Payload (Movie)

2010-10-07T02:28:00Z

64.27.5.211: /* Notes */

{{factions|decepticonfilm|autobotfilm}}
{{disambig3|Payload}}
:''Payload is a [[Decepticon]] and a type of mass-produced drone from the [[Movie (franchise)|2007 movie franchise]] in the [[Live-action film series|live-action film]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:Payload-gamedrone.jpg|right|250px|thumb|SWAT? Maybe more like SMITE.]]

Transforming into an exceptionally fast and powerful armored truck, '''Payload''' is the one the Decepticons rely on to procure the money and energy they need to function on Earth. Whatever they need, wherever they need it, in their quest for the [[AllSpark (Movie)|All Spark]] it's Payload's job to get it to them, even if he has to smash right through [[Autobot]] lines to do it. Many of his allies would find his job [[Long Haul (ROTF)|boring and tedious]] compared to open fighting. But Payload not only understands how crucial his role is, but thoroughly enjoys it since it earns him praise for being a reliable soldier.

Both the Autobot and Decepticon armies make use of [[Class Beta drone unit]]s, which are heavily-armored, brutal melee fighters.

==Fiction==
===IDW ''Transformers'' movie comics===
Payload was one of the Decepticons who took part in the Battle of [[Tyger Pax]] on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. He was also with [[Swindle (Movie)|Swindle]] during the interrogation of the surviving [[Autobot]] defenders. {{storylink|Movie Prequel issue 1|Movie Prequel #1}}

[[Image:ReignofStarscream4 Payload.jpg|left|250px|thumb|"Keg coming through!"]]

Payload himself was back on Cybertron, under the command of [[Dreadwing (Movie)|Dreadwing]]. When Starscream returned with the knowledge to build a new All Spark, [[Class Beta drone unit|Class Beta drones]] were among those assigned to guard the Autobot slaves who were being forced to build the new Cube. They brutally punished [[Warpath (Movie)|Warpath]] when he saw to the exhausted [[Grindcore (Movie)|Grindcore]]. Later, after the new All Spark was completed, Payload arrived leading a team of drones carrying the massive generators required to drain the [[Spark|life force]] out of the Autobot prisoners and put it into the Cube. He dissed Dreadwing's drone army for not being much help to them. {{storylink|The Reign of Starscream issue 4|The Reign of Starscream #4}}

Unfortunately for Starscream, the Cube didn't work, and Dreadwing's forces betrayed him. During the battle between Starscream's loyalists, [[Arcee (Movie)|Arcee's]] Autobots and Dreadwing's traitors, Payload grappled with [[Stockade (Movie)|Stockade]], who eventually got the better of him. His fate is unknown. {{storylink|The Reign of Starscream issue 5|The Reign of Starscream #5}}
{{-}}

===Titan Magazines ''Transformers'' movie comics===
{{notetitantlg}}
[[Image:Titan11_Bonecrusher.jpg|250px|thumb|right|"We'll just stand here... you know, just if you need us..."]]
Payload units are used in the occupation of Earth. They have no personality or higher consciousness, their dialogue being things like "Classification: Autobot. Identifying...". [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] smashes them real good. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 10|Twilight's Last Gleaming, Part: 2}}

A team of snazzy red Payloads were used to guard the [[Savannah]] All Spark facility. [[Bonecrusher (Movie)|Bonecrusher]] had them stand down so he could beat up the Autobots himself {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 11|Twilight's Last Gleaming, Part: 3}} and they got so bored they painted themselves blue again between issues. When they were allowed to battle, they almost overwhelmed the Autobot rebels but eventually failed to kill them or save the facility. Also, ''[[Bonecrusher (Movie)|Bonecrusher]]'' smashed them real good simply cos they were in the way. Not the best boss on Earth... {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 13|Twilight's Last Gleaming, Part: 5}}

[[Image:Payloads_Titan24.JPG|left|250px|thumb|''Move bitch, get out the way<br>Get out the way...'']]

An army of Payloads made an assault on oil pipelines in [[Alaska]] as part of a major campaign. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 16|Dark Spark}}

An even ''bigger'' army of them stood around going "GRRRR" as part of a Decepticon group shot when the [[Decepticon Heartland]] prepared for war. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 23|Revolution Part 1}} And an even bigger army than ''that'' served as the bulk of the invasion force when Starscream announced the re-conquest of the USA.

