The Apeman007's FAQ

Created by: Mr. Sketchley with input from other players and GMs

Maintained by: Mr. Sketchley / http://www.macrossrpg.com/~archers/Images/StudioOtaking.gif

Notes:

• Invariably changes will be requested by players. In that case, PM or OOC me for discussion on it. However, in ALL cases of a successful rules change, the change will NOT take effect until after the end of the current combat.

BASIC POSTING and PLAYING RULES

“Any self-respecting fighter pilot doesn’t want to get into a dog fight. They want to shoot their missiles (at range) first and then run away bravely.” – unknown British Airforce pilot.

SPELLING

This is VERY important. Not just now, but throughout your participation in the MRC. Many of our members are non-native English speakers, and it helps them (as well as everyone else) for posts to be as free of spelling errors as possible. All anyone here has to go on is your written word, so if there are multiple errors, people can easily lose the thread of what you're trying to say. A simple spell checker can help a great deal. If nothing else, you can paste your text into a Yahoo message composer and run their spell check on your text. One thing you'll want to watch for (that a spell checker won't catch) is this: it's UN Spacy, not UN Spacey.

Game Posts

1) The GM’s post(s) take precedence over everything else.

2) Other players’ post(s) are good for basically only what their personal character is doing or saying or when the group is working together for a common goal.

3) If a player is posting a description of something not directly related to his or her character, the likelihood of it being true in the game is reduced (look to the GM’s post(s) for confirmation.)

Player Character death by other Player Character

It’s rare, but it does happen. Accidents are things that happen all of the time and such deaths are usually the result of stupid and pointless actions. However there may be a time where one player character actively seeks to deliberately execute another player character. I’ll play it out, but not before the player initiating that hostile action communicates to the GM with his/her intent to kill another player. The expected dialogue would be about why. Drastic actions, while entertaining to read, can really be quite a setback for a player as well. We role-play for a number of reasons but usually the biggest reason is fun. Killing a player character robs someone else of his or her fun and requires some fairly comprehensive game restructuring afterward. As the GM, I’d like to know why before approving of this action. (Text created by Sabre.)

Skills

• The MRC OSR Skills List is used as the master list for skills.
• If you’re PC is not actively practicing the skills listed in the character sheet during the PC’s downtime, there is a high probability that the skill % will be reduced and abilities *may* be lost.
• BOXING doesn’t allow for one additional hand to hand attack. (I’ll get around to editing it out of the effected character sheets sooner or later.) However, it allows for either one additional punch or an extra dodge in physical (face to face) confrontations.

GAME RULES

Rulebook

The Macross II RPG rulebook is used as the main source of rules for this game. The secondary source books are the Robotech RPG and as an extreme backup – the Rifts RPG.

Macross Specific Resources (vehicles, equipment, etc.)

Macross Specific Statistics and OCCs used are from the MRC’s Official Statistics Resources, followed by Steel Falcon, UN Spacy Data-Base and other materials used on the internet.

Stacking Of PP Bonuses On Mecha Bonuses

The jury is still out on this. Currently PP bonuses are included in mecha bonuses, within reason.

Tilt / Auto-Dodge

(-##% still researching this) on a piloting skill check. 1 dodge roll per action segment in the melee. This is a 'one size fits all' on the incoming attacks. (The pilot is focusing on other activities after all or else they'd be doing a proper dodge attempt...)

If the player posts that the character is either dodging or moving behind cover (and dodging all the way,) then the character will get full dodge bonuses and rolls to avoid all incoming attacks.

In other words – the strength of the VF is its maneuverability, not its capabilities to ‘stand there and take it like a man’ (which it actually doesn’t have.) Therefore – it is highly recommended that players use a good proportion of their actions as dodges (unless if they are deliberately being macho and ‘taking it like a man.’)

It will be assumed that characters automatically attempt to roll with impact. (Note that this defensive move doesn’t always reduce the damage of the attack – it is entirely dependant on the nature of the impact.)

Parrying with a shield is also an optional automatic defensive move that must be requested.

WARNING: PLAY DEFENSIVELY. VFs are NOT tanks and they are quite fragile machines.

POSTING

GM's Advice

1. Take notes. No seriously. Not to pick on Nightlance, but he did forget what mode his VF was in. A simple note updated once a week would’ve saved him from that embarrassment.
2. Never assume. Example: the GM has posted information on what is East of the base camp, not West. Alexander is in a coma but Lecavalier only has a nose bleed. Specific details on HP, SDC, etc. are in the loadout and status page. (How many of you checked that after the last GM update?) If you can’t find the information, post a question FIRST, not a character post.
3. If a player’s post is in conflict with the GM’s post, go with the GM’s post.
4. Be up to date on the FAQ, rules, regulations and other details.

