---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The following material is an adaptation of mecha from MACROSS FLASHBACK 2012, an OAV sequel to the original Japanese MACROSS TV series (which became Robotech here in the U.S.) and the Macross Movie (1984). Please feel free to use, copy, and distribute it as you see fit. All I ask is that you give proper credit to me and do not claim that it is your own work. Comments and suggestions are welcome. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
VF-4 LIGHTNING III NEW VALKYRIE
(Version 2.2 - Last modified: 9/17/96)
RPG Stats by DAVE DEITRICH (deitrich@mcs.com) Background info provided by the MACROSS ONLINE COMPENDIUM
BACKGROUND
The VF-4 Lightning III was developed by Stonewell Bellcom in late 2009, and was promoted as the "next generation" Valkyrie for the UN Spacy by the company. The VF-4 was faster, more maneuverable, could generate more thrust than the standard VF-1 Valkyrie, and was armed with dual beam cannons in addition to the traditional GU-11 gun pods. Early models of the VF-4, designated VF-X-4 Prototypes, were produced on Earth for testing purposes in 2010, just as Space War One started to increase in magnitude. The VF-X-4 prototypes were heavily based on the VF-1 Valkyrie design; 35% of the VF-X-4's components were directly taken from the VF-1 Valkyrie, including the entire nose and forward fuselage section.
] Unfortunately, almost all of the initial VF-X-4s were destroyed along with Stonewell Bellcom during the Zentraedi attack on Earth during 2010. The design itself would have also died in the attack if it weren't for a team of Stonewell Bellcom technicians who were stationed on the SDF-1 Macross when the final attack came, working on maintenance upgrades for the Macross' VF-1 Valkyries. Rallying under Dr. H. Takachihoff, one of the original designers of the VF-1, the technicians refounded Stonewell Bellcom after the Macross landed on Earth and continued work on the VF-4. More VF-X-4s were constructed and tested by a number of UN Spacy pilots, including Skull Team leader Hikaru Ichijyo. In 2012 the final design for the VF-4 Lightning III was completed and mass production of the new fighter began.
The first VF-4 squadrons were issued to the Skull and Iron Chiefs Squadrons, which accompanied the SDF-2 Megaroad-01 on her colonization mission in late 2012. After the Megaroad left production of the VF-4s continued, and in 2020 the Lightning III officially replaced the VF-1 Valkyrie as the main tactical fighter of the UN Spacy. The VF-4 design was itself replaced in 2030 by the VF-11 Thunderbolt Valkyrie. A grand total of 8,245 VF-4s were produced for the UN Spacy between 2012 and 2030.
RPG STATS
Vehicle Type: VF-4 New Valkyrie Class: Tactical Variable Fighter Manufacturer: Stonewell Bellcom and Shinnakasu Industries Crew: One pilot wearing Tactical Life Support System
MDC BY LOCATION:
(1) Head 60 Hands (2) 50 each Arms/Beam Cannons (2) 100 each (2) Shoulders/Engine Nacelles (2) 200 each (2) Legs & Thrusters (2) 200 each (3) Main Body 300 Canard Forward Wings (2) 30 each Main Wings (2) 100 each Tails (2) 50 each Reinforced Pilot's Cockpit 150 GU-11 Gun Pod 100
NOTES:
1. Destroying the head of the Valkyrie will knock out the mecha's major sensor systems, including all of the optics systems (infrared, nightvision, thermal). Radar and communications will be unaffected. 2. Destroying the engine nacelle will severely damage the engines of the VF-4. Destruction of one nacelle will reduce maximum speeds by 40%; destruction of both nacelles will reduce speeds by 80%. Destruction of either leg/thruster will completely destroy the engine. If one thruster is destroyed reduce speed by 50%. If both are destroyed the mecha will lose power and crash. 3. Destruction of the main body will completely destroy the mecha.
SPEEDS:
FLYING IN AN ATMOSPHERE: Mach 3.02+ (2023 mph/3237 kmph) max speed at 10,000 meters or less above sea level. Mach 5.15+ (3451 mph/5221 kmph) max speed at 10,000-30,000 meters above sea level. The VF-4 is fully transatmospheric and can attain orbital velocity above an Earth-type planet under its own power. MAX ENGINE THRUST: 14,000 kg x2 from main engines.
