[OOC] Transformers G1: Shadow of the Decepticons

[Kalamadea]

Iacon has fallen. The launch of the Ark, Cybertron's last hope against the Decepticon onslaught, has been declared a failure. After we lost contact with Optimus Prime, the Decepticons, led by Shockwave, quickly took the capital from us. But all is not lost. We Autobots were not the only ones who lost a leader. Megatron and a handful of Decepticons pursued the Ark, and their ship, the Nemesis, was also lost. A million decacycles have passed since the launch of the Ark, and we now reside in hiding, the last of the Autobot resistance. We can only hope we'll stay alive until we regain contact with the Ark, if we ever do.

---

This is to be a sandboxy G1 RP set during the several million years between when the Ark launched and when Optimus and his crew awoke on Earth. We're only on Cybertron, so no human characters will be allowed, period. This way, we don't get those pesky humans interfering with our giant robots, and can do whatever we like without messing with canon. I will handle all NPC's for now, but if someone wants to have a go at a canon character, I'll allow them to if they can do justice to the character. I'll allow a single time traveler and a single cross-dimension character. After that, no more of these kinds of characters will be allowed. This RP will also incorporate the -master gimmicks, but they're not the only thing you can do. I will also allow cassette handlers, but I don't want to see a ton of them. Let's try to limit them to two handlers.

CS Template

Name:

Appearance:

Alignment: (Neutral characters are allowed)

Type: (Standard, Actionmaster, Powermaster, Headmaster, Targetmaster, Micromaster, or Cassette Handler)

Alt Mode: (Remember to keep it Cybertronian, unless a good reason is given.)

Weaponry:

Special Abilities: (This be stuff like Mirage's cloaking device; this is optional, since not all Cybertronians have special abilities)

Personality: (Optional)

History: (Optional, but preferred)

Other:

[Zero Hex]

Definitely interested, will have my bio up soon

[Zero Hex]

ere ya go

Name: Overboost (formerly known as Impulse)
Type: Action Master
Alt Mode: None
Alignment: Good
Character theme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CU7uGKV7d4E

Appearance:
If one squints they might still see traces of the almost completely unremarkable cybertronian that was once known as Impulse: a mid-sized transformer mostly colored in blue whose only distinguishing feature was his altmode, and hence his general superstructure, being designed after an old model of cybertronian car instead of the sleeker models of the current age; giving Impulse a blockier, more angular look that was generally deemed rather quaint and oddly stylish, if not particularly evocative of either speed or power. Nowadays, however, Overboost is barely recognizable as the cybertronian he used to be, his form laden down with external, dull-grey armor plating and upgraded hardware that would severely impede any cybertronian's ability to transform into a vehicle mode of any sort. Also of note is the apparent lack of an insignia, though that is solely because Overboost chooses to hide his allegiance by employing a rubsign placed over his chest.

Personality:
Impulse wasn't particularly sociable before the war but he was an alright guy once people got to know him. Oddly optimistic and even a bit of an idealist, his seemingly perpetual high spirits were often described as contagious by those who took the time to hang around the guy. Nowadays, Overboost is brash, curt and bitter; resentful of life in general and the Great War specifically. His weariness has led to him fighting with the reckless abandon of those with a deathwish, charging into enemies head-long with no apparent regard for his own safety, all guns blazing and losing himself in these bursts of near-berserker rage. Though mistrustful of Autobots, he is fiercely hateful towards Decepticons and spiteful towards the majority of the remaining neutrals on Cybertron.

