RPG News: "The Royal Treatmeant"

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medmapguy	RPG News: "The Royal Treatmeant"	Lead	[-]
Commander Posts: 697 (April 30, 2008 06:40 AM) Commander Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	Tags : rpg Something caught my eye the other day, and it's the press release for the Role Playing Books: ROBOTECH: THE MASTERS SAGA SOURCEBOOK This overlooked chapter of Robotech history will finally receive the royal treatment: in-depth coverage and updated information with fresh new artwork, including never-before-published mecha designs. Veteran RPG contributor Jason Marker has already begun research and development for this sourcebook. I wonder if never-before-published is referring to another batch of unused Southern Cross concept art. I think it was mentioned on Space Station Liberty, wasn't it? Anyway, I heard the last book was pretty disappointing to some 'longtime' fans. Wonder how these books would fare under this "Jason" fellow.
CavScout		#1	[-]
Captain Posts: 1277 (April 30, 2008 11:12 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	I would guess "never seen before" would be concept art and the like. I would doubt newly created stuff. As for how well the TSC RPG book turned out, it mostly depends on two things: One, do you like the Palladium system. If you don't you probably didn't like the book, and if you do you probably ended up liking the book. Two, what was you position regarding HG prior to the book coming out. It is small wonder that those fervent anti-HG folks, and anti-Yune folks in particular, have lampooned the book. My opinion, it's a decent book for what it is. I am not a fan of the Palladium system itself, so I grabbed it for its RT fluff. I certainly disagree with some of the directions taken but nothing is grossly wrong IMO other than a curious emphasis on "marines" and dropping of the RDF terminology. CavScout "The role of the Cavalry is to add colour, dash and daring, to what would otherwise be a mindless shitfight amongst grunts."-Australian Army saying This is my "mod-voice". If I post in red, it usually means knock whatever it is off!
medmapguy		#2	[-]
Commander Posts: 698 (May 1, 2008 05:38 AM) Commander Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	Ugh. When will this "recycling" trend stop, at least for the RPGs? I thought the point of the new direction of Robotech was to steer itself away from the original source material. Makes me almost grateful that the original Macross stuff is off limits. I've said it once, I'll say it again, the RPG mechanics don't interest me. As far as I know, it hasn't changed since the 90's. I just think these books, good or bad, would make "great" bathroom reading. That is, unless the story "fluff" is less than 1/3 of the book, then I might as well just read fanwank on the Palladium boards like "Pirates of Tirol" or something. I don't have a major beef with the RPG books, other than my amusement on how the official "Shadow Chronicles" RPG would actually lack any pertinent data on starships! I mean, wasn't that the focus of the movie..? Screwy decisions like that makes me laugh - and now they're coming out with these "deluxe editions", which I'm pretty sure fans would still rush to pre-order! Ugh, Harmony Gold, why don't ya give fans some value for their money, for once? I've read the RPG rants, and what can I say? What Tommy wants, Tommy gets. But since I like to stick up for the underdogs, lets see, shall we? If fans can convince the powers that be to put in one or two fanwank ideas into the Macross or Southern Cross books, I'd still call that a success, wouldn't you agree? In any case, I think the Palladium boards will be a very interesting place for the next few months. Last Edited By: medmapguy May 1, 2008 05:41 AM. Edited 1 times.
CavScout		#3	[-]
Captain Posts: 1279 (May 1, 2008 08:38 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	..my amusement on how the official "Shadow Chronicles" RPG would actually lack any pertinent data on starships! I mean, wasn't that the focus of the movie..? It really wasn't. The ships have never been the "focus" of RT. CavScout "The role of the Cavalry is to add colour, dash and daring, to what would otherwise be a mindless shitfight amongst grunts."-Australian Army saying This is my "mod-voice". If I post in red, it usually means knock whatever it is off!
medmapguy		#4	[-]
Commander Posts: 699 (May 2, 2008 01:13 AM) Commander Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	Yeah, I see what you're getting at. The original Robotech series was never 'Star Trek' capital ship vs. capital ship. But for an RPG book that's based on a movie set entirely in space, you'd think they would've shoehorned in the capital ships in the first edition. Now you have to pay extra for that feature.
