Editing Technorganic Secrets

{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=''Technorganic Secrets''
|prev=The Enigma of Combination
|next=
|image= Technorganic Secrets Front Cover.jpg
|caption=
|publisher=[[Renegade Game Studios]]
|written by=[[Chirag Asnani]], [[Carrie Carney]], [[Jim Deely]], [[Andrew E.C. Gaska]], [[Ian Gould]], [[Adrián Mejia]], [[Brandon Perdue]], [[Erin Roberts]], [[Jim Sorenson]], [[Kris Strader]], and [[E.L. Thomas]]
|date=[[December 12]], [[2024]]
|pagecount=174
|price=$45.00 USD<br/>
|ISBN=
}}

'''''Technorganic Secrets''''' is an expansion sourcebook for the [[Transformers Roleplaying Game]]. The book expands the scope of the setting to include characters and campaigns based mostly on the ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Wars]]'' and ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Machines]]'' franchises and include rules for players to create [[beast mode]] Transformers of their own, featuring fourteen new beast-based Origins and five new Influences.

It was released digitally on [[December 12]], [[2024]], with a physical release set sometime in [[March]] [[2025]].

==Contents==
===Chapter 1: Wide and Varied World of Beasts===
* Various Types of Beast Upgrades 
* Beast Factions and Teams
* Maximal Data Files
* Rules Reminders

===Chapter 2: Character Options===
* Influences
* Form Influences
* Origins
* General Perks
* Equipment

===Chapter 3: Autobots===
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''Dinobots'''</u>
<ul class="iconlist">

{{Bp-a1|[[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Grimlock (G1)|Genius Grimlock]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Skar (IDW)|Scarr]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Slash (POTP)|Slash]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Slag (G1)|Slug]]}}
</ul>
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|<br>
<ul class="iconlist">

{{Bp-a1|[[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Volcanicus (POTP)|Volcanicus]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Volcanicus (POTP)|Volcanicus Rex]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Paddles (G1)|Paddles]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Sneer, Snipe, and Snub]]}}
</ul>
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''Monsterbots'''</u>
<ul class="iconlist">

{{Bp-a1|[[Doublecross]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Grotusque]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Repugnus]]}}

|
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''Others'''</u>
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-a1|[[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]]}}
|}

===Chapter 4: Decepticon Terrorcons===
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''Terrorcons'''</u>
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-d1|[[Blot (G1)|Blot]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Cutthroat (G1)|Cutthroat]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Hun-Gurrr (G1)|Hun-Gurrr]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Rippersnapper (G1)|Rippersnapper]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Sinnertwin (G1)|Sinnertwin]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]]}}
|}

===Chapter 5: Maximals===
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''Maximals'''</u>
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-m1|[[Botanica (BM)|Botanica]]}}
{{Bp-m1|[[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]]}}
{{Bp-m1|[[Silverbolt (Fuzor)|Silverbolt]]}}
{{Bp-m1|[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia (Transmetal II)]]}}
{{Bp-m1|[[Optimus Primal (BW)|Optimus Primal/Optimus Primal (Transmetal)]]}}
{{Bp-m1|[[Optimus Primal (BW)|Optimal Optimus]]}}
|}
 
===Chapter 6: Predacons===
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''Predacons'''</u>
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-p1|[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]]}}
{{Bp-p1|[[Dinobot II]]}}
{{Bp-p1|[[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]]}}
{{Bp-p1|[[Inferno (BW)|Transmetal Inferno]]}}
{{Bp-p1|[[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]]}}
{{Bp-p1|[[Quickstrike (BW)|Transmetal II Quickstrike]]}}
{{Bp-p1|[[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]]}}
{{Bp-p1|[[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]]}}
{{Bp-p1|[[Scorponok (BW)|Transmetal Scorponok]]}}
{{Bp-p1|[[Skold]]}}
{{Bp-p1|[[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]]}}
{{Bp-p1|[[Tarantulas (BW)|Transmetal Tarantulas]]}}
{{Bp-p1|[[Terrorsaur (BW)|Experiment ZT-Omega]]}}
{{Bp-p1|[[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]]}}
{{Bp-p1|[[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur (Transmetal)]]}}
{{Bp-p1|[[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]]}}
{{Bp-p1|[[Megatron (BW)|Megatron/Transmetal Megatron/Transmetal II Megatron]]}}
|}

