Tow-Line
| F In 40 |
A Ex 20 |
S In 40 |
E Am 50 |
R Ex 20 |
I Rm 30 |
P In 40 |
Res Ex 20 |
Pop Gd +10* |
| Health: Karma: |
150 90 |
* Amongst humans, at least. Rm +30 among the Autobots, Rm -30 among Predacons / Decepticons.
Origin:
As is his fellow 'late arrival' on earth, Skid-Z, Tow-Line is an electromechanical being 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 the planet earth.
Known Powers:
Cybertronian Physique: like his fellow Autobots, Tow-Line is a robotic entity of Cybertronian design and origin. As such, this slow yet sturdy combatant has, by his very nature, the use of a large variety of abilities that reflect this. His very body gives Tow-Line these super human powers:
* Body Armor: like most Cybertronians, Tow-Line was built (or formed) with a reinforced steel frame, one that offers him Excellent (20) resistance to injury. This makes him immune to most basic human attack forms, and moderately resistant to his fellow robots. His defense breaks down as follows:
Ex 20 / Ty 6 / Fe 2 / Sh 0 / Sh 0
* Growth: 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, Tow-Line 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, Tow-Line has this power at Typical (6) rank, making him stand approximately twelve feet tall. Since his Strength rank is higher, this offers him no combat benefit, but on the other hand, human-sized folks targeting Tow-Line receive a +1 CS to hit him in battle.
The Ultimate Powers Book, however, gives Tow-Line this power at Poor (4) rank, making him out to be twice a normal human's size. This would grant the rocksteady Autobot a +1 CS to the Strength score listed above (raising it to Amazing (50)), thus adding 10 points to his Health score.
According to the Transformers MSH Sourcebook, on the other hand, Tow-Line'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, Tow-Line has a +1 size factor. As such, he inflicts +1 CS damage vs normal human opponents, and has 1 CS of Damage Reduction against them. On the other hand, he is at a -1 CS to hit them in combat, while they receive a +1 CS to hit him.
* Invulnerability to Disease and Toxins: like all robots, Tow-Line 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, Tow-Line 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).
Force Blast: in addition to having his wrecker gun handy in his humanoid mode, Tow-Line apparently has something akin to a telekinetic power, in that he can topple enemies with an unseen force. He can use this power to inflict Incredible (40) Force damage with every attack.
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.
Shape Change: whenever he desires, Tow-Line can transform between his humanoid and tow truck mode, and often does so quickly in battle to maximize the use of his abilities. This power is voice-activated, however ('Tow-Line, Transform!'). Tow-Line's tow truck mode has these vehicular statistics:
| C Ex 20 |
S Ex 20 |
B Rm 30 |
P Ex 20 |
Wrecker Gun: inherent to his form, this gun makes up Tow-Line's grill and a part of his under-carriage in his vehicle mode. When firing this blaster at an opponent, Tow-Line can inflict Incredible (40) Force damage per shot - though he usually prefers to use his wrecker hook in combat.
Wrecker Hook: Tow-Line's primary weapon, which he can use in either his humanoid or vehicular mode, this is a powerful, nigh-indestructible cable attached to a rather large hook. Tow-Line can use this hook to inflict Blunt or Grapple attacks, or to just tow vehicles, at his Strength rank +1 CS.
Equipment:
(none)
Quirks:
Alien Customs: a smart yet simple Cybertronian, Tow-Line has found that various nuances of earth culture confound him in his duties as an enforcer of Tokyo's parking laws. As such, whenever somebody's parking in what appears to be an illegal fashion (but isn't), Tow-Line is at a -1 CS to figure this out.
This penalty also applies to circumstances that would rely on even a basic understanding of terran culture and behavior.
Talents:
Law Enforcement: as a part of his efforts to 'blend in' and 'be useful' when not fighting the Predacons / Decepticons on earth, Tow-Line works to support Tokyo law enforcement officials. Learned through trial and (much) error, this skill also grants him the Advanced Guns and Law talents.
Skill / Hooks: while he can use his wrecker gun well, Tow-Line truly prefers wielding his notorious hook in battle, as it's less deadly - and more effective overall. When wielding his wrecker hook - or any other weight on a rope, Tow-Line may do so as though the applicable ability score is +1 CS in rank.
Contacts:
Although he showed up on the planet a bit later than his fellows, Tow-Line can naturally rely upon the many earth-bound Autobots for assistance should he need it, even if he got off to a bad start with them. This is because, despite his initial failure, Tow-Line has shown his usefulness several times since then.
Likeness:
In his vehicle mode, Tow-Line resembles a heavy duty, lime green / sea green tow truck, one with orange trim and windows, and a large, purple tow hook. When he transforms into his humanoid configuration, Tow-Line appears to be a rather stocky robot built from assorted green, purple, and orange truck bits.
Personality:
While he's not all that dim, per se, Tow-Line seems to have had a rather difficult time adjusting to the traffic laws on earth, which he has dedicated himself to supporting in his 'down time'. This tends to cause the slow-talking Autobot to make several curious mistakes, and almost as many problems as he solves...
Real Name: Tow-Line
Occupation: warrior, parking law enforcer
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: approximately 12'
Hair: inapplicable
Eyes: orange
Weight: several tons
Other Distinguishing Characteristics: Tow-Line is composed of a strong alien metal that is primarily lime green and sea green in hue (with orange and purple highlights), regardless of his form.
Story:
As opposed to most other Autobots on earth, Tow-Line is something of a late arrival, having showed up shortly after Megatron and his Predacon cronies first started tearing the planet up. Apparently sent to act as a reinforcement for the Autobots, Tow-Line quickly assumed a terran form to help them do their jobs.
His stasis pod scanned in a tow truck, a form that would better represent his own strengths and abilities, and once he got in touch with the Autobots already working to 'blend in' as earth vehicles of various stripes, he started assisting Prowl in his law enforcement duties.
Of course, Tow-Line proved to have some difficulties adjusting to the peculiarities of earth culture, and as a result he wound up towing several vehicles that he shouldn't have; nothing critical, mind you, but definitely enough to disrupt life in the city he'd vowed to protect from the Predacons.
Seeing him in action, Sky-Bite and Megatron's other cronies noted that he seemed quite inexperienced, and resolved to take advantage of this. To this end, they abducted poor Tow-Line, and used a special disc of Sky-Bite's design to reprogram the newly arrived Autobot, confusing his priorities.
He came to believe that the Autobots were, in fact, the villains he came to earth to earth, and began to capture all the Autobots he could. However, when collecting X-Brawn, Tow-Line suffered a 'head' injury, one that confused his new programming, causing him to dump his prey in an unforeseen location.
While he collected several other Autobots, including Side Burn and Rapid Run, the Predacons sought Tow-Line and his captured 'enemies' out. Optimus Prime and Prowl did as well, and once they found Sky-Bite's mind control disc, they removed it from Tow-Line's CD player, returning him to normal.
Tow-Line then led his two fellows to where he'd dumped the others. This naturally led to a big ol' brawl, at least once the Predacons arrived on the scene, though the villains were beaten in the end. Once this mess had been resolved, Tow-Line continued his education in the ways of earth culture.
He didn't participate in too many (publicized) battles after this, as his skills were put to use helping humans in a less combative capacity. However, Optimus Prime summoned him, along with every other Autobot on earth, to assist him in his final battle with Galvatron (an evolved Megatron) and his minions.
Though this was a nasty fight thanks to Galvatron's energy vampirism powers and augmented fighting abilities, the Autobots ultimately won out in the end, transporting all the villains home in captivity. After a short vacation, Tow-Line and his allies then left the earth once and for all...!
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