CavScout		#5	[-]
Captain Posts: 1280 (May 3, 2008 02:20 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	I'd love to see some general stats, but I not to interested in specific stats to run Star Fleet battles with. =) CavScout "The role of the Cavalry is to add colour, dash and daring, to what would otherwise be a mindless shitfight amongst grunts."-Australian Army saying This is my "mod-voice". If I post in red, it usually means knock whatever it is off!
Basara 549		#6	[-]
Fleet Admiral Posts: 2035 (May 6, 2008 02:39 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	Funny you should say that... There was a Ship combat system for the macross-era vessels printed in an issue of an old magazine called "Far & Away" (by the same publishers of the original version of Animag) that was effectively using the Star Trek Tactical/Star Fleet Battles system (the systems were by different companies but were nearly identical in mechanics) Stan Bundy sbundy@kih.net ICQ: Basara (2878324) Xfire: basara549 Administrator, RDF-HQ Communications Center, and Ringmaster of the Disciples of Zor Webring Fanfic Author: The Freeman Chronicles, and many other Robotech Fanfics Author of the ABP-Z4 for the Robotech RPG (The Rifter #5), and net supplements for all Palladium RPGs. Gaming files and fanfic are at: http://home.kih.net/~sbundy/ "One should always be wary of a scientist speaking out of his narrow field, or those invoking their name outside their fields. Scientists are human too, and are just as prone to cling to 'causes', just or frivolous, as the rest of our species." - Dr. Peter Wykoff Walker, 11 Sept 1997, rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated
nathan	never published	#7	[-]
Corporal Posts: 69 (May 10, 2008 02:28 AM) Corporal Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	"Never published" probably refers to the various battloids and power armor that has already appeared online. Maybe a few a few unseen things but mostly just things they missed before. As for the RPG, it's not bad. I don't like the size of the book but that's just my preference. The only complaint I have RPG wise is that it leave out stuff like ships and makes references to things that aren't there. Maybe they'll appear in the delux regular size version this summer, with everything needed to play that saga. Of course having the earlier sagas, including that of the Sentinals covered would be a big help. The Shadow Chronicles is the 5th of 5 sagas after all. Which leads me to the biggest problem I have with it. The 4th saga is missing! First HG disavowed the Sentinals and now they've brought them back but no one knows what actually happened so there's a big gap there. Over all it sounds like there while there was a major rewrite of the sentinals and the books that came after but the over all story stayed the same. REF goes to Tirol. Fights Invid, joins Sentinals, has a civil war, goes back to Earth, fights Invid, win (kinda), Hydonite allies turn on them. If that's so rewrite the novels and fill in the blanks! Then the Shadow Chronicles would make more sense.
