Strength 14x

Agility 12d

Intellect 12d

Willpower 14x

Hand Size: Edge:

4 (25) 2

Known Powers:

Cybertronian Physique: like his fellow Autobots, Hightower is a robotic entity of Cybertronian design and origin. As such, this dutiful sentry 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: like most Cybertronians, Hightower was built (or formed) with a reinforced steel frame, one that offers him +2 resistance to injury. This makes him immune to most basic human attack forms, and rather resistant to his fellow robots (taking his Strength into consideration).

* Enhanced Senses / Microscopic + Telescopic Vision: all Transformers can alter their visual sensitivity as is necessary, where distance is concerned. Functioning at intensity 2, these powers let them see objects up to a mile distant with ease, as well as allowing them to read items on microfiche.

* Invulnerability to Disease and Toxins: like all robots, Hightower is highly resistant to diseases and poisons that would kill organic beings. He possesses complete immunity to organic pathogens, and a 'mere' +10 resistance to other, more chemically creative substances.

* Radio Transceiver: as are most all Transformers on earth, Hightower is equipped with an audio / video transmission system. This communications rig allows him instant contact with any other Autobot on the planet, having intensity 10 power (25,000 mile range).

* Size Alteration: most Cybertronians have some degree of control over their size, no matter what form they take. Due to his significant height in his humanoid mode, Hightower has this power via technicality; he may very well grow somewhat while transforming, but doesn't appear to do so.

This power is bound in Hightower's case by the Growth Only and Permanent limitations, meaning that Hightower is always 14 foot tall in his humanoid mode. Due to his size, Hightower possesses this power at intensity 4, and while it's permanent, the requisite Strength and Agility changes are not applied.

This since his foes often vary in size considerably; Predacons and Decepticons aren't all die-cast from the same mold. For simplicity's sake, one could just apply those alterations and call it a day, or he may go for accuracy and vary them based on the size of his current opponent; whichever works for your game.

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 intensity 16 fiery (energy) damage with each and every terrible blast.

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 intensity 4 speeds, but if all four members of the Build Team work together, they can dig through the earth with intensity 8 skill.

Gestalt: as a member of the Autobot Build Team, Hightower can merge with his fellows in order to form the mighty Landfill. This intensity 15 power allows him to join with Wedge in one of three possible configurations - serving as either of Landfill's legs or both of his arms.

Headlights: to better emulate earthen vehicles (and since they come in handy in the dark), most automotive Transformers on earth are equipped with a set of convenient headlights. These twin lamps can be used to generate intensity 8 illumination, making driving at night no problem.

Shapeshifting: whenever he desires, Hightower can transform between his humanoid and crane mode, and often does so quickly in battle to maximize the use of his abilities. This power is voice-activated, however ("Hightower, Transform!"). He's somewhat quick in his crane mode.

Consider Hightower to be moving as though he had intensity 4 lightning speed in his automotive form.

Equipment:

Crane Magnum: supplementing his primary firearm, this weapon is essentially a large, chemical slugthrower. Hightower can use this hand cannon to inflict his Agility +4 damage with every blast. Hightower stores this weapon in a sub-space pocket when he's not making use of it.

Hindrances:

(none)

Skills:

Architecture: as are the other members of the Build Team, Heavy Load is a competent engineer, able to build any item or structure he needs to, thanks to his advanced Cybertronian knowledge. He can resolve actions required while building something at a reduced difficulty level.

Marksmanship: Hightower is renowned galaxy-wide as one of the best sharp shooters alive. As such, he can be considered a world-class expert with this skill, allowing him the use of an autotrump (barring the use of Doom cards) whenever utilizing any firearm.

Calling:

Guardian: Hightower is a natural exemplar of this calling, for he lives to preserve the lives of all Autobots - he's more of a defensive fighter than anything else. He has dedicated his skills to maintaining the continued existence of the Autobots - and Wedge in particular, for some reason...

Likeness:

In his vehicular configuration, Hightower appears to be a average, ordinary crane - if bright red in coloration. However, when he transforms into his humanoid mode, Hightower appears to be a large, red and silver robot built from various bits and pieces of a construction crane.

Personality:

Hightower is a very 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 at times) 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: 14'
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 marksman who is second to none in skill 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 rest of the Build Team, however, and 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 in order to perceive threats to Wedge and his teammates.

You can imagine how distraught Hightower became, then, when Wedge started pushing Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots, 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 wound up being something of 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 endless 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 the evil Megatron and his Predacon and Decepticon minions. 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 their leisure, it has fallen upon Hightower and his teammates to remove all the advanced, Cybertronian technology that they have scattered across the earth, and this may take quite some time.

As such, Hightower may be staying on earth for awhile...