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.

 

[R_J_K75]

So the one advantage for me with this 2nd edition being made is hopefully all the other G.I. Joe supplemental books they made for E20 will all drop in price and I can pick them up.

They have a sale on their website for some bundles that are pretty cheap for what you get. They come with pdfs too. Dont think you'll find them much cheaper. Only books missing are the two Factions in Action and Hawks Personell File. Looks like the individual books are pretty cheap too. I got the starter bundle and it was nice to have an extra core book for the table.

Starter Bundle ($90)

G.I. JOE Roleplaying Game Starter Bundle

Renegade Games Online Store

renegadegamestudios.com

Cobra Bundle ($110)

G.I. JOE Roleplaying Game Cobra Bundle

Renegade Games Online Store

renegadegamestudios.com

 

[R_J_K75]

They probably want to get these on D&D Beyond. Moving to 5.5 makes that possible.

One of my biggest complaints with the Essence 20 GI Joe RPG was the character creation. When you were done making a character everything was fine, but the way it was written was pretty confusing and the recommended steps seemed out of order. I went through the PC creation process and created a cheat sheet that outlined the order of the steps that made sense to me. If the second edition makes it to D&DB then that will most likely streamline things.

 

[R_J_K75]

The Essence 20 games are all part of a massive Humble Bundle collection right now

Can you post a link I can't find it?

 

[Reynard]

Can you post a link I can't find it?

Is it this one? Humble RPG Bundle: Roll Big or Go Home 2

If not, might post up the link to the one you are referring to.

 

[R_J_K75]

Thanks

 

[JPL]

I would love if the new edition of G.I. Joe ended up being a decent start to a generic modern 5.5 ruleset.

 

[Greg K]

I'm looking forward to the Three Seashell editions of these games.

So, player's willl play the game sitting on a bidet?

 

[R_J_K75]

I would love if the new edition of G.I. Joe ended up being a decent start to a generic modern 5.5 ruleset.

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.

 

[R_J_K75]

Does anyone know who is on Renegades staff now and designing the second edition as opposed to who designed the first edition? IS it the same people?

 

[Stormonu]

They have a sale on their website for some bundles that are pretty cheap for what you get. They come with pdfs too. Dont think you'll find them much cheaper. Only books missing are the two Factions in Action and Hawks Personell File. Looks like the individual books are pretty cheap too. I got the starter bundle and it was nice to have an extra core book for the table.

Starter Bundle ($90)

G.I. JOE Roleplaying Game Starter Bundle

Renegade Games Online Store

renegadegamestudios.com

Cobra Bundle ($110)

G.I. JOE Roleplaying Game Cobra Bundle

Renegade Games Online Store

renegadegamestudios.com

I didn't pick up the bundles, but did fill out my collection. But - ouch!!! Shipping was $25!