Chromedome Contact Build (Transformers Essence20 rpg)

The subject for today's article is the Autobot Headmaster and Computer Programmer: Chromedome.

While Brainstorm believes he is the smartest guy on the Headmaster team, that honor actually resides with Chromedome! When Fortress Maximus is not around, Chromedome tends to serve as the team's leader, with his calculating mind developing plans and strategies faster than anyone else. He's  so tactically savvy that he managed to get Arcee to be his romantic interest during the Japanese Headmaster series, taking her away from both Springer and Rodimus Prime (also kind of proving her place as a non-character in the series, just to serve as a romantic interest, rather than be her own person... [sarcasm] Yay, sexism! [/sarcasm]).



CHROMEDOME

"A battle plan is only as good as its programmer."

Chromedome is a comparatively quiet academic. Originally a number-cruncher at Cybertron's Institute for Higher Programming working on ways to improve the processing power of the Transformers' computerized minds, Chromedome found himself forcibly dragged into the Great War when a Decepticon attack destroyed the facility. Chromedome put his work to use programming Autobots so they could outsmart their Decepticon foes, but alas, only wound up fostering an intellectual arms race of sorts, in which both sides competed to repurpose the newest advances in programming into military advantages. Ground down over the years by this inevitability, Chromedome has come to accept that war with the Decepticons cannot be prevented—but only won. Well-versed in the mechanisms of the Cybertronian mind, Chromedome has been known to specialize in mnemosurgery, the science of manipulating the Transformer brain and the memories within.

Chromedome is binary bonded to the egotistical minicon Stylor, who is more concerned with the finer things in life than intellectual or military pursuits. As such, the two occasionally clash, with Chromedome trying to get Stylor to be a little less superficial, and Stylor trying to bring out Chromedome's more social side, but generally speaking, they get along quite well despite their differences.



Influences

Binary Bonded, Bureaucrat, Specialist (Computers): Spent several thousand years crunching numbers at Cybertron's Institute for Higher Programming before a Decepticon attack reduced it to a pile of smoking microchips. Binary-bonded to Stylor, an egotistical Minicon more concerned with personal appearance than warfare.

Origin

Champion: Chromedome assumes the alt-mode of a Cybertronian racing car.

Role and Focus

Technician (Neutralizer): This role and focus from the GIJoe rpg best reflects Chromedome’s calculating mind.

Essence Scores and Skills

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

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

Smarts 9: Alertness +d6, Science +d2, Technology (Computers) +d8*

Social 7: Deception +d4, Persuasion +d6, Streetwise +d4

Gaining Chromedome As A Contact

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

Crunch the Numbers: A PC who spends their downtime with Chromedome, assisting him with calculating his next attack plan, succeeding on three DIF 16 Initiative, Science, and Technology Skill Tests, gains Chromedome as a permanent Contact.

Take A Needed Break: Stylo is always trying to get Chromedome to relax and be more social with his fellow ‘Bots. If the PCs help Stylor bring Chromedome out of his lab, succeeding on three DIF 12 Culture, Deception, and Persuasion Skill Tests, they gain Chromedome as a temporary Contact.

Allegiance Points: 3

Contact Perks

Calculated Maneuver (2 Allegiance Points): Chromedome executes a critical attack plan. Immediately following their Initiative Skill Test, all PCs take an immediate Move Action.

Higher Programming (1 Allegiance Point): Chromedome can calculate anything to his advantage. A PC may use Technology in place of any other Skill Test this turn.

Mnemosurgery (3 Allegiance Points): Chromedome alters the cyberbrain and memories of an enemy. Select a Cybertronian  or robotic Threat that is Threat level 9 or less. That Threat is considered to be an ally and will aid the PCs as a Contact or NPC until the end of the mission.

x

'Till All Are One!

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