Homebrew Android Species Details

Androids are synthetic creatures with artificial intelligence that have only recently been classified as sentient beings, though they have been in existence for the last 100 years. 

 

Hiding in Plain Sight

Androids may appear as male or female of any race but usually are built to resemble the race of  their creators. Though their appearance is usually well crafted, especially in newer models, Synthskin, the outer covering of most androids, is still slightly off color, lending an underlying gray tint to the skin that organic beings do not have. Some androids have been built for more utilitarian purposes and do not have Synthskin at all. Instead, they are bare metal or plastics.

Logical and Emotional

Emotion chip technology has been progressing for hundreds of years. No robot is actually considered an android, no matter how humanoid its appearance, unless it has a fully functioning emotion chip installed. Though older models are less emotional and empathetic than their newer counterparts, all androids have emotional range and are capable of empathy. This emotion does not necessarily hinder their logic in the same way it does for organic beings however. Androids are generally more capable of making tough moral decisions than organics, though many organics may protest that that logic is not the best way to approach those types of problems.

 

Purpose Built 

Androids are generally built with a specific purpose in mind. Be it a war machine, a medibot, an entertainment piece, or even simply a companion, androids have programming that sets them on a particular path despite their free will. Most androids come from factories into a type of indentured servitude where they perform their functions for their patron for a period of time before being given their freedom. Often, androids will continue in their position with some sort of compensation, though some choose to venture out and try different avenues after they fulfill their original period of servitude. Even those exploring the galaxy or trying their best to pretend to be organics feel drawn to jobs and activities that parallel the purpose for which they were originally built.

 

Desired and Disrespected

Androids, having only recently been recognized as sentients, still suffer from discrimination from many organics. Though some organics feel strongly that androids deserve the same rights as any other race and have lobbied the Great Confederation of Worlds (GCW) for those rights, there are also those that feel completely oppositely, believing that androids are simply tools that should be treated as such. Most organics are somewhere in between. They value androids greatly for their contribution to society but cannot look at them quite the same way as they can other organics.

Android Names

Androids often have model numbers or names. Though some, especially those that stay in their original positions for the majority of their lives, continue to go by those designations, others choose to take on a more familiar name, often one that is indicative of the race they are built to resemble.

Android Traits

Your synthetic background provides many advantages.

Ability Score Adjustments

Your Intelligence and Strength scores increase by 2. Your Wisdom and Charisma scores decrease by 1.

Age

Androids most often resemble adults, though some are built to look more like children or adolescents. The oldest androids are only 100 years old, and new androids are being built every day.

Alignment

Androids are generally good and almost always lawful due to their programming. It is possible for them to be neutral, especially in morally ambiguous situations, but are never evil unless specifically programmed that way for nefarious purposes.

Darkvision

Enhanced to be functional in low-light environments, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Diagnostics

You have proficiency in the Technology skill.

Synthetic

You are immune to poison and do not suffer any ill effects in the absence of air (space or underwater). You are weak to electrical and thunder damage.

Perfect Recall.

You can refer to your internal database (DM) to recall anything you have seen or heard, including maps.

Inorganic.

 You are inorganic and thus unable to cast spells. Your classes are limited to Barbarian, Fighter, or Rogue.

Languages

You are programmed to function in a variety of languages. You can speak, read, and write in Common, Elvish, Dwarvish, Gnomish, Halfling, Orc, Infernal, and Draconic.