HOLLYWOOD-CLASS AMUSEMENT VESSELS

(Version 0.8 - Last modified: Friday, 18-Jan-08 02:59:00 PST)

RPG Stats by DANIEL HENWOOD (dhenwood@hotmail.com)
Background text by DAVE DEITRICH (deitrich@mcs.net)
Background info provided by the MACROSS ONLINE COMPENDIUM

BACKGROUND

Hollywood vessels are immense starships. Based on an older colony vessel design, they do not have a transparent dome like the Riviera and New Macross class colony vessels. Instead, the spherical vessels are divided into three sections. The first section located in the top part of the ship contains a complete amusement park for the benefit and entertainment of the colonists. This park contains the latest in rides, games, shows, and other diversions one would typically find in a theme park on Earth. In addition, the park contains holographic virtual reality centers where people can star in their own movies, playing the part of a formula 1 racer or a variable fighter pilot without being in danger. Also there are cinemas, nightclubs, bars, restaurants, and other facilities for visitors who prefer a slightly slower pace to their entertainment.

The middle part of the colony sphere contains the engines and power systems for the vessel, plus the living quarters for the 200,000+ colonists permanently living on the ship. The third section of the ship represents the most important function of the Hollywood, however. The entire lower half of the sphere is dominated by sound stages, recording studios, costume and prop shops, special effects computer editors, and all other equipment necessary for producing audio and video (both 2D and 3D) entertainment. Functioning like its namesake, this part of the Hollywood constantly produces new films, records and features for the colony. In addition, the Hollywood vessels also use their hyperspace communicators to keep in touch with other colony missions around the galaxy, allowing them to exchange their productions, sharing ideas and entertainment. This communications link between colony missions is called the Galaxy Network, and has become the initial starting point for stars and idol singers around the galaxy for almost 20 years.

Like most other colony vessels, the Hollywood ships are unarmed and have only modest defensive systems. Instead, they rely upon an Ark Royal-class Escort Battle Carrier that is docked to the front of the ship for protection, similar to how the New Macross Battle and City sections combine for mutual protection. Hollywood vessels are controlled from the bridge of the docked carrier, and the carrier's VF squadrons provide protection for the colony vessel in case of attack. The carrier can disconnect from the Hollywood if necessary, and the vessel is equipped with an emergency bridge to control the ship when the carrier is detached. Hollywood vessels are considered an essential part of UN Spacy colony missions and at least one of these vessels has accompanied every colony fleet since 2026. Although the design is somewhat dated, the vessels are still being constructed and will still be in use for many years to come.

NOTE: The theme park interior of the Hollywood vessels contains miniature replicas of famous monuments from Earth, including the Statue of Liberty, the Eiffel Tower, Big Ben and others. In this respect, the vessels are very similar to "Culture Park" from Macross II. The Culture Park maps from Macross II Deck Plans Volume III can be used to represent the interior of Hollywood vessels for encounters within these massive ships.

RPG STATS

Crew (not including Escort Carrier): 212,500 total (plus tourists)

Military Crew: 1,500

Civilian Crew: 8,000

Police/Civil Defense: 3,000

Permanent Civilian Populace: 200,000

Visitors/Tourists: up to 100,000 max

MDC BY LOCATION:

(1) Main Body                                   240,000
    Connection Joint/Engineering Section          9,000
(2) Main Engines/Power Plant (2)                 80,000 each
(2) Auxiliary Engines (4)                         8,000 each
    Upper Sensor/Transmitter Cluster              1,200
    Lower Sensor/Transmitter Cluster              1,200
    Small Airlocks/Access Hatches (400)             250 each
    Main Airlocks (2)                               800
    Outer Hull (per 40ft area)                      120
    Interior walls (per 20ft)                        15
(3) Pin Point Barriers (4)                        5,000 each

NOTES:

1. Depleting the MDC of the main body will essentially destroy the vessel. All internal systems will shut down, including life support and internal gravity. The colony ship itself will be an unsalvageable floating wreck, and any surviving colonists must be rescued quickly or will die from asphyxiation as the remaining atmosphere drains into space.
2. Depleting the MDC of the main engines will force the ship to rely on its auxiliary engines. Depleting the MDC of the main engines AND auxiliary engines will leave the colony ship adrift in space. If in an atmosphere, the colony will crash (destruction of the main engines will render the antigravity system useless due to loss of power).
3. The Pinpoint Barriers regenerate at a rate of 1,250 MD per second (2,500 MD per melee round). If destroyed, a barrier will completely regenerate within four seconds (2 melee rounds). See the Pinpoint Barrier System entry for details.

