Transformers Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook

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Publisher	Renegade Game Studios}}
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First published	August 22, 2022}}
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Written by	Ryan Costello, Gabriel Hicks, JF Sambrano, Bryan C.P. Steele, Elisa Teague & Eddy Webb}}
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and Elements }}by	}}
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ISBN	ISBN 978-1-7368843-3-1; }}
TPB ISBN	ISBN }}
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Page count	288}}
Price	$55.00 USD; }}
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Animation	}}
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{{#switch:{{#sub:xx|2|14}}|dark cybertron=}}

The Transformers Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook is a rulebook for the Transformers Roleplaying Game. It was released digitally on August 2, 2022, followed by a physical release on October 11.

The book contains rules for players and Game Masters, with a focus on creating fun stories and engaging combat, as well as tools for creating characters, an extensive library of weapons and equipment, and a dossier full of potential enemies. It also contains the introductory adventure "Troubled Waters".

Prime's War Journal
Autobots vs. Decepticons
- Earth Time Units and Their Interrelation with Cybertronian Perception by Perceptor
Transcript of an interview with Jetfire
The War for Energon
Earth: Our New Home
- Autobot Lexicon
Autobot Data Files
The Transformers Roleplaying Game
The Game Master
Playing the Game

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Chapter 2: Character Creation

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Creating Your Character
Step 0: Discuss with your GM & Other Players
Step 1: Character Concept
Step 2: Essence Score Increases and Skill Point Investment
Step 3: Select Influences
Step 4: Select an Origin
Step 5: Select a Role
Step 6: Describe your Character
Step 7: Form a Team

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Chapter 3: Influences

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Hang-Ups
Background Bonds
Having Multiple Influences
Customizing an Influence
Bureaucrat
Cube Player
Experiment
Former Senator
Gladiator
Hunter
Inventor
Machinist
Racer
Scavenger
Security
War Veteran
Hang-Ups

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Chapter 4: Origins

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Choosing Your Origin
Converting Between modes
Origin Traits
- Fitting In
Bot Mode Statistics
Alt Mode Statistics
- Filling in the Driver's Seat
Defining Your Alt Mode
- What About Beast Modes?
Chassis Selection
Champion
Cutter
Lookout
Monolith
Outrider
Rainmaker
Seeker
- Cool Your Jets
Support

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Chapter 5: Roles

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Role Out
Role Overview
For the Allspark!
Analyst
Field Commander
Gunner
Modemaster
- Defining Your Mini-Con
Scientist
Scout
Warrior
- Losing a Limb

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Chapter 6: Essence Scores and Skills

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Essence Scores - The Four 'S's
Skills and Specializations
Skills Ranks and Skill Tests
Unskilled Rolls
Specializations
Gaining Skills and Specializations
Essences & Skills
Strength
Speed
Smarts
Social
Using Skills
Step One: Choose Skill
Step Two: Skill Dice Shifts
Step Three: Edge, Snag, or Both?
Step Four: Determine Difficulty
- Edge and Snag versus Upshift and Downshift
Step Five: Roll Skill Test
- Skill Tests are Meaningful
Step Six: Determine Results
Story Points - The Great Equalizer
Energon Points

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Chapter 7: General Perks

Picking General Perks
- Who is your Companion to You?
Mini-Con Perks

Chapter 8: Equipment

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Hardpoints
Assignment and Requisition
Equipment Properties
Weapons
Weapons List
Upgrades
Armor
Kits
Support Equipment
Vehicles
Non-Cybertronian Vehicles

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Chapter 9: Combat

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The Flow of Combat
A Combat in Steps
- Creatures in Disguise
Types of Actions
- Decepticons, Attack! Group Initiative
Free Actions
Movement
Combat Actions
Types of Attacks
Melee Attacks
Ranged Attacks
Blast Attacks
Multiple Targets
Multi-Weapon Attacks
Making an Attack
Character Size and Scale
- Scale and Size on the Table
Damage and Repairing Damage
- Discuss Defeat with your Table
- Optional Rule: Human Engineers
Vehicle and Alt Mode Combat
Aerospace Combat
Space Combat
Operating Vehicles
Other Forms of Combat

