Swerve Contact Build (Transformers Essence20 rpg)

Our next Contact build is for the Autobot metallurgist: Swerve!

Swerve is yet another Autobot mini who replaced an existing character simply to sell more toys. In this case, he is modeled after the Autobot Gears.

I was really unfamiliar with this character before building him as a contact. He very unremarkable as a character in the classic G1 series. It is in the modern era that Swerve has shined!  He became a popular character with the writers and fan during the IDW comics, where his constant banter made  him an ideal pundit for the goings on in the series.

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SWERVE

"Molecular structure is the window to understanding."

Gregarious would be a good word to describe Swerve. So would outgoing, enthusiastic, upbeat, joyfully irreverent, flippant, sarcastic, wise ass, troll, or "total pain in the aft", depending on which side of his weapons-grade mouth you happen to fall on and how long you've been listening to him use it. Swerve has a sense of fun and even whimsy that stands out from your run of the mill Autobots fairly dramatically, but this constant running commentary stems at least partially from Swerve's low self-esteem, a coping mechanism that helps to cover up some of his own insecurities. The little fellow may get on their nerves... he'll probably get on their nerves... but it'll always be with a smile, a laugh, and an epic level quip, making him a good bartender.

He is, however, also a menace to everyone within range of a gun in his hand - including himself - given his legendarily bad aim, as well as to anyone driving nearby because he's so easily distracted by just about anything that catches his attention. Despite this, he's quite intelligent and skilled as a metallurgist, analyzing the properties of a material with unique sensors in his hands. When he gets caught up in a problem, he becomes almost laser-like in focus and intensity, going on quest after quest, both major and minor. Unfortunately, this generally leaves him just as distracted from any other tasks at hand and just as accident-prone as ever. He's almost always in need of some repairs, major or minor, because of it.

Now if only Prime could get him to not get easily distracted when receiving his orders too...

Influences

Cybertronian With Attitude (Comedic), Specialist (Metallurgist): “People don't like me — they just laugh at my jokes. There's a difference."

Origin

Outrider: Swerve assumes the alt-mode of a 4WD off-road truck.

Role and Focus

Technician (Expert): While Swerve was a trained metallurgist, his real dream was to open his own bar; in the years before the Great War, he received an autograph from his favorite athlete Blurr, who mentioned that he'd wanted to run a bar as well after retiring from racing.

Essence Scores and Skills

Strength 6: Athletics +d4, Brawn +d4, Might +d4

Speed 5: Driving +d2, Infiltration +d4, Initiative +d4

Smarts 8: Alertness (Insight) +d4, Culture +d2, Science (Metallurgy) +d6

Social 5: Deception +d2, Performance (Comedy) +d6

Gaining Swerve As A Contact

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

The Universe Hates Winners: Swerve delights in trying to make people smile, even in the worst of times. He appreciates others with a similar upbeat personality and quickly tries to befriend them. If the PCs spend their downtime hanging out with Swerve, gabbing and jiving on other stuck-up ‘bots, and succeeding on three DIF 15 Social-based Skill Tests, they gain Swerve as a permanent Contact.

Allegiance Points: 3

Contact Perks

Bartender’s Insight (1 Allegiance Point): Swerve hopes to open a successful bar someday. A PC gains an Edge on their next Alertness (Insight) or Streetwise (Gossip) Skill Test.

Gift of Gab (3 Allegiance Points): Swerve knows how to talk up a storm and jabber on without necessarily saying anything at all. The PCs critically succeed on all Persuasion Skill Tests until the end of the scene.

Hand Sensors (1 Allegiance Point): Swerve has built-in hand sensors to detect nearby mineral deposits. A PC gains an Edge on their next Survival (Foraging) or Science (Metallurgy) Skill Test.

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'Till All Are One!