Transformers Roleplaying Game
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The Transformers Roleplaying Game is an upcoming 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 is currently scheduled for release in the third quarter of 2022.
The game will see players create their own Autobot characters and wage their battles to destroy the evil forces of the Decepticons.
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 will lend 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 will provide players with an "amazing depth and breadth to the variety of character's [they] can create".<ref>https://renegadegamestudios.com/blog/introducing-the-essence20-roleplaying-system/</ref>
Core Rules
The first book to be released for TF:RPG will be the core rulebook, which will present the basics of the gameplay as well as contain rules for character creation, mechanics for creating 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 will also include 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 included in the book will prepare players and GM for what the game has to offer.
Notes
- Along with the core rulebook, Renegade also offers a Game Master's screen (packaged with the introductory adventure A Beacon of Hope), a set of Transformers-themed dice, and dice bag emblazoned with the Autobot badge. According to them, "a lot more" material will be coming following this initial wave of releases.
- 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 use of the Evergreen designs.