Unfortunately for Starscream, the Payloads under [[Hardtop (Movie)|Hardtop]] were intercepted by [[Stockade (Movie)|Stockade]] and his crew, and [[Fracture]] reprogrammed the entire platoon to work for ''them''. They became the first defected drones in a [[Decepticon Civil War]], including [[:Image:Titan24_greenMdrone.jpg|some with different colouring schemes]], {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 24|Revolution Part 2}} and soon ''all'' of them were under Stockade's command, since every one that wasn't had been slagged.

Following the sudden Autobot strike that saw every Decepticon exiled from Earth, the Payloads remained. The Autobots have now got the task of decommissioning all of these drones. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 25|Revolution Part 3}}
{{-}}

===''The Veiled Threat'' prequel novel===
{{Note|The events of ''The Veiled Threat'' take place during [[IDW Publishing]]'s ''[[Alliance (comic)|Alliance]]'' comic.}}

Payload (who now turns into an anti-aircraft tank) is a core member of Starscream's Decepticon team and fights in several battles in Africa. He tried to destroy a dam while [[Macerator]] and Starscream held off the Autobots, but was briefly distracted by Ratchet, who he promptly slagged. He was unprepared for the military opening up the floodgates however, and was washed away in the ensuing torrent. His ultimate fate is unknown.{{storylink|The Veiled Threat}}

===''Transformers'' (2010) packaging bio===
[[Image:Payloadpackageart2010.jpg|thumb|right|200px|You can't tell from the picture, but he's having a giggle fit right now.]]
When the [[Decepticon]]s need something delivered, they can turn to the [[Constructicon Warrior]] '''Payload'''. His heavily armored and powerful body allows him to simply smash obstacles. [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]] is the latest Autobot to get in his way, and Payload is amused that Ratchet thinks he can stop him.
{{-}}

==Games==
===''Battle For the Allspark'' online game===
[[Image:Payload head.jpg|left|125px|thumb|Payload units can be either Autobot (top) or Decepticon (bottom)]]
Payload units of both sides have a strong defense, good attack, but poor speed. They are differentiated by little more than the make of their noggins; Autobot versions use a facemask-with-optics model, while Decepticons have a circular lens-face. {{storylink|Battle for the Allspark|Battle for the Allspark}}

===''Transformers: The Game'' (console)===
Payloads show up in [[Mission City]] to put the hurt on both Autobot and Decepticon alike. Their primary attack is an unstoppable running charge that can send even the likes of [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] reeling. The only way to break them out of this attack is to nail them with a thrown object or melee attack when they briefly pause between charges.

Payloads also appear in the bonus [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] levels on both sides.

Aside from the aforementioned head differences, Decepticon Payloads are dark blue, while the Autobot versions are silver-white. {{storylink|Transformers The Game (console)|Transformers The Game (console)}}

===Transformers: Autobots/Decepticons===
Payload's body frame has been shown in numerous forms: his Armored Truck mode, the Peace Van, the Moving Truck, the School Bus, the Ice Cream Truck, the Death Truck, the Funky Bus, the SWAT Van, and the Prison Bus. Certain forms have either the Autobot head or the Decepticon head, but which game is unimportant; the same vehicle has the same head in both games. {{storylink|Transformers Autobots/Decepticons|Transformers Autobots/Decepticons}}

==Toys==
===Transformers (2007)===
[[Image:Movie-Payload-Toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|MORE LIKE PEGLOAD AMIRITE?]]
*'''Payload''' (Deluxe, 2007)
**''Japanese ID number'': '''MD-17'''

: Payload transforms into a [http://www.alpineco.com/armored/swat/Bulldog2.html Bulldog II Armored Truck] model based on the Decepticon-drone coloration and face type. In robot mode, his midsection has a large push-out grabber-claw that extends waaaaaaaaaaaaay far out. However, in order to do this, the claw-shaft sticks far out of his back in robot mode, making posing and display in narrow spaces difficult. It also makes him hard to balance.

: Several pieces on Payload tend to pop off easily: his brush guard, midriff-plate/claw-center, and even his upper shoulder/head assembly. The mold was later retooled to include larger pegs for the shoulder/head assembly and an added tab on the brushguard, to connect to the new slot in the claw plunger. While this was intended to give the pieces a better fit, it actually puts more pressure on the parts and causes them to pop off even more easily. The chest piece, however, fits fairly well on either version but is still easy to remove.

