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 & Ben Heisler}}
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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	}}
Music	}}

{{#if: Transformers Roleplaying Game cover art (Preorder).jpg | {{#if: Renegade Game Studios | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: August 22, 2022 | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: Ryan Costello, Gabriel Hicks, JF Sambrano, Bryan C.P. Steele, Elisa Teague, Eddy Webb & Ben Heisler | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: ISBN 978-1-7368843-3-1
| {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: 288 | {{#if: $55.00 USD
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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".

This chapter, written from the in-universe viewpoints of Optimus Prime and his allies, serves as an introduction to the world of the Transformers and the many Autobots that populate it. It also contains an overview of the concept of a roleplaying game and the role of the game master for new players. {{ #if: {{#ifexpr: 3 }}

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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

}}

Chapter 2: Character Creation

Chapter 2 contains a step-by-step guide to using the material in the book to create a team of heroic Autobots, ready to destroy the evil forces of the Decepticons. {{ #if: {{#ifexpr: 3 }}

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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

}}

Chapter 3: Influences

Chapter 3 covers Influences: the various life experiences that shape a Cybertronian's personality and turn them into the 'bot they are. Each player character can have up to 3 Influences, but the second and third Influences come with associated Hang-Ups that negatively affect the character.

Hang-Ups
Background Bonds
Having Multiple Influences
Customizing an Influence

Influences

Bureaucrat
Cube Player
Experiment
Former Senator
Gladiator
Hunter

Inventor
Machinist
Racer
Scavenger
Security
War Veteran

Hang-Ups

Distressed
Earthspoiled
Glacial
Idolizer
Impulsive
Mode Attachment

Skeptical
Subordinate
Treacherous
Vainglorious
Violent
Whimsical

Chapter 4: Origins

Chapter 4 covers Origins—or, in Transformers terms, body-types. An Origin sets the player character's size, movement speeds and primary Alt Mode, though certain Perks and Roles allow them to obtain additional Alt Modes. {{ #if: {{#ifexpr: 2 }}

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Choosing Your Origin
Converting Between modes
Origin Traits
Bot Mode Statistics
Alt Mode Statistics
Defining Your Alt Mode

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Origins

Champion: Bots who transform into flashy, good-looking ground vehicles: sports cars, luxury sedans and limousines.
Cutter: Transformers who turn into aquatic vehicles, be they speedboats, submersibles or yachts.
Lookout: Bots that transform into small, inconspicuous vehicles or objects.

Monolith: Huge Cybertronians that turn into big vehicles: freight trucks, big vans and military transports.
Outrider: Transformers who are as at home off the roads as on them, turning into all-terrain vehicles like Jeeps and SUVs.
Rainmaker: Bots built for war, turning into mobile weapons platforms and other militarized vehicles.

Seeker: Airborne Transformers capable of hovering in Bot Mode, who transform into jets, helicopters and other air vehicles.
Support: Bots that specialise in aiding others with their built in equipment, transforming into anything from rescue helicopters to ambulances to construction equipment.

Chapter 5: Roles

Chapter 5 covers Roles, which are more or less a mechanical representation of functions, and the main way that a player character's progression is determined. When a player chooses their Role, they also choose a Focus, which grants more specialized abilities.

Role Out
Role Overview
For the Allspark!

Origins

Analyst: Analysts are information warfare specialists who can manipulate the game's Initiative-based combat order by boosting up allies or suppressing enemies.
- Manipulator Analysts disorient their foes with holo-projectors and electro-disrupters.
- Spec Ops Analysts use charisma and deception to gain an enemy's trust... then strike when their foes least expect it.
Field Commander: Field Commanders make everyone around them better—they can temporarily boost an ally's stats or inspire their teammates to take free actions.
- Ambassador Field Commanders prefer to minimize casualties through negotiations, but will fight fiercely to protect non-combatants from harm.
- Strategist Field Commanders combine their inspiring presence with clever tactics to control the flow of combat.

Gunner: Gunners always have the right firearm for the job—whether they're sniping foes from afar, laying down a hail of close-range covering fire, or obliterating hard targets with heavy weapons.
- Gunslingers adapt to the changing battlefield by rapidly switching from one firearm to another.
- Sharpshooter Gunners are long range fighters who rely on single, precise shots.
Modemaster: Modemasters are well-rounded fighters with enhanced transformation abilities, who can take on extra alternate modes or link up with a smaller Mini-Con partner. Unlike other Roles, Modemasters can choose how to allocate their Essence Score Points and Skills as they level up.
- Microlinked Modemasters have formed a symbiotic partnership with a smaller Mini-Con Deployer; as they level up, they may pair up with an additional Mini-Con.
- Triple Changers gain extra flexibility by choosing an additional Alt-Mode.

The Modemaster's section also contains a guide on how to build a Mini-Con partner.

Scientist: Scientists start with extra Energon Points, which they can use to heal and support their allies in and out of combat.
- Medical Officers patch up injured teammates and protect them from incoming damage.
- Gadgeteer Scientists can augment their allies with advanced technology, jury-rig battlefield equipment, and take out enemy equipment.
Scout: Scouts excel at gathering intelligence, marking targets, and causing havoc behind enemy lines.
- Outrider Scouts rely on speed to evade their enemies.
- Prowler Scouts use stealth tactics and silenced weapons to ambush their opponents.
Warrior: Warriors are close-range fighters who specialize in melee combat. When a Warrior takes enough damage to be Defeated, they may choose to instead lose one of their limbs and fight on with a temporary stat loss.
- Sentinel Warriors emphasize defence and precision.
- Wrecker Warriors prefer one-on-one combat.

