Combat robots may not be as flexible or versatile as human soldiers, and sophisticated machines may be individually more expensive. But they obey orders, they can survive where people can’t, and they have no mothers to weep for them.
A warbot is a fighting machine designed to replace soldiers and supplement combat vehicles. A combat android is a humanoid machine that can use the same equipment and facilities as ordinary soldiers. Some are also disguised as living beings.
This is a humanoid combat machine, strong and heavily armored. Depending on the choice of traits, it could be designed as an assassin, bodyguard, police officer, or soldier.
Attributes: ST+10 [100]; DX+3 [60]; HT+2 [20].
Secondary Characteristic Modifiers: None.
Advantages: Absolute Direction [5]; Detect (Radio, Lasers, and Radar; Signal Detection, +0%) [20]; Discriminatory Hearing [15]; Doesn’t Breathe [20]; Hyperspectral Vision [25]; Machine [25]; Sealed [15]; Silence 1 [5]; Temperature Tolerance 20 (-85°F to 210°F) [20]; Ultrahearing [5]; Vacuum Support [5]. 60 points chosen from among Ambidexterity [5], Appearance [var.], Combat Reflexes [15], Enhanced Time Sense [45], High Pain Threshold [10].
Perk: Accessory (Microframe computer) [1].
Disadvantages: Electrical [-20]; Restricted Diet (Very Common, power cells) [-10].
Select one of these TL lenses. Then choose a machine intelligence lens (p. 27) and biomorphic lens (p. 28), and consider the optional lenses detailed below.
TL9 Model (+145 points): Add DR 30 [150]; Maintenance (one person, weekly) [-5]. $300,000, 150-300 lbs., 2D/8 hr. LC2.
TL10 Model (+231 points): Add DR 45 [225], Maintenance (one person, bi-weekly) [-3], Reduced Consumption 2 [4], and Telescopic Vision 1 [5]. $200,000, 100-300 lbs., 2D/24 hr. LC2.
TL11 Model (+329 points): Add DR 60 [300], Maintenance (one person, monthly) [-2], Reduced Consumption 3 [6], and Telescopic Vision 5 [25]. $150,000, 70-300 lbs., 4D/1 week. LC2.
TL12 Model (+483 points): Add DR 90 [450], Reduced Consumption 4 [8], and Telescopic Vision 5 [25]. $50,000, 50-300 lbs., 4D/1 month. LC2.
Combat Exoskeleton (-20 points): The robot resembles a metallic skeleton. Add Numb [-20].
Infiltrator (+40 points): The robot is covered with living flesh and appears human. It is optimized for black ops, undercover, or bodyguard missions. Add DR 30 (outer layer) (Ablative, -80%) [30] and Mimicry [10]. Add +20% to model price.
Chameleon (+21 points): Add Chameleon 3 (Extended, Infravision, and Ultravision, +40%) [21].
Nuclear-Powered (+20 points): Add Doesn’t Eat or Drink [10]; remove Restricted Diet (Very common, power cells) [-10].
Weapon Mount (+2 points): Add Extra Arm 1 (Weapon Mount, -80%) [2].
The warbot is a nonhumanoid fighting machine the size of a subcompact car. It weighs half a ton (without weapons) and is available in submarine, walking tank, and aircraft versions. All models have a pair of manipulator arms. Attribute Modifiers: ST+15 (Size, -30%) [105]; DX+2 [40]. Secondary Characteristic Modifiers: SM+3; HP+15 (Size, -30%) [21]; Per+5 [25].
Advantages: Extra Arms 3 (Weapon Mount, -80%) [6]; Hyperspectral Vision [25]; Lifting ST +15 (Size, -30%) [32] Machine [25]; Payload 5 [5]; Protected Senses (Hearing, Vision) [10]; Radiation Tolerance 5 [10]; Sealed [15].
Perk: Accessory (Microframe computer) [1].
Disadvantages: Electrical [-20]; Restricted Diet (Very Common, E cell) [-10].
Availability: $200,000, 1,000 lbs. plus the cost of its brain. LC2.
Select one of these TL lenses, plus a configuration lens. Then choose a machine intelligence lens (pp. 27-28) and consider the optional lenses detailed below.
TL9 Model (+115 points): Add DR 50 (Cannot wear armor, -40%) [150], Maintenance (3 persons, weekly) [-15], and Numb [-20].
TL10 Model (+229 points): Add DR 75 (Cannot wear armor, -40%) [225], Maintenance (one person, weekly) [-5], Reduced Consumption 2 [4], and Telescopic Vision 1 [5].
TL11 Model (+329 points): Add DR 100 (Cannot wear armor, -40%) [300], Maintenance (one person, monthly) [-2], Reduced Consumption 3 [6], and Telescopic Vision 5 [25].
TL12 Model (+483 points): Add DR 150 (Cannot wear armor, -40%) [450] and Reduced Consumption 4 [8].
Select one of these lenses.
Submarine (+62 points): Basic Move becomes Water Move; ground Move is 0. Add Absolute Direction [5], Aquatic [0], Enhanced Move (Water) 1 [20], Pressure Support 1 [5], and Sonar (Increased Range 10x, +30%; LPI, +10%; Targeting, +20%) [32].
