Throttlebots (Transformers Contact Build)

The subjects for this article are the Throttlebots, a team of Autobots who share a group dynamic.

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The Throttlebots are a team of Autobots operating as the personal agents and operatives of the Autobot Espionage Director: Goldbug (formerly Bumblebee). They often serve as Goldbug’s couriers, spies, scouts, and saboteurs.

The Throttlebots are:

Chase (red Ferrari Testarossa) — an impatient scout;

Freeway (blue Chevrolet Corvette C4) — a thin-skinned comedian;

Rollbar (green Jeep CJ-7) — a rough-riding macho tracker;

Searchlight (white Ford RS200) — a quiet and reclusive spy;

Wideload (orange dump truck) — a vain and judgmental hauler.

CHASE

"Hunters drive; targets park."

As a warrior, Chase's (aka Roadburn) only outstanding asset is his staunch courage, but it's his attitude that earns him his many friends in the Autobot ranks. Yes, he's a motor-mouthed braggart and rather full of himself, but his storytelling skills are so fantastic that few mind when he monopolizes the conversation. Combine that ability with the enthusiastic, superficial friendliness and charisma of a talented politician, and it's no wonder Chase is well liked, despite his flaws.

Many of Chase's missions are rather routine; radar is his specialty. He can detect objects as small as Toaster on the horizon, and see a tennis ball two miles away—three of them, in fact, at the same time, in three different directions. He seldom needs to engage the enemy closely, but even the least dangerous "milk run" comes alive with purpose and excitement when Chase is telling its story.

Impulsive and quick-thinking, Chase's 240 mph top speed often places him far ahead of his comrades on his scouting missions, and frequently he's the first to roar down a promising byway, heedless of possible ambush or hazards. Sometimes this leads him into trouble. Most often this trouble is mechanical; Chase's body, especially his drivetrain, just isn't engineered to keep up with his mind.

Influences

Morale Booster, Racer: People love to listen to Chase’s entertaining stories, even though he is a bit of a braggart.

Origin

Lookout: Chase assumes the alt-mode of a Ferrari Testarossa.

Role and Focus

Scout (Outrider):  Chase likes to move faster than everyone else. He’s usually several blocks away by the time the other Thtrottlebots have had a chance to convert into vehicle forms.

Essence Scores and Skills

Strength 4: Athletics +d4, Might +d4

Speed 6: Driving +d4, Initiative +d8

Smarts 6: Alertness +d8* (Perception), Culture +d2

Social 9: Performance +d6* (Oratory), Persuasion +d4, Streetwise +d6

Gaining Chase As A Contact

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

If You Can Keep Up: Chase is always moving faster than everyone else around him. If the PCs can spend time keeping up with Chase while he tells his stories during scouting missions, succeeding on three DIF 14 Culture,Driving, and Initiative Skill Tests,they gain Chase as permanent Contact. 

Allegiance Points: 3

Contact Perks

Before You Even Notice (1 Allegiance Point): Chase moves faster than others around him. A PC gains an Edge with their Initiative Skill Test.

Did You Hear The One About… (2 Allegiance  Points): The only Bot that can outdo Chase for storytelling is Kup. A PC automatically succeeds on their next Culture or Perform Skill Test.

Radar Suite (3 Allegiance Points): Chase has a radar sensor array that provides him the ability to perceive things both far away but also in three different directions at the same time. All PCs critically succeed on all Alertness Skill Tests until the end of the scene.

FREEWAY

"Words can cut deeper than steel."

A cruel and foulmouthed Throttlebot, Freeway is the Autobots' self-appointed "King of Comedy" and possibly makes himself quite unpopular as a result. No one is immune from his special brand of humor, not even high-ranking officers. He's always on the lookout for even the smallest and most trivial of mistakes; these can be an opening for him to unleash a torrent of pointed, mocking abuse. Freeway is convinced that he's absolutely hilarious. Point out that he's not really all that funny, and he'll do you even worse, insult your heritage, make scandalous suggestions about your progenitor, and claim you have no sense of humor and are, in fact, a wuss. Freeway will make himself laugh so hard that he blows a circuit and shorts himself out.

Freeway can dish it out, but he sure can't take it. Treat him the way he treats others, and Freeway will very quickly become angry, twisted and resentful. Very much a fuming ball of wires.

Influences

Racer: Freeway functions as a courier and saboteur. 

Origin

Lookout: Freeway assumes the alt-mode of a blue Chevrolet Corvette C4.

