Subject: Re: MSH Transformers/Beastwars Date: Wed, 21 Jul 1999 18:12:18 EDT From: EmarZero@aol.com BEAST WARS! A MSH "Sourcebook" By Hooper X Version 2.0, May 20, 1999 For several years now. Hasbro's "Beast Wars" toyline has been one of the top sellers in it's market. Only Star Wars has managed to outsell this dynamic resurrection of Transformers. The television show is #1 for it's age demographic, and a successful Playstation video game has also been released. Here, then, are the rules for converting Beast Warrior "tech specs" to MSH stats. "Tech Specs" can be found on the back of toy packages, as well as on SEVERAL web sites, bwtf.com being an *excellent* resource for newcomers. Terminology: Altmode: The non-robot form of a Cybertronian. BW: Beast Warrior: A Cybertronian with organic parts, presumably as an altmode. Classic: Transformers from the Generation One or Generation Two series, basically, anything that is not a BW. CR Technology: The means by which BWs heal. Fuzor: Special mutation of a stasis pod, whereby scanners give a protoform the traits of TWO animals. Protoform: Shapeless mass of nanites, given a spark and stored in stasis pods. Personality engrams are usually encoded in the pod as well. Spark: The "soul" of a Cybertronian. Stasis Pod: Common plot device, and an easy way to introduce new BW. A stasis pod contains a protoform, onboard data tracks, and scanning equipment. 1. Strength to Strength For this, I am modifying the EXCELLENT Tech Spec to Star Wars conversion chart. First things first. Take the TOY size of the character. (Mega, Ultra, Deluxe, or Regular) Compare with the chart below. Size: Base Strength: Regular (5" to 7") TY6 Deluxe (7.5" to 10") GD10 Mega (10" to 13") GD10 Ultra (13"+) EX20 Super (20") RM30 NOTE: So far as this game goes, the only Ultras are the two combiners, Magnaboss and Tripredacus, the Transmetals Depth Charge and Rampage, and TM2 TigerHawk. Treat Optimus Primal and Megatron as high end (11 & 13 feet, respectively) Megas. The only "Supers" would be Optimal Optimus and TM2 Megatron. Then, take the actual "STR" statistic from the character's Tech Spec: 1-3:+0CS 4-5:+1CS 6-9:+2CS 10+:+3CS Ergo, Quickstrike (a Regular) would have a BASE Strength of TY6. Adding his Tech Spec stat of 5, he gets GD10 as his starting Strength. 2. Intelligence+Rank to Intelligence: Here's the conversion chart: 1-3: FE2 4-6: PR4 6-12: TY6 13-14: GD10 15-17: EX20 17-18: RM30 19: IN40 20: AM50 Returning to Quickstrike, his HIGHLY innaccurate Tech Spec reports him as a 7. His INT would be RM30. (IMHO, in keeping with the show, he'd really be a TY6. Also, Tarantulas' tech spec has him as a 4(!) I'd make him a 10 for game purposes.) 3. Speed+Skill to Agility: Use the Intelligence chart, adding +1CS 4. Endurance to Endurance: Use this variation on the Strength chart: Regular: GD10 1-3:+0CS Deluxe: GD10 4-5:+1CS Mega: EX20 6-8:+2CS Ultra: EX20 9+: +3CS Super: RM30 ? 5. Rank+Courage to Psyche: Add the two, divide. Use this chart: 1-2:TY6 3-4:GD10 5-6:EX20 7-8:RM30 9:+ IN40 6. Firepower to Robot Mode Weapon Damage: Use the strength chart. Range is per the power level of the attack. Be sure to read the Tech Specs for details on the weapons, as some do Stun damage (Quickstrike, for example) If multiple weapons are listed, the first weapon is at max power, and each additional weapon is at -1CS, cumulative. 7. Skill+Intelligence to Intuition: Use the Psyche rules, -1CS. 8. Skill+Courage+Speed to Fighting: Use the same basic rules as for Psyche and Intuition, but divide by THREE. Then, take that total and plug it in the Psyche chart. Raise by +1CS. 9. Tech Spec Special Abilities: In the tech specs, BWs are occasionally listed as having certain special talents. These talents are treated as Powers at skill Rank, as per the firepower to Weapon Damage. 