History:
The Great War cost Impulse everything, even his identity. Once an unremarkable middle class cybertronian who sided with the autobots for the good of Cybertron after suffering the brutality of the Decepticon movement firsthand, ages of conflict left him both mentally and physically drained. With the key figures of the Autobots gone in a quest to find a powersource to revive their ailing planet and support its desperate population, Impulse was fast approaching the end of his line when he met Crosswire. The leader of a small band of Autobots, Crosswire was a small engineer who preached that the war, while catastrophic, had once again strengthened the Cybertronians after they'd grown bloated and complacent during their planet's Golden Age. "The Ark's quest is folly", spoke Crosswire, "for I have discovered ways to ensure our survival on the planet, new technologies derived from Nebulan methods and a new powersource deep within the bowels of our world. We shall rise from the ashes of our world, stronger than ever, and rebuild Cybertron into a new, everlasting age of prosperity!"

There was no choice, the planet's reserves of energon were all but depleted and controlled by Shockwave's faction, it was that or death. And so Impulse and many others joined under Crosswire's banner, willingly submitting themselves to Crosswire's new technologies and consuming the strange new fuel with the voracity of starving animals, heedless of Crosswire's ulterior motives. For a while, all was well as the new breed of Transformers calling themselves the Masters rose, supposedly stronger, deadlier and more efficient than their brethren and hailing Crosswire as the saviour of Cybertron. Of all the methods, Impulse chose to partake in the new fuel, a strange substance called Nucleon which granted cybertronians an impressive boost in power and efficiency, strengthening their natural abilities, granting new ones and allowing them to operate for long periods of time while consuming only a fraction of the energy they had once required. It wouldn't last.

Crosswire was a psychopath, obsessed with further advancing and perfecting Cybertronian technology no matter the cost in order to create a unified new breed that would launch into a campaign of conquest across galaxies, with him as supreme ruler of it all. Utilizing those he lured with promises of a better life as test subjects he further developed the Master technologies, leaving behind many dead or broken and subjecting those he deemed satisfactory to Shadowplay, turning them into mindless servants. In Impulse's case, he was one of many used to test out ways of stabilizing Nucleon, which permeated transformers down to their very sparks and changed them in unpredictable ways. While many before him suffered devastating side effects that cost them their sanity or even their lives, Impulse only lost his ability to transform, the only constant effect of Nucleon use as it converted figure alteration systems into energy storage reactors.

Impulse lost track of time as Crosswire subjected him to a barrage of experiments, continually injecting him with paralyzing cyber-venoms, drawing samples of the nucleon coursing through his body and testing out a variety of hardware on him. Eventually, Impulse lost consciousness and Overboost opened his eyes, a Transformer who'd been forced to sacrifice his ability to transform for the benefits of Nucleon. Crosswire, however, found the lack of transformation unsuitable for a perfected Cybertronian and prepared to dispose of Overboost, but not even he was prepared for the levels of power Nucleon could grant a Cybertronian. Breaking free of his bonds, Overboost rampaged through Crosswire's sanctum, intent on destroying everything he could before being deactivated. And then he found the motorcycle, held within a sealed room.

A single touch, almost accidental, was all that was needed. The vehicle's name was Road Gator, and it had been created to interface and binary bond with a Nucleon-powered Transformer in order to make up for their inherent shortcomings. It, too, had been deemed unsatisfactory and was to be disposed but it was now Overboost's alone to command, having already bonded with him on contact. Their first act together was ramming Crosswire through a wall, trapping him under a pile of rubber as his sanctum began to collapse. Overboost then made his escape, and has roamed Cybertron ever since with no clear goal in mind, simply looking for a worthwhile leader in these dark times.

Weaponry:
-Collapsible pistols (x2): A pair of laser pistols that can compact themselves into an easily concealable shape, built into the insides of Overboost's forearms and powered straight from his Nucleon-enriched systems to give them a good boost in power. When activated, the armor panels shift to reveal the pistols, which then slide into Overboost's hands via an extending mechanism and expand into their usable battle configuration. Cannot be employed while wearing Road Gator as armor.