Role and Focus

Analyst (Corruptor): His car radio intercepts and decodes enemy radio broadcasts, transmits erroneous ones instead.

Essence Scores and Skills

Strength 3: Intimidation (Taunt) +d4

Speed 4: Driving +d4, Finesse +d2, Targeting +d2

Smarts 6: Alertness +d4, Science +d2, Technology +d6

Social 6: Performance (Comedy) +d6, Streetwise +d4

Gaining Freeway As A Contact

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

Cutting Words: Freeway’s comments often dig deep, even into his allies. If the PCs spend their downtime with Freeway, he will make an Intimidation (Taunt) Skill Test against their Cleverness or Willpower. If the PCs succeed at resisting his taunts, AND are able to keep from making retributive remarks against him, they gain Freeway as a permanent Contact.

Allegiance Points: 3

Contact Perks

Communications Hub (2 Allegiance Points): Freeway uses his communications radar array to intercept, decode, and send back false information to the enemy. A PCs automatically succeeds on their all Technology (Communications) Skill Tests until the end of the scene.

Roast! (1 Allegiance Point): Freeway will find even the tiniest flaw to joke about. A PC gains an Edge with their next Intimidation (Taunt) Skill Test.

Saboteur (3 Allegiance Points): Freeway uses sonic land mines, magnetic homing grenades, rusting agents, etc. for sabotage. Before a combat scene begins, have the PCs each create and place one trap or hazard on the battlefield that they and their allies are aware of, but their enemies are not. Finding and avoiding the hazard requires a successful DIF 13 Alertness Skill Test; dealing 1 Element Damage (PC’s choice) to the Threat when triggered.

Contact Hang-Up

Can’t Take It: Freeway is great and dishing out the joke, but can’t handle it when he is the target of others’ humor. If anyone makes a joke or belittles Freeway in any way, he leaves the scene and becomes unavailable for the rest of the mission.

ROLLBAR

"When the going gets tough, the tough get driving!"

Rollbar always gives 110%. He's neither very strong nor very fast, but he's got heart, and a vast arsenal of corny, macho cliches to pepper his speech. Though the other Throttlebots are inclined to roll their optical sensors when he starts laying the Cybertronian bullslag on too thickly, his gung-ho attitude has earned the respect of them all, and when the higher-ranking veteran Goldbug is not around, Rollbar is the acting leader of his very democratic team.

Rollbar makes good use of his low power in vehicle mode. He is a rubber-tired acrobat, able to jump like a cybergoat and run like a turbodeer. This is fortunate; he has little or no firepower, and if caught in the open he has little choice but to run away. He does have radiation and chemical sensors to assist his tracking missions, and audio-video equipment to record his findings, or perhaps the big game.

Rollbar may not have what it takes to make the big plays, but he's still an opponent to be reckoned with. You have to give him that much credit.

Influences

Hunter, War Veteran: Rollbar is an expert tracker.

Origin

Outrider: Rollbar assumes the alt-mode of a green Jeep CJ-7.

Role and Focus

Scout (Tracker): Rollbar’s sensor array allows him to follow any quarry. 

Essence Scores and Skills

Strength 5: Athletics +d4, Intimidation +d2, Might +d4

Speed 4: Driving (Ground) +d6*

Smarts 7: Alertness +d6, Survival (Tracking) +d6*

Social 6: Performance +d4, Persuasion (Leadership) +d6*

Gaining Rollbar As A Contact

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

Give 110%!: Rollbar is a bit macho and thinks others just need to toughen up and pull themselves up by their bootstraps and get it done! If a PC spends a Story Point to turn a failed Skill Test into a success, and Rollbar is in the scene to see it happen, the PC gains Rollbar as a permanent contact.

Allegiance Points: 3

Contact Perks

Acrobatic Driving (3 Allegiance Points): Rollbar can traverse most terrains,no matter how treacherous. While in alt-mode, all PCs ignore all rough terrain and gain an edge on Driving Skill Tests until the end of the scene.

Macho Cliche (2 Allegiance Points): Rollbar peppers his speech with numerous macho cliches that unintentionally elicit laughter from his fellow Throttlebots. The boost to morale restores 1 Health Point and removes any one of the following Conditions: Frightened, Impaired, or Mesmerized.

No Escape (1 Allegiance Point): Once Rollbar is on their trail, few can escape his superior tracking prowess. A PC gains an Edge with their next Survival (Tracking) Skill Test.

SEARCHLIGHT

"Seeing is, by itself, not enough for believing."