===Chapter 7: Vehicons===
* An Army of Drones Under Megatron's Command
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''Vehicons'''</u>
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-vh|[[Aero Drone]]s}}
{{Bp-vh|[[Artillery Drone]]s}}
{{Bp-vh|[[Copter Drone]]s}}
{{Bp-vh|[[Cycle Drone]]s}}
{{Bp-vh|[[Diagnostic Drone]]s}}
{{Bp-vh|[[Mole Drone]]s}}
{{Bp-vh|[[Tank Drone]]s}}
{{Bp-vh|[[Jetstorm (BM)|Jetstorm]]}}
{{Bp-vh|[[Megatron (BW)|Megatron (Vehicon)]]}}
{{Bp-vh|[[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]]}}
{{Bp-vh|[[Strika (BM)|Strika]]}}
{{Bp-vh|[[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]]}}
{{Bp-vh|[[Tankor (BM)|Tankor/Rhinox]]}}
{{Bp-vh|[[Thrust (BM)|Thrust]]}}
{{Bp-p1|[[Waspinator (BW)|Thrustinator]]}}
|}

===Chapter 8: Running a Beast Wars Campaign===
* What Makes a Beast Wars Campaign?
* A Restricted Sandbox: Beast Wars Style
* Allies, Enemies, and the Utterly Alien: NPC Populations
* Uncanny Aliens
* Quantum Surge Events
* Alternate Settings For A Beast Wars Campaign
* Example Campaign: Saviors From Another Epoch
* Example Campaign: Keepers of the Future

