Ultra Magnus Contact (Transformers Essence20 RPG)

The Essence20 RPG by Renegade Games Studios has a Contact rule system that is wonderful in its execution and use. It is a means for "major characters" to show up in the story and share the battlefield with the Player Characters while at the same time not overshadowing the PCs in the story.

During their downtime, the PCs can spend time hanging out with the major NPCs of the setting (Arcee, Bumblebee, Ironhide, or even frickin' Optimus Prime himself!), and try to gain them as a Contact. There is typically a series of Skill Tests to earn the Contact. Once these are accomplished, the PCs can "summon" the Contact to aid them in the story and use a number of special abilities the Contact has using Allegiance Points. Once these points are used up, the Contact goes off to do their thing elsewhere.

I am currently building a set of Faction rules for The Wreckers, a collection of Autobots who regularly engage in suicide missions. In my TF setting, the Wreckers are under the command of Ultra Magnus, who Prime hopes will help smooth out their rough edges with his even-headed command style.

Here is my build for using Ultra Magnus as a Contact.

ULTRA MAGNUS

“Consistency is victory.”

Ultra Magnus feels he is a soldier and nothing more. He very much prefers taking orders to giving them, and even avoids opportunities for higher responsibility. But when he is forced into those opportunities, he betrays his real talent for the job. He's strong, resolute, dependable, selfless, and courageous. Sadly, Ultra Magnus is the only Autobot who doesn't realize this.

Believing he is nothing but a soldier, Ultra Magnus is perfectly willing to sacrifice himself for the greater good if need be. He knows he's more powerful than the average Autobot, and will throw himself at larger threats accordingly. He is respected by both the Autobots and Decepticons, due to his courage and self-sacrifice. There is a special enmity between him and Galvatron for this reason, for Galvatron may be the most deadly foe of all. (Also, Galvatron, given his mental state, probably doesn't approve of people he's had blown up getting back up afterward. This can be seen as a sore point for Magnus, too.)

Influences

Experiment, Refinery Laborer, War Veteran: Before becoming a warrior of legend, Magnus was known by the name of Dion. He was a dock worker who was friend to a young Orion Pax and Ariel and helped introduce Orion to the gladiator Megatronus, after he started making political speeches against the Cybertronian Council for their stance on functionalism. Dion was also there when Megatronus betrayed them – following their meeting with the Cybertronian Council and Pax being named as the next Prime, rather than Megatronus – shooting all three friends and leaving them for dead. The bodies of the three bots were discovered by a security patrol commanded by the seeker Silverbolt, who took the bodies to Alpha Trion. Dion was reforged as Ultra Magnus and given the powerful Magna-Armor to enhance his new chassis. 

Origin

Monolith: Ultra Magnus has a chassis that is the twin to that of Optimus Prime. While wearing the Magna-Armor, Ultra Magnus stands head-over shoulders taller than even the commander of the Autobots.

Role and Focus

Officer (Frontline Leader): Ultra Magnus stands shoulder-to-shoulder with his fellow troops and is willing to sacrifice himself to see to victory, if need be. (The Frontline Leader Focus from the GIJoe RPG fits the personality of Magnus better than any of the Field Commander Roles from the Transformers RPG.)

Essence Scores and Skills

Strength 9: Brawn +d6, Intimidation +d6, Might +d6

Speed 6: Driving +d4, Infiltration +d2, Initiative +d2, Targeting +d4

Smarts 9: Alertness (Insight) +d6, Culture (History) +d6, Technology +d2

Social 8: Animal Handling +d2, Deception +d2, Persuasion (Diplomacy) +d6, Streetwise +d4

The Magna-Armor assumes the form of an auto transport trailer when Ultra Magnus converts into his alt-mode. It provides him with the benefits of the “Durabyllium Alloy” and “Pack Mule” General Perks.

Gaining Ultra Magnus As A Contact

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

Gain His Trust: Ultra Magnus knows every Wrecker candidate is rough and tough. He looks for the Autobots most willing to make sacrifices for the benefit of others and who never fail when they’re needed most. If the PCs succeed at eight DIF 10 Skill Tests of any eight different Skills in front of Magnus without failing (not counting Skill Tests they would have failed but rerolled with Story Points or Perks and then succeed), then succeed at a DIF 16 Persuasion Skill Test, they gain Ultra Magnus as a permanent Contact they can call on once per mission

Allegiance Points: 4

Ally Perks

Beacon of Courage (1 Allegiance Point): Ultra Magnus is a fearless warrior. A PC gains Edge on all Skill Tests against becoming Frightened and all Skill Tests against them to impart the Frightened Condition suffer a Snag until the end of the round.

Create Order (2 Allegiance Points): Ultra Magnus can instill order where he sees chaos. All PCs can treat one d20 roll as 10 when they make a Skill Test on their next turn.

Rally (3 Allegiance Points): Ultra Magnus motivates and mobilizes his troops. All PCs gain ↑1 on Attacks and Attacks against them suffer ↓1 until the end of the combat scene.

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