Chapter 6: Essence Scores and Skills

Chapter 6 gives a breakdown of the core mechanic of the Essence20 system, that being Essence Scores and Skill Ranks. It also contains an explanation of each Skill and a set of sample Specializations players can take in that Skill. {{ #if: {{#ifexpr: 2 }}

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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

}}

Chapter 7: General Perks

This chapter contains a list of Perks not tied to a single Role or Origin, allowing players to set their characters apart from others of their particular combination of templates.

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

Chapter 8: Equipment

This chapter covers how characters are assigned weapons, armor and other gear, as well as how hardpoints (the Transformers setting's equivalent of "hands", and mounting points for weapons and useful vehicular equipment) work. {{ #if: {{#ifexpr: 2 }}

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

}}

Chapter 9: Combat

Chapter 9 gives a step-by-step guide to the flow of combat in the Essence20 system, with explanations of different types of Actions, Attacks and combat Movement. {{ #if: {{#ifexpr: 2 }}

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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

}}

Chapter 10: Exploration

This chapter covers the nitty-gritty mechanical aspects of non-combat scenes, such as "cinematic" movement, the passing of time, and conditions player characters can be affected by. {{ #if: {{#ifexpr: 2 }}

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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

}}

Chapter 11: Locations

Chapter 11 fleshes out the Transformers' existence on Earth, with suggested locations and potential plot hooks for adventures. {{ #if: {{#ifexpr: 2 }}

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

}}

Chapter 12: Threats

Chapter contains an assortment of stat-blocks for potential foes and non-player characters your heroes can face, ranging from human civilians and generic troopers to Decepticon High Command's most deadly threats. {{ #if: {{#ifexpr: 2 }}

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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 Sweep Drone<ref>Labeled "Scourge Drone" in the first printing of the rulebook</ref> 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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This chapter contains generalised guidance for GMs on how to run adventures and campaigns, as well as "Troubled Waters", a premade adventure for 1st level characters. {{ #if: {{#ifexpr: 2 }}

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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!

}}

Mentioned characters

Characters listed in italics appear only in art, or as examples of a certain character creation option. {{#if: ||(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)}}

{{#if:{{ #if: {{#ifexpr: 3 }} {{#if:{{ #if: {{#ifexpr: 3 }}

3

Optimus Prime (1)
Bumblebee (3)
Jazz (4)
Wheeljack (5)
Windblade (6)
Perceptor (7)
Rewind (8)
Jetfire (9)
Blaster (11)
"Dealer" (13)
Grimlock (16)
Alpha Trion (17)
Anode (18)
Lug (19)
Arcee (20)
Bluestreak (21)
Blurr (22)
Brainstorm (23)
Bulkhead (24)
Chromia (25)
Cliffjumper (26)
Chromedome (27)
Stylor (28)
Elita-1 (29)
Erector (30)
Gauge (31)
Glyph (32)
Greenlight (33)
Hot Rod (34)
Hound (35)
Ironhide (36)
Kup (37)
Moonracer (38)
Nautica (39)
Nightbeat (40)
Novastar (41)
Omega Supreme (42)
Prowl (43)
Pyra Magna (45)
Ratchet (46)
Roadbuster (47)
Road Rage (48)
Crosscut (49)
Rubble (50)
Rung (51)
Sideswipe (52)
Sunstreaker (53)
Springer (54)
Swerve (55)
Ultra Magnus (56)
Wheelie (57)
Whirl (58)
Wreck-Gar (59)
Mirage (60)
Crosshairs (61)
Hoist (62)
Ravage (63)
Laserbeak (64)
Broadside (65)
Depthcharge (66)
Seaspray (67)
Seawatch (68)
Brawn (70)
Trailbreaker (71)
Hardhead (72)
Powerglide (73)
Grapple (74)
Inferno (75)
Warpath (76)
Hubcap (77)
Sentinel Prime (80)
Tracks (81)
Skids (85)
Topspin (87)
Drift (90)
Beachcomber (91)

}}|

Autobots }}{{#if:{{ #if: {{#ifexpr: 2 }}

2

Megatron (2)
Starscream (10)
Soundwave (12)
Shockwave (14)
"Prisoner D-322" (15)
Devastator (44)
Mega-Octane (69)
Astrotrain (78)
Scorponok (79)
Cyclonus (86)
Blitzwing (89)
Barricade (92)
Acid Storm (95)
Airachnid (96)
Armorhide (97)
Ruination (98)
Breakdown (99)
Menasor (100)
Knock Out (101)
Galvatron (103)
Sweeps (104)
Dead End (105)
Demolisher (106)
Detour (107)
Kickback (108)
Skywarp (109)
Slipstream (110)
Buzzsaw (111)
Rumble (112)
Frenzy (113)
Tantrum (114)
Divebomb (115)
Predaking (116)
Thundercracker (117)
Scourge (118)

}}|

Decepticons }}{{#if:* Chip Chase (88)

The Witwickys (93)
Professor Haley (94)
Ruby Anderson (119)
Ruth Anderson (120)|

Humans }}{{#if:* Amalgamous Prime (84)

