Transformers Roleplaying Game
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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, with a physical release set to follow on October 11.
The game sees 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 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 character's [they] can create".<ref>https://renegadegamestudios.com/blog/introducing-the-essence20-roleplaying-system/</ref>
Game content
Core Rules
The first book to be released for TF:RPG was the Core Rulebook, which presents the basics of the gameplay as well as contain 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.
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.
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
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.
- GM Screen (Q4 2022)
- 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 rule 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 (Q4 2022)
- A double-lined fabric dice bag bearing the Autobot insignia. It measures 6.25 inches x 8.5 inches flat, and features a locking drawstring clasp. Perfect for holding...
- Dice Set (Q4 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.
Notes
- Frenzy is Red, Rumble is Blue.
- 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.
