Category: Essence 20 Games

Power Rangers, GI Joe, and Transformers RPGs

I Feel Sorry for Renegade Studios.

I WAS a huge fan of Power Rangers, GI Joe, and Transformers RPG before big brother Hasbro ruined the TTRPG industry for many of us by causing the Dungeons & Dragons Open Game License debacle. I can’t support anything owned by Hasbro any more. Wizards of the Coast can’t be trusted right now. Hasbro can’t be trusted right now. @renegadestudios falls under the Hasbro umbrella. Sorry, family.

The fallout of the Dungeons & Dragons Open Game License disaster will probably affect it’s Hasbro cousin.

Renegade Studios makes RPGs and Board Games for a myriad of settings. They’re the current producers of Vampire, Hunter, and other World of Darkness properties. They make board games for Power Rangers, GI Joe, Transformers, My Little Pony, and more. I used to be a huge fan of some of the RPGs listed.

Power Rangers RPG was my jam this time last year. I loved running solo and small group RPG adventures in the Power Rangers Lightning Force campaign I was building. I’d even go back to it if I weren’t conscientious of the fact that Renegade is owned by Hasbro. The hobby and game industry, in which I participate is already being dominated by this huge corporation. Why do they want life to be hard on their potential customers?

It sucks that Renegade, who were off to such a great start, have to suffer because of their bigger cousin.

Wizards of the Coast is doing the best they can to appease Hasbro. I get it. All these little subsidiary companies have to earn their keep or be absorbed back into the larger corporation. Or worse- shut down completely. We went over three decades without Power Rangers, GI Joe, and Transformers RPGs. (Official ones, anyway.) Their losses are going to be mourned.

Vampire? Hunter? Now we’re into what used to be big names in the TTRPG industry. I could kind of see World of Darkness surviving via the Storyteller’s Vault courtesy of OneBookShelf. But new official material would probably go away unless Hasbro got the bright idea to do something with the Intellectual Property.

Hasbro is being boycotted right now. I would even go so far as to say canceled by outraged Dungeons & Dragons fans. The OGL 1.1 scandal sent massive shockwaves through the TTPRG industry. The message is clear: We, the fans, can no longer trust Wizards of the Coast or parent corporation, Hasbro.

The people at Renegade have to be feeling the pain, too.

If you’ve been in the roleplaying game space long enough, you get to know people. You meet fans, make friends, even lifelong companions playing games. Friendly Local Game Stores, conventions, friends from random pickup games online can be spread out all over the place. It seems like most of us know someone that works for a game company from social media, or wherever.

The people that make up Renegade Studios are like that, too. Many of them are not new to the industry. Very likely they know some Wizards of the Coast employees and Third Party Content Creators as well. Many of these creators are probably in contact with one another. I’m guessing all of these folx, WotC employees included, probably know freelancers in the industry, too.

Freelancers and small time TTRPG content producers are probably getting hit the worst by this OGL flap. Until a new OGL is, umm, ratified? Approved? Rammed down our throats by WotC if I had to guess. Until there is an official new OGL pick-a-number, a very large number of game companies hang in the balance.

I’ll say it again. Use your own discernment over who to support in the industry.

My personal preference is to let Hasbro and both of their TTRPG siblings twist in the wind. I won’t spend a dime with them until things change dramatically. We might be talking about 7th Ed D&D before I’ll buy another WotC product. My kids will all be getting board games and TTRPGs from every company that’s not associated with Hasbro in 2023. (I was looking forward to the relaunch of Axis & Allies from Renegade. Oh f🦆cking well.)

I think the financial crunch Hasbro was already finding itself in at the end of last year was already hurting Renegade. Personally, if I had Power Rangers, GI Joe, and Transformers RPGs? Y’all would be sick of hearing about sourcebooks and adventures for all three. I mean an egregious number of sourcebooks. I’d be begging Hasbro to let me put WotC to shame right now.