Unicron (102)|

Others }}{{#if:|

Misc }}{{#if:|

Misc }}

3

Optimus Prime (1)
Bumblebee (3)
Jazz (4)
Wheeljack (5)
Windblade (6)
Perceptor (7)
Rewind (8)
Jetfire (9)
Blaster (11)
"Dealer" (13)
Grimlock (16)
Alpha Trion (17)
Anode (18)
Lug (19)
Arcee (20)
Bluestreak (21)
Blurr (22)
Brainstorm (23)
Bulkhead (24)
Chromia (25)
Cliffjumper (26)
Chromedome (27)
Stylor (28)
Elita-1 (29)
Erector (30)
Gauge (31)
Glyph (32)
Greenlight (33)
Hot Rod (34)
Hound (35)
Ironhide (36)
Kup (37)
Moonracer (38)
Nautica (39)
Nightbeat (40)
Novastar (41)
Omega Supreme (42)
Prowl (43)
Pyra Magna (45)
Ratchet (46)
Roadbuster (47)
Road Rage (48)
Crosscut (49)
Rubble (50)
Rung (51)
Sideswipe (52)
Sunstreaker (53)
Springer (54)
Swerve (55)
Ultra Magnus (56)
Wheelie (57)
Whirl (58)
Wreck-Gar (59)
Mirage (60)
Crosshairs (61)
Hoist (62)
Ravage (63)
Laserbeak (64)
Broadside (65)
Depthcharge (66)
Seaspray (67)
Seawatch (68)
Brawn (70)
Trailbreaker (71)
Hardhead (72)
Powerglide (73)
Grapple (74)
Inferno (75)
Warpath (76)
Hubcap (77)
Sentinel Prime (80)
Tracks (81)
Skids (85)
Topspin (87)
Drift (90)
Beachcomber (91)

}}|| style="background:#ffdddd;" valign="top" | {{ #if: {{#ifexpr: 3 }}

3

Optimus Prime (1)
Bumblebee (3)
Jazz (4)
Wheeljack (5)
Windblade (6)
Perceptor (7)
Rewind (8)
Jetfire (9)
Blaster (11)
"Dealer" (13)
Grimlock (16)
Alpha Trion (17)
Anode (18)
Lug (19)
Arcee (20)
Bluestreak (21)
Blurr (22)
Brainstorm (23)
Bulkhead (24)
Chromia (25)
Cliffjumper (26)
Chromedome (27)
Stylor (28)
Elita-1 (29)
Erector (30)
Gauge (31)
Glyph (32)
Greenlight (33)
Hot Rod (34)
Hound (35)
Ironhide (36)
Kup (37)
Moonracer (38)
Nautica (39)
Nightbeat (40)
Novastar (41)
Omega Supreme (42)
Prowl (43)
Pyra Magna (45)
Ratchet (46)
Roadbuster (47)
Road Rage (48)
Crosscut (49)
Rubble (50)
Rung (51)
Sideswipe (52)
Sunstreaker (53)
Springer (54)
Swerve (55)
Ultra Magnus (56)
Wheelie (57)
Whirl (58)
Wreck-Gar (59)
Mirage (60)
Crosshairs (61)
Hoist (62)
Ravage (63)
Laserbeak (64)
Broadside (65)
Depthcharge (66)
Seaspray (67)
Seawatch (68)
Brawn (70)
Trailbreaker (71)
Hardhead (72)
Powerglide (73)
Grapple (74)
Inferno (75)
Warpath (76)
Hubcap (77)
Sentinel Prime (80)
Tracks (81)
Skids (85)
Topspin (87)
Drift (90)
Beachcomber (91)

}} }}{{#if:{{ #if: {{#ifexpr: 2 }}

2

Megatron (2)
Starscream (10)
Soundwave (12)
Shockwave (14)
"Prisoner D-322" (15)
Devastator (44)
Mega-Octane (69)
Astrotrain (78)
Scorponok (79)
Cyclonus (86)
Blitzwing (89)
Barricade (92)
Acid Storm (95)
Airachnid (96)
Armorhide (97)
Ruination (98)
Breakdown (99)
Menasor (100)
Knock Out (101)
Galvatron (103)
Sweeps (104)
Dead End (105)
Demolisher (106)
Detour (107)
Kickback (108)
Skywarp (109)
Slipstream (110)
Buzzsaw (111)
Rumble (112)
Frenzy (113)
Tantrum (114)
Divebomb (115)
Predaking (116)
Thundercracker (117)
Scourge (118)

}}|

{{ #if: {{#ifexpr: 2 }}

2

Megatron (2)
Starscream (10)
Soundwave (12)
Shockwave (14)
"Prisoner D-322" (15)
Devastator (44)
Mega-Octane (69)
Astrotrain (78)
Scorponok (79)
Cyclonus (86)
Blitzwing (89)
Barricade (92)
Acid Storm (95)
Airachnid (96)
Armorhide (97)
Ruination (98)
Breakdown (99)
Menasor (100)
Knock Out (101)
Galvatron (103)
Sweeps (104)
Dead End (105)
Demolisher (106)
Detour (107)
Kickback (108)
Skywarp (109)
Slipstream (110)
Buzzsaw (111)
Rumble (112)
Frenzy (113)
Tantrum (114)
Divebomb (115)
Predaking (116)
Thundercracker (117)
Scourge (118)

}} }}{{#if:* Chip Chase (88)

The Witwickys (93)
Professor Haley (94)
Ruby Anderson (119)
Ruth Anderson (120)|

Chip Chase (88)
The Witwickys (93)
Professor Haley (94)
Ruby Anderson (119)
Ruth Anderson (120) }}{{#if:* Amalgamous Prime (84)
Unicron (102)|

Amalgamous Prime (84)
Unicron (102) }}{{#if:|

}}{{#if:|

}}

Notes

Transformers references

Introduction

In his introduction, Optimus Prime explains that he was once a file clerk, a 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.
An uncommonly verbose Grimlock 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"; the idea that Grimlock is intellectual in robot mode but adopts his classic "caveman speak" in dinosaur mode was prominently displayed by his 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.
Prowl is noted to have once formed the control unit for Devastator, something he did during his sustained downward spiral in IDW's The Transformers: Robots in Disguise. Reused art of "Prowlastator" appears later on in the chapter "Combat".