Searchlight is a quiet and withdrawn member of the Throttlebots. A silent spy, he is most at home in the blackest night, not because of what the darkness covers, but for what it reveals. When he cruises through darkened cities or over deserted plains, he has no need to switch on his two 10,000 watt driving lamps: his front-mounted sensor array brings him a subtle panorama that the daylight only overwhelms in its fiery radiance. Searchlight sees all, be it in the dimmest spark of visible light, or in the infrared spectrum, or elsewhere in the realm of electromagnetic radiation. His X-ray capacity lets him look through objects, and his spectroscope allows him to analyze their composition. All of this he can record in stereoscopic, digital video. This amazing array even gives him some offensive capacity; he can blind foes with a dazzling, stroboscopic flash from his driving lamps, but this is painful and disorienting to his well-tuned optics.

So fascinating are the secrets which the nighttime world reveals to Searchlight that he often loses track of his assigned mission. A further drawback of working alone comes from his very best quality; his keen senses. A slight sound or movement, if made by something undetectable by his trained sensors, can make him anxious, and eventually send him into a panic. Therefore, though he is serious-minded and works best alone, his superiors must sometimes check on him.

Influences

Nomad, Security: Searchlight has been around the block enough times to know who to talk to and what to keep an eye on.

Origin

Champion: Searchlight assumes the alt-mode of a white Ford RS200.

Role and Focus

Commando (Infiltrator): Searchlight is at home in the darkness.

Essence Scores and Skills

Strength 3: Athletics +d4, Might +d2

Speed 5: Driving +d2, Infiltration (Stealth) +d6*

Smarts 7: Alertness (Perception) +d6*, Survival +d4, Technology +d2

Social 6: Deception +d4, Streetwise +d8

Gaining Searchlight As A Contact

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

Stakeout: Although he likes to work alone, Searchlight doesn't mind an extra set of eyes every now and then. If the PCs spend their downtime with Searchlight on a stakeout, succeeding on three DIF 15 Infiltration, Perception, and Streetwise Skill Tests, they gain Searchlight as a permanent contact.

Allegiance Points: 3

Contact Perks

Blinding Strobe Lights (3 Allegiance Points): Searchlight activates his lights, stunning enemies with a blending 10,000 watt brightness.  AllThreats gains the Blinded Condition until the end of their next turn.

Sensor Array (2 Allegiance Points): Searchlight Sensor Array allows him to see everything normally, even in the darkest of places. A PC ignores penalties for being in darkness until the end of the scene.

Stealthiest of All (1 Allegiance Point): A PC gains a ↑1 on their next Infiltration Skill Test.

WIDELOAD

"Look good and you'll have the world in your pocket."

Wideload (aka Wide Load) is the biggest and strongest of the Throttlebots; he can haul as much as one million pounds in his role as a materials transporter. But this supreme strength is no source of pride for Wideload: his work keeps him pretty filthy most of the time, and he's a consummate neat freak. Highly superficial, he prides himself on his appearance and judges others on theirs. His unusual susceptibility to rust is thus a source of embarrassment.

Influences

Scavenger, Specialist (Brawn): Wideload is a skilled hauler.

Origin

Monolith: Wideload assumes the alt-mode of an orange dump truck.

Role and Focus

Renegade (Tank): Wideload is able to withstand the toughest of blows.

Essence Scores and Skills

Strength 9: Brawn (Force) +d10*, Might +d4

Speed 2: Driving +d4

Smarts 4: Alertness +d4, Technology +d4

Social 5: Persuasion +d4, Streetwise +d6

Gaining Wideload As A Contact

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

Cleanliness is Next to Primusness: Wideload is a superficial Autobot who judges others based on how attractive and clean they are. If the PCs spend their downtime helping Wideload clean and maintain each other, succeeding on three DIF 14 Alertness, Science, and Technology Skill Tests, they gain Wideload as a permanent Contact.

Allegiance Points: 3

Contact Perks

Keep It Clean (2 Allegiance Points): Wideload always has some extra polish to help keep his chassis clean and free of rust. A PC suffering from any rust corrosion or mechanical-based disease is cured of their affliction.

Payload (3 Allegiance Points): Wideload can haul up to one million pounds of material. The PCs automatically succeed on all Brawn Skill Tests until the end of the scene.

Tire Sensors (1 Allegiance Point): Wideload’s  hands and alt-mode’s tires contain sensors that can locate raw materials useful for construction. A PC gains an Edge on their next Survival (Foraging) Skill Test

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Til All Are One!