But, alas there are no Movie Universe Sourcebooks, vehicle guides, adversary sourcebooks, season sourcebooks, adventures like crazy or even a fan content policy. The GI Joe and Transformers RPG could have the crossover sourcebook from Hell if they wanted to. Renegade could be doing crossovers the fans have wanted to see for years, and they’re dribbling out little board game releases and fairly inconsequential adventure books for all these Hasbro licensed properties. Tis sad. The OGL debacle and heat from Hasbro is not helping at all.

I am sincerely hoping things turn around for Renegade in the coming year.

I would love to go back to writing Power Rangers stuff for FREE. I had some GI Joe adventures in the outline stages for this year. I so want an excuse to run Transformers with my kids. None of this will happen until the OGL disaster gets straightened out. Hasbro can 🦆🦆🦆🦆 my 🦆🦆🦆🦆 and 🦆🦆🦆🦆 themselves while they’re at it. I’m 🦆🦆🦆ing mad!

Thanks for stopping by. Keep fighting the good fight. Please keep the OGL battle fresh in everyone’s minds.

#OpenDnD
#DnDBeGone
#StoptheSub
#DnDONE emphasis on “DONE!”
#BoycottHasbro
#BoycottWotC

My Power Rangers RPG Campaign.

Taking a break from Power Rangers Super Lightning Force indefinitely. We were on the precipice of introducing new characters based on the White Ranger. I just can’t do it.

In light of the Jason David Frank tragedy, I’m putting the campaign on hiatus.

Every time I think about Power Rangers RolePlaying Game now, I feel very sad. I’ve decided to put the campaign on hiatus for a while. It just feels strange wanting to run it now. One of the key characters is a Tommy Oliver tribute played by my wife, a huge JDF fan.

I think this is another one of those campaigns that’s going to take a break and come back as something completely different, (i.e. a new team of Rangers,) OR it’s going to go away and I’ll run Transformers or GI Joe RPG. The third option being I work on my mecha/space game for a while.

In Memory of a Fallen Hero, Jason David Frank:

Gone, but not forgotten. He inspired so many in and out of the ring.

Thanks for stopping by, as always. We’re going to have some more cheerful articles coming up. So far this holiday season has been sort of a bust.

Rest In Peace, Jason David Frank.

We’ve lost yet another legend this year.
Too soon, my friend. Too soon.

I’m still in shock over this one.

If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you know that I’m a big Power Rangers fan. My wife is a huge Jason David Frank (Tommy Oliver) fan. Our kids all admire the original Rangers, too. Needless to say, the news of his passing hit like a ton of bricks around here.

He was 49. He inspired millions of people on and off camera. We’re going to miss him.

Monstober Day 26: Toy.

Kronus’ most recent creation. Mega Action Man comes with 16 points of articulation, Super Jujitsu Grip, Laser sword, Atomic Raygun, Rocket pack, and Missile launcher. Other figures and playsets sold separately. Batteries not included.

Toy Robot Man for Power Rangers RPG.

Mega Action Man

THREAT LEVEL: 7
SIZE: COMMON | HEALTH: 12
TOUGHNESS: 16 | EVASION: 16
WILLPOWER: 13 | CLEVERNESS: 16
GROUND MOVEMENT: 30 ft.
AERIAL MOVEMENT: 60 ft.
Kronus’ most recent creation. Mega Action Man comes with 16 points of articulation, Super Jujitsu Grip, Laser sword, Atomic Raygun, Rocket pack, and Missile launcher. Other figures and playsets sold separately. Batteries not included.
SKILLS:
Initiative +d4
Intimidation +d4
Melee +d6*
Perception +d4
Targeting +d6*
PERKS:
Rocket Powered Leap: .
Super Jiu Jitsu Grip: is a trained combatant and receives Edge on all unarmed combat as long as it is not wounded.
ATTACKS:
Unarmed Combat (Melee): +d6*, Reach (Toughness, 1 Blunt Damage)
Atomic Raygun (Targeting): +d6*, Range 30 feet (Evasion, 1 Energy Damage)
Lightning Vision (2x/scene, Targeting): +d4, Range 20 ft. (Evasion, 1 Electric Damage) lightning from its eyes in a 20 ft. line, targeting all creatures in that area.
The Laser Sword: (Melee): +d6*, Reach (Toughness, 1 Laser Damage)
The Missile Launcher: Once per scene: Targeting): +d6*, Range 120 ft. (Evasion, 1 Explosion Damage)
POWERS:
Plasticine body:
HANGUPS:
Weak Point: Mega Action Man’s strength resides within the screw on his back that holds him together.

