History TabletopGame / TeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesAndOtherStrangeness

* DivorcedInstallment: The ''After the Bomb'' supplements continue to be published by Palladium as their own standalone RPG, in a new edition which removes the already-tenuous TMNT connection.

The game series dropped in popularity and sales once the [[WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles1987 1987 cartoon]] and [[Film/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles1990 live-action films]] rolled out, which made (from the publishers' words) "[[AnimationAgeGhetto the Turtles seem so childish that no self-respecting teenager, even if he thought the Turtles were cool, or thought the Ninja Turtle game was cool, was going to be caught dead playing it]]." By 2000, Palladium Books did not renew the license, because of license costs and the perception of the TMNT.

The game series dropped in popularity and sales once the [[WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles1987 1987 cartoon]] and [[Film/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles live-action films]] rolled out, which made (from the publishers' words) "[[AnimationAgeGhetto the Turtles seem so childish that no self-respecting teenager, even if he thought the Turtles were cool, or thought the Ninja Turtle game was cool, was going to be caught dead playing it]]." By 2000, Palladium Books did not renew the license, because of license costs and the perception of the TMNT.

* ''Turtles Go Hollywood'': A series of inter-related adventures involving drug lords, corrupt movie executives, and evil ninja clans. ''Probably'' released to coincide with [[Film/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles the first movie]]. (March 1990)

* ''Transdimensional Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'': The last sourcebook to revolve around the original Turtle setting has time- and dimension-traveling adventure with mutant humans and [[EverythingsBetterWithDinosaurs dinosaurs]], among other things. (April 1989)

* SmallTaxonomyPools: Lampshaded in the book, as this was done for both reasons of space and the game designer's mental health, Animals that are very similar are sometimes lumped together. For example, coyotes and wolves fall under "Wild Canines", and eagles, hawks, and falcons are all "Wild Predatory Birds", with only slight differences between them (i.e., since a coyote is smaller then a wolf, it has more Bio-E to spend).

* AwesomeYetImpractical: The Animal Speech and Animal Control Psionic Abilities. The idea of a mutant animal being able to communicate and control normal animals sounds awesome, but you can only do it to animals of your own kind. Great if you're a common animal like a dog, cat or mouse, but if you're a mutant lion or tiger the only places you're likely to find normal versions of your own kind is the zoo or a circus. It gets even more impractical if you're using an exotic animal from one of the ''TabletopGame/AfterTheBomb'' Supplements like ''Mutants Down Under'' where would a mutant [[SeldomSeenSpecies numbat]] and normal numbats in New York City?

* WhatMeasureIsANonHuman: A human character (Doctor Feral) is considered a morally good person despite considering sentient animals to be fair game for vivisection. Mutant animals that turn on humanity in revenge for humans' actions against them (such as experimental subjects like the Terror Bears), however, are considered evil.
* PlayingWithSyringes: Doctor Feral is probably half the reason Mutants have to have a {{Masquerade}} in the first place! Seriously, did they base half of [[WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2003 Bishop's]] character off this guy?[[note]]Short answer: [[CaptainErsatz Probably]][[/note]]

The players get the opportunity to play as a variety mutated animals, having the ability to chose the species, mutations and special abilities that the character would receive. Possible characters range from tiny psychic bunnies to enormous anthropomorphic crocodiles to humanoids with almost no trace of their animal species.

* SmallTaxonomyPools: Lampshaded in the book as this was done for both reasons of space and the game designer's mental health, Animals that are very similar are sometimes lumped together. For example, coyotes and wolves fall under "Wild Canines", and eagles, hawks, and falcons are all "Wild Predatory Birds", with only slight differences between them (i.e., since a coyote is smaller then a wolf, it has more Bio-E to spend).

Tropes:

* AwesomeYetImpractical: The Animal Speech and Animal Control Psionic Abilities. The idea of a mutant animal being able to communicate and control normal animals sounds awesome, but you can only speak to and control animals of your own kind. Great if you're a common animal like a dog, cat or mouse, but if you're a mutant lion or tiger the only places your likely to find normal versions of your own kind is the zoo or a circus. It gets even more impractical if you're using an exotic animal from one of the ''TabletopGame/AfterTheBomb'' Supplements like ''Mutants Down Under'' where would a mutant [[SeldomSeenSpecies numbat]] and normal numbats in New York City?

* TheyWouldCutYouUp/PlayingWithSyringes: Doctor Feral is probably half the reason Mutants have to have a {{Masquerade}} in the first place! Seriously, did they base half of [[WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2003 Bishop's]] character off this guy?[[note]]Short answer: [[CaptainErsatz Probably]][[/note]]

* AnimalWrongsGroup: Doctor Feral had a run in with one of these when he was younger, despite overwhelming evidence [[KarmaHoudini all charges were dropped]].

* ForHalloweenIAmGoingAsMyself: In the short story comic included in the Gamebook ''Don't Judge a Book'' The Turtles weren't originally aiming for this, Mikey was dressed up as a clown, Leo was dressed up as an alien, Raph dressed up like a punk rockstar and Don was dressed as [[WholesomeCrossdresser an old lady]]. However, burglars attempt to raid April's apartment and the Turtles have to fight them off. Their costumes are destroyed in the process, so they arrive to the party in nothing but their ninja accessories which (along with their PettingZooPeople looks) everyone assumes ''are'' their costumes.
* LittleBitBeastly: Mutants with 'Full Human Looks' – unlike the typical anime {{Catgirl}}, these characters normally just look like really ugly humans. Someone would say "That ugly lady looks like a skunk!" instead of "That skunk [[PettingZooPeople looks like a lady!]]"