Posting Expectations

Play by post is a unique way of RPGing. To best portray one’s PC’s actions, the following illustrative guidelines are being presented:

Generally posts¹ are composed of two parts:

a) prose description

b) action summary

The prose description is where one gets to show their imagination and creativity. One isn’t expected to be John Grisham or technically savant like Tom Clancy (of course, the more the better.) What’s expected is the simplest statement to summarize one’s intended actions.

Examples:

Perform routine check and start-up procedures of the VF.

Type destination xxx,yyy,zzz into the auto-pilot and prepare for reentry.

Of course, one can embellish the simplest statements as much as they can.

Naming Other Characters (Player and NPC)

Unless if it is a social occasion and your characters know each other personally, use the last name to refer to each other. For one, its proper respectful military procedure, and two: it makes the GMs life easier. Follow the naming convention that the GM uses and you’ll not only get GM posts faster, but they will be better (no time and energy being wasted tracking down who is who.)

Action Write-Ups

All that is really necessary is a brief write-up of the overall intended action (however, this must be written in a way where the intended action is clearly understood.)

Example:

i (Character) walks around VF doing routine pre-flight check.

ii (character) looks at information displayed on the MFDs of the cockpit.

Both of these are both vague but describing the intended action quite well.

Generally, I am fairly relaxed – but things that don’t follow common sense and/or are written unclearly will cause unexpected things to occur.

Action Summary

It should be as concise a summation of the prose description as possible.

Example: 1 Dodge, 2 Search orders database, 3 active auto-pilot, 4 dodge, 5 prepare for reentry, 6+ pray.

The action summary isn’t always needed. However, when used, one must keep in mind the amount of time it takes to do a task.²

When in doubt about missing key info to make one’s post, ask in the OOC thread.³ Do not ‘post first, ask questions later.’ The GM should have an answer within 24 hours. If there isn’t an answer before the next scheduled GM update, the character will be skipped. However, this is the one (of two times) that the character will be safe from harm and keep up with the group. (The other time is when the player has a preannounced leave of absence.)

Note that unless otherwise stated, characters will continue moving as the player last indicated. At the speeds that VFs fly at, this may mean that the opponents may be in the range of a VF’s weapons for only a fraction of a melee round. Of course, characters will not drive into the ground UNLESS if the GM gave advance warning that the player(s) must post a change of direction. However, in all cases, the flight will change from a dive into the ground to level flight OVER the terrain, and NOT ducking around behind cover.

Lastly, the more effort put into the plan behind one’s character’s actions, the more likely they are going to succeed. This doesn’t mean that a player must be a “John Grisham” class prose writer. This means using the tools that the character has and the terrain that the character is in to creatively overcome the obstacles that crop up in a game.

This is, of course, governed by a) anime logic, b) common sense and c) the abilities of the character in question. Example: A 1st level, Hand to Hand: Basic trained character is NOT going to be able to successfully do a spinning leap kick in their VF-19 to knock the gun pod out of their opponents hand. However, the same character could kick the dust on the ground over the enemy’s visual sensors and cause enough confusion and distraction to roll to one side and then spray the opponent with gunfire.*

Why won’t it work? In the 1st example, as the player leaps up into the air, the opponent shoots him (probably in the back, as the player is spinning around) OR the opponent moves out of the way and shoots the character (who has probably fallen to the ground.) In the 2nd example, the enemy shoots through the dust at where the player ‘was’. The opponent then spends an action switching sensors to reacquire the player. The player shoots the opponent before the opponent can mount a counterattack. If the opponent opts to dodge, then the player can either follow up with another burst or start moving (and dodging) to get behind cover (by now the dust should have settled back to the ground.)

¹ A post is what a player INTENDS to do with the PC. The GM provides the actual events that occurred during a turn in the game.

² Example: 1 record 2 second message 2 encode message, align laser array and transmit. Note that using the radio usually takes one action to set-up the frequency, scrambling, etc. Thereafter it is 1 action per x-seconds of talking time. Laser communication is ALWAYS 1 action per x-seconds of talking time +1 action to transmit.

³ The GM is human. Details may be missed or inadequately explained.

* The 1st action plan description takes 2 actions. The 2nd takes 3 actions. 1st action plan: 1 jump/spin, 2 hit target/hand. 2nd action plan: 1 kick dust, 2 roll out of the way/dodge, 3 spray opponent with gunfire.

What’s A Melee Action?

The basic rule of thumb is to take 15 seconds and divide by the number of actions a character has. (Thus, 7 actions equates to about 2 seconds per action.) What can be done in that length of time should constitute an action. However, the exact time a given action takes is rather nebulous. Once could say that the action of firing a gun actually is the following actions: thinking about shooting the target, aiming at the target, firing at the target and recoiling from the gun shot.