Character options

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 Analyst Role's "Postmortem Interrogation" Perk is based on mnemosurgery, a signature of Chromedome in the 2005 IDW continuity.
The description of the Special Ops focus notes that they might share a bottle of Visco, a Cybertronian beverage originating from Transformers: Exodus, with a target to learn what they want.
The "Wrecker" focus is, of course, named for the famous down-and-dirty Autobot commando team.
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".

Worldbuilding

The "Locations" chapter opens with an image of an industrial plant, on which graffiti can be partially seen, reading "-AST WARS 4EVER".
Bumblebee's report expresses confusion over whether the Ark crashed into Mount St. Hilary or Mount St. Helens, a nod to how Bob Budiansky's original pitch would have used the latter (real) volcano instead of the fictional one that ended up being used in the G1 comic.
The art for the "Interesting Places" section displays advertisements for the Central City Convention Center; road signs pointing to "84th Street", "Buster Ave" and "Berger Plaza"; and graffiti of a Sharkticon. There's also graffiti reading "Trine lives", a reference to a popular fanfiction term for trios of Seekers (such as Starscream, Thundercracker and Skywarp).
Of the three human city settings presented in the book, the first is Portland, Oregon, the main human city featured in the Marvel comic. It's noted to be home to S. Witwicky Auto Repairs & Tow Service and Burger Shed, both from the comic, as well as Vincenzo's Pizza, Robots Arcade and Benjamin Franklin Pierce High School from the G1 cartoon. It's also said to be home to the Onyx corporation, Garrison Blackrock's company from the 2005 IDW continuity, possibly in a nod to how Blackrock Enterprises was headquartered there in Marvel.
The second city described is Tokyo, Japan, which has (of course) been a central focus of many Transformers stories, particularly those in the Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity; Bumblebee specifically mentions using Tokyo Tower to help catch a strange energy creature.
The third, and most surprising, location given is the Mexican city of Mérida. While the city's only prior appearance in Transformers fiction was the obscure Transformers Collectors' Club-exclusive "Of Masters and Mayhem" comic, it's here tied to the Black Pyramid from Robots in Disguise, claiming that some of the stones used to build the cathedral were taken from the pyramid rather than the temple of Yajam Cumu. The book greatly expands on the pyramid from its original appearance, explaining that its black stone was created by the absorption of energy waves from the crashing Ark and Nemesis, and that the ancient Mayans were able to tap into it as a power source.
Potential Decepticon attack sites given include the power generation facilities Hoover Dam, Harrison Nuclear Power Plant, and Nova Power Plant; the military installations Oregon Four-Alpha, the Iron Mountain, Cape Carson and McKinley Army Base; the research facilities the Experimental Energy Research Laboratory, New Energy Resource Research and Development Laboratory and Quantum Laboratories, the latter of which is noted to have created the supercomputer TORQ III; and the observatories Haley Observatory, the Anitoba Institute for Extraterrestrial Communication and the Space Astronomy Research Center.
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 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.

Real-world references

Dinobot Island is described as being close to the real-life Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Dweep Island.
Orlando, Florida is noted to be a prime target for Decepticon attacks thanks to its high concentration of theme parks and resorts.

Errors

Not counting the errors that were corrected in the second printing:

