Downshift
| F Mn 75 |
A In 40 |
S Gd 10 |
E Rm 30 |
R In 40 |
I In 40 |
P Rm 30 |
Res Ex 20 |
Pop Gd +10 * |
| Health: Karma: |
155 110 |
** Amongst humans, at least. Rm +30 to fellow Autobots, Rm -30 regarding Decepticons.
Origin:
Downshift is a Transformer, one of many silicon-based life forms native to the planet Cybertron. His origins on that world blessed Downshift with a considerable roster of inherent abilities that would seem, at least to ordinary humans, fantastic in nature!
Known Powers:
Cybertronian Physique: like most of his fellow Transformers, Downshift came into being on the world of Cybertron! As does everyone else from this strange planet, Downshift benefits from a number of special electromechanical characteristics, including:
* Body Armor: made (or formed) from primarily metallic materials, Downshift is considerably durable. His sturdy, inorganic composition affords Downshift Good (10) protection from attack, enough to help him ignore most human assaults. Downshift's armor breaks down like so:
Gd 10 / Pr 4 / Sh 0 / Sh 0 / Sh 0
* Growth / Shrinking: size is rarely a set feature amonst the Transformers, whether considering the species as a whole or even single Cybertronians. For example, Downshift stands at fifteen feet tall in his humanoid configuration, giving him inherent, Typical (6) ranked growth.
His stature grants Downshift a +1 size factor. This provides him a +1 CS damage bonus when assaulting human-sized foes, while suffering a -1 CS penalty to hit them in the first place. Conversely, human-sized foes assaulting him do so under the reverse of those modifiers.
While this assumes a static volume, many Transformers have demonstated that their size can be highly variable. This reflexive, dynamic size manipulation is an emergent property of Transformers overall, though such mass displacement must surely consume vast amounts of power.
These dynamic volume shifts are most often used when transforming, and enable Transformers to interact with beings of differing sizes without further modifications being required of them. This ultimately allows Transformers to wield or ride within their fellows seamlessly.
* Microscopic / Telescopic Vision: supplementing their size manipulation, Transformers possess much sharper visual acuity. These Feeble (2) ranked powers allow Downshift to perceive objects as far as a mile distant, and he can easily read material preserved on microfiche.
* Radio Transceiver: often operating in the vastness of open space, Transformers cannot solely rely upon sound or line of sight to communicate. They thus make use of an Excellent (20) ranked signal transceiver, allowing radio contact within 100 miles of others.
* Resistance / Invulnerability to Disease and Poison: an inorganic being, Downshift is wholly immune to carbon-based diseases and poisons. While not completely invulnerable to more chemically creative threats of this sort, Downshift resists them with Unearthly (100) strength.
Flight: when transforming into his air defense mode, Downshift's doors fold down, creating a lifting surface! This allows him to take off from the road like a conventional aircraft, and soar through the air with Incredible (40) speed (300 MPH).
Headlights: Downshift's Celica XX mode is equipped with fully functional headlights, which allow him to project Excellent (20) illumination into the area directly before him. If necessary, he can utilize these lamps in any of his two and a half modes.
Missile Launchers: mounted on his shoulders in robot mode and over his doors in air defense mode, these weapons are deadly against Cybertronians. They are built to target magnetically, only making them useful against ferrous targets, and behave as follows:
| C Rm 30 |
S Sh X |
B Ex 20 |
Damage Remarkable (30) Edged Attack (fragmentary) |
Shape Change: Downshift has two and a half distinct forms. He can transform between his Celica XX configuration, his humanoid mode, and an air defense-dedicated hybrid of the other two at will. When in a vehicular shape, Downshift has these characteristics:
| C Mn 75 |
S Am 50 |
B In 40 |
P Gd 10 |
Limitations / Enhancements:
(none)
Equipment:
Rust Rifle: this dangerous weapon fires a beam that induces corrosion within its target. Functioning at Incredible (40) rank, this beam inflicts like SD Metabolic damage against primarily metallic targets, but functions at -3 CS versus, say, organic foes.
Quirks:
(none)
Talents:
Aerial Combat: as his purpose is to provide air defense, and he can actually take to the air to provide it, Downshift is well-versed in the fine art of aerial combat. He may attempt offensive and defensive ACTIONs while airborne with a +1 CS bonus.
Contacts:
Downshift is an older, well-respected Autobot. While Optimus may have concerns about his attitude these days, none of his fellows would ever question his loyalty or his courage, and the Autobots overall consider him a reliable contact as a result.
Likeness:
In his vehicle mode, Downshift perfectly resembles a white Celica XX with tinted windows, while his humanoid configuration looks like a robot built from the parts of such. His air defense mode is essentially a flying, heavily armed Celica with fold down doors.
Personality:
Downshift is generally, well, down. A grizzled veteran of the Cybertronian wars, Downshift has grown weary of endless battle. He begrudingly continues the fight, no matter how much he wishes to just lie down and rest, because he knows what will happen if the Decepticons win.
One unexpected bright spot Downshift has discovered is humanity. Upon arriving on earth, Downshift has found that he feels nothing but joy when interacting with humans, their children in particular, as these mini-men and mini-women are so (relatively) innocent in his eyes.
As such, it is occasionally difficult keeping Downshift on task, becasue he often wanders off on his own to explore our world to find at least some joy in his long life. Typically he does this alone, but occasionally he'll join other, like-minded Autobots in this pastime.
Real Name: Dowwnshift
Occupation: air defense
Legal Status: citizen of Cybertron with no known criminal record
Marital Status: inapplicable
Alias(es), if any: none
Group Affiliation: Autobots
Height: 15'
Hair: inapplicable
Eyes: blue
Weight: several tons
Other Distinguishing Characteristics: in vehicle mode, Downshift perfectly resembles a white Celica XX with tinted windows. As a humanoid, Downshift looks like a robotic being built from the majority of a white Celica XX carcass.
In his air defense mode, Downshift looks like a weird hybrid of the two, being an automobile with doors that fold down to serve as wings - wings tipped with missile launchers! Downshift can also mount his rust rifle on his roof in this configuration.
Design Notes:
I mainly stuck with the plan from Transcribing Transformers when crafting my description of Downshift. I did modify his Speed in vehicle mode to at least match up with a 'real' Celica XX, but retained the original value for his air defense configuration's flight.
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