Promptober Day 25: Deep Ocean.

In more modern settings, everything is usually cool unless the players find themselves running out of air, losing hull integrity of their vessel, or having to travel outside of a ship. On the other hand, really scary, huge things live underwater. Things such as kaiju.

When I think of the ocean, I think of Godzilla.

I think most DMs/GMs/et al tend to shy away from deep oceanic adventures. I know I do because in a fantasy campaign one must fiddle around with characters having to breathe, see, survive, fight, and sometimes cast spells underwater. It is difficult at best. Right up there with 1st Ed AD&D planar travel.

In more modern settings, everything is usually cool unless the players find themselves running out of air, losing hull integrity of their vessel, or having to travel outside of a ship. On the other hand, really scary, huge things live underwater. Things such as kaiju.

I’m worked with an adventure for Season 1 of my Power Rangers RPG campaign that covered the topic of kaiju. The presence of something similar to Godzilla wandered up on shore near Bennett’s Cove and and to be guided back out to sea.

Of course, the military, the Rangers, and even the bad guys were all super confused by the presence of such a monster that was seemingly under no one’s control. The creature rampaged because a nuclear plant was being built nearby and it felt the need to let the humans know that it was not okay to build one. The Rangers fought compassionately to get the creature back out to sea without wrecking the city. In true Mighty Morphin fashion, no one was seriously injured, but the nuclear plant’s construction site was smelted into glass by the kaiju’s breath weapon and stomped on by the Megazord. Needless to say construction has halted.

Who knows what other gigantic things could be lurking in the waters of a deep ocean. Real life humanity has barely explored most of the deep blue. Giant squid, sharks, and other sea life could be just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. There is always more lurking below.

Thanks for stopping by. I appreciate you! Have a great rest of the week.

Monstober Day 12: Face

A face has appeared out of nowhere. It seemingly has no body, no arms, legs. It’s as if a face were printed on one side of a massive coin. It flew into Bennet’s Cove unannounced, silently, and began taking over the minds of the townspeople. Now it’s up to the Power Rangers Super Lightning Force to stop it.

A new threat for Power Rangers RPG.

“I’m waiting for Brock to say it,” Olivia remarked over the comms.
“Nah. He won’t go there,” replied Trent.
“Guys, we’ve fought a lot of weird stuff, but this one wins the prize. First it’s a UFO. Then it’s a freaky face. Now it’s MY face. What the heck?!?”
“Guess he went there,” Xander said quietly as everyone tried to contain their laughter. “Face puns incoming.”

A face has appeared out of nowhere. It seemingly has no body, no arms, legs. It’s as if a face were printed on one side of a massive coin. It flew into Bennet’s Cove unannounced, silently, and began taking over the minds of the townspeople. Now it’s up to the Power Rangers Super Lightning Force to stop it.

That Face.
THREAT LEVEL: 8
SIZE: LARGE | HEALTH: 6
TOUGHNESS: 16 | EVASION: 16
WILLPOWER: 20 | CLEVERNESS: 20
Flight MOVEMENT: 30 ft.
SKILLS:
Targeting +d8*
Initiative +d6
Languages: English, French, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, Putty.
ATTACKS:
Energy Beams (Targeting): +d8*, Range 90 ft.
(Evasion, 2 Energy Damage)

Sonic Ray (Targeting): +d8*, Range 20 ft.
(Evasion 1 Sonic Damage, Stun.)