Therefore, some actions may be lumped together. For example: activating a PPB or Active Stealth; activating a radio, changing (or aligning) the frequency and transmitting a short spoken message; and so on could be feasibly be lumped together and constitutes ‘1 action.’

However, unrelated activities should not be lumped together. For example: walking and/or changing ones facing could be lumped together, but walking and checking the radar should not be lumped together.

Lastly, always keep in mind that unless otherwise stated the character or the vehicle in question will continue moving along the same vector at the same velocity (or rate of acceleration) as last indicated. The adverse effect of this is that a vehicle at high speed will probably only be in range of it’s target during a portion of a melee round and will probably end up moving way out of range if the player doesn’t take action to change that rate of movement. Note: the GM won’t have characters flying into hills, canyons or the ground unless if fair warning has been given. However, if the player doesn’t post explicitly what direction, speed, heading, weapon used, target fired at or action specifically being performed, the GM will creatively interpret the intended action and the result probably won’t be what the player intended.

POSTING TACTICS

Combined Actions

They are possible in the following situations:

• fire a single/short burst flare/chaff/other and move or dodge is ok.
• dodge and move/change direction
• tilt dodge (a variation on the auto-dodge; but with no bonuses to dodge) with move/change of direction/facing

Passive Stealthy

Passive stealth is effective depending on the angle that the radar beam approaches from. For example, from the front, rear or sides, the F-117 is largely invisible (not completely, but largely.) HOWEVER, from the top or bottom (and probably a lot more angles,) all passive stealth airframes are just as radar reflective as all other non-passive stealth aircraft. In addition, passive stealth has a reduced effectiveness when an aircraft opens one of its weapon bays to launch a missile.

Active Stealthy

Active Stealth affects radar ONLY.

Active stealth uses an energy field to bend/absorb radar - which is different from radar jamming (which tends to tell users of radar that something is out there, just not exactly where.) Active stealth is not infallible. It creates a hole in the radar returns. At a distance or in space, that ‘hole’ in the return is virtually invisible. However, at close range (normal background noise disappears) or when the user is travelling in front of another object that’s within the effective radar range, the ‘hole’ shows up (for sensor operators that make successful die rolls, of course!)

Active stealth is a feature that can enhance mission success IF it is used properly.

There is a chance, due to the emitted energy field nature of active stealthy, sensor operators may interpret it as a spatial disturbance. In this situation, the target *may* move to avoid the active stealthy equipped vehicle, but doesn’t consider it to be a threat due to enemy attack.

Tactics of stealth

Both Active and Passive Stealth have unique advantages that they bring to the vehicle that is equipped with them. However, like all features on a vehicle, they are more effective when used in certain ways and less effective when used in other ways.

The F-117 and B-2 are never employed during daylight hours so the dark coloured vehicles cannot be seen at a distance during a clear blue day. In addition, they never ever fly over, beside or anywhere near radar sites - they fly kilometres away. The reason: defense network in a given area has holes (especially true the larger the area) - either due to malfunction, lackluster sensor operator attention spans or simply large spacing between the sensor arrays. Modern stealth aircraft monopolize on those holes to breach an air defense network. In addition - military tactic planners actually state that stealthy aircraft do not negate radar detection capabilities - they simply decrease the effective detection range of radar. Tactically it means that the holes in a defense network are simply larger for a stealthy aircraft. Stealthy vehicles use this to their advantage by avoiding flying directly over or near places that could detect them and alert aerial defense networks.

Successful users of the tactics of stealth use the tactic of avoidance; meaning that they use every feature of the battlefield to their advantage. Whether that be distance (radar being less effective, especially against stealthy airframes at range,) terrain (mountain ranges, forest and flying nape of the Earth all are tactics that successfully avoid radar,) light conditions (vehicles are far more visible in daylight,) the aforementioned dark colouration and holes in air defense networks and so on.

This concept may be hard to grasp, so I will illustrate it with the traditional master of stealth: the Ninja. The tactics of the ninja are exactly the same as stealthy aircraft: avoid detection, move where the opponent either cannot detect or routinely examine/patrol, precisely strike the target and then quickly retreat via the same tactics used during the approach.

The ninja employs shadows, trees, eaves and rafters of buildings and even furniture to accomplish the ninja’s objective of stealthily approaching and attacking its target. If the black garbed ninja were to run across an open field in broad daylight, the ninja will be spotted with ease and eliminated long before the ninja becomes a threat. However, if the ninja uses the tactics of stealth, secrecy and prowls successfully, they will lethally strike from the shadows and successfully retreat before their target’s defenses can be raised and become effective.

There is no difference between an active or passive stealth equipped VF and the tactics of a ninja. Remember, virtually all of the time it is a far greater success to sneak into an opponents fortifications, eliminate the one mission objective that defeats the enemy and make your escape, than it is wading through a gazillion peons, each of them of equal power to you.