______________________________________

Action Master Exo-suit
Name: Road Gator

Function:
A large high-power motorcycle painted red and blue with a few details in grey, it is a rugged and well armored all-terrain vehicle that sacrifices some speed in exchange for a stronger build that can traverse the worst terrains and take heavier beatings. Road Gator doesn't only function as a practical vehicle but also has the ability to transform into a blue and red suit of powered armor, complete with a visor and faceplate equipped helmet, that attaches itself to Overboost's body for an increase in combat performance. While Road Gator is sparkless and can even be directly controlled by Overboost from a distance if need be, it does retain a rudimentary AI that allows for limited autonomous operation. The irony of a sparkless vehicle being able to transform while he can't is not lost on Overboost, he's just not a big fan of it.

Weaponry:
-Triple barreled plasma shotguns (x2): Mounted over each forearm in armor mode, these weapons fire diffuse bursts of plasma over a wide area in exchange for sacrificing reach. In motorcycle mode, these take the form of exhausts on each side of the bike, giving Road Gator the ability to (rather innacurately) fire against pursuers without even turning to face them.

-Missile pods (x4): Regular micromissile pods, one on each shoulder and leg in robot mode. They're hidden within Road Gator's chassis in bike mode, two close to the front wheel and two close to the rear wheel, with the former firing directly while the latter fire vertically.

-Miniguns (x2): A pair of 6-barreled rotary cannons which fire solid slugs held in integrated ammunition drums. Placed on the exo-suit's back or behind the rider in motorcycle mode, the weapons are mounted on flexible joints which allow them to swivel indepedently and rotate in multiple directions.

-Nucleon Shock Gauntlets (x2): The reason Overboost doesn't carry any handheld weapons while wearing Road Gator, these nasty "little" things draw power straight from Overboost's nucleon-powered reactors to deliver painful energy blasts not just on every strike, but on mere contact and even short range emissions as well. Obviously fitted over Overboost's hands, these are neatly stored away in bike mode and cannot be used unless Road Gator transforms.

-Magnawheels: Road Gator's wheels can employ magnetic fields to allow it to traverse any metallic surface no matter the angle. Works in both bike and suit mode.

[Cassowarysaur]

I'll get a CS up soon.

[Kalamadea]

I love that CS, Zero. Approved. I'll get a CS for the resistance's leader up soon, since that's sorely needed.

[Zero Hex]

I think I'm gonna cook a bio for an antagonist as well, though what you do with it (if anything) is totally up to you

[MarsAdept]

Name: DarkStar

Appearance: DarkStar stands about 29 feet tall on two legs and looks similar to the standard seeker model but with a slightly more reinforced frame. DarkStar's paint job is mostly black with silver accents highlighting his edges.

Alignment: (to be determined)

Type: Seeker

Alt Mode: Cybertronian jet
mostly solid black with silver strips but basically looks like


Weaponry: His main weapon is his multiple barrel gattling gun on his right arm in bipedal form. he also has a shoulder mounted missile launcher. In jet form he has a variety of anti-air, ground, and bunker busting missiles. He also possess a nose mounted machine gun.

Special Abilities: Teleportation

Personality: DarkStar is driven and passionate. He follows what he believes in and does what he believes is right with little regard for coincidences. He very much a thinker and would rather have a conversation with words rather than bullet. He is young and his curiosity sometime gets him into trouble as he questions the motives, reasons, and actions of his superiors. He has demonstrated combat skills well beyond his years and seems to enjoy the thrill of flight and combat.

