Robots are perfect for many security and intelligence missions. They don’t fall asleep during boring patrols or on surveillance missions, they can be relied on to sacrifice themselves or act without remorse as necessary, and they may willingly self-destruct or wipe their memories to avoid capture.
In addition to the types covered below, bush robots, combat androids, scoutbots, and warbots are often used for these jobs. Nursebots or medical bushbots also make effective interrogators.
This is a single robot the size of a large insect. It is bigger than most microbots, but still small enough to easily escape notice. It is designed for surveillance, forensics, scouting, or assassination. It may also patrol power conduits or air ducts, performing security or maintenance tasks. Its weapon mount can hold a weapon up to 0.01 lbs. weight, such as a micro-laser or a drug injector.
Attribute Modifiers: ST-9 [-90].
Secondary Characteristic Modifiers: SM-9; Basic Move -3 [-15].
Advantages: Absolute Direction (Requires signal, -20%) [4]; Clinging [20]; Doesn’t Breathe [20]; DR 1 (Can’t Wear Armor, -40%) [3]; Extra Arm (Weapon Mount, -80%) [2]; Machine [25]; Peripheral Vision [15]; Protected Vision [5]; Radio (Burst, +30%; Reduced Range 1/10, -30%; Secure, +20%; Video, +40%) [16]; Sealed [15]; Sharp Teeth [1].
Perks: Accessories (Flashlight, tiny computer) [2].
Disadvantages: Bad Sight (Nearsighted) [-25]; Electrical [-20]; Restricted Diet (Very Common, power cells) [-10].
Choose a TL lens (see below), configuration lens (see below), machine intelligence lens (p. 27) and biomorphic lens (p. 28). Consider the optional upgrade lenses. TL9 Model (-80 points): Add Increased Consumption 3 [-30], Maintenance (one person, weekly) [-5], Mute [-25], and Numb [-20]. $100, 0.01 lbs., 2A/1 hr. LC4.
TL10 Model (+5 points): Add Discriminatory Smell [15], Infravision [10], Disturbing Voice [-10], and Increased Consumption 1 [-10]; $50, 0.01 lbs., 2A/4 hr. LC4.
TL11 Model (+27 points): Add Discriminatory Smell [15], Infravision [10], and Reduced Consumption 1 [2]. $20, 0.01 lbs. 2AA/12 hr. LC4.
TL12 Model (+44 points): Add, Discriminatory Smell [15], Hyperspectral Vision [25], and Reduced Consumption 2 [4]. $10, 0.01 lbs., AA/1 day. LC4.
Robobugs come in various shapes, not all of them bug-like.
Crawler (+16 points): A spider-bot that crawls along the ground. Add Extra Legs (6 legs) [10] and Super Climbing 2 [6].
Flier (+41 points): A dragonfly-like ornithopter. Add Extra Legs (4 legs) [5] and Flight (Small Wings, -10%) [36].
Rodent (-35 points): A mouse-sized robot. Add the Quadruped [-35] meta-trait.
Toy Soldier (-15 points): A humanoid robot, like a miniature figure. Delete Peripheral Vision [15].
Worm (-35 points): A serpentine robot slim enough to squirm through a keyhole-sized opening, along a drain pipe, or even down a throat to explore someone’s stomach. Add the Vermiform [-35] meta-trait.
Vehicle (-80 points): A tiny robot all-terrain vehicle, like a toy car. Add Enhanced Move 1 (Ground) [20] and Ground Vehicle [-100], with wheels or tracks. Half cost.
Contragrav (TL11^) (+38 points): A small flying sphere with a pair of arms. Add Flight (Planetary, -5%) [38] and Aerial [0]. +20% cost.
Chameleon (TL10) (+21 points): Add Chameleon 3 (Extended, Infravision, and Ultravision +40%) [21]. +$100. LC3.
Nuclear (TL11) (+10 points): Add Doesn’t Eat or Drink [10]. +$100. LC3.
Water Jets (+10 points): Add Amphibious [10]. +50% cost.
This is a shapeshifting nanotech robot. Its intelligence is distributed through its body, and its smart matter structure is capable of rapid self-repair. In addition to assuming whole new shapes, it can also extrude spikes or talons at will. Unlike most robots, nanomorphs have bioconvertor power systems that consume food, although they aren’t very fussy about what they eat – they devour most organic substances, including plastics!
Attribute Modifiers: ST+5 [50]; DX+2 [40]; HT+4 [40]. Secondary Characteristic Modifiers: HP+5 [10]; Basic Speed+0.50 [10]; Basic Move+3 [15].
Advantages: Absolute Direction [5]; Appearance (Handsome) [12]; Doesn’t Breathe [20]; Enhanced Move 1/2 (Ground) [10]; Hyperspectral Vision [25]; Injury Tolerance (Homogenous) [40]; Long Talons [11]; Machine (Not Unhealing) [55]; Protected Senses (Hearing, Vision) [10]; Radio (Burst, +30%; Secure, +20%) [15]; Recovery [10]; Regeneration (Very Fast) [100]; Regrowth [40]; Sealed [15]; Sensitive Touch [10]; Slippery 2 [4]; Striking ST +5 [25]; Super Jump 1 [10]; Universal Digestion [5].
Perks: Accessory (Fast personal computer) [1]. Disadvantages: Electrical [-20].
Choose a TL lens and machine intelligence lens (pp. 27- 28); cyborg is unavailable.
Consider these options:
TL11 Model (Bioplastic) (+140 points): Nanomorphs can be made of plastic rather than living metal. Add DR 15 (Flexible, -20%) [60] and Morph (Mass Conservation, -20%) [80]. $50,000, 100 lbs. LC3.
TL12 Model (Living Metal) (+255 points): Living metal nanomorphs can transform into just about anything, and are stronger and tougher than bioplastic versions. Add ST+5 [50], DR 15 [75], and Morph (Unlimited, +50%; Mass Conservation, -20%) [130]. $150,000, 150 lbs. LC3.
Budding (+21 points/copy): Some nanomorphs can bud off copies of themselves, just like bush robots. Add Duplication (Shared Resources, -40%) [21]. +50% cost per bud.
Contragrav (+38 points) (TL11^): Add Flight (Planetary, -5%) [38].