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Chapter 10: Exploration

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Time
Movement
- A Bulldozer As Fast As A Motorcycle?
Special Types of Movement
The Environment
Recharging
Diseases
Conditions
Interactions with Humans
Between Missions and Downtime

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Chapter 11: Locations

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Cybertronian Bases
Decepticon Headquarters
Other Bases
Interesting Places
Potential Attack Sites
Common Earth Biomes

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Chapter 12: Threats

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Playing Threats
Non Combat Adversaries
Loot
Combining Threats
Specific Decepticons

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Specific Decepticons Acid Storm Airachnid Armorhide Astrotrain Barricade Blitzwing Breakdown Cyclonus Dead End Demolisher Detour Kickback		Knock Out Mega-Octane Megatron Ravage Shockwave Skywarp Slipstream Starscream Soundwave Tantrum Thundercracker		Decepticon Drones Insecticon Drone Scourge Drone Seeker Bomber		General Decepticon Threats Decepticon Annihilator Decepticon Assassin Decepticon Commando Decepticon Seeker Decepticon Seeker Rookie Decepticon Seeker Scout Decepticon Sniper Decepticon Soldier Decepticon Spy
Unaligned Cybertronians Cybertronian Brawler Cybertronian Trader Heat Seeker Drone		Human Threats and NPCs Human Civilian Human Military Pilot Human Scientist Human Soldier		Vehicle Threats Armored Tank Combat Jeep Combat Jet Compact Car Military Helicopter		Mini Sub Motorcycle Pickup Truck Race Car Speed Boat

Chapter 13: Running an Adventure

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Adventure Balance
Adventure Breakdown
- Gaming Terms: Campaign vs. Session vs. Part vs. Scene
Troubled Waters
Preparing the Game
Beginning the Adventure
Part 1: The Abandoned Energon Facility
Part 2: The Bridge is Falling Down!
Part 3: YOU ARE NOT TO BE TRUSTED, STARSCREAM!

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Notes

Errors

Some of the Decepticon statistics block have mistakes in them:
- Kickback is listed as having a Social Essence score of 8 and a Cleverness of 13. The rules state that a character's base Cleverness is 10 + the character's Social Essence score. This means that Kickback should have either a Social of 3, or a Cleverness of 18.
- The Decepticon Sniper states that it has a Strength Essence score of 4 and a Toughness of 13, but according to the rules, a character's base Toughness is 10 + the character's Strength Essence score. This means that the Sniper should have either a Strength of 3, or a Toughness of 14.

