Fortress Maximus Contact Build (Transformers Essence20 rpg)

The last of the original Autobot Headmasters, and one of the largest figures from the original G1 series of toys: here is Fortress Maximus!

As a character Fort Max has undergone many changes during his time in the TF universe. 

* In the American TF cartoon, he was a Headmaster assault fortress created by Spike Witiwicky just one afternoon while hanging out on Nebulos.

* In the Japanese continuity, he was the leader of the Headmasters, the largest and  most powerful of their team. He also served as their mobile base / starship to aid in their interstellar adventures.

* In the Marvel comics series, he was an Autobot leader striving for peace; evacuating Cybertron with his allies to find a world away from the Decepticons. Unfortunately, he was tracked down on Nebulos by the Decepticon Scorponok, and forced to become a Headmaster to prove to the local Nebulans that he was not like the Cons. Ultimately, to save Nebulos, he was force to leave the planet and eventually made his way to Earth. In this continuity, while big and tall, Fort Max was only slightly taller than Optimus Prime.

* In the Unicron Trilogy Continuity, Fort Max hailed from Gigantion, where all TF lifeforms were big!

* In the Power of the Primes series, Fort max was a young Titan, built during the Cybertronian Wars, but resting dormant since.

Personally, I am a fan of keeping the number of super-massive TF characters to a minimum. The Autobots already have Omega Supreme and Metroplex to call on as Titan-scale warriors. So, for Fortress maximus, I like to go with the fact that he's BIG, but not Titan-scale big. He's standing head and shoulders above Optimus Prime, but in the same way that Ultra Magnus did so as well. With the Monolith Origin and the Titanspark Influence, he's Garganuan in size, which is plenty big enough for pretty much anything. When he needs to interact on a smaller scale, he does so through his Headmaster components: Cerebros and Emissary.

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FORTRESS MAXIMUS

"Prepare for war, but strive for peace."

Despite his great power, size, and rank, Fortress Maximus is a weary and reluctant warrior. The endless conflict on Cybertron has worn him down to the point where he's willing to walk away from the war entirely to preserve his ideals. Although an intensely moral being, Fortress Maximus's pacifism has its limits: more than one Decepticon has learned that he'll readily put his vast onboard arsenal to good use when it comes to defending the innocent beings imperiled by the Decepticons and their ruthless campaigns of conquest.

Fortress Maximus is big. How big generally depends on the universe, but in many realities Fortress Maximus is a unique three-part Headmaster — Fortress Maximus is binary-bonded to a smaller robot named Cerebros, who forms his head; Cerebros's own head is formed by the Titan Master Emissary. In other universes, these three stages are simply expressions of the same being, Fortress, who becomes Fortress Maximus in his largest form. He also has a smaller component robot known as Cog.

Influences

Artisan, Powerhouse, Titanspark: Fortress Maximus is one of the largest Autobot warriors inexistence. Before the war, he worked as an architect.

Origin

Monolith: Fortress lives up to his namesake, assuming the alt-mode of a massive mobile assault fortress.

Role and Focus

Modemaster (Bonded Master): Fortress feels a strong link between all his component forms.

Essence Scores and Skills

Strength 10: Athletics +d4, Brawn +d10, Intimidation +d6

Speed 10: Driving +4, Finesse +d6, Initiative +d4, Targeting +d8

Smarts 10: Alertness +d4, Culture +d4, Science +d4, Technology +d8

Social 10: Deception +d4, Performance (Visual Arts) +d4*, Persuasion (Diplomacy) +d8*

Gaining Fortress Maximus As A Contact

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

Learn To Build, Not Destroy: Before the war, Fortress Maximus was an architect. He likes to build things, be it large structures or even relationships between others. If the PCs succeed on four DIF 20 Brawn, Culture, Performance, and Persuasion Skill Tests, they gain Fortress as a permanent Contact.

Team Player: Fortress knows that teams make for the best allies. If a PC is Binary Bonded, a member of a Combiner Gestalt team, a Modemaster with MiniCons, or has a Perk granting them some form of partner or ally, they gain Fortress Maximus as a temporary Contact.

Allegiance Points: 6

Contact Perks

Artillery Assault (3 Allegiance Points): Fortress Maximus rains down artillery fire on the enemy location. All Threats suffer 2 Sharp Damage.

Largest Autobot Around (3 Allegiance Points): Few Autobots are as big as Fortress. All PCs automatically succeed on all Strength-based Skill Tests until the end of the scene.

Leadership Material (3 Allegiance Points): Fortress Maximus can calculate advanced tactical plans with ease. All the PCs’ other Contacts gain 2 Allegiance Points for the mission.

Cerebros

Cerebros is the robot that transforms into Fortress Maximus's head, and is itself binary bonded to Emissary.

Influences

Binary Bonded, Bureaucrat: Cerebros was a mental health specialist who used to work for the Institute in some capacity. 

Origin

Support: Cerebros assumes the alt-mode of a Cybertronian convertible. He can otherwise assume the form of the head of Fortress Maximus.

Role and Focus

Scientist (Counselor): Cerebros likes to use his words before resorting to weapons.