Don Figueroa is left out of the book's credits, despite his covers to both The Transformers: Stormbringer #1 and Spotlight: Cliffjumper being found inside. This isn't the first time Don's work has gone unrecognized by Hasbro or its affiliates. Poor guy can't catch a break.
Confusingly, though the description of Electromagnetic damage was changed from affecting "non-Cybertronian robots" to "unprotected Cybertronian robots" in the second printing, the note that "Cybertronians had millennia to incorporate basic Electromagnetic defenses into their bodies" was changed to "Most Cybertronians have incorporated Electromagnetic defenses into their frames"... which is completely untrue in the game system. The Energy Resistor Upgrade can provide Electromagnetic immunity (though see below), but a dedicated "EM Protective Lining" Armor Upgrade would not be introduced until The Enigma of Combination.
The Close Combat Bludgeon weapon is listed as having a primary effect of 1 Stun and a secondary effect of 1 Blunt Damage (↓1), which would make it strictly worse than just punching someone with an unarmed strike. This went unchanged in the second printing, but developers clarified on Discord that the correct effect is 1 Blunt Damage as primary and 1 Stun (↓1) as secondary, as in the G.I. Joe Roleplaying Game.<ref>{{#if: That's a mistake. It should be 1 Blunt Damage/1 Stun (↓1) like in G.I. Joe. |"That's a mistake. It should be 1 Blunt Damage/1 Stun (↓1) like in G.I. Joe."—|}}{{#if: https://discord.com/channels/702536469365129256/881901780747817030/1026841807700623430 |Ryan Costello|Ryan Costello}}{{#if: Renegade Game Studios Discord |, Renegade Game Studios Discord|}}{{#if: |, ""|}}{{#if: 2023 |, 2023{{#if: 10 |/{{#switch:{{#len:10}}|1=010|10}}{{#if: 04|/{{#switch:{{#len:04}}|1=004|04}}|}}}}|}}{{#if: https://discord.com/channels/702536469365129256/881901780747817030/1026841807700623430 ||}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://discord.com/channels/702536469365129256/881901780747817030/1026841807700623430%7C7%7C11}}%7Cweb.archive= (archive link)|}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://discord.com/channels/702536469365129256/881901780747817030/1026841807700623430%7C8%7C11}}%7Cweb.archive= (archive link)|}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://discord.com/channels/702536469365129256/881901780747817030/1026841807700623430%7C7%7C10}}%7Carchive.is= (archive link)|}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://discord.com/channels/702536469365129256/881901780747817030/1026841807700623430%7C8%7C10}}%7Carchive.is= (archive link)|}}{{#if: | (dead link)}}</ref>
The various Weapon Upgrades that apply Element traits to weapons, and the Energy Resistor Armor Upgrade, incorrectly refer to "Energy traits" instead.
The Surgical, Maiming, Traumatic and Bewildering weapon upgrades say that they deal damage to the target's Toughness, Evasion, Willpower or Cleverness defenses (something not otherwise supported by the rules); they should respectively deal Strength, Speed, Smarts and Social Essence Damage.<ref>{{#if: In fact, in the G.I. JOE RPG, which they were written for, they do Essence Score damage. I didn't realize they were changed to Defense damage in TF. Not even sure why the change was made. |"In fact, in the G.I. JOE RPG, which they were written for, they do Essence Score damage. I didn't realize they were changed to Defense damage in TF. Not even sure why the change was made."—|}}{{#if: https://discord.com/channels/702536469365129256/881901780747817030/1201964821063405638 |Ryan Costello|Ryan Costello}}{{#if: Renegade Game Studios Discord |, Renegade Game Studios Discord|}}{{#if: |, ""|}}{{#if: 2024 |, 2024{{#if: 01 |/{{#switch:{{#len:01}}|1=001|01}}{{#if: 30|/{{#switch:{{#len:30}}|1=030|30}}|}}}}|}}{{#if: https://discord.com/channels/702536469365129256/881901780747817030/1201964821063405638 ||}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://discord.com/channels/702536469365129256/881901780747817030/1201964821063405638%7C7%7C11}}%7Cweb.archive= (archive link)|}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://discord.com/channels/702536469365129256/881901780747817030/1201964821063405638%7C8%7C11}}%7Cweb.archive= (archive link)|}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://discord.com/channels/702536469365129256/881901780747817030/1201964821063405638%7C7%7C10}}%7Carchive.is= (archive link)|}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://discord.com/channels/702536469365129256/881901780747817030/1201964821063405638%7C8%7C10}}%7Carchive.is= (archive link)|}}{{#if: | (dead link)}}</ref>
Page 191 twice refers to a nonexistent Threat Level 8 "Decepticon Commander" Threat. The second printing corrects one of these, but not the other, to "Decepticon Commando"—and still describes it as TL 8, when the Commando is TL 6!
Some of the Decepticon statistic blocks have mistakes in them:
