Warstuff: Transformers Micro Battles!

Little dudes who double as little tanks, what's not to like?

Last wargame-related post of the month, going back to working on Tellus afterward. So, currently the shelves at local Walmart (and similar stores), should one bother to look at their toy aisle, ought to be covered in Transformers figure from the nearly concluded Siege line. This line (and its upcoming 2020 continuation, Earthrise) has two size class of figures which are almost 30mm-ish scaled (if a bit taller). These are the Micromaster class (come in two packs) and the Battlemasters which turn into weapons: mostly guns but there are a few melee armaments in there and the oddball 'medical scanner' for Rung.

As I've previously written, these guys are decently cheap (yet still good) fun little action figures of little robot dudes. They are also known to clog shelves quite a bit, meaning they are readily abundant making them easy to 'army build' and/or repaint into another character. In any case, this post contain the stats for most the Micro and Battlemasters of Siege (including some of the exclusives) and the first wave of Earthrise. The basic rules for my approach to conversion are:

• If its an all-terrain vehicle then it has Strider.
• If it either has a flying animal mode or an airplane mode, it has Flying.
• If its some sort of tank or artillery it has either Deadly or Shooter.
• Battlemasters have either Shooter if it turns into a gun or Frenzy if its a melee weapon.
• Soundwave's Spy Cassettes have Stealthy thanks to being deployed by Soundwave and used for espionage.
• If using a figure that's Legend class (bigger than Micromaster or Battlemaster) from another line then it has Large.
• If its the (primary) partner of a major character (like 'Firedrive' being Firebolt, the Targetmaster of Hot Rod/Rodimus or Laserbeak for Soundwave) then its probably Quality 4+ or above.

Here's the list of figures. Earthrise figure list can be found here. Finally these things should be available at local Wal Mart, Target, Toys R Us (for those outside the USA) and similar retail and/or toy stores. They are also available online such as place like Big Bad Toy Store, TFSource and others like that.

Autobots

Battlemasters:

• Firedrive: Quality  4+, Shooter 3 (30pts)
• Lionizer/Dazzlestrike: Quality 6+, Fast, Frenzy, Strider (20pts)
• Pteraxadon: Quality 5+, Frenzy, Flying (25pts)
• Smashdown: Quality 5+, Frenzy, Intimidating (25pts)
• Rung: Quality 6+, Camouflaged, Healer, Regeneration (40pts)
• Trenchfoot: Quality 5+, Shooter 3 (25pts)
• Soundbarrier: Quality 5+, Tough (40pts)

Micromasters:

• Roadhandler: Quality 5+, Fearless (20pts)
• Swindler: Quality 5+, Hit-And-Run (20pts)
• Topshot/Flak: Quality 5+, Shooter (15pts)
• Red Heat/Trip Up: Quality 5+, Frenzy, Fearless (30pts)
• Stakeout: Quality 5+, Fearless, Hit-And-Run (30pts)
• Highjump: Quality 5+, Strider, Camouflaged (20pts)
• Powertrain: Quality 5+, Strider, Leader (45pts)
• Daddy-O: Quality 5+, Hit-And-Run, Leader (50pts)

Decepticons

Battlemasters:

• Blowpipe/Aimless/Caliburst: Quality 5+, Shooter 3 (25pts)
• Singe/Shrute: Quality 5+, Shooter, Fire (25pts)
• Terror-Daxtyl: Quality 5+, Frenzy, Flying (25pts)
• Fracas: Quality  4+, Shooter 3 (30pts)

Micromasters:

• Stormcloud: Quality 5+, Flying, Camouflaged (25pts)
• Visper: Quality 5+, Flying, Leader (50pts)
• Laserbeak: Quality 4+, Flying, Stealthy (30pts)
• Ravage: Quality 5+, Fast, Strider, Stealthy (25pts)
• Blackjack/Hyperdrive: Quality 5+, Hit-And-Run (20pts)
• Rumble*: Quality 5+, Frenzy, Stealth (20pts)
• Ratbat: Quality 5+, Flying, Stealth, Leader (55pts)
• Direct-Hit/Powerpunch: Quality 5+, Shooter (15pts)
• Bombshock: Quality 5+, Armored, Strider, Shooter (35pts)
• Growl: Quality 5+, Armored, Shooter (30pts)

*Toy says Rumble but you could also call it Frenzy....

Transformers-Inspired Monster: The Grotusque

We return to Transformers with a first: our first monster inspired not by a Deception but rather by a not-so-heroic Autobot. Generally, it's pretty much accepted that anything which looks like am '80 Monster Manual reject is going to be a bad guy but then you have weirdos like Grotusque.

Curse you, hard-to-find Toys R' Us exclusives!

In spite of their hideous appearance, the Grotusques are generally likable creatures. Speculated to be distant relatives of gargoyles, these...things...are best described as crosses between saber tooth tigers, beavers and dragons. They have matted, oiled grey fur mixed with iridescent scales in various shades of purple or pink with spots of blue and/or white.

Goofy, irreverent and all-around destructive these creatures are nonetheless a force of, if not good, then at least potentially-positive change as many have found themselves joining or roped up in some cause or another from defending villages from bandits in exchange for a meal and some booze  to revolutions to overthrow empires. In spite of their seemingly silly antics they are quite capable warriors and surprisingly cunning strategists, seeing the world as a giant chessboard albeit one where they aim for maximum amusement and destruction, not necessarily victory.

Stats: Like a Gargoyle but with a breath weapon which deal 3d6 damage and no horn attack, instead increase the bite damage. They can always speak and understand local languages and are smart enough to form complex, zany schemes which lead to mayhem and/or victory. They cannot disguise themselves as stones. Unlike gargoyles they require food, air and everything else a normal living creature need.