Mind Control Ray (Targeting): +d8*, Reach 100 ft. (Willpower,
Target falls under The Face’s Control)

Powers:
Mimic Faces/Voices: The Face uses a limited form of telepathy, allowing it to mimic the face and voice of anyone it sees. However, it does not know what the person being mimicked thinks or knows. This power can be used to confuse or misdirect opponents.

Mind Control Ray: The Face emits a Mind Control Ray to any one target within 100 ft. If it hits the target must make a Willpower save or fall under the Face’s Control. Additional saves may proc if the target is prompted emotionally by friends, family, etc or asked to do something completely contrary to their nature. Only one target at a time may be controlled. Once controlled the target may move any distance and still be controlled. The Face is able to see and hear through the senses of the controlled target.

Teleport anywhere between the Earth and the moon 1x/Scene.

Hangups:
Unable to walk or engage in melee combat.
Gigantify! completely rewrites this threat’s structure and abilities.

Monstober Day 9: Nail

Lil Tacky is a nail animated by Kronus’ freakish magic. He can never quite find an appropriate comment and is terribly dressed.

Nailer and Lil Tacky for Power Rangers RPG.

(Artwork at a later date.)

Nailer:
THREAT LEVEL: 7
SIZE: LARGE | HEALTH: 12
TOUGHNESS: 16 | EVASION: 16
WILLPOWER: 13 | CLEVERNESS: 16
GROUND MOVEMENT: 30 ft.
Nailer is an electric nail gun animated by Kronus’ freakish magic.
SKILLS:
Initiative +d4
Intimidation +d4
Melee +d6*
Perception +d4*
Targeting +d6*
PERKS:
Big Nail: 2/day shoots a triple sized nail (Ranged) +1d6*, Range 90′, (Evasion 3 Ballistic damage. 20′ Area Damage.)
Hammer Strike: Nailer is a trained combatant and receives Edge on all unarmed combat as long as it is not damaged.
ATTACKS:
Hammer Fist (Melee): +d6*, Reach (Toughness, 2 Blunt Damage)
Nail Gun (Targeting): +d6*, Range 30 feet Up to 3 targets(Evasion, 1 Sharp Damage)
POWERS:
Summon Lil Tacky and up to 1d12 Putty Patrollers.
HANGUPS:
Needs to occasionally siphon electricity from a large source such as a light pole or transformer station or runs out of power.

Lil Tacky:
THREAT LEVEL: 5
SIZE: Medium | HEALTH: 10
TOUGHNESS: 16 | EVASION: 16
WILLPOWER: 13 | CLEVERNESS: 16
GROUND MOVEMENT: 30 ft.
Lil Tacky is a nail animated by Kronus’ freakish magic. He can never quite find an appropriate comment and is terribly dressed. His mission in life is to hang out with his big buddy Nailer.
SKILLS:
Initiative +d4
Intimidation +d4
Melee +d6*
Targeting +d4
PERKS:
Skinny profile. Enemies suffer a Disadvantage on all ranged attacks.
Living Spike: Can turn into a giant nail and embed himself into the ground or other surface making him almost impossible to hit.
ATTACKS:
Fencing Nail (Melee): +d6*, (Toughness, 1 Sharp Damage)
Throwing tacks: (Targeting): +d4, Range 30 feet Up to 2 targets (Evasion, 1 Sharp Damage)
POWERS:
Summon and command 1d10 Miniature Putty Patrollers.(Small Size.)
HANGUPS:
If Embed is used, Nailer needs to use the claw part of his hammer to pry Lil Tacky up.

Monstober Day 6: Lantern

Lampy looks like a miner’s lantern with arms and legs. He carries a Laser Lamp as his weapon.

