Blaster Contact Build (Transformers Essence20 rpg)

The contact build for today is the Autobot head of Communications: Blaster!

First let's address his name and it's unfortunate roots in 1980s slang. During the 1980s, it was not uncommon to see poor minorities carrying around and making use of large radio / cassette recorders with massive speakers. These would usually be seen at the sites of people engaging in popular breakdancing at the time.

While most people referred to these devices as "boom boxes," the derogatory term that was spread around for them was "ghetto blaster." This was the device upon which Blaster's name was derived, as he assumed the alt-mode of such a machine.

As a character, Blaster had a mixed reception. It was obvious that his toy was created by a company different from Takara, as he was MUCH bigger than any of the other figures in the line at the time. He even towered over Devastator, who was supposed to be "massive;" being the combined form of six other robots! Plus, despite also being able to fit cassette bots into his tape deck, he did not come packaged with any Autobot Recordicons, unlike Soundwave, who was packaged with Buzzsaw on his release. In fact, it would be a full year before Blaster got his own tape-minions!

Despite the cool reception of his toy, the cartoon and comics welcomed Blaster as a popular character. He was ESPECIALLY popular in the Marvel Comics; so much in fact, that he was practically the main character for a solid 12+ issues, with Goldbug serving as his ally/sidekick. This popularity made his toy sales increase, even keeping the character selling after the 1986 movie removed most of the previous cast during the massacre of characters that was the Battle of Autobot City.

This is unofficial, fan-made content using the Transformers Essence20 rpg by Renegade Games Studios.

If you enjoy this content, please help my friend Owen and his battle with cancer.

BLASTER

‘When the music is rockin’, I’m rollin’.”

Blaster loves all Earth music, especially good, hard, LOUD rock 'n' roll. He can be found at the forefront of any situation in which he's involved, be it getting down and truly hopping to town, or kicking butt and taking names—both of which he does well, and both of which have led him into conflict with authority at times. Blaster marches to his own beat, whether it's a pounding bassline or pounding Decepticon skulls, and he's not shy when it comes to sharing his feelings about either! He maintains a shared enmity with his Decepticon counterpart Soundwave, with whom he shares his powers over all forms of sound, and is often backed up by a team of his own Autobot Mini-Cassettes to match Soundwave's mini-minions on the battlefield.

Influences

Morale Booster, Nemesis (Soundwave): Before the war, he was a reporter for the Iaconian Newsfeed Service, and reported live from the Nova Plaza after an assassination attempt on Nominus Prime. He took a brief respite from reporting to work for security control for Sentinel Prime's government.

Origin

Speaker: Blaster assumes the alt-mode of a “boom box” radio/cassette player.

Role and Focus

Modemaster (Minion Master): Much like the Decepticon Soundwave, Blaster has an army of mini-con allies at his command.

Essence Scores and Skills

Strength 8: Athletics +d6, Brawn +d6, Might +d4

Speed 2: Targeting +d4

Smarts 8: Alertness +d4, Culture +d4, Technology (Communications) +d6

Social 7: Performance (Music) +d6, Persuasion +d4, Streetwise +d2

Gaining Blaster As A Contact

Earthspoiled: Blaster loves Earth culture, especially its music. Any similarly-minded Autobot, sharing the Earthspoiled Hang-Up can gain Blaster as a temporary Contact by making a DIF 15 Culture or Persuasion Skill Test.

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

Walk the Walk!: Blaster may be loud and talk a big game, but he’s also been one of the most influential members of the Autobot resistance since the start of the Great War. He has personally taken on some of the most dangerous Decepticons, including Soundwave and the tyrant Straxxus on his own. Blaster appreciated praise, but he expects Autobots to stand up and actually fight for the values they speak of. If the PCs have the War Veteran Influence or the Veteran General Perk, and succeed on a DIF 15 Persuasion Skill Test, they gain Blaster as a permanent Contact.

Allegiance Points: 3

Contact Perks

Communications Center (1 Allegiance Point): Blaster serves as the communications center for the Autobot army. A PC gains an Edge on their next Technology (Communications) Skill Test.

Cover Your Receptors! (2 Allegiance Points): Blaster unleashed a sonic wave upon the enemy forces. Up to three Threats in the Combat scene take 1 Sonic Damage and are Deafened until the end of their next turn.

Deploy! (3 Allegiance Points): Blaster deploys one of his many Recordicon minions to aid the PCs on their mission. For the rest of the mission, one PC gains the Mini-Con Ally Perk, as detailed in the Modemaster Microlinked Focus.

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'Till All Are One!