Homebrew Biped Robot Dog Species Details

Robot dogs are metallic dogs standing on two legs. They lack thumbs, making the use of any tool or weapon that requires thumbs problematic (disadvantage unless finding a workaround). They have a bite attack that they often prefer to use. 

Ability Score Increases

When determining your character’s ability scores, increase one score by 2 and increase a different score by 1, or increase three different scores by 1. Follow this rule regardless of the method you use to determine the scores, such as rolling or point buy. The “Quick Build” section for your character’s class offers suggestions on which scores to increase. You can follow those suggestions or ignore them, but you can’t raise any of your scores above 20.

Robot dogs also get an increase of 2 to Strength or Dexterity, and a decrease of 2 to Intelligence.

Languages

Your character can speak, read, and write Common and one other language that you and your DM agree is appropriate for the character. The Players Handbook offers a list of languages to choose from. The DM is free to modify that list for a campaign.

 

Life Span

The typical life span of a player character in the D&D multiverse is about a century. A Biped Robot Dog lives approximately 15 years. 

 

Biped Robot Dog Traits

As a Biped Robot Dog, you have the following racial traits.

Creature Type

You are a Humanoid.

Size

You are Medium.

Speed

Your walking speed is 40 feet, a burrowing speed of 15, a swim speed of 15, and a climb speed of 5.

Bite

You have a powerful maw that you can use to make unarmed strikes. When you hit with it, the strike deals 1d10 + your Strength modifier slashing damage, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.

No Thumbs

Biped Robot Dogs have no thumbs and thus have disadvantage using any tool, weapon or other object for which thumbs are usually used unless they develop a workaround. 

Hungry Jaws

You can throw yourself into a feeding frenzy. As a bonus action, you can make a special attack with your Bite. If the attack hits, it deals its normal damage, and you gain temporary hit points equal to your proficiency bonus. You can use this trait a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.

Natural Armor

You have tough, metallic skin. When you aren’t wearing armor, your base AC is 13 + your Dexterity modifier. You can use your natural armor to determine your AC if the armor you wear would leave you with a lower AC. A shield’s benefits apply as normal while you use your natural armor.

Metallic Form

You are metallic and part dog. You have an iron gut, making you resistant to poison and immune to disease. You are vulnerable to cold damage freezing your joints.