==Notes==
===Transformers references===
* Like ''The Enigma of Combination'', ''Technorganic Secrets'' begins with a character delivering a lecture: in this case, it's [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]], giving a lecture to the "CTC Fleet" academy on the planet [[New Earth]]. The [[Confederated Terran Colonial Fleet]] originated from the ''[[Beast Wars: Uprising]]'' stories, which also featured New Earth—a planet from the ''[[GoBots]]'' cartoon—as one of humanity's first extrasolar colonies. Exactly ''how'' far the characters are in the future is unclear, but ''Beast Wars'' lore generally holds that the Maximals and Predacons hail from a time period some 300 years after the end of the Autobot-Decepticon war.
* Cheetor notes that the Maximals and Predacons owe their unique biology to a combination of [[Pretender]] and [[Micromaster]] technology, a concept that originated with [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]]'s ''[[Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' guidebooks.
* In his speech, Cheetor speaks of his adventures over the course of ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' and ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]''. Specific callbacks include:
** Multiple instances of the Maximals sleeping and dreaming, most prominently in "[[Call of the Wild]]".
** A time when Rhinox ate too many beans and, er, blasted the Predacons into submission, from "[[The Low Road]]".
** Megatron's disastrous scheme to alter history in "[[The Agenda (Part III)|The Agenda]]".
** Encounters with various Vok relics, including the [[Standing Stones]] from "[[Chain of Command (BW)|Chain of Command]]", the [[Metal Hunter]] from "[[Other Visits (Part 1)|Other Visits]]", a [[Brigadoon|floating island]] from "[[The Trigger, Part 1|The Trigger]]", and the [[Transmetal driver|Transmetal Driver]] from "[[Feral Scream Part 1|Feral Scream]]".
** Rattrap struggling with his technorganic body, from "[[The Weak Component]]".
* Toward the end of his lecture, Cheetor mentions "other" Beast Wars—some set in the future of his own universe, others taking place in alternate timelines. These include...
** A distant future era where [[Lio Convoy|Leo Prime]] battles [[Galvatron (BW)|Galvatron]] on the planet [[Gaia]], as seen in ''[[Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars II]]''.
** A time where [[Big Convoy]] and [[Magmatron]] search the galaxy for [[Dark Energon]] capsules, based on ''[[Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Neo (cartoon)|Beast Wars Neo]]''.
** The world of ''[[Beast Wars: Uprising]]'', where Maximals and Predacons fight to overthrow decrepit Autobots and Decepticons. 
** Autobots and Maximals fighting the Heralds of Unicron on present-day Earth, in [[Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (film)|''Rise of the Beasts'']].
** A three-way conflict between the Maximals, Predacons, and the [[Children of the Vok (group)|Children of the Vok]], in IDW's short-lived [[Transformers: Beast Wars|''Beast Wars'' reboot]].
** Time-travelling Predacons attempting to control [[Fortress Maximus (RID)|Brave Maximus]], from [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 cartoon)|''Car Robots'']].
* In passing, Cheetor mentions Nightshade, presumably based on [[Nightshade (ES)|the ''Earthspark'' character]], Hammerbyte, the [[Hammerbyte|shark Transformer from ''Cyberverse'']], and [[Zod]], the giant robot from ''GoBots'', as examples of lesser-known beast Transformers. 
* One human attendee goes by the name "Professor Three Five"; this name is based on [[Aron Three Five]], a human time-traveller from ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Animated]]'''s obscure "[[Be the Hero]]" books.
* Cheetor's description of ''Beast Wars II'' and ''Beast Wars Neo'' speaks of [[Dark  Energon]] instead of [[Angolmois Energy]]. As both were then known to be poisonous emanations of [[Unicron]], "[[Ask Vector Prime]]" had previously tried to tie the two together in [[2015]], but subsequent revelations and [[retcon]]s in ''[[Generations Selects Special Comic]]'' would ultimately establish that Angolmois was a very different source of energy, with its own unique quirks.
* The second transcript takes the form of a roundtable debate between several Decepticons with beast alternate forms, moderated by [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]. Over the course of the discussion, the participants—Sparkstalker and Mindwipe, [[Leatherhide (Universe)|Leatherhide]] from ''Uprising'', and a new version of [[Simacore]] from ''Robots in Disguise''—discuss various advances in beast mode technology: in addition to [[Pretender]]s, [[Transmetal]]s, [[Transmetal 2]]s, [[technorganic]]s, and [[Mutant (BW)|Mutant]]s, new classifications include "[[Hybridizor]]s"—vehicle-formers with animalistic robot modes—and "[[BioGenetic Beasts]]"; taking the name from the "bio-genetic morphing process" alluded to in "[[Optimus Primal vs Megatron!]]", this new descriptor includes characters like the original Maximals and Predacons, who transform from wholly organic creatures into sleek, cybernetic robots. Finally, the book uses the term "[[mechanimal]]" to describe both native Cybertronian wildlife and characters like the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobot]]s and [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticon]]s, who transform from robots into mechanical animals.
