ROBOT

By Rob Pool (robert69@usa.pipeline.com)

Introduction

Since the mid-1900s, mankind has grown in its fascination with technology and this is no better represented in its literature and movies. Everything from steam and magick powered ships and horseless carriages to 80' tall mecha bristling with enough weaponry to level a city without a second thought have shown up in these two entertainment forums. Somewhere in between all this mess, one of the most enduring participants in science-fiction has been the robots. Born of steel and microchips, Robots and androids have been portrayed as everything from walking servants, to free-thinking philosophers, to guardians of humans, to maniacally evil creatures who believe they are god and are bent on destroying Humankind once and for all. At any point, this is my attempt to give players of Changeling: the Dreaming the oppurtunity to play a Robot. This gonna be a full blown out new character type that I plan to run into the ground with all kinds of wierd stuff. Before you continue, you might want to look through another of my creations, the Iron Nation, first. If you already have taken a peak at either, then feel free to continue.

I'm not 100% sure I can really call this a 'kith'. Robot PCs effectively function on glamour as their energy source using the G-tek methods presented in the Iron Nation -- a new secret society that I wrote not too long ago (and should be available at the same time as this is). Physically, the robot is a real robot (they don't have a seeming and aren't humans -- they don't have parents, they have makers. However, because they run on Glamour, they have the ability/weakness to be fully effected by cantrips/dooms/etc) and players should be encouraged to chooce every aspect on how the robot looks and talks. As noted above, Robots come in lots of different shapes and forms. Be as wild and strange as you want. Every Robot Player Character should be speacial and unique in its own speacial way.

Character Creation

Creating a robot character is somewhat different in a few parts than when making other characters of flesh and blood kithain. The main changes are toward character concept.

Design Concept

What does your robot look like? Is he big and obviously a robot? or is does he look like he could pass for a normal human (or even changeling)? Also try to think about how the character speaks and how obvious is the robot's gender?

When we get down to it, there are two types of sentient Robots: Droids and Replicants. Droids are visably robotic and have their own benefits and frailties. Replicants, pardon my stealing the term from Ridley Scott's masterpiece Bladerunner, are very human looking and if you passed on the street you would never know the difference. While making it easier to describe the robot types, it also has importance later on when taking special Gizmos.

Court

This actually is important. Seelie robots tend to be guardians of the weak while unseelies tend to fit in that 'maniac robot' grouping. Unlike other kiths who can change courts like underwear, changing courts for Robots should take a lot of time and there should be a decent reason for it. The most common archetypes that come to (my) mind for robots (visually) include:

Droids

• Robo from Chrono Trigger (Video Game)
• Any Aasimov android
• C3P0 from Star Wars
• Xaxon from Genesis Survivor Gaireth (anime)

Replicants

• The Replicants from Blade Runner
• Largo from Bubblegum Crisis (anime)
• The hero from short 'Derive' in Robot Carnival (anime)

Legacies

Same as usual, although they should fit in with the character's other chosen concepts.

Birthrights

Sturdy body: All robots get an extra point they may spend for either strength or stamina. Droids get a point in both attributes due to a certain frailty.

Gizmos: These make up for robot's lack of ability to use Cantrips, Gizmos can be installed by the Robot's maker that give him special abilities from seeing in the dark to shooting blast of Glamour.

Frailties

No Cantrips for the Robots: Robots cannot use Cantrips at all. In their place, Robots get gizmos that let them jazz up their combat abilities and do some damage.

Reason for existence (Seelie Robots): All robots have a purpose for life. For seelie robots, this commonly means the Robot must always protect a certain person or group of people from harm or must protect all humans from a certain type of creature (the most common ones are other robots and fomori). Storytellers should reinforce this frailty whenever possible as it's a major part of a Robot's Programming. Characters can change their Oaths, but only if the persons/people he cares for allows him.

Insanity (Unseelie Robots): All Unseelie robots have a slight problem with being insane. A twisted sense of humor, a bad temper, or even a god complex are fine to use. Be inventive as possible although it shouldn't be something that will interfere with how the character interacts with the other Players. Robots who switch over to Seelie will find they solace in their new Reason for life although the character's insanity likes to pop up in the character's personality.

Backgrounds

Robots have access to the Chimera, treasures, resources, and contacts from the Rulebook. In addition these four, Robots have access to these backgrounds specifically for them: Gizmos: This background determines how much, if any, additional special gizmos did the robot's maker add onto the character when he/she was created. For each point added, the character can be equipped with 1 point of essense's worth of gizmo or the new gizmos included later that are robot specific. Note that all robots start off with cyber-eyes, cyber-ears, and 2 extra points of gizmos free.