Walking Tank (+87 points): An insectoid ground combat machine. Add Absolute Direction [5], Enhanced Move 1 (Ground) [20], Extra Legs (4 legs) [5], Radar (Increased Range 10x, +30%; LPI, +10%; Multi-Mode, +50%; Targeting, +20%) [42], Super Jump 1 [10], and Vacuum Support [5].
Vertol (+142 points): This robot can fly and hover using ducted fans. Basic Move becomes Air Move; ground Move is 0. Add 3D Spatial Sense [10], Aerial [0], Enhanced Move (Air) 3 [60], Flight (Small wings, -10%) [36], Noisy 3 [-6], and Radar (Increased Range 10¥, +30%; LPI, +10%; Multi-Mode, +50%; Targeting, +20%) [42].
Vertol (Contragrav) (+140 points): The machine uses contragravity generators for lift and thrust; this is TL10^. Its Basic Move becomes Air Move; ground Move is 0. Add Aerial 0], [Enhanced Move (Air) 3 [60], Flight (Planetary, -5%) [38], and Radar (Increased Range 10¥, +30%; LPI, +10%; Multi-Mode, +50%; Targeting, +20%) [42].
Robotic missiles are designed to destroy the target in a suicidal attacks. Robot mines are simple automated weapons that wait for targets to appear – sometimes for years or millennia – before making their attack.
The most advanced ultra-tech homing missiles are small, autonomous combat robots. They seek out and destroy their targets using programmed tactics such as loitering and stealthy low-altitude approaches. As far as the game rules are concerned, they’re trained animals. Although not very bright by AI standards, they’re sometimes classed as “genius missiles” (to distinguish them from TL8 smart and brilliant missiles). Another, more accurate term is “sentient missiles.”
Instructing a genius missile requires an Artillery (Guided Missile) skill roll. Use the guidelines on p. B458 for what the missile can do. Missiles are very good at recognizing sensory profiles of particular targets, and can receive new target information and other updates through their communications links.
Genius missiles are also useful as reconnaissance machines – firing one over a hill and seeing what it sees! If the user is worried about hacking, they can be told to “go dark” and receive no other commands.
An arm-sized missile powered by a turbojet engine. It can fly at up to 1,000 mph, but can’t slow down below 1/4 its speed. A hunter missile’s Payload may be any 64mm warhead. It can be fired from a 64mm missile launcher, such as the IML or MLAWS (p. 145). It flies for one minute and then will crash and self-destruct.
A hunter missile uses a low-probability intercept multimode radar (2,000-yard range) as its main sense. It can also detect laser, radar and radio emissions and use that to find targets. It can receive command updates via radio, and use inertial guidance to fly to map coordinates.
The hunter missile’s maximum straight-line range is 16 miles.
ST 3; DX 14; IQ 5; HT 12.
HP 6; Will 5; Per 12; Speed 6; Dodge 9; Move 0 (Ground).
SM -4; 5 lbs.
Traits: Absolute Direction; Aerial; AI; Automaton; Blindness; Deafness; Detect (Lasers, Radio, and Radar, Signal Detection); Electrical; Enhanced Move 2 (Air speed 480); Flight (Cannot Hover; Limited Use, Fast Reload, 1 minute; Air Move 120); Injury Tolerance (No Head, No Neck); Mute; No Manipulators; No Sense of Taste/Smell; Noisy 4; Numb; Payload 3; Radar (LPI, Multi-Mode); Radio (Burst, Secure). Cost: $2,500 ($500 at TL10). LC2.
A larger, smarter, and faster version of the hunter missile. It has a maximum speed of 2,000 mph and a maximum range of 32 miles. Its radar has a 4,000-yard range, but it can turn that off and use Hyperspectral Vision instead. A striker missile’s Payload may be any 100mm warhead. It can be fired from any 100mm missile launcher such as the Tactical Missile Launcher (p. 145).
The TL10 version uses much cheaper nanoelectronics, but is otherwise similar.
ST 6; DX 14; IQ 6; HT 12.
HP 12; Will 5; Per 12; Speed 6; Dodge 9; Move 0 (Ground).
SM -2; 17 lbs.
Traits: Same as Hunter Missile except delete Blindness, add Hyperspectral Vision, upgrade to Enhanced Move 3 (Air speed 480), and give Radar (Increased Range ¥2).
Skills: Aerobatics-10, Observation-11.
Cost: $17,000 ($3,400 at TL10). LC1.
Similar to the Striker Missile, but its reactionless thrusters and contragravity technology enhance maneuverability and range (320 miles).
ST 3; DX 14; IQ 6; HT 12.
HP 6; Will 6; Per 13; Speed 8; Dodge 11; Move 0 (Ground).
SM -4; 5 lbs.
Traits: Absolute Direction; Aerial; AI; Automaton; Blindness; Deafness; Detect (Lasers, Radio, and Radar, Signal Detection); Electrical; Enhanced Move 2 (Air speed 480); Flight (Limited Use, Fast Reload, 10 minutes; Air Move 120); Injury Tolerance (No Head, No Neck); Mute; No Manipulators; No Sense of Taste/Smell; Noisy 4; Numb; Payload 3; Radar (LPI, Multi-Mode); Radio (Burst, Secure).