* When their discussion turns to ancient beast Transformers, Mindwipe speaks of [[Onyx Prime]], mythological progenitor of the beasts as per most modern incarnations of ''Transformers'' lore, and his mythical [[Triptych Mask]]. Additionally, Leatherhide mentions his herald, the Titan [[Chela]], who first appeared in IDW's [[The Transformers: Windblade|''Windblade'']] comic.
* Finally, Leatherhide mentions a few beast form Transformers that don't fall cleanly into any one category: these include Optimus Primal's "Optimal" body, [[Razorclaw (Universe)|Razorclaw]], [[Megatron (RID)|Gigatron]]'s various animal forms, and prominent human-formers "[[Alice (ROTF)|Alice]]" and "[[Sari Sumdac (disambiguation)|Sumdac]]".
* The third transcript is written by [[Thunderhowl (G1)|Thunderhowl]], whose [[Thunderhowl (Cyberverse)|''Cyberverse'' counterpart]] was established to be a servant of Onyx Prime. His writings establish [[Maxima]] and [[Preditron]] as the first Maximal and Predacon, as was the case in ''Uprising''. Additionally, Thunderhowl notes that Vehicons are sometimes created by an infectious virus, as was the case in the ''Uprising'' story "[[Derailment]]". Finally, the [[Raptoricon]]s of [[Chicxulania]] get a quick mention, and are noted to transform into [[jurassanoid]]s, ''Uprising's'' catch-all name for dinosaur-based alternate forms. 
* A non-''Uprising'' homage comes in Thunderhowl's description of the [[Monsterbot (G1)|Monsterbot]]s: he explains that they often live underground, seemingly evoking the [[Monsterbot (Cyberverse)|''Cyberverse'' Monsterbots]].
* Thunderhowl recounts an incident in which the crash of the prison ship ''[[Alchemor (BWU)|Alchemor]]'' unleashed a horde of rogue Hybridizors, forcing a group of local Autobots to round up the villains, evoking the premise of ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 cartoon)|Robots in Disguise]]''.
* Heinrad's profile notes that he claims to have encountered fellow time manipulators [[Sideways (RM)|Sideways]], [[Gong (GoBots)|Gong]], and [[Meantime (G1)|Meantime]].
* Depth Charge's profile notes that he was originally posted on the planet [[Pinea Omicron]], tying "[[Colony Omicron]]" from the ''Beast Wars'' cartoon to the planet from "[[Alignment]]".
* The Origin-specific perks available to Mutant Beast characters each correspond to one of the superpowers of the original four Mutants, as laid out in IDW's ''[[Transformers: Beast Wars Sourcebook|Beast Wars Sourcebook]]''—[[Icebird]] has telepathic powers, [[Razor Claw]] can create friction-nullifying fields, [[Poison Bite]] can teleport, and [[Soundwave (BW)|Soundwave]] can generate electromagnetic pulses.
* In addition to the standard five Dinobots, [[Slash (POTP)|Slash]], and a trio of original characters who transform into ''Troodon'' who'd previously appeared in , ''Technorganic Secrets'' also adds [[Skar (IDW)|Scarr]], the ''Ankylosaurus'' from ''Legacy'', and [[Paddles (G1)|Paddles]], an ''Elasmosaurus'' who debuted in the obscure [[Transformers Legends (book)|''Transformers Legends'' anthology]].
* ''Technorganic Secrets'' features specific "Deviation" profiles of pre-existing characters, alternate versions based on specific "what-if" scenarios or references to other stories. Notable Deviations include...
** The "Environmental Specialists" profile for the Dinobots note that they used to assist [[Xenorelations]] specialists on missions, a pre-war branch of government in [[2019 IDW continuity|IDW's rebooted ''Transformers'' universe]]. 
** "Genius Grimlock" is an extrapolation on the ''[[The Transformers (cartoon)|The Transformers]]'' episode "[[Grimlock's New Brain]]", in which Grimlock temporarily gained superintelligence. 
** "Slug, Leader of the Dinobots" notes that Slug has stepped up as leader when Grimlock was indisposed—this occurred in [[2005 IDW continuity|IDW's first ''Transformers'' continuity]], in which Slag led the team from "[[Dinobot Hunt (IDW)|Dinobot Hunt]]" all the way through to "[[Ceremony]]".
** "Transmetal II Quickstrike" hails from a timeline in which Megatron first tested the Transmetal driver on Quickstrike before creating Dinobot II in "Feral Scream".
** "Transmetal Inferno" is based on [[Scavenger (BW)|Scavenger]], who was originally conceived as a Transmetal form for Inferno. 
** "Transmetal Scorponok" and "Transmetal Terrorsaur" imagine a world in which the two characters didn't die in "[[Aftermath (BW episode)|Aftermath]]".
* Weapon-specific references included Rhinox's famous "Chainguns of Doom", Dinobot's [[Cyber-slash tail weapon|rotary blade]], and "vine bombs" the Maximals used in "[[End of the Line]]". 
* Sky Lynx's profile credits his ability to split apart to a "mitotic spark", a term that originated with Magmatron's ''Beast Machines'' toy. 
* Scorponok's profile notes that he is an accomplished codebreaker, which was a plot point in [[Transformers: Beast Wars|IDW's rebooted ''Beast Wars'' comic]]. The same goes for "Experiment ZT-Omega", which originated in the same comics as Terrorsaur's reanimated corpse. 
* Thrustinator's profile is heavily based on his depiction in Fun Publicatons' ''[[Transformers: TransTech|TransTech]]'' storyline—he is specifically noted to be a guardian of the timestream who maintains the timeline by correcting chronological errors.
* One of the sample campaign ideas is explicitly based on the ''[[Transformers: King Grimlock|King Grimlock]]'' miniseries, although in practice the resemblance is very loose beyond the basic premise of a wizard summoning the player characters to a fantasy world.