Transformers references

In his introduction, Optimus Prime explains that he was once a file clerk, a clear nod to how Orion Pax is often portrayed as having worked as an archivist before the war and him taking up the mantle of Prime.
In an effort to consolidate the differences in Cybertronian and Earthling units of time Perceptor and Wheeljack present a handy reference sheet for any Autobot recruit concerned with such things. According to them; one nano-klik equals one second; a klik is comparative to a minute; a cycle is roughly the same as an hour; a solar cycle is naturally a day; an orbital cycle equals one month; a Cybertronian stellar cycle matches up with a human year; and a vorn is likened to a century.
The interview with Jetfire indicates that he was once a Decepticon, a common narrative surrounding the character. Jetfire also notes how he was the one who gave Optimus Prime the heads-up regarding Earth as a viable source of Energon. Him being one of the first Transformers to learn of or to visit Earth is also something that dates back to the early days of the character.
- The interview itself is conducted by Rewind who was the Autobot's chief chronicler in the pages of IDW's More than Meets the Eye comic. He even notes that the camera attached to the side of his head is "always recording", something that he was prone to do in the comic as well.
Grimlock, of all people, is left in charge of explaining the Autobot Lexicon to the reader. He explains that he was "encouraged" by his "great friend" Optimus Prime to write his memo in bot mode, as his alt mode "sometimes leaves [him] less articulate." This is a clear reference to Grimlock's incarnation from the Cyberverse cartoon.
Among the terminology explained in said lexicon are a lot of common words like "alt mode", Cybertron, and Energon. Less common, however, are phrases like Functionalism [sic], NAIL, and Rite of the Autobrand.
Shockwave's report to Megatron regarding the lack of sustainable Energon reserves was handed to Optimus Prime by an operative codenamed "Dealer".
In his report, Shockwave mentions that he had to "dispatch" a crazed prisoner - "Prisoner D-322". D-322 was the ID number for Goryu, leader of the Dinoforce in Transformers: Victory.
Among the "Influences" you can choose for your Transformers character is "Cube Player". Cube was first introduced as a popular Cybertronian sport in the Cyberverse cartoon.
Another Influence is that of "Gladiator", with gladiatorial combat being another favorite of many a Cybertronian in a slew of different continuities.
The "Racer" Influence makes mention of Velocitron, a Cybertronian colony world concerned almost entirely with racing.
The metal Durabyllium is mentioned in the "General Perks" section, and a character can equip themselves with "Durabyllium Super-Alloy".
Chip Chase is used as the example for the "Human Companion" General Perk.
The General Perk "Mayhem Attack" is named after the Decepticon strike force, Mayhem Attack Squad.
The "Remove & Rebuild" General Perk gets its name from a line of dialogue from Ratchet in the G1 episode "Divide and Conquer".
The "Threats" chapter contain an collection of other randomly assorted tidbits such as:
- Blitzwing speaks German, a likely nod to his Transformers: Animated counterpart.
- Slipstream's bio mentions that she may be "an advanced clone of Starscream", a clear reference to her original counterpart in Animated.
- Breakdown's profile, while just as limited as the rest of the Cons', hints at a partnership with Knock Out, and Knock Out's cheekily refers to Breakdown as his "assistant". This seemingly springs from the popular fan theory that Breakdown's Transformers: Prime namesake and Knock Out were more than just allies, something that IDW Publishing built upon once the duo had been introduced in first the 2005 continuity, and then again in 2021.
  - As a further nod to Prime Breakdown, this Breakdown is shown with his hand transformed into a large hammer, a weapon favored by the former.
The Autobot Road originates in the Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers manga, but Wheeljack's technical name for it, the Global Space Bridge, comes from 2001's Robots in Disguise, essentially blending the two similar concepts into one. The Autobots' use of a world-spanning network of transwarp portals also called to mind the GroundBridge from Transformers: Prime.
The energy-producing black stone pyramid in the Gulf of Mexico might be based on the Black Pyramid from Robots in Disguise, both being underwater pyramids made of a black stone used to generate power of a Cybertronian origin.

