d20 Transformers...

[Von Ether]

There are somethings I won't pick up.

This game is one of them.

While I may not find a group of adults to play this game, my son is with me for the summer and he's 12. Besides just loving how the Horizon line reinterpets the d20 system with every release, this would be a fun intro for him to rpging.

 

[rvaughn_ffg]

Anything else on the sizing issues and compatability with other d20 games? This would be so great to introduce into a d20 modern world. That's what level adjustments and hit dice are for..

We've decided to go with a size alteration chart. Basically, our scale will differ from the normal d20 scale by an order of x10 or so. That makes your average robot (sportscar, economy car, van) Medium, your average mini-bot (Mini Cooper, motorcycle, ATV) Small, and robots that morph into jets, semis, and construction equipment would be Large.

That makes humans Tiny, I believe, though don't quote me on that. The HD/HP differential will be made up for with special DR rules and bonus hit points so a 1st-level mechamorph is quite resistant and sturdy compared to a 1st-level human.

 

[thundershot]

So.... no conversion notes or anything for someone who wants this stuff for normal d20? I might just have to stick with d20 Mecha for that... it was just a pain, is all...



Chris

 

[rvaughn_ffg]

So.... no conversion notes or anything for someone who wants this stuff for normal d20? I might just have to stick with d20 Mecha for that... it was just a pain, is all...

Oh, yes, definitely going to be conversion notes. Sorry, I meant to imply that. The "size alteration chart" will be a sort of "Here's what it looks like in d20, here's what it looks like in Mechamorphosis." So there will be rules for porting your pitiful humans (err . . . sorry, must've been channeling a gigantic megalomaniacal morphing robot for a second there . . . I meant "brave heroes") into Mechamorphosis terms, as well as for porting courageous and insidious mechamorphs into your d20 modern campaign.

 

[mistergone]

I personally prefer different takes on D20 and don't mind if the scaling is changed. It's what makes these kinda of products worthwhile and interesting, to me at least.

 

[Tonguez]

The Transformers have meet and fought the GI Joes with the Joes being able to hold there own against the giant robots. So my question is simply in this system can a CR 10 human with enough weapons/equipment fight (and potentially beat) a CR 10 Robot?
The only way the product is going to see longevity and/or use IMC is if this is possible...

 

[WanderingMonster]

While I may not find a group of adults to play this game, my son is with me for the summer and he's 12. Besides just loving how the Horizon line reinterpets the d20 system with every release, this would be a fun intro for him to rpging.

I will have no problem finding adults to play this game. Now they just need to make Thundercats d20.

 

[Sammael]

The Transformers have meet and fought the GI Joes with the Joes being able to hold there own against the giant robots.

This was in the comic TF universe. In the cartoons, humans were rarely, if ever, able to do any kind of damage to the Transformers in open combat. Bullets and human-designed lasers simply bounce off TF's plating. I suppose an RPG or stinger missile would be more harmful, but not by a large margin.

 

[rvaughn_ffg]

The Transformers have meet and fought the GI Joes with the Joes being able to hold there own against the giant robots. So my question is simply in this system can a CR 10 human with enough weapons/equipment fight (and potentially beat) a CR 10 Robot?
The only way the product is going to see longevity and/or use IMC is if this is possible...

Well, I've got a couple of responses to this interesting question . . .

1) Those were Transformers and Joes. These are mechamorphs and, well, nameless military guys. Despite the comparisons made this is, of course, not a Transformers or G.I.Joe license RPG.

2) The transformers-joes concept is a fairly new addition to the genre. Much more true to the giant-battling-intelligent-transforming-robot genre is the theme of the robots basically stomping the crap out of any human military forces sent their way. If the humans could face up to the Tyrants (the evil megalomaniacal warlike mechamorphs), why would they need the help of the Exiles (the courageous defenders-of-earth mechamorphs)?

3) In my experience and remembrances of the genre, there <b>are</b> a rare few instances of humans taking on the robots and winning. Wiley flesh-worms that get ahold of one of the robots' weapons, perhaps, or a prodigy technological genius that designs his own suit of battle armor or an electrical weapon that shorts out the robots . . . however, these are plot hooks and unique NPC concepts, not common occurrences. If there is room, we already have plans to include setting material that describes an elite military unit with just such capabilities.

4) As you make reference to by using the phrase "enough weapons/equipment," the validity of CR can seriously crumble in any game with high-tech weaponry. Give a mechamorph a human foe without any weapons, whether he's Snake-Eyes or not, and you end up with a Godzilla vs. Bambi replay. On the other hand, put a mook in the control seat of a humongous long-range auto-targeting cannon that can get through a mechamorph's DR, and the bot better duck for cover. We're therefore toying with the idea of including, just as there is a size-translation chart, a CR-translation chart that includes equipment CR bumps for humans with big guns.

That's my shpiel. Thanks for the comments and feedback, we'll be sure to take it into consideration during the development process.

 

[slingbld]

I'd hafta agree. Humans & the 'bots are not meant to be on a level playing field. I've been a Transformers fan since issue one of a "4 issue limited series" was released all the way up to issue 100, then add in the headmasters, GI Joe vs TF, TF Universe & TF: The Movie. As well, I've got the entire television run on cassette & am converting that to DVD as they are released.
Humans rarely ever were able to stand up to a direct assault from the TFs.
They are naturaly metalic, well armed & armored by comparison to the squishy human form.
Heck, BUMBLEBEE the smallest of all the Autobots stood about 8-9' tall in 'bot form!
I've got no problems with humans being none to powerfull next to a TF, generally speaking. Now there are exceptions (in the comic, there was a human names "The Mechanic" that showed up in the mid 20's issues that realy wrecked a few Autobots....

Slingbld~