Emissions control is very important to remaining stealthy. Basically, if the player uses the radio, has their active radar on, and/or uses IR, they’ve effectively decided to light themselves up like a Christmas Tree in a dark room.

When sensors are used in active scanning mode the sensors have 200% greater range, but the user will stand out like a sore thumb on enemy targeting sensors (+1 to strike for anyone attacking them.)

In an atmosphere, speeds below mach one are recommended, as higher speeds causes friction that creates a detectable heat source (the skin of the aerospace vehicle) and a detectable wake.

Stealth Modifiers

The following modifies the sensor operator's die-rolls for detection, with positive and/or negative modifiers for in-game effects.

Game Mechanics: the following is applicable only as long as the user of active stealthy employs the tactics of stealth.

Global modifiers to detect VF sized users of active stealthy:

Doppler Radar

-25% strong winds

-50% storm force winds

-75% hurricane/typhoon force winds

Sniper attacks (impossible with weapons that leave smoke or a contrail back to the firing unit.)

1 ’free’ attack. Once the enemy knows that a sniper is active in the area, this is no longer applicable.

+25% per attack (successful or not.) Effect is cumulative.

-25% per melee round (until returned to pre-attack modifier conditions) if the vehicle is moving while maintaining the tactics of stealth.

Modifications remain unchanged if the sniper doesn’t attack or movement. (Ballistics calculations back to the sniper’s firing position.)

Passive Stealthy (VF-17):

Base modifier (flying with the stealthiest portions towards the search radar): -80%¹

Base modifier (flying with the medium stealthiest portions towards the search radar): -65%¹

Base modifier (flying with the least stealthiest portions towards the search radar): -50%¹

Opening concealed weapons bay: +20%

Flying nap of the Earth: read sensor instruments at 2%¹

Flying behind cover at low speeds: read sensory instruments at 0%²

Flying above Mach 1: +10%

Flying above Mach 2: +20%

Broadcasting on the radio – micro to short duration: +35%

Broadcasting on the radio – medium duration: +70%

Broadcasting on the radio – long duration to constant: read sensory instruments at 98%³

Minor damage to airframe: +15%

Medium damage to airframe: +30%*

Major damage to airframe: +45%**

Airframes designed for active stealth (YF-22, VF-23 and VaB-02):

Base modifier: -60%¹

Flying nap of the Earth: read sensor instruments at 2%¹

Flying behind cover at low speeds: read sensory instruments at 0%²

Flying above Mach 1: +10%

Flying above Mach 2: +20%

Broadcasting on the radio – micro to short duration: +35%

Broadcasting on the radio – medium duration: +70%

Broadcasting on the radio – long duration to constant: read sensory instruments at 98%³

Minor damage to airframe: +15%

Medium damage to airframe: +30%*

Major damage to airframe: +45%**

Airframes not originally designed to incorporate active stealth (all other VFs – inclusive of the VF-19)

Base modifier: -50%¹

flying nap of the Earth: read sensor instruments at 2%¹

Flying behind cover at low speeds: read sensory instruments at 0%²

Flying above Mach 1: +10%

Flying above Mach 2: +20%

Broadcasting on the radio – micro to short duration: +40%

Broadcasting on the radio – medium duration: +80%

Broadcasting on the radio – long duration to constant: read sensory instruments at 98%³

Minor damage to airframe: +20%

Medium damage to airframe: +40%*

Major damage to airframe: +60%**

Notes: In ALL situations, the modifier is either negative or the normal read sensory instruments skill level – unless if the ‘read sensory skill at’ is listed.

¹ Maximum modifier always leaves a 2% chance of detection.

² No chance to detect.

³ There’s a chance the sensor operator could be a complete twit.

* 30% chance of active stealth failure. Roll again in 1D10 minutes or after every subsequent hit.

** 60% chance of active stealth failure. Roll again in 1D4 minutes or after every subsequent hit

Does the active stealth create an electromagnetic field?

Yes, however not every vehicle has the capabilities to detect the field.

Does active stealth erase the gravitational and magnetic fields that a VF creates?

No. In fact, it may increase the ambient magnetic field a VF creates. These fields are much easier to detect in deep space where the background ‘noise’ of other spatial objects is minimal/

Does active stealth hide or conceal the stream of particles released by the engines?

No. In an atmosphere, these are normally undetectable (beyond heat and some potentially unique radiation emitted from a VF’s thermonuclear engines.) In deep space, those streams of particles could forseeably used to track a vehicle like a bloodhound dog. However, the ‘scent’ won’t remain very long due to solar winds.

Is the active stealth energy field going to appear as a spatial disturbance?

Possibly – it depends on the training and success rate of the sensor operators in question. If yes, there is a large chance that the enemy will flee the approaching ‘spatial disturbance’ without realizing it’s true nature.

