I was googling for Tranformers themed dice and came across Renegade studios who are making an official RPG for Transformers, and a bunch of other Hasbro IPs, including GI Joe.

https://renegadegamestudios.com/transformers-roleplaying-game-core-rulebook-pre-order/

There's not a ton of info. It seems to be a d20 mechanic based system, with some type of action dice to go along with it.

https://geektyrant.com/news/renegade-game-studios-announces-new-essence20-rpg-system

Not due to be released until march 2022, I'm mildly interested. I've had some kind of homebrew RPG system for Transformers since the 80's, and have tinkered with it over the... decades? 

At the least, we can get some themed dice out of this.

That looks interesting.  I like the art style for the cover at least.

No combat wheelchairs in disguise.

If You like savage worlds, Freedom Squadron is pretty much GI Joe. 

These guys are also supposed to be doing a Transformers Card game as well, due for release in August so good luck for that.

Here's the Essence20 announcement minus the system-crippling pile of ads: https://renegadegamestudios.com/blog/announcing-the-essence20-roleplaying-system/

Kinda sounds like Savage Worlds. If these three RPGs had just been really polished setting books for SW, I may have been interested.

A GI Joe RPG would be amazing, if only because the hit modifiers would -19, tanks and helicopters get 1 hit point, and every adventure would require somebody to play as Shipwreck, for no discernible reason.

And all combat should benefit from wisdom modifiers, because knowing is half the battle.

Licensed RPGs have become an official fad now. You can smell that corporate synergy. This is the first sign that the RPG bubble is about to pop.

Quote from: hedgehobbit on September 01, 2021, 12:51:47 PM
Licensed RPGs have become an official fad now. You can smell that corporate synergy. This is the first sign that the RPG bubble is about to pop.

Licensed RPGs have been around for quite a while. I don't know if I'd call it a fad.

A 2001: A Space Odyssey RPG adaptation? Uh...

Kinda having a tough time figuring that one out.

Quote from: hedgehobbit on September 01, 2021, 12:51:47 PM
Licensed RPGs have become an official fad now. You can smell that corporate synergy. This is the first sign that the RPG bubble is about to pop.

West End Games' Star Wars RPG might be the second most important RPG ever made, just behind D&D (which is Tolkien with the serial numbers shaved off).

Actually, at this point, one could consider D&D to be an officially licensed D&D product.

Quote from: Ghostmaker on September 01, 2021, 01:22:39 PM
A 2001: A Space Odyssey RPG adaptation? Uh...

Kinda having a tough time figuring that one out.

Not an RPG, just a module. Star Frontiers adapted 2001: A Space Odyssey into an adventure. I never played or ran it, but I've heard it's a railroad that jumps through time (you start playing the apes, and end up on the Discovery with HAL, and go through the Star Gate). They also adapted the sequel, 2010, but I don't know anything about that.

Oh you sweet summer children, I have such things to show you.

Wait, that didn't come out right. I don't like the way that reads. Oh well. Hopefully you know what I mean.


















They even put stupid Lythande on the cover even though Marion Zimmer Bradley skipped out way early in the anthology series. Lythande was probably one of the top poster-kids for special bunny freakshits. Now next to nobody has even heard of him (her).

There! Ya done been showed! Now get off muh lawn and take your razor scooter things and glow-in-the-dark stunt yo-yos and baseball cards and pogs with ya! . (sips Coors Lite)

Quote from: palaeomerus on September 01, 2021, 07:59:10 PM
Oh you sweet summer children, I have such things to show you.

Wait, that didn't come out right. I don't like the way that reads. Oh well. Hopefully you know what I mean.

Now that's just another level of obscure gaming reference!

Quote from: Pat on September 01, 2021, 02:20:23 PM

Quote from: Ghostmaker on September 01, 2021, 01:22:39 PM
A 2001: A Space Odyssey RPG adaptation? Uh...

Kinda having a tough time figuring that one out.

Not an RPG, just a module. Star Frontiers adapted 2001: A Space Odyssey into an adventure. I never played or ran it, but I've heard it's a railroad that jumps through time (you start playing the apes, and end up on the Discovery with HAL, and go through the Star Gate). They also adapted the sequel, 2010, but I don't know anything about that.

Actually its not a Star Frontiers module its a standalone setting adventure using the Star Frontiers system. Nothing of the SF setting in either.
You heard wrong then. Its not a railroad. But it is structured in some spots so after X amount of time Y happens. The PCs can totally fail at any point. It does though move through three points in the movie.

Phase one is the Man Apes. This one is a survival game decades before they became popular. Personally I think the time frame is way too short and just adjusted things from days to years. This one can be failed or at the very least stalled for a long time, possibly indefinitely through PC action or inaction.

Phase two  is the Lunar excavation, with the PCs tasked to find the site before others do. This one can be failed too in various ways.

Phase three is the Jupiter mission. This one also has some events that happen after X amount of time. And the PCs can botch it. The Narration is a bit forced at the end but doesnt even happen if the PCs approach the problem from a different angle. And even the final encounter is up to the PCs.

There was indeed a 2010 module as well.

If you want unusual licensed RPGs, West End Games had a few for their MasterBook line:





But if you want a really obscure license, how about a game based on an animated early aughts webcomic about a cyberpunk dystopian future NYC with wormtrains, giant cockroaches, zombie mooks, and the eponymous innocent girl in indestructible, living armor?