Legacy Review #06: Zentraedi

Written by: Kevin Siembieda

Release Date: 1987

Catalogue Number: 552

GENERAL

This, the third book of the Robotech series of RPG supplements dives into the protagonists of the Macross series. As one half of the great storyline, it’s time to delve into the forces of the massive Zentraedi warriors and their gargantuan fleets as they bear down on Earth. Does the SDF-1 stand a chance against such a massive armada? Let’s take a look and see what the Zentraedi have to offer.

SECTIONS

Zentraedi Player Characters. We get a nice breakdown of what it means to be a Zantraedi character within the RDF and the limitations placed upon them; for obvious security reasons. There is also a helpful table on effects of the micronization process and if they elect to do so more than once. Development of a micronian Zantraedi, a couple of pertinent classes an class skills are laid out. I found the choice of image of Exedore to portray on the Zentraedi Quick Roll Villain page as somewhat of an amusing gaffe.

Zentraedi Mecha. A somewhat disappointing section that repeats much of previously published material.

• “Cyclops” Theatre Scout Reconnaissance Pod. A reprint.

• Recovery Pod. A reprint.

• Hover Platform. A rather niche vehicle.

• Re-entry Pod. A re-print.

• Zentraedi Mecha Underwater. An unfortunate repeat of much of the rules previously denoted.

Speed Reference Tables. Some handy speed charts for both human and Zentraedi mecha in Maximum Miles Per Hour, Miles per Minute, or Miles per second. In case you were wondering, the fighter Pod (orbit) or Re-Entry Pod (orbit) tied for first at Mach 5, with the Super Veritech using Boosters in Jet mode as a close third at Mach 4.8, for those interested. I think the real winner is the small section detailing number of attacks per melee to reach maximum speed.

Zentraedi War-Machine. We get into the mindset and tactics employed by the Zentraedi. As one would expect from a warrior race of giants numbering in the millions, they overpower the enemy through sheer firepower from overwhelming numbers. They attack with speed and power. But the meat of this book is there to detail the mighty cruisers of the Zentraedi; remember their fleet number over 5 million craft. Despite this massive fleet, only 5 designs are presented herein. A look at the online fandom will account for a few other, smaller craft.

Note: A key section discusses the results of the war with the RDF, and just how a GM can exploit the remnants of the Zentraedi within the Solar System, or those in far-flung sectors of the universe that may come looking for trouble. Some key information there.

• Common Systems. Covers the institutional support and communications systems, as well as the vast array of weapons each cruiser is outfitted with.

• Combat. A few notes for the GM on how to handle Player Chartacters interacting with any of the Zentraedi fleet vessels. Long-story-short, the cruisers’ weapons are anti-vessel; they let Battle Pods handle the Veritechs Fighters and the like. There are some notes of ship-to-ship combat, though I doubt highly the GM will be bothered too much about it.

• Flag Ship. We’re talking about Breetai’s vessels, the massive, 3.5-miles (5.8 km) long craft. Carries a few Zentraedi, has a few weapon systems. By few I mean a gazillion.

• Command Ship. The one that resembles an otter swimming through the water. Of note, the nose/front portion of the ship can detach to become a mobile command headquarters.

• Landing Ship. The most heavily armored for its size, meant to deliver the Battle Pods into the thick of battle.

• Destroyer. The standard ship of the line, most of the fleet consists of these vessels. A rounded out mix of weapons and warriors on board.

• Cruiser. The smallest of the lot, they are used primarily for scouting missions. This model still clocks in about 50% larger than the SDF-1.

  Note: Each vessel above is provided with a series of deck plans. Just in case the GM thinks to plant you in the middle of one of them, like Max Sterling.

• Robotech Factory. A few notes about this mystical construct, but not much other than its use to reconstruct and repair Zentraedi mecha, fleet vehicles, and healing injured warriors.

• Dolza’s Command Ship. A couple of lines to make mention of the 900-mile tall vessel. States the rather obvious that this would be bristling with armaments. I’m thinking it’s bristling with several thousand vessels within to boot.

Robotech Characters. We once again revisit some older characters already presented:

• Lord Dolza – Supreme Leader of Zentraedi High Command

• Khyron. A re-print

• Azonia. Female Officer

• Breetai. A re-print, with some additional information about his post-micronization

• Exedore. A re-print, with some additional information about his post-micronization

IMPRESSIONS

Initial Review (5/10). A bit of a disappointment, particularly after the banger that was the Robotech RPG and the RDF Manual. This book suffers from several reprints, but it does what it purports to do. The artwork within the book is still on point, and frankly one of the highlights. Kevin Long delivers again with the cover, but I think it's Peter Simon's delivery of some truly spectacular renditions for Zentraedi vessels and mecha. The maps and deck plans from Kevin Siembieda really gives the GM something to work with in case the Players must perform an attack along the interior of thee craft. I just thought there would have been more meat on the bone, perhaps. It’s not a useless book, and for the completionist or those playing just the Macross Saga, it makes sense to hunt it down. For anyone looking to play the RPG in later "Generations," I'd save this one for much later in your search.

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