New Mecha - The REF Zentraedi Heavy Assault Pod (Z-4)

By: Stanley Bundy

Post-Rifter Update

When I sent in this mecha to Palladium for publication, I modified a version of the file I had on computer, and sent it in. Unfortunately, I failed to notice at the time that it was an older version of the file, not the most up-to-date one, that I had submitted. The following is an update to the Rifter version, based on Breaux's art and the revised file.

The Z-4 Zentraedi Officer's Heavy Assault Battle Pod

1. What's a VF-052-F? - The "F" Designation is that from Genesis Climber Mospeada for the specific model of Battler Cyclone (VR-052) used by Bernard. Of course, in the animation, the VR-052 (in either variant - Rand's was the "T" model) did not have chest missile launchers. Their appearance in the RPG with them is the direct result of two scenes in the TV episodes (where the VR-041 had its launchers open) where Lancer was shown, but was given dialogue being spoken by Scott. Of course, there's no reason why you can't create other VF-052 models with the launchers to be the RPG's models (I call them the R & S models, for Rand and Scott). Any Cyclone model can be used, it is just that it will be a VR-052-F model unless requested otherwise by the pilot.

2. How does the extra armor work? - Simply, when being fired on from the front in Battloid (or from underneath in the other two modes), there is an extra layer of armor (100 M.D.C. worth) that must be penetrated to reach the standard M.D.C. for the main body.

3. That mecha is HUGE! Shouldn't it be smaller, or have much more armor? - I designed it purposefully to be the same size in Guardian as the old-style Officer's Pod. Of course, while its legs are bigger and better armored than the original (in fact, everything on the Z4 is much better armored on it than its counterpart on the OBP), it was purposefully down-armored in comparison to REF mecha because of the fears concerning possible Zentraedi duplicity. (anyone else catch the fact in Sentinels that Jack Baker's simulator session was against REF pods?) While this design wasn't built until after those fears were dismissed, it was designed before then, and the armor level reflects this, as there wasn't time to test out the mecha with better (probably heavier) armor loads. Had the REF fleet survived past the events at Reflex Point, the mecha probably would have seen 25-60% armor increases for its locations (and if still made on Tyrol or other REF bases, it would have those increases by 2040).

   If you still think the mecha is too big, try the following dimensions instead, but disregard the potential for armor increase. This puts it in line with RDF Destroids.

   Height(feet) - Battloid: 54, Guardian: 36, Hovertank: 16.
   Length(feet) - Battloid: 18, Guardian: 25, Hovertank: 30.
   Width - Battloid & Hovertank: 20 feet, Guardian: 24 feet.
   Weight: 28 tons fully loaded.
   

4. Why not a version for full-sized Zentraedi? - I considered this later, myself. The ABP-Z4 for Micronians (either size option) would remain unchanged. For The BIG Zentraedi, there would be the ABP-Z4G Glaug II. The differences would be as follows, and would still be the full, original size listed in the article:
   1. No Battloid Mode.
   2. Replace the underside additional armor with a light force field (same strength), as per the old-style Fighter Pod and Officer's Pod Armored Vehicle.
   3. Reduce weight (without pilot) by 10 tons, from different cockpit design (more empty space, and no need for the cockpit rotation function), though most of this weight will be made up by the weight of the pilot.

Weapon Systems Questions:

1. The Arm Lasers don't match the description. In fact they don't even face forward! - Well, one of the changes (for the better) Breaux made in the design, in bringing my rough sketches to life, was to make the shoulders near the head, and bigger, instead of being more toward the rear in Guardian mode. As a result, the arms face the wrong way in Vehicle Mode. However, Breaux appeared to compensate by putting the lasers into what appears to be sleeves that can be swung up or down, to allow fire at any angle down the arm's length. I addition to allowing the arm lasers to fire forward again, this also gave them additional defense capabilities. Use the revised description below.

   2. Tri-barrel Arm Pulse Lasers: These are based on those of the old Female Power Armor, but are more heavily constructed. They can be volleyed together in any mode, and have a special option to allow volleying with the nose lasers in Hovertank mode. To volley the arm and nose lasers requires a Weapon Systems roll at -30% before firing. A failed roll results in only one weapon system firing, but success means that the weapons will volley together until the arms are moved, a target in the arc of only one side's weapons is targeted, or the Z4 changes modes. As the lasers are mounted in hinged "sleeves", they have a 180 degree arc of fire, allowing their use in defending against missile attacks in Vehicle mode. While the lasers can be moved that way in the other modes, it is rare, only done when the weapons computer can't hit the target through arm movement alone.

2. Where are the Missile Launchers? - Breaux made them into vertical launch tubes near the root of the PBCs (the little circles seen there). This is in line with the original OBP launchers (the circles along the cockpit sides), it wasn't my intent. What I had intended was a pop-up launcher like the Beta's MM-40 missile launchers, in the same location.

3. That Gun Pod is WAY too big to be a GU-XX! - If you go the size reduction route mentioned above, that's no longer much of a problem. However, that's the biggest error that creeped in from me submitting the wrong verion of the file. Also, the Gun pod was originally intended to be stowed in-hand, not on the underside. Replace the entry for it as follows; this entry takes into account the new position for it in Vehicle Mode.

   5. GU-XXL 35mm Tri-barrel Gun Pod: The GU-XXL (the name started out as a joke, but stuck) is the standard Gun Pod of the Z4, though it can be used by Vindicators, RDF Veritechs, and RDF Gladiators on request. Effectively a scaled-up GU-XX, it has a twin (side by side) magazine feed. Each individual magazine slot can accept a standard GU-XX magazine. Alternately, a magazine specifically designed for the GU-XXL can be used, that has 4 times the capacity of a standard GU-XX magazine, and takes up both magazine slots. One GU-XXL is standard for a Z4, but two may be carried. Note that the Z4 can only use its gun pod in its fixed position, when in Vehicle Mode.

      Primary Purpose: Assault.
      Secondary Purpose: Anti-missile Defense.
      Range: 4000 feet.
      Mega-Damage(bursts): Short = 4D6, Medium = 1D4x10, Full Melee = 2D4x10.
      Rate of Fire: Varies by magazine type used. 1 Full Melee burst = 2 medium bursts = 4 short burst.
    Each GU-XX magazine holds 40 short bursts. The large GU-XXL magazine holds 160 short bursts.
   1 extra GU-XXL magazine is carried in the main body, and takes 2 actions to change.

I thank all of you people who bought and liked my article, and hope to produce more for Palladium, provided Harmony Gold will allow us to keep expanding original Robotech in the light of Robotech 3000.

Stan