Maker: This is a special background that Robot characters should take care in choosing how high they want. The character's Maker is who made him/her what they are today and brought them to life. PCs are encouraged to go into detail on how is the character's relationship with his maker. Is he treated like a son or a servant to do his bidding? This background details how 'good' of a maker the character has. Something around 1 means the character's life was a total accident while 5 might guarantee the character to have brothers/sisters. Without the background, the character's Maker is either dead or the character has no interaction with him/her. Having a high Maker background also makes it easier to get more gizmo parts later.

*	Your maker was an idiot human (Maker at least gives maintenance and has a home)
**	Your maker was a human genius at robotics
***	Your maker was a established Nocker or a Einstein-class Human Genius (+1 extra gizmo point. +1 sibling)
****	Your Maker was a master Nocker engineer (+2 extra gizmo points)
*****	Your maker was a legendary Nocker engineer (+3 extra gizmo points. +2 siblings/+1 twin- player's choice)

Siblings: This Background determines whether or not the character had any siblings. While this might be strange for a normal changeling, Siblings can be important to a Robot. Siblings, for a robot, are similar robots that all have the same maker and tend to have similar relationships as human siblings. For the record, there are two types of sibling:

Sibling: Siblings are usually, but not always, of less quality than the PC. The robot starts off with 1/2 as many gizmo points as the PC. It is possible to have an 'older brother or big sister who has more experience/gizmo points.

Twins: Twins have as many gizmo points as his brother/sister. There is a max of 2 twins (triplets?) to one PC. These characters also (usually) will help out each other if need be.

Siblings/twins don't have to be like their brother/sister although they should be of the same design (all of them are either droids or replicants). This can be great chronicle filler if the character's siblings/twins are raising hell across the land and the only person who can stop them is dear ol' brother/sister. Most robot siblings don't hate each other violently but there have been a few cases of the opposite.

*	1 sibling
**	2 siblings
***	1 twin
****	4 siblings
*****	2 twins

Gizmos

Robots differ in one other way from regular Changeling characters: they can't do cantrips. To even things out, Robots get Gizmos: special parts that can do all kinds of weird stuff. Some of them are fairly ordinairy (Wired reflexes, low-light sight) to G-tek weaponry (G-tek blasters, Heal beams, and worse). This can make for some interesting stuff.

Gizmo Points

All Robots start out 2 gizmo points plus any additional points from the Gizmo and Maker backgrounds or freebie points. What you can do with them is buy gizmos (listed after this paragraph and the cost lists after that). You can also translate Experience points to Gizmo points at a rate of 10 x GC - Maker Background rank rounded down. Thus if I have maker 3 and want a gizmo with a GC of .6, it would cost me 2 XP(10 x .6= 7.2-3 for a final cost of 2 experience points). Nothing costs less than one XP. Characters without the Maker Background will have to find someone else to design Gizmos for them or, most likely, they have to develop them themselves.

The Basic Gizmos

Below are descriptions for all the basic Gizmos as these Gizmos are universal to both Robots and Androids. You'll find all the Gizmo costs listed in the main chart listed in the end of the file.

Headware

Headware includes anything that is added somewhere on the head, including eye and ear options. The majority of headware goes on the inside and is possibly connected to the brain.

ChipJack: Specialized form of datajack that allows access to skillsoft or datasoft which are useless without it.

Datajack: The almost standard universal mark of the Cyber-concious Robots. Allows both input and output to certain types of headware and bodyware among other things including computers. Someday maybe I'll make conversions for SR's Matrix rules so humans too can play in the net with the Virtual Adepts ;-)

Radio: This headware allows full-band, limited range communications. The signal quality is rarely as good as, say a telephone, but the ability to switch bands makes the system more popular with the military or anyone expecting active jamming. When transmitting, the user must speak although it may be in tones inaudible to those nearby. For the health conscious, a one way receiver is also.

Cyber eyes: These eyes offer perfect 20/20 vision as standard. It almost always involves both eyes, because mismatched pairs will send imbalanced signals to the robot's brain. In outward appearance the implants may look indistinguishable from biological eyes (at least without an eye exam) or be outlandish, ranging from gold or neon iris effects complete with gold lettered manufacturer's logo to the high-chrome, featureless effect.

Camera: The character can store a digital copy of any image viewed through the eye. If the eye(s) are linked a standard datajack they may be downloaded to any data system. Recording one second of video requires 1 Mp of storage. Otherwise, the image-storage chip must be removed through a port in eye.

Flare protection: Improves the eye's natural resistant to bright flashes of light that would normally be blinding or damaging to the eyes. -5 diff. on resisting damage.