: Payload had a tendency to [[Shelfwarmer|sit on shelves]] for weeks, with some examples of end displays filled completely with Payload figures. This has led to some fans affectionately renaming him as ''Pegload''.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2007/Decepticon/Payload/payload.htm More information on Payload at TFU.info]''

===Transformers (2010)===
====Legends class toys====
*'''Payload''' (Legends Class, 2010)

:''Autobot Alliance'' Payload is a redeco of the non-combining Legends class [[Long Haul (ROTF)#Toys|Long Haul]] released in Hasbro's [[Transformers (2010 toyline)|''Transformers'' (2010 toyline)]].
{{-}}
{{comingsoontoy}}

====Voyager class toys====
[[Image:TF2010Payload toy.jpg|right|thumb|300px|An [[Army-building|army builder]]'s dream.]]
*'''Payload''' (Voyager Class, 2010)

: A [[redeco]] of the ''[[Revenge of the Fallen (toyline)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' Voyager-class Long Haul, Payload transforms from a genericized "earth mover" dump truck with a functional truck bed into a bulky robot mode. In robot mode, he has three "[[Mech Alive]]" gimmicks: Turning his head also turns a cog in his chest, bending his elbows moves some pistons, and finally, moving his feet also moves the "springs" connected to them inwards. Only the piston gimmick is advertised on the packaging. Meanwhile, each forearm houses a spring-loaded, flip-out axe.

::*''[http://tfu.info/2010/Decepticon/Payload/payload.htm More information on Payload at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

==Merchandise==
===3D Battle-Card Game===
[[Image:3DBattleCard_Payload.jpg|thumb|right|250px|]]
* '''Payload''' (3D Battle Card, 2007)
**''Card number:''

: In the [[3D Battle-Card Game]], the Payload is on the Decepticon side. Pieces punched out from two different cards can be assembled to form a SWAT truck or a robot, while a third double-sided card gives its stats and attacks for each mode. He uses the same piece layout as [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]], though his lens-head peeking up over the back end of his vehicle mode looks less doofy than Ratchet's does. This layout was later also used for [[Trailbreaker (Movie)|Trailbreaker]]. Payload's card art was done by [[Lucio Parrillo]].

{{-}}

==Notes==
* Artist [[Ken Christiansen]] designed Payload (and the subsequent [[Class Beta drone unit]]s), along with the other new characters in the [[Transformers The Game|''Transformers'' - The Game]] and [[Revenge of the Fallen (video games)|''Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen'' - The Game]] video games. The security company logos on his design and the toy, "Armored Security Systems", spells out "ASS". Christiansen says this was [http://badflipblog.blogspot.com/2009/10/tf1-armored-truck-drone.html not intentional].
* Payload's altmode as an Decepticon anti-aircraft tank in ''The Veiled Threat'' gives him a form similar to that of the unreleased [[Gunbarrel (Movie)|Gunbarrel]] toy, who appeared unnamed in the Transformers: Alliance comic at the same time. Whether they were meant to be the same character is unknown.
* 2010 Payload's packaging bio describes him as an armored transport vehicle and has the same [[Tech Spec]] numbers as 2007 Payload. Sneaky Hasbro, making them the same guy!
* Hasbro has stated in the [[Hasbro Q&A/March 2010: Answers|March 2010 Q&A session]] that 2010 Payload is one of the Constructicon Warriors appearing in the [[Revenge of the Fallen (video games)|''Revenge of the Fallen'' video games]]. Guess he moonlights as an armored truck.
Payload bears a a striking resembelance to Long Haul because they share the same the vehicle.There is a posibility they are brothers.

==External links==
* [http://badflipblog.blogspot.com/2009/10/tf1-armored-truck-drone.html Payload concepts] and [http://badflipblog.blogspot.com/2009/10/tf1-armored-truck-drone-02.html final rendering] on artist Ken Christiansen's blog.

* [http://www.transformersgame.com/battle/index.html ''Battle For the Allspark'' online game]

* [http://www.wizards.com/transformers/ 3D Battle Card Game at Wizards of the Coast]

[[Category:3D Battle-Cards]]
[[Category:Autobots]]
[[Category:Decepticons]]
[[Category:Drones]]
[[Category:Mass-produced Transformers]]
[[Category:Movie characters]]
[[Category:Revenge of the Fallen characters]]
[[Category:Revenge of the Fallen Constructicons]]
[[Category:Transformers 2010 toyline characters]]

MediaWiki - User contributions [en]

Payload (Movie)