Let's Have a Peek At TRANSFORMERS and GI JOE!

Over the last few days, Renegade Game Studios has revealed more information about its upcoming line of tabletop RPGs, including Power Rangers, Transformers, and GI Joe! The three hardcover core rulebooks have been revealed ($55 each), powered by their new Essence20 system, along with dice, dice bags, GM screens, and deluxe editions of each book.

Essence20: The New RPG System Which Powers Hasbro Licensed Games

Renegade Game Studios announced last year that it would be making official tabletop RPGs of various Hasbro properties, including Power Rangers, GI Joe, and Transformers. This week, they revealed the d20-based Essence20 game system which will power those games...

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Fighting for freedom wherever there is trouble, G.I. Joe is there!

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

It’s Morphin’ Time!

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
  
  
  

More than meets the eye...

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 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

Autobots, Roll Out!

 

[Marc_C]

I remember all of these properties from my youth, but are they still popular with the kids? Are are they marketed to middle-aged guys like me looking for a nostalgic game, or is this something today’s younger audience will be interested in? I figured Transformers was still around after the movies a few years back, and GI Joe was a thing before I was born, so I wouldn’t be shocked if it’s still on the shelves, but I thought for sure Power Rangers was gone by now…
(Not hating on anything, just genuinely curious.)

GI Joe has had three movies. One in 2009, 2013 and the latest one 'Snake Eyes: GI Joe Origins' just came out this week. Not a coincidence.

 

[jeffh]

Is it just me or is the perspective on that GI Joe cover really weird? It's very hard to tell where anything/anyone is in relation to each other.

That's still the one I'm most interested in and it's not close.

 

[Dire Bare]

I am not sure who this is marketed for. Is it for existing RPG players or first time players?

Old folks who grew up in the 80s on a steady diet of Transformers, G.I.Joe, Power Rangers, and D&D. Me!

The Essence20 system that powers these games sounds more simple and light than D&D, but . . . these rulebooks seem geared towards existing RPG fans, and not designed as intro products. I'm sure you could play these with your kids, but they aren't aimed at today's kids . . . . even though all three franchises still kick out material aimed at kids.

 

[Marc_C]

Old folks who grew up in the 80s on a steady diet of Transformers, G.I.Joe, Power Rangers, and D&D. Me!

The Essence20 system that powers these games sounds more simple and light than D&D, but . . . these rulebooks seem geared towards existing RPG fans, and not designed as intro products. I'm sure you could play these with your kids, but they aren't aimed at today's kids . . . . even though all three franchises still kick out material aimed at kids.

They are tie-in products for the Renegade games CCGs for the three franchises. Maybe the kids will play the CCGs and then get into the rpgs. Or vice versa if their parents have shown them how to play rpgs when they were old enough.

 

[Weiley31]

Well, not directly compatible...but give the fans a little time.

They are, however, compatible with each other: So you can have the Megazord fighting against Megatron while Starscream is getting his afterburners kicked in hard by Rainbow Dash while 80's cartoon version of Cobra Commander is screaming DEEEEEEEEESTRO HEEEEEEEELP!!!! as he's running in between everything as the explosions are going on.

Cue the bonus scene of the DM, as Destro, just shaking his head at the ridiculousness of it all.

 

[Dire Bare]

They are tie-in products for the Renegade games CCGs for the three franchises. Maybe the kids will play the CCGs and then get into the rpgs. Or vice versa if their parents have shown them how to play rpgs when they were old enough.

The card games aren't CCGs (collectible), they are "deck-building" card games. While CCGs involve deck-building, and you can collect anything, the terms have different meanings. They also aren't tie-ins with the RPGs, they are different games produced under the same license, with similar art-styles and trade dress. They are also, IMO, aimed at the same market . . . existing gamers who grew up on these franchises, not kids. Neither the RPGs or card games are intro products.

Although certainly, I'm sure Renegade made these games accessible to younger and newer players and would be happy if parents who grew up on the Transformers, et all, shared these new games with their kids.

 

[Parmandur]

I remember all of these properties from my youth, but are they still popular with the kids? Are are they marketed to middle-aged guys like me looking for a nostalgic game, or is this something today’s younger audience will be interested in? I figured Transformers was still around after the movies a few years back, and GI Joe was a thing before I was born, so I wouldn’t be shocked if it’s still on the shelves, but I thought for sure Power Rangers was gone by now…
(Not hating on anything, just genuinely curious.)

I can confirm, they still make Power Rangers and apparently it's as profitable as ever, particularly with kids.

One of the most amusing and bemusing things about having kids is learning what cultural things have stood up and lasted through time. These three properties are well up there, as is Pokemon.

 

[Parmandur]

The card games aren't CCGs (collectible), they are "deck-building" card games. While CCGs involve deck-building, and you can collect anything, the terms have different meanings. They also aren't tie-ins with the RPGs, they are different games produced under the same license, with similar art-styles and trade dress. They are also, IMO, aimed at the same market . . . existing gamers who grew up on these franchises, not kids. Neither the RPGs or card games are intro products.

Although certainly, I'm sure Renegade made these games accessible to younger and newer players and would be happy if parents who grew up on the Transformers, et all, shared these new games with their kids.

Pokémon. About right, particularly with the default versions of the world's they seem to be going with.

 

[GMMichael]

So, I'll need dice, some friends, and imagination?

Also, is Cobra the good side now? They're the ones wearing masks like they're supposed to...

 

[LuisCarlos17f]

Renegade Game Studios has published several titles about Power Rangers. This mean they can the brand to work. Transformers isn't only for the toy fandom but the total mecha fandom. We shouldn't be surprised if we find a homebred adaptation of Ultraman, for example. G.I.Joe now is the closest to a d20 Modern new edition, and perfect for lovers of one-man-army action movies or shooter-videogames (Metal Gear and company). Here we could see a homebred version of Resident Evil, for example, or Dead Space.

Later we could see more kid-friendly RPGs, for example PJ Mask.