With the advent of the automaton ancestry and the release of builds such as Optimus Prime and Megatron, it would be remiss of me not to include everybody's favorite techno T. rex, Grimlock! While his robo-rex alt mode might not be great for disguise, it is undoubtedly awesome and only becomes even more awesome with his firebreathing. This is a pretty standard build but one that I still had fun with - it's nice every now and then to do one of these straightforward builds. As always, this build is conceptualized entirely in a vacuum, with choices made in an attempt to fit the character. These choices might not hold up in a campaign with different themes and should be adjusted accordingly.
Before we get into the build, I wanted to make sure that you were all informed that the blog is going to be going on a hopefully brief hiatus. I'm in the process of painting and moving into a new house, which takes up most of my free time. Optimally, I'll be back by the end of the month, but until then, I wish you all well and hope you have some great games!
Now, let's get into the build for Grimlock from Transformers!
GRIMLOCK
CHARACTER Grimlock
SOURCE Transformers
GOALS
o A staple of the Transformers universe, Grimlock is an immensely powerful warrior and the traditional leader of the Dinobots, a subgroup of the Autobots who have saurian alt modes
o Often a gladiator before the outbreak of Cybertron’s great war, his favored weapons range from energo-sword, his bare hands, the teeth and tails of his alt mode, or his firebreath
o Despite his penchant for violence and disdain of the weak, Grimlock often finds himself on the side of the Autobots due to his hatred for those who abuse their might
o Nevertheless, Grimlock often has issues with his Autobot allies and their tactics, often believing himself a superior leader to whoever is currently in charge
o In some continuities, he is known as a Point One Percenter – a class of Cybertronians with power beyond normal. In particular, Grimlock possesses inordinate strength, size, and durability
o The most common alternate mode of Grimlock is that of a Tyrannosaurus rex though one with the notable ability to breathe fire
o In many cases, transforming into his alt mode results in limited cognizance to further boost his already incredible physical capabilities
LEVEL 1
Ancestry & Heritage: Warrior Automaton
o Ability Boosts & Flaws: +Strength, +Constitution
o Ancestry Feat: Reinforced Chassis
Background: Gladiator
o Ability Boosts: +Strength, +Constitution
o Skills: Performance (trained), Gladiatorial Lore (trained)
o Background Feat: Impressive Performance
Class & Subclass: Dragon Instinct Barbarian (Red)
o Class Ability Boost: +Strength
o Skills: Athletics (trained), Intimidation (trained), Nature (trained), Survival (trained)
o Class Feat: Raging Intimidation
o Skill Feat: Intimidating Glare
Details
o Ability Boosts: +Strength, +Dexterity, +Constitution, +Charisma (Str 18, Dex 12, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 12)
As accomplished previously with other characters, Grimlock’s Cybertronian heritage is achieved through the automaton ancestry with the warrior heritage playing into his brutality and savagery. He doesn’t get much use out of the gladiator background, but it does fit well with his character. Barbarian seemed an obvious choice for the rage-fueled Grimlock but I felt that the best way to represent his fire-breathing alternate mode was not with a Tyrannosaurus rex but with a fire-breathing dragon, which will eventually be achieved through his dragon instinct. Finally, Grimlock’s terrifying reputation and image is mostly a natural result of the actions he performs, but is represented in this build with Raging Intimidation.
