Any adventure ideas for a Transformers game that takes place on Earth? The practical problems I see are size scale (it seems like almost every scenario has to take place outside, since the robots are so big), how to incorporate all 5-6 PCs, and how to keep every adventure from being a Rock'em Sock'em robots slugfest (or a race to get something that leads to a Rock'em Sock'em robots slugfest).  I know there are gimmicky tricks (like alternately playing humans and robots), but my players want to play transforming robots, not their pals.  

Any ideas out there besides fight/race?

Pete

A dungeon crawl through Cybertron or Unicron, maybe?

*runs away, cackling*

Well since Transformers are at their core are Giant Rock em Sock em Robots, you are somewhat limited, but you may be able to come up with a few ideas after answering the following questions.

1) Why are the Transformers on Earth?

2) How did they get there, how long ago?

3)Are the Decepticons on Earth as well?

4) Are humans going to be involved in the campaign?

A Transformers game might be more fun as a series of one shots or a short campaign between your standard gaming sessions, rather than a longterm campaign.

Some suiggestions:
 DON'T  stick with the story or 'canon' as presented on the various TV shows.

1)Have the good guy/Autobot Transformers negotiate a deal with either the U.S. government or the U.N. for "resident Alien" status or maybe special consultant on various things. That way they can coordinate with Police and fire departments if they have to.

2) The Transformers might be searching for where the Decepticons are hiding on Earth.

3) The Transformers could offer to help countries with their space programs.

4) If you want to go with something similiar to the old IST Superteams concept. The Autobots might volunteer to be "World Policemen" of a sort - ala Gort from "The Day The Earth Stood Still". (as an aside to this - I'm trying to imagine the "America!, Fuck Yeah!!" song playing behind scenes of Transformers fighting for Truth, Justice, the american Way & All that stuff.)

5) The Autobots offer up their services for large scale construction projects and actually confront terrorists or even COBRA! while doing this job. (One TV adaptation desrerves to meet another)

You Transform. And then you Roll Out.

Thanatos has it.
Seriously. I'd want rules for making all the kinds of transformers in the show (or at least for representing them reasonably--doesn't need hard crunchy rules, just a way of evoking who they are and what they can do)

I'd like to see a nod to the toys in the stat design (utilizing the measures from the back of the toys and making those matter.)


But at its heart--I want it to be about Transforming, fighting evil, and rolling out.

This thread leads to Story-Gaming and should therefore be moved to off-topic.

Quote from: SettembriniThis thread leads to Story-Gaming and should therefore be moved to off-topic.

Thanks for playing.

Transformers is better suited to LARPing anyway.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeMUlSe1sjM

:haw:

Quote from: RockViperWell since Transformers are at their core are Giant Rock em Sock em Robots, you are somewhat limited, but you may be able to come up with a few ideas after answering the following questions.

1) Why are the Transformers on Earth?

2) How did they get there, how long ago?

3)Are the Decepticons on Earth as well?

4) Are humans going to be involved in the campaign?

A Transformers game might be more fun as a series of one shots or a short campaign between your standard gaming sessions, rather than a longterm campaign.

I think we're talking mainly about a blend of the movie and the original cartoon.  They're on earth because they crashed here, Decepticons are here as well, and humans will be involved as NPCs.  I've got plenty of one-shots so I was looking for something I could run long-term, but you may be right.  

Quote from: KoltarSome suiggestions:
 DON'T  stick with the story or 'canon' as presented on the various TV shows.

1)Have the good guy/Autobot Transformers negotiate a deal with either the U.S. government or the U.N. for "resident Alien" status or maybe special consultant on various things. That way they can coordinate with Police and fire departments if they have to.

2) The Transformers might be searching for where the Decepticons are hiding on Earth.

3) The Transformers could offer to help countries with their space programs.

4) If you want to go with something similiar to the old IST Superteams concept. The Autobots might volunteer to be "World Policemen" of a sort - ala Gort from "The Day The Earth Stood Still". (as an aside to this - I'm trying to imagine the "America!, Fuck Yeah!!" song playing behind scenes of Transformers fighting for Truth, Justice, the american Way & All that stuff.)

5) The Autobots offer up their services for large scale construction projects and actually confront terrorists or even COBRA! while doing this job. (One TV adaptation desrerves to meet another)

I like these ideas, Koltar.  They're not flashy, but they would help to add some depth in between battles.  Thanks.  

Quote from: Thanatos02You Transform. And then you Roll Out.

And then what.  I'm thinking that once they've gotten over the novelty of making the sound effects and stomping Decepticons a few times, they're going to need more to keep them interested.

Quote from: SettembriniThis thread leads to Story-Gaming and should therefore be moved to off-topic.

Hmmn.  I'm guessing this is an inside joke.  Wish I could say if it was a good one or bad.  

Pete

add rust monsters!

oh sorry, i thought it was "what would you add to a transformers rpg?"

"Transformers, The Inconvenient Truth"
- After landing on Earth, Transformers have found Earthly petroleum products to be intoxicating and addictive. Lacking the facilities to drill and refine these products, the Transformers must now find a way to defend the oil industry from those who would have it usurped by biofuels. Throw in some drama about addiction and rehab as needed for flavor.

"Transformers, Gimmee That Old Time Religion"
- After much investigation, the Transformers have learned that their homeworld of cybertron was actually an experiment created by the Old Ones of Cthulhu Mythos fame. The Old Ones are now returning to "clean up" what's left of the experiment so that it doesn't interfere with their other experiments on Earth. The Decepticons view this as Armageddon brought on by their makers and wish to help bring about the destruction of the Transformers (including themselves). The Autobots wish to just survive, by any means necessary. Sanity loss is due to the horror of knowing that your awesome machine culture was nothing more than a petri dish for a bunch of non-mechanical meatbags. Because everything tastes better when you add Lovecraft.

Just off the top of my head.

Yes, I've had a few. It's Saturday.

I second this, have you ever read the back of the original Megatrons card? He shoots freakin mini Black Holes out of this gun (well anti-matter from a black hole, but you get the picture), how awesome would that be to play.

At one time there was a card-back library online that had scans of every Transformer stat card, I will try and find the link.

Found it: http://tfarchive.com/toys/techspecs/original/#us_g1_1984

Quote from: SilverlionI'd like to see a nod to the toys in the stat design (utilizing the measures from the back of the toys and making those matter.)


But at its heart--I want it to be about Transforming, fighting evil, and rolling out.

When you transform and roll out, punch a Decepticon in the mouth and steal his energon.

Also, fight Marvel superheros. I saw a picture of Prime punching Captain America. As much as I love Captain America, I love dudes fighting giant sentiant robots more.

Watch voyeruistically as your human friend and his girlfriend make out on top of you....


What?