Low-light: Allows the character to see normally with as little as star light or a lighter. In otherwords, no penalties when there's at least a little bit of light available. On the downside, sources of bright light (having a flashlight shining in your face) will temporarily blind you.

Thermographic vision: Allows the character to see things in the Thermographic spectrum and inherent body heat is visible. This is particularly useful as any form of invisibility caused by bending light will be fully visible to the character.

Cyberears: These provides perfect hearing in the normal ranges of hearing. On perception tests requiring the use of hearing, add 2 dice.

Damper: Protects the owner from sudden increases in sound level as well as providing partial protection from harmful sound levels. This translates -3 diff. to tests resisting sound-based attacks or loud-noises. Great for Rockers who don't want to loose their sense of hearing.

High frequency: The user can hear sounds of a higher pitch normally audible to humans.

Low frequency: The user can hear sounds of a lower pitch normally audible to humans.

Recorder: The user can record anything he can hear. The recorder can play back recordings in the user's head (with a cyberear or modification). If linked to a standard datajack, it can play them through a speaker.

Memory (cyber): This is the definition of the computing power of a character's headware systems. It covers the storage space as well. Unless the character wants to exchange data surgically, he'll need a datajack to put it to use. Memory is the amount of space available in megapulses (or Mp. In Shadowrun, megapulses are used as the standard for measuring computer data rather than megabytes [don't know why, but hey- its cool. If you don't like MPs just make them Gigabytes (GBs)]. The two are the same though- 1028 Kilopulses (Kp) equal 1028 KBs and thusly 1 MB or Mp). Raw data, skillsofts, and certain programs can be stored on head memory, but other equipment or gizmo are required to access them.

Datasoft link: This gives the user mental access to any DLed Knowsofts he might have either on chipjack or cyber memory.

Display link: This allows the user to display data on the retina or cybereye, reading what is displayed in his head.

Data lock: This denies the user access to his own cyber memory space. Input or output through a datajack requires a special password. This piece is a favorite of couriers.

Data filter: This a special sensory block that prohibits wearers from absorbing sensory data into their own memory while retaining data in their cyber memory. A data filter effectively turns a character into an organic audio-visual recorder unaware of what he has heard or seen while the recording feature is active. This is very popular with confidential couriers and secretaries.

Skillsoft: More or less, memory on a chip. When utilized in conjunction with the proper headware and bodyware, skillsofts allow the user to know and do things she have never learned in the normal fashion. Because a skillsoft's "memory imaging" encoding differs actually from any actual memories or learned experiences the user may already have, the skillwire system must override the user's own reflexes, abilities, and memories, forcing a reliance on the encoded capablities. In other words, by using skillsofts, a character can use abilities (talents/skill/knowledges) without spending points in creation or gained experience points to buy them. Skillsofts come in three types.

Knowsofts replicate all knowledges and any skill that involves mental ability or complexity (such as the crafts/repair). A sub classification of Knowsoft is Linguasoft which allows language use and replicate speak language proficencies.

Datasofts are raw data, pure information, like that in a text book. No application or comprehensive ability comes with the datasoft, just the data. Datasofts vary heavily in size.

Activesofts replicate any skill or talent that involves physical actions (melee, firearms, brawling, etc).

Knowsofts can be accessed through a chipjack, or uploaded into cyber memory and accessed through a datasoft link. Datasofts can be accessed through a datajack or chipjack, sent to a display or datasoft link, or put into cyber memory and downloaded to a display link or datasoft link. Full skillwire systems are required for the use of activesofts. Additional chipjacks can accomodate additional skillsofts. Skillsofts are usually sold in 5 centimeter-long cylinders to protect the chip until it is inserted into a jack. once the is in, and the data transferred, the user can remove the chip. Skillsofts can be accessed just the same whether via a datajack or downloaded into cyber memory. If downloaded, the resulting program takes up the amount of space shown on the Skillsoft memory table. Keep in mind the higher the rating for the ability, the more memory required for using the skillsoft.

	1	2	3	4	5
Knowledges	40	75	150	250	450
Linguisofts	30	65	120	200	350
ActiveSofts	50	90	180	300	500

One oddity about the use of skillsofts is that no abilities specific to a particular type of supernatural being (such as a Changeling's kenning or a Werewolf's Primal Urge) can be duplicated. Many of tried but all have (and will by decree of Lawyer, the god of gaming balance) failed miserably.

Bodyware

Bodyware is gizmo implanted in locations other than the user's head. Some types, such as dermal plating, also involves additions to the user's head. Most gizmos allow the character to do things with his body he normally couldn't do. With bodyware one can do things only done before with magic and even in some areas advancing those abilities granted. The cost? Some would say just an itzy bit of your flesh. Others say the intrusions of gizmo cost the person his soul. What you think is up to you.

