Transformers Roleplaying Game

Are you prepared for all of those shabby impersonations of beloved characters? Are you?

The Transformers Roleplaying Game is a tabletop roleplaying game based on the Transformers franchise (duh), created by Renegade Game Studios. It was first teased in the summer of 2020 <ref>https://www.dicebreaker.com/universes/power-rangers/news/power-rangers-rpg-deckbuilder-announced</ref>, and officially announced on September 1, 2021. The game was digitally released on August 2, 2022, followed by a physical release on October 11.

The game sees players create their own Autobot characters and wage their battles to destroy the evil forces of the Game Master Decepticons. (Or vice-versa!)

Gameplay

The Transformers Roleplaying Game makes use of Renegade Game Studios' own Essence20 system, which is also used in their other Hasbro-licensed games, including their Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, G.I. Joe, and My Little Pony roleplaying games; as such, characters from the different games can theoretically be mixed and matched for crossover campaigns. Renegade has also noted that the game "lends itself to cinematic action and cooperative roleplaying experiences, by using a character's background along with mechanics to incorporate unique character flaws", as well as a "Story Point" system which will be rewarded to players for finishing missions, performing daring heroics, and roleplaying.

According to Renegade, Essence20 is a system based on the d20 (20-sided die) and what they call a "skill die" — which ranges from a d2 to d20. By rolling these dice, a player must exceed the numerical difficulty of the task at hand to succeed. The finer points of this mechanic are designed to "[lead] to more chances for [critical successes] and more opportunities for great roleplaying incorporating them".

Skills are based on Strength, Speed, Smarts, and Social, referred to as "the 4 S's", and together with the game's three-pronged approach to character creation ("Origin", "Role", and "Influence") this provides players with an "amazing depth and breadth to the variety of characters [they] can create".<ref>https://renegadegamestudios.com/blog/introducing-the-essence20-roleplaying-system/</ref>

Game content

Sourcebooks

• Core Rulebook — The first book to be released, which presents the basics of the gameplay and contains rules for character creation, mechanics for tools, equipment, weapons, and vehicles, all to be used while exploring the world of the Transformers along with your friends (as well as the GM). The Core Rulebook also includes material for the Game Master, such as guidelines for creating adventures and campaigns, and a dossier of famous and infamous Cybertronians to use as non-player characters. A starter-adventure, "Troubled Waters", is included in the book to help prepare players and the GM for what the game has to offer.
• Field Guide to Action and Adventure — A sourcebook meant to not only be used with the Transformers Roleplaying Game, but also with the Power Rangers Roleplaying Game and the G.I. Joe Roleplaying Game. The book offers new character options, as well as rules and tools for GMs to create crossover adventures between the aforementioned roleplaying games and new threats.
• Decepticon Directive — A sourcebook all about creating Decepticon characters and running a Decepticon campaign. The Decepticon Directive Sourcebook adds several new character options, including a new Role, many of which are also compatible with Autobot characters. Various Decepticon-themed settings, non-player characters, gear, and so forth are also included for GM usage, along with a new adventure scenario.
• Enigma of Combination — An upcoming sourcebook entirely dedicated to creating combiner teams for players and NPCs alike.

Adventure scenarios

Adventure scenarios are pre-written game modules that provide a full session's worth of content for players, including characters to interact with, branching story paths based on their choices, and plenty of enemy encounters to overcome.

• Troubled Waters
• A Beacon of Hope
• The Time Is Now
• Memories and Salvation
• Cobra/Con Fusion (cross-compatible with the G.I. Joe Roleplaying Game)
• Winner’s Cup (Play Renegade season 1 adventure PDF)

Bonus material

Additional pieces of material, such as stat blocks for new characters and items the GM can choose to implement, are available as part of a free "Bonus Material" download, which is set to be updated with new content as time goes on.

• Polarity gauntlet lore sheet
• Suggestions on how to play everyone's favorite self-serving, backstabbing Decepticon, Starscream
• Game details and lore regarding the Hate Plague
• Pre-Generated character sheets for Arcee, Blaster and Eject, Bumblebee, Chromia, Cliffjumper, Elita-1, Jazz, and Wheeljack

Accessories

• Fillable PDF Character Sheet (August 2, 2022)

A fillable PDF file of a standard blank character sheet, to be used by the players. The sheet was released on the same day as the digital release of the Core Rulebook, and is available as a free download from Renegade's website.

• Character Journal (August 16, 2022)

An 80-page hardcover book designed for more detailed tracking of character information. The journal includes an expanded character sheet, prompts to assist with character building, cheat sheets and other guidelines for quick reference, and 40 pages of space intended for session note-taking.

We have a feeling that the players won't be able to go all-out murderhobo on these NPCs...

• GM Screen (January 4, 2023)

A physical screen designed to hide the contents of the Game Master's side of the table from prying eyes. While the exterior features artwork of Grimlock, Bumblebee, Optimus Prime, Wheeljack and Windblade, the inside of the screen features rules, lists, and reference tables for the GM's convenience. The screen also comes with a booklet containing the adventure scenario "A Beacon of Hope"; those who pre-ordered also received the PDF version of the adventure for free.

• Dice Bag (October 11, 2022)

A double-lined fabric dice bag bearing the Autobot insignia; a Decepticon variant is schedule for release in November 2023. It measures 6.25 inches x 8.5 inches flat, and features a locking drawstring clasp. Perfect for holding...

• Dice Set (October 11, 2022)

A full set of dice required for play, with the Autobot insignia appearing in place of the highest number on each die to instantly let you know when you roll a critical success. The set includes two d20, a d12, a d10, a d8, a d6, a d4, and a d2 coin. A Decepticon set is scheduled for a November 2023 release.

Notes

• Frenzy is Red, Rumble is Blue (or both).
• When first announced it was implied that all of Renegade Game Studios' Hasbro-related releases would use a modified version of the rules for 5th edition Dungeons & Dragons, managed by Hasbro subsidiary Wizards of the Coast, but such plans seem to have been nixed when Renegade announced the creation of their own unique system — stating: “While we originally announced that these RPGs would be using the 5th Edition Open Game License, during development, it became clear that a custom system would allow fans to take better advantage of these unique worlds.”<ref>https://www.polygon.com/tabletop-games/22652204/power-rangers-g-i-joe-transformers-tabletop-rpg-release-date-price</ref>
• As with a lot of auxiliary Transformers merchandise, the TF:RPG makes heavy use of the Evergreen designs.
• Unusually for a mostly Generation 1 inspired evergreen product, the TF:RPG makes a number of prominent references to 2001's Robots in Disguise series. The Autobot Road (already a fairly obscure reference) is also referred to as the Global Space Bridge, there's reference to the Black Pyramid, and most apparent, enemy sheets for Mega-Octane and Armorhide.

References

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External links

• Official website of Renegade Game Studios
• Official announcement of the Transformers Roleplaying Game