awhile back I believe Roff posted a circuit using an emitter follower circuit.
I have a similar circuit that changes the timing resistor on a 556 using a 4017 and 2n2222 transistors.
I forhot to include base resistors but after running a simulation in TINA I don't think I need a base resistor??
is this a correct assumption?

You do not need base resistors in the circuit you have provided.

Well I smoothed out all the connections etc. so I guess the schematic is readable?
I just wish I knew more about PIC programming etc. to make this circuit using a PIC.