Weapons Gizmos are bodyware that give the character a weapon; the difference is that weapon is attached to the person's body or nervous system and can be hidden at will if desired.

Hand razors: This cyberweapon requires the removal of the user's fingernails and in their place goes a 6 to 8 inch retractable claw. Think retractable freddy Krueger claws. Diff 5 and dmg Str+1

Hand spurs: This cyberweapon is inserted in the back of the characters hand and is basically 3 sets of 8 to 10 inch blades that extend out of the user's knuckles. Think wolverine claws. Diff. 6 Dmg Str+3

Smartlink: Since the smartlink system is essentially made for weapons (firearms) I'm counting it as a cyberweapon. In effect, the smartlink allows the user to take full advantage of a smartgun (a firearm with a smartlink system installed in it). When activated, a crosshair appears on the user's retina/cybereye that corresponds with the character's line of sight. Typical systems use a subdermal induction pad in the character's palm to link with the smartgun.

This subgrop of gizmo includes any bodyware has to do with the limbs, particuarly the arms. It also includes muscle enhancements as well.

Enhanced Strength: The robot has been gifted with incredible strength. Each level increases the character's strength attribute by one point to a max. of level 4 (min. str. 5). Keep in mind that this strength bonus is only for one limb. Let's say I have a lv. 4 cyberarm installed where my right arm used to be. If I try to kick someone, I'd roll my original strength + 1 for damage.

This subgroup includes bodyware that increases the reflexes and thus initative of the robot. It may effect either the character himself (wired reflexes) or when linked to a vehicle via Rigger Control Gear.

Vehicle Control Rig: This gizmo is effective when the character is wired with a vehicle that has rigger control gear installed. Effectively, it gives the pilot a +1 per level bonus die to any tests involving driving a car (such as dodging obstacles or ramming into a pedestrian's car). Although it might be ahead of its time, STs may allow characters VCRs access to built-in weaponry installed on the car/vehicle. Characters who want to utilitze a control rig must also install Rigger Gear on the vehicle to get the bonuses. Remember, however, that off of his vehicle the user loses any bonuses he gains.

Speaks for itself. This is all the other body ware that didn't fit in one of the above sub groups or didn't need one for itself.

Skillwires: In order to fully use active skill softs, a skillwire system must be installed in the character's nervous system. It essentially carries out command from the skillsoft to accomplish the skill.

The Gizmo Cost Table

Headware

Name	Gizmo cost
Communications:
Chipjack	.4
Datajack	.4
Radio	1
Synthlink	.4
Eyes:
Cyber-eyes	.6
Low-light	.5
Thermo-veiwer	.5
Flare protection	.5
Recorder	1
Ears:
Cyber-ears	.4
Low freq.	.3
High freq.	.3
Damper	.2
Recorder	1
Internal headware:
Data filter	.5
Data lock	.3
Datasoft link	.2
Display link	.2
Memory	Mp/10

Bodyware

Cyberweapons
Hand Razor	.4
Hand Spur	.6
Smartlink	1
Cyberarm
Lv1	1
Lv2	2.5
Lv3	4
Lv4	5.5
Skillwires	Rating
Vehicle Control Gear
Lv1	2
Lv2	3
Lv3	4

Special Gizmos

Buying Special Gizmos

There is a minor rule for buying special gizmos at the character's creation: you can't spend more than 2 point on special gizmos. This is done to keep min/maxers from loading up on them rather than doling out massive XPs for them later (as they should be).

Droid vs. Replicant

For simplicity's sake, all the Advanced Gizmos are split between the droids and the replicant. If you are a droid, you cannot have a replicant-specific gizmo and vice vera. That's the rules. This is mainly done so that replicants don't have stuff like heavy armor or uzi punch and so droids don't have stuff like telekinetic manipulation.

Droid Stuff

The Droid has 100' long of reinforced cables installed in her arm that can be shot across distances and functions like a grappling hook (the hand is the actual end/hook). The cables can handle 500 lbs of weight. Generally the Jet system is actually more efficent, but the cables are less costly in Gizmo points.

This is the major Offensive power of the droids. The G-tek blaster works similar to the G-mek one depending on the blaster's rating. The difficulty is 7 and the droid must use one point of temperary glamour to work. The result is a great big Glamour blast that can do some mighty damage. The blast is generated from a opening compartment in the droid's chest that slides open when used.