10. Talents: Every BW has a function. Use this function to determine that BW's Talents. As an example, Powerpinch's Function is "Infantry." Therefore, he would have the Military talent. A more oblique function, like Rampage's "Warlord" would require reading the Tech Spec as well. From the Function "Warlord," one would imagine that Rampage has the Military talent, as well as the Leadership talent, and possibly a Martial Arts, or Weapons talent. Also, if a BWs skill is 5 or greater, give them a Weapon talent in whatever their primary attack may be. (i.e., Edged Weapons, Marksman, etc.) There's the basic stats. Let's do an example. To avoid trouble with show characters, I'll do a character who never appeared on the show. Looking through my tech spec files, I think Retrax, a Predacon pillbug and Desert Demolition specialist, will serve nicely. Strength: Retrax is a Deluxe with a strength of 8, giving GD10 +2CS, for a STR stat of RM30. Reason: Retrax has a intelligence of 8 and a rank of 7, for a total of 15. 15 gives a REA stat of EX20. Agility: Retrax has a speed of 1 and a skill of 8, for a total of 9. TY6 +1CS gives a AGL stat of GD10. Endurance: Retrax is a Deluxe with an endurance of 9. GD10 +3CS gives a END stat of IN40. Psyche: Retrax has a rank of 7 and a courage of 7. Dividing by two, we get a total of 7, giving a PSY stat of RM30 Intuition: Retrax has a skill of 8 and an intelligence of 8. Dividing by two, we get 8. RM30 -1CS gives a INT stat of EX20 Fighting: Retrax has a skill of 8, a courage of 7, and a speed of 1. Dividing by three, we get 5.something, less than .5, for a total of 5. EX20 +1CS gives a FIG stat of RM30. Weaponry: Retrax is listed as having "powerful front pincers." Retrax has a firepower of 2. GD10 +0CS gives Retrax the equivalent of the Claws power at GD10 strength. Special Abilities: Retrax has the ability to roll into a ball and move at high speeds, and the ability to dig. Retrax has a skill of 8. GD10 +2CS gives Retrax the Digging power at RM30 level, and the Lightning Speed ability at EX20 power. Pillbugs have hard carapaces, so Retrax logically would have a Body Armor equal to 1/2 his END stat, i.e., EX20. Talents: Retrax's function is "desert demolitions." Logically, then, Retrax would have Survival: Desert, and Demolitions as talents. Retrax has a skill of 8, so he has the Edged Weapons talent. Here's Retrax's finished stats: Retrax Predacon F: RM30 A: GD10 S: RM30 E: IN40 R: EX20 I: EX20 P: RM30 H: 110 K: 70 R: 0 P: -7 POWERS: *Beast Warrior: Retrax is a BW. He transforms into a 10' long Pillbug, and is at a +1CS to be hit in this mode. However, in Pillbug mode, Retrax has EX20 Body Armor. *Digging: In Pillbug mode, Retrax can dig with RM30 ability. *Pincers: In both modes, Retrax has a pair of large pincers that deal GD10 Edged damage in hand-to-hand combat. *Rolling: In Pillbug mode, Retrax can roll into a ball and propel himself along the ground af EX20 Ground Speed. Talents: Demolitions, Edged Weapons, Survival: Desert. MORE STUFF: *Size! The ROBOT mode, not the beast mode, is what matters. If Rattrap is 5 feet tall, (which he is.) then his rat mode is roughly 5 feet long. There is no size change involved. Tarantulas is a big spider. Megatron is a TINY T. Rex. *Transform! To transform, a voice activation is needed. The Maximal code is ", Maximize!" The Predacon code is ", Terrorize!" Transform is accomplished in 1D6 seconds. Add -1 for Regulars, +1 for Megas, +2 for Ultras and Supers, and +3 for