Hightower
Melee RV 100 |
Coordination RV 50 |
Brawn RV 40 |
Fortitude RV 50 |
Intellect RV 50 |
Awareness RV 75 |
Willpower RV 100 |
Lifestyle RV 20 |
Repute RV +10 * |
Health: Fortune: |
240 225 |
* Amongst humans, at least. RV +40 to fellow Autobots, RV -40 regarding Predacons / Decepticons / Vehicons.
Origin:
Like the other members of the Build Team, and as are his fellow Autobots, Hightower is an electromechanical entity from Cybertron, a robot that strives to prevent Decepticon dominion of the universe. This alien may also be from another time period, making him doubly out of place on earth.
Known Powers:
Cybertronian Physique: like his fellow Autobots, Hightower is a robotic entity of Cybertronian origin. As such, this uncanny marksman has, by his very nature, the use of a large variety of abilities that reflect this. His very body gives Hightower these super-human powers:
* Body Armor: made (or formed) from primarily metallic materials, Hightower is considerably durable. His sturdy, inorganic composition affords him rank value 20 protection from attack, enough to shrug off most basic human assaults. Hightower's armor breaks down as follows:
RV 20 / RV 6 / RV 2 / RV 0 / RV 0
* Growth: Cybertronians come in all manner of sizes, few of which align with the human norm. Hightower, for instance, stands at approximately eighteen feet tall in his humanoid mode, which grants him this power at rank value 6 as a general matter of course.
As such, this super sentry possesses a +1 size factor. He thus suffers a -1 RS when targeting human-sized foes, but gains a +1 RS on any damage he inflicts against them, as well as 1 RS of damage reduction against any attacks they, in turn, launch against him.
* Microscopic / Telescopic Vision: all Transformers have the ability to alter their visual sensitivity where distance is concerned. Functioning at rank value 2, these powers let Hightower see objects up to a mile distant with ease, as well as allowing him to read items on microfiche.
* Radio Transceiver: as are most Transformers on earth, Hightower is equipped with an audio / video transmission system. This communications rig allows him instant contact with any other nearby Cybertronians, having rank value 20 range (100 miles).
* Resistance / Invulnerability to Disease and Poison: as an inorganic life form, Hightower possesses complete immunity to poisons and organic diseases. He also possesses rank value 100 resistance to more chemically creative forms of disease.
Corporeal Gestalt: a member of the Autobot Build Team, Hightower can merge with his fellows to form the mighty Landfill. This rank value 50 power allows him to join with Wedge in one of three possible configurations - serving as either of Landfill's legs or both his arms.
Crane Cannon: when he transforms into his humanoid mode, Hightower's crane is reborn as a deadly weapon, an oversized (even for a Transformer) flamethrower. He can use this devastating weapon to inflict rank value 50 SD Energy Damage with each and every terrible blast.
Headlights: to better emulate earthen vehicles (and since they come in handy in the dark), Hightower is equipped with a set of convenient headlights. These twin lamps can be used to generate rank value 20 illumination, which make driving at night no problem.
Shape Change: whenever he desires, Hightower can transform between his humanoid and crane mode, and often does so quickly in battle for tactical purposes. This power is voice-activated, however ('Hightower, Transform!'). His crane mode has these vehicular statistics:
Handling RV 100 |
Velocity RV 10 |
Durability RV 50 |
Protection RV 20 |
Super Digging: Hightower can use this power either by himself or in tandem with the rest of the Build Team. If tunneling solo, Hightower may do so at rank value 2, but if all four members of the Build Team work together, they can dig through the earth with rank value 10 ability.
Limitations / Enhancements:
(none)
Equipment:
Crane Magnum: supplementing his cannon, this weapon is a large chemical slug thrower. Hightower can use this firearm to inflict rank value 40 Piercing damage with every blast. Hightower stores this weapon in a sub-space pocket when he's not making use of it.
Quirks:
(none)
Skills:
Advanced Guns: in addition to his capability to fire most any standard kind of gun, Hightower can also make use of advanced, energy-based devices in battle. He should receive a +1 RS on any attack when wielding his crane cannon or any other energy-casting weapons available.
Engineering: as are the other members of the Build Team, Hightower is a competent engineer, able to build any item or structure he needs to, thanks to his advanced Cybertronian knowledge. He should receive a +1 RS on any ACT required when building anything.
Guns: an expert marksman virtually without peer, Hightower can use firearms to devastating effect. When wielding his crane magnum, or any other standard, semi-automatic, or fully automatic rifle or pistol, Hightower may do so as though his Coordination trait was +1 RS in value.
Contacts:
As a member of the Build Team, Hightower is naturally able to call upon his fellows for assistance at any time - though it's more likely that he will be helping them in a pinch. Furthermore, being an Autobot means that he can count on that large group of warriors for help when necessary.
Likeness:
In his vehicular configuration, Hightower appears to be a average, ordinary crane - if bright red in coloration. When he transforms into his humanoid mode however, Hightower appears to be a large, red and silver robot built from various bits and pieces of a construction crane.
Personality:
Hightower is a cautious, careful Autobot, constantly on guard for danger on any front. He feels it is his duty to protect the Build Team from harm, and though Wedge's recklessness confounds him, he's often dispensing advice and other wisdom to his fellows when not engaged in combat.
Real Name: Hightower
Occupation: Autobot architect, warrior
Legal Status: citizen of Cybertron with no known criminal record on earth
Marital Status: inapplicable
Alias(es), if any: none
Group Affiliation: the Autobots, the Build Team
Height: 18'
Hair: inapplicable
Eyes: black
Weight: several tons
Other Distinguishing Characteristics: Hightower is composed of a strong alien metal that is primarily red in color, with bits of silver in places, regardless of his current configuration.
Story:
Not a whole lot has been revealed about the origins of the Autobot known as Hightower, but he has gained fame throughout the galaxy as both a master marksman and a tireless sentry. In fact, he is rumored to have been the guardian of the one and only Vector Sigma at one point!
Hightower eventually wound up working with Wedge and the Build Team. When not working on various construction projects with his fellows, he's constantly on the lookout for trouble, ceaselessly analyzing all data available to him to perceive threats to Wedge and company.
You can imagine how distraught Hightower became, then, when Wedge pushed Optimus Prime into letting him and his Build Team participate in the fight against Megatron on earth. Before this, the Build Team had simply worked on making the earth Autobot-friendly, as it were.
Though their first fight was a disaster, the Build Team has gained experience working together in combat, and are now a capable fighting force in addition to expert architects. A large part of this success comes from Hightower's efforts to neutralize threats before they materialize.
Hightower didn't have to go too far out of his way to do this though, for the Build Team entered the fight somewhat late in the game, and the Autobots ultimately proved victorious against Megatron and his flunkies. With this threat defused, the Autobots were no longer needed on earth.
There's plenty of clean-up to do before they leave, however. While the other Autobots can take off at will, it has fallen upon Hightower and his teammates to remove all the advanced, Cybertronian technology scattered across the earth, and this may take quite some time.
As such, Hightower may be staying on earth for awhile...!
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