Communications and Special Vehicle Abilities

Sensors

Beyond the detection capabilities of the sensor concerned, all sensors can be grouped into two categories: active and passive. Passive relies on noticeable physical effects being by the object emitted (or changes in the environment surrounding the object). Active relies on emitting something (usually a form of radiation: radio, light, infrared, sound (in the case of sonar,) etc.) and what bounces back (or is reflected) off of the object is used to track the object.

In all cases, active sensors will be detectable by one’s opponents. Passive sensors will not be detected.

The scale (size) or power of the sensor makes no difference beyond additional range or more finely tuned detection abilities, as all sensors of the same type are based on the same physics. For example: a ground based orbital search radar and a VF mounted radar operate on the same underlying physics. The prime difference is range (in active searches, the power on the ground based radar array is infinitely higher then that available on a VF) and received detail (again, the ground based radar has a larger receiving antenna that receives a greater variety of minute details. In addition, the radar array has been designed for that purpose whereas a VF’s combat radar is designed for fast, quick scans.)

Radar

Radar is almost always directional. In addition, the further a target is away, the longer it takes to receive the ‘bounced’ back radar beam (not to mention that if the enemy is moving, they are probably not in that exact position by the time the returned radar signal has been processed and displayed.) Using radar WILL alert others to your EXACT location (thus being able to fire a HARM type missile right at you.) Radar is only useful for line-of-sight searches (basically, if one is being a hill, in trees, amongst buildings, etc. radar cannot spot you. (But one’s radio broadcasts could still be heard.)

If support (AWACS, ELINT Seeker, Capital Ship, Funny Chinese, etc.) is available, it is recommended that players use it for radar targeting information. Or players could have 1 VF flying with the radar on (and dodging incoming fire) with one or two escorts to defend it. The radar using VF then broadcasts tactical data to the other VFs in the squad.

Active Standard Radar (Search, Air Combat, Aircraft/Ship Control tower, etc.) is based off of sending radio waves at a certain frequency out (and this is invariably limited to a small arc only.) The radar receiver 'listens' for any returns at the same frequency that have bounced off of a solid object (airplane, ship, mountain, etc..) Passive radar merely listens for radar waves without emitting any of its own.

Therefore, jet fighters only detect solid stuff in the sky, and not the sky itself. When aimed at the ground, the search radar will detect what is moving between the ground and the radar array. However, there are too many returns from the ground that clutters the radar screen. This ground clutter provides a cover that pilots monopolize on by flying nap of the Earth – effectively disappearing in the ground clutter.

Doppler radar, on the other hand, is based on the principle of Doppler shift. In that the radar can only detects something IF it changes position. The detection is calculating by the shifting pattern of the return radar. This kind of detection is very effective when the object is moving towards or away from the radar. (Doppler radar used to detect weather does not detect the air per se, but reflects off of the water droplets in the air – specifically clouds. The cloud movements are measured and deduction are made on the wind conditions. Using Doppler radar, one could conceivably detect a stealthy aircraft via it's wake when it travels through clouds - not detecting the actual vehicle itself! (Note that no standard combat jet fighter is equipped with Doppler radar. This type of radar is usually found on AWACS type aerospace vehicles.)

Detecting Stealthy Vehicles with Radar Tactic

If a sensor unit (AWACS equipped VF) works in tandem with offensive units, they will have a much greater success rate and higher survival rate when facing stealthy aerospace vehicles. The AWACS equipped unit emits white noise. The offensive units passively monitor the white noise and look for any holes or disruptions in that white noise. Missiles or interceptor units are used against those ‘irregularities.’ (In this case, the chance of the interceptor units being sent to their death to chase a wormhole or other natural phenomena is relatively low – however, they could still end up chasing asteroids, other space junk and dark matter.)

ECM

ECM (Electronic Counter Measures) will disrupt enemy radar (possibly radio too - if the right frequency is matched.) However ECM (and the related ECCM) tends to inform one’s opponents what area one is in. (When a big chunk of the radar return gets distorted, one knows roughly where the ECM emitting craft is and the most likely place the enemy forces will be.)

Radome

Non-standard on VFs – applies only when a Radome equipped FAST pack is mounted on the VF. The radome contains electromagnetic and visual spectrum sensors, in addition to standard search radar. The electromagnetic sensors could be used for detecting spatial disturbances in the immediate area; such as incoming or outgoing spacefolds and/or cloaked ships (+25% chance of detecting a ship or vehicle using active stealth).

How to do a Laser Communication

Does your PC have the skill Radio: Basic? Without it, your PC will be clueless.

