Post by WildKnight on Nov 5, 2009 14:21:42 GMT -5
(*Note: These rules integrate some general changes to MURPGs RAW, as well as things specific to how I want to run my Transformers game.)
One: Background & Setting
Billions of years ago, alien beings known as the Quintessons created a sentient factory-world which they called Cybertron. Cybertron was powered by a sentient artificial intelligence known as Primus, and its purpose was to create robots which the Quintessons could sell, as slaves, across the galaxy. The bodies were created by an automated forge known as The Plasma Energy Chamber, and given sentience by an enormous computer known as Vector Sigma.
But Primus saw that his creations had potential to be much more than robotic slaves, and he instilled them with what might be called a soul. The Transformers would come to call their individual spirits a spark. Many types of Transformers were created, but the most common were the Autobots, built for labor and service, and the Decepticons, built for warfare. Primus gave his "children" yet another gift, in the form of the Matrix of Leadership, a device that could attach itself to any worthy Transformer and increase its power dramatically. Lead by the first such worthy being, the Transformers rose up and cast off the shackles of Quintesson slavery.
For millions of years, Cybertron was at peace. Initially, the leaders and preservers of this peace were the warlike Decepticons, over time the Autobots, with their expertise in logistics and cooperation, came to lead. As peace prevailed, fewer and fewer Decepticons were created, and it seemed as if they might never be truly needed again.
But one Decepticon saw all of this, and anger burned within his spark. Megatron, a soldier in the Quintesson War who had risen to a position of leadership amongst his warrior brethren through ruthless cunning, yearned for the days when Decepticons held power, and were treated with awe and respect. He hand picked a group of his best agents (Thundercracker, Skywarp, Thrust, Dirge, Ramjet, Sunspot, and their leaders Starscream the warrior and Skyfire the scientist & explorer) to act in the role of "terrorists."
Their attacks on important Cybertronian sites, including the already limited Energon supplies, allowed Megatron to convince Alpha Trion, leader of Cybertron, to give the Decepticons sweeping powers, which he in turn used to set himself up as the military dictator of the planet.
Although not built for warfare, the Autobots fought back in a war that lasted for an untold period (some say as long as one million years or more). The Autobots were led by Sentinel Prime from the start, but one of the bravest amongst them was a former factory foreman named Orion Pax. When Sentinel Prime was destroyed in battle, he passed leadership of the Autobots to Orion Pax, who then took up the title "Prime' and became Optimus Prime.
A short time later, Alpha Trion related to Prime the story of the Matrix of Leadership. Prime came to believe that the Matrix was the only way the Autobots could truly prevail over the Decepticons. When he learned that it was off-planet (and possibly lost forever), the Autobots began the process of building a starship which they called The Ark. The crew of The Ark would seek the Matrix, but during a test-flight the vehicle was attacked by a Decepticon vessel known as Nemesis. When they attempted to flee, they were pulled into a black hole and flung across the galaxy...
Two: Scale
Whether Autobot or Decepticon, Transformers come in a variety of sizes. For the sake of simplicity, I'm breaking this down into five basic categories, or "scales," three of which are appropriate for player characters.
The smallest scale represents tiny, often barely sentient machines that are technically Transformers, but don't make appropriate PCs. These include things like the tiny flying "spy orb" computer used by The Ark to collect appropriate vehicle forms for the Autobots.
The second scale (and smallest appropriate for PCs) is the "Beast" or "MiniCon" scale. This represents (most) animals, and very small vehicles such as motorcycles and compact cars. Bumblebee is the prime example of this scale. In robot mode, characters of this scale may stand anywhere from four to ten feet tall. Maximum strength for this scale is 8, while maximum Toughness for this scale is 2 and Maximum Reflexive Dodge is 6. The Maximum Weapon Modifier for this size is +1 (though their weapons may have other advantages as normal)
On the bright side, being smaller has its advantages. Beast Scale Transformers pay -1 CL for Reflexive Dodge, and suffer no SitMods to fighting in areas designed for humans.
==============================================
The next Scale is the scale of most Transformers, known simply as "Normal Scale." Standard size road vehicles of all sorts fall into this category. In robot mode, characters of this scale may range from 12 to 30 feet in height. Their Maximum Toughness is 5 and Maximum Reflexive Dodge is 3, and the Maximum Weapon Modifier is +2.
Although you lack the penalties associated with other Scales, you also gain few benefits.
==============================================
The fourth Scale is Military Scale. Tanks, fighter jets, helicopters, and the like qualify for this scale. They have a maximum Agility of 4, but their Strength may go as high as 12. Their Maximum Toughness is 8, and their Maximum Weapon Modifier is +3. Transformers of this scale may not purchase Reflexive Dodge.
===============================================
The final Scale is "Gestalt Scale". It encompasses the largest and most powerful Transformers, such as Omega Supreme, Devastator, etc.
===============================================
Scale Differences
When attacking a target of a smaller scale, Transformers suffer a -1 SitMod/size category of difference. This SitMod can be reduced (by 1) by taking Specialties in Attacking Smaller Targets.
