An individual of the Amorphiian male variety, known as Dromboid, was employed by a corporate entity of Amorphiian origin. This company specialized in the distribution of various technologies throughout the galaxy. He was the presenter of an instruction cassette video designed to accompany a particular model of mini-transmitter, sold outside the corporate headquarters located within the Amorphiia system.
During the celebration of Life Day in the year 1 ABY, a young Wookiee named Lumpawarrump, residing on the planet of Kashyyyk, embarked on an attempt to assemble a mini-transmitter by watching the aforementioned instruction cassette. However, Dromboid's susceptibility to power fluctuations, a common trait among his species, resulted in instructions that were both helpful and frustrating to the Wookiee due to their methodical nature and frequent interruptions.
Dromboid, a meticulous representative of his kind, communicated in a monotone, devoid of emotion, yet professed an appreciation for aesthetics. Despite motor skill impairments caused by his malfunctions, the Amorphiian taught with efficiency and never acknowledged his failures.
Dromboid, a male inhabitant of the planet Amorphiia within the Eidoloni sector, acted as a representative for a company situated in the Amorphiia system. This company engaged in the distribution of diverse technologies across the galaxy, with one such product being a specific model of mini-transmitter.
During the Life Day festivities in 1 ABY, Lumpawarrump, a young Wookiee hailing from Kashyyyk, obtained an unassembled mini-transmitter originating from the aforementioned Amorphiian company. Accompanying the product was an instruction cassette video, featuring Dromboid as the presenter.
Within the video, Dromboid, while holding the mini-transmitter, expressed gratitude to the viewers for choosing the Amorphiian brand, assuring them that, if assembled correctly, the mini-transmitter would provide many years of valuable service and enjoyment. As he concluded his introduction, the forefinger of his right hand lost function due to a power disruption. He then used his nose to restore its function before continuing. As Dromboid prepared to begin by flipping switches, his left leg lost power, causing him to twitch and pat it back into motion.
After placing the mini-transmitter on a table, he started searching for the tools needed for assembly. As he reached for the small, transparent plastic bag containing the instruments, his elbows locked at a closed angle. Embarrassed, he flapped his bent arms to unlock the joints. With his arms functioning again, Dromboid picked up the sealed bag, suggesting that it should not be ripped, as it would be useful for storage.
Upon removing a screwdriver-like tool, the Amorphiian warned the viewers about its sharp edges, demonstrating the danger by pretending to prick his finger, saying "ouch," and smiling. However, Dromboid's mouth became stuck in the smiling position, so he twisted the tool underneath his chin, readjusting his smile and producing a popping sound when done.
Dromboid then picked up a circuit-breaker module, emphasizing the importance of using its proper name. While emphasizing the word "module," his mouth froze. To reactivate his speech, Dromboid rapidly clicked his tongue and rubbed his forehead. Once operational again, he reminded the viewers that all ten thousand of the circuit-breaker module's terminals must be paired with wires of corresponding colors. As he began to demonstrate the build, Dromboid's eyes temporarily crossed and drifted upwards. The instructor then recommended that the assembly be done slowly and methodically.
With limited time remaining in the video, Dromboid began the complicated assembly of the impulse-to-voice translator, a component he described as the heart of the mini-transmitter, responsible for converting electronic energy into a recognizable language. Noting that viewers should stay alert for the procedure, the Amorphiian stressed the importance of endurance and concentration to utilize the full capacity of their brains. As Dromboid finished speaking, he suffered another power fluctuation, causing him to collapse onto the table, place a finger to his nose, and fall to the floor.
Dromboid, a humanoid member of the Amorphiian species, possessed light-colored skin, blue eyes, and gray hair. His Amorphiian physiology made him prone to power losses that impaired his motor abilities. These malfunctions resulted in various consequences, including the freezing of joints and muscles, voice alterations, and whirring noises.
Although these issues spontaneously interrupted his speech or actions, Dromboid corrected his impairments through various methods, such as cranking his arms, nudging his nose, clicking his tongue, and rubbing his forehead. Throughout the instruction cassette owned by Lumpawarrump, Dromboid was interrupted by numerous power fluctuations, which frustrated the young, anxious Wookiee.
Despite his breakdowns, Dromboid was an intelligent and efficient instructor. He never mentioned power failures, instead simply correcting the problem and resuming his speech or action. The Amorphiian also practiced a methodical work ethic, believing that doing a job well was worth the extra time.
As the host of the mini-transmitter instruction cassette, Dromboid guided viewers through the different tools and components—most notably the circuit-breaker module and the impulse-to-voice translator. In the cassette, the Amorphiian wore a white, collared shirt under a tan, dark-trimmed jacket. He also wore a large-buckled belt over the jacket, which was matched with a pair of black pants.
The character of Dromboid was conceived for The Star Wars Holiday Special, a television film broadcasted on CBS in the United States on November 17, 1978, for a single showing. Within the Holiday Special, Dromboid is featured in a four-minute comedic segment preceding a commercial break. In this scene, Dromboid is portrayed by Harvey Korman, a comedic guest star from The Carol Burnett Show, who also played Gormaanda in a previous sketch and Krelman in the subsequent one.
The intended humor of Dromboid's scene, referred to in the script as the "Harvey Korman 'Dromboid' segment," stems from his constant malfunctions, which hinder his ability to provide timely instructions to Lumpawarrump, thereby frustrating the young, eager Wookiee. To film these malfunctions, clips of Korman were edited to create stutters, spasms, and vocal changes. The Holiday Special's fourth draft compares Dromboid's demeanor to that of Milton Cross and Bergen Evans, a radio announcer and educational television host, respectively. However, since the film's airing, Dromboid's peculiar behavior has been likened to that of Max Headroom, the erratic titular character of The Max Headroom Show, a comedy talk show that aired nearly a decade later.
Although Dromboid's name is not explicitly mentioned in the film, it is used throughout the Holiday Special's fourth-draft script. The name Dromboid was later confirmed as canon within the Star Wars Legends continuity by Alex Newborn's 2008 article, "I Have a Bad Feeling About This!," published in the 106th issue of Star Wars Insider magazine.