To do a laser communication, one needs to: activate the equipments, speak into the microphone to transcribe a messageº, encode the message (any player with radio: basic can do this,) align the laser transmission antenna to the recipients receiving array,¹ and then transmit the encoded information in a (short duration) burst. In general, this will cost three actions. However, in level flight it can be whittled down to two. In level flight where the two vehicles are in a conversation, it only counts as one action. (The action costs only applies during critical situations.)

Receiving is the opposite: receive the encoded burst of information, decode the information, play the transmission (or view the received materials.) In general, this costs one action.

Note: for laser communications to be used successfully in the game, all of the above must be written in the description of the actions. Also, the sender and receiver must be able to visually see each other with nothing disrupting their view of each other for this type of communication to work.

º A message could be anything from video, maps to text entered in a keypad.

¹ Technically this should be a fairly difficult task for a moving VF fighter aiming at another moving VF fighter’s receiver. However, for ease of game play we’ll claim this to be an easy task to complete.

Listening in a VF

A flying VF (any mode) won’t be able to pick-up sounds without a sensor check (1 action.) The prime reason is that the roar of the engines and air (wind) passing over the vehicle’s microphones produce sound that needs to be overcome. (Not to mention that above certain speeds, the VF may be moving faster then the speed of sound.)

Note that without these factors (engine, wind noise, etc.), listening doesn't count as a sensor check/action.

Can We Send Messages To Each Other's Fighters During A Spacefold?

To be honest, there is nothing in Macross giving evidence if it is or is not possible.

In the Apeman007 games, the way that I understand a space fold is that the vehicle creates an energy field around it (fold field) and uses that to retain the ‘rules of our reality’ when the vehicle enters hyperspace (a place with different rules of physics allowing for super high speeds.)

Based on that, I feel that if all vehicles are part of the same space fold, then they can communicate with each other. However, anything that is not included in that ‘space fold field’ cannot be communicated with.¹

¹ There is the possibility of ‘hyperspace communicators’ (aka: ‘space fold communicators’, akin to ‘subspace communications’ in Star Trek,) and some ships in Macross have them. (There is a pair of towers in the New Edwards base in Macross Plus that look suspiciously like a ‘hyperspace communications’ array.) However, this technology is not on any VF and, in my speculation, of rather large size (thus the smallest thing it is mounted on is a spaceship.)

Reentry and Blast Shields

The following is an application of real science on the fictional elements that compose a VF fighter.

The Mercury, Apollo and Soyuz space capsules; the Space Shuttle and other modern era reentry capable vehicles all have windows without blast covers. Why don’t they melt or get destroyed when the vehicle is reentering the Earth’s atmosphere? Because they are not being directly contacted by the superheated air that is passing around the vehicle during reentry. All of the aforementioned vehicles have their underside facing in the direction that they are travelling with the windows and view ports facing the opposite way. The superheated air passes near the view ports and heats them, but the superheated air doesn’t directly contact the view port.º The superheated air only contacts the blast shield, which always composes the entire surface area of the side of the vehicle facing its direction of travel during reentry.

In the Macross TV series, (episode 31 if I’m not mistaken, same episode where the Zentraedi destroy the Earth) Hikaru Ichijo reenters the Earth’s atmosphere. He must activate the blast shield over the cockpit to protect the canopy and himself from the heat effects of reentry.

In Macross Plus, Isamu does make reentry, but during the initial (and perhaps most dangerous) phase of reentry, his cockpit is positioned away from his direction of travel. The underbelly of his VF gets superheated, but the cockpit does not. (I would go so far as to state that the Macross Plus portrayal of reentry is anime physics at work.³ There were no effects of heat on the pilots and the wings neither melted nor were ripped off by the air that the VF was bluntly plunging through.)

Leaving the blast shield open and facing in a way that the cockpit (or a portion of it) is hitting ‘virgin air’¹ will cause intense air friction that will cause the material in the canopy to melt.²

The recommended entry profile for a VF reentering an atmosphere is belly first with the cockpit facing the opposite angle. The cockpit blast shield lowered over the cockpit and the wings folded as close to the body as possible. Macross Plus suggests that if a cockpit is aimed away from the direction of travel (not being directly touched by ‘virgin air’,) then a VF can safely do reentry. However, this GMs call is that the cockpit will become hot to the point that the pilot may suffer from heat sickness. Also, increasing the angle of reentry increases the amount of heat generated from air friction exponentially. This GM considers any angle over 45º to do that. (Technically, any angle less then 15º (or is it 10?) will cause a reentering vehicle to skip across the atmosphere and back into orbit (or beyond.) ((Relax: the angle of reentry isn’t something that is that important to the game. Just a simple note if it’s in the ‘safe zone’ or in the ‘risky zone’ is sufficient. Of course, the more details, the better.)

ºThis is akin to when the original RX-079 Gundam performed reentry – it’s shield was melted to the point of destruction. However, the Gundam, having hidden itself behind the shield, merely had to activate all it’s cooling systems to keep the pilot from succumbing to the heat.

