 Goto [ Index ] |
I been a big fan from transforming robots -and I’m also a big fan of “Cartoon Action Hour”. On a visit to my local comic and game shop—I discovered they had “Metal Wars”—and I discovered that no one RPGnet had review this one. Let’s roll out with C.C. Miller, and see what she has in store for us.
IN OPENING:
“Metal Wars” is a Cartoon Action Hour’s rule book for “Transbots”, CAH’s answer to Transformers.
SCANNING:
“Metal Wars” is the same size as “Dark Unleashed” book. It contains 61 pages. The art matched cartoon look of the 1980s—expect for what looks to a computer-like drawling of a smiling “Starscream”-like robot on page 26.
LET’S ROLL:
Chapter 1 is titled: “More Then Machines”. We start out with Introduction from C.C. Millers wonders why the giant cartoon robots are cool such as the “Gobots” and “Transformers” to the humans—but ends up on a weird point—but I don’t want to spoil you. This followed but telling you what inside the book, the back-story of how the “Transbots” cartoon was made.
Chapter 2 is titled: “Series”. It gives you first the series in a nutshell, followed by genre talking, and then gives you the cartoon’s history. In this series which is pretty good—would make a good 1980 series.
Chapter 3 is tiled “Creating Robots”. It starts off with the series guide which seems to be an update from the special rules in the appendix of the Cartoon Action Hour rule book. Then splits up the Character Points into Mini Bots (100 CPs); Action-Bot (150 CPs) and Ultra-Bots (200+ CPs). Then it talks about the Traits will two new additions: ARMOR and SPEED. Then deals with Special Abilities: form of SA, Trait Differences for non-robot forms, protection based SA, purchasing protection, and movements SA, and in a side box: the rules of genders for cartoon. It’s followed by Neat Robot Tricks—covering Size Changing, Non-Vehicle Forms, Multi-chargers, and the big guys, Gestalts. This part is follow up by Human Characters. This is followed by side-boxes n “Non-Transforming Giant Robots” and “Other Races”. Then we go into Quick Character Creation with five cartoon types to pick from; 12 vehicles for your character to transform into—and 12 SA Packages to pick from.
Chapter 4 is called the “Transbots” covering the heroes of the cartoon worlds. To me, “Lightblade” seems to be a merger of both Leader-1 and Optimus Prime. Other “Transbots” are Quasar, Sentinel, Crusader, Sceptre, Skimmer (Sounds like merger of Seaspy and Bumbleebee), and Titanos. Next it takes about human allies—the inventor, Trevor Hasting; his son, Billy Hasting, and a dragon named Draggy. I’m not talking that last one up.
Chapter 5 governs “Game Master’s Section” -- Adjusting the Tone starts the section off, followed by exploring themes, then it splits down the Genre into the rules of 1980s cartoons, running combat, the human element, collateral damage, fun-filled places to battle—but it’s a short list then what you guys have on RPGWiki.
Ok. Villains are important—but in the 1980s, the heroes were MORE important then the villains—and this brings us to Channel 6: “The Warbots” cover the foes of the “Transbots”: Vandal, Backfire, Stormbolt, Dead Air, Freefall, Turbulence, and Jetlag. The final five can merge to become Firestorm. Then we get the “War Bots” allies, which are only two Maximillian Mercy and Ms. Dannica, “Mercy” assistant.
Chapter 7 is “The New Threat”. This is a full-out an episode of the cartoon series to play.
Chapter 8 is called “War of the Transbots.” It deals with the comic book version of “Transbots”—which is par for course—a bit more grayer then the cartoon. This is where you find the Episode Seeds.
We end with Appendix covers the recommended Sources. Cartoon includes: Transformers and it spins-offs to “Transformers: Armada”, Gobots, Robotech, and Voltron. Comic includes Marvel and Dreamwave Comics version of the Transformers. Movies including: “Transformers: The Movie” (1986) & “Gobots: War of the Rock Lords”.
IN CLOSING:
I may be a bit basis on this, but this is one fine book for all your robot gladiator needs.
