Droid Programming Upgrades and Components

[Dromdarr_Alark]

Hey all,

One of my PCs who just joined the party is a modified 3PO droid that is outfitted for combat. He was pretty much reengineered by an expert for combat and rebel use.

Here are the stats:
XQ-28
Quote: "The X stands for excellence, and the Q is for quality. The 28 is for the number of ways I know how to kill you."
DEXTERITY 2D
Melee Combat 4D
Blaster 5D
PERCEPTION 1D
Sensors (personal) 4D
KNOWLEDGE 3D
Cultures 4D
Languages 5D
STRENGTH 3D
MECHANICAL 1D
TECHNICAL 1D
Computer Programming/Repair 4D (bonus from SCOMPlink included)

Equipment: Heavy Armor Plates (+3D physical, +2D Energy),
Internal Force Pike (Str +2D, Stun setting: 5D; always takes one action to draw and withdraw),
Internal Blaster Rifle (5D, stun setting; always takes one action to draw and withdraw),
Humanoid body,
two visual and audio sensors,
vocabulator speech/sound system,
Translang III communications module (set on low priority and operating speed),
modified behavior core to allow the droid to cause harm,
SCOMPlink,
internal sensor array (provides the skill sensors (personal) at 4D)


First question: I want to treat the sensors like starship sensors. So what would be appropriate ranges and dice bonus for Passive, Scan, Search, and Focus?

Second Question: What sort of equipment and programming packages can we make to install on the droid?


Basically, he loves his ability to hack into computers, be a mediocre diplomat, and murderbot everything. However, he wants to be more well-rounded. He felt useless during space combat the other day, for example.
I told him that someone with a good droid programming/repair skill can install skills programs or other components.

For your information: the droid does advance normally with CPs (justified by his adaptive programming), but the problem is that most of his attributes are at 1D, so advancing skills under them is almost pointless.
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"I still wouldn't have a roll for it - but that's just how I roll."

[Corise Lucerne]

First Question:

Search sensors is covered in Cynabar's Fantastic Technology - Droids, on page 31. Each die of search costs a 150 credits. As for the other sensors, I'd treat them as I would a normal sensor pack, such as any of NeuroSaav's portables, which seem to have a max range of 300 meters.

Second Question:

It sounds like you're already got him pointed in the right direction. Perhaps in conjunction with the first question, you give him sensor skill package that allows him to work not only with his own sensors, but those of handheld and starship sensors as well, allowing him to act as an intelligence gatherer for his wetworks, spy on other diplomats, and help discover things with the starship's sensors while the rest of the crew deals with other random things during space combat.

I'm really curious though about that internal force pike. Is it built into his arm, or is it something collapsible that he carries inside a compartment?
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[Dromdarr_Alark]

[shootingwomprats]

I like the concept thus far but I some things I would point out.

1. Baster rifle as an internalized weapon, I would think this weapon would take up quite a bit of space.
2. Force pike, same as above, but I could see it more of a telescoping force pike, so that can easily be explained away and handled.
3. I as a GM would be very concerned about the additional armor. +3D [physical and +2D energy gives a 6D/5D soak. Making blaster pistols practically ineffective and a carbine or rifle as toss up of either a stun or nothing the majority of the time. All that built on a 3PC chassis?

[additional information]

Okay I just saw where you posted that the force pike and blaster are smaller say they can fit into the arms better. I would suggest that the range and/or damage would be shortened possibly. This will allow you to add some balance for hidden weapons and now makes much more sense.

In hindsight over the heavy plates, I would give some type of negative modifier to Dexterity and associated skills. A typical player would be looking at probably a -2D modifier. Unfortunately in your build that would drop him to a 0 Dexterity and he would not be able to essentially move.

Perhaps move a single die from Strength and put it in Dexterity, if you go with the -2D modifier then he can still move but the bulkiness of the plates is taken into effect. His blaster skill would drop to 3D though and his melee to 2D.

Could possibly change the armor to +2D/+1D with a -1D Dexterity penalty. This would allow a Dexterity of 2D, blaster 4D, melee 3D and a Strength of 2D with a soak of 4D/3D which is not bad at all. Yes I like these changes.

I would make no changes to the force pike. The blaster rifle? I would adjust its range to reflect that of a heavy blaster pistol.

These are just suggestions and reflect changes I would make for my games. Take what you like, change it, tweak it, enjoy it!
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Don Diestler
Host, Shooting Womp Rats
The D6 Podcast
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@swd6podcast, Twitter

[garhkal]

Big issue i see, is having a protocol droid (NOT assassin droid) that has been 'removed of its anti combat' protocols and given lots of weapons.

If this is a PC, what was his stat build method for all this? How many D did he have to give up to have those 3-laws' issues removed?
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Confucious sayeth, don't wash cat while drunk!

[shootingwomprats]

[DougRed4]

[Dromdarr_Alark]

More Background:
A few weeks back, the players recruited a droid engineer from the slums of a criminal city. She scavenged whatever bits she could and built droids to fight in droid gladiator rings. The party saved her from a rival who planned to kill her, and she promised to make them a high-quality battle droid for the Rebellion.
Fast forward a few weeks, and a new player wants to join, saying he wants to play a droid that can fit in with the party. My eyes lit up because of the coincidence.

Response to your feedback about the droid's stats:
This is also not a starting level character. The campaign has been going on weekly for over a year, and this player just joined. The other players are quite dangerous (one of them has 7D Heavy Blaster Pistol skill). I gave him the 25D, and then added extra bits to put him on level with the other players. I also gave him specific strengths. Foremost is that anything short of a repeating blaster will have a hard time taking him down. On the other hand, he can't really dodge or parry (2D is pretty much useless). I'll probably treat the blaster like a heavy blaster pistol.

BTW, he did get damaged by a regular storm trooper on Saturday.


Back on Topic:
Here is what I'm thinking for the Sensor package:

Sensors skill: 4D
It works for lifeforms and comm signals.

Passive: 0D/30 meters
Scan: 1D/60 meters
Search: 2D/90 meters
Focus: 3D/ 3 meters
_________________
"I still wouldn't have a roll for it - but that's just how I roll."

[garhkal]

[Dromdarr_Alark]

[DougRed4]

Though ordinarily droids have programming that prevents them attacking humans, I personally wouldn't impose a "cost" to get around this.

This droid is pretty awesome, and it's neat you were able to give the player a character he wanted that fit so nicely into your campaign story!
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Currently Running: Villains & Vigilantes (a 32-year-old campaign with multiple groups) and D6 Star Wars; mostly on hiatus are Adventures in Middle-earth and Delta Green

[Mojomoe]

He only knows 28 ways to kill you?

6 million forms of communication, but less than three dozen methods of execution?

[shootingwomprats]

[Dromdarr_Alark]

[Dromdarr_Alark]

I just looked up the Cynabar's Fantastic Technology book. I think I am looking for more of a variety of attachments.
_________________
"I still wouldn't have a roll for it - but that's just how I roll."