¹ That is to say, air that hasn’t been touched by any part of the vehicle reentering an atmosphere. Example: the belly of the space shuttle. Not the cockpit windows, which are in the ‘shadow’ of the belly and only occasionally touched by superheated air as the air buffets around the vehicle.

² This is either due to the lower melting point the material in the canopy has compared to the metallic material used in the construction of the rest of a reentry capable vehicle OR that the material in a blast shield has a better heat dissipation ability (heat sinks) then the material in a canopy has.

³ Evidence of this is the way that the broken bits of satellite ‘burned up.’ Anyone who watched the space shuttle burn up on reentry knows that what is seen in Macross Plus is a rather subdued portrayal of reentry. (However, to credit the animators, sticking to only red and not having all the objects constantly moving and reducing in size allows for an easier understanding of the chaos that such an event really is.) I draw the line with Guld’s hiding out in a large piece of satellite – that object should have been flipping on all 3 axis, continuing to break apart and continuing to burn up. Remember – the only remaining part(s) to survive when an Asteroid the size of a two storey house enters Earth atmosphere, is no greater in size then an average watermelon.

DEFENSIVE ACTIONS

Unless otherwise indicated, all attacks (in the most recent GM post) will hit either concurrently or the very next action in the melee timeline. Therefore, if a player doesn’t mention about taking defensive actions, they run an extremely high risk of letting the attack hit.

For further details, review the Palladium books mecha combat rules.

Modification to interpretation to existing dodge bonus

Higher dodge bonuses are due to higher speeds more so then the actual mode that a vehicle may be in.

• Battroid dodge bonus = 0 to ½ of Mach 1. (This covers walking, running and the average speeds that battroids, GERWALKs and jets fly at.)
• GERWALK dodge bonus = ½ of Mach 1 to Mach 1.5. (This covers fast battroid and GERWALK flying speeds and the ‘military power’ for VFs.)
• Jet dodge bonus = over Mach 1.5. (High jet speeds and GERWALK and Battroid high speed flight in space.)

Shooting Missiles

Existing game rules:

• 1 or 2 missiles that successfully hit a volley (4 or more missiles) has a 70 or 75% chance of the other missiles in the volley self-destructing due to fratricide. Shooting down missiles with a gun pod or lasers provides a 35% chance of fratricide.

I am bumping those to:

• Lasers: 35%
• Gun pod Single shot: 50% of fratricide
• Gun pod Short burst (spray): hits 1D10 missiles; 55% of fratricide per hit.
• Gun pod Short burst @ 1 missile: 60% of fratricide.
• Gun pod Long burst (spray): hits 1D20 missiles. 65% of fratricide per hit.
• Gun pod Long burst @ 1 missile: waste of ammunition.
• Missiles: if in the blast radius of the warhead, does 1/2 damage.

Note however that all laser weapons usually fire only a single shot that will hit only one missile. Gun pods have a great chance of hitting multiple missiles in a single burst (I’m toying with the idea of having a long burst grant a higher chance of fratricide then a short burst due to the chance of more metal hitting more missiles.) Missiles (especially fragmentation missiles) have the highest chance of fratricide due to their unique capability of hitting without hitting (their proximity fuse.))

In all cases, firing 10 missiles is a total WASTE of valuable and finite ammo. 1 missile (for small volleys) or two (for larger volleys) is sufficient.

Dodging Missile Volleys

It happens in the anime – thus, it can happen here. Note that there is a negative modifier to the dodge roll per every 4 missiles over the first 4. Chaff/flares/other do provide a counter to this negative modifier… however, there are times when one should probably attack the missiles or dive for cover and hope for the best.

Keeping missiles on the tail of one’s VF is possible, only IF the missile(s) are of the ‘smart’ variety. The average missile in Macross (the dogfight missile) is incapable of trailing their target beyond their first attempt to strike. If they miss, then, in game terms, their threat is nullified.

Chaff, Flares and Squibs

Every VF has combined chaff, flare and squib dispensers mounted on them that are useable in all modes. When used, they fire off an automatic burst of 6 chaff, flares and/or squibs to counter any incoming missiles. One usage of chaff, flares or squibs fires off 6 of the type used automatically. They grant a +3 to Dodge vs. missiles.

• Chaff are anti-radar seeking missiles.
• Flares are anti-heat seeking missiles.
• Squibs create an ECM field. At present, they aren’t used in the Apeman007 games.