LEVEL 2
o Class Feat: Draconic Arrogance
o Skill Feat: Combat Climber
o Gear: everburning torch
LEVEL 3
o General Feat: Toughness
o Skill Increase: Athletics (expert)
o Gear: +1 bastard sword, everburning torch, psychopomp mask
LEVEL 4
o Class Feat: Wounded Rage
o Skill Feat: Quick Coercion
o Gear: golden legion epaulet, +1 bastard sword, necklace of knives, everburning torch
LEVEL 5
o Ability Boosts: +Strength, +Constitution, +Wisdom, +Charisma (Str 19, Dex 12, Con 18, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 14)
o Ancestry Feat: Arcane Eye
o Skill Increase: Intimidation (expert)
o Gear: +1 striking bastard sword, golden legion epaulet, bracers of missile deflection, necklace of knives, psychopomp mask, ring of discretion
As part of his belief that he should lead the Autobots, I liked the inclusion of Draconic Arrogance while Wounded Rage allows him to enter into his rage without wasting actions on his turn for it. This has less bearing on anything specific to Grimlock, but is useful and isn’t anything outside of his wheelhouse. Meanwhile, Toughness simply increases his legendary durability. As far as I’m aware, Cybertronians don’t have much interest seeing in the dark – especially the Dinobots who often operate in dark and savage places. This led to the inclusion of the Arcane Eye ancestry feat.
LEVEL 6
o Class Feat: Dragon’s Rage Breath
o Skill Feat: Intimidating Prowess
o Gear: +1 chassis, +1 striking bastard sword, lifting belt, golden legion epaulet, brooch of shielding, necklace of knives
LEVEL 7
o General Feat: Incredible Initiative
o Skill Increase: Intimidation (master)
o Gear: lesser dread armor rune, +1 leather chassis, fearsome weapon rune, +1 striking bastard sword, golden legion epaulet, bracers of missile deflection
LEVEL 8
o Class Feat: Attack of Opportunity
o Skill Feat: Terrifying Resistance
o Gear: boots of bounding, ring of the ram, lesser dread armor rune, +1 chassis, +1 striking bastard sword, lifting belt
LEVEL 9
o Ancestry Feat: Lesser Augmentation – Reinforced Chassis
o Skill Increase: Athletics (master)
o Gear: +1 resilient chassis, boots of bounding, bag of holding (type II), lesser dread armor rune, fearsome weapon rune, +1 striking bastard sword
LEVEL 10
o Ability Boosts: +Strength, +Constitution, +Wisdom, +Charisma (Str 20, Dex 12, Con 19, Int 10, Wis 14, Cha 16)
o Class Feat: Terrifying Howl
o Skill Feat: Rapid Mantel
o Gear: armbands of athleticism, +1 resilient chassis, crown of the fire eater, boots of bounding, lesser dread armor rune, +1 striking bastard sword
In this block, Grimlock finally gains his Dragon’s Rage Breath to unleash a gout of flame once per rage, calling to mind the fire breath integral to his alternate mode. Attack of Opportunity gives him a reaction once he’s already raging, whereas Terrifying Howl represents the savage, servo-shaking roars of his alt mode. His skill feats focus and expand upon his ability to terrify foes while increasing his own defensive capabilities with Terrifying Resistance. Rapid Mantel is an exception to this and helps save him from falls despite his lack of investment in Dexterity. As a barbarian who lowers his AC as his main class feature – and a later feature we’ll be picking up further decreasing it – the ability to potentially cancel a critical hit with a Lesser Augmentation to his Reinforced Chassis as a reaction is extremely handy.
LEVEL 11
o General Feat: Fast Recovery
o Skill Increase: Survival (expert)
o Gear: +2 striking weapon, armbands of athleticism, mask of the banshee, +1 resilient chassis, boots of bounding, deathless armor rune
LEVEL 12
o Class Feat: Dragon’s Rage Wings
o Skill Feat: Combat Climber
o Gear: +2 resilient chassis, +2 striking bastard sword, greater demon mask, armbands of athleticism, crown of the fire eater, flaming weapon rune
LEVEL 13
o Ancestry Feat: Enlarged Chassis
o Skill Increase: Survival (master)
o Gear: +2 greater striking bastard sword, +2 resilient chassis, gorget of the primal roar, dinosaur boots, armbands of athleticism, mask of the banshee
LEVEL 14
o Class Feat: Whirlwind Strike
o Skill Feat: Lasting Coercion
o Gear: necklace of fireballs (type V), +2 greater striking bastard sword, greater crown of the fire eater, +2 resilient chassis, greater demon mask, dinosaur boots
LEVEL 15
o Ability Boosts: +Strength, +Dexterity, +Constitution, +Wisdom (Str 21, Dex 14, Con 20, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 16)
o General Feat: Diehard
o Skill Feat: Scare to Death
o Skill Increase: Intimidation (legendary)
o Gear: +2 greater resilient chassis, hellfire boots, necklace of fireballs (type V), +2 greater striking bastard sword, gorget of the primal roar, implacable armor rune
Grimlock isn’t known for the ability to fly, but before he finally gains his alt mode through the upcoming Dragon Transformation, he needs to take Dragon’s Rage Wings. Whirlwind Strike allows him to slaughter the countless forces of the Decepticons in a wider area than most thanks to his Enlarged Chassis playing to even his uncommon size. Fast Recovery and Diehard are classic general feats for tanky characters, just like Toughness, fitting well into this build. Grimlock expands his Intimidation skill feats with Lasting Coercion and Scare to Death thanks to him taking Raging Intimidation way back when.