SPEEDS:

Speed(sublight): 0.16 speed of light (25,600 miles per second)
Speed(Auxiliary Drives): Mach 3
Space Fold: Range Unlimited (1 light year every 6 minutes)
Planet bound:

Designed to land in a planetary ocean when necessary but not designed to maneuver in an atmosphere. Hollywood vessels are NOT designed to land on the ground. If they do so the landing will inflict 3D6x1000 MD damage to the main body of the spacecraft (the lower sensor/transmitter will be automatically destroyed).

Maximum Range: Unlimited (estimated 30 year life span)

STATISTICAL DATA:

Power System:

ORTEC/General Galaxy Main Reactor

Fold System:

ORTEC/Shinnakasu/General Galaxy Advanced Fold System Cluster

Sublight Drive:

ORTEC/Centinel Impulse Drive Cluster

Gravity Control System: Internal
Auxiliary Engines:

Shinnakasu/Shinsei Industries/Agar Nuclear Pulse Rocket Motor Clusters

Sensors: Standard plus Subspace Mass Detector

DEFENSE SYSTEMS:

1. PINPOINT BARRIER DEFENSE SYSTEM: Originally developed by researchers onboard the SDF-01 Macross during Space War One, the Pinpoint Barrier System is a standard defense system on board all UN Spacy starships and colony vessels, including the Riviera colony ships. The system generates four small disc-shaped force fields that can be positioned anywhere along the ship to deflect missiles, energy beams or projectiles. Each pinpoint barrier is about 200 ft (61 m) in length and can absorb up to 5,000 MD in damage, which then regenerates within four seconds (2 melee rounds). The barriers can also be layered on top of each other to generate a field which provides 20,000 MDC and can even deflect heavy particle beams (usually).

   The four barriers are controlled by operators in the command tower of the carrier. These operators are instructed to defend (1) any breaks or weaknesses in the main hull, (2) the main and auxiliary engines, and (3) the engineering section/battle carrier docking section, in that order. The operators primarily concentrate on defending the ship against larger spacecraft and leave defense against attacking mecha to the VF pilots from the battle carrier.

   • PRIMARY PURPOSE: Defense (the pinpoint barrier system cannot be used as a weapon)
   • RANGE: Up to 300 feet (91.5 m) from the surface of the vessel.
   • DAMAGE CAPACITY: Can sustain up to 5,000 MD per round. Regenerates at a rate of 2,500 MD per melee round.
   • RADIUS: 200 ft (61 m)
   • DEFENSIVE MOVEMENT: Can move from one end of the vessel to the other in less than a single round. Trained operators can attempt to block attacks up to 8 times per melee (counts as a parry) and are at +7 to block. Untrained characters can parry up to their number of hand-to-hand attacks with their normal parry bonuses only.
   • PAYLOAD: Nearly inexhaustible. Will work as long as system is functional (see below) and engines are intact. If main engines are destroyed, the barrier will loose power and not function.
   • NOTE: If all four barriers are grouped in a single spot they can deflect a heavy particle beam attack, such as the one generated by the Macross Cannon, Zentraedi/Varuta command warships, and some Protodeviln. However, the beam will completely destroy all four barriers and put incredible strain on the pinpoint barrier system, to the point where it may short out. After deflecting an energy beam, roll percentile dice on the table below to determine additional effects/damage.
     • 01-15: Lucked out, system will be operational in 1D6 hours.
     • 16-30: Minor damage, system will require 4D6 hours to repair.
     • 31-45: Major damage, system will require 2D6x10 hours to repair (yes, DAYS of work).
     • 46-60: Completely destroyed! System can be rebuilt, but will require new parts and 2D6 DAYS of work to replace.
     • 61-75: Major damage, system will require 2D6x10 hours to repair.
     • 76-90: Minor damage, system will require 4D6 hours to repair.
     • 91-95: Lucked out, system will be operational in 1D6 hours.
     • 96-00: It's a miracle! Trivial damage only, system will be operational again in only 4D6 melee rounds!

