Renegade announces new editions of Transformers, GI Joe, and Power Rangers RPGs, using D&D 5.5E instead of Essence20

Renegade is ending support for its Essence20 game system, in favor of Dungeons & Dragons 5.5E. Today, Renegade announced it was planning on publishing new editions of its Transformers, GI Joe, and Power Rangers RPG systems. However, the new editions will not use the bespoke Essence20 game system created by Renegade. Instead, the new editions will use a modified version of Dungeons & Dragons 5.5E. Renegade will also release Essence20 to 5.5E conversion guides for free on their website at a later date. Update: Renegade said on their Discord that they were ending support for E20 releases because sales were insufficient to continue with the system.

Renegade will release a BackerKit crowdfunding campaign for the new games, with Transformers and GI Joe running first and a Power Rangers BackerKit coming at a later time.

The Essence20 line seems to have been popular for Renegade, as they've been publishing content for all three licensed properties (as well as My Little Pony) since 2022. All three properties are licensed by Hasbro, which of course also owns Wizards of the Coast, the maker of Dungeons & Dragons. One could speculate that Hasbro could have pushed for a change to their big games system, but one could also argue that Renegade is looking to expand their playerbase by switching from a bespoke game system to a system with a massive existing playerbase.

 

[Belen]

I thought it was odd that GI Joe and Transformer RPGs weren't done using the 5E rules the first time around.

I did end up liking the E20 system, and I'm keeping the editions I have. The resolution system reminded me of Alternity's, D20 + ability die (Alternity used D20 + difficulty die).

Just saying E20 is a bit triggering after GM Sarli's failed e20 system evolved kickstarter where he stole all the money and now attacked and bans anyone who says anything to him about it.

 

[Belen]

This had crossed my mind as well. I thought it was odd that GI Joe would come from another company first before WotC put out their own 5.x Modern ruleset. I think there is and always has been a market for it. Alterninty, d20 Modern seemed to get decent support with supplements, but both got cancelled rather abruptly from what I recall. So, I don't know if that was because of poor sales but I seem to recall that both ended shortly before a new edition of D&D/d20 came out.

There are, at least, 2 pretty good 5e modern systems out there.

 

[TwoSix]

Just saying E20 is a bit triggering after GM Sarli's failed e20 system evolved kickstarter where he stole all the money and now attacked and bans anyone who says anything to him about it.

It's been over 15 years and I'm still a little salty about that. First time I ever got burned on a Kickstarter.

Plus, I think Saga was an excellent fork of the d20 system and am still sad that debacle ruined any chance it might ever have been iterated on.

 

[R_J_K75]

There are, at least, 2 pretty good 5e modern systems out there.

There is ModernAGE which Ive played. Which ones are you talking of?

 

[Belen]

There is ModernAGE which Ive played. Which ones are you talking of?

Everyday Heroes and UltraModern5

 

[R_J_K75]

Everyday Heroes and UltraModern5

I own Everyday Heroes but never read or played it. Think we as a group was burned out on 5E at the time. I own and ran a game or two of UltraModern5 around 2021 but didn't care for it. Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't it require the 5E 2014 rule set to play and make PCs?

 

[VashVet]

WotC 's marketing and reach makes abandoning your own design in favor of the lure of D&D Beyond very tempting.

I’m shocked…shocked, I say…that someone making a TTRPG of a licensed property chooses to follow the money.

 

[Belen]

I own Everyday Heroes but never read or played it. Think we as a group was burned out on 5E at the time. I own and ran a game or two of UltraModern5 around 2021 but didn't care for it. Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't it require the 5E 2014 rule set to play and make PCs?

Everyday Heroes is fun. I have used it for one shots.

I own UltraModern5 but have not read it.

 

[R_J_K75]

Everyday Heroes is fun. I have used it for one shots.

I own UltraModern5 but have not read it.

Funny were just the opposite. Is EDH pretty self-contained? I wasn't interested in movie IPs it adapted for modules/supplements.

 

[Stormonu]

Funny were just the opposite. Is EDH pretty self-contained? I wasn't interested in movie IPs it adapted for modules/supplements.

Everyday Heroes is self-contained.