Fighting the universe as... Transformers?

[cloneof]

This has been propably being suggested before in this forum, but after again seeing the old good Transformers movie from 1986, I though that I would open the idea of fighting... as Transformers. If just only for the nostalgia of G1.

So here is my question. Can anyone suggest me a good way of going around this? Should I be using Horizon: Mechamorphosis, GURPS with a few suplement books or something else? I totally open for ideas here.

[Nohwl]

a friend of mine was trying to start up a transformers game. it was going to be gurps with like 950 points to start.

[Grumman]

If it was me, I'd just assume that my character can transform fast enough to do whatever, and come up with a single mode that can be used to represent the robot or the alt-mode.

In D&D I'd start off with the Maug rollers and stone spitter grafts, and go from there.

[Boltimus Prime]

a friend of mine was trying to start up a transformers game. it was going to be gurps with like 950 points to start.

I am this friend - Nohwl just showed me the thread and I joined to post in it.

It should be noted that I'm a novice, and a lot of my notes and character sheets were lost when a USB drive burnt out.

I've been constructing the game and characters using GURPS 4e - specifically, the Basic Set with a little help from Ultra-Tech, High Tech, Powers, and Lands Out of Time.

GURPS 4e has plenty of rules to encompass transforming super-powered mecha. Since the system uses second-by-second combat, I figure that transformation works as a one-turn action.

I've also attempted to set up a game universe with a separate continuity from any particular series, rather drawing on every last facet of the franchise that I find useful.

Scale has been a tricky issue - messing with it could deprive some characters, especially jets, of functionality, while I have found it more convenient to simply use the weights and heights as based on actual vehicles. I usually calculate the height by finding a suitable Transformer toy and then running its lengths through scale conversions with the vehicle in question (for example, the Cyberjets will all use the same transformation as Cybertron Thundercracker).

Here are some of the character sheets I've made so far. They may have a few gaps, but nothing that cannot be calculated from the information provided.

Bumblebee
1,000 points
14 feet tall (SM +2)
2,712 lb.
ST 63 [424]
DX 15 [50]
IQ 11[10]
HT 17 [70]
HP 86 [46]
PER 14 [15]
WILL 12 [5]
DR 46 [230]
Thrust 7d-1
Swing 9d
BL 793 lb.
BS 8
BM 8
Skills: Acrobatics 11 [0], Brawling 14 [0], Diplomacy 9 [1], Escape 14 [2], Innate Attack (Stinger) 14 [1], Intelligence Analysis 8 [1], Shadowing 12 [4], Stealth 15 [2]
Techniques:
Advantages: Transformer Package (Machine Meta-Trait [25], Alternate Form, [15], Doesn’t Breathe [20], Improved G-Tolerance [25], Pressure Support 2 [10], Temperature Tolerance 35 [35] (-200 to 150 F), Vacuum Support [5]); Ambidexterity [5], Amphibious [10], Combat Reflexes [15], Innate Attack (Stinger, 4d Burning Attack [20], Armor Divisor 5 [+150%], Rapid Fire RoF 3 [+50%], Surge [+20%]) [64], Rank 4 (Espionage Officer) [20], Reduced Consumption 2 [4], Telescopic Vision 1 [5]
Perks: Trustworthy Face [1]
Disadvantages: Transformer Package (Electrical [-20], Restricted Diet (Energon) [-20]), Charitable [-15], Enemy (Waspinator) [-10], Honesty [-10], Impulsiveness [-10], Pacifism (Can’t Harm Innocents) [-10], Selfless [-5], Sense of Duty (Every Living Being) [-20]
Quirks:
VW New Beetle Mode
Negated Advantages: Acrobatics, Innate Attack (Stinger) [-54],Combat Reflexes [-15]
Advantages: Enhanced Move Ground 5 (top speed 254) (Road Bound [-50%]) [50], Innate Attack (X-Ray Headlights) (6d Burning Attack [30], Accurate +1 [+5%], Armor Divisor 3 [+100%], Increased Range 50x [+50%], Radiation [+25%], Takes Recharge (5 seconds) [-10%], Variable [+5%]) [83], Payload 8 [8]
Perks: Humans think this form is “cute” [1]
Disadvantages: Horizontal [-10], No Legs (wheeled) [-20], No Manipulators [-50]