STATISTICAL DATA:
HEIGHT: 45.5 ft (13.76 m) in soldier mode. 24.3 ft (7.34 m) in gerwalk mode. 12.3 ft (3.72 m) in fighter mode. WIDTH: 16.5 ft (5.00 m) in soldier mode. 47.1 ft (14.28 m) in gerwalk or fighter configuration (max wingspan). LENGTH: 14.8 ft (4.48 m) in soldier mode. 28.3 ft (8.58 m) in gerwalk mode. 49.2 ft (14.92 m) in fighter mode. WEIGHT: 13,950 kg
PHYSICAL STRENGTH: Equal to a P.S. of 50 CARGO: Small compartment behind pilot's seat for personal belongings. POWER PLANT: Two Shinnakasu/Pratt & Whitney/Rolls Royce FF-2011 thermonuclear turbine engines. Several Pratt & Whitney HMM-1A high-maneuverability vernier thrusters at key locations along the VF-4's hull for added mobility.
WEAPON SYSTEMS:
1. LARGE-CALIBER HIGH POWERED BEAM CANNONS: The main weapon of the VF-4 Lightning III is a pair of high-power beam cannons mounted on the engine nacelles of the aircraft. The cannons can be fired together or individually, and are fed directly from the power generated by the FF-2011 engines. The cannons are slightly adjustable and can be aimed to fire anywhere in a 30 degree arc in front of the aircraft. In gerwalk and soldier modes the beam cannons are mounted on the backs of the mecha's arms, and can be fired in any direction the arms are pointing.
o PRIMARY PURPOSE: Assault o SECONDARY PURPOSE: Anti-Aircraft o RANGE: 4000 feet (1200 m) o DAMAGE: 1D6x10 M.D. per blast o RATE OF FIRE: Equal to the pilot's combined number of attacks. Cannons may be fired separately or linked together (both blasts count as one attack. o PAYLOAD: Effectively Unlimited.
2. BODY/WING HARD POINTS: The VF-4 is also equipped with six fixed hard points for missile loads and other ordinance. One hardpoint is mounted on each wing of the aircraft and four are mounted under the main body. These hardpoints can be used to hold a variety of different ordinance types, including long or medium range missiles. One long range or 3 medium range missiles can be mounted per hardpoint. Usually long range missiles are used.
o LONG RANGE MISSILES + Primary Purpose: Heavy Assault + Secondary Purpose: Anti-Spacecraft + Missile Types: Any type of UN Spacy Long Range Missile can be used. + Range: Varies with missile type. + Damage: Varies with missile type. + Rate of Fire: One to six (all) missiles. + Payload: One per hardpoint; 6 maximum. o MEDIUM RANGE MISSILES + Primary Purpose: Assault + Secondary Purpose: Anti-Mecha + Missile Types: Any type of UN Spacy Medium Range Missile can be used. + Range: Varies with missile type. + Damage: Varies with missile type. + Rate of Fire: 1-3 missiles per hardpoint. + Payload: Three per hardpoint; up to 18 maximum.
3. GU-11 55mm MULTIPURPOSE GUN POD: For additional close-range combat capability, the VF-4 can be armed with one or two GU-11 gun pods, identical to the ones used by the original VF-1 Valkyries. However, the gun pods are mounted on hardpoints when not being held in the mecha's hands, and therefore the VF-4 cannot carry as many missiles as usual. One long-range or three medium-range missiles must be sacrificed for each gun pod carried (max two gun pods). One spare GU-11 clip is stored in each leg of the VF-4.
o PRIMARY PURPOSE: Assault o SECONDARY PURPOSE: Defense o RANGE: 4000 feet (1200 m) o DAMAGE: Does 3D6 M.D. for a short burst, 6D6 M.D. for a long burst, or 1D6x10 M.D. for a full melee burst. o RATE OF FIRE: Equal to the number of combined attacks of the pilot. o PAYLOAD: 200 rounds per clip equals 20 short bursts, 10 long bursts, or 5 full melee bursts. Additional ammo clips can be inserted, but exchanging clips requires 2 melee actions. One spare clip is stored in each leg of the mecha.
4. HAND TO HAND COMBAT: If necessary, the pilot of the VF-4 can engage in melee combat rather than use a weapon. The valkyrie is extremely agile and can execute most typical hand to hand combat moves, such as punches, jump kicks, leap attacks, rolling with impacts, etc.
