Each transformer needs a size.
Size does not mean more power or more gadgets. It usually means that the bot is stronger, tougher, and more intimidating though.
Each transformer should have a motivation in addition to a purpose. This will help explain why they make each decision. Optimus leads the autobots, but he is willing to die to save one transformer. Starscream wants to please or overthrow Megatron, but he usually just obeys his orders.
Each transformer should have a power rating for the power of their Spark. The Spark rating is the will power of the transformer to overcome any obstacle. Transformers with the strongest sparks often have "aberrant" powers. The more common aberrant sparks allow communication between sparks as if by telepathy. The duocons are able to split their "mitotic sparks" between multiple bodies. More powerful aberrations allow feats of power that seem almost magical in nature: Starscream has an indestructible spark, Rampage's spark was also indestructible and it granted him rapid repair powers, Megatron's spark somehow mutated with the whole Noble/Savage thing and later gained the abilities to float around, speak disembodied, and eventually "consume" other sparks.
Some transformers can also have multiple alternate forms. One alternate form option is the ability to combine with other transformers. These combiners, like Devastator, have a new arsenal and abilities when combined.
I would also say that players could choose options other than Autobot or Decepticon. Dinobots, Insecticons, Vehicons, Mini-cons, Maximals, and Predicons are all valid options. Each would have a different type of purpose and existence. A particularly evil character might be allowed to play a Blendtron, Herald of Unicron, but I would be cautious about overdoing it at that point.
I love the post though. It makes me happy. 5/5
I like the character creation that you did, however, anything that I got from the random charts was both dull and strange (I got an autobot SUV with raming armor or a Decepticon futuristic space vehicle with a multi-tool). It seems like the system could benefit from a few more tables for each of the 5 features.
For example, the Weapon feature should instead be the Armament feature. No matter what rank you select, you get some level of tool (most tools like a hammer or wrecking ball could double as a weapon, but it's not as effective).With a rank of D or better, you get to roll on the random weapon table. With a rank or B or better, you also get to roll on the defensive equipment table (including armor and other defensive measures). So with rank B, you would roll three times for armament: once for column B on the Tools table, once for column B on the weapon table, and once for column B on the defensive equipment table.
The Vehicle feature could instead be the Protoform feature. This is a measure of your size (A being Mega, E being tiny). Each size category has random transformations suitable to that size with 2 entries: one for autobots and one for decepticons (and maybe a third for beast form). With a rank of D or better, you get to roll on another table for additional transforming features like hybrid, multiple forms, additional environment capabilities (underwater, space, etc.), silent transformation, etc.. With a rank of B or better, you get to roll on another table for awesome transforming features like extra weapons, drones, burrowing, flight (or space flight), etc.
Skills, Power, and Advantages all could have additional tables and benefits. While this does mean a lot more work coming up with features, it would impart much more meaning to assigning the power levels.
Thank you to everyone who commented. You have inspired me to excel beyond the normal "random effect item". Check out Bavmor's Folly.
The Ladies Adara & Adalia
The voluptuous twin sisters, Lady Adara and Lady Adalia, daughters of Count Adamount the II, pride of the Devonshire nobility, and envy of women. The twin sisters are beautiful and they love to show it by taking any dinner party as an opportunity to flirt and drive the gentlemen crazy. Wearing expensive, revealing, low-cut dresses and sporting a more than adequate figures, the Adamount twins always stoke the other noble ladies to anger and the noble lords to addoration. The twins prefer to sit across the table from each other (to see how well the other is doing) with a studly gentleman on either side. Be sure that they aren't placed next to a married gentleman or someone who will bore them too much with dull stories.
Duke Frothington
This no-nonsense duke hates dinner parties attending them only to quell the incessant pleas that he make himself more sociable. He is hum-drum and logical, hard-headed and proud. His duchy exports the highest quality silks and wool used across the kingdom. He would much rather talk business and make a few prosperous transactions than attend a dinner party. He hates having to listen to social gossip. He should be seated next to other wealthy and successful businessmen as he has known to leave unacceptably early if he feels he is wasting too much time.
Senias, the Mystic
Senias is a druidic shaman and leader of the tributary Norlands. Senias is a kind-hearted old man who is very easy to please. He doesn't ask for much, and he doesn't impose his beliefs that Mother nature is the supreme force of the Earth and should be worshipped as such. Senias never cares who he sits next to, but pious religious nobles are usually offended by his presence and prefer to be seated away from him. He usually smells strongly of herbs, so those with a sensitive nose might find his musk a little overpowering and should not be seated close to him.
When I read the title, I was instantly taken back to my old logic puzzles where you'd have to figure out the seating arrangement. When I openned the post, there it was. I'm glad this puzzle made it's way to Strolen's.
Thank you for taking the "forum" approach. I appreciate the opportunity to see the community contributions.
Revoting. I've spent too much time thinking about/working on this in my spare time to not give a 5/5.
The existence, history, and perpetuation of Abydos are simply outstanding. Well done Zailtais! The stage is set for a great many adventures, and it is so soundly developed that I'm getting excited about it.
We know from the story that Abydos That Was met its fate it the sandstorms brought on by the war of the gods. However, the gods who watch over the priests must still be well and active. It's not much of a stretch to think that there are still the antagonistic gods who wish to see every last shrine and treasure desecrated and stolen from the tomb city. Perhaps a good plot hook is that the Ptubastis family secretly worships those corrupting gods. In this way, the war of the gods still secretly rages on as thieves and raiders from across the world seek are manipulated through greed into wearing down the gods and priests of Abydos That Was. This would tempt good adventures to raid the tomb like everyone else, but perhaps they would find a tome or undead priest that describes who the real evil is and turns the adventures against the Ptubastis family instead.
Clever concept. I was thinking that these could be used to grow crops in the vacuum of space. Basically infinite farmland. But it looks like you're shooting at a source of O2 and sugar (and possibly energy). That's actually a really cool idea, but why can't we have both? Green Sleeves seem more than capable vessles to accomplish food, oxygen, and energy.
Plots (Discovery) (Side-Quest)