Roboto
(1980s Masters of the Universe cartoon)
Context
Roboto, the exploring alien robot, appeared in but one episode of the 1983-1984 He-man and the Masters of the Universe cartoon series.
For more about this universe, see our article about the Masters of the Universe 1980s cartoon setting.
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Background
- Real Name: Roboto.
- Known Relatives: Over 5,000 siblings on his home world, Man-At-Arms (Father? – Reconstructing Roboto kind of makes Man-At-Arms his father – just a joke at the end of the episode).
- Group Affiliation: Heroic Warriors.
- Base of Operations: Robotica (Home Planet).
- Height: 5’8″ (1.72m). Weight: 226 lbs. (102 Kg.).
- Eyes: Blue visor, glows yellow when speaking. Hair: None.
Powers & Abilities
Roboto is a tough, durable, sentient robot. But he isn’t built for combat. He has no built-in weapons.
Being an explorer, he has skills in space travel.
He constantly emits a location beacon signal.
Not your average robot
Though a robot, Roboto requires sleep and drink, eh, oil of course.
When affected by an EMPAn electro-magnetic pulse/explosion that disables electronics. or heavy shock, Roboto won’t shut down. It’s more like he’s disoriented.
Even re-programming acts more like temporary mind control. His own programming/personality isn’t erased in the process and he can fight it. I would guess he could do the same against DC Heroes TTRPG Powers like Interface.
May I scan you?
Roboto’s scan allowed him to see that Man-At-Arms was made up completely of organic parts and that he had a high degree of intelligence (Life Sense and X-Ray Vision).
Then he scanned Orko but got no data at all. Roboto stated he could make no sense of this being.
Roboto’s head spins around and around under such circumstances.
History
Roboto’s spacecraft crashed on Eternia years ago. It was soon covered by the desert’s sands. But Man-At-Arms and Adam discovered a faint signal coming from the craft.
Badly damaged, Roboto laid slumped over the controls, completely inert. They transferred Roboto to Man-At-Arms’ lab for repair.
Man-At-Arms was able to make Roboto whole again, but he wouldn’t power on. Orko then accidentally slammed into Roboto, jarring something. The sentient robot became active.
Domo arigato misuta Robotto
Roboto explained he came from a planet called Robotica. He was an explorer.
A creature watched from the window; eyes glowing. It transmitted the conversation to one Modulok!
That night, Modulok broke through an outer castle wall, and kidnapped Roboto. By morning Modulok had reprogrammed him.
I’m not a robot without emotions, I’m not what you see
Modulok used Roboto to break into Station Zeta, Eternia’s foremost research laboratory.
Luckily, Roboto is always broadcasting his location. Man-At-Arms and Adam were thus able to locate him.
Unluckily, Roboto was no longer their ally. He shocked the heroes unconscious.
Modulok, in rare form, planned to transfer Man-At-Arm’s brain into a computerized helmet. This would give Modulok all his genius!
Thank you very much, Mr. Roboto
With He-man’s encouragement, Roboto overcame the re-programming and destroyed Modulok’s brain transfer device. Then freed He-man from the forcefield that held him.
Modulok used an electrical attack that severely injured Roboto.
He-man tossed Modulok into a vat of chemicals. Man-At-Arms then rushed Roboto back to his lab and saved him.
Adνеrtisеmеnt
Description
He is painted red, blue, and silver. His movements are stiff and mechanical.
His torso is see-through, revealing working gears inside. Whenever Roboto moves, the sound of the gears working can also be heard.
His visor lights up when he speaks. His conversations are preceded and ended with the sound of an old Teletype machine (ptttt).
Personality
Though an explorer, he hasn’t had much experience meeting aliens and seems a bit naive. He’s very trusting and doesn’t understand evil.
Roboto likes to relax with a nice cup of hot oil.
Quotes
Man-At-Arms: “I don’t believe it. Orko must have jarred something that switched him on.”
Orko: “I did ?”
Roboto: “Excuse me but could you define my present location ?”
Man-At-Arms: “I… Uh, you’re on the planet of Eternia. Your ship crashed here, and we found you. But who are you ? Where do you come from ?”
Roboto: “”(ptttt) I am called Roboto. I am an explorer from the planet of Robotica (ptttt).”
“Sorry if I appear rude but I have never seen beings of your kind before. May I scan you ?”
King Randor: “It’s not often we get a visitor from another world, especially one as unique as you.”
Roboto: “I have never thought of myself as unique, on Robotica (ptttt) there are over 5,000 of my brothers and sisters (pttttt).”
“Circuits disrupted !”
“Man-At-Arms is a genius, I feel better than on the day I was first constructed.”
DC Universe Adaptation
(This section proposes ways of using this character in DC Universe stories).
Roboto is very much a new character and could be easily introduced as is.
DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Roboto
| Dex: 03 | Str: 12 | Bod: 12 |
| Int: 03 | Wil: 05 | Min: 03 |
| Inf: 02 | Aur: 03 | Spi: 03 |
| Init: 008 | HP: 015 |
Powers:
Life Sense: 02, Lightning Being: 10, Electrical Control (Shutdown electronics only): 12, Radio Communication: 12, Self-Linked (Gadgetry): 12, X-Ray Vision: 08
Bonuses and Limitations:
- Electrical Control has a range of Touch.
- Radio Communication is Signal Only (-1 FC).
- X-Ray Vision won’t function through lead.
Skills:
Vehicles (Space): 04
Advantages:
Life Support (No need to Eat or Breathe).
Connections:
Man-At-Arms (High).
Drawbacks:
Attack Vulnerability to Electrical Attacks (-2 C.S. OV/RV), Cannot Heal, Innocent.
Motivation:
Thrill of Adventure.
Occupation:
Explorer.
Wealth:
006
Equipment:
Roboto did arrive in a spacecraft but it was completely ruined in the crash.
Design notes
As a space explorer, Roboto likely has some defenses to heat and cold as well as sealed systems.
Roboto’s weight. I looked at the Atlas robot (1.5m tall and 89 kg). Since Roboto is 5’8″, the math gives me 226 lbs.
Roboto’s action figure came with three right arm attachments. All Attachments would use a Linked Weaponry skill.
- CLAW [BODY 08 STR 12].
- AXE [BODY 08, Enhance (EV): 02 (cap is 13), Descriptor: Slashing, when attacking a shield, the axe attachment receives a +1 to its final roll total. When attacking a person without body armour or a shield, the roll receives a -1 to its final roll].
- DOUBLE-BARREL ENERGY BLASTER [BODY 08 Energy Blast: 08, R#5].
Source of Character: The 1983/1984 animated series He-Man and the Masters of the Universe Season Two episode “Happy Birthday Roboto”, voiced by Alan Oppenheimer.
Helper(s): Wikipedia, https://www.bostondynamics.com/atlas.
Writeup completed on the 28th of August, 2021.