Although robots as a whole are described elsewhere, this section presents two types of anthropomorphic robots that can be played as heroes: the biodroid (more commonly referred to as an “android”) and the bioreplica (also known as a “synthetic”). Although neither is truly sentient, their artificial intelligence allows them to make independent decisions and learn through experience. Biodroids are present in societies with technology of Progress Level 6 or higher, while bioreplicas are products of Progress Level 7 ingenuity.

A biodroid or bioreplica hero begins play as a 1st-level Strong, Fast, Tough, Smart, Dedicated, or Charismatic hero. Whereas other robots may only advance as Ordinary characters, biodroid and bioreplica heroes gain levels just as any organic species characters do. They may even choose to take levels in advanced or prestige classes for which they’re eligible. There are advantages and drawbacks to playing a biodroid or bioreplica hero. Robot heroes gain skills and feats like any other character.

Robots are not truly sentient in the 26th century, but their artificial intelligence allows them to make independent decisions and to learn through experience.

Some robots are built to serve their creators, while others are built to be sold as servants to outside buyers. As utilities, their usefulness is virtually boundless, and most robots are content to serve their assigned duties without question. Robots make able security guards, couriers, gardeners, shuttle pilots, expendable soldiers, and even nannies.

Much to the chagrin of their creators, however, some robots are not content to serve. Perhaps due to some flaw in their programming or construction, they choose to pursue their own path and strive to gain experiences that will lend meaning to their existence.

Depending on circumstances including nation of origin, personality of their owner, and a plethora of other factors, there a number of ways a robot can gain its independence. Some owners (though they are few in number) will simply grant freedom to a robot that expresses an interest in pursuing its own path, and in some cultures (such as the Orion League and Insight), robots may apply for full citizenship and all the rights and responsibilities that go along with it. Other cultures, such as StarMech Collective, the Rigunmor Consortium, the T’sa Cluster, and the Galactic Concord), allow robots to buy their freedom from their legal owners, though the owners can often set whatever (sometimes unreasonable) price they like. Still other cultures (like VoidCorp, the Union of Sol, the Hatire Community, the Mechalus, and most of the Verge) never recognize robots as anything but the property of their owners. Finally, many societies simply have not come up with any kind of hard and fast stance on the freedom of robots yet. In these cultures, cases if robots seeking indpendence may be handled individually or simply not addressed at all.

In cases where there is no legal way for a robot to gain its freedom, the robot must either serve or escape. In nearly all cultures, robots who flee their owners without qualifying for any legal recourse to freedom are considered fugitives and may be hunted by their owners, law enforcement, or even specialized robot hunters to be either captured and returned to their owners, or summarily destroyed.

One more option for robot heroes is for one or more of their fellow player characters to purchase them. The Gamemaster may require the characters in question to actually pay the robot’s cost, or may waive the robot’s base price (but see below). In this case, the robot hero serves the character's who own him and all players involved should consider the role-playing implications of this before deciding to go this route. In all cases, somebody (robot and/or owners) must pay for any improvements and modifications beyond those listed in the base descriptions below.

There are advantages and disadvantages to playing a robot hero.

Rules for creating basic biodroid and bioreplica heroic characters are balanced and adapted for play as 1st level characters. They are also anthropomorphic and function almost identically to other humanoids. Your GM may allow the creation of heroic robots with other free types and/or greater capabilities, however. Such robots use the rules presented, but may require a level adjustment, depending on their capabilities. For this reason, among others, players should have the active participation of their GM in planning any nonstandard heroic character using these rules.

A robot’s frame is the basic form the robot takes, from a simple barebones armature to a convincingly lifelike replica. It includes both the robot’s chassis and its internal power source. The frame determines a robot’s base statistics and base purchase DC, as shown on the tables below.

Frame Size: The size of the frame, which determines the robot’s base purchase DC, base Hit Dice, and ability scores.

Base Purchase DC: The purchase DC of the frame (or its components). The base purchase DC does not include the cost of accessories (modes of locomotion, manipulators, armor, sensors, or equipment) or increased Hit Dice.

Base Hit Dice: The robot’s Hit Dice, not counting any additional Hit Dice that may be added.

Extra Hit Points: Additional hit points gained due to the robot’s size.

Base Ability Scores: The robot’s ability scores, before improvements. Robots that do not have Constitution or Intelligence scores cannot improve these abilities.

Maximum Hit Dice/Purchase DC Modifier: The maximum Hit Dice the robot can have, and the amount by which the robot’s purchase DC increases for each Hit Die added to its base Hit Dice. A dash (—) indicates that the robot cannot have its Hit Dice increased.

• Armature
• Biomorph
• Biodroids
• Bioreplica