History: Darkstar was manufactured about 1 million years prior to the launching of the Ark. He was commissioned under the orders of Lord Megatron himself after the Decepticon air power suffered several sever blows in the skirmishes outside Iacon. He was made as the third of a trio of seekers that were made and designed by the madmind Shockwave. DarkStar was send almost immediately to join the flights that attempted to attack Iacon's noble Autobot defenders. After a relative short time, DarkStar's skill grew conciderably. He outshined his wingmen and took control of the trio. From there, his skill gained him notice and he was occasionally was given missions with the Air commander himself. These missions satisfied DarkStar's ambitions for power. He was happy knowing he could fly in support of StarScream and his wingmen. He looked up to and even admired the air commander. However, StarScream did not feel the same way about DarkStar. DarkStar never saw it coming. On a flight over Iacon, StarScream shot him down and left him claiming the Autobots shot DarkStar down. DarkStar however did not die from the attack nor the fall into the metal plains outside Iacon. He survived and started to make his way back to the Decepticons on foot. While avoiding Autobot patrols and drones, DarkStar did his best to keep moving. He was confused and could not understand why he was betrayed. DarkStar did see the Ark as he made his way back to Decepticon territory. Its contrails leaving Cybertron's atmosphere glowed in the evening light. DarkStar could see the lights of what he could only assume was Triplicon moving to intercept. DarkStar's mind did not settle on what to feel about that sight until much later.

Other: this is a character i had for Hagazussa's Red Storm Rage transformers roleplay. Just younger.
theme song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UeA9Nus9Eg

[Kalamadea]

Great to see DarkStar again. Approved.

I'm having some really severe internet issues at home, and I don't get much time at school for RP, so it may be a while before the resistance leader's CS is up. It's done, I just have to wade through internet problems to get it posted.

[Zero Hex]

I dunno about others but I'm willing to wait till you can run this without a hitch

[Kalamadea]

My internet is actually doing much better today, which is strange considering it's storming right now. I think the main issue is when the rest of the family's on the internet, because we've got six people in the house with at least one device to connect to the same router. I'm running a torrent download and having no issues right now.

If this keeps up, I'll have about four hours to have the internet to myself each weekday, which should be plenty to run this thing.

[Kalamadea]

Name: Hyperspeed

Appearance: Hyperspeed is a relatively new model, and, as such, is very sleek. He's very short, about Bumblebee's height, and has a very rounded appearance with a black chassis with dark grey highlights. As with most Cybertronians, he has an Autobot insignia in the exact center of his chest, though he sometimes can appear to have a Decepticon insignia there because of his holographic projector. His head appears to have a perfectly round half-helmet atop it, with pointed chin pieces. The helmet also contains a retractable face shield, which completely covers his face except for two eyeholes. His transformation lines are perfectly hidden, giving him the appearance of having none at all.

Alignment: Good, but with some antihero ethics thrown into the mix

Type: Standard

Alt Mode: Cybertronian Sportscar; Hyperspeed's alt mode is the fastest land vehicle on Cybertron, as well as the most maneuverable. However, in order to achieve this, he had to sacrifice a ton of armor, rendering his alt mode very fragile. But even with all this speed, he still cannot outrun even the slowest flyer.

Weaponry: Hyperspeed possesses two energon swords stored within his arms, which can be deployed at will. They are approximately ten feet long when fully extended. Because they're longer than his arms, they're stored in six pieces within each arm, which fuse together once the swords are deployed. He also has an integrated plasma cannon in his right arm, which can be deployed in much the same way as his swords. The main difference is his right hand is completely replaced with the cannon when deployed, though that isn't much of a problem for him. And, finally, his alt mode has a deployable roof-mounted plasma turret.

Special Abilities: Hyperspeed was constructed as a Scout/Spy hybrid, which grants him a variety of highly specialized abilities.
He is able to move at extreme speeds, which also extends to his reflexes. He may be fragile, but he's hard to hit. However, his alt mode is still many times faster than his biped form.
He possesses a variety of highly advanced computer equipment within his body, which makes him a very effective hacker. While he lacks the prowess of the likes of Soundwave, he is still a highly effective communications bot, able to produce fairly secure frequencies for times when he sends spies, but these are still relatively easy to hack into, especially compared to those that Soundwave produces.
He is in possession of a cloaking device.
He possesses a holographic projector, but its power is limited to changing the insignia on his chest or hiding it completely. Most of the time, however, that is enough.

