Robots

[CharmQuark]

I have been playing and DMing D20 D&D for a few years now, after getting back into gaiming. I had some experience w/ MT from a ways back. I also played a ton of Star Frontiers back when I was in middle and high school. One of the things I really liked in SF, was the robots. Are there going to be any rules for designing robots w/ the new T20 rules? Thanks in advance for the reply.

 

[DrSkull]

Yes there are rules to design robots. They are integrated into the vehicle design rules: robots are vehicles with robotic brains. Since the vehciles rules include desigining vehicles with arms, legs and tentacles, in addition to flyers, wheels, and tracks, you can make any sort of robot you an imagine.

 

[CharmQuark]

Sounds like an elegant solution DrSkull! Thanks for the reply - Joe

 

[phydaux]

What about robots as PCs? Do the rules cover that?

 

[DrSkull]

Not that I remember,but it's been awhile since I've loked at my playtest drafts.

 

[tjoneslo]

Originally posted by phydaux:
What about robots as PCs? Do the rules cover that?

From the last playtest draft, Not directly. With the construction rules your robot ends up with a Str, Dex, Int, Edu, Wis, Cha, Plus some skills and(I think) feats (programs). You'd need to write up a character class for the robot, or accept the fact that a robot has a non-standard advancement system.

Robots as PCs is a prime example of the limitations of a level advancement system (Like D20)

 

[CharmQuark]

I don't know, you could probably come up w/ a robot class for advancement, especially if you consider that machines can be programmed to learn. Your BAB would signify increased combat programming or acquired skill through learning (self-programming). Class feats could represent certain "upgrades" that the robot would have the processor bandwidth to control as it increased its level of learning. You might need some different classes for some basic types: Battle Driod, Protocol Droid, Astro-Droid (or whatever just using star wars examples). If you grouped the classes correctly, you could basically get away with only 3-4 types of robot (various trade-off's of BAB vs. skills & feats). Not all robots would be subject to such advancement. You'd have to have a certain TL of computer before it could truly learn and think at a level required for advancement.

I am wondering if there is going to be a T/Robotics skill. Does anyone know? For simplicity, many will say just use mechanical or electrical or computer programming as appropriate, but getting a robot to work with all 3 sets of systems (mechanical/electrical/computer prg) is pretty much a unique skill in and of itself.

 

[tjoneslo]

Metal Gods for Darwin's world (D20 post-apocalyptic world) has one example:
http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=282&

I dislike Metal Gods for other reasons, but they do a reasonable job for the androids as PCs.

There is no T/Robotics skill, use the T/Electrical, T/Mechanical or T/Computer skill instead. This gets into a larger issue of skill inflation.

 

[CharmQuark]

I know, its a realism vs. simplicity/elegance issue. Maybe to keep things simple, you could say that if its an obvious problem, like pure reprogramming say, then the T/Computer would be used. If its a systems related problem (needing a combination of skill) like reprogramming the robot to control the servos for a brand new arm, then it would be the lowest of the three. Of course there may already be a rule to use for systems that require multiple skills. I guess I'll just have to wait for my freaking copy of T20 before I try to re-write the rules!