Basara 549		#8	[-]
Fleet Admiral Posts: 2037 (May 11, 2008 12:06 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	You know, I wouldn't mind Shadow Chronicles as much had it been the pinnacle of a total reimagining of the original series (as what will be needed for the live action movie, or for a actually in-progress example, Battlestar Galactica). However, TSC is part of an attempt to rewrite the original series retroactively, and frankly, it just plain fails on many levels as a result. You don't keep older fans by telling them that "it's always been this way" when even their promotional material said otherwise in more ways than one can count - and new fans won't come once they see how the older viewership was treated. There's still die-hard original BSG fans out there that won't give the new one the time of day from feeling betrayed, and it wasn't a retcon. It's typically a LOT worse when you pull a retcon (just ask Rick Berman....) Stan Bundy sbundy@kih.net ICQ: Basara (2878324) Xfire: basara549 Administrator, RDF-HQ Communications Center, and Ringmaster of the Disciples of Zor Webring Fanfic Author: The Freeman Chronicles, and many other Robotech Fanfics Author of the ABP-Z4 for the Robotech RPG (The Rifter #5), and net supplements for all Palladium RPGs. Gaming files and fanfic are at: http://home.kih.net/~sbundy/ "One should always be wary of a scientist speaking out of his narrow field, or those invoking their name outside their fields. Scientists are human too, and are just as prone to cling to 'causes', just or frivolous, as the rest of our species." - Dr. Peter Wykoff Walker, 11 Sept 1997, rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated
medmapguy	A question...	#9	[-]
Commander Posts: 701 (May 20, 2008 07:21 AM) Commander Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	"The story of a generation... the way it SHOULD have been" - Robotech's current marketing tagline Hope you're right about that Basara. With all this ret-conning going around, I shudder to think what the "new and improved" Blu-ray edition of the original 85-episodes would end up being. I'm guessing they'd sneak in some Shadow Chronicles scenes in the final episode of NewGen to completely validate its existence in the canon. Sort of like how they inserted Masters scenes in the Macross Saga. That'd be the legendary. Anyway, what do you guys think of Jason Marker, the new guy set to take on the reins of the Southern Cross books? I believe it's an interesting choice on Palladium's part to take this guy, although and it was kind of ironic how quickly he shot down the idea of a transformable Sylphide. I actually wondered why he didn't give in to this particular "fan service" when a lot of the current data of Robotech and its RPG was based on someone else's fanfic... and if all else fails, why should the idea that the original Japanese notes and concepts be considered superior? Palladium probably just hates Brooklyn Red Leg that much. I think it was interesting how they said the next books will basically be just story fluff, with the core rules to be found solely on the Shadow Chronicles RPG book. Hmm... Might actually be worth the money for once!
CavScout		#10	[-]
Captain Posts: 1296 (May 20, 2008 08:58 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	Anyway, what do you guys think of Jason Marker, the new guy set to take on the reins of the Southern Cross books? I believe it's an interesting choice on Palladium's part to take this guy, although and it was kind of ironic how quickly he shot down the idea of a transformable Sylphide. I actually wondered why he didn't give in to this particular "fan service" when a lot of the current data of Robotech and its RPG was based on someone else's fanfic... and if all else fails, why should the idea that the original Japanese notes and concepts be considered superior? Palladium probably just hates Brooklyn Red Leg that much. Brook makes it to easy to "hate" him. His presentations are "I am fucking right; you're a tool if you don't see what I am seeing!" With such an adversarial approach, his ideas are drowned out by the presentation. Although, I am not sure one could describe the idea as "quickly" shot down. The issue is not new and has been vigorously debated on the Palladium forums. Heck, I wonder, if the Sylphide (I hate that name!!!) was re-conceived to be transformable and there is no OSM material or art supporting this; would HG/Palladium be in an interesting "original idea" area if so fans claimed they stole their "idea"? In other words, is fighting so hard for something clearly not in the anime or the OSM material itself self-defeating? ...why should the idea that the original Japanese notes and concepts be considered superior? This I agree with. The OSM has it's place and is a good reference, but I wish HG and Palladium would be creative instead of just taking so much of the OSM verbatim. CavScout "The role of the Cavalry is to add colour, dash and daring, to what would otherwise be a mindless shitfight amongst grunts."-Australian Army saying This is my "mod-voice". If I post in red, it usually means knock whatever it is off!