Lampy for Power Rangers RPG

THREAT LEVEL: 7
SIZE: LARGE | HEALTH: 12
TOUGHNESS: 16 | EVASION: 16
WILLPOWER: 13 | CLEVERNESS: 16
GROUND MOVEMENT: 30 ft.
AERIAL MOVEMENT: 60 ft.
Lampy looks like a miner’s lantern with arms and legs. He carries a Laser Lamp as his weapon.
SKILLS:
Initiative +d4
Persuasion +d4
Melee +d6*
Perception +d4*
Targeting +d6
PERKS:

ATTACKS:
Unarmed Combat (Melee): +d6*, Reach (Toughness, 1 Blunt Damage)
Laser Lamp (Targeting): +d6, Range 30 feet (Evasion, 1 Fire Damage 20′ Cubic area.)
Lampy shoots an fireball from body, dealing fire damage.
Laser Light Vision (2x/scene, Targeting): +d4, Range 20 ft. (Evasion, 1 Energy Damage) Lampy emits blue and yellow lightning from its eyes in a 20 ft. line, targeting all creatures in that area.
POWERS:
Summon Jak the Intern and Gourdie.
Summon Putty Patrollers (12)
HANGUPS:
Glows brightly.
Easy to Find.

Promptober Day 2: Parallel Worlds.

The group is forced to cope with drastic changes as timelines and reality shifts around them. Getting home to their Earth will require cunning, willpower, sacrifice, and perseverance.

Power Rangers Lightning Force Special: Passing the Lightning.

Synopsis: The group is forced to cope with drastic changes as timelines and reality shifts around them. Getting home to their Earth will require cunning, willpower, sacrifice, and perseverance.

  • Billy finishes helping with the Zord repairs and departs for Earth 11, taking his own Zord and Morpher with him.
  • Rose takes over in the command center from her wheelchair with assistance from Alphour at the end of Episode 4.
  • She begins attuning herself to the Morphing Grid, trying to learn where Zordon went and why he disappeared so suddenly.
  • A monster attacks Bennet’s Cove under the command of the Dark Phoenix Ranger. They appear to be searching for something or someone.
    Rose proves an excellent replacement for the missing Zordon.
  • At the end of the battle, the Dark Phoenix Ranger teleports back to the moon. The newest monster disappears in a giant puff of blue smoke that is strikingly similar to the aura around the D-Portals used by the military during the Tankzor incidents.
  • Before the team has a chance to catch their breath, a portal opens and the White Tiger Ranger from Earth 11 steps through. He says his name is Tommy Oliver and he needs the team’s help to fend off a villain that threatens to destroy their Earth if not stopped. The consequences could ripple through multiple Ranger reality timelines.
  • Assuming the Rangers agree to follow, after Rose confirms what Tommy is saying, they will be transported through the rift and onto a very dark, almost apocalyptic Earth, Angel Grove, circa 2020. Tommy is immediately confused.
  • The group is confronted by a patrol of robotic warriors under the command of something called “Venjix.” Three more Rangers appear. One is Chase, a member of the Turbo Rangers native to the current Earth. One is Zach, the Black Ranger from an Earth where the Machine Empire took control, and the final one is Jackie- Pink Ranger from an Earth that successfully fought off a Venjix variant called “Evox.”
  • One of Venjix’s hench monsters, Calculix, is planning to launch Heaven’s arrow into space and channel Morph-X into a portal that will tear open time/space and allow Venjix to spread to multiple worlds and contact multiple villains.
  • The group has several avenues of approach to get to Calculix. They can also cut off the Morph-X supply to the arrow chamber. The Earth 129 Crew also has the ability to summon their Zords through a portal to form the Mega Lightning Zord if called upon.
  • Calculix has built a formidable defense around his fortress, including some Morph-X powered Heavy Drones and Tank drones. If threatened by a large frontal assault, Calculix will call down a Giga Drone, which requires a Zord to properly battle.
  • Zach will try to approach from a military perspective. Tommy will listen to everyone’s input before making a decision. Chase is still suffering from the loss of his team. Jackie rapidly comes to the realization that her Earth is unique in that they had a Pink Ranger at all.
  • It’s up to the group to approach Venjix/Calculixs’ very carefully planned defenses and stop the launch before the planets align.
    Calculix will go Mega mode if destroyed or to launch the arrow.
  • Assuming the group is successful, Jackie offers to come to Earth 129 as their Pink Ranger. Tommy offers the group their own portal device to maintain communications, Zach returns to his world to fight crime and resist the machines. Chase goes off to rebuild his own team.