DAMAGE: o Restrained Punch: 1D4 M.D. o Full Strength Punch: 2D4 M.D. o "Booster" Punch: 3D4 M.D. (counts as two attacks) o Tear or Pry with Hands: 1D4 M.D. o Kick: 1D6 M.D. o Leap Kick: 2D6 M.D. o Body Flip/Throw: 1D4 M.D. o Body Block/Tackle: 1D6 M.D. o Stomp: 1D6 M.D. (only effective against small objects)
STANDARD EQUIPMENT FOR THE VF-4:
* AUTO-PILOT: The VF-4 is equipped with a computerized auto-pilot, allowing the pilot to relax or even sleep during long voyages. The auto- pilot can be programmed with a single destination or a complex flight plan involving multiple speeds, directions, and destinations. The onboard computer will alert the pilot when the fighter is near its destination, and can also be set to automatically signal when sensors detect objects near the mecha. The auto-pilot was designed with long intra-system space journeys in mind. * COMBAT COMPUTER W/HUD DISPLAYS: The VF-4 is equipped with a combat computer that can store and analyze data during combat with hostile forces. Data readouts and stats can be displayed either on the cockpit's HUD display or on the dashboard monitors of the aircraft. The combat computer tracks and identifies specific enemy targets, and has a database of over 1,000 images stored in memory. The computer can identify and track up to 75 targets simultaneously. * EXTERNAL AUDIO PICKUP: Range: 300 ft (91.5 m). A sound amplification system that can pick up normal conversation up to 300 feet away. * HEAT AND RADIATION SHIELDS: Special shielding prevents the penetration of life threatening heat and radiation. A radiation detection and alarm system are linked with the shields and will sound an alarm if there is a rupture in the shields and what the levels of radiation are. * HOMING SIGNAL: The VF-4 is equipped with a homing device that enables rescue teams to locate a disabled craft or ejected life pod. The range of the signal is 300 miles (480 km). Most valkyries and UN Spacy ships can key on and track/locate specific signals, and the onboard computers will automatically notify their pilots if such a signal is detected. * LASER TARGETING SYSTEM: Range: 100 miles (160 km). Used for increased accuracy in the striking of enemy targets and is partly responsible for the mecha's strike bonus. * LOUDSPEAKER: A loudspeaker system is built into the craft, which can be used to amplify the pilot's voice up to 90 decibels. * OPTICS: INFRARED: Range: 2000 feet (610 m). This optical system projects a beam of infrared light that is invisible to the normal eye, but detectable by the mecha's sensors. The system allows the pilot to detect hidden/concealed objects by their IR reflectiveness. The beam will be visible to anyone with IR sensitive optics, however. * OPTICS: NIGHTVISION: Range: 2000 feet (610 m). A passive light image intensifier that emits no light of its own, but relies on ambient light which is electronically amplified to produce a visible picture. * OPTICS: THERMAL IMAGER: Range: 2000 feet (610 m). A passive optical heat sensor that detects infrared radiation projected by warm objects and converts that data into a false-color visible image. The system enables the pilot to see in the dark, in shadows, and through smoke, and also adds a +10% bonus to pilots using a tracking skill. * RADAR: 200 mile (321 km) range. * RADIO/VIDEO COMMUNICATION: Long range, directional communications system with satellite relay capabilities. Range: 600 miles (960 km) or can be boosted indefinitely via satellite relay. * SELF-DESTRUCT: To prevent capture of a Valkyrie fighter by the enemy, the pilot can activate the VF-4's self-destruct system, which will cause the fighter to explode after a delay of up to 60 minutes (time is set by the pilot). The explosive damage is contained within a 20 foot (6 m) area and inflicts 1D6x10 M.D. to everything within the radius of the explosion. All internal systems are obliterated. * STANDARD SURVIVAL KIT: All valkyries come equipped with a portable survival kit. Inside the small reinforced box is a medium-sized flashlight, two hand flares, one rocket flare, a compass, infrared distancing binoculars, a small mirror, a pocket knife, dehydrated and concentrated food (can be stretched into a five day supply for one person) and basic first aid items (aspirin, bandages, disinfectants, etc.) * TACTICAL LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEM: The VF-4's cockpit is pressurized, and also provides additional air feeds to the pilot's flight suit that provides him with pressurized breathing. The UN Spacy flight suit also contains an upper and lower g-suit that promotes blood circulation even during high-g turns, thus decreasing the possibility of pilot blacking out in combat.
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COMBAT BONUSES FOR LIGHTNING III VALKYRIE TRAINING:
Note: Valkyrie Combat Training (from Macross II) or Veritech Combat Training (from Robotech) can be substituted for either of the skills below. If this is the case, then the pilot gets a bonus of +1 to parry and dodge and one extra melee attack per round in addition to the his normal combat bonuses due the speed and agility of the Lightning III.
BASIC VALKYRIE COMBAT TRAINING
* Basic training for non-pilot military personnel. * 1 attack per melee (plus those of the pilot). * Add one additional action/attack at levels three, nine, and fifteen. * +1 to strike. * +1 to parry * +1 to dodge in soldier mode, +2 in gerwalk, +4 in jet mode. * +1 to roll with a punch or move with an impact, reducing damage by half. * No leap dodge. * No leap kick. * Critical strike same as pilot's hand-to-hand. * Body block/tackle/ram - 1D6 M.D. plus a 50% chance of knocking an opponent down, causing him to loose initiative and one attack that melee round.