Jazz
1,100 points
13 feet tall (SM +2)
2,888 lb.
ST 71 [488]
DX 16 [60]
IQ 13 [30]
HT 15 [50]
HP 81 [15]
PER 13 [0]
WILL 14 [5]
DR 38 [190]
Thrust 8d
Swing 10d
BL 1,008 lb.
BS 7.75
BM 7.75
Skills: Acrobatics 14 [0], Dancing 14 [0], Diplomacy 14 [8], Explosives (Demolition) 13 [2], Fast-Talk 15 [8], Guns (Pistol) 15 [0], Karate 13 [0], Leadership 11 [0], Melee Weapon (Nunchaku) 16 [4], Propaganda 12 [1], Public Speaking 11 [0]
Techniques:
Advantages: Transformer Package (Machine Meta-Trait [25], Alternate Form, [15], Doesn’t Breathe [20], Improved G-Tolerance [25], Pressure Support 2 [10], Temperature Tolerance 35 [35] (-200 to 150 F), Vacuum Support [5]); Catfall [10], Charisma 2 [10], Combat Reflexes [15], Cultural Adaptability (Xeno-Adaptability) [20], Discriminatory Hearing [15], Fearlessness 5 [10], Illusion (Sound Effects, Area Effect 8 yards [+100%], Auditory Only [-70%], Independence [+40%], Ranged [+40%]) [53], Indomitable [15], Perfect Balance [15], Rank 4 (Commander) [20], Super Jump 1 [10]
Perks:
Disadvantages: Transformer Package (Electrical [-20], Restricted Diet (Energon) [-20]); Honesty [-10], Pacifism (Cannot Harm Innocents) [-10], Sense of Duty (Autobot Army) [-10], Selfless [-5], Xenophilia [-10]
Quirks: Likes Earth culture [-1]
Mazda RX-8 Mode
Negated Advantages: Acrobatics, Dancing, Melee Weapon (Nunchaku) [-4], Catfall [-10], Super Jump [-10]
Advantages: Enhanced Move Ground 5 (top speed 248) (Road Bound [-50%]) [50], Payload 8 [8]
Disadvantages: Horizontal [-10], No Legs (wheeled) [-20], No Manipulators [-50]

Ratchet
1,100 points
20 feet tall (SM +3)
lb.
ST 70 [420]
DX 9 [-10]
IQ 15 [50]
HT 13 [30]
HP 90 [40]
PER 16 [5]
WILL 12 [-15]
DR 38 [190]
Thrust 8d
Swing 10d
BL 980 lb.
BS 5.5
BM 5.5
Skills: Brawling 8 [0], Carousing 12 [0], Electronics Repair 16 [4], Guns (Rifle) 11 [4], Mathematics (Applied) 14 [2], Mechanic (Robotics) 20 [16], Metallurgy 16 [8], Physiology 18 (Transformers) [16], Research 15 [1]
Techniques:
Advantages: Transformer Package (Machine Meta-Trait [25], Alternate Form, [15], Doesn’t Breathe [20], Improved G-Tolerance [25], Pressure Support 2 [10], Temperature Tolerance 35 [35] (-200 to 150 F), Vacuum Support [5]); Charisma 1 [5], Empathy (Sensitive) [5], Enhanced Block [5], Gadgeteer [25], Gizmo 3 [15], High Manual Dexterity 3 [15], Infravision [10], Lightning Calculator [2], Microscopic Vision 3 [15], Rank 3 (Senior Medical Officer) [15], Reputation (Good, Excellent Transformer Mechanic) [5], Telekinesis 75 (Magnetic [-50%], Visible [-20%], Increased Range 5x [+20%]) [188]
Perks:
Disadvantages: Transformer Package (Electrical [-20], Restricted Diet (Energon) [-20]); Charitable [-15], Honesty [-10], Pacifism (Cannot Harm Innocents) [-10], Selfless [-5], Sense of Duty (Every Living Being) [-20], Stubbornness [-5]
Quirks:
Rescue H2 Humvee Mode
Negated Advantages: Telekinesis [-188], Enhanced Block [-5], Gadgeteer [-25], High Manual Dexterity [-15]
Advantages: Enhanced Move Ground 4 (top speed 88) (Road Bound [-50%]) [40], Payload 14 [14]
Disadvantages: Horizontal [-10], No Legs (wheeled) [-20], No Manipulators [-50]