===Real-world references===
* The aforementioned sample campaign includes a sequence named "Welcome to Our Nightmare", presumably named for the {{w|Welcome to My Nightmare (song)|Alice Cooper song}}.

===Other trivia===
* As with ''The Enigma of Combination'', [[Jim Sorenson]] played a major role in the development of the book, and is credited as Renegade's "Transformers Lore Consultant". Perhaps unsurprisingly, the book is heavy with references to Sorenson's ''[[Beast Wars: Uprising]]'' prose stories, including an in-depth description of the ''Uprising'' universe as a possible campaign setting on page 171. 
* Finding a way to incorporate the animalistic characters of ''Robots in Disguise'' into the ''Transformers Roleplaying Game'' ruleset was a personal goal for Jim Sorenson. Notably, the term "Hybridizor" was actually developed as a result of Sorenson consulting with several ''Robots in Disguise'' staff writers! <ref> {{citesocial|quote=Getting Alchemor guys in was a personal goal and I'm glad editorial / Hasbro signed off. I even chatted with RID staff writers to come up with an overarching term for them. (Hybridizor)|link=https://discordapp.com/channels/702536469365129256/1316053340303523921/1316226845666050149|name=Jim Sorenson|site=Renegade Discord Server|year=2024|month=12|day=10}}</ref>
* Strangely, the Terrorcon profiles try to assign specific Earth-based alternate modes to the group. Notably, Hun-Gurrr is described as a two-headed Komodo dragon, Sinnertwin as a two-headed {{w|rhino-horned lizard}}, and Blot as a {{w|Common collared lizard|collared lizard}}, which... don't really look anything like their alternate modes.
* Paddles' profile uses they/them pronouns, although it's unclear if this is a deliberate reinterpretation of the character or an accidental oversight.

===Errors===
* Generally speaking, ''Technorganic Secrets'' uses the term "Beast Wars" as an umbrella term to describe both the events of ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' and ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]''. However, the [[Nemesis Part 2|final episode]] of ''Beast Wars'' had Optimus declare that the Beast Wars were over; in ''Beast Machines'', the characters spoke of the Beast Wars as a prior event, which ended the moment they left Earth.
* On page 17, the text uses the name "[[Sharpedge]]" to describe a shark-based Maximal; they are presumably thinking of [[Sharp Edge]].
* On page 10, "[[Cryotek]]" is mispelled as "Cryotech".
* On page 80, Rippersnapper and Blot possess Autobot insignias.

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Generation 1 books]]
[[Category:Reference texts]]
[[Category:Transformers Roleplaying Game]]