Transformers Legacy: Starscream

_{Comments, crits and questions are welcome and encouraged!}

STARSCREAM
Function: Air Fleet Sergeant
Alternate Mode: F-22A Raptor air superiority fighter
[Instructions]

_{Strength: 5
Intelligence: 6
Speed: 9
Endurance: 9
Rank: 7
Courage: 4
Firepower: 6
Skill: 7}

During Megatron’s imprisonment, Starscream acted as the de facto leader of his former general’s fractured army. The opportunity to control others to do his bidding left Starscream with an insatiable thirst for power – and a mammoth ego. With Megatron back at the forefront, Starscream is constantly conspiring and scheming against his former commander in order to regain his place as Decepticon leader, though in truth he lacks the fortitude and intellect to pull it off. Megatron, meanwhile, is well aware of Starscream’s rampant treachery and manages to quash most of his rather transparent machinations before they get off the ground. The only reason he hasn’t extinguished Starscream’s spark permanently is that – deep down – he sees a little bit of himself in the traitor.

Despite his arrogance, Starscream is indeed a formidable warrior; speedy and well-armed. His vehicle mode is outfitted with a M61A2 Vulcan rotary cannon, which is mounted on his right forearm in robot mode. His null ray cannons, also functional in both modes, can temporarily seize target Transformers’ circuitry, leaving them petrified and open for attack. Perhaps Starscream’s most distinctive characteristic, however, is his freakishly high endurance. Despite being fired upon and even fragmented outright by a furious Megatron on countless occasions, Starscream always manages to pull himself back together no worse for the wear. While this unique property has yet to be fully explained, Starscream himself would like to believe it’s because he’s some sort of god.

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<sub>Not much to say character-wise here. Starscream's Starscream, no matter the continuity. Except for Beast Wars II, where he was just gay (but which isn't really out of character either).

The design is, again, pretty standard for the character. All of the robot-specific parts are pretty much a reference to G1 Screamer, although there's definitely some Animated influence in there too, especially in the facial features. Since I'm trying to keep the vehicle mode colors realistic (I don't know what I'm going to do with all the purple characters!), his jet mode is solid grey and the robot parts are darker and more muted to match it, not unlike Animated Screamer. I really like how it looks. His transformation leaves virtually no undercarriage (which most plane-formers have), but having swaths of blue and red on the underside was pretty much unavoidable. Oh well. His null rays also keep him from being stealth, but that's Skywarp's job anyway.

The transformation scheme is partially based on my original character Sidewinder, specifically the fins-turning-into-feet and jet boots. I don't know why I like the concept so much. Unlike the other two heavily-G1-based characters (Optimus and Megatron), Starscream's parts layout is pretty much identical to his other incarnations' and as such is probably the most derivative design of the Legacy series. But again, he's a very iconic character, so I don't mind so much.

Starscream pretty much seals the deal that I'm going to have to make some characters mass-shift in robot mode since I don't want him to be twice as tall as everyone else. It won't be too drastic but it's kind of necessary, unfortunately.

The ladies love Starscream. Just watch.

Revision Edits (2/3/12): The colors of the jet mode of been tweaked - the main gray is slightly darker, the "camouflage" (dark gray spotting) is softer-edged to match the true-to-life paint scheme, and the canopy, intakes and wings have been ringed with a light gray/silver (the same as Starscream's face and abdominal panels) for more visual interest. Other than that he's pretty much the same!</sub>


Next: Ironhide! And he's not (too) G1-based!