Side Swipe
| F Rm 30 |
A Gd 10 |
S In 40 |
E n 40 |
R Gd 10 |
I Gd 10 |
P Am 50 |
Res Ex 20 |
Pop Gd +10* |
| Health: Karma: |
120 70 |
* Amongst humans, at least. Ex +20 to fellow Autobots, Ex -20 regarding Predacons / Decepticons.
Origin:
As are the rest of the Autobots, much less every other Transformer, Side Swipe is an electromechanical entity hailing from Cybertron, a robot with the ability to change between his two separate forms at his leisure. He may also be from another time period, making him doubly out of place here.
Known Powers:
Cybertronian Physique: like his fellow Autobots, Side Swipe is a robotic entity of Cybertronian design and origin. As such, this brutish warrior has, by his very nature, the use of a large variety of abilities that reflect this. His very body gives Side Swipe these super human powers:
* Body Armor: like most Cybertronians, Side Swipe was built (or formed) with a reinforced steel frame, one that offers him Remarkable (30) resistance to injury. This makes him resistant to most basic human attack forms, and moderately resistant to his fellow robots. His defense breaks down as follows:
Rm 30 / Gd 10 / Pr 4 / Sh 0 / Sh 0
* Growth: most Cybertronians have some degree of control over their size, no matter what form they take. Due to his considerable height in his humanoid mode, Side Swipe has this power via technicality; he may very well grow somewhat while transforming, but doesn't appear to do so.
According to the standard Growth rules, Side Swipe has this power at Poor (4) rank, making him stand approximately nine foot tall. Since his Strength rank is higher, this offers him no combat benefit, but on the other hand, human-sized folks targeting Side Swipe receive a +1 CS to hit him in battle.
The Ultimate Powers Book, however, gives Side Swipe this power at Feeble (2) rank, making him out to be one and a half times a normal human's size. Unlike some of the other Autobots on earth, his size and mass alone do not grant Side Swipe a Strength bonus, but then he's pretty strong to start with...
According to the Transformers MSH Sourcebook, on the other hand, Side Swipe's statistics are geared towards mixing it up with beings of like size. As such, when fighting folks of normal human size, he should receive a +1 CS to the damage he inflicts upon them (+1 CS per 2 CS of growth).
Finally, per the Universal Heroes rules, Side Swipe has a size factor of zero (0). As such, he receives no special bonuses or penalties when combating human-sized opponents thanks to his size alone. However, this does put him at a slight disadvantage against the larger Predacons...
* Invulnerability to Disease and Toxins: like all robots, Side Swipe is highly resistant to diseases and poisons that would kill organic beings. He possesses this resistance at Class 1k rank versus organic pathogens, and at Unearthly (100) versus more chemically creative substances.
* Microscopic / Telescopic Vision: all Transformers have the ability to alter their visual sensitivity where distance is concerned. Functioning at Feeble (2) rank, this power lets them see objects up to a mile distant with ease, as well as allowing them to read items on microfiche.
* Radio Transceiver: as are most all Transformers on earth, Side Swipe is equipped with an audio / video transmission system. This communications rig allows him instant contact with any other Cybertronian on earth, having Excellent (20) range (25,000 miles).
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 Excellent (20) intensity illumination, making driving at night no problem.
Parachute Packs: in the event that Side Swipe opens up completely and loses control (as he's wont to do), he's equipped with several rear-mounted parachutes that he can deploy in an emergency. These serve to brake his reckless speed, and allow him to decelerate three times faster than normal.
Sensor Goggles: mounted on his face plate, these twinned optical instruments provide Side Swipe a wide array of sensory powers. They allow him to perceive the entire electromagnetic spectrum with Amazing (50) ability, and enhance his inherent visual powers to a like degree.
Shape Change: whenever he desires, Side Swipe can transform between his humanoid and Chevrolet Camaro car modes, and often does so quickly in battle to maximize the use of his abilities. This power is voice-activated, however ('Side Swipe, Transform!'). His car mode has these vehicular statistics:
| C Gd 10 |
S Un 100 |
B In 40 |
P Rm 30 |
Equipment:
Concussion Cannon: perfectly complementing his personality, this weapon is powerful and dangerous. Side Swipe can use this beast to fire a multi-phase concussion wave. This ball of intense energy inflicts Remarkable (30) Armor Piercing Force damage with each blast.