Rating	Damage
1	6
2	8
3	10
4	12
5	15

By adding heavy plates of external armor, the droid can withstand lots a damage. Each level adds 1 die to the droid's stamina test to soak damage. limit level 5 rating. Characters should keep in mind that with each level of plating, the character's weight goes up by 20 lbs. and will get a more armored chrome look similar to Robo from Chrono Trigger or Briaros from Appleseed.

An oddity, the droid can shoot a beam of soft green light that, rather than inflicting pain, heals damage. Each use requires the spending of a temporary point of glamour and rolling a number of dice equal to their Permament Glamour (diff 7). The beam is generated from a opening compartment in the droid's chest that slides open when used.

Quite simply lets the character fly like an eagle. How fast depends on the rating. Characters can also use the Jet system to ram into enemies (Str + rating dmg. vs. diff. 7)

Rating	Speed (mph)	Tackle Dmg
1	40	+1
2	60	+2
3	80	+3
4	100	+4
5	150	+5

The droid's arm is linked to a 10' length of chain that allows the droid to twirl its hand around like a chain and ball. This comes in handy since it allows the droid to smack something at a longer range. Diff 7, dmg str+1.

Droid cost list

Name	Gizmo cost
Arm Cables	0.8
G-tek blaster
1	2
2	4
3	6
4	8
5	10
Heal Beam	4
Heavy armor
1	1
2	2.5
3	4
4	5.5
5	7
Jet system
1	2
2	3
3	4
4	5
5	6
Mace Fist	0.8

Replicant Gizmos

This gizmo lets the replicant shift his bone structure, skin color, hair color and style, and voice to whatever he or she wants. This can be used to even masquerade as someone else although it requires several minutes (at least 5) to develop a physical composite of the intended person and each composite requires 10 MP of cyber-memory. Once the character has the composite done he can mimic the targeted person physically 100%. However, this is only physical -- characters may look and sound just like their targets, but they will fail miserably if tested unless the character has gone to far lengths to study how their target's psychology.

By utilizing various radio waves, the replicant can tap into the very mind of another Robot or robots. The base difficulty to do this is equal to the robot's willpower (2 for soldiers, 4 for panthers, 3 for 55-Cs) and +1 for every additional mind. Once in, the character can communicate with robot(s) and, more importantly, take control of them if he wishes. This can lead to different results such as commanding the robot to attack its own unit or acknowledge the replicant as its commander/master. There have been several known uses of rogue replicants who have used this power to rip into computer's data banks and could also be used to get satellite lasers to strike any target on earth the character pleases (not that any exist on earth...yet).

This power does what it says: it regenerates damage done to the character's systems. By taking this gizmo, the character regenerates 1 wound level per round.

The character has the ability to manipulate kinetic energy in a way that allows her to do stuff such as telekinesis, kinetic shields, and even fly. This is the costliest gizmo of all but I think you can see the reasons.

Rank	Effects
1	Basic telekinesis, alter gravity
2	kinetic shield, kinetic punch
3	Kinetic blast
4	Flight
5	Max rating.

Effect descriptions:

Basic Telekinesis: You can manipulate things almost as if they were by invisible fingers. max. lift starts at 50 lbs. at rank 1 and increases by 100 lbs. each rank afterwards to a max of 450 lbs. at rank 5.

Alter Gravity: By concentrating, the character can shift the way gravity effects him. To this point, he can fall as much as 20' x his rating without taking damage and jump twice as high as normal (4' up & 8' across per success).

Kinetic shield: By concentrating and spending a point of temp. glamour, the character creates a barrier of kinetic energy. This effectively adds on to the character's stamina for soaking damage equal to the character's telekinetic manipulation rating + any extra glamour the character wishes to spend to resist damage.

Kinetic Punch: By focusing on the momentum and gravity around the character's fist, the character can increase the amount of damage he can do. Damage is str + rank.

Kinetic blast: One of the trademarks of anime espers, Kinetic blasts creates an invisible blast of force that can strike out and damage whatever the character is trying to hit. The diff. is 7 and damage is wits+rank.

Flight: With this, the character can fly like a bird after using 1 pt. of temporary glamour. STs may or may not institute a 'duration' of how long the replicant can actually maintain flight.

This reflexware is made up of implanted neural boosters and adrenaline boosters that effectively give the user super-human speed. Each rating installed increases the character's initative pool (wits+alertness) by one die per level. The max for wired reflexes is level 3.

Replicant Gizmos Cost Table

Rank	Cost
Machine Telepathy
1	1.5
2	3
3	4.5
4	6
5	7.5
Regeneration	4
Telekinetic Man.
1	2
2	4
3	6
4	7.5
5	9
Wired reflexes
Lv1	2.5
Lv2	4.5
Lv3	6.5