Pin Point Barriers (PPB) and You

1. Anything other then keeping the PPB over a stationary point on the mecha will cost an action. If one wants to attempt to parry something, it’s best to keep the PPB over one of the arms or legs, and use that appendage to attempt the parry.
2. There has been unconfirmed reports regarding the number of PPBs a VF has. This GM is opting for what’s easiest: a single disc.
3. The PPB is only available in GERWALK and Battroid modes. ("Fixed Howard PBS-03F fighter-carried pin-point barrier system for use in GERWALK and Battroid modes." Macross Compendium. The word fixed also implies that they are limited to one or at most, a few areas: such as shield and fists only. Though, this is not something that the GM is opting to strictly stick to, at the time of writing.)

OFFENSIVE ACTIONS

Weapons in a VF

• Beam weapons are considered to always be charged and/or charging.
• All weapons are considered to be hot (armed/active) as the process of making them hot is negligible in terms of actions required.
• The REB-23s (of the VF-19) are considered to be fire-link-able. Again, the action ‘cost’ to do that is considered to be negligible.

There is an important note (I believe it’s on the same thread as the Death Angels for Dummies) that gives some specifics about the capabilities of VFs. It is in your best interest to review that.

In addition to paying attention to ranges, speeds, weapon performance, keep in mind that all weapons are considered to be: if you can’t see/sense¹ it, you can’t hit it if you shoot at it.

¹ By sense, I mean – showing up on sensors, and not some form of ESP.

Gun Pods

At the time of writing, the stats for the VF-19 haven’t been updated. However, it is safe to presume that a short burst/spray = 10 r, a long burst/spray = 25 r and anything longer = whatever the player wishes to write down, however multiples of 10 are preferred. At this time, only bursts/sprays consisting of over 100 rounds will be considered to take more then a single action. (The GM feels that the ROF of the gun pod is equivalent to 1800 r/min. Which means that the gun pod can be emptied in 3 melee rounds; or 600 rounds per melee round. The figure of 100 is given because it is perceived that an action requires aiming, possibly leading the target, depressing the trigger and possibly more.

FAST Packs

FAST packs are generally written per single unit. Therefore, it is safe to say that two FAST packs of the same kind can be fire linked. For example, the NP-BP-19 FAST packs grant a total of 60 missiles and a rate of fire (ROF) of 1 to 6 missiles. Note that in this arrangement, if one FAST pack is destroyed, malfunctions, rendered useless from battle damage or is ejected, the details revert to a single units details. In addition, the flight characteristics of the vehicle may be sufficiently disrupted so as to force either a reduction in speed or the ejection of the remaining FAST pack. As for missile loads, the GM will endeavor to list the stats reflecting their individual loads, so that there is no argument when the use of a FAST pack is lost.

MISCELLANEOUS

Anti-UN

There is no one, single large collective Anti-UN group. Though various smaller groups may band together and work towards a common goal, the vast majority of Anti-UN are independent from each other. Their goals, motivations, personnel, training and available equipment vary from group to group.

Players should note that just because a group is deemed to be Anti-UN, they shouldn’t assume that the group is destruction and fighting bent terrorists whose goal is the complete destruction of the UNG. The vast majority of the Anti-UN groups are merely political organizations opposed to the UNG and wish the UNG to be more democratic and allow their opposing views into the government.

CASH and SPENDING

Starting Savings for a New Pilot Officer: 1D6x1000 Credits.

Pay Scale for 'Experienced' Officers:

1D6x1000 (x1 grades 0-1 to 0-3 & Enlisted). 
1D6x1000 (x5 grades 0-4 to 0-6). 
1D6x1000 (x10 grades 0-7 to 0-10). 

The simple records & rules:

• If you wrote your character as being super rich. Consider this your spending money. After all you can't stay rich if you spend it like water.
• Most characters already have personal items like clothes, toiletries, etc..
• Each month your character will get more money based on their salary. 50% of your character's salary automatically goes to basic character expenses and taxes. This includes going out to eating at a cheap places, round of beer at the local pub, new underwear, etc..

Note: Originally created by JJ. Kudos and credit to him.

Military Codes

AR-15.6 Filed Charges with two levels. Level 1 is at the company/squadron level and is handled by the squadron commander. Level 2 is at the battlion level, were it's handled by CAG, or battalion commander and brought before a tribunal or military court. Further (real life) information is available here: Codes in PDF format

What do all the prefixes in front of the game threads mean?

M = Mission

I = Intermission/Intermediate Stage

P = Pre-mission/Stage/ /Preamble

Ss = Side Story

Zentraedi

Historically, players in Macross games have consider them as uneducated, clueless cannon fodder troops. This myth stems from an emphasis in the original series on the comedic side of Zentraedi life and subsequent RPG adaptations from downplaying and undercutting the Zentraedi abilities.

In the Apeman007 games, Zentraedi warriors are elite, well trained and specialized warriors. The vast majority of Zentraedi do not have mechanical abilities. However, they are assumed to have fortification building skills and should be considered just as lethal in or out of their battlepods.

Players are warned to fear Zentraedi opponents that have comparable numbers to the amount of players in combat.