Upshift Archive

Ryan summarizes the big news about the Transformers, G.I. JOE, and Power Rangers roleplaying games from Renegade Game Studios. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. At last week’s Renegade Con June 2026 Stream, during the Renegade Con Reveals June 2026 segment, Anais Morgan (Renegade’s...

Put up your dukes, Ryan and Charles are getting scrappy. In honour of Boxing Day, Charles wanted to know more about how melee combat works in Essence20. Ryan breaks down the rules, melee’s purpose in the system, some good...

Listener ‪@jasonsumma1530‬ asked what Ryan would change about the Core Rulebooks if Renegade Game Studios released 2.0 versions. This is NOT an announcement that Essence20 2.0 is a thing, just speculation with the benefit of hindsight on the ideal...

Ryan doesn’t know Power Rangers. Neither does Charles. But here they are, trying to talk about the Power Rangers RPG. Listen Now! (mp3) Video Show Notes Essential Builds – Dynamo Follow Ryan on Instagram and Bluesky, and check out...

As requested by fan and friend (frand?) David, Ryan and Charles look at the Ranger. They discuss the military and G.I. JOE origins of rangers, how they were brought into Essence20, and how Ryan solved the Ranger’s Aquaman Problem....

Roadblock melting as Shipwreck screams. Young Daniel Witwicky stumping across Optimus Prime’s decaying corpse. The unconscious manifestation of Princess Celestials anxiety. Pumpkin Rapper. Plastic Bags. The Essence20 settings don’t shy away from the weird, so neither do Ryan and...

As the designer of the Essence20 version of G.I. JOE’s iconic flying submarine, Ryan takes full responsibility for it being built wrong. He uses this opportunity to show off he Essence20 vehicle design rules and correct his mistake. You...

Vehicles play a major role in G.I. JOE, Power Rangers, and, obviously, Transformers. But how do they work in Essence20? Charles, who is running a session with at least one vehicle combat soon, asks Ryan, who designed the Essence20...

Follow us through the surprising evolution of the Know Direction Network’s Essence20 podcast. Listen Now! (mp3) Featuring Letter From Snake Eyes part 4, generously provided by Wordburglar. Check it and other amazing 80s-inspired out at Wordburglar.com. Although the host...

Charles’ mind has been swirling ever since he heard about Learned From The Best, a new General Perk for the Essence20 in G.I. JOE Roleplaying Game: Hawk’s Personnel Files that lets players access Perks for Threat. He challenged himself and...