LEVEL 16
o Class Feat: Dragon Transformation
o Skill Feat: Terrified Retreat
o Gear: greater flaming weapon rune, +2 greater resilient chassis, greater boots of bounding, necklace of fireballs (type V), +2 greater striking bastard sword, greater crown of the fire eater
LEVEL 17
o Ancestry Feat: Greater Augmentation – Enlarged Chassis
o Skill Increase: Athletics (legendary)
o Gear: +3 greater striking bastard sword, dragonscale amulet, greater flaming weapon rune, +2 greater resilient chassis, hellfire boots, necklace of fireballs (type V)
LEVEL 18
o Class Feat: Reckless Abandon
o Skill Feat: Battle Cry
o Gear: belt of giant strength, +3 greater striking bastard sword, major crown of the fire eater, greater flaming weapon rune, +2 greater resilient chassis, greater boots of bounding
LEVEL 19
o General Feat: Fleet
o Skill Increase: Survival (legendary)
o Gear: +3 greater resilient chassis, belt of giant strength, necklace of fireballs (type VII), +3 greater striking bastard sword, dragonscale amulet, greater flaming weapon rune
LEVEL 20
o Ability Boosts: +Strength, +Intelligence, +Wisdom, +Charisma (Str 22, Dex 14, Con 20, Int 12, Wis 18, Cha 18)
o Class Feat: Annihilating Swing
o Skill Feat: Quick Climb
o Skill Increase: Society (trained)
o Gear: +3 major striking bastard sword, +3 greater resilient chassis, titan’s grasp, necklace of fireballs (type VII), major crown of the fire eater, speed weapon rune
Finally, Grimlock gets to stop being an action master with Dragon Transformation turning him into a dragon at will while he’s raging! Reckless Abandon boosts his attack while lowering his defenses, but this bonus to attack puts his accuracy on par with a fighter. That combined with the damage of a barbarian is a very scary thing. Grimlock becomes even scarier with Annihilating Swing as he tears through objects – even magical ones. Quaking Stomp could also probably work well here and is mostly left up to personal preference. He rounds out his Intimidation skill feats with Battle Cry and Terrified Retreat, able to start combat with foes already shaking in their boots and Terrifying Howl now able to send prey running.
CONCLUSION
The Cybertronian race continues to be represented by the automaton ancestry while Grimlock’s savage saurian mode is represented through a dragon in this fantasy setting. Gladiator fits his most common background even if he doesn’t get much use from the skills or feat from it. I settled on bastard sword as Grimlock’s primary weapon since Grimlock regularly switches between wielding his sword in one or two hands. The dragon instinct plays well into Grimlock’s arrogance and belief that he would be a superior leader while Enlarged Chassis and the sheer might of the barbarian fits his Point One Percenter nature. Rage preventing Grimlock from utilizing actions with the Concentrate trait works with the aspect of Grimlock having trouble using his head while transformed or after being forced into taking on his alternate mode.
Be sure to lemme know what you think of the build!
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Until next time, have a fantastic Friday!
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