- Many of the listed attacks are described as doing "Energy Damage", which isn't mentioned at all in the various descriptions of damage types; this appears to be a result of confusion between whether the Transformers roleplaying game was following the example of Power Rangers, which used Energy as a sort of "generic" Element damage, or G.I. Joe, which didn't have Energy as a damage type. The definition of Energy Damage would be given for Transformers players in Decepticon Directive.
- 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.
- The Seeker Bomber is listed under "Decepticon Drones", rather than "General Decepticon Threats" like the other generic Seeker statblocks.
- Okay, it's not strictly an error, but... Slipstream is given Starscream's iconic null-rays, but bizarrely, Starscream isn't; instead, he gets "electronic pulse guns". This is despite the "Equipment" chapter referring to Starscream using a null-ray.
In the "Troubled Waters" adventure, one line of text reads "If there is a Recovery Class Autobot in your troupe who took the Internal Cell equipment", referring to both a nonexistent Origin and a nonexistent Support Equipment. The second printing "fixes" this... to "If there is an Autobot on the team who took the Cage support equipment who took the Internal Cell equipment". Swing and a miss, guys.
Another "not strictly an error" one that bears mentioning: the "Green" General Perk is only available to characters from levels 1-4, and at 5th level players are instructed to replace the perk with a different General Perk. However, unlike in the G.I. Joe Roleplaying Game (where the perk originated), there's no way under the rules in this rulebook to get a General Perk prior to 4th level, meaning that you'll have the perk for at most one level before replacing it. Later rulebooks Decepticon Directive and the Transformers One Sourcebook would introduce the "Drone" and "Bot" Origins, which are able to get a General Perk at 1st level, making this less of an issue.

Trivia

Development and release

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.
During development, the Transformers Origins were referred to as "classes", as shown by pre-generated characters available before release and several leftover references in the "Troubled Waters" Adventure. Known development names include:
- Champion Class (Champion)<ref>{{#if: My sheet had "Champion Class" under origin. |"My sheet had "Champion Class" under origin."—|}}{{#if: https://discord.com/channels/702536469365129256/881901780747817030/1001305729665343508 |Eric F|Eric F}}{{#if: Renegade Game Studios Discord |, Renegade Game Studios Discord|}}{{#if: |, ""|}}{{#if: 2022 |, 2022{{#if: 07 |/{{#switch:{{#len:07}}|1=007|07}}{{#if: 26|/{{#switch:{{#len:26}}|1=026|26}}|}}}}|}}{{#if: https://discord.com/channels/702536469365129256/881901780747817030/1001305729665343508 ||}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://discord.com/channels/702536469365129256/881901780747817030/1001305729665343508%7C7%7C11}}%7Cweb.archive= (archive link)|}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://discord.com/channels/702536469365129256/881901780747817030/1001305729665343508%7C8%7C11}}%7Cweb.archive= (archive link)|}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://discord.com/channels/702536469365129256/881901780747817030/1001305729665343508%7C7%7C10}}%7Carchive.is= (archive link)|}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://discord.com/channels/702536469365129256/881901780747817030/1001305729665343508%7C8%7C10}}%7Carchive.is= (archive link)|}}{{#if: | (dead link)}}</ref>
- Expedition Class (presumably Lookout)
- Recovery Class (Support)<ref>{{#if: Those are Origins. Recovery was renamed Support. I don't remember renaming Expedition, so that change might predate my involvement. |"Those are Origins. Recovery was renamed Support. I don't remember renaming Expedition, so that change might predate my involvement."—|}}{{#if: https://discord.com/channels/702536469365129256/1004096892977827851/1012153946883760198 |Ryan Costello|Ryan Costello}}{{#if: Renegade Game Studios Discord |, Renegade Game Studios Discord|}}{{#if: |, ""|}}{{#if: 2022 |, 2022{{#if: 08 |/{{#switch:{{#len:08}}|1=008|08}}{{#if: 25|/{{#switch:{{#len:25}}|1=025|25}}|}}}}|}}{{#if: https://discord.com/channels/702536469365129256/1004096892977827851/1012153946883760198 ||}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://discord.com/channels/702536469365129256/1004096892977827851/1012153946883760198%7C7%7C11}}%7Cweb.archive= (archive link)|}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://discord.com/channels/702536469365129256/1004096892977827851/1012153946883760198%7C8%7C11}}%7Cweb.archive= (archive link)|}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://discord.com/channels/702536469365129256/1004096892977827851/1012153946883760198%7C7%7C10}}%7Carchive.is= (archive link)|}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://discord.com/channels/702536469365129256/1004096892977827851/1012153946883760198%7C8%7C10}}%7Carchive.is= (archive link)|}}{{#if: | (dead link)}}</ref>
- Monolith Class (Monolith)