Personality: Hyperspeed is not what one would call a natural born leader, but he was the first to take up the burden. He hates nothing more than the Decepticons, and would do almost anything short of sinking to their level to defeat them. He is merciless in combat, and isn't afraid to do a little killing to secure a victory. Due to a lack of an effective prison system, more killing than even he'd like often happens, but the desperate nature of their situation constantly reminds him that moral sacrifices must be made in order to survive. And Hyperspeed's main goal in resisting the Decepticon rule is to ensure that as many of his fellow Autobots survive.

History: Hyperspeed was constructed just a decacycle before the launch of the Ark, and was one of the bots that attempted to defend Iacon against the Decepticon onslaught. When the city fell, he was the one who led the surviving Autobots to safety, retreating into the metal surface of Cybertron and away from the prying eyes of Decepticon patrols. From there, they slowly began to recover and figure out where to go from there. For a while, they risked several hit and run operations against the Decepticons, but it never went very far. It was always intended to keep the 'Cons on their toes, and it often worked as intended. Things got worse, however, when a bot named Crosswire split away and was reported to have been experimenting on unsuspecting Autobots in some mad quest for power. They tried to find him, but no searches produced results. After a while, they gave up trying to find the insane bot, nor did they find any sources of this Nucleon fuel that he kept mentioning prior to his desertion.

After almost a million decacycles, the resistance is becoming a force to be reckoned with. As more and more Autobots heard word of the resistance, more and more turned up. Hyperspeed was glad to have more aid, but eventually Cybertronians lacking the ability to transform entirely showed up. After looking into this issue, they found that they weren't powered by energon. Further investigation revealed that the only thing this could be was the Nucleon that Crosswire had been muttering about, which prompted them to search again for sources so they could keep these bots fueled. Their search turned up the one thing they'd given up on finding: Crosswire's hideout, but it was in ruins and excavation produced Crosswire's sparkless corpse. They could only guess that his experiments grew tired of being tested on and revolted, causing the collapse of the laboratory. The resistance could finally conclude the search. After learning of Crosswire's fate, Hyperspeed vented a sigh of relief, glad that this ordeal was over with. Several of his bots had disappeared, and after a closer look, he recognized some of the ones that had disappeared among the Nucleon-powered individuals.

Other: I'll be getting the IC started up soon.

[MarsAdept]

So, question. how much after the launch of the Ark does this take place? i ask because i do not know whether i should have Darkstar be an Autobot or Decepticon? I think it would be fun roleplaying through his first defection from the Autobots. Also might be fun to fight against the resistance at first too.

[Zero Hex]

Well, it's been one million decacycles since The Ark launched. According to official sources, a decacycle is about 10 Earth days in Animated, a year in Beast Wars and 3 weeks in the IDW G1 comics. So in order that'd be either 2737 years, actually a million years or 57496 years. I'm gonna guess we're going with a million Earth years since Transformers are so long lived.

[Mtntopview]

This seems like a cool RP. Is it accepting characters?

[Zero Hex]

I'd say go ahead and make yourself a character, considering we only have 2 non-GM characters thus far

[Kalamadea]

Yes, we're still accepting. And I was going for a million Earth years, so a million Beast Wars decacycles.

Anyway, IC's coming within a few hours.

[Mtntopview]

And this is the G1 continuity, right?

[Kalamadea]

That it is.

[Zero Hex]

A pastiche of G1 takes, anyway. We're going with a more developed backstory for the Decepticons, something closer to the many comic continuities than the original cartoon's "evil for evil's sake" approach. In the roleplay the Decepticons are a justified but overly violent freedom fighter movement turned brutal military dictatorship with gladiatorial origins for Megatron and many other important figures.

[Kalamadea]

Yup. I've always hated the "evil for the sake of evil" view, so I avoid it whenever possible in favor of the IDW backstory.

I really need to get my hands on more of those IDW comics, though. I've only read a few, but what few I read were really good.