Essence Scores and Skills

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

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

Smarts 8: Alertness +d4, Culture +d4, Science (Psychology) +d6

Social 6: Deception +d4, Persuasion +d8

Gaining Cerebros As A Contact

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

Pacifist: Cerebros is an ideological pacifist. He detests the war and all violence. But at the same time, he is very protective of those harmed by the violence of war. If the PCs spend their actions helping rescue or evacuating bystanders from a combat scene before engaging in battle, they gain Cerebros as a permanent Contact.

Allegiance Points: 3

Contact Perks

Battleship Maximus (3 Allegiance Points): Though he is loath to do it, Cerebros has control of the battleship form of Fortress Maximus, calling down its massive firepower onto the battlefield. All Threats suffer 2 Sharp Damage.

Calming Words (1 Allegiance Point): Cerebros knows what to say to calm the anxious minds of his allies. A PC gains resistance to the frightened condition until the end of their next turn.

Spiteful Words (2  Allegiance Points): Cerebros knows how to use words to harm an enemy. One Threat suffers 1 Psychic damage and gains the Frightened condition until the end of their next turn.

Cog

Cog is the combined robotic form of Fortress Maximus's vehicular drones, Gasket and Grommet. Functioning as both mechanic and warrior, he allows Fortress Maximus to be at other places while in city mode, as well as to interact with more normally-sized beings.

When Cog is feeling at his most sentient, he's quick to express skepticism in his leaders' actions, even directly to Optimus Prime. Someone's got to be the wet blanket, because sometimes the wet blanket's correct.

Influences

Machinist, Skeptic: On Cybertron, Cog was a Ground Command Artillery Sergeant, whose function was a mechanic.

Origin

Rainmaker: Cog assumes the alt-mode of two separate armored vehicles: Gasket and Grommet. He is otherwise able to assume a third “Armory Call” alt-mode, as part of his Weaponizer C.O.M.B.A.T. system.

Role and Focus

Gunner (Cannoneer): Cog knows how to bring the big guns!

Essence Scores and Skills

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

Speed 8: Driving +d4, Initiative +d4, Targeting +d8

Smarts 5: Alertness +d2, Science +d4, Technology +d4

Social 5: Persuasion +d4, Streetwise +d6

Gaining Cog As A Contact

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

Armory Lore: Cog knows his weapons and shares a kinship with other weapon enthusiasts. If a PCs spends their downtime aiding Cog in maintaining the weapons systems of Fortress Maximus, succeeding on three DIF 17 Science, Targeting, Technology Skill Tests, they gain Cog as a permanent Contact.

Allegiance Points: 3

Contact Perks

C.O.M.B.A.T. Weaponizer (2 Allegiance Points): By assuming an artillery cannon mode, Cog attached himself to an Autobot ally to be used a a heavy weapon. A PC gains the Armor-Piercing and Wrecker Traits with their ranged attacks until the end of the scene.

Targeting System (1 Allegiance Point): Cog is an excellent range finder. A PC gains an ↑1 on their next ranged attack.

Weapons Technician (3 Allegiance Points): Cog is an expert in weapons mechanics and technology. All PCs restore 1 Health to any damaged weapons, armor, gear, or vehicles.

Emissary

Emissary is the Titan Master partner to Cerebros, who in turn forms the head of the mighty Fortress Maximus!

Influences

Binary Bonded, Mentor: Emissary seeks to aid all Autobots in overcoming the threat of the Decepticons.

Origin

Mini-Con: Emissary is a special breed of Mini-Con, known as a Titan Master. 

Role and Focus

Field Commander (Team Leader): Emissary knows how to use his Titan Master powers to aid his allies.

Essence Scores and Skills

Strength 6: Athletics +d6, Brawn +d6

Speed 6: Finesse +d6, Initiative +d2, Targeting +d4

Smarts 4: Alertness +d4, Technology +d4

Social 9: Deception +d4, Performance +d4, Persuasion +d6, Streetwise +d4

Gaining Emissary As A Contact

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

Binary Bonded: Emissary understands the special connection held by those who binary bond to another. Anyone with the Binary Bonded Influence, the Bonded Master Focus, or similar Perk gains Emissary as a temporary Contact with a successful DIF 15 Persuasion Skill Test.

Titan Master: Emissary enjoys a special link with Titan-class Cybertonians. Anyone with the Titanspark Influence can gain Emissary as a temporary Contact with a successful DIF 15 Persuasion Skill Test.

Allegiance Points: 3

Contact Perks

Titan Power (2 Allegiance Points): Emissary channels his Titan Master powers to aiding his allies. A PC heals 2 Health.

Titan Presence (1 Allegiance Point): Emissary uses his Titan Master powers to give his ally the confidence of a Titan! A PC gains a ↑1 on their next Social-based Skill Test.

Titan Strength (3 Allegiance Point): Emissary focuses his Titan Master power to enhancing his ally’s strength. A PC counts all Strength-based Skill Tests as though they are Specialized until the end of the scene. While active, the PC can crit with the d2.

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Til All Are One!