Power Rangers Super Lightning Force Ongoing Story Episode 3.

The team continues their search for a new Pink Ranger, but one has not been found yet. Billy has been unable to contact his Earth or any incarnation of Zordon through the Morphin Grid. Xander has been working feverishly to rebuild his own Morpher and convince the Triceratops Zord to reconfigure into the new Megazord formation.

It’s a difficult time for our heroes.

Billy Cranston from Earth 011 and Alpha Four are running HQ. Zordon has disappeared completely. Olivia’s Green Ranger powers are waning more with every battle. The Lightning Sword gives one Ranger access to Super Mode at a time. The old Zords are changing.

The team continues their search for a new Pink Ranger, but one has not been found yet. Billy has been unable to contact his Earth or any incarnation of Zordon through the Morphin Grid. Xander has been working feverishly to rebuild his own Morpher and convince the Triceratops Zord to reconfigure into the new Megazord formation.

Meanwhile, on the other side of things, Kronus has retreated to Earth’s moon following an intense battle with the Rangers and the near loss of the Triumvirate battle cruiser. He is now teleporting his minions and the Evil Ranger down to Earth to cause havoc as often as possible. Rumors of a greater evil force deep in space have come to Kronus’ attention, forcing him to accelerate his plans to conquer Earth.

A hit team is sent to Bennett’s Cove High School to capture Olivia Thomas.

Objectives:

  • Prevent Olivia from being captured and taken to the moon.
  • Defeat the hit team putties while protecting the school without any students getting hurt.
  • Protect their secret identities.
  • Keep Olivia from having to Morph.
Kommandon, Leader of the Hit Team:

(Art forthcoming.)

THREAT LEVEL: 6
SIZE: Medium | HEALTH: 3
TOUGHNESS: 16 | EVASION: 12
WILLPOWER: 12 | CLEVERNESS: 12
GROUND MOVEMENT: 25 ft.
A highly trained commando hand picked from the Triumvirates’ forces.
SKILLS:
Might +d6
Diplomacy +d6
Intimidation +d8
Perception +d4
Targeting +d6
Languages: Putty, English.
PERKS:
Energy Shield: Kommandon has incredible defense, easily shrugging off most attacks and deflecting laser blasts with his reflective armor plating.
Immunity: Energy Attacks.

ATTACKS:
Sword* (Might): +d6, Reach (Toughness, Armor Piercing, 1 Sharp Damage)

Energy Pulse Pistol* (Targeting): +d6*, Range 60 ft. (Evasion, 1 Energy Stun Damage)

Stun Bomb: (Targeting): +d6, Range 50 ft. Radius 20 square ft. (Evasion, 1 Energy, Stun Damage)

POWERS:
Teleport: One way ticket back to the moon with a prisoner in tow.
Handcuffs: Standard handcuffs.

HANGUPS:
Can’t be gigantified.

Kommandon will be accompanied by 12 regular Putty Patrollers. Their mission is to scare the student population while two of them and Kommandon grab Olivia.

IF Kommandon is successful, Olivia will be detained in suspended animation while the mysterious Dark Phoenix Ranger and Voltrix study her morpher in order to copy it free of the degradation effect by exploiting the Zeo Crystal’s powers. The end result will be an ultra powerful Evil Green Ranger.

After they acquire the Morpher and finish their examination, Olivia will be teleported back to Earth (unharmed) without it.

IF Kommandon is unsuccessful, he will teleport back to the moon as soon as it looks as if the mission has failed. He will keep coming back until he succeeds. The Rangers will have to be extra cautious not to let Olivia get nabbed.

However, if the Rangers get wise, they could use this as an opportunity to get a better look at the base on the moon.

This is one of the rare episodes where the Zords don’t get a workout. However, if time runs long, Kronus will send a replicated Tankzor to Earth just to distract the Rangers while he plots his next move.

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