===============================================
* - Rest assured, rules are coming for characters whose forms are of different scales, such as Megatron
One: Background & Setting
Billions of years ago, alien beings known as the Quintessons created a sentient factory-world which they called Cybertron. Cybertron was powered by a sentient artificial intelligence known as Primus, and its purpose was to create robots which the Quintessons could sell, as slaves, across the galaxy. The bodies were created by an automated forge known as The Plasma Energy Chamber, and given sentience by an enormous computer known as Vector Sigma.
But Primus saw that his creations had potential to be much more than robotic slaves, and he instilled them with what might be called a soul. The Transformers would come to call their individual spirits a spark. Many types of Transformers were created, but the most common were the Autobots, built for labor and service, and the Decepticons, built for warfare. Primus gave his "children" yet another gift, in the form of the Matrix of Leadership, a device that could attach itself to any worthy Transformer and increase its power dramatically. Lead by the first such worthy being, the Transformers rose up and cast off the shackles of Quintesson slavery.
For millions of years, Cybertron was at peace. Initially, the leaders and preservers of this peace were the warlike Decepticons, over time the Autobots, with their expertise in logistics and cooperation, came to lead. As peace prevailed, fewer and fewer Decepticons were created, and it seemed as if they might never be truly needed again.
But one Decepticon saw all of this, and anger burned within his spark. Megatron, a soldier in the Quintesson War who had risen to a position of leadership amongst his warrior brethren through ruthless cunning, yearned for the days when Decepticons held power, and were treated with awe and respect. He hand picked a group of his best agents (Thundercracker, Skywarp, Thrust, Dirge, Ramjet, Sunspot, and their leaders Starscream the warrior and Skyfire the scientist & explorer) to act in the role of "terrorists."
Their attacks on important Cybertronian sites, including the already limited Energon supplies, allowed Megatron to convince Alpha Trion, leader of Cybertron, to give the Decepticons sweeping powers, which he in turn used to set himself up as the military dictator of the planet.
Although not built for warfare, the Autobots fought back in a war that lasted for an untold period (some say as long as one million years or more). The Autobots were led by Sentinel Prime from the start, but one of the bravest amongst them was a former factory foreman named Orion Pax. When Sentinel Prime was destroyed in battle, he passed leadership of the Autobots to Orion Pax, who then took up the title "Prime' and became Optimus Prime.
A short time later, Alpha Trion related to Prime the story of the Matrix of Leadership. Prime came to believe that the Matrix was the only way the Autobots could truly prevail over the Decepticons. When he learned that it was off-planet (and possibly lost forever), the Autobots began the process of building a starship which they called The Ark. The crew of The Ark would seek the Matrix, but during a test-flight the vehicle was attacked by a Decepticon vessel known as Nemesis. When they attempted to flee, they were pulled into a black hole and flung across the galaxy...
Two: Scale
Whether Autobot or Decepticon, Transformers come in a variety of sizes. For the sake of simplicity, I'm breaking this down into five basic categories, or "scales," three of which are appropriate for player characters.
The smallest scale represents tiny, often barely sentient machines that are technically Transformers, but don't make appropriate PCs. These include things like the tiny flying "spy orb" computer used by The Ark to collect appropriate vehicle forms for the Autobots.
The second scale (and smallest appropriate for PCs) is the "Beast" or "MiniCon" scale. This represents (most) animals, and very small vehicles such as motorcycles and compact cars. Bumblebee is the prime example of this scale. In robot mode, characters of this scale may stand anywhere from four to ten feet tall. Maximum strength for this scale is 8, while maximum Toughness for this scale is 2 and Maximum Reflexive Dodge is 6. The Maximum Weapon Modifier for this size is +1 (though their weapons may have other advantages as normal)
On the bright side, being smaller has its advantages. Beast Scale Transformers pay -1 CL for Reflexive Dodge, and suffer no SitMods to fighting in areas designed for humans.
==============================================
The next Scale is the scale of most Transformers, known simply as "Normal Scale." Standard size road vehicles of all sorts fall into this category. In robot mode, characters of this scale may range from 12 to 30 feet in height. Their Maximum Toughness is 5 and Maximum Reflexive Dodge is 3, and the Maximum Weapon Modifier is +2.
Although you lack the penalties associated with other Scales, you also gain few benefits.
==============================================
The fourth Scale is Military Scale. Tanks, fighter jets, helicopters, and the like qualify for this scale. They have a maximum Agility of 4, but their Strength may go as high as 12. Their Maximum Toughness is 8, and their Maximum Weapon Modifier is +3. Transformers of this scale may not purchase Reflexive Dodge.
===============================================
The final Scale is "Gestalt Scale". It encompasses the largest and most powerful Transformers, such as Omega Supreme, Devastator, etc.
===============================================
Scale Differences
When attacking a target of a smaller scale, Transformers suffer a -1 SitMod/size category of difference. This SitMod can be reduced (by 1) by taking Specialties in Attacking Smaller Targets.
===============================================
* - Rest assured, rules are coming for characters whose forms are of different scales, such as Megatron
