ROBOTECH Reference Guide

by
Peter Walker, Senior Editor, Continuity, Contributing Writer
Pieter Thomassen, Senior Writer, Editor; and
Robert Morgenstern, Senior Web Designer, Writer, Research, Editor

Along with
Aubry Thonon, Contributing Writer Tim Wing, Contributing Writer, Artist
Neil Baumgardner, Consultant Jason Smith, Consultant, Contributing Writer, Graphic Artist
Matt Willis, Artist, Consultant Harvey Johnston, Artist, Consultant
Roland Thigpen, Consultant Anand Rao, Fanfic Writer

Reference Guide Notes and Bibliography
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This web site originated as entries from the glossaries of the fanfic Robotech: Objective Reflex Point, by Peter Walker and Anand Rao. The glossaries were composed by Pieter Thomassen and Pete Walker, with considerable input by Rob Morgenstern (especially on the auxiliary aircraft, ground vehicles, and Centaur tank), Aubry Thonon (especially on the timeline, and on the GMP hoverplatform), Egan Loo (on the Macross- and Mospeada-era mecha and ships) and by the observations and thoughts of many others including Jason Smith, Stephan Bennett (aka Pumukl), Neil Baumgardner, Roland Thigpen, Nathan Babcook, Stan Bundy, Mike Choi, Bjorn Palmquist, Alex Fauth, Ratinox, and Chris Meadows. As the glossaries expanded they became the Robotech Tech Files. Later, as we were adding essays to provide background material to help us define the Universe, we felt the name was no longer appropriate and changed it to the Robotech Reference Guide. In December of 1999, we added '2060 Edition' to the title to emphasize the time period we are writing these files from and to pre-empt any confusion if Robotech 3000 ever takes off....

We have tried to be as comprehensive and accurate as possible, but they should not be taken to be 'canon' within the Robotech universe - only the version of it in our fanfic.

These glossaries are drawn from a lot of sources, and each contributed to their contents with varying weight. Here's the pecking order:

  1. The TV show (that is the 85 aired episodes plus the Sentinels video) is given the absolute highest credence. The only times we deliberately contradict the show is when the show is internally inconsistent, contains miscellaneous errors made by second-tier animators, and portrays dramatic absurdities. Opening and closing credit sequences are not considered as canon; hence, no nose laser on the Alpha.
  2. The original Japanese source material is next. Where the show is silent about the details of a specific mecha or ship, the Japanese source material is used in so far as it doesn't contradict those plot elements that distinguish Robotech from the Japanese originals (for example, the mecha use protoculture powerplants, no matter what the Japanese source material says). Drawings are given more credence than written material, as the drawings represent what is seen in the footage most directly. In cases where the footage and the written Japanese sources conflict, a judgment call must be made. In general, the footage takes precedence.
  3. Carl Macek's notes and comments in Robotech Art 3 and elsewhere, and the Comico Graphic Novel, Genesis: Robotech (in which Macek had a hand) come after that. Mainly these sources are useful in making guess on the chronology and history of the Tirolians and Invid, which are not detailed in any footage, and on the nature of the Flower of Life and Protoculture. In addition, the Sentinels plotline is based on the Macek original from Robotech Art 3, and not from the McKinney novels.
  4. Common sense extrapolations are next in importance. There's a lot of grey area to play with in describing the Robotech mecha and their histories, so we fill in the holes, using our best judgment and knowledge of real science and technology. It has been our goal, however, not to fill in details that contradict the show, in letter or spirit.
  5. The Palladium Role-Playing Game is almost last. It is often in error with respect to the show, and frequently misreads the source material at its disposal.
  6. The novels and comics are last. As they tend to feed off each other and drift away from the show, they aren't too much use, considering that remaining completely consistent with the TV show as far as possible is our goal. The same goes for data printed on the American toys.

Bibliography:

Go to the Robotech Reference Guide Home Page.

Robotech (R) is the property of Harmony Gold, © 1985. The Robotech Role-Playing Game is the property of Palladium, Inc. This document is in no way intended to infringe upon their rights.

HTML by Robert Morgenstern (rmorgens@ieee.org)
Copyright © 1999, 1997, 1995 Robert Morgenstern, Pieter Thomassen, Peter Walker