Renegade Studios just announced 3 new RPGs series for Hasbro’s Transformers, G.I. JOE, and Power Rangers! Let’s break it down.
With traditional RPGs flourishing online while we were all quarantined, Renegade Studios was working on three RPGs for loved three beloved universes. Transformers, G.I. JOE, and Power Rangers each have very dedicated fans who are sure to love new ways to explore their worlds. This comes from an announcement post (and stream) from Renegade Studios’ official blog.
However, we will go over all of the basics you need to know below starting with Transformers!
Three Fantastic Universes Are Getting RPGs From Renegade Studios
In the Transformers Roleplaying game, create your own Autobot character and wage your battle to destroy the evil forces of the Decepticons! Whether defending Earth against Megatron’s plans of attack, searching for elusive stores of Energon, or protecting innocent humans and Cybertronians alike, your game is only limited by the stories you create!
This book contains everything you need to create your own Transformers robot character and play the game – just add dice, some friends, and your imagination:
- Complete rules for players and Game Masters focused on fun storytelling and epic combat
- Character creation tools, weapons, equipment, vehicles, and villain dossiers
- Combat and exploration information, details of secret bases and special equipment, and tools to get your campaign started
- An introductory adventure for 1st-level characters that is ready to play with your new character
For this RPG it looks like you’ll be playing as the Autobots, while the GM/DM will take the helm as the leading force of the Decepticons. Of course, as with most RPGs, there is a GM/DM resource and even some other goodies like dice or a dice bag if you are interested!
You can find all the information about them, or even how to order them, here.
Gi Joe RPG
In the G.I. JOE Roleplaying game, create your own Joe by choosing your military training origin, personal traits, and role within the G.I. Joe organization to become a Real American Hero and save the day!
This book contains everything you need to create your own G.I. JOE character and play the game – just add dice, some friends, and your imagination.
Features:
- Create your own unique G.I. JOE character
- Full rulebook for running your own G.I. JOE Roleplaying Game
- One Gamemaster leads the story with a group of players
- Contains introductory adventure for new team
- Full color hardcover book with 304 pages with ribbon bookmark
Just like the Transformers, this book has you inside the universe! You’ll be playing as a new JOE fighting off COBRA and anything else that might threaten America or the World! Again just like Transformers, this is coming with its own suite of support and supplements. A book for GM/DMs, dice, and a dice bag. Plus a neat collectors edition if you are especially excited.
Check out the details on their official post here.
Power Rangers RPG
Become a Power Ranger and protect Angel Grove and the Earth against the evil forces of Rita Repulsa, Lord Zedd, Master Vile, and more in the epic world of Power Rangers! Whether you interrupt Rita’s monster attacks in her attempt of world domination or defeat the forces of the Machine Empire from invading Earth, there is no limit to the heroic stories you will tell.In the Power Rangers Roleplaying Game, create your ultimate Power Ranger persona by combining personal traits, childhood influences, and your chosen Ranger color to make a hero worthy of the Power!This book contains everything you need to create your own Power Rangers character and play the game – just add dice, some friends, and your imagination:
- Complete rules for players and Game Masters focused on fun storytelling and epic combat
- Character creation tools, weapons, equipment, Zords, and more from the Zordon era
- Combat and exploration information, detailed locations in Angel Grove, and tools to get your campaign started
- An introductory adventure for 1st-level characters that is ready to play with your new character
Last, but certainly, not least is the world of Power Rangers. This rule book brings more of what you would expect, the basics of playing, and how you might want to fend off all the different monsters and creatures seeking to harm the world! Just like the other two books, this comes with a separate GM/DM resource, dice, and dice bags available for purchase.
You can find the details of how to get your hands on them here.
Essence20 RPG Engine
As you may have noticed the similarities in concept and design, each of these three RPGs will run off of the new Essence20 system by Renegade Studios.
The core mechanic for resolving a roll is for the player to roll a d20 along with their Skill die (ranging from a d2-d20). The result of the d20 and skill die must exceed the difficulty of the test in order to succeed. Characters with a specialization in the skill being tested get to roll their skill die and all dice below it, and pick the highest result to add to their d20 roll, increasing their odds of success! What’s more, a max value roll on ANY die is a critical success, leading to more chances for crits and more opportunities for great roleplaying incorporating them.
The most unique feature of this system has to be the dice rolling! While it might seem a little confusing at first, we don’t really know how combat will work. If combat still uses the same skill die system, the game might actually be super easy to pick up. Another awesome part about this system is that Crits can come from any max roll, leading to more crits, and more excitement in any session.
Character creation is also a little more streamlined, with clear sections to design; Origin, Role, and Influence. Origin is how and why they behave the way they do. The role is specifically their place in the team, do they stay back and come up with strategies, or maybe charge in headfirst. Influence is essentially the past, how and why they behave the way they do, in other words, what has influenced them?
All-in-all this seems like it will be a great new RPG system and might even help newcomers ease into tabletop RPGs a little more than some more complex games like DnD.
What do you think about this? Are you happy to hear new RPGs for large IPs are being made?
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About the Author: Andrew Schrank
Andrew Schrank
Job Title: Miniatures & Warhammer Hobby Staff Writer
Socials: Facebook
About Andrew Schrank: Over the past 15 years, Andrew has played all the games, including tabletop and video games, and immersed himself in the associated lore. Andrew joined the Spikey Bits team in 2018 and covers the Warhammer hobby and tournament scene, along with the latest in tabletop miniatures, each week.
Aspiring diplomat, Lord of Fluff, and Master of Ice Hammer, He loves Star Wars, Chaos Undivided, and Gundam. During his free time, he hunts Platinum trophies on PS5 and reads international news. On weekends, Andrew plays commander and cEDH games, often with unique strategies that push the limits.
He believes each day presents a new opportunity to grow and be challenged.