SYSTEMS OF NOTE:

• ANTIGRAVITY PROPULSION SYSTEM: The Hollywood vessels are equipped with an anti-gravity propulsion system used for planetary landings and liftoffs. The system is good for vertical ascent/descent only and can lift the ship at speeds of up to 1,320 feet (400 m) per minute. The system will function so long as the main engines can supply energy to it.
• HOLOGRAPHIC PROJECTION SYSTEM: The "open sky" levels within the huge colony vessel are equipped with a sophisticated holographic projection system which is used to generate images of terran skies. These images help to calm colonists and make them feel like they are living in a city on Earth and not on a ship voyaging through space. The holographic system is often used to divide time on the vessel into day and night segments. Note that the hull of Hollywood vessels is NOT transparent, so during night periods the holographic system projects a fake starry sky rather than a real view of the passing galaxy.
• HYPERSPACE COMMUNICATIONS: Based on the same technology as the space fold system, the hyperspace communications relay allows faster-than-light communication between the Riviera ships and other vessels or planetary bases. Hyperspace communications are still not instantaneous, however. Audio/video communication travels through hyperspace at a rate of about 5 seconds per light year, so messages communicated over vast distances can still take days, weeks, or months to arrive. Hollywood vessels have large complex communications that can simultaneously transmit and receive over 10,000 different AV signals at the same time to other colony missions around the cosmos, thus forming the "Galaxy Network".
• LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEMS: The amusement vessel has sufficient life support to provide breathable air and comfortable temperatures for 350,000 people for up to 30 years. In an emergency the life support system can support up to 500,000 people for a short time.
• LONG-RANGE LASER/SATELLITE RELAY COMMUNICATIONS: Hollywood vessels has advanced communications facilities that can communicate with up to 1,000 craft simultaneously at ranges of up to 900 miles (1,440 km). This range can be boosted indefinitely by using satellites or other spacecraft as to relay communications.
• LONG-RANGE RADAR: The radar array of Hollywood vessels is modest compared to the communications systems. The radar can track and identify up to 500 craft simultaneously and has a 200 mile/320 km range.
• SPACE FOLD SYSTEM: For FTL propulsion, the vessel is equipped with an ORTEC/Shinnakasu/General Galaxy Advanced Fold System Cluster, capable of propelling the carrier through hyperspace at speeds up to 3.28x10^10 mps (5.25x10^10 kmps), or 1 light year per 6 minutes. The range of the fold drive is theoretically unlimited except by the life expectancy of the spacecraft. The fold drive is powerful enough to propel both the battle carrier and resort block through hyperspace when they are connected.
• SUBLIGHT ENGINES: As a backup to the Fold System, the colony vessel is equipped with ORTEC/Centinel Impulse Drive Cluster engines that can propel the craft at speeds up to 0.16 speed of light (25,600 miles per second) in space. Note that these engines are mainly intended for rapid movement inside a planetary system and are not suited for long voyages between star systems. In a planetary atmosphere the carrier is limited to speeds of Mach 1 maximum due to hull stress. As with the fold drives, the engines are powerful enough to propel the craft when the battle carrier is attached.
• SUBSPACE MASS SENSORS: Like the battle carriers, Hollywood colony vessels are equipped with subspace sensors for early warning of approaching objects and navigation at sublight speeds. These sensors can almost instantly detect mass readings and movement of objects up to 1 AU (93 million miles) distant from the carrier which are above 60,000 kg in mass (which means that the sensors usually cannot detect objects as small as variable fighters). Readings taken with the subspace sensors are not very detailed (-25% penalty when trying to identify a detected object) and are usually used for tracking purposes only.

MECHA COMPLEMENT (STANDARD):

NONE! However, the landing bays in Hollywood vessels have enough room and resources to adequately support up to 6 squadrons (72 fighters) of VFs if necessary.

REFERENCES USED IN THIS DESIGN

• "Doe's All The Worlds' Starship Guide: Hollywood Amusement Vessel Entry"
• "Doe's All The Worlds' Starship Guide: Uraga Escort Battle Carrier Entry"
• Macross 7 TV episode 11

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