Legacy Review #04: The RDF Manual

Written by: Kevin Siembieda

Release Date: 1987

Catalogue Number: 551

GENERAL

This, the second book in the Robotech series of RPG supplements, provides the GM and Players with some additional information for use in their campaigns. We have a small splat-book style supplement describing much of the world as it stands up to, during, but mostly after the finale of the Zentraedi attack on Earth. There are a number of world building sections that any GM looking to expand their adventuring could use to generate some really keen campaigns.

SECTIONS

Rules and Optional Rules. A one-pager of what I could only consider as glorified errata. Recovery of S.D.C. (in a largely M.D.C.-based game) is fine. It is followed by some O.C.C. augmentation allowing classes to select additional skills as they advance. I was surprised at this and went back to the Robotech RPG book - only then did I notice that there is no selection of additional skills at certain thresholds like we see in virtually every other PB product. This is followed by tables of randomized damage for each mecha presented in the RPG book; most GMs will take or leave, but it's nice to have the option.

Additional RDF Weapons and Vehicles. We get a selection of additional, in some cases experimental, weapons, mines and land vehicles. This is followed by a more traditional AWACs aircraft, Rick Hunter’s Turbo Fan Jet, yet another cargo carrier and finally an interceptor jet that packs an appreciable punch with its main weapon.

Daedalus II and Prometheus. Each are detailed, including detailed deck plans that were all the rage for Palladium Books of the time. Perhaps not the most comprehensive in terms of useful information for the GM, it gives some insight into the size and scope each vessel contains. If you ever wanted to run a modern version of a dungeon crawl, these deck plans are a gold mine.

Mecha Underwater. In a surprising entry, we get the penalties applied for underwater combat. Destroid, Veritech, and Battle Pods are each noted.

The Robotech Timeline. This is another piece that doesn’t necessarily drive gameplay at the table, it does present some absolutely fantastic world building background. Presented in bullet point form by month and year, it’s a comprehensive overview of the major muscle movements. There are some nuggets in there that a crafty GM could certainly use to develop adventures.

Global Summary. A map of the Earth and description of the desolation at the hands of the Zentraedi armada. Major sectors and the political groups leading them are identified. New Earth struggles to rise from the ashes.

• Eastern Bloc Soviet Independent State (E.B.S.I.S). Ever the adversary of the time, the 1980s still labored under the pall of the Cold War. The E.B.S.I.S. has never fallen into the RDF, going so far as to develop their own mecha designs. They lacked the relative advantage that Robotechnology provided the RDF. This means their bespoke military units are sub-standard to anything fielded by the RDF. They are fervently buying any RDF mecha they can from the Black Market; includes just over 100 refurbished destroids with less M.D.C., and 7 Veritech Fighters. They’ve augmented this by actively recruiting the Zentraedi and their mecha (around 1500 of various types) to become a world power again. Their military is rounded out with a few updated MiG jet entries (none a match for any modern RDF mecha, let alone a Veritech Fighter).

• North American Sector. One of the few sectors capable of maintaining and producing advanced technology developed from Robotechnology and the RDF. York has broken away as an independent and zealous anti-Zentraedi barony, and to my utter surprise, the “Free Nation of Quebec” has become another self-governing territory with isolationist policies but have substantial and loyal Zentraedi military forces. We also get a sneak peak at Monument City and the Armies of the Southern Cross, a foreshadowing of the mecha for the Second and Third Generation.

• Africa Sector. A single paragraph. Basically, no official government and reverted to regional, likely tribal control. Not much technology, nor a hot-spot of relevance in terms of global government or conflict. A bit of a missed opportunity.

• South American Sector. Several quadrants detailed with some great plot points. The Zentraedi Control Zone is a wild west of conflict and provides a series of random patrols and strike forces to throw at the characters.

• Random Tables. All placed together in the end of the book, each Quadrant is provided a series of entries the GM can leverage. I would have preferred these be included under each Quadrant’s information. That said, lots of good stuff here.

Robotech Characters. A few of the other key characters found in the Robotech Macross series.

• Roy Fokker – Veritech Pilot

• Ben Dixon – Veritech Pilot

• Capt Henry J. Gloval – Commanding Officer of the SDF-1

• Lynn Kyle – Student Activist

IMPRESSIONS

Initial Review (9/10). I’ll be honest, I was aware of, but never read this entry before acquiring the entirety of the Robotech RPG collection in a private sale. My expectations were tempered by the rather thin aspect; at only 48 pages, how much relevant information could be conveyed? Well, was I ever very surprisingly impressed. Some elements are, admittedly, relatively benign in terms of impact; by contrast, the world building aspects defining the Quadrants and the random tables for encounters and smaller communities really sets up a GM for success. Of note, the artwork from Kevin Long continues to be as dynamic as ever; the Peter Simon entries, simply put, absolutely stunning. There are loads of adventure ideas to create engaging scenarios across various parts of Robotech Earth. Surprisingly, and one of the secret success stories of this book, is that it really goes beyond expectations to tie the First Generation to the Second Generation. My mind was blasting around with various adventure ideas that leveraged the period when the RDF was transitioning to the REF, and where the Armies of the Southern Cross were in their nascence. An absolutely solid entry that contradicts its shorter page count.

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