Skywarp (G1)
1,100 points
45 feet tall (SM +5)
28,000 lb.
ST 86 [380]
DX 11 [10]
IQ 8 [-20]
HT 14 [40]
HP 100 [30]
PER 9 [5]
WILL 8
DR 38 [190]
Thrust
Swing
BL
BS 8.25 [40]
BM 10.25 [10]
Skills: Carousing 15 [2], Fast-Talk 12 [16], Guns 14 [8], Innate Attack (Projectile) 14 [4],Sleight of Hand 13 [12], Traps 13 [20]
Techniques:
Advantages: Transformer Package (Machine Meta-Trait [25], Alternate Form, [15], Doesn’t Breathe [20], Improved G-Tolerance [25], Pressure Support 2 [10], Temperature Tolerance 35 [35] (-200 to 150 F), Vacuum Support [5]); Catfall [10], Charisma 1 [5], Combat Reflexes [15], Innate Attack: Seeker Laser (6d Burning Attack [30], Accurate 2 [+10%], Armor Divisor 10 [+200%], Increased Range [+50%], Rapid Fire RoF 2 [+40%]) [120], Heat Seeking Missile (4d Crushing Attack [20], Accurate +4 [+20%], Armor Divisor 10 [+200%], Explosion 1 [+50%], Homing (Infravision) [+60%], Increased Range 100x [+60%], Limited Use 2 [-30%]) [92], Telescopic Vision 2 [10], Warp (Reliable 10 [+50%], Range Limit 10 miles [-25%]) [125]
Perks: Good sense of humor [1]
Disadvantages: Transformer Package (Electrical [-20], Restricted Diet (Energon) [-20]); Chummy [-5], Easy to Read [-10], Impulsiveness [-10], Selfish [-5], Sense of Duty (Decepticon Army) [-10], Short Attention Span [-10], Trickster [-15]
Quirks:
F-15 Eagle Mode
Negated Advantages and Stat Modifiers: Catfall [-10], Combat Reflexes [-15], Sleight of Hand [-12], Traps [-20]; DR 32 [-30]
Advantages: Enhanced Move (Air) 6 (Top Speed 656) [120], Flight (winged, cannot hover) [26]
Disadvantages: Horizontal [-10], No Legs (aerial) [0], No Manipulators [-50]

[The Deej]

I imagine it's also possible to tweak the shadowrun system for this purpose. The walker mode modification for vehicles basically turns vehicles into walking robots-instant mechanic for transformers. And there are several types of vehicles already statted out, too.

EDIT: and the cyborg adaptation mod could be used as well for statting out as characters with minimal system tweaking. You could also just do a homebrew for this sort of thing.

[Evard]

My friend had optimus prime in a BESM (big eyes small mouth) game as a mech and it apparently worked out pretty well.

[RandomNPC]

yea, just play BESM with the Mech. race, and have everyone take the Alternate Form ability. Besm has some balance issues, but as long as it keeps a theme it does ok.

[Ravens_cry]

I can't help with any builds, but Mutants and Masterminds may also be good for this. Just a thought.