* ''Turtles Go Hollywood'': A series of inter-related adventures involving drug lords, corrupt movie executives, and evil ninja clans. (March 1990)
* ''Transdimensional Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'': The last book to revolve around the original Turtle setting has time- and dimension-traveling adventure with mutant humans and [[EverythingsBetterWithDinosaurs dinosaurs]], among other things. (April 1989)

* TheyWouldCutYouUp/PlayingWithSyringes: Doctor Feral is probably half the reason Mutants have to have a {{Masquerade}} in the first place! Seriously, did they base half of [[WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2003 Bishop's]] character off this guy?

'''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles & Other Strangeness''' is a 1985 RolePlayingGame made by Creator/PalladiumBooks revolving around the strange adventures of the [[ComicBook/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesMirage Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]], and later on, [[BadFuture a post-apocalyptic, mutant-infested Earth]].

The game series dropped in popularity and sales once the [[WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles1987 1987 cartoon]] and [[Film/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles live-action films]] rolled out, which made (from the publishers' words) "[[AnimationAgeGhetto the Turtles seem so childish that no self-respecting teenager, even if he thought the Turtles were cool, or thought the Ninja Turtle game was cool, was going to be caught dead playing it]].". By 2000, Palladium Books did not renew the license, because of license costs and the perception of the TMNT.

The books are as followed:

* ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures!'': The first game book. (June 1986)

* ''Transdimensional Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'': The last book to revolve around the original Turtle setting has time traveling adventure with mutant humans and [[EverythingsBetterWithDinosaurs dinosaurs]], among other things. (April 1989)

* ''TabletopGame/AfterTheBomb'': An adventure to take place on the Eastern United States that has been ravaged by nuclear warfare. (January 1986)
* ''After the Bomb: Second Edition'': Basically an updated re-release with changes in the backstory to reflect on modern technology. (December 2001)

* ''Mutants Down Under'': Expands the adventure to Austrailia. (June 1988)

* {{Animal Wrongs Group}}: Doctor Feral had a run in with one of these when he was younger, despite overwhelming evidence [[KarmaHoudini all charges were dropped]].
* {{Awesome Yet Impractical}}: The Animal Speech and Animal Control Psionic Abilities. The idea of a mutant animal being able to communicate and control normal animals sounds awesome, but you can only speak to and control animals of your own kind. Great if you're a common animal like a dog, cat or mouse, but if you're a mutant lion or tiger the only places your likely to find normal versions of your own kind is the zoo or a circus. It gets even more impractical if you're using an exotic animal from one of the TabletopGame/{{After The Bomb}} Supplements like ''Mutants Down Under'' where would a mutant [[SeldomSeenSpecies numbat]] and normal numbats in New York City?
%%* {{Bears Are Bad News}}: The Terror Bears in spades!

* {{Evilutionary Biologist}}: Doctor Feral...[[NightmareFuel Oh Dear Lord!]] Doctor Feral!
* {{For Halloween I Am Going As Myself}}: In the short story comic included in the Gamebook ''Don't Judge a Book'' The Turtles weren't originally aiming for this, Mikey was dressed up as a clown, Leo was dressed up as an alien, Raph dressed up like a punk rockstar and Don was dressed as [[WholesomeCrossdresser an old lady]]. However, burglars attempt to raid April's apartment and the Turtles have to fight them off. Their costumes are destroyed in the process, so they arrive to the party in nothing but their ninja accessories which (along with their PettingZooPeople looks) everyone assumes ''are'' their costumes.
* {{Little Bit Beastly}}: Mutants with 'Full Human Looks' – unlike the typical anime {{Catgirl}}, these characters normally just look like really ugly humans. Someone would say "That ugly lady looks like a skunk!" instead of "That skunk [[PettingZooPeople looks like a lady!]]"
* {{Simple Yet Awesome}}: Psionic abilities like Telepathic Transmission (Great for players who don't want to spend Bio-E on speech) Hypnotic Suggestion, Mind Trap and All forms of Bio-Manipulation are all incredibly awesome and efficient.
* {{Small Taxonomy Pools}}: Lampshaded in the book as this was done for both reasons of space and the game designer's mental health, Animals that are very similar are sometimes lumped together. For example, coyotes and wolves fall under "Wild Canines", and eagles, hawks, and falcons are all "Wild Predatory Birds", with only slight differences between them (i.e., since a coyote is smaller then a wolf, it has more Bio-E to spend).
* {{Super Senses}}: The Super Senses one could acquire were Advanced Vision, Night Vision, Ultraviolet Light Advanced Hearing, Sonar, Advanced Smell and Advanced Touch

* {{They Would Cut You Up}}/{{Playing With Syringes}}: Doctor Feral is probably half the reason Mutants have to have a {{Masquerade}} in the first place! Seriously, did they base half of [[WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2003 Bishop's]] character off this guy?

The game series dropped in popularity and sales once the [[WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles1987 1987 cartoon]] and [[Film/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles live-action films]] rolled out, which made (from the publishers' words) "the Turtles seem so childish that no self-respecting teenager, even if he thought the Turtles were cool, or thought the Ninja Turtle game was cool, was going to be caught dead playing it.". By 2000, Palladium Books did not renew the license, because of license costs and the perception of the TMNT.