medmapguy		#11	[-]
Commander Posts: 702 (May 20, 2008 02:47 PM) Commander Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	Brook makes it to easy to "hate" him. His presentations are "I am fucking right; you're a tool if you don't see what I am seeing!" With such an adversarial approach, his ideas are drowned out by the presentation. Did Robotech Master mute him during that interview? Why was Phipps called in but Brook wasn't? I thought he was going to call after the interview was over... There could have been a loooooong discussion there. Jason was actually rearin' to talk more about Southern Cross before the discussion went the way of the Macross Frontier. In other words, is fighting so hard for something clearly not in the anime or the OSM material itself self-defeating? The OSM has it's place and is a good reference, but I wish HG and Palladium would be creative instead of just taking so much of the OSM verbatim. Tommy mentioned to Jason that anything and everything was acceptable from Harmony Gold's library. So expect to see an amalgamation of classic Harmony Gold Robotech ideas popping up. My concern is Leonard. Since Jason's a relatively new fan, I wonder if he'll actually take the xenophobe/evil villain angle seriously. A lot of people's first impressions of Leonard have always been that way, but if Jason really knew the material, he might finally give the character justice. I'm being too hopeful. This is the Harmony Gold that rewrote Leonard as one of the key figures of the Anti-Unification League. Ugh. Repeat after me the Palladium mantra: What the licensor wants, the licensor gets. It was mentioned ... that they almost considered Peter Walker's Condor alternate mode, but duct out of it in the last minute because its transformation sequence didn't look right. Personally, this is one of those fan ideas they can easily chuck out, although it was hinted it might be brought back. Wonder why they can't make up their minds here. As for the Sylphide sketches on this site, they look really good. I've got no problem with that fanwank! Maybe if someone "close" to Harmony Gold can pitch the idea, I'm sure something could be arranged. It was mentioned that certain prominent fans proofread the RPG books? If someone can get them to pitch fan ideas as being a good alternative to the OSM (besides Peter Walker this and that), then we might get somewhere. Finally, I'm not sure what to think of these unused Invid designs. I guess... they're better than using Hellcats...
CavScout		#12	[-]
Captain Posts: 1298 (May 20, 2008 03:59 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	Did Robotech Master mute him during that interview? Why was Phipps called in but Brook wasn't? I thought he was going to call after the interview was over... There could have been a loooooong discussion there. Jason was actually rearin' to talk more about Southern Cross before the discussion went the way of the Macross Frontier. Far as I remember, Brook was late and never called in at all that night. Tommy mentioned to Jason that anything and everything was acceptable from Harmony Gold's library. So expect to see an amalgamation of classic Harmony Gold Robotech ideas popping up. My concern is Leonard. Since Jason's a relatively new fan, I wonder if he'll actually take the xenophobe/evil villain angle seriously. A lot of people's first impressions of Leonard have always been that way, but if Jason really knew the material, he might finally give the character justice. I don't know the guy, so no idea. As for Leonard, I think that he is xenophobic can be made from the anime, rather easily. Of course, considering Earth was just recently nearly obliterated by aliens makes it kinda of understandable. "Evil" as you put it, not really but certainly arrogant, hard-headed and rash. I'm being too hopeful. This is the Harmony Gold that rewrote Leonard as one of the key figures of the Anti-Unification League. Ugh. Don't like the comic portrayals myself. It was mentioned ... that they almost considered Peter Walker's Condor alternate mode, but duct out of it in the last minute because its transformation sequence didn't look right. Personally, this is one of those fan ideas they can easily chuck out, although it was hinted it might be brought back. Wonder why they can't make up their minds here. No idea. Never understood the hard-on for the transformable Condor. As for the Sylphide sketches on this site, they look really good. I've got no problem with that fanwank! Maybe if someone "close" to Harmony Gold can pitch the idea, I'm sure something could be arranged. It was mentioned that certain prominent fans proofread the RPG books? If someone can get them to pitch fan ideas as being a good alternative to the OSM (besides Peter Walker this and that), then we might get somewhere. Personally, I be fine with them avoiding fan ideas. Finally, I'm not sure what to think of these unused Invid designs. I guess... they're better than using Hellcats... Where is that scan from if you don't mind me asking? CavScout "The role of the Cavalry is to add colour, dash and daring, to what would otherwise be a mindless shitfight amongst grunts."-Australian Army saying This is my "mod-voice". If I post in red, it usually means knock whatever it is off!