Gestalts. *Special Beast Warrior Abilities: BWs are VERY tough to kill. A BW has to have his/her "Spark" extinguished to TRULY die. As an example, Waspinator is ROUTINELY dismembered in fashions that would make "Kenny" from South Park wince. The key point is the TORSO. As long as the torso is intact, a Spark is okay. If a Spark is threatened, a BW will go into "Stasis Lock" or temporary shutdown. All BW's are considered to have MN75 armor guarding their Sparks. NOTE: It *IS* possible to override Stasis Lock, but this will almost always result in death. See the episode "Code Of Hero" for such an occurrence. *CR Chambers: A CR chamber/tank is used to heal damaged Beast Warriors. It confers the equivalent of MN75 Healing on BWs. It may only be used by BWs. The effects of a CR unit on humans has yet to be explored. *Fuzors: Fuzors are BW's with two combined beast modes. Quickstrike is a cobra and a scorpion, Silverbolt is a wolf and an eagle. In general, the beastmodes SHOULD be located somewhere geographically similar, but there are exceptions. (Torca, for example, is an African Elephant and an Orca.) **Transmetals! Transmetals are mutated BW's with robot-like 'beastmodes' They also have secondary "travel" modes. This mode allows either ground or air travel at Agility speeds. Transmetals have a natural RM30 body armor. Apparently, as seen with both Rampage and Depth Charge, Transmetals are the primary form of BW-era Cybertronians. On Cybertron, however, it can be assumed that beast modes are unnecessary, and as such, are not taken. **Transmetal 2's: TM2s are further mutations of the Transmetal technology. It would appear that a driver device is required to harness this ability. It is unclear exactly what the Transmetal 2 form confers, but the shown powers include EX20 Self-Healing. TM2 beastmodes tend to be organic, with some exposed robotics. Transmetal 2s have one or two Powers at Psyche rank. For example, Blackarachnia has some form of Telekinesis, and Cheetor has enhanced Speed. There it be. The Beast Wars, brought in for YOUR pleasure. SUGGESTED VIEWING: "Beast Wars" parts 1 and 2. Series pilot, established basic concept. "Possession" The legendary Decepticon Starscream possesses Waspinator. "The Spark" Contains an *excellent* dissertation on stasis pods and Sparks. "Law Of the Jungle" Deals with beast mode programming. "Coming of the Fuzors" parts 1 and 2. Deals with Transmetals, Fuzors, and Sparks. "Bad Spark" Further information on Sparks, as well as the Protoform X project. "Code Of Hero" THE Beast Wars episode. A masterpiece of animation. "The Agenda" parts 1, 2, and 3. Excellent series tying Classic TF to BW in an extraordinary fashion. "Optimal Solution" Features Optimal Optimus. "Feral Scream" parts 1 and 2. Debut of Transmetal 2 technology. "Master Blaster" Megatron gains a Transmetal 2 body, Blackarachnia uses telekinesis. "Nemesis" parts 1 and 2. The Beast Wars come to an end. Note: In ver 1.1, the info on CR chambers was added. In ver 1.5, further information on Transmetals was added, as well as a Fuzor update. Most of the rules were rechecked for consistency. Ver 1.6, spell checks, Optimal Optimus references, and Transmetal 2 info added. BWTF.com address updated, and a viewing guide added. Ver 2.0, Overhaul. More TM2 information added, and facts were brought to speed with the final episodes of the show. In the next edition: More information on Transmetal 2 technology. Modeled stats for show characters. Info on Beast Wars Second and Beast Wars Neo (possible) I'm working on a stat sheet with all the show characters. The TF Classic Sourcebook WILL get finished... I just need to type it up...