The Transformers, G.I. Joe and Power Rangers RPGs are moving away from the Essence20 system
Renegade Game Studios used Renegade Con – the company’s all-day video stream – to reveal that some of its licensed tabletop roleplaying games with big-name IPs are being reworked for Dungeons & Dragons. The livestream revealed that the second-edition versions of the Transformers, G.I. Joe and Power Rangers roleplaying games (RPGs) are being recreated using the new D&D 5.5E ruleset.
The company confirmed it is moving away from the Essence20 system that has powered all three games since their launch. Instead, future editions will be built on rules inspired by the latest version of Dungeons & Dragons.
According to Renegade, the upcoming second edition core rulebooks will feature a wide range of character options, equipment, enemies, settings and eras from each franchise. To help existing players make the transition, the publisher also revealed plans to release a free Essence20-to-5.5E conversion guide through its webstore. This guide will allow owners of existing books to continue using content from the original releases alongside the new editions.
Renegade confirmed that the first crowdfunding campaign will focus on the G.I. Joe and Transformers RPGs, with a second edition of the Power Rangers RPG arriving later. Additional details, including launch dates and campaign information, are expected in the coming months.
The move marks a significant shift for the publisher, whose interconnected Essence20 system allowed characters and content from multiple franchises to be combined in crossover campaigns. While the announcement is likely to divide opinion among existing players, Renegade hopes that adopting a more familiar rules framework will make it easier for new players to jump into its licensed RPGs.
Alongside the roleplaying game news, Renegade also unveiled a substantial wave of upcoming content for Heroscape. Several classic units are being brought back as remastered releases, including the long-range Soulborg sniper Zetacron, the Champions of Jandar expansion featuring Sir Gilbert and Alastair MacDirk, the Knights of Weston and the MacDirk Warriors. The remastered products feature updated sculpts, with some releases also including retro-style cards and collector-focused extras.
New additions to the battlefield were also announced: The Students of Kalari Payatt and Twilight Clan Riders expansions introduce fresh units to the game, while the sinister Krampus joins the roster with a unique mechanic that allows enemy figures to be captured and temporarily removed from play.
Renegade also revealed Dr. Torvik Morinstein and his Masterpiece. This new expansion is built around harvesting resources from defeated enemies, before unleashing a powerful summoned creation onto the battlefield.
Meanwhile, fans of organised play can pick up a new promotional figure, Samuel Brown, which will be available through Heroscape events this autumn.