Skills: Aerobatics-12, Observation-11.
Cost: $5,000 ($1,000 at TL11). LC1.
A razor-sharp missile that uses contragrav to reach speeds of 200 mph. It may be shaped like a knife, wedge, card, or disk. At low speed it is dangerous and highly maneuverable, and can hide and sneak up on foes, but its most lethal attack is to accelerate up to its full speed and ram. This uses the rules for sharp collisions (see p. B430): it inflicts half-normal collision damage but that damage is cutting.
A smart shuriken can be fired from a 25mm missile launcher or simply thrown – often, after hitting or missing all programmed targets, it returns to the thrower’s hand. It can fly for 10 minutes; then it’s immobile until its C cell is replaced.
ST 1; DX 14; IQ 5; HT 12.
HP 1; Will 5; Per 10; Speed 6; Dodge 9; Move 0 (Ground).
SM -10; 0.1 lb.
Traits: Aerial; AI; Automaton; Blindness; Electrical; Enhanced Move 3 (Air speed 96); Flight (Limited Use, Fast Reload, 10 minutes; Air Move 12); Injury Tolerance (No Head, No Neck); Machine; Mute; No Manipulators; No Sense of Taste/Smell; Noisy 4; Numb; Radar (LPI, Imaging).
Skills: Brawling-12; Stealth-10.
Cost: $500. LC2.
These swarmbots have small diamond jaws; a swarm can chew through almost any barrier or armor, given time. They inflict 1d(2) corrosion damage per second to anyone caught within the swarm. This is considered an area-effect attack, and only sealed DR will protect against it. High-density swarms are most effective! $8,000 per square yard. LC1.
The swarm is equipped with tiny drills and cutters. It is programmed to crawl inside electronic or mechanical devices, then jam up the works by slicing through wires, eating circuits, and so on. Only sealed machinery or electronics, or devices lacking small moving parts, will be safe. The sabotage is not immediately obvious.
Each square yard of swarm does one point of damage per turn to unsealed machinery, ignoring armor DR. The machinery acquires a malfunction number (p. B407) of 17, with an extra -1 each time it loses 10% of its HP. Check nonweapon devices for malfunction when they are turned on and each minute they are in use Damage caused by gremlins doesn’t physically destroy an object, but is treated like other damage for repair purposes. $2,000 per square yard. LC2.
These microbots are equipped with weapons optimized for combating other microbots. Each hex inflicts 2d damage per turn on other microbot swarms. $5,000 per square yard. LC3.
These tiny robots have stinging needles with soporific venom. The swarm does one point of Fatigue damage per turn to living beings (only) in contact with it unless they have Sealed protection. $1,500 per square yard. LC2.
These microbots have tiny jaws or poison needles. The swarm does one point of toxic damage per turn to living beings (only) in contact with it, unless they have Sealed protection. $1,500/square yard. LC1.
This cloud of nanomachines is programmed to break down matter; the nanobots stick to anything in the area of effect and begin to eat, reducing the target to powder or goo. A disassembler swarm inflicts 1d-2(10) corrosion damage per second to anyone caught within the swarm. This is considered an area-effect attack, and only sealed DR will protect against it. Used as a digging tool, disassemblers can turn packed earth or stone into fine powder, digging two inches within the radius of the cloud every second.
Specialized disassembler nano can be manufactured not to eat certain chemical compounds, or to only eat certain compounds, or to last for shorter or longer times than the standard 30 seconds. It’s possible to design disassemblers that won’t touch organic materials, that will only eat organics (“kill the people but leave the buildings standing”), or that will eat anything except a certain complex polymer or alloy being used to line the container in which they are stored.
Disassembler costs $10,000 per square yard for standard types, possibly more for custom models. It is not available as a microbot swarm. LC1 (for most types).
This swarm is programmed to cannibalize other objects to build a single, specific gadget. It must first find an object that contains raw materials suitable for the task. Creating mechanical devices such as guns and engines requires objects made of metal. Plastics can be broken down to make gas and propellants. Creating electronic devices requires cannibalizing other electronic systems; any such device in the area takes damage as per a disassembler swarm (above). Whatever is cannibalized is destroyed – or, more accurately, transformed.
Each cannibal swarm is specific to one gadget or weapon. However, a swarm may build several closely related gadgets that are put together into one object. For example, a swarm may build a gun with a laser sight, a helmet with built-in infrared goggles, or a robot. The maximum weight of the gadget is 10 pounds per square yard of the swarm.
Assembly takes one minute per pound of gadget weight, divided by the size of the swarm in square yards. The process produces residual heat, so it is best to employ it on a nonflammable surface (such as a concrete floor) and turn off the smoke detectors. A cannibal swarm’s cost is 15 times that of the intended gadget or $15,000 per square yard, whichever is greater. Cannibal swarms are LC1 or the LC of whatever they build, whichever is lower.