Trivia

This book was originally slated for release in early 2022, but several delays saw it waylaid for months until the digital edition finally released in August, followed by physical copies in October. Players who pre-ordered the physical version also received the digital PDF for free.
The rulebook was initially solicited with a cover by Dan Khanna and Evan Gauntt, featuring Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Megatron, Starscream (all in their "evergreen" designs), Windblade, Chromia, and Jazz. This was replaced in the final version.
Aside from art produced specifically for this book and the art from Hasbro's various Evergreen design documents, the artwork provided within borrows a lot of material from IDW Publishing's two runs as hosts for the Transformers comic book license. As such, a number of prolific Transformers artists have their work featured within the book, including Brendan Cahill, Casey Coller, Andrew Griffith, Guido Guidi, Marcelo Matere, Alex Milne, Sara Pitre-Durocher, Livio Ramondelli, E. J. Su, Priscilla Tramontano, and many more. One artist who doesn't get mentioned in the book's credits, despite his covers to both The Transformers: Stormbringer #1 and Spotlight: Cliffjumper being found inside, is Don Figueroa. This isn't the first time Don's work has gone unrecognized by Hasbro or its affiliates. Poor guy can't catch a break.
Much of the Hasbro-produced art from this book sees character sporting their Evergreen designs, a standard for Hasbro-licensed products and auxiliary media since 2016. Notable exceptions to this rule include:
- Blurr, who's based on his appearance in IDW's first continuity. Although, that iconic design has gone on to inspire his apperance in the Cyberverse cartoon, meaning that it's basically his Evergreen design by this point.
- Similarly, Drift is based on Guido Guidi's designs from All Hail Megatron.
- Broadside who looks like his incarnation from the G1 cartoon.
- Armorhide and Mega-Octane are in their Unite Warriors designs.
- Hubcap who shares his design with the character's incarnation from the Transformers Legends mobile game, itself a G1-ified version of his Movieverse counterpart.
The "Autobot Data Files" found in the first chapter, as well as the Decepticons found in the chapter "Threats", present a who's who of famous and infamous characters, including the ever-present Bumblebee, Optimus Prime, Megatron, and Starscream, but also a whole slew of B- and C-list characters, some of whom we rarely see represented in any type of media, including:
- Veritable newcomers such as Anode, Rubble, and Gauge from the comics of IDW Publishing.
- Armorhide and Mega-Octane from Robots in Disguise/Car Robots.
- The G1 incarnations of Demolisher of Transformers: Armada fame, and Airachnid and Knock Out who both originally appeared in Transformers: Prime.
- A few random combiner team members; Breakdown, Dead End, and Tantrum.
- Strangest of all, however, might be the inclusion of Erector, who hasn't had a toy out since 1989, and whose appearances are so rare that his "Notes" section on this very wiki is about as long as the rest of his page combined. His most recent appearance, and one of his most prominent at that, was in issues 10 and 11 of Transformers: Galaxies in 2020.
While there exist five Decepticons who are mentioned as being able to become parts of a larger combiner (Armorhide, Breakdown, Dead End, Mega-Octane, and Tantrum), there are no actual rules in the book detailing how combiners work gameplay-wise. ~~Though the safe bet is Renegade will make use of mechanics similar to those for the combined Zords featured in their Mighty Morphin Power Rangers roleplaying game.~~ Called it!
The statistics block for the "Scourge Drone" describes these space-faring threats as "flying warriors cloned form the maniacal and loyal Cyclonus". Cyclonus' own bio confirms that Unicron created him as a template for Galvatron's primary forces. This is at odds with the usual depiction of Scourge being the template on which these warriors are based. As of September 2023, the PDF has been updated to rename "Scourge Drones" to "Sweep Drones" and their stat block now describe them as copies of Scourge, however Cyclonus remains referred to as the template for Unicron's forces in his own stat block.

Transformers Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook

Contents

Contents

Chapter 1: Introduction

Chapter 2: Character Creation

Chapter 3: Influences

Chapter 4: Origins

Chapter 5: Roles

Chapter 6: Essence Scores and Skills

Chapter 7: General Perks

Chapter 8: Equipment

Chapter 9: Combat

Chapter 10: Exploration

Chapter 11: Locations

Chapter 12: Threats

Chapter 13: Running an Adventure

Notes

Errors

Transformers references

Trivia

Navigation menu

Transformers Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook

Contents

Chapter 1: Introduction

Chapter 2: Character Creation

Chapter 3: Influences

Chapter 4: Origins

Chapter 5: Roles

Chapter 6: Essence Scores and Skills

Chapter 7: General Perks

Chapter 8: Equipment

Chapter 9: Combat

Chapter 10: Exploration

Chapter 11: Locations

Chapter 12: Threats

Chapter 13: Running an Adventure

Notes

Errors

Transformers references

Trivia

Navigation menu

Search