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So, we know the Macross Battloids were as tall as they were to deal with the Zentraedi.

Why were the Zentraedi that tall, given that they seem to be at least somewhat human-related (qv Dana Sterling being half-Zentraedi)?

Why where the Zentreadi made so tall?

Within the Series itself no reason is given for the Zentreadi size. Dialogue indicates the Zentreadi weren't always giants and it might even suggest they might have evolved into their current "giant height" (Dolza and Gloval dialogue respectively). Again what pressures would force them to grow to that size isn't clear, though it does allude to a "war" among giants (which are supposed to be Zentreadi "civil war").

I know the Sentinels Novels (and possibly the comics, but am not familiar with them) poist that the Zentreadi where made that size for high gravity world mining. There is one slight problem with the "high gravity" = "giant" approach of the Novels. It simply doesn't work that way and even the author(s) acknowledge this bit in one of the chapter side bits (that explore the world in more depth), biology would actually favor taller invidividuals on low gravity worlds not higher gravity worlds.

Now the general fan theory is that it was for intimidation, but I'm not sure that really works since the Zentreadi had to avoid contact with micronian worlds (limiting where you could deploy them as intimidation).

Now my personal theory is that the micronian size (ie regular human) might actually be an oddity and that "giants" are the norm, and the Masters created the Zentreadi to better deal with the "giants". This is in part due to the appearance of the Regis in her "human" form to Ariel's suragate family, she appears as a giant compared to them (could just be a projection I know), even the Regent is "giant" when depicted. It also tries to justify the size by giving them someone(s) at/near their scale to fight since they weren't dealing with the Invid (another comic/novel invention)

Ultimately why the Zentreadi where created as giants might ended up being cribbed from the OSM.

Well a Zentraedi even without a mecha is basically a light mecha still. If you are building a combat force, that's a heck of an advandadge.

But again it seems to be more about their ability as labourers rather than soldiers as the origional reason for the size. High G world or not.

i've generally figured the "basic infantry with rifle and body armor is equal to a tank/light mecha" is the reason for the large size.

though i like to headcanon that when originally made as laborers, they were not giants, they were just made to be tough and strong. and that the giants thing came around later when they were being made into a warrior caste.

I would go with originally created as Micronians and then genetically altered to be more effective in high gravity. The sizing chamber may also have something to do with it. It could also just apply to the oldest Zentraedi like Breetai and Dolza. It would help explain their taller height and strength over other Zentraedi. Older Zentraedi were designed to be miners and converted to war. Younger Zentraedi were bred for war.

If I remember right there was a civil war that the Zentraedi took part in that Gloval and Exedor talk about. That could have been why Zentraedi were ordered to stay away from Mironians. Full size Zentraedi can do a lot of damage do to their size. Micronied Zentraedi can blend in and do damage that way. And I do think there were micronized Zentraedi troops. Otherwise why have the sizing chambers and a mironian crew piloted Battle Pod?

I'm the opposite; it was a zero-G/low-G environment and trial & error / survival of the fittest. I have a theory that, Zentraedi were designed to fight, other Zentraedi and the Masters just happened to be the faction that survived.

Peacebringer wrote: Fri Mar 14, 2025 8:15 pmI'm the opposite; it was a zero-G/low-G environment and trial & error / survival of the fittest. I have a theory that, Zentraedi were designed to fight, other Zentraedi and the Masters just happened to be the faction that survived.

Well, whatever caused the rift that created The Disciples of Zor would seem to bear that out. Also whatever caused The Masters to take over from The Elders. So a civil war was quite probably one catalyst. And use in Low-G makes way more sense. Nothing says The Masters had developed contra-gravity/anti-grav before Zor found The Flower of Life created the first Protoculture Matrix.