ADVANCED VALKYRIE COMBAT TRAINING
* Advanced training for military pilots and mecha specialists. * 3 attacks per melee (plus those of the pilot). * Add one additional action/attack at levels three, six, eleven, and fifteen. * +1 on initiative. * +3 to strike. * +3 to parry * +3 to dodge in solder mode, +5 in gerwalk, +7 in jet mode. * +3 to roll with a punch or move with an impact, reducing damage by half. * Critical strike same as pilot's hand-to-hand. * Body block/tackle/ram - 1D6 M.D. plus a 50% chance of knocking an opponent down, causing him to loose initiative and one attack that melee round.
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FICTIONAL BACKGROUND FOR ROBOTECH CAMPAIGNS:
[Image] The VF-4 Lightning III was designed and produced in 2012 during the Reconstruction Period following the First Robotech War, in response to the need for a faster and more agile attack mecha designed with anti-Zentraedi operations in mind. The Zentraedi Uprisings after the war were too widespread to be effectively countered by the RDF's surviving Veritech and Destroid squadrons, and resources for new mecha were scarce due to the development of the SDF-3 expeditionary mission and the creation of the new Southern Cross armies. An anti-mecha fighter was needed to deal with the threat of Zentraedi Battlepods and Powered Armor attacks on settlements.
The VF-4 was designed and produced at the Robotech Defense Force R&D Labs in New Macross by Dr. H. Takachihoff. Takachihoff and his team were originally doing research into improving the VF-1 Veritech fighters on Macross Island during the restoration of the SDF-1, and were subsequently stranded on the superdimensional fortress during the entire First Robotech War. Dr. Takachihoff worked along with Drs. Lang and Burke to design the Armored Veritech and Super Veritech versions of the VF-1, and was given complete control over the design of the VF-4. Early prototypes of the VF-4 were tested by a number of famous RDF pilots, including Captain Rick Hunter and Lt. Miriya Sterling. However, much of the research was lost when the main RDF R&D Labs were destroyed during the Zentraedi warlord Khyron's suicidal attack on the SDF-1 and Macross City on December 30, 2012.
Dr. Takachihoff and the surviving team members reconvened in the new[Image] R&D labs in Tokyo, Japan, and completed the design of the VF-4 in late 2013. The new fighter combined Robotechnology with state-of-the-art combat avionics, resulting in a highly maneuverable mecha with weaponry that made it a match for all known Zentraedi mecha designs. VF-4s were often used in first-strike and assault missions, where they would go in rapidly and destroy as many mecha and fortifications as possible, clearing the way for following Veritech and Destroid squadrons. They were also commonly used in fire support missions for ground troops during the Malcontent Uprisings. The high thrust engines and multiple venier thrusters on the VF-4 also made it ideal for space combat, and many were stationed in space to help Super Veritech squadrons patrol for raiders and orbital intruders.
Many squadrons of VF-4s were produced during 2013-2020, and served well in supplementing Veritech fighter squadrons on Earth, orbiting bases, and the moon bases. Several squadrons of VF-4s were assigned to the SDF-3 and accompanied the ship on the REF Expeditionary Mission in 2022. The remaining VF-4s on Earth were eventually given to the TAF and TASC armies of the Southern Cross to supplement their forces. Eventually, the VF-4 was replaced by the non-transformable Corsair III and Specter Interceptors, and the new VF-11 Thunderbolt Veritechs. The remaining VF-4s were reassigned to garrison duties, and many were destroyed during the battles with the Robotech Masters during the Second Robotech Masters. A few VF-4 squadrons did survive the war, but were reported destroyed during the initial Invid invasion of the Third Robotech War. No VF-4s are known to have survived the Invid wars period.
INTERESTING SIDE NOTE: The aircraft Lancer flew during the first invasion of the Invid (seen in flashback in Robotech episode 71, "The Secret Route") looks suspiciously like a VF-4 Valkyrie. Obviously it isn't since Macross and Mospeada are completely different shows, but it does provide an interesting opportunity for GMs who want to integrate Macross mecha into their Robotech campaigns.
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REFERENCES USED IN THIS DESIGN
* "Doe's All The Worlds' Mecha Guide: Stonewell Bellcom VF-4 Lightning III Entry" * Macross Digital Mission VF-X Video Game * Macross Flashback 2012 * MECHA PRESS Issue #7, "History of the Variable Fighter", by Dominique Durocher