Art

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, Don Figueroa and many more. Characters who appear in this borrowed art (but not elsewhere in the book) include the Aerialbots (including Barrel Roll), Sandstorm, Cosmos, Swoop, Slag, Metroplex, Trypticon, Swindle, Scrapper, Grindcore, Jhiaxus, General Sparkplug Witwicky, Longtooth, Circuit, Springarm('s dead body), Runabout, Rum-Maj, the Insecticon swarm, a Skywatch soldier, Streetwise, Brawl, Aileron, Sky Lynx, Doublecross, Onslaught, Dreadwing, Sinnertwin, Squeezeplay, Swift, Needlenose, Sparkstalker, Cindersaur, assorted Decepticon goons, and Garnak. Whew!
Much of the original 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 (though that 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.
- 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.

Rules

All of the weapons and weapon upgrades in this rulebook, with the exception of the Cover Grenade and ranged Elemental upgrades (see below), are based on ones that previously appeared in Power Rangers and/or G.I. Joe. However, several of them have been modified from their predecessors:
- The Pistol has been renamed the "Blaster".
- Unarmed attacks, the Close Combat Blade and Bludgeon, their Heavy counterparts, and the Large Thrown Weapon lack the "Martial Arts" trait; this is in keeping with Power Rangers, but diverges from G.I. Joe, which gave almost all close combat weapons the Martial Arts trait.
- Grenade weapons universally use Athletics instead of Targeting (again, in keeping with Power Rangers but not G.I. Joe)... with the exception of the Cover Grenade, which for whatever reason uses Finesse.
- The Short Bludgeon and Energized Close Combat Weapon have had Maneuver added as an alternate effect.
- The Short Blade gains "Multiple Targets 2" as an alternate effect, making it not just a harder-to-get version of the Close Combat Blade.
- The Medium Blade is based on the Power Rangers version (which has both "Multiple Targets 2 and "Multiple Targets 3" alternate effects, and requires Finesse or Might d4 to access) rather than the G.I. Joe version (which lacks Multiple Targets 3, but has no requirements).
- The Long Blade takes a greater penalty on its Multiple Targets 3 attack than the G.I. Joe version (↓3 instead of ↓1) and requires Finesse or Might d6 instead of d4, and on top of that deals less damage by default than the Power Rangers version (1 Sharp Damage instead of 2 Sharp Damage). Really got hit by a nerf here.
- The Long Bludgeon is completely different from either the Power Rangers or G.I. Joe versions, which were completely different from each other, for some incomprehensible reason.
- The Thrown Blade lacks the Power Rangers version's accuracy penalty on its primary effect. Like Power Rangers, but unlike G.I. Joe, it requires Finesse d4 to access (G.I. Joe requires Targeting d4 instead), and has Maneuver and Multiple Targets 3 as alternate effects.
- The Projectile Launcher requires Finesse d4 (like Power Rangers but unlike G.I. Joe), and gains Multiple Targets 2 as an alternate effect (unlike either).
- The Element Jet (i.e. a flamethrower or acid sprayer) gains Shove as an alternate effect. (Mmph mmmph.)
- Unlike the Power Rangers version, which could be used only with Athletics and required Athletics d2, or the Power Rangers version, which could be used only with Finesse and required Finesse d2, the Grappler here can be used with either and accepts either as a prerequisite. How nice.
- The Heavy Machine Gun has had its size reduced from Heavy to Long, and lacks the Anti-Tank and Mounted traits.
- The Artillery Cannon has had its blast damage reduced from 2 to 1, and lacks the Vehicular trait.
- The Rocket Launcher has had its blast damage reduced from 2 to 1, and requires Brawn d4 or Huge size to access.
- The Missile gains 1 Element Damage (with a ↑1 upshift) as an alternate effect and lacks Vehicular; however, it now takes ↓1 on its 2 Element Damage Blast alternate effect.
- The Deadly weapon upgrade can be applied to any damaging weapon, rather than just Sharp damage.
- The Silencer weapon upgrade, renamed "Absolute Silencer", can be applied to any Ballistic weapon rather than just sidearms.
Transformers adds a series of Restricted weapon upgrades to add Element traits to ranged weapons (Acid Bolts, Cold Ray, Electrobolter, Firestorm, Laser Beam, Sonic Resonator). Interestingly, G.I. Joe had a set of similar upgrades, but with completely diferent names and at Prototypical availability (one step harder to acquire than Restricted). The one exception, shared by both, is Disruptor, a Prototypical weapon upgrade that adds the Electromagnetic trait. Presumably, the developers felt that the Element traits were overcosted, but that easy access to Electromagnetic damage would be too powerful in a game against mostly Cybertronian opponents.
The only G.I. Joe Core Rulebook weapons to be left out of the Transformers Core Rulebook were the Thrown Bludgeon, Assault Rifle, Artillery Lobber (i.e. a grenade launcher or mortar), Power Tool, Submachine Gun, and Long Range Automatic Rifle. However, if you want to make your Gunner deal even more ridiculous amounts of damage, the weapons are fully cross-compatible, so with your GM's permission you can give them a semi-automatic sniper rifle and obliterate Decepticons from 1200 feet away.
Writer Ryan Costello has noted that he regrets making the "Deadly" weapon upgrade (which gives attacks a flat +1 damage) so easy to obtain, as it makes elemental damage upgrades redundant; he recommends house-ruling it to be Restricted availability instead of Limited to compensate.<ref>{{#if: Deadly was one of the first upgrades I designed, but in retrospect, I should have either removed it or made it Restricted. It's too good for its availability, and makes players regret taking more interesting options over it. |"Deadly was one of the first upgrades I designed, but in retrospect, I should have either removed it or made it Restricted. It's too good for its availability, and makes players regret taking more interesting options over it."—|}}{{#if: https://discord.com/channels/702536469365129256/881901780747817030/1114267165969875070 |Ryan Costello|Ryan Costello}}{{#if: Renegade Game Studios Discord |, Renegade Game Studios Discord|}}{{#if: |, ""|}}{{#if: 2023 |, 2023{{#if: 06 |/{{#switch:{{#len:06}}|1=006|06}}{{#if: 02|/{{#switch:{{#len:02}}|1=002|02}}|}}}}|}}{{#if: https://discord.com/channels/702536469365129256/881901780747817030/1114267165969875070 ||}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://discord.com/channels/702536469365129256/881901780747817030/1114267165969875070%7C7%7C11}}%7Cweb.archive= (archive link)|}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://discord.com/channels/702536469365129256/881901780747817030/1114267165969875070%7C8%7C11}}%7Cweb.archive= (archive link)|}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://discord.com/channels/702536469365129256/881901780747817030/1114267165969875070%7C7%7C10}}%7Carchive.is= (archive link)|}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://discord.com/channels/702536469365129256/881901780747817030/1114267165969875070%7C8%7C10}}%7Carchive.is= (archive link)|}}{{#if: | (dead link)}}</ref>
It should be noted that the "Energy Resistor" Armor Upgrade, which gives a character complete immunity from a single element damage type at Limited availability, is comically overpowered to the point of trivializing some encounters; its G.I. Joe equivalent only grants resistance to that damage, as the name would suggest here. We here at MediaWiki would humbly like to suggest that you house-rule Energy Resistor to only grant resistance.

