Cosmos Contact (Transformers Essence20 rpg)

It has dawned on me that, as a GM for an existing -- if currently on-hiatus -- Transformers RPG campaign, I should make Contact builds that have meaning for my personal campaign.

For example, during the first session of my game, Coax (player character of Owen KC Stephens) discovered the Autobots have their own personal communications satellite who was also an Autobot named Cosmos! Being a decent guy, Coax has spent his downtime just chatting with Cosmos, playing chess, listening to music, etc. As such, he qualifies for gaining Cosmos as a Contact.

Thusly... here is my Essence20 Contact Build for Cosmos.

COSMOS

“Reach for the stars, but never leave your friends.”

Fast and intelligent, bored and lonely, Cosmos has reason to regret his abilities, which often separate him from his Autobot friends. Alas, his skills are far too extraordinary to ignore.

Influences

Stargazer (Field Guide to Action & Adventure): No one – other than perhaps Astrotrain or Sky Lynx – has put in more spaceflight time than Cosmos.

Origin

Seeker: Few of his faction can achieve escape velocity and enter planetary orbit unaided, as Cosmos can, from planets as big as Earth or slightly larger. He carries fuel reserves sufficient for short orbital journeys; he is quite able to land on Earth's Moon, then take off and return to Earth. Cosmos enjoys such diversions immensely. Generally, however, he remains in orbit, relaying messages, observing enemy installations, and watching for Decepticon activity in nearby space. His optical sensors are able to observe a human radio host standing outside in the high desert from 600 miles up.

Role and Focus

Analyst (Hub): As a living Transformer, his advantage over a simple satellite is great, but it is a boring life for Cosmos. Every so often he breaks the monotony by hovering eerily above the backyards of Earth citizens, drifting silently behind the cars of lone drivers with his running lights on, or briefly jamming TV transmissions with reruns of The Outer Limits. He has also been known to zigzag through meteor showers on a clear night, showing off his space piloting skills. Naturally, this causes some consternation to the poor humans he is supposed to defend, but it's all in good fun. Primus save us from bored techies.

Essence Scores and Skills

Strength 2: Brawn +d4

Speed 10: Driving (Aerial) +d6, Finesse +d2, Infiltration +d2, Initiative +d2, Targeting +d6

Smarts 8: Alertness (Perception) +d4, Science +d2, Technology (Communications) +d6

Social 6: Deception +d4, Performance +d4, Persuasion +d4

Gaining Cosmos As A Contact

Bored: Always being stuck in space as the private Autobot communication satellite means that Cosmos has way too much time on his hands. If a PC spends their downtime helping entertain Cosmos with games, stories, or just plain friendly conversation, and succeeds on three DIF 15 Culture, Performance, or Persuasion Skill Tests, they gain Cosmos as a permanent Contact.

Fellow Autobot: If this Contact is on the scene, the PCs can summon them for 1 round.

Allegiance Points: 3

Contact Perks

Death From Above (2 Allegiance Points): Cosmos can shoot the wings off a Decepticon Seeker from outer space. One Threat takes 2 Element (Electrical) Damage.

Eye In the Sky (3 Allegiance Points): From his vantage point, Cosmos can see everything. The PCs critically succeed on all Alertness Skill Tests until the end of the scene.

Jamming Transmissions (1 Allegiance Point): Cosmos is tapped into the satellite network grid. Cosmos can target a piece of enemy computerized equipment within 100 ft. If the equipment is operated by one or more creatures, one of the creatures rolls a Technology Skill Test against the Cosmos’ Technology Skill Test. If no one operates the equipment, Cosmos rolls against the equipment’s availability DIF. Either way, Cosmos has Edge on this Skill Test.

If Cosmos is successful, the equipment (or the benefits of an upgrade with the computerized trait) stops working until the beginning of Cosmos’ next turn. This duration is doubled on a critical success. The equipment can be repaired before the duration ends with a successful Technology test against the results of Cosmos’ Technology Skill Test.

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