harkavyr		#13	[-]
Sergeant Posts: 72 (May 21, 2008 10:07 AM) Corporal Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	Those unused Inbit are from Animedia/Gakken MOSPEADA book. The one in the center left position is called a "Kerogga" (kero = frog). I really dig the one in the upper right. Reminds me of a mantis shrimp.
medmapguy	Royale with Cheesy	#14	[-]
Commander Posts: 703 (May 21, 2008 03:03 PM) Commander Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	Far as I remember, Brook was late and never called in at all that night. He should've called. Would have been a more interesting show. I do agree with the Leonard stuff. Xenophobe or not, that remains to be seen. The hoopla on the Condor isn't that cool. Makes me wonder if they'll start using the pre-production battloids or Legioss designs of Mospeada as filler. As for those Mospeada Inbit designs, I do know that they were already used on the Robotech: Invasion game, but their overall look seems to be more fitting with the Invid Regent's forces. Still, I was disappointed that Palladium and Harmony Gold have not announced a Sentinels/Pioneer/REF-era book in their RPG line-up yet. BTW, I found this comprehensive review of the Shadow Chronicles RPG book (which probably was posted on Palladium), and its a good read. Excerpts from the review: ...The concept for the Invid has been tightened up; the living Invid inside are now inseparable from their mecha, reducing the need for discussions of the various castes of Invid... the Invid have been reduced to three (low; higher, thinking caste; highest, human-like, similar to Ariel, Sera and Corg) plus their royalty (Regess... and Regent). The Haydonites remain mysterious; while there is a bit of information about them (cybernetic, apparently ruled by a being known as The Awareness), they disappointingly don't have much technological advantage over human mecha, nor do they have clear combat bonuses; human mecha will destroy them with technological adequacy and superior combat bonuses. The Invid info is not bad. That last quote however sort of makes the Shadow Chronicles' plot look worse than it really is... The Haydonites already revealed themselves, and their master plan to wipe out Invid and mankind in one fell swoop already failed. Tommy and Co. are basically going to have to come up with something really cheesy to make the Haydonites a force to be reckoned with in the sequel. The reviewer criticized the lack of campaign scenarios, and scant info on the Haydonites, thereby making most RPG campaigns focus on the Invid as the main opposition. This again makes me question why call the damn thing the Shadow Chronicles RPG in the first place. I think New Generation Plus would have been more appropriate. Full Review: http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/13/13715.phtml One thing I've read on Palladium is that gamers are having a tough time dealing with the manga size. People broke the book binding while using it for extensive periods at a time, so I think in the end, the idea is a bust. Or is really great marketing? Not only does the small copy reach out to non-RPG fans like myself, but apparently a lot of the hardcore gamers themselves stated intentions of buying second copies because of the damage to their first. So in the end, Palladium is seeing a lot more in revenue. And to top it all off, they're selling the $31.00 Deluxe edition, which from what I hear on Space Station Liberty, is described as the definitive edition of the current RPG since it will contain more info on the Haydonites, more campaign scenarios, more original art, and I think... some starship stats (not sure about the last). Tommy hinted on the idea of selling 'supplementary' material to fans so they won't feel shortchanged, but I doubt fans would go for that, and instead go for the big book version. Ka-ching! Last Edited By: medmapguy May 21, 2008 03:15 PM. Edited 1 times.
CavScout		#15	[-]
Captain Posts: 1301 (May 21, 2008 03:27 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	On the magna size.. it's not bad for a core-rule book I suppose, but I don't like the Palladium system so I don't need it for that. I'd prefer a full size book for my tastes. CavScout "The role of the Cavalry is to add colour, dash and daring, to what would otherwise be a mindless shitfight amongst grunts."-Australian Army saying This is my "mod-voice". If I post in red, it usually means knock whatever it is off!

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RPG News: "The Royal Treatmeant"

RPG News: "The Royal Treatmeant"

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