Quirks:
Bluntness 2: Side Swipe is rather direct when you get down to it. He has no use for social niceties like politeness and political correctness - he says what he's thinking, when he thinks of it, and could care less how this makes others feel. To restrain himself in conversation, he must pass a Psyche FEAT at -2 CS.
Talents:
Martial Arts type B: Side Swipe is very, very good at hitting things - whether he's in his humanoid or vehicle form. He should receive a +1 CS to all unarmed melee strikes, whether he's punching, kicking, or ramming them at full speed with his bumper, demolition derby style.
Contacts:
Despite his belligerent attitude and generally surly demeanor, Side Swipe is an Autobot, and can rely upon them for assistance should he need it. Of course, he doesn't really need it most of the time, what with his unbelievable strength and resilience; usually it's Side Swipe doing the helping.
Likeness:
In his vehicular form, Side Swipe perfectly resembles a slightly modified, green Chevrolet Camaro, one with black trim here and there. When he changes into his humanoid form, though, Side Swipe looks like a robot built from green and black Camaro components, with added blue and orange bits here and there.
Personality:
Side Swipe is a totally 'in your face' kind of Autobot. He likes nothing more than to get personal with his enemies and to beat them into submission, preferably with bits of their own anatomy. Similarly, he likes to play hard, and has found himself enamored of human demolition derbies.
Real Name: Side Swipe
Occupation: Autobot 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
Height: 9'
Hair: inapplicable
Eyes: unknown (obscured by large optical apparatus)
Weight: several tons
Other Distinguishing Characteristics: Side Swipe is composed of a strong alien metal that is primarily green and black in color, with (in his humanoid form) bits of blue and orange here and there.
Story:
There's no nice way to say it - Side Swipe is a troublemaker. He's been that way since he came online a long time ago, when he discovered that he was a bit tougher, and a bit stronger, than most of his fellows. Nonetheless, he didn't fall in with a bad crowd, for he's got an inherently good heart.
At the same time, though, Side Swipe is incredibly aggressive, and finds that he needs a regular outlet for his combative urges. To this end, he actively seeks out the enemies of the Autobots, and generally goes out of his way to fight as many of them - Predacon or otherwise - as he can get his hands on.
Hoping to channel his aggression towards a useful purpose, the Autobots on Cybertron sent Side Swipe to earth to help out with Optimus Prime's mission there. Once he arrived, Side Swipe managed to get on the bad side of a good many Autobots, what with his being not so much of a team player.
Since he doesn't get on with his fellows too well, Side Swipe has taken to doing his own thing on earth, at least when not needed to fight Predacons and Decepticons. A large portion of this involves participating in human demolition derbies, as they allow him to vent - without hurting anybody seriously.
Whenever called into action, however, Side Swipe truly gets into the 'hurting', and dishes out a whole lot of punishment to anybody that crosses him - or his fellow Autobots. This is why, though they may not like him, the Autobots definitely appreciate having Side Swipe around occasionally.
For instance, he did a whole lot of damage during Galvatron's final bid to take control of Fortress Maximus, a battle that ultimately ended when that villain was bested in personal combat by Omega Prime. This conflict saw an end to the Autobots' mission on earth, though, so they left shortly thereafter.
Which means that Side Swipe, too, has returned to Cybertron. In fact, he's making serious waves there, for he's founded a new sports league based on the derbies he's participated in on earth. A perfect outlet for his more troublesome characteristics, Side Swipe's new sport is actually catching on there...!
Design Notes:
There are no character tech specs or biographies for the RiD Side Swipe. There is absolutely nothing to work on save for the actual toy itself, and next to nothing about the fellow, so I produced this one with the 'feeling' I got for the character - nothing more, nothing less.
Naturally, if you don't like 'my' version, go with your own!
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