Well since this is an rp the story could be and probably should be original, maybe it would take cues from the other shows. Being from cybertron is probably the best bet for any set story, the actual story details should probably be custom. As for design choices I was a fan of G1 and not beast wars, but I know beast wars was very different story wise. And I also disliked the unicron trilogy, especially energon, I hated that one.

I also know there's a still ongoing transformers comic that uses the G1 style. But as far as I know the stories are mostly different and don't have massive plot holes, like the origin of the constructions from the cartoon. As to whether they're good idk, I've only read so much.