Transformers-Inspired Monster: The Horrorcons (Basic Fantasy)

We return to the realm of Transformers-turned-into-RPG-monsters with a two-pack, the brutish and monstrous triple-changing Horrorcons, known as Snapdragon and Apeface, re-imagined as sword & sorcery/dark fantasy shape shifting monsters from a world far away.

Sadly, these guys were far too cool to get a modern toy, at least
from Hasbro/Takara.

Called forth from the void, from the dark landscape of Dread Nebulos, the creatures known as Horrorcon are savage shape shifting brutes, able to alternate between three forms: a land animal form, a flying form and a humanoid form. Each is unique but combine a mixture of deadly characteristics, with the two described specimen being Apeface and Snapdragon.

Snapdragon is a creature of comfort and deceptive placidity, who enjoy a good time such as bathing in fetid pool or geothermal lakes. This love of relaxation is easily mistaken for being far less dangerous than he actually is, for Snapdragon has a vicious temper which, when ignited, will lead to widespread destruction. Those who summon Snapdragon must be aware that he truly lives up to his mythical namesake: hard to rouse from his lair but a bringer of doom when awakened and enraged. His animal form is described as a pale, spiky wingless dragon or over sized lizard with a powerful jaw. This form unravels into a triangular kite of flesh and bone, able to move at great speed. His humanoid form appears akin to a giant warrior fused with his armor of white scale and bones.

Profoundly obnoxious and foul-smelling, the brutish Apeface relish in his thuggish and lowbrow nature which mask his shockingly cruel and cunning temper. Much like Snapdragon, he is a force to be reckoned with when provoked. He is a creature which like attention and to rile up others, often to the point of madness. In spite of his brutish nature he excel at sabotaging the work of others. His animal form is that of a purple, hairy and fanged ape covered in grey and red bony plates and he takes flight as a large unnameable thing with crimson wings. His humanoid form retains several traits of both forms and wears a blood-red mantle and tower over all ordinary men.

	Horrorcon
Armor Class:	17 (14 Beast and Flight Form)
Hit Dice:	12+3
No. Of Attacks:	1 Giant Weapon or Other*
Damage:	2d4
Movement:	30', (120' Flight)
No. Appearing:	1d2 (Apeface & Snapdragon or 2 random Horrorcon)
Save As:	Fighter 13
Morale:	9
Treasure Type:	E+5d6x10 gp
Experience:	1,875

When in their humanoid form, the Horrorcon fight with whatever giant weapon they have which is a mace for Apeface and a sword for Snapdragon. These always count as magical weapons but they disappear when the Horrorcon dies or drop the weapon. A new weapon can be summoned at will.

They can can throw large stones up to 300' for 3d6 damage much like how a giant does.

A Horrorcon can transform at will once per turn, either into it's beast form or it's flight form: in the former it replace it's 1 Giant Weapon attack with either a 1 Bite (4d4+2) or 2 Fists (2d4+1) with the former for Snapdragon and the latter for Apeface. In flight form they cannot attack but gain their flight speed. Their AC value is adjusted in either of these forms.

Transformers-Inspired Monster: The Blot (Basic Fantasy)

Time for round two of Transformers-Inspired Monsters, this time with a limb of Abominus rather than it's torso. This is the Terrorcon known as Blot.

It's a thingy!

Foul-smelling, stupid relatives of ogres (and that's saying a lot, given how stupid and smelly ogres can be!), the Blots (sometimes called Blights, a fitting name) are hunched, idiotic brutes with vaguely saurian-snouted faces and three fingers and toes. Their filthy, smelly and scabby purple hides constantly ooze musk and slime both as a natural part of their body and from their near deathly allergy to cleaning. They are frequently enslaved by Hun-Gurrs and you know you're dumb when something like that can boss you around. Did I stress out their stupidity yet? Fortunately, they can be quite loyal.

Blot
Armor Class:	15
Hit Dice:	5+1
No. Of Attacks:	2 Claws
Damage:	1d8
Movement:	30'
No. Appearing:	1d2, Lair 1d4+1 and 1d2 Hun-Gurr
Save As:	Fighter 5
Morale:	11
Treasure Type:	C + 2d6x100 gp
Experience:	365

The stench of a Blot is horrific and functions like a Ghast's stench. More powerful and elderly Blot have such disgusting and foul slime in their stomach that they can spew it up akin to 'organic napalm'. The advanced blots have between 7 and 8 HD instead, with a breath weapon that deal 3d6 damage.

Transformers-Inspired Monster: The Hun-Gurr (Basic Fantasy)

Here is a silly idea: taking weird, monstrous Transformers alternate modes and turning them into tabletop monsters!

Basically a two-headed dragon. I think?

Sometimes known as an Algean Two-Headed Razor Beast, the Hun-Gurr is a voracious bi cephalic monster. These creatures are less of a threat than they look because they can be lazy and will prefer to attack prays that won't put up much of a fight or even non-living things, resulting in these monsters eating whole forests or monsters. Hun-Gurrs are capable of speech but since they're always stuffing their twin faces they are easily misunderstood. Their most disturbing ability is that they can use the partially-digested inorganic matter as a weapon.

	Hun-Gurr
Armor Class:	16
Hit Dice:	10
No. Of Attacks:	2 Bites or 2 Spit 60' Special*
Damage:	1d6 Bite, Special Spit*
Movement:	40'
No. Appearing:	1, Lair 1d2
Save As:	Fighter 10
Morale:	8
Treasure Type:	H
Experience:	1300

A Hun-Gurr has 4d6 'blobs' worth of semi-digested matter in it's stomach when encountered. Each blob spent in an attack deal 1d6 damage and tt can fire up to four in a single burst, to a maximum of 4d6 damage.