Mechamorphis Targetmasters

[Dire Bare]

If anybody has been playing FFG's Mechamorphosis (d20 Transformers!) and/or is familar with it, I could use some help!

My group is basically running a G1 style Transformers game, and I am trying to build a Targetmaster . . . the guys from the cartoon (and toys) who had little buddy Transformers that went from robot to gun mode for the big bot!

So far, it looks like I would take the Link [alt form] special ability, gaining a Small linked mechamorph as a companion. The rules state its alt form can be a weapon, stowed away while my main bot is in alt form. But the rules seem unclear how this all would work. The Weapon alt form rules have you assign a priority to determine what kind of weapon can be your alt form, but a linked mechamorph doesn't have priorities to assign! (right?)

What I want to do is have my linked mechamorph transform from robot to an automatic blaster pistol, that can morph again with a gear automatic blaster pistol I "purchased" and form a more powerful automatic blaster rifle. Seems if I did this, getting the "familar" benefit of an alt form link would be overpowered, even if I don't do the second blaster rifle morph.

Also, normally when your main 'bot morphs into alt mode without your linked companion, you suffer penalties. Does this make sense if your linked companion is a stowed weapon?

The rules seem pretty clear about constructing "Headmasters" or "Powermasters", but not "Targetmasters"!

Any thoughts?

 

[philreed]

The rules seem pretty clear about constructing "Headmasters" or "Powermasters"

Really? I am gonna have to get this book.

 

[malladin]

Phil - get it! I don't think I'll ever get to run it, but its worth the very resonable price on its reading value alone. Plus, as a game designer, its got some interesting game systems - some are a bit messy, but it certainly makes a complicated concept simple and it seems playable.


Dire Bane - I think you need to take the controller class and boost your companion up with the Improved Form class abilities. It will probably take you a while to get them up to being guns, but a short-sword master is posible at 1st level. You can gat a simple firearm form at 3rd level. The Link special power doesn't seem the best option as you want a buddy transformer, who can be a robot or a gun. Infact, I can't find it in my copywhere it says Links have alt forms at all.

I think if I was given this concept as a GM I might try and come up with some way to make it workable from 1st level. Maybe let you have a gun form for a single class ability, but give it a penalty to hit which you have to buy back with your next two class features (probably a -4, which is standard nonproficient penalty, anyway) and drop it to -2 with your 2nd class ability and 0 with your third. That way if you feel you need a few levels of soldier (as would be appropriate for this concept) you can buy up your to-hit penalty later.

Cheerio,

Ben

 

[Dire Bare]

I think you need to take the controller class and boost your companion up with the Improved Form class abilities. It will probably take you a while to get them up to being guns, but a short-sword master is posible at 1st level. You can gat a simple firearm form at 3rd level. The Link special power doesn't seem the best option as you want a buddy transformer, who can be a robot or a gun. Infact, I can't find it in my copywhere it says Links have alt forms at all.

Looks like I did misread somewhat the Link rules on page 37. For a primary form link, when the links morphs into your main character's alt form, it becomes part of the alt form such as a trailer, cargo rack, or stowed weapon But for the alt form link, the rules only allow for the link to morph into your primary form as your head, arm, leg, or part of your torso.

So, we have a character class that covers the "cassette tape" companions, the Controller class; we have a special ability that covers "Headmasters" and "Powermasters", the Link ability; but we don't have rules that cover well the "Targetmaster" concept. I was going thru my "More Than Meets the Eye" Official Guidebook from Dreamwave last night and picked out some more Transformer "technologies" that we need Mechamorphosis rules for!

• "Cassette Tapes" -- Controller Class
• "Powermasters" - Link [Alt Form] special ability
• "Headmasters" - Link [Alt Form] special ability
• "Targetmasters" - need rules
• Non-sentient mecha companions ("Actionmaster" gear, Optimus little buggy) - need rules
• Limited Mechamerge (i.e. Micromaster Combiners, two robots, 1 vehicle alt form) - variant on Mechamerge rules?
• "Pretenders" - need rules for this and other types of "power armor"
• Energon (Nexus) weapons - mentioned in book, but no rules
• Matrix of Leadership - rules to turn Hot Rod into Rodimus Prime!
• Clones (two robots share one "spark") - feat?
• Double Spy (Punch/Counterpunch) - two primary forms, 1 alt form

.

I'm sure that true Transformerphiles could find more (I only have nostalgic remembrances of the TV show, the coffee-table book "Transformers: The Ultimate Guide, and Vols 1 & 2 of Dreamwave's "Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye Official Guidebook"). And I'm sure that we could find even more wacky stuff from the newer cartoons Armada and Energon!

I appreciate the advice Malladin, but I think to keep things consistent my Targetmaster needs to be a special ability similar to Link [alt form]. It needs to allow for one or two Targetmaster companions, each companion morphs into a pistol of some sort, then both companions can merge together into a rifle. Should the ability cost points assigned just to special abilities, or that AND points assigned to gear? Hmmm, things to think about.

 

[Dire Bare]

Really? I am gonna have to get this book.

Oh yes, it's worth it! I bought it in PDF form from Drivethru RPG, but it's still available in softcover from Amazon (and probably elsewhere).

There are errata problems (aren't there always), and as Malladin pointed out, some awesome rules systems and some clunky ones. But overall, this is d20 Transformers with the serial numbers filed off. As discussed in the thread, the rules don't cover everything the Transformers toy line/cartoon show came up with, but it comes pretty darn close and with just a few added feats, special abilities, and maybe classes it would be perfection.

If only we knew an amazing game designer who likes giant transforming robots . . .

 

[philreed]

I now own Mechamorphosis. The little bit I've read tells me that I must stop progress immediately on the mecha design PDF I've been working on so that I can digest Mechamorphosis. I'm also gonna reread my TF Generation 2 comics (I don't care what people say, I think the G2 comics were fantastic and I loved the art) to put me in the right frame of mind.

Too many cool ideas and not enough time.

 

[SWBaxter]

Really? I am gonna have to get this book.

Pretty much all of FFG's Horizon line are just short of must-buys, IMHO. Each one packs a ton of cool ideas into a little tiny book, and if nothing else they show exactly how far you can take the D&D rules since they're all standard d20 products rather than OGL.

 

[philreed]

I've got Mechamorphosis (found the print copy yesterday -- I may just go buy the PDF later today, though), Grimm, and Redline. I've glanced at Virtual a few times and Spellslinger just didn't sound interesting to me.

For the record, yesterday was the first time I've ever seen a print copy of Mechamorphosis. That's definitely an indication of just how much the current distribution system is failing the hobby.

I'm happy to see that FFG made the "mechamorph" term and creature type OGC. I was a little surprised to see rules for generating ability scores, though.

 

[Sweetfires]

And for those who are interested, here's a link to some new rules which include new feats, prestige classes, and rules for human characters. http://www.neo73.plus.com/mechamorphosis_content.htm#NEW RULES:

One new prestige class is the Biomorph, which is based on Pretender tech.