Other

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: veritable newcomers such as Anode, Rubble, and Gauge from the comics of IDW Publishing, assorted combiner team members from both Generation 1 and Robots in Disguise/Car Robots, and various back-ported post-G1 characters. 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. Rules for combiners would eventually be printed in The Enigma of Combination, using rules similar to those for Megazords from the Power Rangers Roleplaying Game.
Demolisher is described as a military advisor and tactician with multiple perks relating to Alertness—a far cry from his original depiction as a lovably dim-witted grunt.
The statistics block for the "Scourge Drone" describes these space-faring threats as "flying warriors cloned form the maniacal and loyal Cyclonus", while Cyclonus' own bio refers to him as "Created by Unicron to serve as the template from which Galvatron’s primary forces would be droned". This is at odds with the usual depiction of Scourge being the template on which these warriors are based. The second printing of the rulebook (see below) renamed "Scourge Drones" to "Sweep Drones" and their stat block now describes them as copies of Scourge, but Cyclonus's bio still refers to him as the template for the Sweeps.

Differences between first and second printing

When the Core Rulebook was reprinted in 2023, a lot of edits were made, mostly to correct typos and erroneous language or to clarify unclear rules. {{ #if: {{#ifexpr: 3 }}

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3

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Added Ben Heisler to "Authors"
Corrected typo ("Cyberton") on page 8
Corrected typo ("inject" instead of "ingest") on page 9
Clarified that Cybertronians being carried by other Cybertronians only don't count as crew when in Alt Mode (page 47)
Removed extra Fine Motor from Outrider (page 52)
Corrected "Internal Hardpoint" to "Integrated Hardpoint" in Support's Origin Benefit (page 54)
Clarified that "Roll Out" perk allows you to convert both ways before combat (page 56, 58, 63, 68, 72, 78, 83, 88)
Added Training in Standard Armor Upgrades to Modemasters
Changes structure of Modemaster's Custom Frame perk to match wording elsewhere in the book ("Increase this Essence Score at Xth, Yth, and Zth levels" instead of "Increase this Essence Score at levels X, Y and Z"), and corrects typo that omitted a 14th level Essence Score increase for the Modemaster's First Essence (page 73)
Corrected typo ("languageh") on page 75
Mini-Con ally's bonus increased from two Essence Points (or one Essence Point and one Perk) for every two points their partner has in their Purpose to two for every one point their partner has in their Purpose (page 75)
Corrected typo ("5th" instead of "5th level") on page 79
Warrior's No Escape Perk is clarified to only trigger once per round (page 90)
Wrecker's Manifest Enhancement Perk is reworded to make it clear what Availability of Weapon Upgrades it can create at what levels (Standard at 3rd level, Limited at 7th level and Restricted at 16th level) (page 92)
Corrected formatting errors on bulleted lists under under Acrobatics, Culture and Technology (page 97 and 99)
Clarified that the GM's Story Point pool only grows when an enemy NPC Critically Succeeds on a Skill Test (page 105)
Changed Educated from adding an Energon Point to adding a Story Point (page 109)
Changed the Rapid Attack and Weapon Master General Perks' prerequisites from Targeting d6 to Finesse, Might, or Targeting d6 (page 111 and 112)
Corrected typo ("yield" instead of "wield") on page 116
Corrected typo ("an Energon") on page 117
Changed the description of Electromagnetic damage affecting "non-Cybertronian robots" to "unprotected Cybertronian robots" (page 119) (however, see "Errors", above)
Clarified that Stun only denies the target their normal Move Action and additional Move Actions are unaffected (page 120)
Added description of Versatile Trait (page 120)
Changed all mentions of "Stun Damage" to just "Stun" (pages 120-124, 197-255, 273-278)
Changed the Close Combat Heavy Bludgeon weapon's primary effect from "1 Stun Damage" to "1 Blunt Damage and 1 Stun" and its alternate effect from "1 Blunt (two hands)" to "2 Blunt Damage (two hands) (page 122)
Swapped range and requirements for the Small Thrown Weapon and Large Thrown Weapon (page 123)
Removed the Increased Armor upgrade being able to be taken multiple times (page 132)
Swapped benefits of Heavy Armor and Reinforced Plates (page 132/133)
Corrected "Bulbar" Support Equipment's name to "Bullbar", and changed its Alt Mode effect from "You’re immune to effects that would knock you" to "You’re immune to effects that would shove you" (page 134)
Changed Emergency Care Equipment's Alt Mode effect from "Your Science (Medicine) Skill Tests cannot suffer from ↓" to "Your Science (Medicine) Skill Tests cannot suffer more than ↓1" (page 134)
Changed Rotor Blades' Bot Mode effect from counting as a Close Combat Heavy Blade to a Close Combat Blade (page 135)
Changed Vehicle Repair Equipment's Alt Mode effect from "Your Technology (Repair) Skill Tests cannot suffer from ↓X" to "Your Technology (Repair) Skill Tests cannot suffer more than ↓1" (page 135)
Reworded description of Aiming rules and removed restriction on taking Actions in between Aiming and Attacking (page 144)
Changed an example of a Contingency action from "I’ll transform and roll out" to "I'll convert and roll out", because of course (page 145)
Corrected typo ("rangers" instead of "ranges") on page 148
Adds missing sentence clause ("he can only make two attacks, one against each target") to example of Multiple Targets (page 151)
Corrected typo ("Blur" instead of "Blurr") on page 152
Clarified that making Ram attacks requires spending a Standard Action during movement (page 163)
Corrected redundant sentence ("Crawling takes 1 foot of crawling takes 2 feet of Ground Movement") on page 170
Changed damage taken from Falling from 1 per every 10 feet to 1 for every length equal to twice your height, and removes requirement for characters to land Prone (page 171)
Changed penalty for taking actions in dim light from Snag to ↓1, and removed Alertness penalty based on Size (page 171)
Added that Stunned characters cannot take Standard or Free Actions (in addition to Move Actions) and that attacks against them gain Edge (page 174)
Corrected typo ("Cybertonian") on page 174
Corrected typo ("Decepticon Commander" instead of "Decepticon Commando") on page 181 (however, see "Errors", above)
Changed "Scourge Drone" to "Sweep Drone" in Threat table (page 191)
Corrected all mentions of "Hangups" to "Hang-Ups" (page 193-255, 271)
Changed mentions of "skill checks" to "Skill Tests" (page 195, 197, 235, 253, 271)
Corrected Barricade's size from "Large" to "Large/Long" (page 201)
Changed all mentions of "Scourges", "Scourge Drones" and the "Alpha Scourge" Perk to "Sweeps", "Sweep Drones" and "Alpha Sweep" (page 207 and 208)
Corrected Kickback's Toughness from "17 (19)" to 19 (page 215)
Changed odd wording ("even if he don’t use it to move far" to "even if he doesn’t move far") on page 229
Changed all of Soundwave's Defenses from from "19 (21)" to 21 (page 231)
Changed Ravage's "Cassette Alt Mode" Hang-Up from referring to "Your Alt Mode" to "Ravage’s Alt Mode" (page 233)
Changed name of "Scourge Drones" to "Sweep Drones" and corrected mention of them being cloned from Cyclonus to cloned from Scourge (page 240)
Corrected Cybertronian Trader's Alertness Skill modifier from +d2 to +d2* (page 252)
Changed mention of "non-Stun Damage" to just "damage" (page 252)
Corrected description of Race Car to not be copied from description of Compact Car (page 263)
Corrected typo ("may" instead of "may want") on page 174
Changed mention of "Expedition Class Autobot" to "Common Sized Autobot" (page 270)
Changed all mentions of "Sherman Dam" to "Hoover Dam" (page 271-)
Changed "a Recovery Class Autobot in your troupe" to "an Autobot on the team who took the Cage support equipment" (page 275) (however, see "Errors", above)
Removed redundant quotation marks (page 277)

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References

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

Mentioned characters

Notes

Transformers references

Introduction

Character options

Worldbuilding

Real-world references

Errors

Trivia

Development and release

Art

Rules

Other

Differences between first and second printing

References

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

Mentioned characters

Notes

Transformers references

Introduction

Character options

Worldbuilding

Real-world references

Errors

Trivia

Development and release

Art

Rules

Other

Differences between first and second printing

References

Navigation menu

Search