I didn't live anywhere near a game store so I had to talk a friend of mine into getting it for me. Jeez... was that almost 20 years ago???

Anyway I have always had mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand I really enjoyed playing it, but on the other hand I don't think I EVER learned how to play it 'correctly'.

It isn't an easy game to learn- the rules are scattered all across the book, and the combat system is hard to understand at first. I chalk that up to poor editing and organization. However once you figure things out (and patch things up with a few house rules or with the anti-kevs found on-line) then you'll find that the game is rather easy to play and can be a lot of fun. It is very confusing though and needs a serious rewrite- which will probably never happen now that Palladium gave up its license.

It is worth getting if you are a Robotech fan, if for no other reason than because it has some very nice art work inside and is a functional (if flawed) sourcebook for the Macross portion of Robotech. However if you're really wanting to play a Robotech based RPG I would suggest that you go elsewhere. Mekton, for example, is a far superior (and much more playable) RPG/Wargaming system. With only a little looking on the web you can easily find Mekton stats for all Robotech mecha, and honestly there are excellent websites that have far better (and more accurate) background materials than this book. Plus they have the added bonus of being free! Gotta love that.

In the book's defense though it is rather dated- I think I got my first copy back in '87 and at that time there was almost nothing about Macross and its background in English. Kevin had to use what he could find. Now well over a decade later, and with more than a little bit of help from the internet, Macross information is far easier to find. Too bad Kevin didn't have these resourses at his fingertips back in the '80s.

Anyway if you've just gotta play this game (because you're a Rifts fan or something) then go grab a copy of the Anti-Kevs. This is a set of erratta made especially for Palladium's RPG and they fix many of the problems that blemish this otherwise functional game.

Grab it if you want, but use with some caution!

If you can only buy one Robotech RPG book then this is it. It is not the best in the series, but it provides information on playing that can only be found in a select few books. It tells you how to make a character, what the terms mean, how to play that character, how to GM (gamemaster), and is the basis for all of the scourcebooks that come afterwards. Even if you don't play the game it provides excelent information on the show, albeit some of the info is so far off that you wonder what Seimbeida was doing during the 200 hours spent going over the animation. Never-the-less this is one of the best books and gives information on weapons and items not found in any other book, believe me i've looked. The artwork is awesome, some of kevin Long's best. This is not a book to go without.

The only reason why I'm writing this is because of a particularly biased review that I happened to come across, one that disturbed me greatly. (It may or may not be there, but you might notice it.) Well anyway, this book is actually quite good for any GM or player who's interested in a futuristic campangne setting, more-so if you happen to like Robotech (Macross). Also, this was the first RPG that I actually really got to play and I found the rules to be easy to understand yet in-depth enougth to keep me playing it with my friends several years later. Also, most of the information in the book is pretty much accurate there are a few mistakes but there all small, insignificant ones. It's a shame that Palladium Books didn't renew the licence this past year.

This book is a really good way to start with the Robotech RPG series, but it really needs two other books with it to make it good. Add in Book 3: Zentreadi and Book 2: RDF Manual, and you're set. Along with the Robotech ATP (acellerated training program), it will provide hours of fun with you and your friends. I'm a big Robotech fan and was pretty pleased with the book.

Being a japanimation fan, and especially a Robotech fan, I was thrilled when Palladium put out a Robotech RPG. I was even more thrilled when I discovered that the book appeared to have a lot of hard information about the characters and mecha in the series. Unfortunately, after years of playing the Palladium game system and learning more about Robotech, I can say that this book is very flawed. Rife with typographical errors, rules inconsistencies, and informational inaccuracies, this book has gone through many printings without a revision. The Palladium game system, while easy to learn, really doesn't simulate the feel of Robotech too well. Also, the infamous mega-damage system really over-inflates the sturdiness of the mecha, in my opinion. Not too much background information for setting up a campaign is given, although a fairly thorough historical outline is given. Some of the Japanese source material is misinterpreted, leading to some errors in game stats for certain things. In spite of all these flaws, the game is fun and the book is an entertaining read. Just don't use it as your Robotech "bible."

First off, you'll probably want the Zentraedi Sourcebook in addition to this if you want to get the most from your gaming sessions. Covering the Macross Saga, this core rulebook allows players to be human or Zentraedi characters with a choice of 9 character classes and over 100 skill selections. All Earth and alien mecha are included, as well as convential equipment and vehicles. Although not perfect in execution or design, The Robotech RPG is still a fun and easy book to pick up and play.

This is an old RPG by palladium books. We loved it back in the day. Recently we decided to give it another go and realized its too dated to play. Missing info, palladiums poor explanations of combat and abysmal character creation make it not worth the try. But then we found the updated version in the Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles RPG and the Robotech: Macross Saga Sourcebook. Amazing update: playable and functional books.

Bottom line: This is a collectors piece. Period.

Grew up watching the series back in Japan. Loved it! When it came out as a RPG, the poor little geek in me loved it. Tough game system to understand and it can drag, but a lot of creativity. Yes, flaws, grammar, and miss understanding, but that's what the imagination is for. I had fun. My wife made me throw all my RPG books out, when we got married, but I was able to buy one back. ;^)

This was my second rpg, played d&d first ( of course who didn't),
Got my copy in 83, still have it.
I have only given one other five star.Here's the why 5 star? answer:

This is a complete role playing game. You can play robotech/macross with just this book. yes the other books are a nice touch I do own them all but in the day of "we make money by making you buy a whole bunch of extra books." era this is one of the treasures. I ran a campaign for 6 months with just this book, and with extrapolation could run one much longer if needed.
Yes there are a few typos and rules "oops", but this will always be my favorite rpg. played up till 5 years ago, (yes really) so at the used price if you don't have it get it, pick up a couple old vhs robotech/ macross videos ( if you don't know what robotech is) and play this great game.
for a complete macross experience I would recommend these books:
1) this book
2) rdf manual
3) zentraedi
4) accelerated training ( good random bad guys, and a town)
the other supplements are nice but not really needed, but are nice.

Robotech : The Role Playing Game is just one of many role playing games based on the Robotech universe. By Kevin Shembieda the book deals with the First Generation of characters and the First Robotech Wars. Also known as the Macross Saga the author assumes you watched the series and know the major events. In other words there is no summary nor is there a timeline, just page after page on equipment, mecha, vehicles, combat, character designs, ready made characters plus a single mission game and, of course, history and information on the Zentraedi. The only problem is a lot of the information is wrong. At the time the book was published there just wasn't any background information. Also the game rules are spread out all over the book, so you have to do a lot of hunting to find them all.
Great to start in the Robotech universe but if you wish for more details or to continue with the timeline into the next two story arches, you need the other books. Which all have the same problems. And if you want to fight with mecha take the rules from the Battletech games. Many of the mecha look the same, there is even the classic Mads which look like Officer's Battle Pods.